Book Review: Murder at the Brightwell by Ashley Weaver

Murder at the Brightwell by Ashley Weaver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the first book in a new series, set in the 1930’s. It’s billed as Christie-esque (as in Agatha Christie) and it pretty much lives up to that. Agatha Christie is one of my favorite authors and this book has similar elements, including a large cast that is sometimes hard to “manage.” Made a little more so by the constant reference of people as Mr or Mrs/Miss so and so. For some reason, this makes it hard for me to see them as individuals, though I know this is how people addressed one another back in the day.

The book also offers a somewhat romantic element and I couldn’t figure out who I was supposed to root for - the playboy husband (Milo) or the previous suitor (Gil). In the end, I simply chose my side and hoped it worked out. It did.

Premise - Amory Ames is invited to the seashore, Brightwell Hotel, by former suitor, Gil Trent, whose sister, Emmeline, is engaged to a scoundrel. He’d like Amory to advise Emmeline to basically dump the scoundrel. As Amory’s marriage is a little on the rocks, she’s in a position to give advice about the disadvantages of marrying a scoundrel. A couple of days into the trip, the scoundrel meets his end by tumbling over the side of a cliff. Gil is accused; Amory sets out to prove he’s innocent. In the midst of this, Milo shows up and basically becomes Amory’s partner in figuring out who done it.

The sleuthing is fairly typical, though at least there is a reason - to prove Gil innocent. There is the Inspector, but he’s a friendly sort of guy and one I liked. Amory and the Inspector do get on fairly well, which I appreciated. I thought some of her snooping was a bit over the top, but it fit the story.

Overall, I enjoyed the mystery, which had a few twists and an ending I didn’t see. Though, at times, the “romance” seemed to be a bit more than the mystery, but it didn’t really detract from the mystery. Instead, we get to learn a bit more about Amory. I’d love to say more about Amory and Milo, but that would probably spoil a little of the story.

I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series. If you like Agatha Chrisite’s mysteries and the 1930’s, give this book a go.

I received this as a Goodreads Give Away, but the opinion is solely mine.

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Year in Review...2014

Wow. We are at the end of another year and I find that while, overall, the year has been good, I have not done a lot of blogging. It's something I enjoy and hope to do more of next year. There is news though.

 Once again, I have moved. Back to Texas. For a job. I always keep an eye on job postings and when I saw this job, I knew I had to give it a go. I didn't really think I'd get it, but I did! Everything just fell in to place as if this is what I was supposed to do.  I do miss the people I worked with and, surprisingly, I miss Savannah.  Job wise, though, it's been one of the best transitions I have had in a long time. A well run organization and welcoming people. The only drawback for me is it's a large organization. Probably the largest in which I've ever worked. Also, my job is not attached to any one department, which makes it a bit weird, but not a bad weird. It does mean, though, that I've not yet found a "work buddy," which I've usually had at other jobs. I figure that will come in time.

In the meantime, in an effort to get more exercise and meet people, I joined a walking group and have met some wonderful people. It's at 7:30 Saturday mornings, which is a challenge for me, but a good challenge. Right now the weather is windy and cool, but I know if an few months that will change to unbearably hot and I'll be glad for the early morning walk time.

With this move, comes my other piece of news. I am tired of moving. This is a college town, so rentals would be expensive, not too mention no desire to repeat the pitiful renting experience that I had in Georgia.  Plus, I was just ready.  So, I took the plunge (with a little help from a small inheritance) and bought a house. It's a little bigger than I set out to get, but I knew when I walked into it that it was supposed to be mine. It's an almost brand new house in an established neighborhood, but it did need some work. Mainly on the outside - landscaping for the front and some type of porch and patio on the back. The house has a covered porch, but there were no steps down to the yard (and it was about a two foot drop) and no patio. I've done both of those and screened the back porch, something which has been on my wish list for years. The yard is huge and backs up to a wooded area. Fortunately it self maintains itself for the back part and I found a good yard service.

Between the tiny Georgia condo (though the peace and quite was wonderful) and the move and hurting my foot, my exercise routine flew out the window. And, along with it my weight maintenance. My big disappointment in all of this is the weight I gained back after keeping it off for years. I know with some structure and routine I can re-lose it, but my focus has been sporadic. That's one of my goals for the new year - get back to a routine that will allow me to lose the weight and maintain the loss.

I wish everyone nothing but the best in the coming year.

Book Review: Lowcountry Bombshell by Susan M. Boyer

Lowcountry Bombshell by Susan M. Boyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Liz Talbot Mystery series. I enjoyed the first book, Low Country Boil, and this one does not disappoint. In fact, it’s better. It’s an all around fun read.

Liz Talbot has recently returned to the island Stella Maris, where she grew up, from Greenville, SC, where she and her partner Nate run a Private Investigation business. With her return to Stella Maris, they’ve opened a branch on the island (currently out of Liz’s house, which she inherited from her grandmother). Her most recent customer Calista McQueen, a doppleganger for Marilyn Monroe. Her life has eerily mirrored that of Marilyn and she is convinced that within 10 days her fate will mimic that of Marilyn and she will be dead. She asks Liz to investigate, providing several strange incidents that have led her to her belief that she will die. There is nothing routine about this story or mystery.

We see more of Liz’s family - her brother, Blake, the sheriff, her very quirky parents, and a little of her sister, Merry. As with the first book, humor is very much present, but it doesn’t detract from the story.

There are several twists and turns. You know that one of the people that Calista trusts, and there aren’t many, are involved, but I didn’t see the end coming. There’s a little side mystery around the housekeeper and it’s resolved as well and does factor into Calista’s story.

There is also a romance of sorts with Nate that starts at the beginning and while I thought there might be an attraction between the two in the first book, I almost thought this hot and heavy romance came out of the blue - from 0-60 in the blink of eye, no in between. It didn’t detract from the story, but it almost seemed misplaced, walking a very fine line between a romance and a mystery. Still, I’d highly recommend this book, though read the Low Country Boil first if possible. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.

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Book Review: Red Velvet Cupcake Murder by Joanne Flue

Red Velvet Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the 16th book in this series and the second one I’ve read.  I wasn’t sure what I would think of other books in this series after I finished the first, but I really enjoyed this book.

The mystery centered around finding who killed Dr. Bev.  I was at a little disadvantage as I skipped the 14 books in between this one and the first and was not familiar with Dr. Bev, who apparently was introduced in a previous book and was a rival for Norman’s affections.  Thus, because Hannah found the body (apparently she does this a lot) and because of the “rivalry” and because apparently they thought Hannah’s baked goodies might have been the method of death, Hannah was a suspect.  Thus, her involvement.

I thought the mystery was very well done and clues were strewn fairly evenly throughout the book.  The characters from the first book were still all there, with some new ones (again, I suspect introduced in previous books) and I still liked them all.  Hannah’s mother is now dating someone, which apparently makes her a much better person as she was much improved from the first book.  Likable, in fact.

There is a “triangle” between Hannah and Norman (the dentist) and Mike (the cop).  Frankly, I found it weird.  Several times they all sat down to dinner as if they were all just buds and not trying to figure who was coupled with who.  Speaking of dinner, food is front and center is this book.  It might have been in the first one as well, but it seemed like whole chapters were devoted to dinner and what was cooked and who did what.  The recipes placed throughout the book were a bit distracting as well.  However, I did try one of the recipes (the Chicken Tetrazzini Hot Dish) and liked it.

Even with the distractions and relationship weirdness, I enjoyed this book and will read others in the series.  Recommended.

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