RUEFUL DEATH

TITLE: RUEFUL DEATH
AUTHOR: SUSAN WITTIG ALBERT
Pages: 275
Date: 13/09/2007
Grade: 4
Details: nr. 4 China Bayles Mystery
Own

China Bayles needs a break from her life to sort out her priorities and goes to a convent with her friend Maggie, a former nun.
But it turns out to be anything but a quiet retreat, as on arrival she's asked to investigate disturbing instances of poison pen letters and small, non accidental fires.
To complicate matters, the nuns are divided into two groups with very different hopes and aspirations for the monastery.
And then there is Tom Rowan, with whom she had a relationship in the past. And it appears some of the old feelings still linger.
China makes a few big mistakes on her way to eventually coming to the right conclusion. But justice does appear to come in all sorts of ways.
A very pleasant read although not one that captured me.

AND NO BIRDS SING

TITLE: AND NO BIRDS SING
AUTHOR: BRIAN EASTMAN
Pages: 277
Date: 10/09/2007
Grade: 4.5
Details: nr. 1 Rosemary & Thyme Mystery
Library

This was the 5th read in the cozy mystery challenge
When Laura Thyme's husband announces that he's leaving her for a younger woman, she travels straight to the house of her friends, Sam and Vicky Trent, only to be told that she can't stay there and be brought to a hotel.
Also in the hotel is Rosemary Boxer, in the area to look into sick trees belonging to a former student of hers, Daniel Kellaway.
Then Sam, who is Daniel's business partner, dies in a suspicious car accident, and Daniel turns out to have a mysterious, possibly life-threatening skin disorder.
The two women soon develop a friendship and are both suspicious of the misfortune befalling the two business partners.
This was a real cozy, with two interesting and likable main characters.
The mystery was well plotted, and although I sort of guessed the answers, I thoroughly enjoyed the read. It's good to know there are two more books in this series.

THE BODY ON THE BEACH

TITLE: THE BODY ON THE BEACH
AUTHOR: SIMON BRETT
Pages: 327
Date: 09/09/2007
Grade: 4.5
Details: nr. 1 Fethering Mystery
Own

Carol Seddon lives her life according to self-imposed rules and regulations which tie in completely with those of the other inhabitants of Fethering.
When a newcomer moves in next to Carol, it's clear from the start that she is nothing like the reserved regulars in the town. For starters, she only identifies herself as Jude. Carol quickly decides to keep her distance from this dubious woman.
But then Carol finds a dead body on the beach, only for it to disappear again. When the police dismiss her report as a fantasy, Jude is the only one who does believe her. And the two women decide to solve the mystery of the missing body together.
Their investigation bring them into contact with a lot of different characters in Fethering, a place where "keeping up appearances" hides a lot of pain and secrets.
This was a fun read, made better by the two main characters being so different and the mystery was clever and well plotted.
I'm looking forward to more from Fethering.

THE BOOKMAN'S WAKE

TITLE: THE BOOKMAN'S WAKE
AUTHOR: JOHN DUNNING
Pages: 432
Date: 07/09/2007
Grade: 4+
Details: nr. 2 Cliff Janeway Mystery
Library

This is the third book in the cozy mystery challenge, although I really don't think this series qualifies for that category. Never mind, I'm enjoying the books.

An ex-colleague he never liked, asks Janeway to travel to Seattle to take custody of a young woman wanted for assault and burglary. He is not inclined to leave his bookstore, especially not for this particular man, but when he's told there's a book involved, his interest is piqued, and when the book in question turns out to be a print of Poe's Raven so rare that most experts don't believe it exists, Janeway know he has to go.
He has no problem finding the young woman, who is called Eleanor Rigby, but finds it hard to believe she could be guilty of the violence she has been accused of.
And when the girl disappears again, Janeway has to solve the mystery of the book and the man who created it, to prevent further deaths.
Good read, provided you're interested in books. Just as well that I am.

SNAGGED

TITLE: SNAGGED
AUTHOR: CAROL HIGGINS CLARK
Pages: 306
Date: 04/09/2007
Grade: 4
Details: nr. 2 Regan Reilly Mystery
Library

This is the second book I've read in the cozy mystery challenge.

Regan Reilly is in Miami to be a bridesmaid in her friend's wedding.
There is also a panty hose convention going on in Miami, and the bride's uncle Richie, is hoping to sell his indestructable panty hose there. And the money is much needed to safe the retirement home where he's living with others, from being sold and closed.
But it appears that not everybody is happy about Richie's plans as two attempts are made on his life and it takes a lot for Regan to keep Richie alive to complete the deal and enjoy it's benefits.

An easy and entertaining read. Not at all taxing on the reader, but it works well as a mystery.

BOOKED TO DIE

TITLE: BOOKED TO DIE
AUTHOR: JOHN DUNNING
Pages: 394
Date: 03/09/2007
Grade: 4
Details: nr. 1 Cliff Janeway Mystery
Own.

This is the first book I've read in the cozy mystery challenge.

Cliff Janeway is a Denver Homicide Detective with a passion for books and a collection of rare and first editions.

 
When a local book scout is found murdered, Janeway immediately has a suspect in mind, one who has been alluding him for two years. As Janeway once again can't bring a case against his Nemesis, he flips and extracts his own form of justice, which costs him his batch.

 
Now, without a job, Janeway opens his own used bookstore, but soon finds himself faced not only with the deaths of two more book people, but also the emergence of an unlikely amount of rare and valuable books. 

 
Unable to leave the mystery alone, he soon finds the book world is not as peaceful as one might expect.

 
This was a good mystery with characters that are not one dimensional. And it's great to be reading about somebody with a deep love for books. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.

A MOST DANGEROUS WOMAN

TITLE: A MOST DANGEROUS WOMAN
AUTHOR: L.M. JACKSON
Pages: 351
Date: 01/09/2007
Grade: 4+
Details: nr. 1 Sarah Tanner, Victorian Mystery
Library

In 1850's London, the mysterious Sarah Tanner opens a Dining and Coffee House in one of the lesser neighbourhoods. Her past is a mystery and her present sends out conflicting details.
Happy in her present circumstances, Sarah is determined to leave her questionable past behind her. Until, that is, she witnesses the murder of a man she knew in that past.
Unable to report what she saw to the police, she decides to investigate herself, and soon finds herself having to return to places and people she had been trying to get away from, as well as mixing with the upper classes.
Putting her own life in danger on more than one occasion, she has to untangle a complicated web of deceit with several layers and unlikely villains.
Well written with life-like descriptions of Victorian London and a feisty and independent heroine, I'm looking forward to more.