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Happy Release Day to Gail Meath! A Bloody Banquet is Book Two of The Stone and Steele Series. The review is below.
BOOK REVIEW
Fashion designer Vivian Steele is excited to attend an awards banquet at the Cocoanut Grove club in Hollywood. Some of the honorees are going to be wearing Vivan’s designs, and she and her best friend Carole Lombard are looking forward to an enjoyable evening. When Carole sees a dead body in the club’s restroom, she immediately calls for help. But when help arrives, the body has disappeared. Vivan begins to investigate, reluctantly allowing playboy Preston Stone to assist her once again. This is the second book in the Stone and Steele Series and can easily be read as a standalone.
This is a wonderful cozy set in Hollywood, and I love the fact that the fabulous Carole Lombard is a supporting character. The mystery is so well crafted, and I did not guess the villain before they were revealed. The backstories of Vivan and Preston continue to be another captivating mystery, and a little bit of that onion is slowly unpeeled in this second book. The ending of this compelling cozy offers more clues into their backstories and hints at an exciting third book in the series to come. Fans of cozy mysteries will enjoy this series, which transports us to the Golden Age of Hollywood.
I received a free copy of this book. I also purchased a copy. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gail Meath is the author of the multi-award-winning Jax Diamond Mysteries, a fun 1920s series about wise-cracking PI Jax Diamond, his courageous German Shepherd partner, Ace, and Broadway star Laura Graystone, as they, along with a crazy group of friends, solve some of the toughest crimes in New York City. She is alternating that series with her new 1930s Golden Age of Hollywood mysteries series, Stone & Steele, starring Vivian Steele, a widow seeking justice, and Preston Stone, a playboy vigilante.
In both series, the author challenges readers to identify the villains before she reveals them:)
Gail also has a list of other award-winning historical romances, westerns, and fictional biographies of true heroines. She lives in a small village in Upstate New York with her husband and sweet Boston Terrier, and she spends loads of time with her grandchildren.
PURCHASE LINK
Click on the cover to buy this book on Amazon. It’s only $2.99!
BEFORE YOU GO
*After you read the book, be sure and leave a review. Reviews do not have to be complex or fancy. Just a sentence about how it made you feel will help the book succeed on Amazon.
Indie Spotlight is my attempt to help Indie authors with the daunting task of marketing. It’s the biggest job they have and I am happy to help. You can help too by sharing this with all of your social media followers. Below is a book description, author bio, and book review of Wildcard by Gail Meath
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Niagara Falls, 1923. Traveling out of the city isn’t PI Jax Diamond’s cup of tea, but when he and Laura along with their courageous companion, Ace, head to Niagara Falls on their honeymoon, they’re on cloud nine. That is, until Jax carries his new bride over the threshold, and there’s a corpse in their bed that looks to have been there since the dawn of time.
A ten-year-old unsolved murder sets off a string of others with victims plunging to their deaths over the falls, and all the evidence is pointing to nightclub owner and their good pal, Orin Marino, as the killer.
Jax, Laura, Ace, and friends risk their lives trying to solve a crazy riddle and stop a killer before the next victim takes the plunge. But every step forward sends them two steps back. It’s a wild and crazy ride with twists, turns, and belly flops in this fun and fast-paced 1920s cozy thriller.
Easily reads as a standalone.
BOOK REVIEW
In this eighth book of the Jax Diamond series, Jax and Laura’s honeymoon in Niagara Falls takes an unexpected turn when they find out their good friend Orin Marino is in town, and then that he is accused of murder. Jax and Laura immediately start to investigate with the help of a wealthy hotel owner, their clever German Shepherd, Ace, and their friends Tim and Carla. When another body turns up, things get more confusing than ever.
Orin has long been my favorite character, so I was thrilled to see a book with him on the cover, and to get a peek at his backstory right away. The mystery is full of twists and turns, and I did not see the end coming. The story is engaging and will keep you guessing the whole time. Orin, always a great friend to Jax, Laura, Tim, and Carla, is suddenly in need of a friend himself, and they all drop everything to come to his aid. I loved the mystery, Orin’s determination to protect his friends, and, of course, Ace’s contributions as well. Cozy mystery lovers will enjoy this book. It can be read as a standalone. I also recommend the whole series.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gail Meath is the author of the multi-award-winning Jax Diamond Mysteries, a fun 1920s series about wise-cracking PI Jax Diamond, his courageous German Shepherd partner, Ace, and Broadway star Laura Graystone, as they, along with a crazy group of friends, solve some of the toughest crimes in New York City. She is alternating that series with her new 1930s Golden Age of Hollywood mysteries series, Stone & Steele, starring Vivian Steele, a widow seeking justice, and Preston Stone, a playboy vigilante.
In both series, the author challenges readers to identify the villains before she reveals them:)
Gail also has a list of other award-winning historical romances, westerns, and fictional biographies of true heroines. She lives in a small village in Upstate New York with her husband and sweet Boston Terrier, and she spends loads of time with her grandchildren.
* Kindle Unlimited Subscribers can read each book in the series for free.
* All books in this series can be read as standalones.
BEFORE YOU GO
If you read the book, please be sure and leave a review on Amazon. It helps Indie authors so much. A review does not have to be a masterpiece. Just a sentence or two about how the book made you feel will make an author’s day and help their books succeed.
The Golden Age of Hollywood, 1938. Vivian Steele moved to California to start a new life. She opened a fashion boutique in Beverly Hills, befriended Carole Lombard, the actress, and married a successful banker. But when her husband is murdered, Vivian discovers she isn’t the only one hiding a few secrets.
An anonymous phone call lures Vivian to a plush hotel room where she stumbles upon the dead body of a beautiful young actress – her husband’s mistress. To add fuel to the fire, she’s not alone.
Preston Stone, her adversary and Hollywood’s notorious playboy, is standing beside her. Suspiciously, they part ways only to find themselves alone again at a movie premiere two days later, and the message becomes brutally clear. They’re both the next targets of a cold-blooded killer.
Together, Vivian and Preston are thrown into a deadly race to find a missing collection of valuable coins and stop a vicious killer before they become the next murder victims. But first, they need to stop pointing their fingers at each other.
BOOK REVIEW
A PERILOUS PREMIERE is the first book in the STONE AND STEELE Mystery Series, and I can’t wait for more. Vivian Steele is a fashion designer whose husband has just been murdered. Preston Stone is a wealthy playboy who is not Vivian’s favorite person. They are thrown together when Vivian begins investigating her husband’s murder and the killer lets them both know that they are next.
This is a captivating mystery with an amazing cast of characters. I easily connected with both Vivian and Preston. The surprise supporting character, Carole Lombard, a good friend of Vivian’s, brings light, laughter, and loyalty to the story. There are two dogs in the series–Bella, a Boston Terrier, and Boris, a St. Bernard. They are an enjoyable addition to the cast. I felt instantly transported to 1930s Hollywood, and the book was well researched.
The mystery has plenty of twists and turns. It is also made plain that both Vivan and Preston have secrets of their own that have not yet been revealed. I look forward to finding them out in subsequent books. Movie stars, fashion, murders, and glamour combine to create an entertaining mystery. Highly recommend!
I received a free copy of this book. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own
Q&A With Gail Meath
Hi Gail! Thanks so much for answering my questions today, and for all your past interviews. It’s always so great to talk to you. Let’s start with the first question about your new book, A Perilous Premiere, the first in the Stone & Steele series.
Bonnie: In this 1930s mystery series, you included an absolutely wonderful supporting character—Carole Lombard. What inspired you to make Carole a part of this series?
Gail: My mother and I used to love watching old movies together. There were so many wonderful actors in Hollywood during the 1930s-40s, but for me, Carole Lombard always stood out above the rest. Like the parts she played in her movies, she was beautiful, witty, brave, and talented in real life. Her marriage to Clark Gable was truly a fairytale romance that ended in tragedy in 1942 when she died in a plane crash after attending a war bond rally. I have so much admiration for her that I decided to include her as a character in the book as a tribute to her.
Bonnie: You do such a wonderful job of describing 1930s Hollywood. Could you tell us about your research for this series?
Gail: Have I mentioned that I love research? Honestly, by choosing the most popular era in Hollywood history, the research has been fairly easy, although it wasn’t all glamor and glitz back then. Too often, I found myself researching a specific topic for the book, then an article would lead me to another off-topic article, then another, etc. I’ve learned more than I wanted to! (David Niven wrote about a lot of the Hollywood scandals in his memoir.)
Bonnie: Your first cozy mystery series, The Jax Diamond Mysteries, included an animal as a supporting character—Ace the German Shepherd. As you have told us in past interviews, Ace was based on your real-life dog, Gretchen. In the Stone and Steele Mysteries, you introduce Bella the Boston Terrier and Boris, the Saint Bernard. Are Bella and Boris based on any animals in real life?
Gail: Yes, they are! I love all types of dogs, and Ace was the perfect partner for Jax Diamond. I wanted to include two canine companions in this series and decided they needed to be opposites. The choice was easy. Bella is based on our little Boston Terrier, Addie, who is nearly as smart as Ace. And big, old Boris is based on Addie’s good friend, Leif, who lives next door and weighs 220 lbs.!
Bonnie: The main characters, Vivian Steele and Preston Stone, end up solving a mystery together. But the reader is shown that there is a lot in both of their backgrounds that neither are telling. It ends as a cliffhanger of sorts, as Vivian is about to reveal her past to Carole. Are we going to learn a lot more about both Vivian and Preston in Book 2?
Gail: Both Vivian and Preston have some very special investigative talents stemming from their complex pasts, and yes, they will be revealing more about themselves in the next book, although probably not everything. What fun would it be to learn everything about each character right off the bat?
Bonnie: Speaking of Book 2, can you tell us the title and a short synopsis:
Gail: The title is, A Bloody Banquet: Now You See a Murderr, Now You Don’t. When dead bodies start to disappear, Vivian and Preston uncover a sinister killer who has mastered the art of illusion and set his sights on two Oscar-winning stars. It should be a lot of fun!
Bonnie: Before we go, can you tell the reader what else you are working on right now?
Gail: Oh, boy, I considered ending the Jax Diamond series with Book 7, their marriage, but some of the readers requested at least one more book. So, I’m working on Wildcard, Book 8, which is due to release in April. It takes place in Niagara Falls, and it looks like Jax’s good friend, Orin Marino, is a serial killer. Bonnie’s note: Noooo, not Orin!
Bonnie: Thanks again Gail for sharing with us today!
Gail: Thank you so much, Bonnie! This is the first time your questions didn’t stump me!! Bonnie’s Note: Uh, oh I’m going to have to up my question game!
FROM THE AUTHOR: The most talked-about wedding is quickly approaching, and PI Jax Diamond is on top of the world. The tuxedos are freshly pressed and hanging in their closets. His good friend is busy decorating the nightclub for a glorious reception, and the newspaper reporters are anxiously waiting to print the front-page headlines. Even Ace, his courageous canine partner and best man, is prancing around, anxious for the event to begin.
The only thing missing is the bride.
Three days before the wedding, a group of mastermind criminals pull off the biggest diamond heist the city has ever seen, but that’s not the only gem they steal. And boy, do they have their hands full.
Every police officer from Albany to Washington is summoned to work around the clock, hunting down the culprits. Will they find Laura in time to save her life, so she can take her vows
BOOK REVIEW
It’s Book 7 of the Jax Diamond Mysteries, wedding bells are ringing, and Laura and Carla have disappeared! It’s obvious that foul play is afoot. Jax and Tim are hot on the trail, but Laura knows some tricks of her own.
It’s the seventh book of this beloved series, and Jax and Laura are finally making it official…if they can get to the altar. The beginning of this book absolutely blew me away. So unexpected. And the ending is touching and joyful. Laura’s extensive mechanical knowledge would not have been considered “feminine” at that time, and I love that about her. Her ingenuity often saves the day. She is beautiful and can sing, but she has a lot of other tricks up her sleeve. Her desperate, under-pressure tactic involving a telephone was unique and inspiring. I love the main cast and their close relationship. And of course, Ace is a scene-stealer. This is a great end to the Jax Diamond Mysteries series. Or is it?
Bonnie: Is this the last book in the Jax Diamond series?
Gail: I honestly haven’t decided yet. I have an idea for book #8, and the series has gone so well, but sometimes it’s best to leave on a high note. I thought I’d leave it up to the readers, and already I have votes for at least one more book. I’ll probably write it…already, I miss the characters.
Bonnie: How do you feel Jax has changed since Book 1?
Gail: In the beginning, Jax was a loner except for his good friendship with Tim, a police officer, and his very special bond with Ace. He didn’t have a past. He never looked to the future. He held a few grudges and didn’t trust anyone else. Laura, his Broadway star sweetheart, was hugely influential in bringing him out of his shell and learning to trust again. So, too, was his renewed friendship with Orin Marino and reuniting with his parents.
Bonnie: Can you pick some of your favorite moments throughout the series?
Gail: That’s a tough question, but I think the absolute most fun I had was writing about Laura and Ace going undercover behind Jax’s back in Framed, Book 2. That’s when we discover Orin isn’t who we thought. Another favorite is Two of a Kind, The Beginning novella where Jax and Ace meet when Ace is just a puppy.
Bonnie: Besides Ace, Jax, and Laura, my favorite character is Orin Marino. Which character is your favorite outside of the big three?
Gail: It’s funny. I never intended for Orin to become a loveable ‘gangster’. It just happened, and I’ve got to agree with you. If I do write another book, I want him to have a happy ending!
Bonnie: I know you have a new series coming out soon. Can you tell us a little bit about it?
Gail: I’m currently writing the first book in a new series that takes place during the 1930s glamorous Golden Age of Hollywood. It stars Vivian Steele, a widowed fashion designer, and Preston Stone, Hollywood’s most beloved playboy, who reluctantly team up to solve some very high-profile mysteries. It’ll have a great cast of characters ranging from the rich and famous to Bella, the Boston Terrier, and a few other endearing folks.
Thanks Gail for answering my questions, as always!
A surprise question for Gail: Any chance of an Orin Marino spinoff series?
The first in the heart-warming and deliciously mysterious Magical Fortune Cookie series from Lefty Award-nominee Jennifer J. Chow.
Felicity Jin grew up literally hanging onto Mom’s apron strings in their magical bakery in the quaint town of Pixie, California. Her mother’s enchanted baked goods, including puffy pineapple buns and creamy egg tarts, bring instant joy to all who consume them. Felicity has always been hesitant in the kitchen herself after many failed attempts, but a takeout meal gone wrong inspires her to craft some handmade fortune cookies.
They become so popular that Felicity runs out of generic fortunes and starts making her own personalized predictions. When one customer’s ill-fated fortune results in his murder, Felicity’s suspiciously specific fortune has the police focusing on her as the main culprit. Now Felicity must find a way to turn her luck around and get cleared from suspicion.
BOOK REVIEW
I enjoyed the idea of a magical bakery, and the premise that the Jin family’s baked goods can make you happy or even tell your fortune is a clever one. Felicity’s status as the odd family member out who has never had the gift–until suddenly there it is–is intriguing. The characters are likable and the story will make you smile. The mystery was entertaining, even though it was fairly easy to figure out. It is the magic and magical baking that draws the reader in and keeps them there. The author takes “comfort food” to another level in a clever way. Fans of food-related cozy mysteries should check this one out.
A summer house party turns into a thrilling whodunit when Jane Austen’s Mr. Wickham—one of literature’s most notorious villains—meets a sudden and suspicious end in this brilliantly imagined mystery featuring Austen’s leading literary characters.
The happily married Mr. Knightley and Emma are throwing a party at their country estate, bringing together distant relatives and new acquaintances—characters beloved by Jane Austen fans. Definitely not invited is Mr. Wickham, whose latest financial scheme has netted him an even broader array of enemies. As tempers flare and secrets are revealed, it’s clear that everyone would be happier if Mr. Wickham got his comeuppance. Yet they’re all shocked when Wickham turns up murdered—except, of course, for the killer hidden in their midst.
Nearly everyone at the house party is a suspect, so it falls to the party’s two youngest guests to solve the mystery: Juliet Tilney, the smart and resourceful daughter of Catherine and Henry, eager for adventure beyond Northanger Abbey; and Jonathan Darcy, the Darcys’ eldest son, whose adherence to propriety makes his father seem almost relaxed. In this tantalizing fusion of Austen and Christie, from New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray, the unlikely pair must put aside their own poor first impressions and uncover the guilty party—before an innocent person is sentenced to hang.
BOOK REVIEW
A Summer House Party. A Murder Mystery. Two Young People Investigate. I’m already in. Now add in almost ALL of Jane Austen’s leading characters! Not only I am in but I’m sure all the Jane Austen enthusiasts are dancing with glee. This was so well done!!! I love that the Darcys of Pride and Prejudice have been married 22 years when this book begins. And I love that their son has been brought in as a new character, along with Juliet Tilney, daughter of Catherine and Henry Tilney from Northanger Abbey. I love that there is a touch of “enemies to friends” romance thrown in. And I love that this transports me back to 1820. The idea of a house party turned murder investigation–and nobody can leave–is an intriguing, Agatha Christie-style twist. The unofficial investigation done by the very proper Mr. Jonathan Darcy and the spirited Juliet Tilney is captivating to watch. This book is everything a Jane Austen devotee will love, with a touch of Agatha Christie and a dash of adventure thrown in. This is a nostalgic, intriguing, captivating, and fun collision of the worlds of Jane Austen. I hope to see a sequel.
I received a free copy of this book from Knopf Doubleday via Austenprose PR. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Claudia Gray is the pseudonym of Amy Vincent. She is the writer of multiple young adult novels, including the Evernight series, the Firebird trilogy, and the Constellation trilogy. In addition, she’s written several Star Wars novels, such as Lost Stars and Bloodline. She makes her home in New Orleans with her husband Paul and assorted small dogs.
Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775 at Steventon near Basingstoke, the seventh child of the rector of the parish. She lived with her family at Steventon until they moved to Bath when her father retired in 1801. After his death in 1805, she moved around with her mother; in 1809, they settled in Chawton, near Alton, Hampshire. Here she remained, except for a few visits to London, until in May 1817 she moved to Winchester to be near her doctor. There she died on July 18, 1817. As a girl Jane Austen wrote stories, including burlesques of popular romances. Her works were only published after much revision, four novels being published in her lifetime. These are Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma(1816). Two other novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, were published posthumously in 1818 with a biographical notice by her brother, Henry Austen, the first formal announcement of her authorship. Persuasion was written in a race against failing health in 1815-16. She also left two earlier compositions, a short epistolary novel, Lady Susan, and an unfinished novel, The Watsons. At the time of her death, she was working on a new novel, Sanditon, a fragmentary draft of which survives.
Meet Jax Diamond, a sharp, sophisticated, skilled, no-nonsense private detective. Or is he? Glued to his side is his canine partner, Ace, a fierce and unrelenting German Shepherd whose mere presence terrorizes criminals into submission. Well, maybe not.
But the two of them are a whole lot smarter than they look. And they have their hands full when a playwright’s death is declared natural causes, and his new manuscript worth a million bucks is missing.
Laura Graystone, a beautiful rising Broadway star, is dragged into the heart of their investigation, and she’s none too happy about it. Especially when danger first strikes, and she needs to rely on her own ingenuity to save their hides.
Join Jax, Laura and Ace on a fun yet deadly ride during the Roaring Twenties that takes twists and turns, and a race against time to find the real murderer before he/she/they stop them permanently.
Be sure and check out this great cozy historical mystery, the first in a series about Private Detective Jax Diamond and his German Shepherd partner, Ace. If you enjoy historical cozy mysteries, you will love this one.
It’s Saturday, and I’ll be reviewing only Self-Published/Indie books all day. Saturday is exclusively Self-Published/Indie. Self-Published Saturday is my effort to help Indie authors market their books. As I always say, Self-Published/Indie authors have to do it all, from editing to cover design to marketing. My hope is that this feature will give them a little help. Please remember that if you decide to review the book, leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and anywhere else you review the book. This is so important for Self-Published authors. Today I am featuring the wonderful Alice and Trudy mystery series by Valerie Fletcher Adolph, set in post World World II Yorkshire. I actually reviewed Books 2 and 3 for Historical Novels Review, the magazine of the Historical Novel Society. I haven’t written a book review for Book 1 yet, but I’m including a book description. My reviews for books 2 and 3 are below. They can all be read as standalones.
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Fleeing an abusive husband, Trudy finds herself helping to run a private hotel (The Avalon Hotel) for elderly guests. But only a couple of weeks after her arrival, Alastair Mackie, one of its owners, is poisoned. Suspicion falls on Trudy and on Alastair’s wife, Alice.
Together, Trudy and Alice struggle to find the identity of the killer, or even a reason for the murder. They are helped along the way by Ben, a man from the moors, and by dear Doctor Taylor himself, beloved by the elderly residents of the hotel.
Only slightly in the way are Colonel Starr, who has difficulty telling one war from another, Calvin Hunt with his shocking remarks, the name-dropping Mrs Shand and the frequent fainter (but artistic) Fay Bowen. Oh! I almost forgot Miss Harriet – she is easy to overlook.
While Alice tries to discover the secret behind the killing, Trudy must fight with a husband who is determined to force her back.
Set in a large Victorian house in Yorkshire in 1947, this novel introduces readers to a new pair of detectives – Alice, raised in a country mansion by aristocratic parents, and Trudy, daughter of a butcher from the market.
BOOK REVIEWS
In England in 1947, Princess Elizabeth prepares to marry Phillip Mountbatten. And at the Avalon Private Hotel, sweet, elderly Miss Harriet is planning to marry John Prentiss. But there are obstacles in the way. Neither John nor Miss Harriet is particularly interested in wedding planning, there are issues agreeing on a church, and to top it all off, somebody wants to kidnap Miss Harriet! Alice, Trudy, Kenneth Wilson, the local police detective, and the guests at Avalon band together to try and keep the wedding on track and protect Miss Harriet. Tidbits from Elizabeth’s wedding are dropped throughout the book. This is the second in the wonderful Alice and Trudy Mystery series by Valerie Fletcher Adolph.
This is an entertaining read which alternates between the perspectives of Alice, the owner of the Avalon, and Trudy, who helps her run the hotel. In addition to wedding plans, we are caught up in the other residents—Fay, who is using her considerable talent as an artist to sketch the local dogs; Colonel Starr, whose mind is generally geared to military matters; Mrs. Shand, who does some uppity criticizing of the wedding planning, both royal and non-royal; Calvin, the elderly flirt; and Sophie, who tries to help out in every situation. Alice’s aristocratic family makes appearances, as do Ben, a local man, his dog Yan, and others.
This is a sweet, mild cozy mystery, softer and more comfortable than most. It is a relaxing read about post-World War II England. I loved the characters, especially the elderly hotel guests. Fans of weddings, cozy mysteries, and postwar novels will enjoy this book.
In post-World War II Yorkshire, Alice and Trudy are taken aback when Jeremiah Bickerstaff, the formidable patriarch of the rich and powerful Bickerstaff family, makes the surprising decision to move into a vacant room at the Avalon hotel while recovering from a stroke. Despite begging, conniving, and groveling from his family, he will not move back home. This makes things difficult for Trudy, as Bickerstaff is the grandfather of her abusive ex-husband, Jeremy. Then another young man enters the picture. He bears a strong resemblance to the Bickerstaff grandsons. Is he a long-lost heir? When a death happens on the premises, one of the elderly tenants is quick to point the finger. Was it an accident, or something more? This is the third book in the Alice and Trudy mystery series. It can be read as a stand-alone.
The elderly Avalon gang is back in another delightful mystery adventure. Led by hotel owner Alice and manager Trudy, the aged but active residents lend a hand and plenty of opinions after Mr. Bickerstaff joins their ranks. This series is such a delight to read. I truly enjoy all of these characters, especially Colonel Starr, who thinks everyone should join the Army, and Mrs. Shand, who is always ready with a comment, whether you want to hear it or not. You will laugh at the hijinks of this hilarious crew of lively lodgers. Fans of cozy mysteries will want to rent a room at the Avalon hotel, and stay long-term.
OVERALL COMMENTS
This is a warm hug of a cozy mystery series with characters who keep you chuckling. You will want to continue coming back to the Avalon Hotel.
BUY THE ALICE AND TRUDY MYSTERIES ON AMAZON
Click on each book cover to buy the books on Amazon. Kindle Unlimited Subscribers can read the whole series for free! They are also only $2.99 each to buy the ebook version.
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As you will soon see, I felt very strongly about this one. I can be a lenient reviewer, but hateful stereotypes really set me off. Unfortunately, that’s what I found in this new series.
Still Knife Painting is a new series about Miranda Trent, who has inherited her Uncle’s homestead in Kentucky, in the heart of the Daniel Boone National Forest. She starts a unique business for tourists called Paint ’n Shine, providing a package which includes a scenic painting class, a Southern dinner, and a moonshine tasting.
I was excited to read this because like the protagonist, Miranda, I lived elsewhere, but spent all my summers in the mountains with my relatives, who were Appalachian locals (in my case from the mountains of North Carolina). Unfortunately my expectations for this book fell far short. The main character Miranda is very unlikable. Miranda is supposed to be from a local family, even though she has been living in New York, so she should have some empathy and understanding for the locals. Instead she looks down on them and is downright rude at times. Her thoughts are shown in italics, and are usually something mean about others. I really hated the approach of presenting her thoughts in italics, because whenever I saw italics coming up, I knew it was probably going to be something cruel or condescending.
Then there were the ridiculous stereotypes presented in this book. When the Sheriff’s Deputy showed up and is described as a “Barney Fife,” I rolled my eyes back in my head. Then he passed out at a crime scene. Too cheesy. Too ridiculous. Mountain people are not stupid. They are not Barney Fife. The police do not pass out at the scene of a crime. I really wanted to put the book down at that point.
In addition, she should have some understanding of the rich culture and traditions of the locals. Very little of that is brought forth. Instead she is rude, condescending, and standoffish with the locals. As someone whose families are locals, Miranda should at least have been sharing a lot more of the cultural stories and traditions of the area. Miranda is starting a business involving art, distilling moonshine, and cooking, but she doesn’t really spend much time tying that in with the rich history of each of these things in the mountains. We could have learned something in this book besides how the main character is annoyed and affronted by everyone and everything. A lot of potential was lost in this series. Her constant denigration of the locals really ticked me off. I know the locals in my mountain town to be loving, smart, resourceful, and talented. The book’s presentation of mountain locals as stupid, inconsiderate people who supposedly tried to limit Miranda’s art is really offensive.
And by the way, young people are taught to say “yes Ma’am” and “Yes Sir” in the South. It’s automatic. This is not an “insider/outsider” thing and should not have annoyed Miranda. After spending all her summers in this area, she should have known this. Miranda spent a lot of time complaining about the insider/outsider perception in the mountains. Although there is some of that, nobody in any town anywhere is going to open up to a rude person who looks down on others. At the same time she is complaining about the insider/outsider perception, she complains that mountain people share too much of their personal lives with her! This is contradictory.
There is no real strong cast of characters as there would be in a small town. Just another of many disappointments. None of the characters are memorable for me except Miranda, and that is only because of her horrible personality.
What started out as a series with potential fell flat for me. I will not be interested in reading anymore of these books. I cannot find anything likable about the main character. I was excited to see a series set in the Appalachian Mountains. That excitement faded pretty quickly.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
A Deception At Thorncrest is the latest book in the Amory Ames mystery series. In this installment, a heavily pregnant Amory is visited by a woman claiming to be married to Amory’s husband! If that isn ‘t enough, relatives are coming out of the woodwork, and a local young man is shockingly murdered. Even though the baby’s arrival is imminent, Amory is on the case, determined to find the killer.
Amory’s wry sense of humor, even while thinking her husband might be a bigamist, is a delight. The mystery takes many twists and turns, and the true culprit is a surprise. Although this is book seven in a series, it can be read as a standalone. However, it may contain spoilers for the previous books.
Anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries with lots of humor and a strong cast of characters will enjoy this book. I would definitely read more of this series, and I rate it four stars.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
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