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Camilla MacPhee #3
Little Boy Blues
In the third Camilla MacPhee Mystery, Camilla's looking forward to cutting loose at Ottawa's Bluesfest, the huge open-air extravaganza, and to seeing the tail end of her annoying office assistant, Alvin, who is finally quitting. Then the news comes from the East Coast. Alvin's younger brother Jimmy has vanished from the midst of a Canada Day crowd in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Is he dead? Has he been abducted? Sleuthing irritably about Sydney on Alvin's behalf, Camilla manages to make the usual quota of people froth at the mouth, including Jimmy's frantic family, forlorn friends and puzzled teachers. She doesn't spare the parish priest or even the guy at the chip stand. Before Camilla knows it, all roads lead back to Ottawa, where a killer with everything to lose waits to create havoc among the tents, guitar-pickers and happy, swaying crowds. If Camilla doesn't sort out this whole mess, how many other people are going to die?
344 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
1 person is currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jane Maffini
31 books163 followersAka Victoria Abbott with her daughter Victoria Maffini.
Mary Jane Maffini was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, and has her BA (Hons) and MLS from Dalhousie University. After a career in libraries such as The Brewers' Association of Canada, Statistics Canada, the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information, and a wonderful ride as a co-owner of Prime Crime Mystery Bookstore, she has settled into a life of crime, surrounded by her two miniature dachshunds, the ghost of her beloved Corgoid Smudge, and her long-suffering husband. She's a former President of Crime Writers of Canada, and a former member of the board of directors of the Canadian Booksellers Association. She's a frequent speaker on writing mysteries and on the importance of Canadian crime fiction. In real life, although she is a member of the Ladies' Killing Circle, she has never killed anyone.
Mary Jane Maffini was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, and has her BA (Hons) and MLS from Dalhousie University. After a career in libraries such as The Brewers' Association of Canada, Statistics Canada, the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information, and a wonderful ride as a co-owner of Prime Crime Mystery Bookstore, she has settled into a life of crime, surrounded by her two miniature dachshunds, the ghost of her beloved Corgoid Smudge, and her long-suffering husband. She's a former President of Crime Writers of Canada, and a former member of the board of directors of the Canadian Booksellers Association. She's a frequent speaker on writing mysteries and on the importance of Canadian crime fiction. In real life, although she is a member of the Ladies' Killing Circle, she has never killed anyone.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 25, 2023
Back to better form than book 2. One complaint...does every political villain always have to be of the "right-wing" variety. Its just such a weak go-to and frankly makes it obvious who the killer is.
1. Author introduces politician character.
2. Author is sure to point out this particular politician is RIGHT WING.
3. Reader knows they are 100% going to be the evil killer.
Authors: Do better to try and make it a bit of a puzzle for the reader.
1. Author introduces politician character.
2. Author is sure to point out this particular politician is RIGHT WING.
3. Reader knows they are 100% going to be the evil killer.
Authors: Do better to try and make it a bit of a puzzle for the reader.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2019
Interesting and fun. Characters are real.
July 13, 2025
3.25 stars. A slightly messy beginning, perhaps due to me starting with the third book in this series. exciting and intriguing middle, and a rushed ending.
July 12, 2012
Alvins' Jimmy, July 12, 2012
By Ellen Rappaport (Florida)
This review is from: Little Boy Blues: A Camilla MacPhee Mystery (Paperback)
This is the 3rd mystery in the Camilla MacPhee series and my 3rd also.
The first 2 books in this wonderful series were absolutely A+, so as often happens, a book that follows, although beautifully written, is compared to the first 2.
This book begins with a horrific scene in which a child, Jimmy, is bullied almost to death. Horrifying and quite unusual for a cozy. As it turns out Jimmy is Alvins' brother and Alvin was with him at the time of this assault. The fact that alvin ran for help rather than staying with his brother has haunted Alvin all his life. This guilt is enahnced by his uncaring (to say the least) family, the Fergusons.
The going away party for Alvin was absolutely hilarious. I couldn't keep from laughing out loud. But then we learn about Jimmy being lost and search parties finding no trace of him whatsoever. That's when Camilla enters the picture and travels with Alvin to his home. Mrs. Parnell is her usual (take no prisoners)self. Mrs. Parnell is one of those characters that only adds to the fun and adventure in this series. Love her.
They get into Stan's (Camilla's brother in law) car and take off on thier new adventure to find Jimmy...hoping he is still alive. As it turns out Leonard Mombourquette has a brother(Deveau) on the police force in Alvin's hometown. They arrive at the Ferguson household to find their concerns for Jimmy's welfare is not received with appreciation. I found the Ferguson's as unwelcoming to this story as Camilla was in their home. I felt too much time was stayed on their nonexistent manners and also wished Camilla had made the choice to stay next door with Donald Donnie & Loretta.
Once past that Ferguson family (good ridence) the characters involved in Jimmy's life and the unraveling of this plot was quite enjoyable. There were at least 3 red herrings. P.J., newspaper reporter and Camilla's good friend, is caught in yet another lie. Can he be trusted at all?
I still totally enjoy this series and the colorful and zany (Mrs. Parnell) characters, but compared to the first 2 books in this series...I must give 3 stars.
By Ellen Rappaport (Florida)
This review is from: Little Boy Blues: A Camilla MacPhee Mystery (Paperback)
This is the 3rd mystery in the Camilla MacPhee series and my 3rd also.
The first 2 books in this wonderful series were absolutely A+, so as often happens, a book that follows, although beautifully written, is compared to the first 2.
This book begins with a horrific scene in which a child, Jimmy, is bullied almost to death. Horrifying and quite unusual for a cozy. As it turns out Jimmy is Alvins' brother and Alvin was with him at the time of this assault. The fact that alvin ran for help rather than staying with his brother has haunted Alvin all his life. This guilt is enahnced by his uncaring (to say the least) family, the Fergusons.
The going away party for Alvin was absolutely hilarious. I couldn't keep from laughing out loud. But then we learn about Jimmy being lost and search parties finding no trace of him whatsoever. That's when Camilla enters the picture and travels with Alvin to his home. Mrs. Parnell is her usual (take no prisoners)self. Mrs. Parnell is one of those characters that only adds to the fun and adventure in this series. Love her.
They get into Stan's (Camilla's brother in law) car and take off on thier new adventure to find Jimmy...hoping he is still alive. As it turns out Leonard Mombourquette has a brother(Deveau) on the police force in Alvin's hometown. They arrive at the Ferguson household to find their concerns for Jimmy's welfare is not received with appreciation. I found the Ferguson's as unwelcoming to this story as Camilla was in their home. I felt too much time was stayed on their nonexistent manners and also wished Camilla had made the choice to stay next door with Donald Donnie & Loretta.
Once past that Ferguson family (good ridence) the characters involved in Jimmy's life and the unraveling of this plot was quite enjoyable. There were at least 3 red herrings. P.J., newspaper reporter and Camilla's good friend, is caught in yet another lie. Can he be trusted at all?
I still totally enjoy this series and the colorful and zany (Mrs. Parnell) characters, but compared to the first 2 books in this series...I must give 3 stars.
July 4, 2012
I love mystery novels and it's fun when they are based in Canada and/or written by Canadian authors.
Though this is apparently the third in a series, I didn't have any problem catching up. I enjoyed the writing style and didn't find that it dragged. I read it in a day (today). And I liked it enough to read the books before and after it in the series. I recommend it!
What made this book all that much better was that it was partially based in Sydney, Nova Scotia, where I lived from 1977 to 1983. Plus Camilla lives in Ottawa, which I'm fairly familiar with.
One thing I didn't understand ... Camilla was happy that Alvin, her assistant, has left for another job. Yet when he discovers that his brother is missing, she drives him 1500km from Ottawa to Sydney so he can be with his family. His family is rude to her yet she still sticks around to help. I would have jumped back in the car and said "Frig you!"
Annoyingly there were a fair amount of typos in the book ... hopefully they have been corrected in future reprints.
Though this is apparently the third in a series, I didn't have any problem catching up. I enjoyed the writing style and didn't find that it dragged. I read it in a day (today). And I liked it enough to read the books before and after it in the series. I recommend it!
What made this book all that much better was that it was partially based in Sydney, Nova Scotia, where I lived from 1977 to 1983. Plus Camilla lives in Ottawa, which I'm fairly familiar with.
One thing I didn't understand ... Camilla was happy that Alvin, her assistant, has left for another job. Yet when he discovers that his brother is missing, she drives him 1500km from Ottawa to Sydney so he can be with his family. His family is rude to her yet she still sticks around to help. I would have jumped back in the car and said "Frig you!"
Annoyingly there were a fair amount of typos in the book ... hopefully they have been corrected in future reprints.
March 20, 2012
The third Camilla MacPhee mystery by Ottawa's own local mystery author, Mary Jane Maffini is 'Little Boy Blues.'
As always, Camilla's wit makes the story a gem to read, and this time, the mystery isn't set specifically in Ottawa: when Alvin's brother goes missing, a brother of limited mental abilities and with a harsh past from Alvin's nearly psychotic family, it's up to Camilla to break Alvin's near-shock state and find his brother before things get even worse, and more people die.
One of the things that really strikes me about Camilla is that in this book, she has a very realistic reaction to a hit-and-run accident - the same sort of accident that killed her husband. This style of character depth (and consistency) is well received.
As always, Camilla's wit makes the story a gem to read, and this time, the mystery isn't set specifically in Ottawa: when Alvin's brother goes missing, a brother of limited mental abilities and with a harsh past from Alvin's nearly psychotic family, it's up to Camilla to break Alvin's near-shock state and find his brother before things get even worse, and more people die.
One of the things that really strikes me about Camilla is that in this book, she has a very realistic reaction to a hit-and-run accident - the same sort of accident that killed her husband. This style of character depth (and consistency) is well received.
January 6, 2014
Camilla MacPhee is ready for a family free week while her dad and siblings go on vacation. She plans to start her life over but is waylaid by her former coworker Alvin whose younger brother Jimmy has gone missing. Jimmy has special needs based on a tragic incident as a child. The rush is on to find the 21 year old. Time is running out as so are Jimmys medications and one by one people fall victim to a hit and run artist.
Ms. Maffini has created an spellbinding story with such rich and comical characters in the Camilla MacPhee series. Camilla, Alvin and Mrs Parnell are comic sleuthing forces to be reckoned with in this page turner of a mystery.
I for one recommend this book to all mystery readers and give the book 5 stars for great entertainment value.
Ms. Maffini has created an spellbinding story with such rich and comical characters in the Camilla MacPhee series. Camilla, Alvin and Mrs Parnell are comic sleuthing forces to be reckoned with in this page turner of a mystery.
I for one recommend this book to all mystery readers and give the book 5 stars for great entertainment value.
July 7, 2010
This was a terrifc read from page one until...the next book. The mystery, as usual, is fast-paced, humorous, and well plotted. You do not see the culprit for the fog. I highly recommend reading all of Ms. Maffini's works.
March 30, 2014
Love love love this author. She has created a funny, witty crime-solving character in Camilla MacPhee, not to mention her sidekicks and family. The stories are based in Ottawa and Sydney Cape Breton for this story.
November 1, 2009
An Ottawa-based mystery that focuses on Bluesfest. Very fun, and I love how the protagonist really wanted to see Blue Rodeo. :)
January 24, 2014
Mary Jane Maffini's best so far! Fast-paced and too much fun!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews