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Liz Ogilvie-Smythe Provincetown Mystery #1
A Deadly Snow Fall
When a spring snowstorm buries quaint little Provincetown, on the very tip of Cape Cod, and a body is found at the foot of the famous Pilgrim Monument, the police assume that miserly town curmudgeon Edwin Snow III jumped to his death.
But spunky British newcomer—innkeeper Liz Ogilvie-Smythe—suspects something else—murder. Can this dedicated cozy mystery reader and wanna-be sleuth convince the police chief to re-open the case? Will searching for clues together cement a growing romance between Liz and handsome Irish cop James Finneran?
As Liz detects, she is amazed at what she uncovers—scattered human bones, long-kept secrets, smoldering grudges, a mysterious question of paternity, and ghosts. It’s almost enough to send this British lady back to jolly old England.
But spunky British newcomer—innkeeper Liz Ogilvie-Smythe—suspects something else—murder. Can this dedicated cozy mystery reader and wanna-be sleuth convince the police chief to re-open the case? Will searching for clues together cement a growing romance between Liz and handsome Irish cop James Finneran?
As Liz detects, she is amazed at what she uncovers—scattered human bones, long-kept secrets, smoldering grudges, a mysterious question of paternity, and ghosts. It’s almost enough to send this British lady back to jolly old England.
234 pages, Paperback
First published May 11, 2011
11 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 5, 2012
In my opinion, there is so much more to a book than whether or not an author uses what most would consider "proper grammar." So many people get caught up in the mechanics of an author's writing, that they fail to truly enjoy a great mystery.
I will admit, I struggled through the first few chapters of A Deadly Snow Fall. The main character is a tad bit long-winded, and tends to take a thought and drag it out through long sentences and, at times, a little too much detail.
HOWEVER,
once I moved beyond the first few chapters, I had an incredibly difficult time putting the book down. The author really knows the elements of a great mystery. She spends a lot of time letting you get to know the characters, and they all play well off of each other. Spending some time in Provincetown is a wonderful treat.
Not to mention, any book that uses the element of surprise so well that you had no idea the ending was coming, is a well written one!
As a person who loves the mystery genre, I very much enjoyed A Deadly Snow Fall. If you can set aside the need to obsessively correct grammar, you're really in for a wonderful treat!
I will admit, I struggled through the first few chapters of A Deadly Snow Fall. The main character is a tad bit long-winded, and tends to take a thought and drag it out through long sentences and, at times, a little too much detail.
HOWEVER,
once I moved beyond the first few chapters, I had an incredibly difficult time putting the book down. The author really knows the elements of a great mystery. She spends a lot of time letting you get to know the characters, and they all play well off of each other. Spending some time in Provincetown is a wonderful treat.
Not to mention, any book that uses the element of surprise so well that you had no idea the ending was coming, is a well written one!
As a person who loves the mystery genre, I very much enjoyed A Deadly Snow Fall. If you can set aside the need to obsessively correct grammar, you're really in for a wonderful treat!
July 6, 2022
Some of the most unrealistic dialogue I've ever read. Also a stunning number of grammatical and spelling errors. If the author had an editor she should fire them.
November 9, 2011
Decent as far as the mystery goes; but the author kept reiterating Liz' circumstances. We get it: she's rich, her parents ignore her; etc. And, according to her, if anyone KNOWS she's rich, they'll pretty much dislike her. What shallow people she thinks live in the USA. At times the dialogue is stilted and cliche; she has a friend (Nigel) overseas whom she doesn't want to think that she'll ever marry, but her conversation with him sounds otherwise. Nigel says "darling girl" so many times you want to barf.
In the middle of the book, there are a few - and I mean ONLY a few - pages where her mother arrives from England, goes to a book club meeting with her, and after having 'a reading' decides to leave the next day. Why was that in the book at all? She shows up and then disappears two or three pages later? (Her mother shows up, announces she has left her husband, which doesn't seem to bother Liz at all, like it was an everyday occurrence; goes to the meeting; has a reading the next day and announces she is 'going to Hollywood to start a movie career'). What was that about?
This book was supposed to be a cozy - as the author pointed out repeatedly through the book via the narration of Liz, who constantly referred to the fact that everything was happening just like the cozy mysteries she liked to read - but it left me feeling less than cozy.
When I finished it I just didn't have the feeling I get from the usual cozies I read. Maybe a satisfaction that the book kept you interested? Didn't repeat the same things over and over? That the ending was just 'off'? I'm not sure, but you will have to use your own judgment.
In the middle of the book, there are a few - and I mean ONLY a few - pages where her mother arrives from England, goes to a book club meeting with her, and after having 'a reading' decides to leave the next day. Why was that in the book at all? She shows up and then disappears two or three pages later? (Her mother shows up, announces she has left her husband, which doesn't seem to bother Liz at all, like it was an everyday occurrence; goes to the meeting; has a reading the next day and announces she is 'going to Hollywood to start a movie career'). What was that about?
This book was supposed to be a cozy - as the author pointed out repeatedly through the book via the narration of Liz, who constantly referred to the fact that everything was happening just like the cozy mysteries she liked to read - but it left me feeling less than cozy.
When I finished it I just didn't have the feeling I get from the usual cozies I read. Maybe a satisfaction that the book kept you interested? Didn't repeat the same things over and over? That the ending was just 'off'? I'm not sure, but you will have to use your own judgment.
September 29, 2011
Better written than her India Street series, but still needs a decent editor! What is with publishers now days? Do they not hire editors? It is so annoying to read something with errors.
Having yapped on about that, let me say this; This is a very fun story set in Provincetown, MA. It is a little far-fetched, but then so is P'town! It was a good mystery. I could not guess who done it and that makes it a good mystery to me.
Having yapped on about that, let me say this; This is a very fun story set in Provincetown, MA. It is a little far-fetched, but then so is P'town! It was a good mystery. I could not guess who done it and that makes it a good mystery to me.
January 6, 2013
Downloaded the "newly edited" kindle version which is free of many of the issues mentioned in previous reviews. Still a few minor errors that were distracting. Enjoyed the story and the characters were wonderful. Will be reading the rest of the books in this series.
January 12, 2012
Easy read. Good twist.
March 1, 2015
Cozy Mystery
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. I have found. That I enjoy this type of book...the answer lying in the past and uncovered slowly. Recommended.
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. I have found. That I enjoy this type of book...the answer lying in the past and uncovered slowly. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews