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Faith Fairchild #20
The Body in the Boudoir
It's 1990, and Faith Sibley is a single young woman leading a glamorous life in New York City. She has good friends, a cozy apartment, and her own flourishing catering business, Have Faith. Then, at a catering event, she meets the handsome, charming Reverend Thomas Fairchild. A daughter and granddaughter of clergymen, Faith has sworn to avoid a parish's fishbowl existence. But it's love at first sight, and before she knows it her life is changing drastically.
To begin with, she's beckoned north to chilly New England to visit her future residence and prospective in-laws, not all of whom welcome her with open arms. Thankfully, back home she has her adoring great-uncle Sky to rely on, even if his much younger wife has always struck Faith as slightly odd. For the ceremony Uncle Sky has offered up the use of his mansion on Long Island, which would be the perfect location if only the brickwork wasn't suspiciously falling off the roof.
Her path to the altar is made even rockier when Faith faces two other baffling mysteries. Her new assistant, Francesca, appears to be hiding a family secret with roots in Italy. Then Faith's sister, Hope, becomes a target. Who could be plotting to derail her high-stakes financial career?
In spite of being overwhelmed by her decision to leave her home in the Big Apple and the multitude of tasks involved in getting married, Faith has no doubts about being married to her beloved Tom. But someone out there is dead set on making sure that she doesn't reach the altar. Before it's too late, she needs to figure out who is trying to sabotage the wedding—by eliminating the bride!
To begin with, she's beckoned north to chilly New England to visit her future residence and prospective in-laws, not all of whom welcome her with open arms. Thankfully, back home she has her adoring great-uncle Sky to rely on, even if his much younger wife has always struck Faith as slightly odd. For the ceremony Uncle Sky has offered up the use of his mansion on Long Island, which would be the perfect location if only the brickwork wasn't suspiciously falling off the roof.
Her path to the altar is made even rockier when Faith faces two other baffling mysteries. Her new assistant, Francesca, appears to be hiding a family secret with roots in Italy. Then Faith's sister, Hope, becomes a target. Who could be plotting to derail her high-stakes financial career?
In spite of being overwhelmed by her decision to leave her home in the Big Apple and the multitude of tasks involved in getting married, Faith has no doubts about being married to her beloved Tom. But someone out there is dead set on making sure that she doesn't reach the altar. Before it's too late, she needs to figure out who is trying to sabotage the wedding—by eliminating the bride!
272 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2012
47 people are currently reading
480 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Hall Page
54 books465 followersKatherine Hall Page is the author of twenty-five previous Faith Fairchild mysteries, the first of which received the Agatha Award for best first mystery. The Body in the Snowdrift was honored with the Agatha Award for best novel of 2006. Page also won an Agatha for her short story “The Would-Be Widower.” The recipient of the Malice Domestic Award for Lifetime Achievement, she has been nominated for the Edgar, the Mary Higgins Clark, the Maine Literary, and the Macavity Awards. She lives in Massachusetts and Maine with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
July 2, 2013
This is a flashback novel telling the story of the months before Faith and Tom were married. Mystery was fine, but a clergyman having sex before marriage and the implied message that it was okay as long as the nosy folks in the church didn't find out really turned me off. This was just so unnecessary.
October 8, 2023
Lovely mystery story - I am reading this entire series now!
July 12, 2025
Love her style of writing. Kept my interest thru the whole book.
December 2, 2022
Every bride should read this!!
May 6, 2012
The newest Faith Fairchild mystery was kind of odd and unsatisfying. I've been a fan of her books. In fact, I just recently read the first one in the series. This one opens with Faith and Tom flying to Italy on a vacation together. They've been married since 1990, and they are taking a sort of second honeymoon together in Italy. Faith starts remembering how she and Tom met.
In 1990, Faith was a caterer with a growing business thanks, in part, to her excellent connections. She comes from a well off family - not rich, but VERY well off. She meets Tom when she is catering a wedding of a friend of his. For him it is love at first sight,and it only takes a month for him to propose. She is astonished, but, of course, she is ALSO in love. OK - let's allow for a little romance here. Somehow I thought their "courtship" would have been a little longer and more involved myself.
Then odd things start to happen. Faith is nearly killed twice plus gets very sick at her shower. Then there is her Italian employee who is looking for the GI who wronged her Grandmother. That part didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. It just seemed as if Page couldn't quite get the story to gel.
The wedding goes on despite a pretty awful thing that happens at the end which really makes the whole thing kind of silly. Then there is the epilogue where Faith remembers all who have died. Never mind..... This was not at a part with her past books. I hope Ms. Page wasn't under such pressure to get the next book out that she just was out of ideas. It would be too bad because Faith really is such an appealing character.
In 1990, Faith was a caterer with a growing business thanks, in part, to her excellent connections. She comes from a well off family - not rich, but VERY well off. She meets Tom when she is catering a wedding of a friend of his. For him it is love at first sight,and it only takes a month for him to propose. She is astonished, but, of course, she is ALSO in love. OK - let's allow for a little romance here. Somehow I thought their "courtship" would have been a little longer and more involved myself.
Then odd things start to happen. Faith is nearly killed twice plus gets very sick at her shower. Then there is her Italian employee who is looking for the GI who wronged her Grandmother. That part didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. It just seemed as if Page couldn't quite get the story to gel.
The wedding goes on despite a pretty awful thing that happens at the end which really makes the whole thing kind of silly. Then there is the epilogue where Faith remembers all who have died. Never mind..... This was not at a part with her past books. I hope Ms. Page wasn't under such pressure to get the next book out that she just was out of ideas. It would be too bad because Faith really is such an appealing character.
June 4, 2012
Hey, it was the beach, so I thought I should read a mystery, and I chose this one based on a nice writeup in the New York Times Book Review. Page has written 19 books starring Faith Fairchild, who’s the daughter of a New York socialite and a high-society minister. Faith loves Manhattan and has sworn that she’ll never marry a man of the cloth–which is problematic twice over when she meets her perfect mate, an upstanding minister from Massachusetts. This is the origin story of Faith’s marriage to Tom Fairchild, and it’s all pleasant enough, though one can’t help but wonder whether Tom would have married Faith if he’d known about all the murder in his future. As cozy mysteries go, The Body in the Boudoir is fun; it probably helps to know the character, and I found the designer dresses and furnishings and jewelry showy and tedious–but then, I’m not Page’s primary target audience. My biggest beef: no body in the boudoir until nearly halfway through the book. I imagine Page’s regular readers forgive what is, to me, too long a delay in getting to the murder we’ve been promised. But I’d be happy to spend another few hours with Faith Fairchild in the future.
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Read more: http://www.punchnels.com/punchlist/pu...
March 6, 2014
Very slow-moving, with none of the intellectual excitement you get from a really good mystery. I don't know if it had something to do with the pseudo-flashback format of the story, but it never had any energy and just seemed to be dragging itself forward to what ended up being a disappointing climax/solution. But what made the sloth-like pace really strange was the fact that there seemed to be dozens of little mysteries all going on at the same time with no rhyme or reason to any of them. They weren't there to serve as a distraction from the main question, they just were. I often think that there are only so many red herrings a mystery can support before it becomes ludicrous, but such a mass of red herrings that aren't even really red herrings is even worse.
Oh, and creepy housekeeper nicknamed "Danny" in a house on the coast that has issues with her employer's new wife? It's been done, and in much better hands.
Oh, and creepy housekeeper nicknamed "Danny" in a house on the coast that has issues with her employer's new wife? It's been done, and in much better hands.
April 1, 2015
This has always been one of my favorite series and it one I plan to use for the Finishing The Series Challenge. I am also excited because Katherine Hall Page is touring with Great Escapes Book Tours in May for The Body in the Birches, the 22nd book in the series being released May 12.
In this installment we are taken back in time to how Faith and Tom started their life together. The book starts out with them on a plane for an anniversary trip to Italy and Faith spends the plane ride remembering their path to the altar hand a few bumps along the way including solving a couple of mysteries.
Another fun read from the author and one I was looking forward to reading. I enjoyed learning their back story and their original meeting of all the people we have come to love in the prior installments.
I have The Body in the Piazzaall cued up on my Kindle and will be reviewing The Body in the Birches on May 22 when the Great Escapes Book Tour stops here.
In this installment we are taken back in time to how Faith and Tom started their life together. The book starts out with them on a plane for an anniversary trip to Italy and Faith spends the plane ride remembering their path to the altar hand a few bumps along the way including solving a couple of mysteries.
Another fun read from the author and one I was looking forward to reading. I enjoyed learning their back story and their original meeting of all the people we have come to love in the prior installments.
I have The Body in the Piazzaall cued up on my Kindle and will be reviewing The Body in the Birches on May 22 when the Great Escapes Book Tour stops here.
January 16, 2016
This has always been one of my favorite series and it one I plan to use for the Finishing The Series Challenge. I am also excited because Katherine Hall Page is touring with Great Escapes Book Tours in May for The Body in the Birches, the 22nd book in the series being released May 12.
In this installment we are taken back in time to how Faith and Tom started their life together. The book starts out with them on a plane for an anniversary trip to Italy and Faith spends the plane ride remembering their path to the altar hand a few bumps along the way including solving a couple of mysteries.
Another fun read from the author and one I was looking forward to reading. I enjoyed learning their back story and their original meeting of all the people we have come to love in the prior installments.
I have The Body in the Piazzaall cued up on my Kindle and will be reviewing The Body in the Birches on May 22 when the Great Escapes Book Tour stops here.
In this installment we are taken back in time to how Faith and Tom started their life together. The book starts out with them on a plane for an anniversary trip to Italy and Faith spends the plane ride remembering their path to the altar hand a few bumps along the way including solving a couple of mysteries.
Another fun read from the author and one I was looking forward to reading. I enjoyed learning their back story and their original meeting of all the people we have come to love in the prior installments.
I have The Body in the Piazzaall cued up on my Kindle and will be reviewing The Body in the Birches on May 22 when the Great Escapes Book Tour stops here.
March 17, 2014
Welcome to the rich New York foodie scene, complete with overly long descriptions of every single thing Faith considers eating. Can't believe she is thin, but that's why it is fiction...
Too much description of New York City and food. The mystery was just barely a subplot, but that is why I picked it up... Also, I think the story was supposed to be the romance, but that too was a subplot. Kind of a weird arrangement.
I didn't understand how Faith's family could be so wealthy was based on a clergyman's income.
I really wanted to like this and was sad that I didn't.
Note: I listened to the audiobook. Finally put it on 2x because it was just way to long (get on the with story and stop describing the food!). Also, the narrator at times sounded like a computer, especially at the beginning. Kind of weird - never had that with an audiobook before.
Too much description of New York City and food. The mystery was just barely a subplot, but that is why I picked it up... Also, I think the story was supposed to be the romance, but that too was a subplot. Kind of a weird arrangement.
I didn't understand how Faith's family could be so wealthy was based on a clergyman's income.
I really wanted to like this and was sad that I didn't.
Note: I listened to the audiobook. Finally put it on 2x because it was just way to long (get on the with story and stop describing the food!). Also, the narrator at times sounded like a computer, especially at the beginning. Kind of weird - never had that with an audiobook before.
April 13, 2015
Even worse than the other book of hers I read, this reads like a romance novel. It's supposed to be a murder mystery, but the corpse doesn't even show up until literally halfway through the book. The rest of the book is more about planning a wedding than solving a murder. Garbage.
January 30, 2016
Nineteenth chronologically and twentieth in the publication order in the Faith Fairchild cooking mystery series about Faith and Tom Fairchild based outside Boston, Massachusetts.
The events here take place — in a flashback — about a month after The Body in the Big Apple (which Page ranks as tenth in the series, but I would put it at the start as it's pre-Tom and I never got the impression that it was a flashback as this story is).
My Take
How very appropriate that the twentieth installment is also a celebration of Faith and Tom's twentieth wedding anniversary! Yeah, as I wrote it, I suspected some of you might think I was being sarcastic. In truth, I thought it was a sweet idea and very appropriate for this cast of characters.
I particularly enjoyed Page's using the flight over as a time for Faith to reminisce over the events between her and Tom's engagement and their wedding day.
Page has created a nice range of characters with all the decorum and tastefulness of their created ancestry. She's managed a faith-based family with a daughter who marries a clergyman which doesn't preach at you. Instead, they display all the family values you could want with generosity that warms the heart. With all the paranormal and historical fiction I read, Faith Fairchild is a nice, homey treat. Now if only her books came with her entrees…
It's a story about beginnings. Josie's chance. Faith's wedding. Francesca's grandparents. Yes, there are some endings as well...which you'll just have to read about. Sad, but insightful.
I just loved reading about Marian's worries about Faith. Getting ready to meet her for the first time. The panic about cooking for a professional chef. The attitudes both sets of parents have about the couple. Page has written a nice blend of mostly happiness with dramatic and traumatic incidents interspersed throughout. It's rather odd reading about a Faith who freaks out at dead bodies, though. It's also a tour of New York City restaurants so eat before you read lest you start drooling.
The batterie de cuisine at Aleford gave me a giggle. As an English-speaker, it was quite easy to re-interpret Page's description of the "dented aluminum saucepans" as having been through the wars. And Tom's discomfort level with the idea that a cousin of Dad's would have the nerve to toss out a perfectly good bed simply because she got a new one...how very odd of her! The Fairchilds are after my own packrat heart.
I think Page could have done with creating more tension with the questions about Francesca's possible complicity in the subway incident.
I'm looking forward to trying out some of the recipes in the back. Be sure to read the Author's Note at the back. I always find interesting information from Page there.
The Story
We finally get the details on how Tom and Faith met and it's a whirlwind romance with Faith gaining on the one hand and losing on the other. Josie has had a change in fortune and both Josie and Faith will be leaving Have Faith. Tom cannot move from Aleford while Have Faith... Well, Faith will just have to Have Faith that life up in the wilds of Massachusetts won't be so bad. Something seems to be up with Francesca as well.
It's the bridal shower where the incidents begin. All aimed at Faith. Small, yet irritating even as Faith goes about the joyful chores of planning a wedding.
The Characters
It took awhile before Faith Sibley discovered the path she wanted to take, but once she did, she dove into it wholeheartedly and opened a successful catering company, Have Faith. I just love this name. It plays so well in so many directions.. Her sister, Hope, is a financial manager and her current boyfriend, Phelps Grant, does the same for another company. Her parents are the Reverend Sibley and Jane Lennox Sibley.
The Reverend Thomas Fairchild is a New Englander born and bred with a parish in Aleford, Massachusetts. While Faith is a New Yorker to the bone. Worse, Faith and Hope had sworn never to marry a clergyman---they've already lived that life! Tom's mother is Marian Fairchild who is quickly adored by Faith's family and friends. Dick is in real estate and Tom's father; he has a decided preference for a rather limited range of foods. They and Tom's brothers Robert and Craig all love Faith. Sister Betsey. Well, the best we can say of her is that she's married to Dennis Parker and they have a year-old son, Scotty. Sydney Jerome is an old family friend having grown up next door to the Fairchilds. It's also obvious that she's Betsey's preferred choice of sister-in-law. It certainly helps that the Fairchilds know what Betsey is like. Uncle Will is Dick's brother and owns Fairchild's Market. Tom's next door neighbors in Aleford are Pix and Sam Miller with their very broadminded approach as well as their three children: Mark, Sammy, and Danny.
Have Faith's employees include Howard, a brilliant bartender quite adept at concocting new drinks, Josie Wells who intends to open her own place one day, and Francesca Rossi who is Josie's roommate and works at the health club Josie frequents. Salvatore Rinaldi is a private detective with whom the police are rather interested in having a more in-depth chat. Gus Oliver has been missing for over sixty years and there are a number of people in Italy interested in his whereabouts.
Aunt Chat (Charity Sibley) has recently retired and moved out to New Jersey. On her mother's side, there's her grandmother, Eleanor Wayfort Lennox and Great-aunt Frances Wayfort. Their brother, Schulyer "Sky" Wayfort and his fourth? wife Tammy live at The Cliff, a truly palatial estate where Faith has always dreamed of having her wedding with Uncle Sky to give her away. Mrs. Mabel Danforth is Uncle Sky's housekeeper. She's been with him forever and tolerates no one else. A fact of which Tammy is heartily aware. Gertrude Danforth Todd is Danny's sister; Herbert is her husband. Both have "hurry" very much on their minds.
Jennifer is Hope's secretary. Chief Matt Johnson is in charge of the murder at The Cliff. The musical Marley Clarke saves Faith's life. Max's desperate need for Faith's help puts her in the right place to solve at least one of the problems in this story.
Emma Morris is an old friend of Faith's from Dalton (Body in the Big Apple) and her mother, Poppy, wants to give her a bridal shower.
The Cover and Title
The cover is appropriate! Well, in a rather gruesome way, anyway. The foreground catches the eye with its white satin pumps with their tasteful bows on the toes standing primly next to a tight little bouquet of red roses, petite white flowers, an orchid, and studded with pearls. A few red petals are sprinkled onto the cloud of white fabric leading the eye to the background with its impression of a veil. Made more visible by the dead body in the background. I'm kind of surprised there weren't a few red feathers...it would have been appropriate.
No kidding! There is The Body in the Boudoir and I can't believe no one started connecting the dots earlier!
The events here take place — in a flashback — about a month after The Body in the Big Apple (which Page ranks as tenth in the series, but I would put it at the start as it's pre-Tom and I never got the impression that it was a flashback as this story is).
My Take
How very appropriate that the twentieth installment is also a celebration of Faith and Tom's twentieth wedding anniversary! Yeah, as I wrote it, I suspected some of you might think I was being sarcastic. In truth, I thought it was a sweet idea and very appropriate for this cast of characters.
I particularly enjoyed Page's using the flight over as a time for Faith to reminisce over the events between her and Tom's engagement and their wedding day.
Page has created a nice range of characters with all the decorum and tastefulness of their created ancestry. She's managed a faith-based family with a daughter who marries a clergyman which doesn't preach at you. Instead, they display all the family values you could want with generosity that warms the heart. With all the paranormal and historical fiction I read, Faith Fairchild is a nice, homey treat. Now if only her books came with her entrees…
It's a story about beginnings. Josie's chance. Faith's wedding. Francesca's grandparents. Yes, there are some endings as well...which you'll just have to read about. Sad, but insightful.
I just loved reading about Marian's worries about Faith. Getting ready to meet her for the first time. The panic about cooking for a professional chef. The attitudes both sets of parents have about the couple. Page has written a nice blend of mostly happiness with dramatic and traumatic incidents interspersed throughout. It's rather odd reading about a Faith who freaks out at dead bodies, though. It's also a tour of New York City restaurants so eat before you read lest you start drooling.
The batterie de cuisine at Aleford gave me a giggle. As an English-speaker, it was quite easy to re-interpret Page's description of the "dented aluminum saucepans" as having been through the wars. And Tom's discomfort level with the idea that a cousin of Dad's would have the nerve to toss out a perfectly good bed simply because she got a new one...how very odd of her! The Fairchilds are after my own packrat heart.
I think Page could have done with creating more tension with the questions about Francesca's possible complicity in the subway incident.
I'm looking forward to trying out some of the recipes in the back. Be sure to read the Author's Note at the back. I always find interesting information from Page there.
The Story
We finally get the details on how Tom and Faith met and it's a whirlwind romance with Faith gaining on the one hand and losing on the other. Josie has had a change in fortune and both Josie and Faith will be leaving Have Faith. Tom cannot move from Aleford while Have Faith... Well, Faith will just have to Have Faith that life up in the wilds of Massachusetts won't be so bad. Something seems to be up with Francesca as well.
It's the bridal shower where the incidents begin. All aimed at Faith. Small, yet irritating even as Faith goes about the joyful chores of planning a wedding.
The Characters
It took awhile before Faith Sibley discovered the path she wanted to take, but once she did, she dove into it wholeheartedly and opened a successful catering company, Have Faith. I just love this name. It plays so well in so many directions.. Her sister, Hope, is a financial manager and her current boyfriend, Phelps Grant, does the same for another company. Her parents are the Reverend Sibley and Jane Lennox Sibley.
The Reverend Thomas Fairchild is a New Englander born and bred with a parish in Aleford, Massachusetts. While Faith is a New Yorker to the bone. Worse, Faith and Hope had sworn never to marry a clergyman---they've already lived that life! Tom's mother is Marian Fairchild who is quickly adored by Faith's family and friends. Dick is in real estate and Tom's father; he has a decided preference for a rather limited range of foods. They and Tom's brothers Robert and Craig all love Faith. Sister Betsey. Well, the best we can say of her is that she's married to Dennis Parker and they have a year-old son, Scotty. Sydney Jerome is an old family friend having grown up next door to the Fairchilds. It's also obvious that she's Betsey's preferred choice of sister-in-law. It certainly helps that the Fairchilds know what Betsey is like. Uncle Will is Dick's brother and owns Fairchild's Market. Tom's next door neighbors in Aleford are Pix and Sam Miller with their very broadminded approach as well as their three children: Mark, Sammy, and Danny.
Have Faith's employees include Howard, a brilliant bartender quite adept at concocting new drinks, Josie Wells who intends to open her own place one day, and Francesca Rossi who is Josie's roommate and works at the health club Josie frequents. Salvatore Rinaldi is a private detective with whom the police are rather interested in having a more in-depth chat. Gus Oliver has been missing for over sixty years and there are a number of people in Italy interested in his whereabouts.
Aunt Chat (Charity Sibley) has recently retired and moved out to New Jersey. On her mother's side, there's her grandmother, Eleanor Wayfort Lennox and Great-aunt Frances Wayfort. Their brother, Schulyer "Sky" Wayfort and his fourth? wife Tammy live at The Cliff, a truly palatial estate where Faith has always dreamed of having her wedding with Uncle Sky to give her away. Mrs. Mabel Danforth is Uncle Sky's housekeeper. She's been with him forever and tolerates no one else. A fact of which Tammy is heartily aware. Gertrude Danforth Todd is Danny's sister; Herbert is her husband. Both have "hurry" very much on their minds.
Jennifer is Hope's secretary. Chief Matt Johnson is in charge of the murder at The Cliff. The musical Marley Clarke saves Faith's life. Max's desperate need for Faith's help puts her in the right place to solve at least one of the problems in this story.
Emma Morris is an old friend of Faith's from Dalton (Body in the Big Apple) and her mother, Poppy, wants to give her a bridal shower.
The Cover and Title
The cover is appropriate! Well, in a rather gruesome way, anyway. The foreground catches the eye with its white satin pumps with their tasteful bows on the toes standing primly next to a tight little bouquet of red roses, petite white flowers, an orchid, and studded with pearls. A few red petals are sprinkled onto the cloud of white fabric leading the eye to the background with its impression of a veil. Made more visible by the dead body in the background. I'm kind of surprised there weren't a few red feathers...it would have been appropriate.
No kidding! There is The Body in the Boudoir and I can't believe no one started connecting the dots earlier!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2025
Curious about how Faith Fairchild and her husband, Tom, fell in love? This book, the 20th Faith Fairchild mystery, unveils their origin story alongside a gripping murder mystery.
Katherine Hall Page paints a tender, unforgettable love story between Faith Sibley and Tom Fairchild. Even romance skeptics like me couldn’t resist the charm. Faith, a New York caterer, meets Tom, a minister and wedding party member, at a job. Her vow to never marry a clergyman crumbles under the spark of new love. Soon, this quintessential city girl embraces life as a minister’s wife in a historic Massachusetts town. Page chronicles their journey from first meeting to marriage with four-star brilliance—I couldn’t put it down.
But not everyone cheers their union. At Faith’s bridal shower, someone spikes her drink, leaving her violently ill. The effects fade fast, but the threat lingers. Later, a shove onto subway tracks nearly kills her as a train roars in. A quick-thinking Jamaican teenager saves her, joking she should wait until after the wedding to “jump.”
A young Italian woman working for Faith adds a compelling subplot. She enlists Faith’s help to find an elderly man who could lift a decades-old shame from her grandmother’s life. This small but rich thread sets the stage for the next book in the series.
This novel blends romance, mystery, and heart with finesse. It’s a four-star gem that’ll linger in your mind.
Katherine Hall Page paints a tender, unforgettable love story between Faith Sibley and Tom Fairchild. Even romance skeptics like me couldn’t resist the charm. Faith, a New York caterer, meets Tom, a minister and wedding party member, at a job. Her vow to never marry a clergyman crumbles under the spark of new love. Soon, this quintessential city girl embraces life as a minister’s wife in a historic Massachusetts town. Page chronicles their journey from first meeting to marriage with four-star brilliance—I couldn’t put it down.
But not everyone cheers their union. At Faith’s bridal shower, someone spikes her drink, leaving her violently ill. The effects fade fast, but the threat lingers. Later, a shove onto subway tracks nearly kills her as a train roars in. A quick-thinking Jamaican teenager saves her, joking she should wait until after the wedding to “jump.”
A young Italian woman working for Faith adds a compelling subplot. She enlists Faith’s help to find an elderly man who could lift a decades-old shame from her grandmother’s life. This small but rich thread sets the stage for the next book in the series.
This novel blends romance, mystery, and heart with finesse. It’s a four-star gem that’ll linger in your mind.
February 8, 2018
#20- oddly less than satisfying retrospective going back to Faith’s catering and meeting Tom, their building relationship. All the pre-wedding hassles with wealthy great Uncle Sky and his much younger wife, Tammy hosting the wedding at The Cliffs our on Long Island, someone stealing Faith’s sister, Hope’s, clients, several attempts on Faith’s or someone else’s life?, closing down Have Faith, encouraging her assistant Josie in opening her Richmond VA restaurant, hiring secretive Italian student Francesca all add to pre-wedding stress, as looked back on from an anniversary trip to Italy. Too much, too scattered. Best was wedding history info in the Author’s note.
June 20, 2022
I've read many books in this series and it was fun to go back to the beginning where Faith first met her future husband, Tom Fairchild, and read about her single life in NYC. This was written as a look back from present times, although the reader is wholly immersed in the book as if it is just taking place. I did enjoy the story behind the story but for me it was a bit slow. The murder didn't occur until page 120. I was shocked and sad at the identity of the murderer and did not guess. It was fun reading about Faith's wedding, although I would have liked more detail.
February 20, 2024
This prequel to all the Faith Fairchild takes Faith and Tom back to their original meeting, the preparations for their wedding with the showers, teas and misunderstanding future sister-in-law's motives about a neighbor. Several surprising events look as if Faith's life is in danger especially after her uncle's housekeeper is found dead in his current wife's boudoir. Interspersed to make a truly interesting tale is the situation with Josie leaving to open her own restaurant in Virginia, Francesca's attempt to track down a former soldier. The ending is a full surprise.
September 25, 2018
This book is a backstory to before Faith and Tom were married. She was a single woman in NYC with a catering business and leading a glamorous life. Her new assistant is hiding a family secret, her sister, Hope is being targeted by someone trying to ruin her financial career and someone else is trying their hardest to make sure Faith and Tom do not get married - by eliminating the bride. Faith is still a snob, but I liked a back story as to how/why they met and got married.
March 6, 2019
It was OKkkkk, but it seemed a little distant. Someone close to her attempts to kill her and she really showed no emotion? The man who was to walk her down the aisle, her favorite uncle and the entire family is just, cold. And even though Faith was helping people solve their problems, I got the feeling she was elsewhere, mentally.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2020
Easy “fluff” read. It was ok but not particularly satisfying as no real substance - characters are cliche and all attractive, financially well-off, talented... and there is a lot of name dropping and brand references. The mysteries are not particularly mysterious either and not much sleuthing is involved - rather Faith just stumbles upon the answers.
July 27, 2022
I’ve missed Faith
I read all the Faith Fairchild books and then for some reason lost track of them. I happened across this one and joyfully got it as the perfect intro back into these wonderful mysteries- never silly, but always a surprise end! And the recipes are the crowning touch!
I read all the Faith Fairchild books and then for some reason lost track of them. I happened across this one and joyfully got it as the perfect intro back into these wonderful mysteries- never silly, but always a surprise end! And the recipes are the crowning touch!
October 6, 2017
Faith before Tom, meeting Tom and marrying Tom.
Faith had to avoid being poisoned by Tom's sister, Betsy and murdered by her Uncle Sky for prying into the murder of his beloved Danny.
Cute and cozy mystery
Faith had to avoid being poisoned by Tom's sister, Betsy and murdered by her Uncle Sky for prying into the murder of his beloved Danny.
Cute and cozy mystery
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2017
I loved this book. I never read any of these and happened upon it by accident.
I wasn't sure but it caught my interest from the beginning.
It was a nice combination of mystery and romance.
Can't wait to read some of the others.
A nice change from my usual
I wasn't sure but it caught my interest from the beginning.
It was a nice combination of mystery and romance.
Can't wait to read some of the others.
A nice change from my usual
May 3, 2019
Great reading
This may be one of Katherine Hall Page's best. Absolutely, I couldn't put it down. It was so lovely reading about Faith and Tom in the beginning. I also loved the addition to the story about her sister.
This may be one of Katherine Hall Page's best. Absolutely, I couldn't put it down. It was so lovely reading about Faith and Tom in the beginning. I also loved the addition to the story about her sister.
May 27, 2020
Surprise
This book takes one back in time to when Faith met Tom until they get married. There are so many strange happenings but so enjoyable to. Good character development and so many twists making it a fun read
This book takes one back in time to when Faith met Tom until they get married. There are so many strange happenings but so enjoyable to. Good character development and so many twists making it a fun read
October 26, 2020
A skim and scan quick read on a dreary day. I think I must have already read it some years back. It's a look back at the meeting, engagement and wedding day of Tom & Faith Fairchild w/ a murder or two & Uncle Sky's death..
April 25, 2022
A flip back in the series to when Faith met her to be husband Tom.
I found it convoluted with her Italian employee, her sister's problems, and never did fully understand the killer's motivation to harm more than one person.
Not my favourite of the series.
I found it convoluted with her Italian employee, her sister's problems, and never did fully understand the killer's motivation to harm more than one person.
Not my favourite of the series.
March 5, 2018
I love this series and I'm disappointed that it has taken me so long to get to them!
August 3, 2019
Lots of extraneous detail that doesn't deal with plot. Disappointing as numerous books in the series that looked promising for light reading.
January 19, 2020
The book was disappointing, I have read several books by this author and this book had too many stories and the main plot was unbelievable.
March 31, 2020
Good book overall but would have been better without so much wedding trivia for me.
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