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Pennyfoot Hotel #9
Ring for Tomb Service
St. Bartholomew's Week is usually one of Cecily's favorite times of the year. People from all over flock to the feast, and the Pennyfoot buzzes with activity. But this year, Cecily's only activity is catching a killer--because this holy celebration has been marred by the unholiest of acts.
240 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1997
25 people are currently reading
335 people want to read
About the author
Kate Kingsbury
90 books569 followersKate Kingsbury grew up in London, England, and at a very early age began telling stories to her school friends during the London Blitz of WW II while huddling in bomb shelters. Kate moved to the U.S. in the early sixties, and had passed her 50th birthday when she published her first book. Writing as Doreen Roberts, (her real name at the time) she published 26 romance novels for Harlequin/Silhouette. In 1991 her first Pennyfoot Hotel book was published and since then Kate has written 35 mysteries, including the Manor House mysteries, the Bellehaven House mysteries(written as Rebecca Kent) and the Raven's Nest mysteries, (written as Allison Kingsley.) Her new series, The Merry Ghost Inn Mysteries debuted in January, 2017 with Dead and Breakfast, featuring a B & B on the Oregon coast. She has one son, Regan, and lives with her husband, Bill, in the beautiful state of Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 20, 2017
This is the 9th entry in the Pennyfoot Hotel mystery series – and the murder mystery didn’t count for squat in this book! The whole “mystery” is what is going to happen between Cecily and Baxter.
It’s been three months since Baxter suddenly left the Pennyfoot, with only a vague promise that he would explain at a later date. Not one single word has Cecily heard from him in that time and then, without notice, he walks up behind her on the roof garden. From that point on you simply do not want to put the book down.
The book is expertly written with dialog of the time period. The author’s ability to express anger, fear, distress, supposition and love within that dialog and internal monologues is phenomenal. And the author’s way of creating reader frustration with the characters is pretty good, too. By the time you’ve gotten a third of the way through this book, you just want to shake both Baxter and Cecily and tell them to quit pussy-footing around and “communicate already.”
This series comes under the “cozy mystery” genre but is really a serial drama. The books must truly be read in published order to get the most benefit and understanding of the time line and “family” dynamics involved. They are a great way to lighten the heart and, for the avid reader, can be the well-placed break needed between heavier and/or nastier mysteries and thrillers.
It’s been three months since Baxter suddenly left the Pennyfoot, with only a vague promise that he would explain at a later date. Not one single word has Cecily heard from him in that time and then, without notice, he walks up behind her on the roof garden. From that point on you simply do not want to put the book down.
The book is expertly written with dialog of the time period. The author’s ability to express anger, fear, distress, supposition and love within that dialog and internal monologues is phenomenal. And the author’s way of creating reader frustration with the characters is pretty good, too. By the time you’ve gotten a third of the way through this book, you just want to shake both Baxter and Cecily and tell them to quit pussy-footing around and “communicate already.”
This series comes under the “cozy mystery” genre but is really a serial drama. The books must truly be read in published order to get the most benefit and understanding of the time line and “family” dynamics involved. They are a great way to lighten the heart and, for the avid reader, can be the well-placed break needed between heavier and/or nastier mysteries and thrillers.
March 14, 2013
Kate Kingsbury is one of my favorite current mystery authors. I've enjoyed all the Pennyfoot Hotel Mysteries I've read, and I'm keeping an eye out for the books I'm missing in the series.
January 18, 2020
Okay entry into this series. Like most current cozies Kingsbury seems to be going down the "love triangle" road. Too much of the story was spent on Cecily worrying about what Baxter was about. The woman didn't shut up long enough to hear him.
I bleeding got bleeding sick of bleeding Doris with her bleeding bleeding in every bleeding sentence she bleedingly uttered. I just started to skip the pages where she was talking.
And the village girls....they can't all be that stupid. At least one of them has to have some redeeming quality. Either than or Cecily is the only sane one in a village where the mentally unstable are sent -- like an asylum for them in the fresh air.
I bleeding got bleeding sick of bleeding Doris with her bleeding bleeding in every bleeding sentence she bleedingly uttered. I just started to skip the pages where she was talking.
And the village girls....they can't all be that stupid. At least one of them has to have some redeeming quality. Either than or Cecily is the only sane one in a village where the mentally unstable are sent -- like an asylum for them in the fresh air.
January 9, 2018
Obsession can make you do things that are not right!!!!!!#
10 stars!!!!!
I am in awe of this book, it had me guessing to the very end, and WOW!!!!!!
Cecily was just as puzzled as any of us will be when you read this book!
I didn't sleep much to finish this book, with obsession so strong, that someone who would go to extreme to get by deadly need.
YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!!!!!!
10 stars!!!!!
I am in awe of this book, it had me guessing to the very end, and WOW!!!!!!
Cecily was just as puzzled as any of us will be when you read this book!
I didn't sleep much to finish this book, with obsession so strong, that someone who would go to extreme to get by deadly need.
YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!!!!!!
August 2, 2018
The chalice and Baxter
The last two books in the Pennyfoot series have been so much to read.
The mystery of the chalice is well thought out and for the first time, I figured out the murderer.
The relationship between Cecile and Baxter was my favorite part of the book, as well as the return of an old employee.
The last two books in the Pennyfoot series have been so much to read.
The mystery of the chalice is well thought out and for the first time, I figured out the murderer.
The relationship between Cecile and Baxter was my favorite part of the book, as well as the return of an old employee.
August 23, 2024
Celebration for a saint ends in theft and murder in this installment of the Pennyfoot Hotel series starring Cecily Sinclair and Baxter. I really wish that Phoebe Carter-Holmes would be written out of these books. She's such a pompous, ridiculous, and obnoxious character.
Quick but fun read. I'd recommend the book to others.
Quick but fun read. I'd recommend the book to others.
January 3, 2019
Cute and charming as ever!
January 9, 2020
I always enjoy visiting the Pennyfoot Hotel.
October 24, 2020
Utterly delightful. Charming setting, interesting minor characters, and very unexpected reveal at the end. Hints of romance, and a smart mystery. Highly recommended!
May 12, 2014
A very enjoyable series, though it can be very annoying in spots, at times. In this book, the attraction and sexual tension between Cecily Sinclair and her former manager of the hotel she owns and runs in Badgers End; somewhere in England, close to London; comes to head, though not to a very satisfactory climax. The tension has been building for some time; especially on Cecily’s end since she is the focus of the series. You are aware of her feelings, since she’s basically the voice of the series. While Baxter, her manager and apparent love interest is well drawn, you really don’t know his intentions and feelings, since focus rarely shifts to him.
Here though, you know Baxter wants to finally move the relationship forward. He was bound by promises to Cecily’s husband, his friend, to take care of Cecily, as well as late Victorian and earlier Edwardian morals and social norms concerning women. This severely restricted him from interacting and responding to Cecily in a manner that would clearly reflect his developing feelings.
The annoyance, and unfortunately a fairly large annoyance, was Cecily’s sudden vacillation for her feelings for Baxter. For much of the series, you have known that Cecily has healed, to a great extent, from the death of her beloved husband. She now regards Baxter, her husband’s friend and the hotel manager, as something much more than an employee and friend, but more as a love interest. Now, in this book, she is suddenly not prepared to respond to his declaration; yet she has longed for it and dreamed of it for the last few books. Now, she seesaws between being unprepared for how she should respond (NOT! She suddenly goes into denial regarding her feelings when Baxter seems prepared to declare his feelings); to being heavily disappointed and despairing when Baxter doesn’t declare his feelings. However, Cecily seems to have done everything in her power to forestall and cut off expression of Baxter’s feelings, as she’s not sure he’ll respond as she wants, yet denies at the same time.
This was a big annoyance, as I was concerned, for this book. I’m glad the relationship is progressing and developing; however I’m very disturbed by Cecily’s sudden vacillation in feelings, when you’ve been aware for some time that she was interested in more than a business relationship with Baxter.
The good news is the author is not neglecting the supporting characters, even though she may not be evolving the main characters to the degree that I would like. The maids – the staff; especially Gertie and some of the under maids and stable hands; are all evolving as well. This is refreshing and a nice development for me. I look forward to more; even though these are what I would classify as cozies; which I have experienced to be all over the place in terms of quality and likability.
Here though, you know Baxter wants to finally move the relationship forward. He was bound by promises to Cecily’s husband, his friend, to take care of Cecily, as well as late Victorian and earlier Edwardian morals and social norms concerning women. This severely restricted him from interacting and responding to Cecily in a manner that would clearly reflect his developing feelings.
The annoyance, and unfortunately a fairly large annoyance, was Cecily’s sudden vacillation for her feelings for Baxter. For much of the series, you have known that Cecily has healed, to a great extent, from the death of her beloved husband. She now regards Baxter, her husband’s friend and the hotel manager, as something much more than an employee and friend, but more as a love interest. Now, in this book, she is suddenly not prepared to respond to his declaration; yet she has longed for it and dreamed of it for the last few books. Now, she seesaws between being unprepared for how she should respond (NOT! She suddenly goes into denial regarding her feelings when Baxter seems prepared to declare his feelings); to being heavily disappointed and despairing when Baxter doesn’t declare his feelings. However, Cecily seems to have done everything in her power to forestall and cut off expression of Baxter’s feelings, as she’s not sure he’ll respond as she wants, yet denies at the same time.
This was a big annoyance, as I was concerned, for this book. I’m glad the relationship is progressing and developing; however I’m very disturbed by Cecily’s sudden vacillation in feelings, when you’ve been aware for some time that she was interested in more than a business relationship with Baxter.
The good news is the author is not neglecting the supporting characters, even though she may not be evolving the main characters to the degree that I would like. The maids – the staff; especially Gertie and some of the under maids and stable hands; are all evolving as well. This is refreshing and a nice development for me. I look forward to more; even though these are what I would classify as cozies; which I have experienced to be all over the place in terms of quality and likability.
December 12, 2009
After a long tedious slog, I finished the series of Pennyfoots that I have purchased. Kingsbury writes drivel. There is no complexity to it. There is no historical context or feel to it. You can pick up all you need from two hours of BBC America and you will know as much as the author seems to give you.
I have pointed out before how a large estate transformed into a turn of the last century hotel, would not be run like a modern hotel. All of sudden now there are rooms for more than 50 guests. Our heroine and her dead discarded husband must have had a great deal of money indeed to buy one of the largest homes in all of england.
Houses just weren't built like hotels are now. But the writer has no concept. Again with staffing, trying to make it a plot device. There are always enough staff for the ever large amount of guests. We find there is a Bartender, who we have never seen. Then the stableman is also the man who is the groomsman always on errands for the boss. Well what if a guest wants to ride, who saddles their horse?
When the old maid shows up looking for her job, (married to a farmer, I am so sure that they will be able to maintain the same hours) it is used as a plot device and takes days and many chapters to resolve.
For everything has to fit into Kingsbury 20 chapter, 12 pages to each, formula. Whether it makes sense or not. Whether there is anything to say or not. Whether we have another large group of pages of the dancing girls arguing over nothing or not, or the drunk Colonel with the one clue the heroine needs everytime.
I wasted my money. I've recouped what I could be reading the trash. I hope I can save you from wasting yours.
I have pointed out before how a large estate transformed into a turn of the last century hotel, would not be run like a modern hotel. All of sudden now there are rooms for more than 50 guests. Our heroine and her dead discarded husband must have had a great deal of money indeed to buy one of the largest homes in all of england.
Houses just weren't built like hotels are now. But the writer has no concept. Again with staffing, trying to make it a plot device. There are always enough staff for the ever large amount of guests. We find there is a Bartender, who we have never seen. Then the stableman is also the man who is the groomsman always on errands for the boss. Well what if a guest wants to ride, who saddles their horse?
When the old maid shows up looking for her job, (married to a farmer, I am so sure that they will be able to maintain the same hours) it is used as a plot device and takes days and many chapters to resolve.
For everything has to fit into Kingsbury 20 chapter, 12 pages to each, formula. Whether it makes sense or not. Whether there is anything to say or not. Whether we have another large group of pages of the dancing girls arguing over nothing or not, or the drunk Colonel with the one clue the heroine needs everytime.
I wasted my money. I've recouped what I could be reading the trash. I hope I can save you from wasting yours.
February 17, 2015
Af en toe een mysterie er tussen door is goed als hersengymnastiek. Ik hou ervan om mee te zoeken naar de dader, maar meestal slaag ik er totaal niet in om hem te ontmaskeren. Een toekomst als amateurdetective is alvast niet voor mij weggelegd. Maar leuk is het wel. Deze boekjes hebben vaak een dosis humor ook en geen te bloederige taferelen. Die zijn totaal mijn ding niet als ik nog gerust wil gaan slapen. Voldeed deze aan mijn eisen voor een 'cozy mysterie'?
Laat mij beginnen bij het begin. Over het algemeen is de cover al doorslaggevend om het voor mij een goed boek te maken. Deze viel dan al bijzonder tegen door de sombere tekening.
Toen ik dan besefte dat het zich in het begin van de vorige eeuw afspeelde, had ik weer een 'oei, nee' gevoel. Het taalgebruik à la upstairs, downstairs is totaal niet aan mij besteed.
Maar goed. Vermits ik elk boek sowieso uitlees en Ik deze had gekregen van een vriendin, die er wel een vrij goede waardering aan gaf, zette ik mijn vooroordelen voor één keer aan de kant. Een ding is zeker : ik zou er nooit geld aan gegeven hebben. Maar misschien was het verhaal wel zodanig goed dat ik het mij allemaal niet zou storen. smile-emoticon
Jammer, maar helaas. Het was een flauw verhaal en dat een van de keukenmeiden in elke zin een vloekwoord moest gebruiken, bracht het zeker niet naar een hoger niveau.
Het boek was deel 9 uit de Pennyfoot Hotel serie. Misschien heb ik pech gehad en zijn er betere? Iedereen verdient een tweede kans, dus zeg nooit nooit.
Conclusie : 2 sterren, waarvan 1 voor mezelf omdat ik de dader deze keer wel had gevonden smile-emoticon
Laat mij beginnen bij het begin. Over het algemeen is de cover al doorslaggevend om het voor mij een goed boek te maken. Deze viel dan al bijzonder tegen door de sombere tekening.
Toen ik dan besefte dat het zich in het begin van de vorige eeuw afspeelde, had ik weer een 'oei, nee' gevoel. Het taalgebruik à la upstairs, downstairs is totaal niet aan mij besteed.
Maar goed. Vermits ik elk boek sowieso uitlees en Ik deze had gekregen van een vriendin, die er wel een vrij goede waardering aan gaf, zette ik mijn vooroordelen voor één keer aan de kant. Een ding is zeker : ik zou er nooit geld aan gegeven hebben. Maar misschien was het verhaal wel zodanig goed dat ik het mij allemaal niet zou storen. smile-emoticon
Jammer, maar helaas. Het was een flauw verhaal en dat een van de keukenmeiden in elke zin een vloekwoord moest gebruiken, bracht het zeker niet naar een hoger niveau.
Het boek was deel 9 uit de Pennyfoot Hotel serie. Misschien heb ik pech gehad en zijn er betere? Iedereen verdient een tweede kans, dus zeg nooit nooit.
Conclusie : 2 sterren, waarvan 1 voor mezelf omdat ik de dader deze keer wel had gevonden smile-emoticon
February 11, 2017
This marks the 10th in this charming series by Kate Kingsbury, and such a fun read it is.
A welcome return to two characters, growth and change in the Pennyfoot Hotel and Cecily finally comes to realize her feelings.
The one thing I really like about this series is that the mysteries are just a part of the story. The best part is the expansion and development of the characters, and the views into their lives and relationships.
A welcome return to two characters, growth and change in the Pennyfoot Hotel and Cecily finally comes to realize her feelings.
The one thing I really like about this series is that the mysteries are just a part of the story. The best part is the expansion and development of the characters, and the views into their lives and relationships.
October 17, 2016
I enjoyed this installment of the series. I was a little disappointed because I guessed the killer rather early on. I must admit as the series goes on I dislike Phoebe more and more. I like Madeline because she doesn't follow anyone, she's her own person. I enjoy the relationship between Cecily and Baxter. Colonel Fortescue is starting to get on my nerves.
February 21, 2015
Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery Book 9
Thank you Ms. Kingsbury for another enjoyable mystery! I like reading books where you get to know the characters so well, they seem to be a part of your family. Keep up the good work; I hope you never stop.
Thank you Ms. Kingsbury for another enjoyable mystery! I like reading books where you get to know the characters so well, they seem to be a part of your family. Keep up the good work; I hope you never stop.
August 10, 2016
This is not realistic, but it is entertaining. Not enough regional details or historical information, but overall a decent mystery.
February 2, 2015
Nice for a change.
April 14, 2015
Wonderful
Happy endings for all. Baxter and Cecily are back together not only to solve crime but to explore their new relationship.
Happy endings for all. Baxter and Cecily are back together not only to solve crime but to explore their new relationship.
May 31, 2016
A fun read al always in this series. Love spending time with "the regulars"
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews