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Cobb's Landing #1
Death of a Tart
As mayor of the broke New England town of Cobb's Landing, Peggy Jean Turner is thrilled with the idea of creating "Colonial Williamsburg in Cobb's Landing." All goes swimmingly, until the town tart turns up dead--and Peggy must risk everything to solve the crime.
208 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 10, 2011
Death of A Tart is an amazing, whimsical start to a promising new cozy series.
Set in New England ~ Cobb's Landing ~ I had to remind myself Cobb's Landing doesn't exist, so all plans to move there were off : /.
P.J. is a delightful character. I took to her immediately. I am real fussy. When a character speaks to me & seems real the author has a reader in me for life.
Kate Borden created a three dimensional character that is so vibrant, I found the little girl in me wishing she was real.
Death of A Tart is one of my all-time favorite books ever written.
It touched me, made me fall in love w/ mysteries all over.
Death of A Tart definitely is what a cozy mystery is all about ~ hands down.
Set in New England ~ Cobb's Landing ~ I had to remind myself Cobb's Landing doesn't exist, so all plans to move there were off : /.
P.J. is a delightful character. I took to her immediately. I am real fussy. When a character speaks to me & seems real the author has a reader in me for life.
Kate Borden created a three dimensional character that is so vibrant, I found the little girl in me wishing she was real.
Death of A Tart is one of my all-time favorite books ever written.
It touched me, made me fall in love w/ mysteries all over.
Death of A Tart definitely is what a cozy mystery is all about ~ hands down.
July 25, 2014
a little too farfetched.
Read
August 9, 2011Loved the setting of the story but found the book somewhat lacking in character development & believability (the townspeople were too naive). Despite this, it was fun, light reading and entertained me.
September 24, 2018
I love this series! I read one of them years and years ago and remember that it was very well written nothing cheesy or cutesy about it which one can find too often in the cozy genre.
Too bad there are only 3 in the series. Set in New England, small town. A little different twist that the protagonist is a widow. The potential romance that has begun is very intriguing.
Read it in 1 day. Fast read.
Too bad there are only 3 in the series. Set in New England, small town. A little different twist that the protagonist is a widow. The potential romance that has begun is very intriguing.
Read it in 1 day. Fast read.
September 27, 2017
I'm such a sucker for this kind of cozy. The setting is ridiculous (small New England town in financial hardship decides to become a colonial living history museum) and the mystery is very thin, but I still ate it up with a spoon! I picked up the book thinking it would be a culinary mystery, but no, it really is about the murder of the town floozy. Haha!
November 28, 2020
Could not put it down. I was a fast read and a good one. It had me guessing until the end. I am looking forward to book 2 in the series. I like to back story and am looking forward to finding out who is Max.
March 8, 2017
A fun read!
November 6, 2019
I found the town and the people just charming. A wonderful cozy mystery in which the town is a character, I want to go visit this place for myself. This series I have read several times.
June 25, 2020
This is a fun cozy series. Not very well written, but enjoyable and the characters are so lovable you can’t help but like the stories.
October 4, 2021
Like the main characters and the town , reminds me a little of Stars Hollow.
April 1, 2010
This cozy is first in the Cobb's Landing series, which I happened to read out of order but still had fun and I can safely say that the rest of it is just as good! This mystery is short and sweet, I read it in one sitting, while battling a cold, warmed with a cup of hot tea it melted my aches away as I got sucked into a charming Colonial Village, replicated to attract tourists from what it used to be back in the day.
Single mother, Peggy Jean Turner ran as mayor for the past eight years, ever since she lost her husband and she was starting to feel tired and stressed out about the grim economy and lack of profits the town was experiencing. That all changed when Max, new owner of the local bank showed up and ignited everyone to spruce up the village into it's old image of Colonial times, with costumes and all. It all seemed too good to be true until the reality of new bills and surprising small text under the dotted lines of legal papers people signed started to bind them to their contracts. The whole town had to change or people would have more losses than before. Old traditions were brought back and charming tourist attractions set up, along with rehashed family troubles of some families that had disagreements in the New England region. When the town hussy winds up dead and ties to witchcraft start to come up Peggy knows she must solve the mystery before it stops the whole town from prospering under its new image. Armed with her best friend Lavinia, she snoops and pokes around to discover many interesting little bits, which made for a fun mystery and one that tries to lead the reader into the wrong direction!
The things I love most about this charming little book was the relationship between Peggy and her best friend and next door neighbor and their little daily routines, the cooking, shopping, normal things that are overlooked in most books. It made the book feel cozy without reading like an unrealistic fairy tale. I only wish that the author would describe what the characters looked like, I knew what their thoughts and general manner was but their looks were totally omitted!
One can't make a mistake with a book like this; its warm, filled with wonderfully described weather, crisp ambiance, feeling of comfort and a jolt of mystery because there is a crime to be solved and time if ticking away as more people start to get tangled in danger. Finding the connection to town gossip and relationships that were hidden was half the fun, the other half was spend relishing in the cozy setting of a place I'd like to visit again.
Single mother, Peggy Jean Turner ran as mayor for the past eight years, ever since she lost her husband and she was starting to feel tired and stressed out about the grim economy and lack of profits the town was experiencing. That all changed when Max, new owner of the local bank showed up and ignited everyone to spruce up the village into it's old image of Colonial times, with costumes and all. It all seemed too good to be true until the reality of new bills and surprising small text under the dotted lines of legal papers people signed started to bind them to their contracts. The whole town had to change or people would have more losses than before. Old traditions were brought back and charming tourist attractions set up, along with rehashed family troubles of some families that had disagreements in the New England region. When the town hussy winds up dead and ties to witchcraft start to come up Peggy knows she must solve the mystery before it stops the whole town from prospering under its new image. Armed with her best friend Lavinia, she snoops and pokes around to discover many interesting little bits, which made for a fun mystery and one that tries to lead the reader into the wrong direction!
The things I love most about this charming little book was the relationship between Peggy and her best friend and next door neighbor and their little daily routines, the cooking, shopping, normal things that are overlooked in most books. It made the book feel cozy without reading like an unrealistic fairy tale. I only wish that the author would describe what the characters looked like, I knew what their thoughts and general manner was but their looks were totally omitted!
One can't make a mistake with a book like this; its warm, filled with wonderfully described weather, crisp ambiance, feeling of comfort and a jolt of mystery because there is a crime to be solved and time if ticking away as more people start to get tangled in danger. Finding the connection to town gossip and relationships that were hidden was half the fun, the other half was spend relishing in the cozy setting of a place I'd like to visit again.
October 26, 2013
Death of a Tart by Kate Borden is the first book of the Peggy Jean Turner mystery series set in modern-day New England. Cobb’s Landing is a small town steeped in history. It was founded by Josiah Cobb before the Revolutionary War, whose button factory provided the town’s jobs until it succumbed to modern-day global economics. Peggy Jean Turner is the mayor of Cobb’s Landing, “…a town stuck in the fifties. The 1750s.”
When her husband died eight years ago, Peggy took over his job as mayor, as well as owning/operating Tom’s Tools & Hardware. Her young son Nick is her pride and joy. His affection for her in return is charmingly portrayed in the very first chapter, which really hooked me on reading the book. For his 5th-grade homework assignment to write 100 words about someone he knows, he chooses to write about his mom…his essay is sweet. Never mind that he actually played with his best friend for hours and did his homework at the last minute.
Just next door live the Coopers: Chuck the high school shop teacher and head volunteer fireman, his wife Lovey and their son Charlie, Nick’s best friend. Lovey is Peggy’s lifelong best friend and confidante, a strong secondary character through the book. It is very pleasant to read about close friends and neighbors getting together for backyard barbecues, and popping into one another’s houses to chat.
As mayor, Peggy struggles to keep the town going with a limited budget. A stranger named Max comes to town, takes over the bank, and shrewdly cons the townsfolk to invest in a complete makeover. He wants the town to become a colonial replica resort town (think Williamsburg). Folks are thrilled – until the bills come due, and Max offers loans they cannot afford.
For at least the first half of the book, I was sure the mystery was about Max – where did he come from and what was his real agenda, not to mention how the townspeople would survive their new debts. Then Peggy gets involved in what seems at first to be a subplot but then turns into the primary mystery, involving lifelong town residents, inheritance, genealogy and witchcraft. It seems a bit odd that the focus of the book shifts completely away from Max and his henchmen to unraveling the long-hidden secrets of people Peggy thought she knew well.
I enjoyed the early chapters most, where the key townspeople and their relationships were introduced, but on the whole I enjoyed the book enough to read more of the series. Book 2 is Death of a Trickster.
When her husband died eight years ago, Peggy took over his job as mayor, as well as owning/operating Tom’s Tools & Hardware. Her young son Nick is her pride and joy. His affection for her in return is charmingly portrayed in the very first chapter, which really hooked me on reading the book. For his 5th-grade homework assignment to write 100 words about someone he knows, he chooses to write about his mom…his essay is sweet. Never mind that he actually played with his best friend for hours and did his homework at the last minute.
Just next door live the Coopers: Chuck the high school shop teacher and head volunteer fireman, his wife Lovey and their son Charlie, Nick’s best friend. Lovey is Peggy’s lifelong best friend and confidante, a strong secondary character through the book. It is very pleasant to read about close friends and neighbors getting together for backyard barbecues, and popping into one another’s houses to chat.
As mayor, Peggy struggles to keep the town going with a limited budget. A stranger named Max comes to town, takes over the bank, and shrewdly cons the townsfolk to invest in a complete makeover. He wants the town to become a colonial replica resort town (think Williamsburg). Folks are thrilled – until the bills come due, and Max offers loans they cannot afford.
For at least the first half of the book, I was sure the mystery was about Max – where did he come from and what was his real agenda, not to mention how the townspeople would survive their new debts. Then Peggy gets involved in what seems at first to be a subplot but then turns into the primary mystery, involving lifelong town residents, inheritance, genealogy and witchcraft. It seems a bit odd that the focus of the book shifts completely away from Max and his henchmen to unraveling the long-hidden secrets of people Peggy thought she knew well.
I enjoyed the early chapters most, where the key townspeople and their relationships were introduced, but on the whole I enjoyed the book enough to read more of the series. Book 2 is Death of a Trickster.
April 24, 2010
This was a light, fun read. The writing was a too random for my taste. It went from "this happened, then this happened" to everyday conversation between the characters that had nothing to do with the plot and back again. I had the mystery figured out very early on so it was pretty lacking in suspense. The last 20-25 pages or so were a rehashing of everything that happened in the book even after the mystery was solved. I'd probably read the next book in this series if it fell in my lap, but I wouldn't neccessarily seek it out.
April 6, 2013
The setting was interesting and I liked the connection to the witch trials. I think most readers could see straight through Max from the start, but I liked the "Music Man" aspect to the story--I actually expected him to be worse than he was. However, I wasn't a fan of the writing style and I was annoyed by how repetitive it got toward the end. Also, I found the dunking booth scene a bit odd and disjointed and thought some of the character and motive development was lacking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2016
Oh my goodness!!! Talk about action and mystery from start to finish!!! This book was just a great read for me all the way around! It had action, adventure, mystery, drama, family, friends, and of course murder and mayhem! If you are in search of a book that is all about keeping you on your reading and thinking toes as you read, this is it. I was on the edge of my seat all the while I read this wonderful book!
5/5 Stars for sure!!
5/5 Stars for sure!!
April 14, 2011
Very fun and easy read. I enjoyed the economic downturn of the small town and how they deal with it, which is directly related to the historical theme(s) that she uses, all colonial. I'd like to see where PJ (the mayor) goes in this series, because you know in a small town, secrets are SO hard to keep. Paraphasing Ben Franklin, it's easy to keep a secret among 3 people, if 2 are dead....
October 10, 2022
I’ve read this book and the other 2 in the series several times and they never get old. I love the cast, want to be friends and neighbors with Lovie and Peggy and live in Cobb’s Landing. I’d love to know what happened to the author and why she never wrote more books in this series.
March 19, 2015
Very enjoyable. I'd love to read more of these & find out more about Max too.
December 16, 2008
The first in the series.
A great book and a great start to the series. I always look forward to reading these.
A great book and a great start to the series. I always look forward to reading these.
May 8, 2009
I owned this once but then I moved and hubby only let me keep 1000 books... luckily I found the series at my new library!
Good 1st book! :O)
Good 1st book! :O)
August 9, 2009
This series is " a quick read " Very easy, makes good summer reading
August 28, 2009
Peggy Jean Turner #1
October 11, 2009
This is a very quick read. The characters are likable enough, but the plot is very far fetched.
July 15, 2013
Not well written, characters are unlikable & odd. Just not a great cozy mystery, unfortunately.
July 19, 2014
This story had a somewhat unbelievable, disjointed vibe to it. I did like the characters.
October 20, 2015
Really quick read that moved along swiftly and kept my interest. Not a fan of the Max swindler guy but I'm sure his story will be elaborated in future books.
September 2, 2016
This was quite a fun read by an author I've read before but not in this series. I think I'll look for some others in the same line.
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May 8, 2010one of the best cozies I've ever read...fast and fun!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews