Murder and Salutations

A Cardmaking Mystery #3

by Elizabeth Bright

While attending the Chamber of Commerce gala to receive her Businessperson of the Year award, Jennifer Shane discovers that murder is on the guest list when her arch enemy Eliza Glade is found dead.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Ebooks, Crafts, Cozy, Detective

229 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

A pseudonym used by Tim Myers

Series:
* A Card Making Mystery

Reviews

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer Shane is surprised when she is named the winner of Business Person of the year. There is a large party to celebrate and people from surrounding counties attend. Chamber of Commerce president Eliza Glade considers the yearly gala her night. But, the over-made-up and over-the-top Eliza doesn't realize that her big night will also be her last. The Shane sisters who have a business making personalized cards, may have been Eliza's worst enemies. While they are trying to clear their names, another murder happens. This is the third in a Card Making Mystery.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd and apparently last book in this cozy mysteries series. It was published in 2006 so it looks like there won't be more books coming out, which is disappointing. I liked this series about a woman, Jennifer, who owns a card making shop in VA. Her sister owns a scrapbooking store and her brother is the police chief. Their aunt works in the card shop with Jennifer.

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cosy mystery where "cosy" is code for shallow characters, inane plot. Assumes that the point of life is consumerism in all things including (hetero)sexuality. I started bookmarking the yikest bits but stopped because there were many but here are a couple:

"My brother was not a chauvanist not by any means..." right after describing how he clearly is...I mean it's fine to have a sexist character but don't try to make excuses for him (p16)

The big fat neon sign around the murderer's neck based on the protagoist is rude to them for no reason. )passim)

"I wasn't sure what Reggie Bloom's family had done to be able to afford such an expensive place but I was willing to bet it had beem done generations ago." Not sure if the dog-whistling there is intentional but it screams that they made their money from exploiting slaves. (p70)

Being a single woman at a dinner party makes you "the odd one out" and boring/a spare (72) BIGGEST EYE ROLL IN THE WORLD

Greg gets annoyed because she opens her own car door (119) etc etc etc. The whole dating the ex because his girlfriend said so sequence (a huge proportion of the book) was really off.

And just how there's a "life is easy" worldview throughout the book. How many people in the book can just do their hobby and somehow miraculously they make a living doing that...like a scrapbooking shop with a home-made card corner is one thing but somehow magically making both stay afloat in a tiny town...really?

Am I nitpicking? Maybe. The women being constantly on heat was a bit boring. On the plus side there were tips for how to make your own greeting card in case anyone missed out on primary school.

Suit yourself but I am out!

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the interaction between the lead and her auntie. That they worked together was a nice touch. Her relationships with her siblings were solid and real. The town had a small cozy feel with some stores that I'd shop in. I liked the over all feel. The back cover did say it had card making tips, and it does. Don't make the mistake of thinking these are instructions. They are tips designed to start your create juices flowing. They were scattered throughout the book, some at the end of the chapters and some within the story. Unexpected, but nice. Most put theirs at the end of the book.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindle

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted an easy read for travelling, this was just what I needed! Story set in small town America, Jennifer, the owner of a card-making store helps to solve a murder.

[Paschalis]

elibrary

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a fun “cozy mystery” I enjoyed the character made and the plot wasn’t too simple to figure out. I want to go back and read others since this wasn’t the first in the series.

[Connlou Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

(2006) Excellent crime mystery. Love the twist and turns E.Bright takes you through while you try to guess the killer.

[Marj · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third in the Card-making Mystery series, and is similar to the others. It is a light, easy read as are most cozy mysteries. It features Jennifer Shane, the owner of the local hand made card shop, and her "assistant", her Aunt Lillian.

Jennifer is named Businessperson of the Year, which is a surprise to many. The problem with her winning is that the president of the local Chamber of Commerce, Eliza Glade, is an enemy of Jennifer's sister, Sarah Lynn, and the award is a slam to Sarah Lynn, especially after the announcement detailing why the award was given to Jennifer.

During the awards dinner, it is discovered that someone has been murdered in the kitchen area.The main suspect is Sarah Lynn, as the victim is Eliza, who not only is Sarah Lynn's enemy, but has started an affair with Sarah Lynn's husband. Jennifer, with Sarah Lynn and Aunt Lillian's help, feels compelled to help her sister out by solving the crime. This worries Jennifer and Sarah Lynn's brother, Bradford, who also happens to be the local sheriff.

I found this story to be an enjoyable read, and appreciate the relationship between Jennifer, Sarah Lynn, Aunt Lillian, and Bradford.

[Eunira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jennifer Shane left her sister's scrapbooking shop to open Custom Card Creations, a specialty card store in Rebel Forge, Virginia. Jennifer is named Businessperson of the Year, but isn't able to enjoy the honor because the Chamber President, Eliza Glade's body is discovered just as she's about to receive the award.

Anyone could be the murderer as Eliza has numerous enemies among the townspeople. But Jennifer's sister, Sara Lynn tops the list. As Jennifer tries to clear her sister's name (with the help of their aunt Lillian) another body is found and the stakes rise. The next murder just might be Jennifer.

This is a very quick read, I didn't enjoy it very much. I think the problem for me were the characters.

[Liz Parissenti]

Jennifer owns a card making shop in the same small town where her sister owns a scrapbooking store and her brother is a police officer. Her sister's husband is having an affair with Eliza - one of the meanest women in town who has a grudge against both sisters. When Eliza is found murdered, Jennifer has to prove her sister's innocence.

The story is cute but has no drama. There's predictability in Jennifer's love life, the hint of a new beau in following books, and small town politics - but ultimately, the ending fizzles and the story never really grabbed or surprised me. I read it because it was available but am glad there are plenty of other, more engaging small-town mysteries to read.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe just 3 1/2 stars. OK story and I will try another one. No language and not explicit violence which was a point in its favor. Jennifer is the owner of a custom card shop in a small town that comes alive with tourists in the summer. Jennifer and her aunt help her brother the police chief to solve crimes. I don't know how she makes enough money to keep her doors open but in fiction that doesn't matter.

[Elaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Small town mystery with a sleuth who runs a custom card shop and whose brother is the local sheriff.
Bought the book for twenty five cents at a garage sale. Light weight, characters not flushed out, trite
mystery story. but a fast read.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute litlle cozy mystery series that I mainly read to keep me on track for my yearly reading goal. Fun, but nothing spectacular. They are good fluff reading to while away a foggy, dreary day with a pot of tea in front of the fire.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series and am glad I have read all of the ones out so far. I will continue to read them when more are published.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite liked this one, easy to read and because I love making cards I could relate to the main character.

[VerJean · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cute, fun mystery with a 'crafty' background.
Enjoyable reading.
Read in 2007.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read and even got some clues about making my own cards.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just couldn't get into this series. While I thought the mysteries were quite good, I think it came down to the fact that I just didn't like the main character.

[Denise Kearney · Rating 3 out of 5]

PB- Good cozy mystery