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Miss Felicity Prim #1
The Outsmarting of Criminals
After being mugged in New York City, Miss Felicity Prim decides to leave the big city and purchase a home in the country, where she will be safe from the dangerous criminals who call New York home. A devoted reader of crime fiction, Miss Prim believes that her reading experiences have given her the skills required to become an amateur sleuth in her new home of Greenfield, Connecticut. She gets her chance to prove her mettle when she finds a corpse in her basement. As Miss Prim searches for the victim's identity and killer, she finds her father's old journals, which create a crisis in her family. Meanwhile, Miss Prim's young friend, Dolly, has become involved in a dangerous situation and needs Miss Prim's help. Can Miss Prim, with her insights into human behavior and her steadfast refusal to rely on forensics and databases (which she considers the crutches of lazy investigators), save the day and bring everything to a happy resolution? Of course she can.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2014
19 people are currently reading
871 people want to read
About the author
Steven Rigolosi
11 books40 followersSteve Rigolosi lives in Manhattan and is the author of the Tales from the Back Page series of mystery novels. The third book in the series, Androgynous Murder House Party, was released in June 2009. The premise of this series: Have you ever wondered about the stories behind the advertisements in your local newspaper—-those ads for fetish parties, transvestite boutiques, discount psychotherapy, wicca conventions, Gothic/Punk events, and lonely-hearts seeking to re-establish contact with a ship that passed in the night? Each book in the TALES FROM THE BACK PAGE series looks closely at an advertisement placed on the “Bulletin Board” of The Clarion, a community newspaper published on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
April 19, 2014
The hardcover version of Steven Rigolosi’s THE OUTSMARTING OF CRIMINALS promises exquisite delights. Just holding the book in my hands I know I’m about to embark on a pastiche of amateur detective fiction. The cover simulates a beautiful pen and ink drawing, reminescent of the line drawings which preceded BBC’s Friday Night Mysteries. The pages are heavy and crisp and I’m sure I can hear violins.
You’d expect the protagonist to be a bright, strait-laced lady of uncertain years—but Miss Felicity Prim brings much more. She’s surprisingly open-mined for such a well-brought up person—possibly because she’s a New Yorker—but she does rather have a deliberate approach to life. Her literal-mindedness adds unexpected humour.
Bruno the dog is a treat.
The story proceeds apace. Some events are so preposterous that I’m certain the intention is tongue-in-cheek. Characters unselfconsciously screw up the plot. Miss Prim charges to the rescue. Characters behave more like themselves. Confusion ensues.
The plot of THE OUTSMARTING OF CRIMINALS is mind-bogglingly convoluted with a (long) laugh out loud conclusion, which I unhesitatingly proclaim that thou shalt never guess.
I was planning on giving this book to someone who’d appreciate it, but perhaps I’ll just keep it around so that I might re-read it when the mood strikes.
Miss Felicity Prim is a strong enough character for a series, so I hope Steven Rigolosi is listening.
Well done, sir.
Theresa de Valence, http://www.ReviewsByTdeV.com
You’d expect the protagonist to be a bright, strait-laced lady of uncertain years—but Miss Felicity Prim brings much more. She’s surprisingly open-mined for such a well-brought up person—possibly because she’s a New Yorker—but she does rather have a deliberate approach to life. Her literal-mindedness adds unexpected humour.
Bruno the dog is a treat.
The story proceeds apace. Some events are so preposterous that I’m certain the intention is tongue-in-cheek. Characters unselfconsciously screw up the plot. Miss Prim charges to the rescue. Characters behave more like themselves. Confusion ensues.
The plot of THE OUTSMARTING OF CRIMINALS is mind-bogglingly convoluted with a (long) laugh out loud conclusion, which I unhesitatingly proclaim that thou shalt never guess.
I was planning on giving this book to someone who’d appreciate it, but perhaps I’ll just keep it around so that I might re-read it when the mood strikes.
Miss Felicity Prim is a strong enough character for a series, so I hope Steven Rigolosi is listening.
Well done, sir.
Theresa de Valence, http://www.ReviewsByTdeV.com
May 10, 2014
One of the best books I've read this year. If you adore traditional mysteries -- e.g. Agatha Christie -- like I do, then you'll have a great time with this book that pays homage to classic mysteries. I don't always enjoy pastiches, but this one was a perfect combination of expected conventions and unique characters. And most importantly, the writing was incredibly clever. I hope there will be more Miss Prim novels from Steven Rigolosi.
August 22, 2014
Written with a wink and a nod to the cozy mystery world as a whole, The Outsmarting of Criminals is a witty, delightful paean to the genre. Miss Felicity Prim reminded me of Deana Durbin or Katherine Hepburn in those classic 40’s films, perfectly dressed and coifed, one hand on the fireplace mantle, the other on her hip, ready to take on the world. In this case, the articulate Miss Felicity Prim leaves New York City for a rose-covered cottage in the country and a new career “outsmarting criminals.” We all know that is not a paying gig, but that is part of the fun. I am very pleased to have met Miss Felicity Prim and her friends and family in this mystery adventure that includes a locked room mystery, a kooky sidekick, a handsome detective, a lemonade recipe, found love letters, an original copy of William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and a bookstore with sections like CRAPPY MYSTERIES BY PEOPLE WHO HAVEN’T WRITTEN A GOOD BOOK IN YEARS. Whether or not you figure out the mystery or the secondary plots (I suspected one, was wrong on others), The Outsmarting of Criminals will keep you laughing and ready for the next installment.
August 4, 2015
After Miss Felicity Prim is mugged she makes the life changing decision to give up her job as Dr Poe's assistant, forgo her rent controlled apartment in New York and her many friends and move to the country, Greenfield, Connecticut. And embarks on a new career outsmarting criminals.
Oh where to begin I couldn't decide whether the author was taking the piss or is serious? I am annoyed I would never have bought this book had I realised that it was a parody as I just don't like that style of book.
Although set in the current time period it has a very Marplesque feel to it. If the author is going for the twee and whimsical it succeeds initially but quickly becomes annoying as the story unfolds. The characters are caricatures and so over exaggerated both in personality and behaviour it felt like they had all escaped from a mental asylum and taken refuge in the small town of Greenfield. Within 5 minutes of meeting Lorraine her nearest neighbour Miss Prim decides she will be her sidekick in the adventures to come.
Midway through I was thinking this is not too bad the story is okay and somewhat interesting but I realised that I had been deluding myself and being too kind as the various storylines resolved themselves. Miss Prim states:
"Surely, if these events took place in a novel, readers would complain about too much coincidence. Even those lovely readers who willingly suspend disbelief."
YES, YES, I am one of those readers! And that's exactly how I feel! As each part of the storyline in the last few pages unfolded I kept having to pause to guffaw in disbelief. The long lost sisters were reunited and had known each other all along! The criminals were caught but hey it was all alright because although they had all broken the law it was done with the best of intentions. And, of course, the way to someone's heart is to terrorise them, drug them, kidnap them and then jump out wearing a mask. Because after all it was done for love!
And the epilogue comes direct from heaven, yes that's right Miss Prim's parents looking down fondly at her!
PS: Driving too fast and forcing pedestrians to run for their lives isn't remotely funny.
Oh where to begin I couldn't decide whether the author was taking the piss or is serious? I am annoyed I would never have bought this book had I realised that it was a parody as I just don't like that style of book.
Although set in the current time period it has a very Marplesque feel to it. If the author is going for the twee and whimsical it succeeds initially but quickly becomes annoying as the story unfolds. The characters are caricatures and so over exaggerated both in personality and behaviour it felt like they had all escaped from a mental asylum and taken refuge in the small town of Greenfield. Within 5 minutes of meeting Lorraine her nearest neighbour Miss Prim decides she will be her sidekick in the adventures to come.
Midway through I was thinking this is not too bad the story is okay and somewhat interesting but I realised that I had been deluding myself and being too kind as the various storylines resolved themselves. Miss Prim states:
"Surely, if these events took place in a novel, readers would complain about too much coincidence. Even those lovely readers who willingly suspend disbelief."
YES, YES, I am one of those readers! And that's exactly how I feel! As each part of the storyline in the last few pages unfolded I kept having to pause to guffaw in disbelief. The long lost sisters were reunited and had known each other all along! The criminals were caught but hey it was all alright because although they had all broken the law it was done with the best of intentions. And, of course, the way to someone's heart is to terrorise them, drug them, kidnap them and then jump out wearing a mask. Because after all it was done for love!
And the epilogue comes direct from heaven, yes that's right Miss Prim's parents looking down fondly at her!
PS: Driving too fast and forcing pedestrians to run for their lives isn't remotely funny.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2014
The Outsmarting of Criminals was a great read when I needed cheering up so much. Funny satirical take on the typical “village” mystery. The character, Miss Prim, is anachronistic for her time, the book is set currently..but she is a perfect old time cozy mystery sleuth eschewing computers and CSI-type testing or forensics. The author has set up the characters to fulfill all the standard mystery tropes. Miss Prim even has a checklist to fulfill her requirements as an “outsmarter of criminals”. The book might be a smidge too long but it was nevertheless a quick read and a page turner.
May 5, 2014
I love Miss Prim and I hope to read more of her adventures! It was an engaging story full of wonderful characters. I could have done without the epilogue, though. Also there were several word errors.
August 1, 2019
I just gotta say... I tried! I really and truly tried to finish this book, but I couldn't! It was terrible!!!!!!!!! What ticked me off the most is the fact that I had a hard time discerning what time period this book was supposed to be set in. All the characters talked as if they were from the 1940's, even the kids, and the cover made me believe that this was the time period. Then they would talk about smart phones and the internet.... I just didn't get it. Miss Prim is pretty pretentious and has a holier than thou view the entire book. The entire book kicks off with her leaving New York cause she is just too scared to be near all the people who could attack her!! at any moment!! and then she goes on to be a private detective.... to help with murders... Like.... You left a city with a great police response time to go to the middle of freaking nowhere to hunt down murders where the police's idea of high crime is someone stealing a gnome? like come on!!! Another thing that bugged me is the fact she is constantly going on about how terrible all the new technology is... There was a literal conversation about how automatic transmission in the car was just a fad... Like WHAT??? It made no sense. Then goes on to say that new fangled fads and technology just cannot compare to a experienced person like herself when catching criminals. UM... excuse you? are you saying technology like being able to analyze DNA or use CCTV to see the criminal's features is useless???? last time I checked, technology has made it easier to catch killers not the other way around.
Miss Prim's primitive outlook on life wasn't even the worse thing... it was so BORING! Like homegirl found a body in her hidden basement. That should be enough to excite readers, but not the way this author did it! After like 15 more chapters... NOTHING HAPPENED! Unless you count her going to the grocery store and then her making tea, and "oh! let me answer the phone . And it's now 11pm! So late! I have to retire now as I must get up early to go to the coffee shop and get more tea! and maybe there i can ask the 10th boring townsperson if they have seen dead man from basement" . . .-___- Like the author made murder boring. Didn't think that was possible, But they. did. it.
I WOULD NEVER recommend this book. Like run away!!!
Miss Prim's primitive outlook on life wasn't even the worse thing... it was so BORING! Like homegirl found a body in her hidden basement. That should be enough to excite readers, but not the way this author did it! After like 15 more chapters... NOTHING HAPPENED! Unless you count her going to the grocery store and then her making tea, and "oh! let me answer the phone . And it's now 11pm! So late! I have to retire now as I must get up early to go to the coffee shop and get more tea! and maybe there i can ask the 10th boring townsperson if they have seen dead man from basement" . . .-___- Like the author made murder boring. Didn't think that was possible, But they. did. it.
I WOULD NEVER recommend this book. Like run away!!!
Read
August 5, 2014It's a parody of the Miss Marple style of cozy mystery. After Felicity Prim, a fifty-ish spinster living in New York City, is mugged, she decides to make the outsmarting of criminals her career. She buys a cottage in a village in Connecticut and gets to work more quickly than she'd intended when she finds a body in her basement.
I'm trying to write the rest of this without spoilers!
The story depends more on an assortment of over-the-top characters and funny situations than on plot, which is airy as a meringue. Rigolosi makes fun of several cozy mystery tropes, one of which he grossly over-uses. But perhaps he intended that over-use as part of the parody.
The book is a very fast read, with nothing offensive or disturbing. I liked that Felicity is helpful and pleasant, if verging on a busybody. However, she seems to have been dropped into today's world from the 1950s at the latest. Even in a parody, I found it hard to accept the main character being so ignorant of the real world. There's one moment she's so oblivious I fell out of the story with a very loud thud.
The original Miss Marple only SEEMED to be out-of-touch, but solved mysteries with her knowledge of the world.
Well, writing a parody involves quite a balancing act. I'm not sure Rigolosi carried that balancing act off successfully, but other readers may disagree. Suffice it to say, I did enjoy the book.
I'm trying to write the rest of this without spoilers!
The story depends more on an assortment of over-the-top characters and funny situations than on plot, which is airy as a meringue. Rigolosi makes fun of several cozy mystery tropes, one of which he grossly over-uses. But perhaps he intended that over-use as part of the parody.
The book is a very fast read, with nothing offensive or disturbing. I liked that Felicity is helpful and pleasant, if verging on a busybody. However, she seems to have been dropped into today's world from the 1950s at the latest. Even in a parody, I found it hard to accept the main character being so ignorant of the real world. There's one moment she's so oblivious I fell out of the story with a very loud thud.
The original Miss Marple only SEEMED to be out-of-touch, but solved mysteries with her knowledge of the world.
Well, writing a parody involves quite a balancing act. I'm not sure Rigolosi carried that balancing act off successfully, but other readers may disagree. Suffice it to say, I did enjoy the book.
May 17, 2014
Book #46 Read in 2014
The Outsmarting of Criminals by Steven Rigolosi
This was a great, cozy read. Miss Prim leaves New York City after she is mugged and moves to a lovely little town in CT. She decides to begin a new career as a sort of investigator....her goal is to outsmart criminals. The sleepy little town immediately becomes more interesting when Miss Prim finds a dead body in her hidden basement room. She begins an investigation with some help from her boxer Bruno and her neighbor Lorraine. Miss Prim seamlessly becomes an integral part of her small town and meets quite an interesting cast of characters.
I enjoyed the literary references to mystery books and authors. Miss Prim was an interesting main character. The secondary characters were also interesting and I loved the small town setting, which felt like an English village transplanted to CT. Of course, Bruno was a fave of mine as well. I recommend this book to mystery lovers.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
The Outsmarting of Criminals by Steven Rigolosi
This was a great, cozy read. Miss Prim leaves New York City after she is mugged and moves to a lovely little town in CT. She decides to begin a new career as a sort of investigator....her goal is to outsmart criminals. The sleepy little town immediately becomes more interesting when Miss Prim finds a dead body in her hidden basement room. She begins an investigation with some help from her boxer Bruno and her neighbor Lorraine. Miss Prim seamlessly becomes an integral part of her small town and meets quite an interesting cast of characters.
I enjoyed the literary references to mystery books and authors. Miss Prim was an interesting main character. The secondary characters were also interesting and I loved the small town setting, which felt like an English village transplanted to CT. Of course, Bruno was a fave of mine as well. I recommend this book to mystery lovers.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
May 28, 2015
Randomly picked this one up at the library. I feel like I'm about 30 years under the recommended reading age. This is definitely a cozy mystery - heavy emphasis on the cozy. Unfortunately there's not much of a mystery. My biggest issue with the book is it seems like he's trying way too hard to make the cozy mystery thing work. All the weird references to her parents, the crazy epilogue (seriously wtf?), and all the weird "oh if this was a fiction story." Yeah, I get it, you're trying to be meta..or sorry, self-referential as the age demo might say - but trying way way too hard. Was it cute and pretty well written? Sure. Was it a great mystery or even a great cozy mystery? Meh...not so much.
July 21, 2025
I found this book to be a bit confusing at first. The writing style is very evocative of a time period somewhere between the 1920s and 1940s so initially I thought that's when it is set. Then there were references to Miss Prim's memories of the 1970s so obviously not. Mentions of computers and smartphones made me realise that it was set in the present day of 2014 when it was written but it could have been made clearer much earlier on. Miss Prim is certainly a person who was born too late! She also seems to be old before her time. Her friend Lorraine says she is pushing seventy and that Miss Prim is a decade younger, making her late 50s but she acts like she's in her seventies or eighties!
Apart from the discrepancies with time, the book is an okay read. There's very little in the way of investigating the murder. Miss Prim pretty much bumbles about the town talking to people about other things, interfering in their lives, and somehow manages to make random connections to solve the murder. There's a subplot about a mysterious sister which seems unnecessary.
There's a lot of characters and as a result, they're only vaguely sketched out. Many of them have incredibly outlandish names which seem to break focus from the book. Zoroastria? Really? I also found it rather annoying how the two Miss Prims would constantly call each other 'sister', and that it was unnecessarily capitalised. I think there was too much reference to how characters in books acted, it got a bit monotonous and irritating after a while. However, I did like the name of the bookshop, Cambria & Calibri is particularly apt given that they are fonts! I also liked the cataloguing system and found that very amusing. Overall, it was an okay read but not really what I'd hoped it would be.
Apart from the discrepancies with time, the book is an okay read. There's very little in the way of investigating the murder. Miss Prim pretty much bumbles about the town talking to people about other things, interfering in their lives, and somehow manages to make random connections to solve the murder. There's a subplot about a mysterious sister which seems unnecessary.
There's a lot of characters and as a result, they're only vaguely sketched out. Many of them have incredibly outlandish names which seem to break focus from the book. Zoroastria? Really? I also found it rather annoying how the two Miss Prims would constantly call each other 'sister', and that it was unnecessarily capitalised. I think there was too much reference to how characters in books acted, it got a bit monotonous and irritating after a while. However, I did like the name of the bookshop, Cambria & Calibri is particularly apt given that they are fonts! I also liked the cataloguing system and found that very amusing. Overall, it was an okay read but not really what I'd hoped it would be.
April 1, 2025
This was a fun idea. Then it was way too long, dragged out and the ending was so cheesy it was just dumb.
September 19, 2014
I saw, "The Outsmarting of Criminals" in a list of must read books somewhere, and thought I'd give it a try. Given the cover, description, and the subtitle, "A Mystery Introducing Miss Felicity Prim", I thought it would be set in the 1920s or 1930s. I figured out within the first few pages, however, that it was set in present day - you truly cannot judge a book by its cover! I did feel slightly duped at first, but I decided to solider on and keep reading. Boy am I glad I did! Miss Felicity Prim is the type of person I wish I knew, and I suppose I did get to know her a bit in the story. She's quite old fashioned, is highly intelligent, and knows that absolute correct thing to say in every situation. Miss Prim, or, rather, the author, doesn't give us all of the information we might want as a reader, but I found that I liked it this way; I felt more like an investigator. Miss Prim never comes right out and says how old she is, which, if I hadn't paid attention to the clues I would have thought was in her 70s give her mannerisms, but is closer to late 50s (a very old soul late 50s).
After being mugged and injured in New York City, she decides she will become a "Criminal Outsmarter" in a little town in Connecticut. In her mind's eyes, it will be a place where she will become a part of the fabric of the community. She will walk down the street and greet everyone by name, and they her. Her colleagues are not at all happy that Miss Prim will soon leave them, as she is an integral part of the operations of Dr. Poe's office, where she has worked for somewhere around 40 years. The story takes an interesting twist when it comes to two of her work colleagues, but I'll leave that to you to figure it out. Suffice it to say, I did figure out the mystery of the unknown sister fairly quickly.
A murder on Miss Prim's first day in town, friendships quickly formed, enemies as quickly made, two love interests, and the mystery of an unknown sister make this a book that I could not put down. I recommend, "The Outsmarting of Criminals" to anyone who enjoys Agatha Christie, as well as modern day cozy mystery writers. I give it five out of five stars.
After being mugged and injured in New York City, she decides she will become a "Criminal Outsmarter" in a little town in Connecticut. In her mind's eyes, it will be a place where she will become a part of the fabric of the community. She will walk down the street and greet everyone by name, and they her. Her colleagues are not at all happy that Miss Prim will soon leave them, as she is an integral part of the operations of Dr. Poe's office, where she has worked for somewhere around 40 years. The story takes an interesting twist when it comes to two of her work colleagues, but I'll leave that to you to figure it out. Suffice it to say, I did figure out the mystery of the unknown sister fairly quickly.
A murder on Miss Prim's first day in town, friendships quickly formed, enemies as quickly made, two love interests, and the mystery of an unknown sister make this a book that I could not put down. I recommend, "The Outsmarting of Criminals" to anyone who enjoys Agatha Christie, as well as modern day cozy mystery writers. I give it five out of five stars.
October 19, 2014
From the Militant Recommender Book Review Blog:
http://militantrecommender.blogspot.com/
There are few books that can surprise the Recommender, so, recently, while working at the library and checking items in... a book crossed the desk that caused me to take a second look. The cover is one of the best covers ever! It is Gorey-esque and yet, unique, and when you read the book it contains you will see just from where the design emanated!
Miss Felicity Prim, as the book begins, is an attractive woman of a certain age who has spent many years as the office manager for a well respected physician in New York City. A handsome one, at that. And, a widower. After Miss Prim survives a mugging, which is a life changing event for her, she decides to leave the city, though she loves it, and buy a home in the country much to the sadness of said physician and the office staff who all adored her and depended on her skills. Miss Prim is an aficionado of mysteries and crime fiction and after having read a great many and been able to second guess many of the lead characters, she decides a career in the field of criminal outsmarting would be perfect for her in new place of residence. She buys the quaint and lovely "Rose Cottage" in picturesque Greenfield, Connecticut. And immediately comes upon a murder mystery... in her own new home!
Does Miss Prim become a Criminal Outsmarter? Will there be handsome men in her future? Can home baked cinnamon buns win her new friends and influence people? These are just a few questions that will be answered in one of the most delightfully arch and funny and just perfectly written books that just begs to be reread and quoted aloud! I never heard of Mr. Rigolosi before but I am a new fan and though I am not big on sequels or series... I don't think anyone who reads The Outsmarting of Criminals can ever have enough of Miss Felicity Prim! And, in case you were wondering, the cover is by the extremely talented J. E. Larson. Highly, highly recommended!
http://militantrecommender.blogspot.com/
There are few books that can surprise the Recommender, so, recently, while working at the library and checking items in... a book crossed the desk that caused me to take a second look. The cover is one of the best covers ever! It is Gorey-esque and yet, unique, and when you read the book it contains you will see just from where the design emanated!
Miss Felicity Prim, as the book begins, is an attractive woman of a certain age who has spent many years as the office manager for a well respected physician in New York City. A handsome one, at that. And, a widower. After Miss Prim survives a mugging, which is a life changing event for her, she decides to leave the city, though she loves it, and buy a home in the country much to the sadness of said physician and the office staff who all adored her and depended on her skills. Miss Prim is an aficionado of mysteries and crime fiction and after having read a great many and been able to second guess many of the lead characters, she decides a career in the field of criminal outsmarting would be perfect for her in new place of residence. She buys the quaint and lovely "Rose Cottage" in picturesque Greenfield, Connecticut. And immediately comes upon a murder mystery... in her own new home!
Does Miss Prim become a Criminal Outsmarter? Will there be handsome men in her future? Can home baked cinnamon buns win her new friends and influence people? These are just a few questions that will be answered in one of the most delightfully arch and funny and just perfectly written books that just begs to be reread and quoted aloud! I never heard of Mr. Rigolosi before but I am a new fan and though I am not big on sequels or series... I don't think anyone who reads The Outsmarting of Criminals can ever have enough of Miss Felicity Prim! And, in case you were wondering, the cover is by the extremely talented J. E. Larson. Highly, highly recommended!
June 9, 2019
The cover threw me off, and it took me a while to start enjoying the book for what it actually is rather than what I expected. It is not historical, but the main character is quite anachronistic in an old-fashioned way. The main character, Miss Prim, thinks like a woman twice her age who was born during the Edwardian era. She aspires to be a Jessica Fletcher or a Mrs Pollifax, but without the realistic charm of either character.
So I had a slow start, then started to enjoy it, but by halfway thru I couldn't take the stilted dialogue or labored characterizations any longer. Her conversations with her sister were almost more than I could handle. And the two sisters' opposing driving styles, played for laughs, felt after all was done like stereotypical silly woman tropes.
I skipped to the end and skimmed the last few chapters, which were filled with lucky breaks, wild coincidences, and frankly convoluted for complication's sake plot reveals that ultimately made me glad I didn't waste any more time on a fake out ending.
So I had a slow start, then started to enjoy it, but by halfway thru I couldn't take the stilted dialogue or labored characterizations any longer. Her conversations with her sister were almost more than I could handle. And the two sisters' opposing driving styles, played for laughs, felt after all was done like stereotypical silly woman tropes.
I skipped to the end and skimmed the last few chapters, which were filled with lucky breaks, wild coincidences, and frankly convoluted for complication's sake plot reveals that ultimately made me glad I didn't waste any more time on a fake out ending.
January 10, 2020
This delightful book took me a bit by surprise. On the one hand it is a very pleasant cozy with a group of memorable characters, from Miss Prim herself (a simultaneously old-fashioned and modern woman, who's unaware of her foibles, such as her tendency to drive like a lunatic) to her adopted Boxer, Bruno (one of the most charming animal companions I've ever encountered), to the people of Greenfield, Connecticut, including a tavern owner who refuses to speak more than one word at a time, to a real estate agent who likes houses more than people, to the local head cashier who takes an intense and inexplicable dislike to Miss Prim. On the other hand, the book is full of references to people who love mysteries, and to other writers and conventions of the mystery genre. It's also quite funny in parts, with several happy endings, including one that makes a nod to a specific book (can't say more without a spoiler). I thoroughly enjoyed this and I'm hoping for more in the series.
June 14, 2014
I've been a great fan of Steven Rigolosi's earlier books - The Androgynous Murder House Party and Circle of Assassins. "Assassins" I consider one of the best mysteries I've ever read. Easily on par with the British greats. So I knew the author could do justice to the traditional mystery genre. Miss Prim fully lived up to my expectations. Rigolosi is especially gifted in drawing quirky, entertaining characters and there are a host of them in the novel. He's also the master of the twist - ingenious really. And Greenfield is perfectly suited to village intrigue. There are a great many traditional mysteries on the market - hundreds to choose from every month - but Rigolosi's superior writing and brilliant plotting take this way above the norm. The only drawback is having to wait or the next one. Hopefully that won't be long.
January 28, 2015
I would like to own this book. I found it in the library shelf and was drawn to the cover- very Edward Gorey. It is very cute and I adored it, but I feel that a lot of the refernces that a more savy mystery reader would get, were lost on me. I loved the suspended belief when the characters taked about how things happen in books, but this is real life and how Miss Prim says someone will write a book about her with her depected in her rose garden on the cover. :) I also loved her wacky heavy metal loving sidekick/neighbor. I thought the end was wraped up too easily. Will there be more Miss Felicity Prim books?
April 6, 2014
This is an absolutely charming mystery, with nearly every element of the book, from the cast of characters to the small town setting to the cleverly crafted plot itself, just about pitch perfect. Thoroughly enjoyable, readers will be eagerly looking forward to the next in the series. Read our full review, here: http://www.mysteriousreviews.com/myst...
May 4, 2014
This was ok. It had a cute gimmick which I found tiring after awhile - perhaps if it was shorter? The whole other sister plot added nothing to the story. I did like all the 'mystery tropes' in the story and I especially liked the bookstore categories. Right away I would know where I would file and find anything written by Dave Eggars :).
but the big problem for me was that I didn't particularly like Miss Prim!
but the big problem for me was that I didn't particularly like Miss Prim!
September 4, 2014
I vacillated between 3 and 4 stars for this, because I found the ending to be rather- unsatisfying (and the epilogue was completely pointless), but finally went with 4 because it was a fun read and I enjoyed it up until the end.
This is a cozy mystery for and about the readers of cozy mysteries, with lots of references to books and authors that made it fun. Miss Prim is a peach, and I really loved Lorraine. I would probably read another if this becomes a series.
This is a cozy mystery for and about the readers of cozy mysteries, with lots of references to books and authors that made it fun. Miss Prim is a peach, and I really loved Lorraine. I would probably read another if this becomes a series.
February 11, 2015
Really a delight to read. Enjoyable characters throughout. Miss Prim relocates herself to a small cottage in a small town in Connecticut to escape the crime of New York City. She decides to take on a new profession - criminal outsmarter. Some fun moments in the book, especially the descriptions of Miss Prim behind the wheel.
June 23, 2014
This is a cleverly written almost-send-up, almost-tribute, to cozy mysteries, featuring a woman who moves from Manhattan to a small town in Connecticut to become a "criminal outsmarter". In the process she makes lots of new friends, with a notable exception, and quickly runs into all the prerequisites for amateur detection, including a hidden basement with a dead body in it. It's a charmer!
August 17, 2014
What a delightful story! This was one of those books I hated to see come to an end. Miss Prim is a good hearted woman who abandons life in NY City for the charm and safety of a small village. Her new career path is to be an " outsmarter of criminals" and thus the tone is set. The novel reminded me most of an British piece "Miss Buncle's Book". Both stories caught me smiling the whole time I read.
April 4, 2014
A romp half way through but all goes down the drain with a silly and unfulfilling plot
June 1, 2014
Not really believable but is this genre ever believable? Fun story, easy read. I will read the next installment.
June 18, 2014
Charming book. Anyone that is an Aunt Dimity fan will love this book.
September 3, 2014
Review up on my blog!
http://alyssagoodnight.com/2014/09/bo...
http://alyssagoodnight.com/2014/09/bo...
March 26, 2015
LOVED this book!
July 24, 2014
4 1/2 stars for a fun new series, i hope it's a new series!
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