Mystery in the Title

Miranda Abbott Mystery #2

by Ian Ferguson, Will Ferguson

From the bestselling authors of I Only Read Murder comes a sidesplitting mystery of epic movie-of-the-week proportions, featuring the unstoppable Miranda Abbott.

Miranda Abbott, actor, will once again be a star. After a very long dry spell that followed her network hit series, Pastor Fran Investigates, Hollywood has come calling and wants Miranda back. This time, she will be the female lead in an oddly expensive movie of the week being filmed in Happy Rock. Miranda signs on the dotted line, but her trusty assistant, Andrew, a whiz with apps and clouds, thinks it all seems a bit fishy.

Things go from bad to worse when Miranda’s costar makes a grand entrance at a media-packed press conference by crashing through the atrium window at the Duchess Hotel and being very much dead. The out-of-town cast and crew are horrified, but the great citizens of Happy Rock—including police chief Ned Buckley, grumpy bookstore owner and soon-to-be ex-husband Edgar Abbott, Bea of Bea’s B&B, and the malodorous Melvin Jacobson of S.J. Fertilizer Supply—return to help solve the case in this second Miranda Abbott mystery.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Canada, Cozy

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 7, 2024

About the author

IAN FERGUSON won the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour for Village of the Small Houses and is the co-author, with his brother, Will, of How to Be a Canadian. A writer and creative director in the film and television industry, he lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Sarah Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book was slow to start and the end just didn’t feel surprising or satisfying. The characters all felt like corny, over-the-top caricatures and the main character was hard to like.

[What Angie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it, a lot! Maybe even more than the first. I see Miora Rose lol

[callistoscalling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @_mira_books_, @htpbooks, and @netgalley for the eARC of Mystery in the Title by Ian Ferguson and Will Ferguson in exchange for an honest review!

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 I will start with the honest admission that did not read the first novel in this series, I Only Read Murder, but will happily go back and enjoy it now! I had no trouble jumping right in because Miranda Abbott, an actress looking to make her big comeback, absolutely steals this show! She is hilariously endearing and her witty repertoire is delightful. Accompanying her on her wild adventures is Andrew, with a solid head on his shoulders and a perfect balance to Miranda’s quirky nature. Miranda’s big return to the screen quickly turns into what can only be deemed a comedy of errors amidst the murder of her co-star. Seriously, this absurd humor in this book is absolute perfection!

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

The frankly ridiculous but also surprisingly observant Miranda Abbott is approached to play a part in a movie of the week that will be filming in Happy Rock. Miranda, trusting her unpaid but trustworthy assistant Andrew to vet the situation, signs her contract, even though he thinks things are a bit off.

She's excited, but during the first press conference, her costar, a major actor, falls to his death, and Miranda, with Andrew's help, begins investigating, even though her only real detective skills were on tv as Pastor Fran.

Miranda's six years as Pastor Fran gave her a lot of insight into productions, and she keeps using her knowledge to ask questions, and push Andrew into looking into things for her, all of which lead her to the killer.

Miranda is such a caricature of self-absorbed, clueless actor, but she's also kind of lovable, and beginning to open her eyes to a wider world. And even appreciate such things as apps. And the cloud, despite needing Andrew to explain, or do her legwork for her.

I think I liked this entry more than book one, but that might be because I already knew what to expect from Miranda and her absurdities. And I liked the ending, and wonder how her husband Edgar will cope with all the changes she'll be bringing into his professional life.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another over the top, small town, kooky cozy mystery featuring actress, Miranda Abbott, who is trying to make a comeback and is elated when she gets cast in a movie of the week in the town where her estranged husband lives. Naturally a dead body turns up and there's questions surrounding whether the death of the big star was a suicide or something more nefarious and Miranda takes it upon herself to solve the crime. With a cast of memorable characters, this was funny with all the charm of shows like Corner Gas or Schitts Creek and good on audio too. Looking forward to the next installment in the series. I definitely was left guessing who dunnit and how right to the very end!

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe this book just wasn't for me, but I found Miranda so annoying that I kept waiting for someone to murder her. The other characters seemed to revolve around Miranda - both in reality and in her warped perception of it. The Murder She Wrote callbacks were the best part of this, but I'd like to think Jessica Fletcher / Angela Lansbury would never be this insufferable. If you enjoy reading about irritating characters, you may like this, but for me this was a flop.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing with the same characters I again enjoyed the read. Quick light hearted and full of quirky characters. I look forward to the next installment (if there is one)

[Jessica Ryan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Took me OVER A MONTH to finish this because it was awful. Such a disappointment after the first one being so enjoyable.

[Melanie Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title sets the tone for this novel. Quirky and funny with a genuine mystery at the heart of it all. A great read.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed out loud more times than I can count.

[Janet Hutchinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light read, and the second in the series. I enjoyed it, although I find Miranda a little irritating.

[Steven Townend · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was OK but i found it a little cheesy and corny. There were a certain number of bumbling characters that were supposed to provide some humorous content but I could not really connect with them at all.

[Valerie Colquhoun · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not read it all. Miranda was too annoying. Do not read more about her.

[Huzeifa Essaji · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Anne Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always delighted to see memorable characters return again and again, and Mystery in the Title by Ian Ferguson and Will Ferguson is the second in the cozy mystery series featuring Miranda Abbott, a once-famous actress who hasn’t had a paying gig in awhile. It has been two years since I read the first in the series I Only Read Murder, but I recommend reading that one first if you want to pick up this second one. In fact, the third has just come out, and you can find it here.

Plot Summary

Miranda is still in the small town of Happy Rock, living with her biggest fan Bea at her bed and breakfast, along with her unpaid assistant, Andrew. Miranda has managed to surround herself with people that still love and put up with her, despite her narcissistic behaviour. A few decades ago Miranda played a beloved crime-fighting detective named Pastor Fran in a popular television series, and as described in the first book, Miranda has managed to find herself in present day mysteries that she also like to help solve, albeit in a slightly bumbling and non-intentional way. This time, she has been (miraculously) cast in a big budget film that is strangely being filmed in Happy Rock, but when the main star of the show dies, Miranda and Andrew set their sights on finding the killer, desperate to keep this movie shoot afloat. The on and off again romance between Miranda and her ex-husband Edgar continues, but it grows into a love square (?) when two other men enter the picture; the rich producer intent on making Miranda a star again, and the handsome leading man cast to replace the dead guy. Once again, humour is the leading theme of the plot, with Miranda’s dramatics set against the small-town backdrop. It feels very “Schitt’s Creek” for those who know and love that Canadian television series.

My Thoughts

This is the perfect summertime read. The dialogue is funny, the plots are simple to follow, and the deaths are never upsetting. Like all good cozy mysteries, everything is as it should be again by the end of the book, and I found great comfort in knowing that at the outset. Miranda flounces around for most of the story, but this second installment develops her character a bit further into a person who really starts to feel as though she’s a Happy Rock local, rather than a Hollywood starlet waiting to escape into her next big break. Her quirks are fun to read about; she treats the local sheriff as a taxi service, and although he complains about it he doesn’t have much to do otherwise, so he drives her around whenever she requests it.

Ian Ferguson has a background in entertainment, so Miranda’s s history as a television star and her struggles to break back into stardom read as believable but still entertaining. Because this book centers on the production of a feature film, we also learn more about the intricacies of a major production, and all the different roles involved. Ferguson is adept at giving just enough detail to keep things interesting and teach us a thing or two, but knows enough to not get into the nitty gritty – we remain at the surface with a few insider details thrown in, which kept the story moving along nicely.

There’s a few introductions of new characters that will prove to round out the growing cast of Happy Rock residents nicely. Jane Bannister is a new journalist in town, eager to hone her reporting skills on this shocking celebrity murder, but you can tell that she’ll likely return in the next book as her personality traits are ones that are clearly lacking in the current group of characters. Most importantly, she’s young! As I noticed in the previous novel, there isn’t much talk of families, or children at all; everyone is a full-grown adult while aging gracefully, which adds to the idyllic atmosphere of Happy Rock. It’s definitely a place I want to return to time and time again.



To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:
https://ivereadthis.com/

[Tim Hicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I didn't read book 1. I have read several books by the Fergusons, and enjoyed some of them.

I'm Canadian, and this is an example of why I generally don't care for Canadian humour in this era [I say that because I watched the original SCTV, with Candy, Aykroyd, Radner, ...] [and to be fair, that was a once-in-a-lifetime combination]

This one's been compared to Schitt's Creek, and that's fair, but it's more like that show's shaky first season when the comedy was often a bit cringey and sometimes seemed to punch down. For example, there's nothing funny about the pathetic Andrew, who cheerfully lives in the pantry and may or may not be paid; nor about weak, clingy Bea.

Too many of the characters were caricatures, and I really didn't enjoy the great effort made here to make SURE I get that they're parodying Stephen Segal. Miranda is far, far too ditzy to be the person who suddenly turns into Schlock Holmes. If anyone was OK, it was dull, plodding Ned, whose dignity grew through the book.

Tony Olio was a good plot thread, well played. Chester and the interpreter too.

The various bitchy, snooty movie women are straught out of the Glass Onion genre, and I couldn't wait for their scenes to be over. The mechanic was just right. And after all the buildup Poe Segal was fine.

The Edgar - Alan - Poe gag was clumsy, and felt forced. One laughs in case the author's mother is in the room.

Zab, man of mystery, man of bullshit, but in the end he was not a problem - it was everyone else's unquestioning acceptance of obvious bullshit, which is a hallmark of lowbrow comedy everywhere. Even Carl Hiaassen's characters aren't fooled so easily.

HOWEVER, in the end it's a pretty decent mystery. Just enough red herrings, some things that are obviously clues but we can't work them out yet, and a well-timed series of small steps toward the solution.

I can believe that no one in the town would know what a "pay or play" contract is. I would expect all the movie people to know, and especially I'd expect at least one of them to look at the wild overspending and figure out what's up. Indeed, one of them does, but way too late.

If you can accept that Miranda is suddenly not stupid - like Pratchett's trolls when their brains get cold and become superconductors - her sequence of deductions is quite good.

Final query - just how many rooms does this hotel have, in a run-down one-horse town with a population of about 15? Certainly more than 100, from what we're told about who's being quartered there. And where are the delivery trucks bringing in the groceries for 100+ people?

The mystery saves this book from itself. I'd recommend it for the beach or a long flight.
But I won't be needing any more of this series.

But

[Tales Untangled · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Humor, Mystery, Mystery Thriller
Spice Level: No sex on the page
Representation: One character is gay, I don't remember diverse characters
Readability: I read this one first, and it all made sense. Now, I'm definitely going back to read I ONLY READ MURDER.

MYSTERY IN THE TITLE is one of the funniest books I've read this year, and definitely ranks in the top for funniest murder mysteries ever. Why, you ask? Because of the characters!

Miranda Abbott, fallen Hollywood star, is delusional, BUT what made me laugh was how the other characters call Miranda out on her behavior (both internally and externally). "Full sentences, Miranda. Speak in full sentences."

The other Hollywood actors are also intriguing. One always references when he trained . . . [fill in the blank because your answer will make as much sense as his]. Such a hoot! Miranda's poor assistant—long suffering, loyal, but also disillusioned. Then there are the nearly invisible characters: the translator, the agent, and the hotel staff, who add texture and highlight how kooky everyone else is. It's possible that Miranda needs a spreadsheet to keep track of who's fired and who's been rehired.

Romance! Yep—Miranda and her many love interests are navigating new territory. Her almost ex-husband is irascible, and a new beau is charming, and is there an old lover in the wings? Oh, my—this was another source of intrigue and laughter for me.

Ultimately, I want a whodunnit to be tricky. This book checked all the boxes with red herrings, lies, misunderstanding, drama, and a big reveal! I was thoroughly entertained.

I highly recommend this book for all mystery lovers.

Happy reading!

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Mystery in the Title is the second Miranda Abbott cozy mystery by brothers Ian & Will Ferguson. Released 22nd Oct 2024 by Harlequin Trade on their MIRA imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.

This is a wonky, mostly silly, eccentric cozy, populated by oddballs, harmless goofs, and long-suffering publicity aides-de-camp. Former TV star Fran was an amateur sleuth ages ago... now her comeback has her reprising her long vanished acting role in-real-life when her comeback costar exits violently stage left.

The writing is competent, but tries too hard to be funny (?) and mostly lands in over the top unbelievable. MC Fran is completely delusional, her enablers are similarly far-fetched. It's a cross between scooby-do and I love Lucy without Lucy's zany lovability. Except for the fact that it's a continuing series with her as the main character, she's so unrelentingly annoying, it wouldn't have felt amiss for -her- to have been murdered instead of her costar.

The solution, climax, denouement, and resolution are similarly silly and over-the-top.

Three stars. It works well enough as a standalone, with the understanding that the relationships and backgrounds for some of the returning characters will be slightly spoiled if read out of order.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Thomas (ReadWithThomas) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞. 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬. 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞.”

I adored I Only Read Murder, when I read it in 2023, and was so happy to see a sequel published so that I could return to Happy Rock and all the residents’ hijinks.

Ian and Will Ferguson have created such a fun world that feels like a wonderful mix of the small town murders and observant female protagonist of Murder, She Wrote, the loveable characters of Schitt’s Creek, and the absurd humour of Murdered to Death and Clue. I adore Miranda, Andrew, and the residents of Happy Rock - they are equal parts funny, quirky and kind. The Fergusons have also created a love letter to classic crime shows with frequent mentions of Miranda’s former show Pastor Fran Investigates; it is quintessential eighties: a weekly mystery with a wandering pastor turning up in a small town at exactly the moment someone is murdered… sound familiar!? The satire and humour is out in full force, and I found myself laughing at many of the quick quips that are throughout the story, such as: “𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫.” There is also a nod to Otto Penzler, the owner of the Mysterious Press that had me giggling (when is Otto going to reissue the Pastor Fran novelizations!?). The mystery itself falls in the ‘impossible crime’ tradition with a locked hotel room that has no way in or out besides through the balcony. I could’ve done with a few more suspects and it was hard to care about the victim when we didn’t really meet him before he came crashing through the atrium roof, but I was still wanting to know whodunnit and how!

Mystery In The Title is a story of needing to be loved, finding connections, hoopla, money and redemption. It’s over-the-top absurd humour, quirky characters, and fun mystery should continue to delight eighties cozy mystery fans. I cannot wait for the next instalment! Thank you to Mira Books, Harper Collins Canada & NetGalley for the ARC!

[The Mystery Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Mystery in the Title" by Ian and Will Ferguson focuses on Miranda Abbott, a former television star best known for her role as Pastor Fran in the popular crime drama, "Pastor Fran Investigates." The novel follows Miranda as she returns to acting after a long hiatus, landing a leading role in a surprisingly expensive movie of the week being filmed in Happy Rock. However, her excitement is short-lived when her co-star makes a dramatic (and fatal) entrance at the press conference by crashing through the atrium window of the Duchess Hotel.

Suddenly, Miranda finds herself thrust into the role of an amateur detective, navigating the complexities of a film set while trying to uncover the truth behind her co-star's untimely demise. The hotel itself becomes a kind of locked-room mystery, with a limited number of suspects and a seemingly impossible scenario.

While the authors attempt to create a witty and engaging mystery, the execution falls short. The humor often feels forced, and the characters, particularly Miranda, are not as endearing as they are intended to be. Miranda's constant self-absorption and dismissive attitude towards others made it difficult to connect with her and enjoy the narrative.

"Mystery in the Title" has potential, but it ultimately falls short of its mark.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

#MysteryInTheTitle #IanFerguson #WillFerguson #MirandaAbbottMystery #CozyMystery #BookReview #TrueCrime #Bookworm #MysteryLover #Bookstagram #MysteryReader #BookwormLife #BookRecommendation #BookAddict #MysteryThriller #CozyMysteryLover #MysteryBookworm #BookishLife #MysteryBooksOfInstagram #LockedRoomMystery

[Victoria Colotta · Rating 4 out of 5]

MYSTERY IN THE TITLE is pure cozy mystery escapism. In the second book in the Miranda Abbott series, the authors capture that delightful balance of murder, quirky small-town antics, and amateur sleuthing.

What can I say about my favorite aging actress turned investigator? Miranda is an over-the-top and fabulously unaware character. She imposes herself upon all she meets but also has an endearing quality. Miranda is a force and continues to prove her insight valuable with the latest case involving the death of her co-star. And yes, it is absolutely as humorous and entertaining as you think it will be.

Along with many of the familiar faces from the first book in the series—Andrew, Chief Buckley, Edgar, and Bea—the reader gets to enjoy the quirky world Miranda Abbott has created for herself in Happy Rock. Then, with the addition of a mystery to solve, what more can you ask for? I loved every moment of it. Truly, the third book cannot come soon enough!

Reviewer Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Highly Caffeinated Rating of… ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕

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[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miranda Abbott is back! Of course, she doesn’t think she ever went away. Now the star of the once semi popular series Pastor Fran (hallowed be her fists…) has been asked to be in an MOW (movie of the week if you wondered) starring Harry Tomlin, the “Nicest Man in America.” However, filming is paused after the Nicest Man in the America falls from a window and crashes dead onto a table meant for a press conference. Miranda wants this case solved quickly so the movie can be recast and filming can continue. She gives Police Chief Ned Buckley some unwanted (but perhaps needed) help while deciding to finalize her divorce from bookstore owner Edgar.

Mystery in the Title is the second in this quirky, funny series but can be read as a standalone. Miranda and the great characters from I Only Read Murder are back. Chief Ned and the salmon, Bea of Bea’s B&B, Edgar who can’t make up his mind and agent Marty Sharpe. They are joined by others, the aptly named Tony “The Nose” Olio, reporter Jane Bannister, producer Alan Zabic, Poe Regal ( pronounced ReeGall) and the entire MOW production team.
Authors Ian Ferguson and Will Ferguson have delivered a hard to solve mystery that is full of laughs. I can’t wait to see what Miranda does next!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Ian Ferguson and Will Ferguson for this ARC.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miranda Abbot, our favourite actress, is back in Mystery in the Title, the second book in Ian Ferguson and Will Ferguson's Miranda Abbot Mystery series.

I liked book one, I Only Read Murder, but I'll be honest, Miranda kind of got on my nerves in that book. I'm so glad that didn't stop me from checking out Mystery in the Title because this was such an enjoyable read. Miranda seemed slightly less selfish (although she's still pretty self-centered), and hilariously erratic in this book, and it made for such a fun read to see what she would do next, and how her poor assistant, Andrew, would handle it.

Miranda is still living at Bea's B&B and is attempting to plan her comeback, when she's unexpectedly approached to star in a MOW (that's a Movie Of the Week) opposite a very famous male lead. And best of all, it's being filmed in Happy Rock! Andrew tries to warn her that the offer is too good to be true but in true Miranda fashion, she ignores him and does her own thing. When a death occurs at the press conference announcing the upcoming film, Miranda once again puts her talents, learned over her years playing the beloved character Pastor Fran, to work to determine the identity of the murderer.

As I've already mentioned, Miranda is delightfully flaky, and erratic which had me laughing out loud throughout the book. The characters of Happy Rock are even more quirky than I remember, and I thoroughly loved getting to know them better.

One of my favourite things about the book is how the authors occasionally break the fourth wall, making comments directly to the reader about what is going on. It fit in so smoothly with the rest of the story that it felt a natural thing, and added to my enjoyment of the story.

If you're looking for a fun, entertaining mystery, you will want to check out Mystery In the Title. I'll be watching for the next book in the series.

[Lisbeth Mizula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery in the Title is a book that offers the reader a chance to be vulnerable and have fun.

If approached with an open mind and heart, readers will be able to find a bit of themselves in every one of the characters-- and like themselves a bit more for having done so.

The second book in this big-hearted, hilarious comedy mystery series, finds Miranda Abbott, years from her starring role as TV sleuth Pastor Fran, in the role of a lifetime; costarring with a legendary actor in a Movie of the Week being funded in her small town as a big budget blockbuster - no expenses are to be spared in a situation that quickly seems too good to be true-and shortly after he's officially on the clock for payroll, our legendary male lead dies in an accident...or murder...or suicide?

With a cast of characters who are kooky, endearing, and occasionally maddening, you'll want to slow down to reread lines, paragraphs and pages to fully allow the joy that comes from reading a Miranda Abbott mystery to bubble up in your heart. This is one you'll buy for your mom and your best friend. And when you're in bed you'll keep waking up your significant other to read them just one more hilarious passage (I know I did) until they forbid you from reading any novels by the Ferguson brothers in the bedroom ever again.

Read, laugh, love.

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tis my season for cozy mysteries! This is the second book in the series, however it does work as a stand alone. Of course, you will get more of the backstory if you read book 1, I did find myself doing just fine without and I was quickly caught up on the characters lives. I think I am learning to appreciate cozy mysteries more lately. For me what has been standing out to me is just the amazing cast of side characters they always seem to have, like the side characters almost make the books! And that is exactly what happened here. The side characters provided the balance to the strong main characters. This book was also fun in that it had lots of great laugh out loud moments, something else I didn’t realize seems to be a must for this sub-genre. The pacing was medium and propelled me through the story nicely. I didn’t feel rushed or hurried, yet not like I was lallygagging either, it was great. Oh and this one is written by two authors, but its seamlessly done and I couldn’t even tell which was even better.

If you are looking for a fun and quirky cozy mystery full of great characters, then look no further.

Thank you to @_mira_books @htp_hive the authors and @netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are solely my own.

[Juli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second Miranda Abbott mystery is as entertaining as the first, I Only Read Murder. Miranda is going to star in a movie of the week, which coincidentally will film in Happy Rock where she is staying. This is quite exciting for Miranda and the town. Unfortunately, her costar makes a dramatic entrance to the press conference by falling through the atrium window at the Duchess Hotel and being dead.

Now the fun begins, Miranda was once the crime solving, karate-chopping church pastor, Pastor Fran, on a former television show. At times reality and the Pastor Fran persona get a bit mixed up as Miranda with help from "her friends" set out to solve the murder.

The authors have created a wonderful ensemble of characters that add to the fun. It gives me a "Schitt's Creek" vibe. The plot has some great scenes that make you laugh out loud. There is some hints of romance, Bea ( the innkeeper) and the Police Chief Ned Buckley and what is going to happen between Miranda and Edgar (bookstore owner and husband) or will someone else catch Miranda's eye? I am eagerly waiting to see what Miranda gets up to next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing, for an ARC. The review is my own.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A digital copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing. The opinions are my own and freely given.

MIRANDA ABBOTT RETURNS!!

Miranda is offered a lead role in a movie without and audition. She is THRILLED! Her assistant, Andrew. has his doubts about this movie, as does her agent, Marty. But the filming is to be done in Happy Rock. The cast and crew have already moved into The Duchess, where a lot of the filming is to take place. Then, before it even starts, a death occurs. Was it murder? Suicide? A tragic accident? Miranda puts on her "Pastor Fran" hat and starts to investigate.
Yes, Miranda thinks she is a bigger start and more important than she is, but that just adds to her charm. Walking into a room and announcing, "It is I!" And some people just don't know who she is. Her relationship with Edgar, her husband, ex-husband, soon-to-be-ex-husband is still a mystery, even to Miranda. All the characters are back.
I was so happy to see this has turned into a series and cannot wait for the next scene in Miranda's movie, (uh, life). I adore this series, and I love Miranda Abbott.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Verdict: I liked the first book in the series better but I continue loving Miranda Abbott.

Hollywood comes to Happy Rock, and Miranda Abbott is desired as the lead actress. Hopeful that she is finally getting her career back on track, Miranda throws herself into the role. Unfortunately, murder comes calling, and there's another case to solve. On top of that, Miranda also finds herself in a bizarre love triangle. There are lots of mishaps and twists, but I wanted more Miranda and Edgar. Given the cliffhanger at the end of the book, book three should be quite interesting.



Publication Date 22/10/24
Goodreads Review 05/11/24
#MysteryintheTitle #NetGalley.

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprise call has Miranda being offered a role in a fabulous new film with five-times Oscar-nominated Harry Tomlin. She jumps at the chance. He's a BIG NAME and she's not going to question the fact that the contract has no tricky clauses. It's just a lot of money for a chance to work with the nicest man in Hollywood.
So why is it Harry who ends up dead after crashing through a skylight? Nothing makes sense. And then his replacement comes in. It's an old beau of Miranda's and a foe of her husband Edgar's. Now she's juggling feelings between her nearly ex-husband for whom she still has feelings (though he doesn't appear much in this book), her handsome ex-co-star who is a divine kisser (although he has a horrible personality), and the handsome and charming producer (although she doesn't really have feelings for her.)

[Alex Metzger · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is getting what I feel like is a generous 2… The plot itself was solid enough. Probably a 3/5 maybe a 3.5/5 or so. The writing was some of the most frustrating styles I have ever read. What felt like hundreds of times there were asides that added absolutely nothing to the book. Like on one of the final pages they give a direct quote of ‘“do we get a lot of French speaking visitors?” She wondered’. Why bother adding the “she wondered” part when another character answers it and it’s clear she actually said it?

I don’t want to say it’s poor writing, maybe some people find it more enjoyable. But it hurt the book to the point where I actively debated stopping reading it 3-5 times. Just felt like forced humour that didn’t land and way too many asides that added absolutely nothing to the plot or characters.