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Miss Sharp Investigates #3
Tod in Mistletoe Manor
Die Sonne scheint, die Narzissen sprießen, und Hettie die Schildkröte erwacht aus ihrer Winterstarre. Auch in der Senioren-WG von Sunset Hall regen sich Frühlingsgefü Charlie sucht im Internet nach dem Mann fürs Lebensende, Bernadettes Hochzeit rückt drohend näher, und sogar Agnes selbst scheint vor Schmetterlingen im Bauch nicht ganz gefeit. Doch dann treffen mysteriöse Drohbriefe ein, und eine alte Bekannte sitzt tot auf einer Bank. Agnes ist Irgendwo zwischen Hochzeitstorten, Champagnerbrunnen und Blumengestecken lauert der Tod. In ihrer eigenen, unnachahmlichen Art heften sich die Senioren von Sunset Hall an die Fersen des Täters – und geraten dabei in ein Netz kriminalistischer Verstrickungen, das ihnen selbst zum Verhängnis werden könnte …
417 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 22, 2024
52 people are currently reading
382 people want to read
About the author
Leonie Swann
15 books573 followersLeonie Swann (b. 1975 Dachau near Munich, Germany) is the nom de plume of a German crime writer. She went to school at Ignaz Taschner Gymnasium Dachau. She studied philosophy, psychology and English literature in Munich, and now lives in Berlin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 30, 2024
One of the worst endings possible. I don't like it when the author betrays the reader's trust in such a vicious and demeaning way. I cannot recommend this to anyone unless you want your heart ripped out. Really disappointed!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2026
The most calming page turner
April 24, 2026
What a horrible ending. I cannot imagine a worse possible ending. I enjoyed the mystery of this book and the characters as much as I did the other 2 books into the series. Only for the ending to ruin everything. I wonder what the heck the author was thinking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2026
If you loved the first two books in this series, I beg you DO NOT READ THIS ONE. I’m going to pretend it doesn’t exist, honestly. What an absolute slap in the face from the author.
Read
May 1, 2026I don't even know how to rate this. This was supposed to be one of my comfort series and it was shaping up to be a five-star read and you end it like that?! That's a huge NO for me.
April 14, 2026
Lots of surprises , loved it
June 2, 2024
Witzig und skurril- also genau so, wie wir diese Renter-WG kennen.
Diesmal muss nicht nur ein Jungesellenabend und eine Hochzeit organisiert werden, nein, dazu kommen auch noch Erpressung und Mord.
Hettie die Schildkröte und Oberon die Schlange haben auch wieder einige nette Auftritte.
Ich wurde sehr gut unterhalten, flott und amüsant geschrieben, dazu gibt es einige unerwartete Wendungen.
Diesmal muss nicht nur ein Jungesellenabend und eine Hochzeit organisiert werden, nein, dazu kommen auch noch Erpressung und Mord.
Hettie die Schildkröte und Oberon die Schlange haben auch wieder einige nette Auftritte.
Ich wurde sehr gut unterhalten, flott und amüsant geschrieben, dazu gibt es einige unerwartete Wendungen.
February 11, 2025
Gelungenes Finale im dritten Band! Das Vergnügen ist am Größten, wenn man mit dem ersten Buch der 3teiligen Krimireihe anfângt.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed two previous books in the “Miss Sharp Investigates” series by Leonie Swann and was excited to learn that the third book, “Agnes Sharp and the Wedding to Die For,” is set to be published in 2026. Luckily, I got my hands on the advance copy, thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. It was so good to be reunited with the quirky, witty, although slow-moving, elderly residents of Sunset Hall. Their camaraderie and self-deprecating humor, even as they deal with their ailments, have been refreshing and uplifting whenever I read about their shenanigans while solving the latest murder case. They all have police, secret service, or military backgrounds, and any criminal would be mistaken taking them for just a bunch of harmless, confused seniors. There is also Oberon, the white boa constrictor, Hettie the tortoise, and Brexit, the happy wolfhound.
This time, the love is in the air as two of the Sunset Hall residents, Bernadette and Jack, are about to get married. Their paths crossed in the past when they were on opposite sides of the law, but at the end, they very much want those paths to converge into one road to married bliss in their golden years. Unfortunately, somebody very dangerous from the past has an entirely different idea.
Did I mention that it’s the final installment of the series? Without giving the ending away, I’ll say I was surprised by the final pages. One of the characters, a young girl who loves reading, says that her mentor friend, the verger, told her “you’re safe when you’re reading”, and in the way, we often get that feeling of reassuring familiarity, especially when we return to the series we’ve enjoyed in the past, almost treating the characters like people we know and like – something constant in the world full of uncertainties. But this is the final book in Agnes Sharp's series so that the rules might have changed. Fortunately, there is another series, “Sheep Detective Story” with the lovely flock of sheep, which I adore and which, hopefully, the author will continue writing, giving readers that bit of escapism we all need.
This time, the love is in the air as two of the Sunset Hall residents, Bernadette and Jack, are about to get married. Their paths crossed in the past when they were on opposite sides of the law, but at the end, they very much want those paths to converge into one road to married bliss in their golden years. Unfortunately, somebody very dangerous from the past has an entirely different idea.
Did I mention that it’s the final installment of the series? Without giving the ending away, I’ll say I was surprised by the final pages. One of the characters, a young girl who loves reading, says that her mentor friend, the verger, told her “you’re safe when you’re reading”, and in the way, we often get that feeling of reassuring familiarity, especially when we return to the series we’ve enjoyed in the past, almost treating the characters like people we know and like – something constant in the world full of uncertainties. But this is the final book in Agnes Sharp's series so that the rules might have changed. Fortunately, there is another series, “Sheep Detective Story” with the lovely flock of sheep, which I adore and which, hopefully, the author will continue writing, giving readers that bit of escapism we all need.
November 4, 2024
Das war wieder ganz nett - aber was hat sich die gute Leonie bei dem Ende gedacht? Hatte sie keine Lust, noch weitere Bände zu schreiben oder was? Das Ende war absolut daneben, da kann ich meinen Vor-Rezensenten nur zustimmen, das hätt's doch it bräucht!
Bis dahin ist die Geschichte wieder ganz nett - wie die Senioren sich bemühen, Bernadette und Jack eine tolle Hochzeitsfeier zu organisieren, habe ich sehr gern gelesen. Allerdings war für mich Band 1 definitiv der stärkste, dann ging es bergab.
Die Teile, die aus der Sicht der diversen Tiere erzählt werden, waren jetzt auch schon weniger, das hat mir ja vor allem in Band 1 sehr gut gefallen. Dieser Band ist allerdings leider kein würdiger Abschluss - ich hatte ihn bei Audible als Hörbuch und überlege sogar, ihn zurückzugeben, denn gut gefallen hat er mir nicht wirklich und ich würde eher empfehlen, diesen Band nicht zu lesen, gerade WENN Dir Band 1 und 2 gut gefallen haben.
Wegen des doofen Endes gibt es nur 2 von 5 Sternen.
Bis dahin ist die Geschichte wieder ganz nett - wie die Senioren sich bemühen, Bernadette und Jack eine tolle Hochzeitsfeier zu organisieren, habe ich sehr gern gelesen. Allerdings war für mich Band 1 definitiv der stärkste, dann ging es bergab.
Die Teile, die aus der Sicht der diversen Tiere erzählt werden, waren jetzt auch schon weniger, das hat mir ja vor allem in Band 1 sehr gut gefallen. Dieser Band ist allerdings leider kein würdiger Abschluss - ich hatte ihn bei Audible als Hörbuch und überlege sogar, ihn zurückzugeben, denn gut gefallen hat er mir nicht wirklich und ich würde eher empfehlen, diesen Band nicht zu lesen, gerade WENN Dir Band 1 und 2 gut gefallen haben.
Wegen des doofen Endes gibt es nur 2 von 5 Sternen.
October 30, 2025
I love Agnes and the gang who reside at Sunset Hall and was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy for an honest review. In this newest book in the series, Agnes and friends plan for the wedding of their beloved Bernadette and of course mystery, mayhem and murder ensue. A fun, rollicking ride with an ending that blew me away. This is the third in the series and I'd recommend reading them in order, you won't be disappointed.
July 28, 2024
Ich hatte mich so sehr auf den nächsten Teil mit unserer liebenswerten Rentner Wg gefreut. Ich habe das Buch verschlungen. Das Ende war für mich leider furchtbar. Ich werde einfach verdrängen das es dieses Ende gibt.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2026
When one gets to a "certain age," it's a kick to read novels, especially murder mysteries, in which the main character is also of a "certain age." And in Leonie Swann's very clever Miss Sharp Investigates series, Agnes Sharp and her fellow pensioners, who all live together in Sunset Hall, prove that age is no deterrent to fighting crime.
In the third and last installment of this delightful series, one of the residents of Sunset Hall is getting married. Bernadette has not let the fact that she's blind stop her from an exciting life, and her upcoming marriage to Jack, a former killer-for-hire, is proof of that. Serendipitously, there is an unexpected opening for an event at the nearby posh Foxglove Manor, so Agnes and her good friend, Charlie, are working on planning the happy nuptials.
However, Agnes can't get over the unsolved murder from the second book, AGNES SHARP AND THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME --- that of the verger from the local church, whom she found entangled in the ropes of the church bells. She had decided that she didn't want to be involved and left the scene for someone else to find and report to the police. The mystery in that novel has nothing to do with the verger, but in this book, the verger's murder (the police deemed it a suicide) jumps back into play.
A large part of the charm of this series is the group of people (and animals) who inhabit Sunset Hall. Edwina is an ex-Secret Service agent. She loves reptiles, two of which --- the boa constrictor Oberon and the tortoise Hettie --- feature prominently in the story. Theirs are the only chapters in which the narration is not from Agnes' point of view. Edwina is also suffering from the start of dementia…or, as it's politely put here, she is "mad as a box of frogs." There is Winston, who uses a wheelchair but is rock solid and steady. Marshall, formerly of the military and a gun lover, is enamored of Agnes. Charlie, as Charlotte is known, is tall, elegant and adventurous. She approaches life with excitement and is thrilled to be planning this wedding. Agnes, the bridesmaid, is not.
Agnes is complex. She's a retired police officer, and the house that is shared by the group was hers. She's reliant on her hearing aids and false teeth, both of which are problematic at times. Her legs are not as strong as she'd like; she uses a cane, and there’s a lift to get to the first floor (the second floor in American terminology). Agnes is straightforward and not given to romantic flights of fancy, so when Marshall asks her to marry him, she's not sure what she wants. She's happy with her life and determined to solve the problems that cross her path, such as murdered vergers and other dead bodies that seem to appear often.
When an unsigned letter composed of cut-out letters from magazines arrives at the house with a threatening message about the upcoming wedding, Agnes and company are determined to get to the bottom of it. Nothing can ruin Bernadette's happy day. There are several suspects and dead bodies strewn along the way, including one of the invited guests to the wedding, who also was a private detective whom Agnes had hired to look into Charlie's new beau to see if he might be the culprit.
There's plenty of humor. For example, in one scene during the wedding events, Agnes and the others must hide the body that Hettie, the tortoise who has run away from her ring bearer duties, discovers in the maze. Swann's clever narrative describes the challenges of the senior citizens who are not quite as agile and able as they might have been in their younger years. They try to carry what is literally dead weight to a place where the deceased will not be discovered (or uncovered) until after the nuptials are complete.
The action builds until the very end when we finally learn who the dastardly villain is and what his plan is for Bernadette and Jack. To say that the ending is a blast is a complete understatement. It's really not what one expects from a murder mystery at all. But it actually makes perfect sense and is a wonderfully brilliant conclusion to this fabulously charming series. It's also worth noting that translator Amy Bojang has done a magnificent job in ensuring that the humor and wit in the German version of the story shine just as brightly in English.
Reviewed by Pamela Kramer
In the third and last installment of this delightful series, one of the residents of Sunset Hall is getting married. Bernadette has not let the fact that she's blind stop her from an exciting life, and her upcoming marriage to Jack, a former killer-for-hire, is proof of that. Serendipitously, there is an unexpected opening for an event at the nearby posh Foxglove Manor, so Agnes and her good friend, Charlie, are working on planning the happy nuptials.
However, Agnes can't get over the unsolved murder from the second book, AGNES SHARP AND THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME --- that of the verger from the local church, whom she found entangled in the ropes of the church bells. She had decided that she didn't want to be involved and left the scene for someone else to find and report to the police. The mystery in that novel has nothing to do with the verger, but in this book, the verger's murder (the police deemed it a suicide) jumps back into play.
A large part of the charm of this series is the group of people (and animals) who inhabit Sunset Hall. Edwina is an ex-Secret Service agent. She loves reptiles, two of which --- the boa constrictor Oberon and the tortoise Hettie --- feature prominently in the story. Theirs are the only chapters in which the narration is not from Agnes' point of view. Edwina is also suffering from the start of dementia…or, as it's politely put here, she is "mad as a box of frogs." There is Winston, who uses a wheelchair but is rock solid and steady. Marshall, formerly of the military and a gun lover, is enamored of Agnes. Charlie, as Charlotte is known, is tall, elegant and adventurous. She approaches life with excitement and is thrilled to be planning this wedding. Agnes, the bridesmaid, is not.
Agnes is complex. She's a retired police officer, and the house that is shared by the group was hers. She's reliant on her hearing aids and false teeth, both of which are problematic at times. Her legs are not as strong as she'd like; she uses a cane, and there’s a lift to get to the first floor (the second floor in American terminology). Agnes is straightforward and not given to romantic flights of fancy, so when Marshall asks her to marry him, she's not sure what she wants. She's happy with her life and determined to solve the problems that cross her path, such as murdered vergers and other dead bodies that seem to appear often.
When an unsigned letter composed of cut-out letters from magazines arrives at the house with a threatening message about the upcoming wedding, Agnes and company are determined to get to the bottom of it. Nothing can ruin Bernadette's happy day. There are several suspects and dead bodies strewn along the way, including one of the invited guests to the wedding, who also was a private detective whom Agnes had hired to look into Charlie's new beau to see if he might be the culprit.
There's plenty of humor. For example, in one scene during the wedding events, Agnes and the others must hide the body that Hettie, the tortoise who has run away from her ring bearer duties, discovers in the maze. Swann's clever narrative describes the challenges of the senior citizens who are not quite as agile and able as they might have been in their younger years. They try to carry what is literally dead weight to a place where the deceased will not be discovered (or uncovered) until after the nuptials are complete.
The action builds until the very end when we finally learn who the dastardly villain is and what his plan is for Bernadette and Jack. To say that the ending is a blast is a complete understatement. It's really not what one expects from a murder mystery at all. But it actually makes perfect sense and is a wonderfully brilliant conclusion to this fabulously charming series. It's also worth noting that translator Amy Bojang has done a magnificent job in ensuring that the humor and wit in the German version of the story shine just as brightly in English.
Reviewed by Pamela Kramer
July 19, 2025
Vermutlich das Ende dieser Reihe – aber was für eins!
**Inhaltsangabe Verlag:**
Die Sonne scheint, die Narzissen sprießen, und Hettie die Schildkröte erwacht aus ihrer Winterstarre. Auch in der Senioren-WG von Sunset Hall regen sich Frühlingsgefühle: Charlie sucht im Internet nach dem Mann fürs Lebensende, Bernadettes Hochzeit rückt drohend näher, und sogar Agnes selbst scheint vor Schmetterlingen im Bauch nicht ganz gefeit. Doch dann treffen mysteriöse Drohbriefe ein, und eine alte Bekannte sitzt tot auf einer Bank. Agnes ist sicher: Irgendwo zwischen Hochzeitstorten, Champagnerbrunnen und Blumengestecken lauert der Tod. In ihrer eigenen, unnachahmlichen Art heften sich die Senioren von Sunset Hall an die Fersen des Täters – und geraten dabei in ein Netz kriminalistischer Verstrickungen, das ihnen selbst zum Verhängnis werden könnte.
**Meine Inhaltsangabe:**
Agnes Sharp bereitet die Hochzeit ihrer Freundin und Mitbewohnerin Bernadette vor. Dabei ist sie noch total abgelenkt von dem Mord am Küster (vorheriger Band), der bisher nicht aufgeklärt wurde und überhaupt: diese Schmetterlinge in den Bäuchen der anderen, wie soll sie damit nur umgehen, wo sie doch selber gerade selbst nicht so recht weiß, wo sie gefühlsmäßig steht. Da bringt das Auftauchen einer alten und irgendwie Unwohlsein mitbringenden Freundin von Bernadette und der eine oder andere Drohbrief, der in Sunset Hall einflattert, gehörig Abwechslung. Agnes und ihre Truppe ermitteln mal wieder und stolpern dabei über die eine oder andere Leiche und Geheimnisse aus der Vergangenheit. Verdächtig sind fast alle und schnell ist klar: man kann keinem trauen!
Erster Satz: »Nach der Hochzeit fühlte Agnes sich seltsam leer.«
**Mein Eindruck:**
Die Bewohner der Senioren-WG in Sunset Hall sind alle herrlich schräg und wunderbar britisch! Selbst Hund Brexit, Schildkröte Hettie und Schlange Oberon reihen sich da schön ein. Ich liebe es sehr, wie Leonie Swann ihre Figuren, die alle um die 80 Jahre alt sind, mit Leben füllt, sie alle möglichen Emotionen fühlen lässt, die man älteren Leuten vielleicht eher abspricht und ihnen eine Stimme gibt. Das überträgt sich auf mich und ich habe mich in dem Ründchen alter Leute sauwohl gefühlt und würde was dafür geben, mit ihnen an einem lauschigen Nachmittag ein Tässchen Tee zu trinken. Der Fall ist super spannend und ich hatte erst später im Lauf der Geschichte eine Ahnung. Aber wie das alles letztlich aufgelöst wurde, war einerseits so dermaßen zum Brüllen komisch und furchtbar schwarzhumorig, andererseits aber auch absolut unerwartet und ein ziemlicher Schock für mich. Mehr kann ich nicht verraten! Lest es unbedingt selbst. Man muss die Bücher nicht unbedingt in Reihenfolge lesen, bringt sich aber um ordentlich Lesegenuss, wenn man es nicht macht. Ich liebe alles an dieser Reihe und bin auch durch diesen 3. und aller Wahrscheinlichkeit nach letzten Fall der Miss Sharp ermittelt-Reihe nur so geflogen. Ich habe gelacht, gegluckst, gekichert, mitgerätselt und -gelitten und mich unbändig gefreut, wieder Teil von Sunset Hall zu sein. 5/5 Sterne und eine Empfehlung für all diejenigen, die sich gern schwarzhumorig, very british, spannend und unvorhersehbar unterhalten lassen wollen und dabei nichts gegen schräge Charaktere hat, die einem furchtbar schnell ans Herz wachsen.
**Inhaltsangabe Verlag:**
Die Sonne scheint, die Narzissen sprießen, und Hettie die Schildkröte erwacht aus ihrer Winterstarre. Auch in der Senioren-WG von Sunset Hall regen sich Frühlingsgefühle: Charlie sucht im Internet nach dem Mann fürs Lebensende, Bernadettes Hochzeit rückt drohend näher, und sogar Agnes selbst scheint vor Schmetterlingen im Bauch nicht ganz gefeit. Doch dann treffen mysteriöse Drohbriefe ein, und eine alte Bekannte sitzt tot auf einer Bank. Agnes ist sicher: Irgendwo zwischen Hochzeitstorten, Champagnerbrunnen und Blumengestecken lauert der Tod. In ihrer eigenen, unnachahmlichen Art heften sich die Senioren von Sunset Hall an die Fersen des Täters – und geraten dabei in ein Netz kriminalistischer Verstrickungen, das ihnen selbst zum Verhängnis werden könnte.
**Meine Inhaltsangabe:**
Agnes Sharp bereitet die Hochzeit ihrer Freundin und Mitbewohnerin Bernadette vor. Dabei ist sie noch total abgelenkt von dem Mord am Küster (vorheriger Band), der bisher nicht aufgeklärt wurde und überhaupt: diese Schmetterlinge in den Bäuchen der anderen, wie soll sie damit nur umgehen, wo sie doch selber gerade selbst nicht so recht weiß, wo sie gefühlsmäßig steht. Da bringt das Auftauchen einer alten und irgendwie Unwohlsein mitbringenden Freundin von Bernadette und der eine oder andere Drohbrief, der in Sunset Hall einflattert, gehörig Abwechslung. Agnes und ihre Truppe ermitteln mal wieder und stolpern dabei über die eine oder andere Leiche und Geheimnisse aus der Vergangenheit. Verdächtig sind fast alle und schnell ist klar: man kann keinem trauen!
Erster Satz: »Nach der Hochzeit fühlte Agnes sich seltsam leer.«
**Mein Eindruck:**
Die Bewohner der Senioren-WG in Sunset Hall sind alle herrlich schräg und wunderbar britisch! Selbst Hund Brexit, Schildkröte Hettie und Schlange Oberon reihen sich da schön ein. Ich liebe es sehr, wie Leonie Swann ihre Figuren, die alle um die 80 Jahre alt sind, mit Leben füllt, sie alle möglichen Emotionen fühlen lässt, die man älteren Leuten vielleicht eher abspricht und ihnen eine Stimme gibt. Das überträgt sich auf mich und ich habe mich in dem Ründchen alter Leute sauwohl gefühlt und würde was dafür geben, mit ihnen an einem lauschigen Nachmittag ein Tässchen Tee zu trinken. Der Fall ist super spannend und ich hatte erst später im Lauf der Geschichte eine Ahnung. Aber wie das alles letztlich aufgelöst wurde, war einerseits so dermaßen zum Brüllen komisch und furchtbar schwarzhumorig, andererseits aber auch absolut unerwartet und ein ziemlicher Schock für mich. Mehr kann ich nicht verraten! Lest es unbedingt selbst. Man muss die Bücher nicht unbedingt in Reihenfolge lesen, bringt sich aber um ordentlich Lesegenuss, wenn man es nicht macht. Ich liebe alles an dieser Reihe und bin auch durch diesen 3. und aller Wahrscheinlichkeit nach letzten Fall der Miss Sharp ermittelt-Reihe nur so geflogen. Ich habe gelacht, gegluckst, gekichert, mitgerätselt und -gelitten und mich unbändig gefreut, wieder Teil von Sunset Hall zu sein. 5/5 Sterne und eine Empfehlung für all diejenigen, die sich gern schwarzhumorig, very british, spannend und unvorhersehbar unterhalten lassen wollen und dabei nichts gegen schräge Charaktere hat, die einem furchtbar schnell ans Herz wachsen.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Agnes Sharp and the Wedding to Die For is the third book in Leonie Swann’s series about a bunch of elderly people sharing a house and investigating criminous affairs. Once again, Amy Bojang has performed a brilliant job, translating Swann’s German into English that you would swear was written by a native. For example, I bet the literal translation of Swann’s original German description of a picture’s subject matter is not “a flamboyance of flamingos.” And “flour power” was genius.
The novel follows almost straight on from the previous book in the series and therefore features the same core characters: Agnes and her friends: Bernadette, Charlie, Edwina, Marshall & Winston. Bernadette is getting married to an old beau, Jack, but an anonymous letter suggests that someone plans to sabotage their big day:
Something old,
Something red,
Something stolen,
Something dead.
Agnes is still worrying about not solving the verger’s death from the opening chapter of Book Two. Is it related to the anonymous threat? There is also the realisation that the guest list for the wedding is going to be really short unless they can persuade some distant acquaintances and even strangers to attend. Jack’s previous career as a very successful hit-man means he doesn’t have any former customers to invite. One plot strand follows Charlie’s use of online dating and her attempt to find a beau for Agnes.
Swann skilfully brings all the sub-plots together. We’re reminded that the characters are aging, with queues for the stairlift. That use of the stairlift is actually a very clever structural device: in the same way that the characters fret about the delay to what they want to do, we readers are equally frustrated about the pause in the action, sometimes at key moments. Everything halts while the ruddy stairlift slowly comes to the caller (it’s always at the far end of the track) and then the user slowly ascends/descends far too slowly. Like Agnes, I almost wept with impatience at times. And once the destination is reached, the plot is resumed at normal speed.
I thought the ending was staggeringly unexpected – I loved it. However, if you do get the book, don’t skip to the end. It won’t make sense without reading the story from the beginning – and that means it won’t have the hugely enjoyable impact, so you’ll miss out.
#AgnesSharpandtheWeddingtoDieFor #NetGalley
The novel follows almost straight on from the previous book in the series and therefore features the same core characters: Agnes and her friends: Bernadette, Charlie, Edwina, Marshall & Winston. Bernadette is getting married to an old beau, Jack, but an anonymous letter suggests that someone plans to sabotage their big day:
Something old,
Something red,
Something stolen,
Something dead.
Agnes is still worrying about not solving the verger’s death from the opening chapter of Book Two. Is it related to the anonymous threat? There is also the realisation that the guest list for the wedding is going to be really short unless they can persuade some distant acquaintances and even strangers to attend. Jack’s previous career as a very successful hit-man means he doesn’t have any former customers to invite. One plot strand follows Charlie’s use of online dating and her attempt to find a beau for Agnes.
Swann skilfully brings all the sub-plots together. We’re reminded that the characters are aging, with queues for the stairlift. That use of the stairlift is actually a very clever structural device: in the same way that the characters fret about the delay to what they want to do, we readers are equally frustrated about the pause in the action, sometimes at key moments. Everything halts while the ruddy stairlift slowly comes to the caller (it’s always at the far end of the track) and then the user slowly ascends/descends far too slowly. Like Agnes, I almost wept with impatience at times. And once the destination is reached, the plot is resumed at normal speed.
I thought the ending was staggeringly unexpected – I loved it. However, if you do get the book, don’t skip to the end. It won’t make sense without reading the story from the beginning – and that means it won’t have the hugely enjoyable impact, so you’ll miss out.
#AgnesSharpandtheWeddingtoDieFor #NetGalley
July 18, 2024
2,5 Sterne (2,5 Sterne Abzug für das blöde Ende)
Bis zu den letzten paar Kapiteln dieses Buches hatte ich erwartet, ihm 5 Sterne zu geben. Aber ich lese nicht gerne Bücher, die genauso deprimierend sind wie die reale Welt. Manche würden behaupten, dass der Epilog das Ende rettet. Ich sage, zum Teufel damit. Gebt mir ein gutes Ende, das mich nicht an die Sinnlosigkeit des Lebens erinnert, mit dem Versprechen von etwas, das der Herausgeber anscheinend angehängt hat, um das Buch vor dem Scheitern zu retten.
Ich bin mir der Tatsache bewusst, dass wir alle sterben werden. Und wenn man über 80 ist, dann ist die Zeit, die einem bleibt, begrenzt. Aber fast alle deine Hauptfiguren in einem Satz zu töten, das ist ... wie soll ich das sagen? Es ist einfach gemein und ärgerlich. Und dann noch den Hund, der im Haus war, als es explodierte, irgendwie überleben zu lassen, nun, das ist einfach nur lächerlich. Und nein, ich will nicht über Hunde lesen, die getötet werden. Ich habe mich schon darüber geärgert, dass Winston „off-screen“ getötet worden ist. Aber einfach das ganze Haus in die Luft zu jagen und dann alle im Himmel wieder zusammenkommen zu lassen? Im Himmel? Ist das dein Ernst? Willst du mich verarschen? Ich habe bis jetzt alle Bücher von Frau Swann gelesen. Ich werde mir wirklich überlegen müssen, ob ich ihr nächstes Buch lesen will.
(Ein paar sehr auffälligen deutschen Hochzeitstraditionen, die auf England übertragen wurden, waren auch etwas nervig, aber damit kann ich leben)
Bis zu den letzten paar Kapiteln dieses Buches hatte ich erwartet, ihm 5 Sterne zu geben. Aber ich lese nicht gerne Bücher, die genauso deprimierend sind wie die reale Welt. Manche würden behaupten, dass der Epilog das Ende rettet. Ich sage, zum Teufel damit. Gebt mir ein gutes Ende, das mich nicht an die Sinnlosigkeit des Lebens erinnert, mit dem Versprechen von etwas, das der Herausgeber anscheinend angehängt hat, um das Buch vor dem Scheitern zu retten.
Ich bin mir der Tatsache bewusst, dass wir alle sterben werden. Und wenn man über 80 ist, dann ist die Zeit, die einem bleibt, begrenzt. Aber fast alle deine Hauptfiguren in einem Satz zu töten, das ist ... wie soll ich das sagen? Es ist einfach gemein und ärgerlich. Und dann noch den Hund, der im Haus war, als es explodierte, irgendwie überleben zu lassen, nun, das ist einfach nur lächerlich. Und nein, ich will nicht über Hunde lesen, die getötet werden. Ich habe mich schon darüber geärgert, dass Winston „off-screen“ getötet worden ist. Aber einfach das ganze Haus in die Luft zu jagen und dann alle im Himmel wieder zusammenkommen zu lassen? Im Himmel? Ist das dein Ernst? Willst du mich verarschen? Ich habe bis jetzt alle Bücher von Frau Swann gelesen. Ich werde mir wirklich überlegen müssen, ob ich ihr nächstes Buch lesen will.
(Ein paar sehr auffälligen deutschen Hochzeitstraditionen, die auf England übertragen wurden, waren auch etwas nervig, aber damit kann ich leben)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
actually 4.25 🌟
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I can't believe it is really over. This last month, I read the previous 2 books, and when I reached this one, I will be honest, I was really relieved that I was almost over. I am still not sure why it was so difficult to get into the previous two books. I think because half of the time, I felt the mystery all over the place, or maybe the pacing was off.
However, in this one, I was hooked from the get-go, choosing the time before and after the wedding was the right choice for the timeline of this. It fixed all the pacing issues I had from the other books. Moreover, when the climax arrived, it was almost impossible to put it down. Although I felt like the end was a bit underwhelming in some aspects.
Agnes will always be in my heart, with her determination and her covert kindness.
Marshall will be the eldest yearner and the most patient man ever. We only have to stan.
Edwina will always be in my mind with her craziness and intelligence.
Winston will be the most me in a mystery book.
Charlie, even though I always thought she was going to betray the house, I'm so sorry diva. You only came to slay.
Bernadette, I will always be glad you got your second chance on love, you deserve it queen.
Hattie the MVP ❤️
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I can't believe it is really over. This last month, I read the previous 2 books, and when I reached this one, I will be honest, I was really relieved that I was almost over. I am still not sure why it was so difficult to get into the previous two books. I think because half of the time, I felt the mystery all over the place, or maybe the pacing was off.
However, in this one, I was hooked from the get-go, choosing the time before and after the wedding was the right choice for the timeline of this. It fixed all the pacing issues I had from the other books. Moreover, when the climax arrived, it was almost impossible to put it down. Although I felt like the end was a bit underwhelming in some aspects.
Agnes will always be in my heart, with her determination and her covert kindness.
Marshall will be the eldest yearner and the most patient man ever. We only have to stan.
Edwina will always be in my mind with her craziness and intelligence.
Winston will be the most me in a mystery book.
Charlie, even though I always thought she was going to betray the house, I'm so sorry diva. You only came to slay.
Bernadette, I will always be glad you got your second chance on love, you deserve it queen.
Hattie the MVP ❤️
May 5, 2026
Thank you Netgalley, Soho Press and the author for free electronic copy. Reviews are my own.
Third novel in Agnes Sharp trilogy, Agnes Sharp and the Wedding to Die For follows love this time. Bernadette and Jack are getting married and the residents of Sunset Hall are in rush to make the wedding awesome and well, not so dangerous. With strange things happening, Agnes tries to solve the mystery before anyone speak or forever hold their peaces.
Agnes Sharp is Miss Marple meets dark humour, and I am glad I met Agnes. The other residents of Sunset Hall are also funny and not your classic pensioner. The story is fast paced with more darkness I assumed it to have, more of a mix of golden era and noir style. I cannot classify the novel as cosy mystery, with the events and the ending of the story. The ending is bold and not usual for a cosy mystery. I did not expect the ending at all, and it was a surprise.
For fans of cosy mystery, readers with reading slump and who wants to read about extraordinary humans of Sunset Hall.
#reklam Kitap tarafıma elektronik ortamda ücretsiz olarak gönderilmiştir.
Third novel in Agnes Sharp trilogy, Agnes Sharp and the Wedding to Die For follows love this time. Bernadette and Jack are getting married and the residents of Sunset Hall are in rush to make the wedding awesome and well, not so dangerous. With strange things happening, Agnes tries to solve the mystery before anyone speak or forever hold their peaces.
Agnes Sharp is Miss Marple meets dark humour, and I am glad I met Agnes. The other residents of Sunset Hall are also funny and not your classic pensioner. The story is fast paced with more darkness I assumed it to have, more of a mix of golden era and noir style. I cannot classify the novel as cosy mystery, with the events and the ending of the story. The ending is bold and not usual for a cosy mystery. I did not expect the ending at all, and it was a surprise.
For fans of cosy mystery, readers with reading slump and who wants to read about extraordinary humans of Sunset Hall.
#reklam Kitap tarafıma elektronik ortamda ücretsiz olarak gönderilmiştir.
Currently Reading
December 3, 2025Actually going to the city library and sitting there to read this is a first. I've only ever borrowed books, long ago, and reading there was as difficult as I imagined, but I had so wanted another Swann - the sheep mysteries were brilliant literary entertainment, the parrot already boring, the fleas (and Legulas :)) had some brilliance but were mangled. Sadly her Thursday Murder Club like series remains lackluster, she never manages humans as well as animals, and while writing in a language that could be easily translated (and having a name that works in many languages), I think she should never have joined the oversaturated British cozy market (not that the German mystery market is better). I hope I can remember anything if I manage to go back for the leftover two thirds. I've had so much goodwill towards Swann's endeavour, but she's not getting any better, and her books are getting harder to get at the same time.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I did not expect this series to have only 3 books. I read the first book years ago, but have not had the opportunity to read the second. The context was all in this one, though. Agnes and her friends are planning the wedding of their friends Bernadette, who used to work as a police informant, and Jack, who used to be in organized crime. But then threatening notes start to come in.
Miss Sharp is a very fun main character and the assortment of other characters are really effective, and also significantly darker than you'd expect in this type of cozy mystery. The ending, in particular, was absolutely shocking, even to me, a constant reader of mystery and thriller. Less so for the reveal of the culprit, more for what happens after that. 5 stars. Thanks to Soho Press and Netgalley for the ARC.
Miss Sharp is a very fun main character and the assortment of other characters are really effective, and also significantly darker than you'd expect in this type of cozy mystery. The ending, in particular, was absolutely shocking, even to me, a constant reader of mystery and thriller. Less so for the reveal of the culprit, more for what happens after that. 5 stars. Thanks to Soho Press and Netgalley for the ARC.
June 8, 2024
Erst war ich etwas irritiert, weil das Hörbuch nicht wie die ersten beiden Teile von Anna Thalbach gelesen wurde, sondern von Tanja Geke. Aber sie macht das wirklich sehr gut, ich habe mich schnell an ihre Stimme gewöhnt.
Die Geschichte ist sehr mysteriös, Agnes und ihre WG-Mitglieder inklusive Schildkröte und Schlange haben deutlich zu knobeln und zu kämpfen, nicht nur mit schmerzenden Hüftgelenken, Altersweitsichtigkeit und dem zu langsamen Treppenlift. Sie verteidigen Leib, Seele und Lebensstil mit allen Mitteln und sind dabei nicht zimperlich, sondern energisch und voller Phantasie. Ich selbst war die ganze Zeit total auf dem Holzweg und das Ende hat mich überrascht und schockiert. Aber der Epilog versöhnt auf ganz bezaubernde Weise.
Die Geschichte ist sehr mysteriös, Agnes und ihre WG-Mitglieder inklusive Schildkröte und Schlange haben deutlich zu knobeln und zu kämpfen, nicht nur mit schmerzenden Hüftgelenken, Altersweitsichtigkeit und dem zu langsamen Treppenlift. Sie verteidigen Leib, Seele und Lebensstil mit allen Mitteln und sind dabei nicht zimperlich, sondern energisch und voller Phantasie. Ich selbst war die ganze Zeit total auf dem Holzweg und das Ende hat mich überrascht und schockiert. Aber der Epilog versöhnt auf ganz bezaubernde Weise.
October 5, 2025
Agnes Sharp und ihre Senioren-WG ermitteln wieder. Dieses Mal wird es persönlich... obwohl eigentlich ist es immer persönlich: Bernadettes (Agnes' BFF) will heiraten und irgendjemand will das verhindern. Das kann Agnes nicht zulassen, also stürzt sie sich in die Ermittlungen... so schnell es ein Treppenlift eben zulässt. Wenn man sich einen Agnes-Fall schnappt, weiß man, was einen erwartet und das ist auch gut so: Es gibt Schildkröten, an Körperverletzung grenzende Backwerke, Schlangen und Morde und auch etwas sehr Unerwartetes, dass mich kalt erwischt hat. Es war mir eine Freude, nach Sunset Hall zurückzukehren.
April 16, 2026
Bernadette and Jack are getting married. But the Foxglove Manor requires at least twenty guests to come. And it's not like the crew knows all that many people. So they start inviting anyone they can think of. They don't expect an old friend (?) of Bernadette's to show up. Nor do they expect her to die. Is this related to the verger who was also killed? Agnes does feel some guilt about forgetting to tell anyone that he was there. They found him eventually.
The wedding does go off, but with more than the most important hitch. And the ending on this one was... not my cup of tea. I'm going to be VERY interested to read other reviews on this one.
The wedding does go off, but with more than the most important hitch. And the ending on this one was... not my cup of tea. I'm going to be VERY interested to read other reviews on this one.
May 6, 2026
The first two books of the Miss Sharp series were a funny, but mostly brainless experience for me. Everything was entertaining, but the stakes were never too high and I didn’t take anything seriously. The third book changed everything. Okay, first of all, the narrator changed, which was a shock at first, but I got used to it (but nobody can voice my queen Charley as good as Anna Thalbach).
Anyways, suddenly this book had it all – a good mystery, a good mix between serious and funny moments, and most importantly, real emotions. I previously liked most of the Sunset Hall residents quite a lot, but that is far from the things I felt for them in this story. The sprouting feelings between Agnes and the Marshall were the most important thing for me, I’m not gonna lie, but everyone of the main characters had their own chance to shine.
Surprisingly enough, the ending just added to that. It’s VERY controversial for good reasons, and I was pretty sure beforehand I wouldn’t like it too much (I read something about it before I even started this book), but I was wrong. But well, it’s best to stop at the top, right? Or, as Charley said: Children, what fun that was.
Anyways, suddenly this book had it all – a good mystery, a good mix between serious and funny moments, and most importantly, real emotions. I previously liked most of the Sunset Hall residents quite a lot, but that is far from the things I felt for them in this story. The sprouting feelings between Agnes and the Marshall were the most important thing for me, I’m not gonna lie, but everyone of the main characters had their own chance to shine.
Surprisingly enough, the ending just added to that. It’s VERY controversial for good reasons, and I was pretty sure beforehand I wouldn’t like it too much (I read something about it before I even started this book), but I was wrong. But well, it’s best to stop at the top, right? Or, as Charley said: Children, what fun that was.
May 5, 2026
Five stars for most if it, two for the ending, so three in total. When you're writing about octogenarians (and slightly younger) and you want to end the series, I suppose it's one way to go. I didn't hate it as much as some of the reviewers. Being in my sixties myself it's rather the afterlife I'd hope for. And I suppose having them trapped in series afterlife in limbo with their failing bodies and minds might be considered crueler. I'm glad the villain got his comeuppance at the hands of the Sunset Hall residents anyway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2025
Den Epilog hätte es nun doch nicht gebracht.
Die Geschichte selbst war schon reichlich bemüht.
Doch mit so einem Ende kann ich gar nichts anfangen. Diese "Märchenstunde" hinterlässt in meinem Mund einen klebrig-süßen Nachgeschmack.
Das Niveau der Geschichte hat sich somit dem des Covers angepasst.
Die Geschichte selbst war schon reichlich bemüht.
Doch mit so einem Ende kann ich gar nichts anfangen. Diese "Märchenstunde" hinterlässt in meinem Mund einen klebrig-süßen Nachgeschmack.
Das Niveau der Geschichte hat sich somit dem des Covers angepasst.
April 28, 2026
Pure entertainment!
You won't believe who is getting married, their long lost connection, and the antics to make it all happen. The aged friends are at it again, murder and mayhem.
I just have to mention that the story is mostly told from Agnes' perspective, and then you start hearing from Hettie, and Oberon, some of the house pets.
Such great fun!
You won't believe who is getting married, their long lost connection, and the antics to make it all happen. The aged friends are at it again, murder and mayhem.
I just have to mention that the story is mostly told from Agnes' perspective, and then you start hearing from Hettie, and Oberon, some of the house pets.
Such great fun!
April 12, 2026
I was so looking forward to this book and I loved all the twists and turns trying to figure out who was creating such havoc. The ending gutted me. There was no reason to destroy the fans that loved this series.
April 23, 2026
I’ve finally gotten attached to this group. Book 3 picks up where the story ended in book 2. Life goes on at the house with the big wedding in the works! There are plenty of mishaps, laughs, and surprises in this book.
April 23, 2026
I really liked this book, and the murder mystery. I love this group and all their quirks. It’s the characters that drive this murder mystery forward. This is a great example of cozy murder mystery.
But that ending….
It was sort of beautiful but so sad.
But that ending….
It was sort of beautiful but so sad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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