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A Jane Wunderly Mystery #1
Muerte en El Cairo
Asesinatos, romance y aventuras en Egipto en la década de 1920
El lujoso hotel Mena House en El Cairo se convierte en el escenario de un asesinato en un cozy crime que arrancará más de una sonrisa a los lectores.
De la autora ganadora del premio Agatha 2021
Egipto, 1926. Jane Wunderly, una joven viuda, y su tía Millie se alojan en el lujoso hotel Mena House, donde la alta sociedad de todo el mundo puede olvidarse de las secuelas de la Primera Guerra Mundial.
Jane pronto sucumbe a los encantos de uno de los huéspedes, el misterioso banquero Redvers, y la atractiva joven Anna Stainton enseguida la ve como una rival. Por eso, cuando al día siguiente Jane encuentra el cadáver de Anna en su habitación, se convierte en la principal sospechosa de su muerte.
¿Conseguirá demostrar su inocencia y averiguar qué huésped esconde algo más que un oscuro secreto?
¿POR QUÉ LEER MUERTE EN EL CAIRO?
Un entretenido cozy crime que entrelaza escenarios exóticos, asesinatos, romance y humor
La ambientación en un hotel de lujo durante los años 20, donde coinciden viajeros de todo el mundo
Una protagonista encantadora con un talento especial para meterse en líos
Un variopinto elenco de personajes al más puro estilo Agatha Christie
El lujoso hotel Mena House en El Cairo se convierte en el escenario de un asesinato en un cozy crime que arrancará más de una sonrisa a los lectores.
De la autora ganadora del premio Agatha 2021
Egipto, 1926. Jane Wunderly, una joven viuda, y su tía Millie se alojan en el lujoso hotel Mena House, donde la alta sociedad de todo el mundo puede olvidarse de las secuelas de la Primera Guerra Mundial.
Jane pronto sucumbe a los encantos de uno de los huéspedes, el misterioso banquero Redvers, y la atractiva joven Anna Stainton enseguida la ve como una rival. Por eso, cuando al día siguiente Jane encuentra el cadáver de Anna en su habitación, se convierte en la principal sospechosa de su muerte.
¿Conseguirá demostrar su inocencia y averiguar qué huésped esconde algo más que un oscuro secreto?
¿POR QUÉ LEER MUERTE EN EL CAIRO?
Un entretenido cozy crime que entrelaza escenarios exóticos, asesinatos, romance y humor
La ambientación en un hotel de lujo durante los años 20, donde coinciden viajeros de todo el mundo
Una protagonista encantadora con un talento especial para meterse en líos
Un variopinto elenco de personajes al más puro estilo Agatha Christie
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2020
540 people are currently reading
6206 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 909 reviews
November 12, 2019
Assigned- 4 stars-
Solid start for this new cozy series! Jane Wunderly is going to be a great book friend- I can already tell. 😊😊
Solid start for this new cozy series! Jane Wunderly is going to be a great book friend- I can already tell. 😊😊
April 1, 2020
Jane Wunderly accompanied her Aunt Millie to Egypt in 1926, looking forward to her holiday and seeing the pyramids as had been her dream. She was recently widowed and determined to never marry again, but Aunt Millie was equally determined to see she did. When the two women encountered Mr Redvers at Mena House, Millie was smug while Jane was wary. As the guests mingled while getting to know one another, Jane could see there were some strange and different people among the guests. The Colonel for example was a lovely man, while his daughter immediately made eyes at all the men. Jane wasn’t the only woman to feel her glare.
But when Jane found a body in one of the guest rooms, she was totally in shock. And when she was declared a suspect by the local police, Jane knew she had to find the killer to clear her name. Could she trust Mr Redvers to help? Between the staff and all the guests, there were many who would fit on Jane’s list of suspects. She needed to eliminate to find the murderer…
Murder at the Mena House is the 1st in the "A Jane Wunderly Mystery" series by Erica Ruth Neubauer and I loved it! Jane is an excellently crafted character, strong and determined and although she did some foolish things, she knew they were but did them anyway. I can’t wait for the next in the series and recommend this one highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for my honest review.
But when Jane found a body in one of the guest rooms, she was totally in shock. And when she was declared a suspect by the local police, Jane knew she had to find the killer to clear her name. Could she trust Mr Redvers to help? Between the staff and all the guests, there were many who would fit on Jane’s list of suspects. She needed to eliminate to find the murderer…
Murder at the Mena House is the 1st in the "A Jane Wunderly Mystery" series by Erica Ruth Neubauer and I loved it! Jane is an excellently crafted character, strong and determined and although she did some foolish things, she knew they were but did them anyway. I can’t wait for the next in the series and recommend this one highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for my honest review.
June 4, 2024
MADRE DEL DIOS BENDITO, QUÉ DELICIA😍!!!
✨Es más, te diré que me lo compré el sábado por la mañana y que el domingo por la tarde ya me lo había leído... Y es que es imposible parar de leer🤭!
✨Es como si estuvieras viendo una de esas películas tan fascinantes ambientadas en el Egipto de 1926 (The Mummy pero sin mummy🤭), en la que nuestra protagonista pasa unas tranquilas vacaciones junto a su tía en un hotel de lujo, hasta que los secretos de los huéspedes empiezan a salir de sus escondites al mismo ritmo que los crím...enes aparecen...🔍
✨Y es que esta novela es tan adictiva que te aviso desde ya, cuando termines de leerla, vas a correr cual cabra loca a comprarte todos los libros de la autora...🔥 Y si no me crees, pregúntamelo a mí, que me faltó tiempo para entrar en Amazon para hacerme con todas sus novelas!🤩
✨Eso sí, ojito a esto: de momento, este es el único libro publicado aquí, peroooooooooooooo he visto que es una saga y que hay cinco editados ya en inglés.... Así que, MAEVA, ¿pá cuando el segundo😍❤️🔥?
✨Todo esto sin mencionar a cierto caballero que, aparte de misterioso, se deja admirar...🔥
RECUERDA: si te van los cozy crime con su buena dosis de romance, secretos y misterios, y que estén ambientados en el exótico Egipto de 1926, no te pierdas esta deliciosa historia. Y es que además, toca temas tan importantes como el contrabando de objetos robados en las pirámides y el maltrato a las mujeres❤️
✨Es más, te diré que me lo compré el sábado por la mañana y que el domingo por la tarde ya me lo había leído... Y es que es imposible parar de leer🤭!
✨Es como si estuvieras viendo una de esas películas tan fascinantes ambientadas en el Egipto de 1926 (The Mummy pero sin mummy🤭), en la que nuestra protagonista pasa unas tranquilas vacaciones junto a su tía en un hotel de lujo, hasta que los secretos de los huéspedes empiezan a salir de sus escondites al mismo ritmo que los crím...enes aparecen...🔍
✨Y es que esta novela es tan adictiva que te aviso desde ya, cuando termines de leerla, vas a correr cual cabra loca a comprarte todos los libros de la autora...🔥 Y si no me crees, pregúntamelo a mí, que me faltó tiempo para entrar en Amazon para hacerme con todas sus novelas!🤩
✨Eso sí, ojito a esto: de momento, este es el único libro publicado aquí, peroooooooooooooo he visto que es una saga y que hay cinco editados ya en inglés.... Así que, MAEVA, ¿pá cuando el segundo😍❤️🔥?
✨Todo esto sin mencionar a cierto caballero que, aparte de misterioso, se deja admirar...🔥
RECUERDA: si te van los cozy crime con su buena dosis de romance, secretos y misterios, y que estén ambientados en el exótico Egipto de 1926, no te pierdas esta deliciosa historia. Y es que además, toca temas tan importantes como el contrabando de objetos robados en las pirámides y el maltrato a las mujeres❤️
March 20, 2020
It's 1926, and American Jane Wunderly is vacationing with her aunt at Mena House, a luxurious Egyptian hotel overlooking the pyramids. When Anna Stainton, a hotel guest who dislikes Jane, is found murdered, and Jane's missing Scarab is discovered in her room, she immediately becomes a suspect in Anna's death. Jane is determined to prove her innocence and teams up with another guest, the handsome and mysterious, Mr. Redvers, to find the culprit.
Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer is a great start to a new series. This is a fun and delightful historical cozy mystery, with interesting characters and a puzzling mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. The story is well-paced, and the author does a wonderful job with the setting. Her descriptions make it very easy to feel like you are right there with Jane, looking at the gorgeous views surrounding the Mena House, visiting the museums and the pyramids, enjoying the camel races and you could almost feel the heat on your skin. Jane is a likable and relatable character and you can't help but cheer her on and admire her determination to not let the past stop her from enjoying life to the fullest.
I enjoyed my time with this book and look forward to solving more mysteries with Jane.
I received an ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer is a great start to a new series. This is a fun and delightful historical cozy mystery, with interesting characters and a puzzling mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. The story is well-paced, and the author does a wonderful job with the setting. Her descriptions make it very easy to feel like you are right there with Jane, looking at the gorgeous views surrounding the Mena House, visiting the museums and the pyramids, enjoying the camel races and you could almost feel the heat on your skin. Jane is a likable and relatable character and you can't help but cheer her on and admire her determination to not let the past stop her from enjoying life to the fullest.
I enjoyed my time with this book and look forward to solving more mysteries with Jane.
I received an ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 25, 2024
4'5⭐ YOUTUBE / INSTAGRAM
A estas alturas no es ningún secreto que me flipa el cozy mystery, pero es que este libro tiene una combinación de elementos que fueron elegidos especialmente para mí (no tengo pruebas, pero tampoco dudas).
La ambientación exótica en un hotel de lujo en el Egipto en los años 20 me ha conquistado, pero es que nuestra protagonista, Jane Wunderly, con su talento para meterse en problemas, me ha caído genial. Y, a pesar de que investiga mucho por su cuenta, no me ha puesto nerviosa por excesiva imprudencia como me pasa con otras protagonistas.
El misterio tiene varias ramas que ha sido muy entretenido seguir (algunas más predecibles que otras), se habla de expoliación y contrabando, y los toques de romance y humor lo hacen todo mucho más redondo. Vamos, que ha sido todo un descubrimiento.
La autora dice que, de pequeña, la criaron con películas en blanco y negro de Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart y adaptaciones de Agatha Christie, y que en este libro quería recrear el aura de ese tipo de películas. Bueno, pues debo decir que a mí también me criaron con ellas y que Erica Ruth Neubauer lo ha clavado.
En inglés de momento se han publicado 5 libros dentro de esta serie (el último ambientado en Escocia🤭) y un relato corto navideño. Yo ya he empezado a rezar para que nos lo traigan todo🤞.
A estas alturas no es ningún secreto que me flipa el cozy mystery, pero es que este libro tiene una combinación de elementos que fueron elegidos especialmente para mí (no tengo pruebas, pero tampoco dudas).
La ambientación exótica en un hotel de lujo en el Egipto en los años 20 me ha conquistado, pero es que nuestra protagonista, Jane Wunderly, con su talento para meterse en problemas, me ha caído genial. Y, a pesar de que investiga mucho por su cuenta, no me ha puesto nerviosa por excesiva imprudencia como me pasa con otras protagonistas.
El misterio tiene varias ramas que ha sido muy entretenido seguir (algunas más predecibles que otras), se habla de expoliación y contrabando, y los toques de romance y humor lo hacen todo mucho más redondo. Vamos, que ha sido todo un descubrimiento.
La autora dice que, de pequeña, la criaron con películas en blanco y negro de Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart y adaptaciones de Agatha Christie, y que en este libro quería recrear el aura de ese tipo de películas. Bueno, pues debo decir que a mí también me criaron con ellas y que Erica Ruth Neubauer lo ha clavado.
En inglés de momento se han publicado 5 libros dentro de esta serie (el último ambientado en Escocia🤭) y un relato corto navideño. Yo ya he empezado a rezar para que nos lo traigan todo🤞.
March 5, 2020
In this delightful debut cozy mystery, we are introduced to Jane Wunderly, a recent war widow. It is 1926, and Jane has traveled to Cairo, Egypt with her Aunt Millie for a vacation at the luxurious Mena House. Although her husband was killed in the war, Jane is keeping secret the truth about her marriage with a man who was not all he seemed. She is more interested in visiting the pyramids, than in the single men at the hotel bar. Jane is introduced to Anna Stainton, a British colonel’s daughter, and the two get off to a bad start. When Anna is found shot to death, Jane becomes the number one suspect. Realizing she needs to find out who murdered Anna before she winds up in jail, Jane begins to investigate her fellow hotel guests in order to find the real killer. Is it the hotel doctor who disappears into the opium dens; the vaudeville couple who should not be able to afford so expensive a vacation; or could it be her own aunt who has been acting strangely since they arrived. Jane is soon joined in her detecting by the handsome, but mysterious Redvers, who seems anything but the banker he claims to be. Will Jane be able to find the murderer before he or she strikes again?
This was an entertaining cozy mystery, chock full of intrigue, romance and history! The dialogue is fast and witty, and the smart plot moves along at a quick pace. Cairo of the 1920's comes alive with pyramids, camels and antiquities. This was and enjoyable read and I am looking forward to the next installment.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
This was an entertaining cozy mystery, chock full of intrigue, romance and history! The dialogue is fast and witty, and the smart plot moves along at a quick pace. Cairo of the 1920's comes alive with pyramids, camels and antiquities. This was and enjoyable read and I am looking forward to the next installment.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
April 24, 2020
When I got a copy of this manuscript to read for a blurb, I was delighted--as a huge Amelia Peabody fan, I love mysteries set in Egypt. The book blew away my high expectations. Jane is such a compelling heroine! And Neubauer has a sublime talent for incorporating accurate historical details. An absolutely fabulous read. Can't recommend highly enough.
December 19, 2025
I wanted to love this book, but it never engaged me enough to move beyond a flirtation. Because it’s a debut novel I’m bumping my rating up a star.
In fiction I read historical and contemporary suspense and mystery, and thriller. My favorite books, written by authors whose work I read again and again, emerge from a place of knowledge and experience that talent, imagination, and skill supports. The authors know their subjects and environments intimately, bringing an integrity and depth to their work—a depth that research alone can't replicate.
As a fan of Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series I had high hopes for Murder at the Mena House. Peters, an Egyptologist of some regard, embedded layers of richness in her stories that Neubauer never achieves. I seriously doubt that Neubauer has ever visited the Middle East or North Africa, particularly Egypt. Because of this distance from her subject a lot of Murder at the Mena House doesn’t ring true if you know anything about Egypt, the Middle East, archaeology, looted antiquities, or the history of exploration in the region. The missing idiosyncrasies—sights, sounds, encounters, and certainly smells—of the region, which color anyone's time there, undermine the story itself.
The other problem I have with this book is that editing is inconsistent. That translates to a lot of “telling, not showing,” and pacing that suffers from too many details. Some of her characters are engaging, but details, dialogue, and inner dialogue bog them down. This is particularly true of her protagonist. I kept waiting for the story to take off, and it never did for me.
It's not that Murder at the Mena House is a bad story. It's light and entertaining, so maybe perfect for some readers. But I don't think it ever reaches its potential, and that's a shame.
In fiction I read historical and contemporary suspense and mystery, and thriller. My favorite books, written by authors whose work I read again and again, emerge from a place of knowledge and experience that talent, imagination, and skill supports. The authors know their subjects and environments intimately, bringing an integrity and depth to their work—a depth that research alone can't replicate.
As a fan of Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series I had high hopes for Murder at the Mena House. Peters, an Egyptologist of some regard, embedded layers of richness in her stories that Neubauer never achieves. I seriously doubt that Neubauer has ever visited the Middle East or North Africa, particularly Egypt. Because of this distance from her subject a lot of Murder at the Mena House doesn’t ring true if you know anything about Egypt, the Middle East, archaeology, looted antiquities, or the history of exploration in the region. The missing idiosyncrasies—sights, sounds, encounters, and certainly smells—of the region, which color anyone's time there, undermine the story itself.
The other problem I have with this book is that editing is inconsistent. That translates to a lot of “telling, not showing,” and pacing that suffers from too many details. Some of her characters are engaging, but details, dialogue, and inner dialogue bog them down. This is particularly true of her protagonist. I kept waiting for the story to take off, and it never did for me.
It's not that Murder at the Mena House is a bad story. It's light and entertaining, so maybe perfect for some readers. But I don't think it ever reaches its potential, and that's a shame.
May 25, 2020
I read a fair amount of fluff, and I don’t usually have high standards when it comes to cozy mysteries. But I do need some reasonable semblance of competence. If not, I need humor or heart. Or I need a heroine I like. Or some side characters I want to actually spend time with. Or a compelling mystery. Or a decent love interest. This one had not a single one of the above.
April 5, 2020
Jane Wunderly, a war widow, is accompanying her aunt Millie on a trip to Egypt in 1926. She has always dreamed to seeing the Great Pyramids, so this trip is a dream come true. The only hiccup might be her aunt’s not so subtle attempts at matchmaking. That is, until she has some run ins with Anna Stainton, a beautiful socialite who has decided Jane is a rival. When Jane finds Anna’s dead body, the local police think Jane has a good motive for murder. Reluctantly teaming up with the mysterious Mr. Redvers, Jane begins to hunt for the real killer. Can she figure out what happened?
This book is fun, and it captured me from the first couple of sentences. Jane, Redvers, and the rest are a delight to spend time around. I definitely laughed at some of Jane and Redvers’s scenes together. Yet the characters do have layers, and I enjoyed seeing those emerge as the book progressed. I was having so much fun, it took me a while to see the plot was a little weak. While there are clues and twists, it felt like we could have used a few more of them. Still, the writing kept the pages turning, and the climax was suspenseful. I enjoyed this debut, and I’m very curious to find out where Jane goes next.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This book is fun, and it captured me from the first couple of sentences. Jane, Redvers, and the rest are a delight to spend time around. I definitely laughed at some of Jane and Redvers’s scenes together. Yet the characters do have layers, and I enjoyed seeing those emerge as the book progressed. I was having so much fun, it took me a while to see the plot was a little weak. While there are clues and twists, it felt like we could have used a few more of them. Still, the writing kept the pages turning, and the climax was suspenseful. I enjoyed this debut, and I’m very curious to find out where Jane goes next.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
October 21, 2024
CONTENT WARNINGS: Domestic abuse
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Jane is on a long vacation to the pyramids in Giza, Egypt, w/ her "aunt" Millie (actually her late husband's aunt) in the 1920's, when Egypt's antiquities were all the rage in Britain (and apparently, America, as Jane is American?) Her husband died in the Great War, to Jane's relief, surprisingly, and she has vowed that she will NOT become entangled w/ a man while on vacation.
Enter a mysterious, well-dressed, handsome man, who buys her a drink and while enjoying some banter w/ the stranger, Jane has an unpleasant interaction w/ a flamboyantly-dressed young woman. (I think the term at the time would have been "flapper?" I'd say floozy! ) But Jane doesn't expect to find young Anna dead the next morning! Of course, Jane becomes the prime suspect in Anna's murder.
Can Jane absolve herself for the crime? Is the mysterious stranger going to help her -- or is he more nefarious than he appears? And what is up w/ Aunt Millie and the mysterious Leslie? Why is Aunt Millie spending so much time w/ her? This is an interesting subplot, but the reader can see through the mystery of this relationship pretty quickly, long before hints start getting dropped.
The denouement is exciting, but the rest of the cozy mystery is simply too drawn out. I won't be reading any more of the series. 3 stars, as I did finish the mystery, and wasn't sure of the identity of Anna's murderer until close to the end.
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Jane is on a long vacation to the pyramids in Giza, Egypt, w/ her "aunt" Millie (actually her late husband's aunt) in the 1920's, when Egypt's antiquities were all the rage in Britain (and apparently, America, as Jane is American?) Her husband died in the Great War, to Jane's relief, surprisingly, and she has vowed that she will NOT become entangled w/ a man while on vacation.
Enter a mysterious, well-dressed, handsome man, who buys her a drink and while enjoying some banter w/ the stranger, Jane has an unpleasant interaction w/ a flamboyantly-dressed young woman. (I think the term at the time would have been "flapper?" I'd say floozy! ) But Jane doesn't expect to find young Anna dead the next morning! Of course, Jane becomes the prime suspect in Anna's murder.
Can Jane absolve herself for the crime? Is the mysterious stranger going to help her -- or is he more nefarious than he appears? And what is up w/ Aunt Millie and the mysterious Leslie? Why is Aunt Millie spending so much time w/ her? This is an interesting subplot, but the reader can see through the mystery of this relationship pretty quickly, long before hints start getting dropped.
The denouement is exciting, but the rest of the cozy mystery is simply too drawn out. I won't be reading any more of the series. 3 stars, as I did finish the mystery, and wasn't sure of the identity of Anna's murderer until close to the end.
July 24, 2024
Si todos los cozy mistery son así desde luego no son mi género.
Detrás de reclamos como “ligero, veraniego, para entretener, se lee fácil” yo sólo he encontrado falta de chicha, sinsentido, diálogos ridículos, aburrimiento de trama, personajes planos, sacadas de manga tremendas y un final predecible.
Claro que es un libro “para no pensar y dejarte llevar” porque a poco que pienses y te pares a analizar no hay por dónde coger nada de lo que pasa 😅
Bueno, todo sea por las risas que nos echamos en el grupo de lectura conjunta, pero vamos, menudo timo pagar por esto.
(1/5) ⭐️ cozy tangada de 20 pavos
Detrás de reclamos como “ligero, veraniego, para entretener, se lee fácil” yo sólo he encontrado falta de chicha, sinsentido, diálogos ridículos, aburrimiento de trama, personajes planos, sacadas de manga tremendas y un final predecible.
Claro que es un libro “para no pensar y dejarte llevar” porque a poco que pienses y te pares a analizar no hay por dónde coger nada de lo que pasa 😅
Bueno, todo sea por las risas que nos echamos en el grupo de lectura conjunta, pero vamos, menudo timo pagar por esto.
(1/5) ⭐️ cozy tangada de 20 pavos
Read
July 20, 2025SO much fun. As an Agatha Christie and Elizabeth Peters fan, I felt so at home in this book. Really enjoyed!
March 25, 2025
3,5 zvaigznes. Neesmu sajūsmā par nepieredzējušiem cilvēkiem, kas nolemj tēlot detektīvus, bet Džeina ir apburoša, ar veselīgu attieksmi (ar izņēmumiem), un viesnīca Ēģiptē blakus piramīdām pēc pirmā pasaules kara ir pietiekoši eksotiska vieta, lai būtu interesanti un es piedotu sīkus sižeta caurumus. Ja būs iespējams, klausīšos arī šīs sērijas turpinājumus.
April 29, 2021
I'm rounding up from a 2.5.
This is a good beginning to a cozy series. The setting was rendered a bit thin unfortunately but the main character, Jane Wunderly was pretty winsome. I didn't even mind the obvious love interest because he had a personality and things to do (hurrah for him not being a Boyfriend Blank).
The writing had some quirks and awkwardness which many firsts in a series of cozies do that detracted a bit but I would read another in hopes that they get smoothed out.
This is a good beginning to a cozy series. The setting was rendered a bit thin unfortunately but the main character, Jane Wunderly was pretty winsome. I didn't even mind the obvious love interest because he had a personality and things to do (hurrah for him not being a Boyfriend Blank).
The writing had some quirks and awkwardness which many firsts in a series of cozies do that detracted a bit but I would read another in hopes that they get smoothed out.
October 15, 2022
Ļoti foršs, izklaidējošs cozy detektive paraugs. Papildus bonuss - 20.gadu sadzīve, fliperu kultūra un loģiska detektīvstāsta intriga.
April 11, 2020
Agatha Christie has been my favorite author since I was 9 years old. So I am definitely a Golden Age Mystery fan. When I first saw the blurb for this book, I was immediately intrigued. Egypt. 1926. Cairo. Fancy Hotel. Murder. Sounds like a setting Agatha would have applauded! So...yep....had to read it! :)
I'm glad I did! Jane Wunderly and her Aunt Millie are enjoyable characters. The setting and time period made for a great backdrop for a murder mystery. There were plenty of suspects and twists, and the story is well written. Just a very entertaining reading experience for a golden age fan!
The cover art is very eye-catching! It pulled me right into the story. Awesome artwork!
Murder at Mena House is the first book in the Jane Wunderly mystery series and is Erica Ruth Neubauer's first book. I'm definitely looking forward to more stories in this series....and more books by this author! I wonder what adventures and travels Jane will be having next? :)
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
I'm glad I did! Jane Wunderly and her Aunt Millie are enjoyable characters. The setting and time period made for a great backdrop for a murder mystery. There were plenty of suspects and twists, and the story is well written. Just a very entertaining reading experience for a golden age fan!
The cover art is very eye-catching! It pulled me right into the story. Awesome artwork!
Murder at Mena House is the first book in the Jane Wunderly mystery series and is Erica Ruth Neubauer's first book. I'm definitely looking forward to more stories in this series....and more books by this author! I wonder what adventures and travels Jane will be having next? :)
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
November 20, 2024
Me hubiera gustado permanecer en ese hotel con galerías y palmeras de El Cairo donde se desarrolla esta novela, pero hacia la mitad de la historia ya quería irme.
La premisa y el comienzo no desmerecen la portada de este libro: muy bueno. Egipto, 1920. Un grupito de clientes británicos en un hotel con clase. Sesiones de té, muchas copas, fiestas, juego, excursiones y dos crímenes en sus habitaciones perpetrados con muy poca diferencia de tiempo. Una narradora en primera persona con un toque de humor. Narración ligera.
Todo muy bien hasta que hacia la mitad empieza q repetirse: empiezan a ser demasiadas copas, demasiados tropiezos por los pasillos, demasiada información captada al azar, poca chicha, mucha cháchara. Al poco tiempo ya me daba igual quién hablara, la historia había perdido tanto fuelle que lo de menos era el asesino. Una novela muy buena que se desinfla de pronto. A su favor, la ambientación ha hecho que se convirtiera en una buena escapatoria cada vez que la tenían en las manos.
La premisa y el comienzo no desmerecen la portada de este libro: muy bueno. Egipto, 1920. Un grupito de clientes británicos en un hotel con clase. Sesiones de té, muchas copas, fiestas, juego, excursiones y dos crímenes en sus habitaciones perpetrados con muy poca diferencia de tiempo. Una narradora en primera persona con un toque de humor. Narración ligera.
Todo muy bien hasta que hacia la mitad empieza q repetirse: empiezan a ser demasiadas copas, demasiados tropiezos por los pasillos, demasiada información captada al azar, poca chicha, mucha cháchara. Al poco tiempo ya me daba igual quién hablara, la historia había perdido tanto fuelle que lo de menos era el asesino. Una novela muy buena que se desinfla de pronto. A su favor, la ambientación ha hecho que se convirtiera en una buena escapatoria cada vez que la tenían en las manos.
May 22, 2021
3.5 stars for this promising start to a historical mystery series.
The author has a good command of plot and characters. I loved Jane, who finds herself number one suspect in the death of not-so-nice girl Anna. Jane doesn't trust the police to do a good job and decides she needs to conduct her own investigation. I appreciated that Jane's investigation efforts were sensible, realistic, and well within the scope of a non-professional. The author also gives her an interesting backstory re: her short-lived marriage.
I also liked our mystery man, 'Mr Redvers'. He's introduced to us as a banker, but seems to have skills beyond those needed to manage money. He and Jane get along quite well together, even as Jane insists to herself that she is not interested in him romantically. The reader can be forgiven for thinking the lady doth protest too much.
The author gives the reader a nice feel for tourist Egypt in the mid 1920s. We get camel rides, pyramid tours; and a visit to the museum, to go with a secondary plot involving antiquities smuggling.
There are some nice twists to the 'whodunnit', with the identity of Anna's killer coming as a bit of a surprise to me.
All in all, I had a good time. I am looking forward to reading the next Murder at Wedgefield Manor and I hope the author is working a third.
The author has a good command of plot and characters. I loved Jane, who finds herself number one suspect in the death of not-so-nice girl Anna. Jane doesn't trust the police to do a good job and decides she needs to conduct her own investigation. I appreciated that Jane's investigation efforts were sensible, realistic, and well within the scope of a non-professional. The author also gives her an interesting backstory re: her short-lived marriage.
I also liked our mystery man, 'Mr Redvers'. He's introduced to us as a banker, but seems to have skills beyond those needed to manage money. He and Jane get along quite well together, even as Jane insists to herself that she is not interested in him romantically. The reader can be forgiven for thinking the lady doth protest too much.
The author gives the reader a nice feel for tourist Egypt in the mid 1920s. We get camel rides, pyramid tours; and a visit to the museum, to go with a secondary plot involving antiquities smuggling.
There are some nice twists to the 'whodunnit', with the identity of Anna's killer coming as a bit of a surprise to me.
All in all, I had a good time. I am looking forward to reading the next Murder at Wedgefield Manor and I hope the author is working a third.
March 12, 2025
A charming start to a new-to me-mystery series. Egypt 1926, Jane Wonderly is staying at a luxury hotel with her Aunt Millie. One of the English guests is found murdered in her room and Jane decides to investigate, in order to clear her own name from the suspect list. I really enjoyed this and found the Egyptian location very interesting.
May 24, 2020
Jane Wunderly is Not Like The Other Girls. Other girls dress up in ridiculously revealing dresses to impress men like whores. Jane has no interest in men.
Except for Mr. Redvers. I mean he doesn’t even tell her his first name, quite obviously lies to her or at least evades her questions but that doesn’t stop Jane from swooning about him while still insisting that she doesn’t need no men. Can we just stop with that? Either give me a character who says she has no interest in relationships and then sticks to it or one who says “Yeah. I want to marry (again) but I don’t want the first guy my overenthusiastic relatives who all think a woman without a man is worthless throw at me. I want to marry someone I actually care about.” In historicals that would still be unusual enough and would not give us the moral of “Actually, everyone wants a relationship and all those who say they don’t, just haven’t realized it, yet.”
So, no, I wasn’t a fan of the setup of the blossoming romance. Especially since, as mentioned, I saw no reason why she should even trust him…And if possible I was even less a fan of the mystery. I admit I’m already not the biggest fan of “Sleuth starts sleuthing because they/someone close to them is a suspect” but that wasn’t even a particularly well-done variety of that trope. It never feels like the inspector is really serious about his suspicions. He barely plays a part in the novel and the most threatening thing he does is ask her not to leave the hotel for a while. That leaves us with the “Sleuth starts sleuthing because they totally know better than the stupid police” trope, except that you could even argue that it’s not Jane doing the sleuthing but her mouth. Without her agreement. Yes, the phrase “And before I could stop myself I found myself saying X” gets overused in this book. Oh and what she finds herself saying is usually stuff she strictly speaking shouldn’t know and occasionally she does it while being alone with the suspect. Yes, Jane is one of the people you find pictured in the dictionary next to “Too Stupid Too Live”. But she still somehow survives…and solves everything thanks to a string of ridiculous coincidences. Because that what sleuths in bad cozy mysteries always do.
ARC received from NetGalley
Except for Mr. Redvers. I mean he doesn’t even tell her his first name, quite obviously lies to her or at least evades her questions but that doesn’t stop Jane from swooning about him while still insisting that she doesn’t need no men. Can we just stop with that? Either give me a character who says she has no interest in relationships and then sticks to it or one who says “Yeah. I want to marry (again) but I don’t want the first guy my overenthusiastic relatives who all think a woman without a man is worthless throw at me. I want to marry someone I actually care about.” In historicals that would still be unusual enough and would not give us the moral of “Actually, everyone wants a relationship and all those who say they don’t, just haven’t realized it, yet.”
So, no, I wasn’t a fan of the setup of the blossoming romance. Especially since, as mentioned, I saw no reason why she should even trust him…And if possible I was even less a fan of the mystery. I admit I’m already not the biggest fan of “Sleuth starts sleuthing because they/someone close to them is a suspect” but that wasn’t even a particularly well-done variety of that trope. It never feels like the inspector is really serious about his suspicions. He barely plays a part in the novel and the most threatening thing he does is ask her not to leave the hotel for a while. That leaves us with the “Sleuth starts sleuthing because they totally know better than the stupid police” trope, except that you could even argue that it’s not Jane doing the sleuthing but her mouth. Without her agreement. Yes, the phrase “And before I could stop myself I found myself saying X” gets overused in this book. Oh and what she finds herself saying is usually stuff she strictly speaking shouldn’t know and occasionally she does it while being alone with the suspect. Yes, Jane is one of the people you find pictured in the dictionary next to “Too Stupid Too Live”. But she still somehow survives…and solves everything thanks to a string of ridiculous coincidences. Because that what sleuths in bad cozy mysteries always do.
ARC received from NetGalley
February 23, 2020
Just enough murder, just enough romance, and just enough of ancient Egypt at the height of acheological discoveries in the roaring twenties. This book offers a peak at it all without going into depth on any one subject. It is well balanced between the characters, the mystery, and the atmosphere.
This is the first book in the proposed Jane Wunderley series and here’s hoping there are more to follow. It is engaging from the first sentence and does an excellent job of giving the reader enough information to become acquainted with the characters without bogging them down with so much history as to slow the pace of the book.
Jane is a delightful somewhat complex character who hints at a tragic history without giving it all away in the first chapter. She is joined in this book by her irascible Aunt Millie, a tart tongued woman who is paying Jane to be her companion on this trip and by Redvers, the inevitable “handsome stranger who manages to be captivating and entertaining none-the-less. If the series continues, one can only hope we will see and learn more about these three.
In this novel, Jane meets the very epitome of the old fashioned British Colonel, Colonel Stainton, his daughter, the ravishing Anna Stainton and several other characters often found in cozy mystery novels. To her credit, Erica Ruth Neubauer, author, writes them with such good prose and freshness that they feel unique and entertaining.
The conclusion of the book was not a surprise to me, nor were the several reveals throughout the book. I suspect that will be the case for most experienced cozy readers. That in no way spoiled the enjoyment of the book. It is an excellent way to escape to another era, another continent, and engage in a little armchair sleuthing just for the fun of it. Easy to read, it would make great entertainment for a rainy day or a vacation read. I hope there is a second in the series and look forward to the opportunity to read it. My thanks to Kensington Books Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital read copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is the first book in the proposed Jane Wunderley series and here’s hoping there are more to follow. It is engaging from the first sentence and does an excellent job of giving the reader enough information to become acquainted with the characters without bogging them down with so much history as to slow the pace of the book.
Jane is a delightful somewhat complex character who hints at a tragic history without giving it all away in the first chapter. She is joined in this book by her irascible Aunt Millie, a tart tongued woman who is paying Jane to be her companion on this trip and by Redvers, the inevitable “handsome stranger who manages to be captivating and entertaining none-the-less. If the series continues, one can only hope we will see and learn more about these three.
In this novel, Jane meets the very epitome of the old fashioned British Colonel, Colonel Stainton, his daughter, the ravishing Anna Stainton and several other characters often found in cozy mystery novels. To her credit, Erica Ruth Neubauer, author, writes them with such good prose and freshness that they feel unique and entertaining.
The conclusion of the book was not a surprise to me, nor were the several reveals throughout the book. I suspect that will be the case for most experienced cozy readers. That in no way spoiled the enjoyment of the book. It is an excellent way to escape to another era, another continent, and engage in a little armchair sleuthing just for the fun of it. Easy to read, it would make great entertainment for a rainy day or a vacation read. I hope there is a second in the series and look forward to the opportunity to read it. My thanks to Kensington Books Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital read copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
July 3, 2025
Arranco el mes Muerte en el Cairo de Erica Ruth Neubauer, una novela que nos transporta al lujoso Egipto de 1926, en plenos felices años 20 donde se pretendía vivir a tope para olvidar las penurias de la guerra y viajar a países exóticos se convirtió en un pasatiempo para las clases pudientes. Además, tiene un toque al más puro estilo de Agatha Christie. Jane Wunderly, una viuda astuta, se ve envuelta en un misterioso asesinato en un hotel donde el glamour de la alta sociedad contrasta con oscuros secretos.
La historia tiene todos los ingredientes de un buen cosy crime: un escenario exótico, personajes intrigantes, y una protagonista femenina que no tiene nada que envidiarle a Miss Marple. Además, cuenta con la ayuda de un caballero misterioso que añade un toque romántico a la trama.
Aunque disfruté de la ambientación y de los guiños a los clásicos del género, debo admitir que la lectura no me atrapó del todo. Sentí que a la trama le faltaba un poco de ritmo y que a veces se perdía en descripciones. Es el primer libro de una serie, pero no creo que continúe con ella. A pesar de eso, no me arrepiento de haberlo leído, ya que me permitió pasar un buen rato, aunque será un libro que pase por mi vida sin pena ni gloria.
La historia tiene todos los ingredientes de un buen cosy crime: un escenario exótico, personajes intrigantes, y una protagonista femenina que no tiene nada que envidiarle a Miss Marple. Además, cuenta con la ayuda de un caballero misterioso que añade un toque romántico a la trama.
Aunque disfruté de la ambientación y de los guiños a los clásicos del género, debo admitir que la lectura no me atrapó del todo. Sentí que a la trama le faltaba un poco de ritmo y que a veces se perdía en descripciones. Es el primer libro de una serie, pero no creo que continúe con ella. A pesar de eso, no me arrepiento de haberlo leído, ya que me permitió pasar un buen rato, aunque será un libro que pase por mi vida sin pena ni gloria.
July 22, 2024
El libro tiene 317 páginas y me ha costado casi un mes acabarlo. Mi manía de no abandonar un libro a medias... comienzas a leerlo y ya ves que va mal... sigues, a ver si mejora... cuando te das cuenta de que ya no va a mejorar, estás casi en la mitad del libro y te sabe mal dejarlo...
En las primeras 20 páginas se comete un asesinato. En las últimas 20 se 'resuelve' el mismo. Las otra 277 páginas me han sobrado. Los personajes creados no tienen ninguna profundidad, son totalmente 2D, simples a más no poder. La historia es una nadería inconmesurable. El ochenta por ciento del libro es bajar de la habitación del hotel a tomar copas en el bar del mismo...
Realmente no sé que pretendía ser este libro, un thriller no lo es y una novela romántica tampoco. Lo increíble es que, aunque sólo este volumen, por ahora, se ha editado en castellano, es el primero de una saga de 6 con la misma protagonista, que mira que es soporífero el personaje... En fin, hazme caso y ni se te ocurra perder un minuto con esto.
En las primeras 20 páginas se comete un asesinato. En las últimas 20 se 'resuelve' el mismo. Las otra 277 páginas me han sobrado. Los personajes creados no tienen ninguna profundidad, son totalmente 2D, simples a más no poder. La historia es una nadería inconmesurable. El ochenta por ciento del libro es bajar de la habitación del hotel a tomar copas en el bar del mismo...
Realmente no sé que pretendía ser este libro, un thriller no lo es y una novela romántica tampoco. Lo increíble es que, aunque sólo este volumen, por ahora, se ha editado en castellano, es el primero de una saga de 6 con la misma protagonista, que mira que es soporífero el personaje... En fin, hazme caso y ni se te ocurra perder un minuto con esto.
March 17, 2022
I enjoyed this mystery set near the pyramids at Giza. Jane Wunderly, the main character, is inquisitive and strong-minded, without doing risky idiotic things (for the most part). She’s a widow, her husband having died during WWI, and has traveled to Egypt on the expense of her husband’s aunt. The husband was incredibly abusive, which added a jarring note to a cozy type mystery. Jane has opted not to take her husband’s inheritance, which I thought was odd, given the husband’s behaviour - she deserved to keep it. Aunt Millie is a very strange character abut Jane takes it all in stride. The sidekick, Mr Redvers, by contrast, is an appealing character. The mystery was engaging. I will read the second book in the series.
August 31, 2024
2.5⭐️
Nos encontramos ante un libro de cozy mistery, muy ligero, donde hay aventuras, romance y acción, pero todo en breves dosis porque si no ya no sería tan cozy. Resulta un poco soso, sin llegar a hacerse aburrido porque su corta extensión no lo permite, pero sí que es cierto que algunos pasajes se leen en diagonal porque la autora se entretiene con descripciones del entorno insustanciales que no aportan nada. Sobre la ambientación, me llamaba la atención que se desarrollara en Egipto en los años 20 pero lo mismo podría haberse situado en cualquier lugar y en cualquier otra época, porque el contexto es totalmente indiferente de la historia, más allá de la situación personal de la protagonista, que cuenta haber perdido a su marido en la Gran Guerra. El final correcto, sin grandes sorpresas, dejando a los personajes principales pendientes de continuar su historia personal, dado que este libro es sólo el primero de una serie. De momento aquí en España sólo se ha publicado éste, pero no creo que continúe la lectura de los siguientes, no me ha llamado la atención lo suficiente.
Nos encontramos ante un libro de cozy mistery, muy ligero, donde hay aventuras, romance y acción, pero todo en breves dosis porque si no ya no sería tan cozy. Resulta un poco soso, sin llegar a hacerse aburrido porque su corta extensión no lo permite, pero sí que es cierto que algunos pasajes se leen en diagonal porque la autora se entretiene con descripciones del entorno insustanciales que no aportan nada. Sobre la ambientación, me llamaba la atención que se desarrollara en Egipto en los años 20 pero lo mismo podría haberse situado en cualquier lugar y en cualquier otra época, porque el contexto es totalmente indiferente de la historia, más allá de la situación personal de la protagonista, que cuenta haber perdido a su marido en la Gran Guerra. El final correcto, sin grandes sorpresas, dejando a los personajes principales pendientes de continuar su historia personal, dado que este libro es sólo el primero de una serie. De momento aquí en España sólo se ha publicado éste, pero no creo que continúe la lectura de los siguientes, no me ha llamado la atención lo suficiente.
February 11, 2023
American Jane Wunderly was widowed during the Great War. Thank Goodness! It turns out her husband was a very nasty piece of work, controlling and physically abusive towards Jane. She has the scars on her back to show it.
She travels as a companion to Egypt with her Aunt Millie. Whilst there she becomes embroiled in a series of murders, smuggling, and is herself a suspect. She meets the mysterious and rather handsome Redvers.
This time she is standing up for herself and finds herself following investigate avenues with Redvers alongside.
A cut above the normal cozy mystery.
She travels as a companion to Egypt with her Aunt Millie. Whilst there she becomes embroiled in a series of murders, smuggling, and is herself a suspect. She meets the mysterious and rather handsome Redvers.
This time she is standing up for herself and finds herself following investigate avenues with Redvers alongside.
A cut above the normal cozy mystery.
June 26, 2025
Buena ambientación, personajes interesantes y el misterio está entretenido!! En definitiva un buen cozy
April 4, 2023
Už teraz sa modlím, aby sa preložili aj ostatné diely. To bolo také skvelé 🥺! Neodolala som, keď sa to javilo ako klasická detektívka na štýl Marplovej, či slečny Fischerovej a ešteže tak. Dokonalé, pútavé, prekvapivé. Naozaj som rada, že ju môžem zaradiť do svojej zbieročky.
March 25, 2020
Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer is the debut of A Jane Wunderly Mystery series. This historical cozy mystery takes us back in time to 1926 (the Roaring Twenties) where prohibition is in full swing in the United States, dress lengths are shorter than ever, and women are bobbing their hair. Jane Wunderly is traveling with her Aunt Millie to Egypt where Jane cannot wait to visit the pyramids. They are staying at Mena House which has a golf course and a pool along with a variety of intriguing guests. Aunt Millie is quick to send an eligible bachelor in Jane’s direction the first evening (much to Jane’s annoyance). Jane was widowed at age twenty-two when her husband died in the Great War. She is not interested in finding a new husband after her experience with the first one. Jane must admit, though, that Mr. Redvers is enigmatic and dashing. Alcohol flows freely in Egypt much to Aunt Millie’s delight. Anna Stainton, a female guest, takes a dislike to Jane and is quick to cause discord between them. When Anna is found shot in her room, Jane becomes Inspector Hamadi’s top suspect. Jane sets out to prove her innocence and gets assistance from Redvers. There are a variety of suspects in Anna’s death. Jane follows each lead searching for the guilty party. It depends on your sleuthing level whether you find this mystery a cinch or perplexing. I liked that there was more than one mystery to solve. I was unable to get into Murder at the Mena House. I believe part of the problem was the first-person narrative. Jane’s descriptions of her facial expressions were awkward, and I was unsure why she would describe her own expressions in the first place. The author is a detail-oriented writer which does allow a reader to visualize the character and scenes, but it also slows down the pace of the story. I did enjoy the descriptions of the clothing and Egyptian sites. I thought the author captured the time period especially with the attitudes and manners (an example is “I should have had security tackle her on the way out, but it seemed improper.”) I wanted the book to have more action and a peppier pace. I did like Jane Wunderly with her natural curiosity, the mysterious Redvers and the gregarious Aunt Millie. Who knows where their adventures will take them next time! Murder at the Mena House has murder, mystery and mayhem in Egypt.
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