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Fowl Play: A Bellavista Cooperative Mystery
After years of working as a personal concierge, Mallory McKenzie-Chu is ready for a change. So when her old friend Cora wants to convert a heritage mansion in Victoria, Canada into a housing cooperative for seniors, Mallory's onboard faster than you can say, "Ticket, please!". But springtime in the picturesque seaside town isn't all cherry blossoms and ocean views; not when she runs afoul of marauding peacocks, a skeevy land developer and former best friend, Saffron, who happens to be Cora's niece. When the developer is found dead as a dodo in the Bellavista Manor chicken coop, and the residents become suspects, Mallory and Saffron must team up to catch the real killer before Cora's co-op dream permanently flies south.
cozy mystery, Canadian, amateur sleuth, woman sleuth
cozy mystery, Canadian, amateur sleuth, woman sleuth
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 9, 2024
5 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 22, 2024
Iona Lam's début mystery novel is a delight! A well-paced story that follows the expected conventions of the genre (plot twists, progressive revelations of character motives, cliff-hangers and the inevitable miscalculations and blunders of amateurs sleuths), Ms. Lam has crafted a page-turner that will quickly draw you in. I found it hard to put down once I started it.
The plot is simple enough - a man disliked by many is found dead in a chicken coop located on the grounds of Bellavista Manor. Who killed him?
What makes the reader's journey to the answer so appealing is Ms. Lam's skill in creating the world around the plot: the characters, the setting and her attention to small but vital details that give her story an authentic feel. Her characters are people we recognize from our own lives, the grumpy neighbour, the exuberant junior colleague, the protective family members. While not all characters are fully fleshed out, they never feel like cardboard cutouts; we want to get to know them better (and perhaps we will in a future novel in what I hope is a series). Their dialogue and behaviour are clearly inspired from real world observations. And the tone is, despite the backdrop of a murder, full of humanity and humour, some sly and some a little zany. I laughed out loud several times at some of the scenes.
The setting - Victoria, a picturesque Canadian city on the southern tip of Vancouver Island - is also a key to the success of the story. In many ways, it is another character in the book, to which Ms. Lam has devoted considerable attention to capture it faithfully - and without sounding like a guide book. I found she expertly weaves in the sights, sounds and atmosphere of the city and its surroundings in ways that allow those who recognize the local haunts (and culinary treats) to feel special while also providing enough detail for those who have never been there to enjoy discovering it.
Finally, the story arc, which is structured around the efforts to transform Bellavista Manor into a cooperative, is full of small details, about food preparation, planning permits, renovations and legal ethics to name a few, that keep the story grounded and believable. It situates the mystery in the lives of ordinary folks going about their affairs, with all their secrets and foibles folded in to keep the reader on their toes about motives. This relatability was further reinforced by deftly painted vignettes that Ms. Lam sprinkled throughout the book. I loved her description of a fractious city council meeting, which captured municipal politics to a tee, as well as the elaborate planning of a benefit gala, which provided a glorious backdrop to several hilarious scenes that would resonate with anyone who has ever planned a wedding.
In sum, this book offers an intriguing puzzle to solve and a wonderful escape into a world that feels and looks familiar (minus the body in the chicken coop). I hope I can return there again soon when the next book in the series comes out. A perfect read to curl up with by the fire on a cold and wet afternoon!
The plot is simple enough - a man disliked by many is found dead in a chicken coop located on the grounds of Bellavista Manor. Who killed him?
What makes the reader's journey to the answer so appealing is Ms. Lam's skill in creating the world around the plot: the characters, the setting and her attention to small but vital details that give her story an authentic feel. Her characters are people we recognize from our own lives, the grumpy neighbour, the exuberant junior colleague, the protective family members. While not all characters are fully fleshed out, they never feel like cardboard cutouts; we want to get to know them better (and perhaps we will in a future novel in what I hope is a series). Their dialogue and behaviour are clearly inspired from real world observations. And the tone is, despite the backdrop of a murder, full of humanity and humour, some sly and some a little zany. I laughed out loud several times at some of the scenes.
The setting - Victoria, a picturesque Canadian city on the southern tip of Vancouver Island - is also a key to the success of the story. In many ways, it is another character in the book, to which Ms. Lam has devoted considerable attention to capture it faithfully - and without sounding like a guide book. I found she expertly weaves in the sights, sounds and atmosphere of the city and its surroundings in ways that allow those who recognize the local haunts (and culinary treats) to feel special while also providing enough detail for those who have never been there to enjoy discovering it.
Finally, the story arc, which is structured around the efforts to transform Bellavista Manor into a cooperative, is full of small details, about food preparation, planning permits, renovations and legal ethics to name a few, that keep the story grounded and believable. It situates the mystery in the lives of ordinary folks going about their affairs, with all their secrets and foibles folded in to keep the reader on their toes about motives. This relatability was further reinforced by deftly painted vignettes that Ms. Lam sprinkled throughout the book. I loved her description of a fractious city council meeting, which captured municipal politics to a tee, as well as the elaborate planning of a benefit gala, which provided a glorious backdrop to several hilarious scenes that would resonate with anyone who has ever planned a wedding.
In sum, this book offers an intriguing puzzle to solve and a wonderful escape into a world that feels and looks familiar (minus the body in the chicken coop). I hope I can return there again soon when the next book in the series comes out. A perfect read to curl up with by the fire on a cold and wet afternoon!
February 23, 2025
If you like a good cozy mystery than this book is for you! The main characters are all likeable yet very diverse. The story takes place in quaint Victoria 🇨🇦, so it is fun seeing place names that are well known and some that you can only guess at.
The main character Mallory is trying out a new direction in her professional life as a project manager. Her first job is to help a group of older adults in a housing cooperative, redevelop their historic property to be able to welcome others in a supportive age in place setting. Super relative to the times.
I am really look forward to the next book as I think Iona Lam is on to something with this series! And I could see it being a good audiobook as well.
I don't like to compare authors or series, but if you like The Thursday Murder Club you will like this book.
The main character Mallory is trying out a new direction in her professional life as a project manager. Her first job is to help a group of older adults in a housing cooperative, redevelop their historic property to be able to welcome others in a supportive age in place setting. Super relative to the times.
I am really look forward to the next book as I think Iona Lam is on to something with this series! And I could see it being a good audiobook as well.
I don't like to compare authors or series, but if you like The Thursday Murder Club you will like this book.
December 15, 2024
Fowl Play is a cozy mystery that’s easy to get hooked on, set in charming Victoria, BC. With lots of little details that make the setting and its people feel authentic, you can tell that the author has done her research. The story is full of surprises that will keep you guessing all the way until the end. The story strikes a perfect balance between tension and the warmth of community life. When you finish, you'll be satisfied but also wishing for more.
The characters are truly the heart of this novel, especially the heroine, Mallory who feels like a genuine, relatable person. With its blend of mystery, heart, and well-drawn characters, Fowl Play has everything you want in a cozy mystery. You’ll find yourself eagerly awaiting the next installment of this series!
The characters are truly the heart of this novel, especially the heroine, Mallory who feels like a genuine, relatable person. With its blend of mystery, heart, and well-drawn characters, Fowl Play has everything you want in a cozy mystery. You’ll find yourself eagerly awaiting the next installment of this series!
March 6, 2025
Iona Lam’s debut and first-in-series novel, Fowl Play is a delightful cosy mystery full of warmth, humour, food, friendships and strong women. The characters are well-rounded and suitably quirky and the heroine, an accidental sleuth, a real sweetie.
The author evokes a wonderful sense of place with descriptions of the seaside setting – so much so that Bellavista Manor and the city of Victoria feel like characters in themselves.
This is an easy read with a neatly tied up ending where the baddies get their just desserts. I look forward to catching up with Mallory and her friends at the co-op for more sleuthing adventures. There are even some recipes at the back of the book. Bonus!
The author evokes a wonderful sense of place with descriptions of the seaside setting – so much so that Bellavista Manor and the city of Victoria feel like characters in themselves.
This is an easy read with a neatly tied up ending where the baddies get their just desserts. I look forward to catching up with Mallory and her friends at the co-op for more sleuthing adventures. There are even some recipes at the back of the book. Bonus!
December 24, 2024
Easy and enjoyable to read. I chose this mystery as a travel companion - a book that I could easily pick up whenever I had some free moments on a trip, and that worked out well. I did find, however, that as I neared the end and the pace of the action picked up, it became harder and harder to put it down. All in all, definitely a delightful read.
April 23, 2025
Fowl Play is a light-hearted murder mystery set in Victoria, BC, Canada. The first of hopefully a continuing series set around the Bellavista Cooperative.
A super fun read, this book keeps you engaged throughout.
A tasty surprise at the end is a nice addition too.
A super fun read, this book keeps you engaged throughout.
A tasty surprise at the end is a nice addition too.
February 9, 2025
This is a good book to settle in on a cozy winter night with some hot coco. Page turner that will keep you for the start!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews