Murder with a Twist

Nic & Nigel Mystery #1

by Tracy Kiely

Visiting New York to attend a cousin's birthday gala, Nic and Nigel Martini are looking forward to cocktails with old friends and a pampered stay at the Ritz. But when the birthday girl's gold-digging cad of a husband goes missing, the Martini family worries that the social event of the season may turn into a story for the scandal sheets.

Nigel's condescending aunt begs former detective Nic to find sleazy Leo, despite the fact that it would be better for everyone if he just stayed lost. Trailing a married bachelor with a penchant for trouble isn't pretty; in fact it's downright deadly. Assisted by Nigel and their newly adopted bull mastiff, Nic must tangle with her old underworld connections if she hopes to hunt down the dirtiest Martini.

Praise "Witty, droll, and hilariously spot on. All the smart chic banter and entertaining mystery of the iconic original--irresistibly updated in this sophisticated and cleverly imagined page turner."--HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN, AGATHA, ANTHONY, MACAVITY, AND MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR

Genres: Mystery, Humor, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Mystery Thriller

264 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2015

About the author

Tracy Kiely graduated from Trinity College in 1990 with a degree in English. Tracy's first novel, Murder at Longbourn, is a mystery set in Cape Cod, and combines her love of the classic English country house murder and Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. She currently lives in Maryland with her husband, Matt, and their three children.

Reviews

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Former NYPD cop Nic and her husband Nigel are in New York for Christmas and to celebrate his cousin’s 25th birthday. Only Audrey’s husband Leo has disappeared, and she is threatening to not attend her own party if he isn’t found. Nic is asked by the family to track down Leo, and soon she is back in contact with her contacts on the shady side of the law. A dead body and learning just what kind of man Leo is make Nic wonder if Audrey would be better off without her husband. But where is he?

This book is a wonderful tribute to The Thin Man, and fans of Hammett’s classic book or the films will love it. However, even if you aren’t familiar with them, you’ll still absolutely love this book. The plot is well constructed with plenty of twists and surprises. The characters are all strong. And there are tons of laughs, be they from Nic and Nigel’s new dog or the banter between the characters. Pick this book up today.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this first book in the Nic and Nigel series. The author did a wonderful job, giving it the feel of the Thin Man movies. I could imagine, Myrna Loy and William Powell playing these characters if they had been alive today. Even though, its a modern book, I feel, it could have easily been set during the 30's.

I'm looking forward to reading the second book, in the series soon.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

reelz.com
reelz.com
I love old movies, movies that were made before I was even born. As soon as I saw the synopsis for this book I knew the author’s inspiration had to be Dashiell Hammett’s Nick and Nora Charles. Yup, I was right. I dove right into this book and was absolutely thrilled about her “updated twist”.

The characters are reversed from Hammett’s version. Nic is a retired police detective married to Nigel Martini. His family and him by extension, are ultra wealthy. They have come to New York for the holidays and his cousin’s birthday party but she is overwrought because her husband, Leo, has gone missing. Something he has done before, but with the big birthday bash in just a few days, he must be found so the family is not scandalized in the press by his absence. Nigel’s aunt basically tells Nic to use her police training to find Leo as quickly as possible. The first thing her training tells her is that the guy is a low class jerk and that the family would be better off if he just stayed gone. But with some help from Nigel and their new puppy she will find him and then let the family decide what to do with him.

bullmastiff

I immediately pictured Nic and Nigel like Nick and Nora updated to present day, but let me tell you Skippy is no Asta. Skippy is a small horse of a dog, a Bullmastiff, and he makes everything Nic and Nigel do more interesting because he goes with them everywhere.

Just like the movie these characters are terrific. The dialogue is fast and full of wit. The Martini’s also partake plenty of martini’s, the dirtier the better. They stay at the Ritz and travel the city trying to find the missing husband. Doing so they met a few unsavory characters. None of Nigel’s family thinks much of Nic, just what see can do for them, but they are a snobby bunch so that is just fine with her.

This is a light mystery, full of humor and I loved every word. I hated for it to end. The good thing is I was able to start reading Killer Cocktail, book 2 in this series. It was released on May 8. Stay tuned I will be posting my review next Tuesday!

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mlle Alice, pouvez-vous nous raconter votre rencontre avec Murder With a Twist ?
"J'ai connu Tracy Kiely à travers sa petite série policière s'inspirant de Jane Austen qui sont pour moi parmi les meilleurs austeneries (et j'en ai lu beaucoup !). J'étais un peu déçue, du coup, qu'elle n'en écrive pas une nouvelle mais j'avais hâte de découvrir ses nouveaux personnages."

Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Suite à une blessure par balle, Nic a démissionné du NYPD (la police de New-York) et s'est mariée, quelques temps plus tard, avec Nigel Martini, un homme original, à la famille fortunée. Obligée de supporter cette même famille à l'occasion de l'anniversaire de sa jeune cousine, l'insupportable tante de Nigel demande à Nic d'en profiter pour retrouver le mari de la jeune fille qui a disparu, vraisemblablement au détour d'une salle de jeu ou sous les draps de sa maîtresse..."

Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous?
"J'ai choisi ce livre pour commencer l'année 2018 parce que j'étais sûre de passer un agréable moment et je ne me suis pas trompée. J'ai retrouvé l'humour de l'auteur, que j'aime beaucoup et je me suis bien amusée avec tous ces nouveaux personnages loufoques. En revanche, les enquêtes n'ont jamais été le point fort de ces romans et ici, sans les références à Jane Austen qui égaient le tout, on s'en rend forcément beaucoup plus vite compte. Je ne peux pas dire que je me sois ennuyée mais j'avais quand même l'impression persistante qu'il ne se passait vraiment pas grand chose et qu'on tournait pas mal en rond."

Et comment cela s'est-il fini?
"Sur la fin, des éléments de l'enquête sont carrément invraisemblables et c'est vraiment dommage. J'ai aimé l'univers et je me suis bien amusée, ce qui me poussera certainement à lire la suite mais je pense que l'auteur devrait faire un stage dans la police pour en apprendre un peu plus et aiguiser ses intrigues."

http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book that I enjoyed reading but wasn't what I was looking for in a mystery. Lots of Manhattan socialite "fluff" but not enough "meat and potatoes" gumshoe for me. Nic Landis (now Martini) is a former NYC detective who was shot in the line of duty, retired on disability and is now married to Nigel Martini of the socially prominent Martini family. Her husband's Aunt Olive asks Nic to find niece cousin Audrey's missing husband Leo to ensure his presence at Audrey's 25th birthday party. But this is no ordinary birthday celebration; once she turns 25, the trust left to her by her late parents will be dissolved and she will obtain her full inheritance instead of a monthly "allowance". So, it is logical that Leo will turn up like a bad penny since he has enormous gambling debts as well as leaving girlfriends in his tornado of a life financed by his wife's assets. Nic must engage the help of some of her old contacts for assistance and not all of them are law-abiding citizens. I won't be a plot spoiler as to the rest. The writing itself is witty and entertaining, plus let's not forget their hastily adopted dog Skippy, who is a great icebreaker for any conversation. While I think the book is short on the "who-done-it" doesn't take away from the fun the book provides. And in a cozy, while I would like a deeper plot, I am looking for light humor as well. I would definitely read another book in this series.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this first in a series that pays homage to the Thin Man movies. (I will have to watch those movies now.) I enjoyed the humorous banter in this book, as I have with her other series, a modern take on Jane Austen. Although I'm not much of a mystery reader and maybe not the best person to evaluate mysteries as a whole, the twists and turns kept me guessing and in the end it all made sense. For anyone that has not read this book, clues are sprinkled throughout. I missed them all; I was laughing too much to notice!

And for my friends in the Annapolis area, Tracy Kiely is a local author and will be visiting the Crofton Library on Sunday, November 12 at 2 pm.

[Nathalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite different than the author's MURDER MOST AUSTEN--Nary an Austen quote! I quite enjoyed this Nic &Nigel Mystery. It reminded me of those old black and white Katherine Hepburn movies - full of witty and rapid-fire dialogues!

[Hastings75 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this light read of a crime novel.
Loved the two main protagonists and their sense of humour appealed to me.

Keen to read others in the series.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder with a Twist by Tracy Kiely features wise-cracking, drink-swilling Nic and Nigel Martini. Nic (Nicole) was once Detective Landis of the NYPD--until the wealthy Nigel swept her off her feet into retirement and off to the West Coast. They return to New York City to spend Christmas with with family and to attend the gala birthday party that dear Aunt Olive is throwing for Nigel's cousin Audrey. A wrench is thrown into the works when Audrey's lounge-lizard, gold-digging husband does a disappearing act.

Considering how well-loved Leo is, you'd think the family would say good riddance and that the holidays would be even more festive without him. But Audrey is an emotional mess and refuses to play guest of honor at her own party unless her beloved is there to share the fun. So Aunt Olive and Nigel's other cousin Daphne rope Nic into donning her detective disguise one more time to track down the errant playboy. She and Nigel soon learn that Leo owed a bundle to a loan shark named "Fat Saul"--a man whose has an unusually low tolerance for welshers. Equipped only with their rapier-keen wits and a bull mastiff named Skippy who’s big enough to swallow Asta in one gulp, Nic and Nigel set off to interview Frank Little, an enforcer who works for the loan shark. But they find few leads. Then when "Fat Saul" and Leo’s girlfriend, Lizzy Marks, are both found dead, Nic and Nigel realize that even the sharpest of wits may not be weapon enough to keep Audrey safe.

This is a hilarious homage to Nick and Nora Charles of the movies. The snappy one-liners come fast and furious--almost as fast as Nigel can down a martini. And Skippy makes for a terrific third to the comic family. The supporting characters are all well-done, though leaning a bit towards caricatures. Aunt Olive is perfect as the snobbish member of NYC's upper crust with specific ideas of how the wealthy elite should behave.

The mystery is light and breezy. The perfect read for when you want something fun that doesn't require a lot of brain power. Several plot twists keep it interesting and Nic & Nigel take the Nick and Nora roles right through to the dinner party wrap up scene at the end. I look forward to future installments.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.

[Jennifer McLean · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Murder With A Twist" by Tracy Kiely was a fun, easy-breezy read. The dialogue between the two main characters, Nic and her husband Nigel was quite funny and it helped keep the book light instead of heavy as some murder mysteries can become.

Nicole used to be a cop but after being shot she decides to retire and marry Nigel Martini, a very wealthy playboy. The couple are in New York to attend a cousin's birthday party but things don't go as planned. It seems the birthday girl's cad of a husband has disappeared and Nic is put to work by the matriarch of the Martini family to find said cad and drag him back into the fold so Audrey, the birthday girl, won't be embarrassed by her philandering husband at her gala celebration.

As you can imagine, Nic, a former homicide detective, finds this all quite tedious. The whole Martini family knows the missing sleazy Leo isn't worth finding but no one wants to explain that to the distraught Audrey. All Audrey wants is a pretty party that splashes out spectacularly on the society pages. Nothing is going to be pretty though, when low life friends of Leo's start turning up dead. Nic has to find out what's going on and find Leo before he ruins the party by becoming a corpse himself.

This hilarious romp into the world of the super rich is made all the more enjoyable by both Nic & Nigel's banter and the family matriarch's idea of how the rich should act. I laughed out loud several times. I would certainly say that I'm looking forward to Tracy Kiely writing more Martini mysteries. They're perfect as a palette cleanser between hard boiled and heavier reads. I'd also definitely take it on a vacation, I can see myself sitting on a beach somewhere and reading this.

This is one of those books that falls between the star ratings. "Murder With A Twist" is definitely more than a three star book but reaches just shy of a four of five star mystery. I do look forward to reading more banter between Nic & Nigel in the future, hopefully next time I can be sunning myself beside a pool somewhere when I pick up Kiely's next book.
Best,

[Selah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was just FUN! I loved the ode to Hammett's The Thin Man, and all the classic movie references.

[Melinda Loomis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw Tracy Kiely on a panel at Bouchercon and was intrigued by her using one of my favorite films, The Thin Man, as an inspiration for an updated take on Nick and Nora. In this case it's Nic (former New York Detective Nicole Landis) and Nigel Martini, a west coast heir. There are a lot of nods to The Thin Man, especially their new name. There is a dog, although instead of the lovable (if somewhat cowardly) Asta, the Martini's have a newly acquired gigantic Mastiff. Their last name is a nod to the virtually non-stop boozing in the original (although they don't drink quite as much in the updated version).

One thing I noticed was that although the back cover promised that the book "Includes cocktail recipes!", there weren't any. I looked at reviews on Amazon and Good Reads and only a couple of people commented on this.

It's an upbeat, breezy read and another one I got through in one late night sitting.

[Homerun2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming modern homage to Nick and Nora and the Thin Man series. Ex-police detective Nicole Landis married wealthy and charming Nigel Martini and moved away from the East Coast. They are visiting from California when Nigel's odd and rich family implodes. His cousin Audrey, about to come of age and get free access to her fortune, is married to an obvious golddigger who disappears after rumors surface of large gambling debts. Nigel's other cousin, Daphne, a lawyer with the family firm, hires Nicole to find Audrey's low-life husband.

But the gold here isn't the plot, although it is well-handled with just enough red herrings. It is, as with the Thin Man, in the repartee and the clever dialogue and interactions between characters, particularly Nic and Nigel.

Great fun -- I will plan on looking up the next series entry.

[Jill Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've reviewed the other two in this series (this is the first, and I actually read it second) and raved about Nic and Nigel and Kiely's ability to write them in a witty, elegant, utterly charming way that turn this contemporary cozy mystery series into a little slice of black-and-white movie noir-scented heaven. All that said, this first installment was my least favorite of all of them, by a fair margin. I'm so glad I didn't read it first - that honor went to the second (Killer Cocktail), which remains my favorite by leaps and bounds. Still, this one is cute and very very redolent of the Thin Man movies (down to the plot/premise). It's worth a read - and if you like it even a little, you MUST pick up the second, because it'll seal the deal for you...

[Tasula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lighthearted fun. A retired police detective (Nicole) and rich man (Nigel) visit his family in NYC and are asked to find a cousin's errant husband. Murders ensue. Mostly amusing, except that the cousin (Audrey) whose husband has gone missing needs a brain transplant and to grow a spine.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A play on the old Nick and Nora Charles movies with a gender flip. Nic(ole) is the former detective and Nigel the wealthy heir. There is even an early scene nod to the first movie with a determined dog in a bar. Nice banter between our couple. A fun light mystery.

[aem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute series...

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very light reading

Light fluff decent characters very Nick and Nora Charles. Would read the next if it were free but not pay for it.

[Jonathan Westbrook · Rating 1 out of 5]

yes. A 1

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Stacey Cormier · Rating 5 out of 5]

The humor. The sarcasm. The Bullmastiff.
I loved it all.

[Kathryn Crockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

Makes me think of Nick and Nora Charles of the Thin Man series of movies. Loved them old movies and now I love this series of books.

[DelAnne Frazee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Murder With A Twist - Nic & Nigel Mystery 1
Author: Tracy Keily
Published: 5-8-2015
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Pages: 266
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers& Suspense
Sub Genre: Amateur Sleuths; Cozy Mystery
ISBN: 9780738743721
ASIN: B00VXK6DWK
Reviewer: DelAnne
Reviewed For: NetGalley
Rating: 5 Stars

.
Nigel and Nicole "Nic" Martini are looking forward to attending their cousin's Audrey's birthday bash and having a good time visiting with family and friends while in New York and staying at the opulent Ritz. When Audrey's husband, Leo, goes missing the family worries more that they will be fodder for the scandal rags rather than the society page and ask Nic to find the man who easily forgets he is married. Nic, Nigel and their new Bullmastiff, Skippy set out to find the wayward husband. Using Nic's detective skills, instincts, connections and sources within the less than savory residents of the big apple. With danger lurking close and more questions than answers being found. The search continues. Then the bodies start turning up. Can they find Leo before he becomes the next corpse?




Think Nick and Nora Charles (My favorite old time detectives) and you will get an idea of the humor that is the thread that keeps this series life and amusing. Although I must admit Skippy is more like an Astra on mega doses of steroids. Once I opened the story I could not put it down. From the opening chapter I was hooked. Nic and Nigel have an ongoing repertoire that pulls a reader into their lives with joy and ease. Nic is a strong female lead and Nigel pretends to be shallow and flamboyant, but he knows when to be serious and would die for Nic, which he comes close to proving. The story line moves quickly and keeps readers interested. This is a series I look forward to reading more of. My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.




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[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you slightly recognize the plot and the protagonists, three words - The Thin Man.

This is an adaptation of the Dashiell Hammett book (or the movie, whichever you're familiar with), and it's an adaptation worth reading. Nicole Landis Martini is a former New York detective who retired early after sustaining an injury. Her husband, Nigel Martini, who has a great fondness for alcohol, is a member of the wealthy Martini family. Nicole, or Nic, is asked to find the worthless husband of Nigel's cousin. Of course, Tracy Kiely also paid homage to Asta in the form of Skippy, a sweet bullmastiff, despite the havoc he causes.

This is a change from all the cozies I've read where the protagonist (usually a female) goes solo detective, and constantly aided and admonished by a future romantic lead. In this case, the story would be incomplete if Nic and Nigel were written as separate entities and not as a combination, though of course, they each have their own quirks as individual characters. Like Agatha Christie's Tommy and Tuppence, Nic and Nigel are more interesting together. They both have wit and humor, and I enjoyed reading how they as a married couple affect the story and their relationships with the people they meet, given that Nic was a detective and Nigel was a wealthy socialite. Nic and Nigel are partners, as a couple and as characters, and this partnership is the heart and soul of the series. With the humor and the trading of banters, this book is lighthearted fare, but with a dash of spirit, like your mixed drinks. Enjoy reading!

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Murder with a Twist first started I was immediately reminded of the Thin Man movies with but with a slightly younger couple and a much larger dog. I thought this might get taxing to read (the banter is so much more enjoyable on film), but I think the similar feel lessened after a few pages.

Nic, a former cop, does most of the investigating while Nigel (Nigel? How many Americans are named Nigel?!?) seems to either be drinking or doing not much else in this story. He seems wasted (and not because he's tipsy) here. I enjoyed the mystery and following along on Nic's investigation. I was surprised by who the actual murder was.

The minor negatives I have are that Murder with a Twist seems like it should be the second in the series. We don't really get any intro to the characters. I started Killer Cocktail (book 2) right after I ended Murder and it gives us a brief set up I would have expected here. Despite the majority of the characters being Nigel's family, he didn't even need to be in the book and the emphasis on drinking (by most of the characters) was irksome to me. Also, the personality change in the murderer seemed out of place.

I'd give this a 2.5 out of 5. Overall, I liked it, but didn't enjoy it enough to really want to start the next book if I hadn't already had it and agreed to give an honest review in exchange for my copies of both books from Netgalley.

[Cuppa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder with a Twist seems to be a contemporary re-imagining of Dashiel Hammet's famous crime fighting duo Nick and Nora Charles and their canine sidekick Asta. In The Thin Man the Charleses are visiting Nora's high society relatives in New York. In Murder With a Twist, The Martinis are visiting Nigel's wealthy relatives in New York. Nicole "Nic" Martini and Nick Charles are both retired detectives. The set ups are familiar and there are other similarities here and there. Nigel brings home a lumbering bull mastiff, counterpart to the Charles' small terrier Asta. And the humor flows as freely as the drinks in both stories, but the mysteries to be solved are different. Author Tracy Keily had written a magnificently comedic mystery that should not be missed. I hope that Mic and Nigel Martini will have many more adventures. I would even be happy to see more of Nigel's relatives. For all their snobbish behavior and concern for their image, they do seem to understand the value of family. I will highly recommend this book to all my mystery readers.

[Sharon Redfern · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a big fan of Ms Kiely's Elizabeth Parker series, so I was excited to see she has something new. In this book, Nicole and Nigel Martini are going back to her old stomping grounds to celebrate a birthday with his eccentric family. Nicole is an ex-NYPD officer injured in the line of duty and since retired. Nigel's Aunt Olive is not a fan of Nicole's but asks her to help find the missing husband of Nigel's cousin Audrey. Her husband is pretty much a gold digging cad but Audrey loves him so Nicole agrees to help find the errant spouse.

This was a nicely done mystery with interesting characters and a fairly well hidden killer. I loved the banter between Nigel and Nicole as she does her investigation. The family members are appropriately annoying and sympathetic depending on the situation. I especially liked the addition of their ginormous Bull Mastiff puppy, Skippy, who wreaks havoc wherever he goes and ends up providing a very important clue.

I would love to read further books with Nicole and Nigel ( and I'd love to see a new Elizabeth Parker too).

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got the second book in this series, made it half-way through and realized I wanted to start from the beginning. Even with the nausea-inducing reading caused by an ebook that wasn't well-edited (nothing I did would make all of the font stay on one page so I had to keep flipping back and forth), this was a decent story. I misjudged the murderer because I relied too much on the "Thin Man" movies that the characters are based off of.
In this case, it was Nicole "Nic" Martini who is the former detective (NYPD rather than private) and Nigel who is the offspring of a wealthy family. Nic is still the fearless detective who solves the case, however, it is still the male (Nigel) that retains much of the humor and the borderline alcoholism.
Nic has been asked to track down the profligate husband of Nigel's cousin Audrey (shades of the second movie in the series). When he ends up dead in the men's room of the Ritz, a lot of people would be relieved except that Audrey is found standing over him with the knife in her hand.
A fun story and worth reading.

[Sunsettowers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book I received an advanced copy of at a recent ALA convention, and it was a really fun read. The main characters, Nic and Nigel Martini, are pretty clearly take offs on Nick and Nora Charles, but I love Nick and Nora Charles, so I liked Nic and Nigel Martini quite a bit.

This book does not take itself too seriously, and it made for a funny, breezy read. It features mobsters, philandering husbands, giant dogs, Valium, lots of alcohol, rich crazy relatives, and two quick witted constantly quipping protagonists.

The mystery is a good one, with a lot of layers, and some surprising twists. The characters have big personalities, which really works for this kind of humorous read, especially with all the bodies that start turning up.

I would definitely recommend this book for when you need something light and easy to read, and want to fictionally bond with two protagonists you would definitely want to grab a drink with.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story takes place in present time, but it gave me the feel of a 1920’s type of mystery. Nic and Nigel are an elegant couple. Nigel is quite charming with a dash of mischief.

Nigel’s family could make your head spin. What a wacky bunch! I’m not sure how Nic could think straight around them, but she held her own and handled herself very well.

There are some twists and turns as Nic and Nigel try to find a killer. It really could have been anyone. The author does a nice job of leading the reader astray. I guessed wrong, but in the end, it all came to a satisfying conclusion.

"Murder with A Twist" is the first book in this series and it's off to an excellent start. I’m looking forward to reading the second book in the series.



FTC Disclosure: NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.