A Debt is Finally Paid

Helen & Martha Cozy Mystery #2

by Sigrid Vansandt

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I LOVE THIS BOOK! This is the second one I have read. It paints such a lovely picture of the village they live in. Makes you want to live there. There’s always a mystery to be solved. Look forward to reading the next one." -- Tonda K.H.A DELIGHTFUL COZY MYSTERY FULL OF QUAINT VILLAGES, QUIRKY CHARACTERS, AND MADCAP ADVENTURES BY A BESTSELLING AUTHOR.“We've got gypsies!” Old Grimsy, Marsden-Lacey's cantankerous town gossip, warns the patrons of The Traveller's Inn one golden autumn afternoon. Soon, the quaint Yorkshire village is playing host to a family of exotic Romanis, three colorful narrowboats, and a rough bunch of Russian mafiosos who'll stop at nothing to get their hands on a royal treasure lost to time.Martha Littleword and Helen Ryes find themselves up to their necks in chasing mobsters, running from Russians, inciting ghostly visitations and wreaking havoc in their love lives. Chief Johns has his work cut out for him keeping the villagers from rioting, corralling two adventure-loving Southern girls and investigating the frightful deaths of two innocent women who knew too much.For good measure, Martha and Helen will throw in some sassiness, mix well with laughter, and add three heaping helpings of love from two cats and one fearless canine hero, Amos. It's mystery and high jinks that only two Southern women can pull off with fun, flair, and the occasional bowl of jambalaya served Cajun style.A FUN, ADVENTURE-FILLED MURDER MYSTERY WITH PLENTY OF HEART.Fans of Richard Osman, M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin, the Reverend Richard Coles, Ian Moore and Jane Adams will love this unputdownable mystery.WHAT READERS ARE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Two random American ladies turning into sleuthing buddies, lots of suspects and clues!” Tari H.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Lucy and Ethel in England.” Karen⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Cute easy mystery read.” Bonnie P.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Kept me turning the pages from page one!” Jonna M.ALSO BY SIGRID VANSANDTHELEN & MARTHA COZY MYSTERY 1: TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONEBook 2: MURDER TRAVELS IN THREESBook 3: PUDDING, POISON, & PIEBook 4: DEATH DRINKS DARJEELINGBook 5: MURDER ON THE CALEDONIAN QUEENBook 6: DEATH, DICE, & SOUTHERN SPICEWILLOW VALLEY COZY MYSTERY 1: THE GHOST IN MR. PEPPER’S BEDBook 2: A GHOST’S TALE

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 28, 2015

About the author

My fate was happily sealed when I tried my hand at writing for the first time in second grade. Many years later, I picked the bug up again and tried to write about what I know: good friends, art, antiques, and small towns.

Reviews

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...

1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.

2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.

3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.

4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.

5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise was great, the execution was poor. I'm doubtful that I'll finish the series.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like that the gypsies and royalty were tied in through priceless jeweled eggs.

[Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

So readable!

Absolutely wonderful stories! Great characters, with really great crimes! I love everything about these books! Not too long, or too short!

[Lizabeth Tarr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Another enjoyable mystery with all kinds of excitement and unexpected happenings! Great progress in the relationships' developing between our two girls and guys!

[Pjdominici]

Ali stair and Perigrine are getting more and more interesting.

[Carol Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is an easy fun read.

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say that when I began reading this book, the main characters, Martha Littlewood and Helen Ryes, came back to my memory instantly. This was the best novel I've read in ages.

Martha and Helen are currently living together and working on the Grange's art collection as restorers and cataloguers. We swiftly are reunited with the Chief of Police, Merriam Johns, and the owner of the Grange, Piers Cousins. Even the rascals, Peregrine and Alistair are back. There are a few new characters but the sense of returning to a favorite fairy tale was present.

The Romany's or Romani's are in Marsden-Lacey, Yorkshire England. The oddity? That they are so far north. Why are they there and ??? What is their link with Helen? Helen wants to know as did I.

This book was filled with excitement, a very strong storyline, dialog that literally had me in hysterics (hint loc 1400's on Kindle) and although I figured out the what, I was surprised by the who's.

This series is a strong cozy murder that would make grand movies. I literally saw 'scenes' as I was reading the words. Wonderful book!

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read book #3 in the series first, and found it fun. I went back and read book #1 next and it was okay. But this book drove me up the wall and I could barely finish it. I'm all for characters being self sufficient and not cowering from danger, but I do want them to at least be smart and strategic about it. Or if they do make errors in judgment, I want them to at some point realize it during the course of the book. But in this book, one character in particular, is just so repeatedly bullheadedly irresponsible, endangering herself again and again, as well as endangering others, that I just couldn't stand it. This is in addition to assaulting police officers both accidentally AND DELIBERATELY, and that's treated by the author as just "high spirits". I don't believe I'll go back to this series ever again, despite liking book #3.

[Catjubs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, I adore this series.

I'm particularly fond of Alistair and Peregrine and their storylines, but love all the characters (really, not a character I dislike).

These books have just enough mystery and suspense to entertain; and though they are not intricate to the point of being unsolvable for a reader, there are definitely some twists here and there. I think the author has great writing skills; so pleasant and enjoyable to read. Without sounding as if I'm discrediting the author, I think of these as more upbeat, lighthearted, condensed Agatha Christie novels. I feel like I'm living in a cheerful English village along with all the characters when I read this book.

Also, I have to try really hard to switch Martha and Helen back to American accents--I keep imagining them with English accents as I read, gah!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the series of mysteries involved two 40ish women in a small village in England. It is cute and active. The characters are well described so that you feel like you want to have curly red hair like Martha and be swept along by her vibrant personality. She loves her dog, Amos, a female 4 pound maltipoodle mix. All about this story is fun to read. In this one they are tracking an event of a hundred years ago. Obviously, they and the local police solve the event. There are lots of quirky characters involved. Give it a read but start with book 1 so you get the full picture.

[Kay (Brigidsmomma) Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The second in this series, the characters pick up pretty much where they left off in the first book, just a month or so later. This time, they have a family of Romney who need help uncovering a mystery that is nearly a century in the making. They have to deal with a couple of dead bodies, Russian mobsters, and a couple of people who aren't exactly as they seem. Read it. This one is well worth the time and effort.

[Marie Shirley Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun

The beginning of the book lays the foundation of the loss of four Faberege Eggs. The hunt is on by at least three different factions.

This writer has a great deal of talent, but their trying so hard to make the point that women are just fine on their own that it gets old fast.

I like the books but the writer is selling themselves and us short. It's early days in the series, so great hopes for Martha, Helen, Piers and Johns are there.

[Valerie Maron · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the writing was excellent, as usual, someone on Ms Vansandt's editing team must have told her that if someone is reading these books outside of the UK they won't know what she's referring to unless it is explained. Annoying! "They ate a biscuit, or cookie." Not an exact quote but just as vexatious.

[Jeff Klages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

A Fun and great characters. Twists and a turn now and then. A little romance wouldn't hurt the story. I especially liked the History on the war in Russia, it gave the book a little authenticity.

[ChrisGA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good freebie cozy mystery

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

the murders that happened in a small village in England on a channel. the police officers in this small village head there work cut out for them.

[Kristen Westfall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun, and terrific characters!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this but liked with the first book, I was pulled out of the story again b/c continuity errors. Bless the editor's heart. :/

[Addie]

Another interesting English mystery combining a historical event and new discoveries! I'm onto the 3rd in the series next!

[Dominique G. Riddick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second of the Marsden-Lacey books

I just started reading book, and I'm hooked already, I can't wait to start the next book.

I would highly recommend this book.

[Linda Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

English with a little southern mixed in.

A mystery with a little bite to it and charming that make you chuckle. A true who did it with southern gals who know how to use brains and beauty