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Hamptons Home & Garden Mystery #2
Hearse and Gardens
A Hamptons interior designer deals with skeletons in the closet in the new mystery from the national bestelling author of Better Homes and Corpses.
To keep her mind off the legal battle over the oceanfront cottage she’s trying to buy, Meg agrees to help her friend inventory and clear out furniture from the massive Montauk estate of wealthy art broker Harrison Falks. But the job takes a terrifying turn when Meg discovers a skeleton in a hidden room in one of the estate’s many bungalows. The remains turn out to be those of Harrison’s son, who went missing nearly twenty years ago—along with one of his father’s Warhol paintings.
As Meg delves into the Hamptons’ pop art past, she gets drawn into the sketchy goings-on and family drama at the estate. But when Meg makes no bones about solving the crime, she just might become the subject of the killer’s next installation.
INCLUDES RECIPES AND DECORATING TIPS
To keep her mind off the legal battle over the oceanfront cottage she’s trying to buy, Meg agrees to help her friend inventory and clear out furniture from the massive Montauk estate of wealthy art broker Harrison Falks. But the job takes a terrifying turn when Meg discovers a skeleton in a hidden room in one of the estate’s many bungalows. The remains turn out to be those of Harrison’s son, who went missing nearly twenty years ago—along with one of his father’s Warhol paintings.
As Meg delves into the Hamptons’ pop art past, she gets drawn into the sketchy goings-on and family drama at the estate. But when Meg makes no bones about solving the crime, she just might become the subject of the killer’s next installation.
INCLUDES RECIPES AND DECORATING TIPS
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 3, 2016
86 people are currently reading
907 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Bridge
13 books340 followersABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kathleen Bridge, national bestselling author of The Hamptons Home and Garden Mystery Series and The By The Sea Mystery Series. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America. Kathleen is also an antiques and vintage dealer and lives on the Central East Coast of Florida. www.kathleenbridge.com
Kathleen Bridge, national bestselling author of The Hamptons Home and Garden Mystery Series and The By The Sea Mystery Series. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America. Kathleen is also an antiques and vintage dealer and lives on the Central East Coast of Florida. www.kathleenbridge.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
May 23, 2016
Best friends, Meg Barrett (interior designer), and Elle Warner (antique store owner), find a skeleton in a hidden room in a beach cottage resulting in the re-opening of a cold case on a missing person. What follows is a thrilling hunt for both a killer and valuable antiques as these two ladies roam the rich neighborhoods of the Hampton's searching for trash that can become your treasure. The true wealth of this story is its delightful cast of eclectic characters; a beautiful ocean setting; a clever plot; a huge, smart cat named Jo; and lots of humor.
April 26, 2017
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May 26, 2016
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Escape to Montauk with interior designer Meg Barrett. She is excited to help her friend Elle Warner inventory and move the furnishings of some bungalows on the Harrison Falks estate. They end finding more than they bargained for when they find a skeleton in a secret room. It isn’t long before the remains are identified as the son of Harrison Falks. Rumor had him leaving the area 20 years ago in possession of a well known piece of art created by Andy Warhol. Meg just can’t help but to insert herself into the investigation and the family drama. Her bones may be the next ones found as she is installing herself right on the killer’s radar.
I really like Meg. She may be hearing impaired but she knows how to deal with that and most of the time the disability doesn’t present any problems…but, of course…there are those times…where it gets her into a bunch of trouble. I like the way she works together with Elle and that they each know their strengths and weaknesses and really balance each other. The house that Meg is working on sounded wonderful before she decorated it but amazing after so worked her magic on the place.
We meet Harrison Falk, his family, caretaker and staff. Eclectic is a great way to describe this bunch. Old money, a huge estate, with so many secrets. Great descriptions by this author make is so easy to visualize the vast estate and these characters.
I really like the way the author weaves history into this story and introduces us to Montauk residents of the past and their stories. This time I found the information about pop art and artists very interesting.
The plot has some nice twists and the pacing is absolutely perfect. There is a good dose of humor and a bit of romance sprinkled throughout the story too.
This was a fun read and I can’t wait to return to Montauk.
Escape to Montauk with interior designer Meg Barrett. She is excited to help her friend Elle Warner inventory and move the furnishings of some bungalows on the Harrison Falks estate. They end finding more than they bargained for when they find a skeleton in a secret room. It isn’t long before the remains are identified as the son of Harrison Falks. Rumor had him leaving the area 20 years ago in possession of a well known piece of art created by Andy Warhol. Meg just can’t help but to insert herself into the investigation and the family drama. Her bones may be the next ones found as she is installing herself right on the killer’s radar.
I really like Meg. She may be hearing impaired but she knows how to deal with that and most of the time the disability doesn’t present any problems…but, of course…there are those times…where it gets her into a bunch of trouble. I like the way she works together with Elle and that they each know their strengths and weaknesses and really balance each other. The house that Meg is working on sounded wonderful before she decorated it but amazing after so worked her magic on the place.
We meet Harrison Falk, his family, caretaker and staff. Eclectic is a great way to describe this bunch. Old money, a huge estate, with so many secrets. Great descriptions by this author make is so easy to visualize the vast estate and these characters.
I really like the way the author weaves history into this story and introduces us to Montauk residents of the past and their stories. This time I found the information about pop art and artists very interesting.
The plot has some nice twists and the pacing is absolutely perfect. There is a good dose of humor and a bit of romance sprinkled throughout the story too.
This was a fun read and I can’t wait to return to Montauk.
May 9, 2016
Interior designer, Meg Barrett, continues to fight to purchase a cottage on Long Island. In the meantime, she agrees to assist her best friend take inventory and clean out a bungalow on Montauk. The bungalow is part of the estate of a wealthy art broker, Harrison Falks. Meg makes a shocking discovery when she finds an old skeleton hidden in the bungalow.
The skeleton is identified as Harrison’s son who disappeared twenty years ago along with one of Harrison’s expensive Warhol paintings. Meg becomes very curious as to what happened to the younger Falks and proceeds to investigate, but she comes up against more family drama than she anticipated.
This is the second book in the “Hamptons Home & Garden Mystery”. I have to admit, the series won me over with the first book especially because it is set in my own area. Readers even get a little lesson on vintage items and what they are worth.
Meg is a wonderful character. She is strong willed and probably takes more dangerous risks than she should, but what amateur sleuth doesn’t? There’s also a bit of romance, but it doesn’t overpower the mystery. The mystery is still the main part of the story.
The Falks family certainly is a prime example of an eccentric group. The author does a great job of showing the readers exactly how eccentric they are. She, also, does a great job in describing the setting. She transports the reader right to Long Island.
The story moves at a nice, steady pace. There are a few twists and turns along the way. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment.
Disclosure: The publisher 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.
The skeleton is identified as Harrison’s son who disappeared twenty years ago along with one of Harrison’s expensive Warhol paintings. Meg becomes very curious as to what happened to the younger Falks and proceeds to investigate, but she comes up against more family drama than she anticipated.
This is the second book in the “Hamptons Home & Garden Mystery”. I have to admit, the series won me over with the first book especially because it is set in my own area. Readers even get a little lesson on vintage items and what they are worth.
Meg is a wonderful character. She is strong willed and probably takes more dangerous risks than she should, but what amateur sleuth doesn’t? There’s also a bit of romance, but it doesn’t overpower the mystery. The mystery is still the main part of the story.
The Falks family certainly is a prime example of an eccentric group. The author does a great job of showing the readers exactly how eccentric they are. She, also, does a great job in describing the setting. She transports the reader right to Long Island.
The story moves at a nice, steady pace. There are a few twists and turns along the way. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment.
Disclosure: The publisher 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.
April 27, 2016
Author Kathleen Bridge is proving to be an exciting voice in cozy mysteries.
HEARSE AND GARDENS is written with the same enjoyable mix of mystery, action, and humor as Bridge’s first Hamptons Home & Gardens installment, BETTER HOMES AND CORPSES.
The characters in this series are wonderfully layered, and eclectic. Series lead, Meg Barrett, is hearing impaired, but this does not stop her from getting into the thick of things, and holding her own…and then some!
My favorite parts of both book in this series is going on antique, and up cycling hunts with Meg and her friend Elle. If I could come across the amazing treasures the do (with the exception of dead bodies), I’d be out there searching every day!
With her fluid writing, sense of timing, and superb way with descriptions, author Bridge’s series is one you will want to add to your bookshelves!
The back of this book has some great decorating tips, and yummy recipes!
HEARSE AND GARDENS is written with the same enjoyable mix of mystery, action, and humor as Bridge’s first Hamptons Home & Gardens installment, BETTER HOMES AND CORPSES.
The characters in this series are wonderfully layered, and eclectic. Series lead, Meg Barrett, is hearing impaired, but this does not stop her from getting into the thick of things, and holding her own…and then some!
My favorite parts of both book in this series is going on antique, and up cycling hunts with Meg and her friend Elle. If I could come across the amazing treasures the do (with the exception of dead bodies), I’d be out there searching every day!
With her fluid writing, sense of timing, and superb way with descriptions, author Bridge’s series is one you will want to add to your bookshelves!
The back of this book has some great decorating tips, and yummy recipes!
September 16, 2019
Meg Barrett is an Interior Designer on Long
Island. Meg’s mother had owned an antique
In Michigan so Meg grew up around antiques.
Meg and her friend, Elle Warner, who sells
antiques and vintage items are going to
Montauk to clean out and inventory a beachfront
bungalow on the Harrison Falks’ estate.
They discover a secret door behind a bookcase.
When they open the door, inside is a skeleton.
Harrison had a son who disappeared twenty
years ago along with an expensive Warhol
painting and the wife of a neighbor.
The skeleton turns out to be this son!!
A lot of historical information about the area
is described plus the reader will learn about
the value of vintage items and a variety of
paintings and painters.
There are a myriad of in-depth, eclectic, well
fleshed out characters that will keep the
reader anticipating what they will do next.
A well written story mixing elements of loss,
old family secrets, family trials, disappointment,
hearing loss with determination, old and new
friendships.
Meg adopts a Maine Coon car named Jo who
will keep her company.
A mysterious, enjoyable read with decorating
tips plus recipes at the end.
Island. Meg’s mother had owned an antique
In Michigan so Meg grew up around antiques.
Meg and her friend, Elle Warner, who sells
antiques and vintage items are going to
Montauk to clean out and inventory a beachfront
bungalow on the Harrison Falks’ estate.
They discover a secret door behind a bookcase.
When they open the door, inside is a skeleton.
Harrison had a son who disappeared twenty
years ago along with an expensive Warhol
painting and the wife of a neighbor.
The skeleton turns out to be this son!!
A lot of historical information about the area
is described plus the reader will learn about
the value of vintage items and a variety of
paintings and painters.
There are a myriad of in-depth, eclectic, well
fleshed out characters that will keep the
reader anticipating what they will do next.
A well written story mixing elements of loss,
old family secrets, family trials, disappointment,
hearing loss with determination, old and new
friendships.
Meg adopts a Maine Coon car named Jo who
will keep her company.
A mysterious, enjoyable read with decorating
tips plus recipes at the end.
June 28, 2022
Ho accumulato i libri di questa serie, ma ho letto solo questo perché mi serviva per un paio di challenge difficoltose. Il tema della ristrutturazione di case, cottages in particolare, mi interessa molto, ma la mia scarsa conoscenza dell'inglese non mi ha fatto apprezzare le notizie al riguardo disseminate nel libro.
La storia mi è piaciuta, avevo puntato sulla persona sbagliata riguardo all'omicidio, ma avevo azzeccato sul fatto che un altro fosse un poco di buono. La protagonista è interessante, come pure il fatto che abbia un deficit uditivo, l'unico problema è che ci siano ben tre possibili candidati a una storia con lei... Già non amo i triangoli, ma tre sono davvero troppi! Comunque leggerò anche gli altri libri, prima o poi.
La storia mi è piaciuta, avevo puntato sulla persona sbagliata riguardo all'omicidio, ma avevo azzeccato sul fatto che un altro fosse un poco di buono. La protagonista è interessante, come pure il fatto che abbia un deficit uditivo, l'unico problema è che ci siano ben tre possibili candidati a una storia con lei... Già non amo i triangoli, ma tre sono davvero troppi! Comunque leggerò anche gli altri libri, prima o poi.
January 18, 2017
Meg and her friend Elle are cleaning out a cottage when they stumble upon a skeleton sealed in a forgotten room. While the identity of the skeleton isn’t really a mystery, it does give rise to a lot of questions. Who sealed the man in the room? Where is the woman he supposed ran off with? Or is she the killer? Where is the painting the pair supposedly stole?
As you can see, there is plenty of compelling stuff here for a good mystery. Sadly, the book is slowed way down by Meg living her life, including things she finds for her decorating business. Ironically, I found two sub-plots that doesn’t tie into the mystery to be more compelling than the mystery for much of the book. We do get some great twists before the end, and the characters are great. Sadly, it isn’t enough to raise the book above average.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
As you can see, there is plenty of compelling stuff here for a good mystery. Sadly, the book is slowed way down by Meg living her life, including things she finds for her decorating business. Ironically, I found two sub-plots that doesn’t tie into the mystery to be more compelling than the mystery for much of the book. We do get some great twists before the end, and the characters are great. Sadly, it isn’t enough to raise the book above average.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
April 27, 2016
I had a hard time putting down this the second in the Hampton's Home & Garden mystery series. There is magic in this book though not the paranormal kind. Magic I have only seen in a few of my most favorite series. There is something truly unique and special about main character Meg and her adventures. Something so relate-able and believable. She is one of my most favorite cozy main characters of all time. She is not only brave and smart, she has a great work ethic, a no nonsense attitude and the girl knows her way around a yard sale! We could easily be friends. She sees the beauty and potential in things people take for granted and I have truly enjoyed spending the last two days with her. This is the perfect weekend get away book!
December 23, 2021
The overall mood of the book as well as the family dynamic (past and present) reminds me of The House of Brides by Jane Cockram (2019). There's also an atmospheric kinship to Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (2020), minus the supernatural aspects, of course.
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September 5, 2019
I really can’t leave an accurate review for this book. I couldn’t finish it. I was listening to this in audio version from my library.
The narration was so bad it was impossible to follow the story. The narration was rushed with a silly sing song type of voice. Words were often mispronounced ( especially the names of Long Island towns).
I may try this again in e-book version. I grew up on LI and love a good cozy.
The narration was so bad it was impossible to follow the story. The narration was rushed with a silly sing song type of voice. Words were often mispronounced ( especially the names of Long Island towns).
I may try this again in e-book version. I grew up on LI and love a good cozy.
May 4, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this next audiobook in the series. Meg and El get mixed up in a 20 year old murder/missing person case. This time we meet El’s extended family which is quite a cast of characters. The mystery is well written and has lots of side stories which add depth to the story. Meg’s personal life gets a bit interesting in this book as well. Cannot wait to see where the stories go.
September 29, 2018
3.5 stars
April 9, 2021
I liked listening to this light cozy mystery.
September 10, 2020
This second book in the series was pretty good. Author Bridge's descriptions of chic East Long Island were wonderfully consistent with those in the first book. I'm starting to really like "Meg Barrett's Hamptons."
3 stars
3 stars
September 12, 2016
This is the second book in the Hamptons Home and Gardens mysteries and was just as interesting as the first one.
Meg agrees to help her friend with some inventory and clear out furniture from a large Montauk estate and they ended up finding more than they wanted. They find a hidden room and inside is a skeleton that turns out the be the remains of the owner of the estate's son who went missing about twenty years ago. At the same time he went missing a famous Warhol painting did as well.
Meg starts snooping around the Hampton's pop art past and finds lots of family drama. She also meets Byron a very handsome man who kind of wines and dines her. Since Cole is not in the picture anymore as he went back home she is need of a little dining with a handsome man. Though she is not the only one after the man.
The mystery was really good and I was kind of surprise with who the murder was which made me wonder if I wasn't paying attention good enough as I normally can figure it out...lol. Oh, well sometimes I get stumped.
It has some great characters and I like Meg and I always wished I had an eye for detail and could be a designer of sorts. I would love to be in interior designer. I like her friend Elle as well. I am really curious about how this thing with Byron is going to pan out because of something at the end.
Overall, I enjoyed it and if you like cozies and a home and garden theme then you should check out this series.
Meg agrees to help her friend with some inventory and clear out furniture from a large Montauk estate and they ended up finding more than they wanted. They find a hidden room and inside is a skeleton that turns out the be the remains of the owner of the estate's son who went missing about twenty years ago. At the same time he went missing a famous Warhol painting did as well.
Meg starts snooping around the Hampton's pop art past and finds lots of family drama. She also meets Byron a very handsome man who kind of wines and dines her. Since Cole is not in the picture anymore as he went back home she is need of a little dining with a handsome man. Though she is not the only one after the man.
The mystery was really good and I was kind of surprise with who the murder was which made me wonder if I wasn't paying attention good enough as I normally can figure it out...lol. Oh, well sometimes I get stumped.
It has some great characters and I like Meg and I always wished I had an eye for detail and could be a designer of sorts. I would love to be in interior designer. I like her friend Elle as well. I am really curious about how this thing with Byron is going to pan out because of something at the end.
Overall, I enjoyed it and if you like cozies and a home and garden theme then you should check out this series.
August 17, 2016
Sometimes I come late to a series and can't wait to read the earlier ones I've missed. Sometimes--well, not so much. Meg is an interior designer who's helping her pal Elle, a wealthy antiques dealer, clean out a family cottage, when they discover a skeleton shut into a secret room. In addition to being involved in a land dispute, Meg, who is hearing-impaired, adopts a huge, spoiled Maine coon cat in the course of this. She also has too-many-men trouble. There's nothing terrible about it, but it didn't grip.
December 15, 2017
I want to like this series, but....
I will say I do like the main character, Meg. However the book goes so fast that many times I have to go back and re read to see who is who again. The author at times introduces new characters in rapid succession and it doesn’t have an easy flow. The historical details are interesting but at times I feel it drags on too long. I want to like this series as I also read the first book but I am just not sure I will go for the third. At times it feels like work reading it.
I will say I do like the main character, Meg. However the book goes so fast that many times I have to go back and re read to see who is who again. The author at times introduces new characters in rapid succession and it doesn’t have an easy flow. The historical details are interesting but at times I feel it drags on too long. I want to like this series as I also read the first book but I am just not sure I will go for the third. At times it feels like work reading it.
November 25, 2016
This is the second book in the series and I am just not enjoying them like I thought I would. In this one Meg is helping her friend Elle clean out a massive estate in Montauk. They run across a skeleton in a secret room which turns out to be the son of the estates owner. She and Elle are drawn into trying to find the killer. I don't think I will read any more in the series.
January 30, 2017
I thoroughly enjoy this series! Meg has a great look on dealing with the cards that are dealt to you. Her sleuthing skills are, uh, haphazard, but a fun read.
November 21, 2019
We return to the charming town of Montauk in Hearse and Gardens, the second book in Kathleen Bridge’s Home and Gardens mystery series. Meg Barrett and her friend Elle are busy taking inventory of Harrison Falks’ estate when they uncover a skeleton in a (previously) hidden room. When the remains are identified as those of Pierce Falks, Harrison’s son, who went missing more than a decade ago, along with one of Harrison’s famous Andy Warhol paintings, the mystery is afoot, and Meg is determined to get answers. With a family full of suspects and a wealth of secrets, the answers don’t come easily, but, eventually, they do come.
What I liked most about this book was Meg herself. Meg is hearing-impaired, yet all mention of her hearing aids seems quite natural and, in contrast to several books I have read with disabled protagonists, not in the least bit overdone. Meg is resourceful and tenacious, two qualities which help her to persevere beyond the family drama to solve the mystery. An added bonus is the subplot surrounding Meg’s cajoled “adoption” of an overweight and officious cat named Jo. Their adventures add a touch of humor that really brightens the story. A second subplot, involving the missing Warhol “Aqua Net” painting, was likewise intriguing.
While I liked the book overall, there are a couple of things that would make it even better. First, there were several parts where the book was bogged down with lengthy descriptions of Meg’s day-to-day living. These, if shortened (or fewer) would allow the reader to gain insight into her life, but as written only tended to divert attention from the mystery. Second, I listened to the audio version, and, in my opinion, the reader didn’t do the story justice. The pacing was so slow that I needed to speed up the narration, and the pronunciation was just off. In fairness, this probably contributed to my frustration with the more descriptive passages in the book.
Despite the issue with the audio version, I found Hearse and Gardens to be an enjoyable read. The mystery itself was duly suspenseful, with enough twist and turns to keep the reader guessing. Although I had my suspicions, I was not fully certain of the culprit until the end of the novel. Because Meg is an appealing character and because the mystery itself was well-conceived, I look forward to reading the third book in the series, perhaps just not in audio format.
What I liked most about this book was Meg herself. Meg is hearing-impaired, yet all mention of her hearing aids seems quite natural and, in contrast to several books I have read with disabled protagonists, not in the least bit overdone. Meg is resourceful and tenacious, two qualities which help her to persevere beyond the family drama to solve the mystery. An added bonus is the subplot surrounding Meg’s cajoled “adoption” of an overweight and officious cat named Jo. Their adventures add a touch of humor that really brightens the story. A second subplot, involving the missing Warhol “Aqua Net” painting, was likewise intriguing.
While I liked the book overall, there are a couple of things that would make it even better. First, there were several parts where the book was bogged down with lengthy descriptions of Meg’s day-to-day living. These, if shortened (or fewer) would allow the reader to gain insight into her life, but as written only tended to divert attention from the mystery. Second, I listened to the audio version, and, in my opinion, the reader didn’t do the story justice. The pacing was so slow that I needed to speed up the narration, and the pronunciation was just off. In fairness, this probably contributed to my frustration with the more descriptive passages in the book.
Despite the issue with the audio version, I found Hearse and Gardens to be an enjoyable read. The mystery itself was duly suspenseful, with enough twist and turns to keep the reader guessing. Although I had my suspicions, I was not fully certain of the culprit until the end of the novel. Because Meg is an appealing character and because the mystery itself was well-conceived, I look forward to reading the third book in the series, perhaps just not in audio format.
May 11, 2017
Interior and landscape designer, Meg Barrett is loving living in the Hamptons of New York. Although she is having to fight ownership of her dream cottage, "Little Grey," life is definitely looking up.
Meg's business partner and friend, Elle Warner invites Meg to help her 'pick over' the antiques in her 'Uncle' Harrison's bungalows. Uncle Harrison is from the days of the 'Pop' art period. He built his home, 'Sandringham' a few acres from legendary artist Andy Warhol. Harrison Falks is an elderly man now, and misfortune has followed him for several decades.
When Uncle Harrison's dead son, Pierce is found in the bungalow, his misfortunes continue, including a steady decline of mental and physical abilities.
Meg feels something is not 'right' and she proceeds to get more involved with the persons living at Sandringham and the tragic tale of Pierce. Meanwhile, she has to fight the battle of her home, inherit a Maine Coon Cat, and more while living with a natural disability of impaired hearing.
I'm quite impressed with the naturalness that the character of Meg is drawn by the Author. Her hearing impediment is recognized but it doesn't stop Meg from living her life fully. Nor is she embarrassed by something that is not her fault. I also liked that Ms. Bridge chose to not stress the sometimes vocal issues that the hearing impaired are pressed by. This is implied and needn't be stressed. Excellent character development in my opinion.
Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Meg's business partner and friend, Elle Warner invites Meg to help her 'pick over' the antiques in her 'Uncle' Harrison's bungalows. Uncle Harrison is from the days of the 'Pop' art period. He built his home, 'Sandringham' a few acres from legendary artist Andy Warhol. Harrison Falks is an elderly man now, and misfortune has followed him for several decades.
When Uncle Harrison's dead son, Pierce is found in the bungalow, his misfortunes continue, including a steady decline of mental and physical abilities.
Meg feels something is not 'right' and she proceeds to get more involved with the persons living at Sandringham and the tragic tale of Pierce. Meanwhile, she has to fight the battle of her home, inherit a Maine Coon Cat, and more while living with a natural disability of impaired hearing.
I'm quite impressed with the naturalness that the character of Meg is drawn by the Author. Her hearing impediment is recognized but it doesn't stop Meg from living her life fully. Nor is she embarrassed by something that is not her fault. I also liked that Ms. Bridge chose to not stress the sometimes vocal issues that the hearing impaired are pressed by. This is implied and needn't be stressed. Excellent character development in my opinion.
Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
February 3, 2024
Meg is helping her friend inventory and clear out the estate of a wealthy art broker. They discover a hidden room in one of bungalows and a hidden body, now just a skeleton. It could be the owner’s son who went missing twenty years ago. Never one to turn her back on a mystery, Meg delves into the past. At least it takes her mind off her own problem, that of ownership of a cottage she bought and is now being claimed by an heir of the deceased former owner. Much goes on in this intriguing cozy. Meg gets coerced into adopting a 23-pound Maine Coon cat. She also gets stalked, which may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. The mystery is a compelling one, the characters are believable, and the cat is a darling, if a bit demanding. It will be interesting to see what the author has in mind for the next book. This second installment in the Hamptons Home & Garden Mystery series leaves the reader wondering what will happen next.
June 3, 2017
Murders in the Hamptons
This was a really good book. Meg and Elle are once again scouring estate/garage sales for treasures for their businesses in the Hamptons. While clearing out a bungalow on Elle's wickedly wealthy Uncle Harry's estate they discover a skull and skeleton. This is just the beginning of their wild escapade with murder and mayhem. Throw in a Meg's legal battle over her newly purchased old cottage, as well as her stalker, and you're in for an exciting murder mystery that encompasses the past and present. Solid five star read!
This was a really good book. Meg and Elle are once again scouring estate/garage sales for treasures for their businesses in the Hamptons. While clearing out a bungalow on Elle's wickedly wealthy Uncle Harry's estate they discover a skull and skeleton. This is just the beginning of their wild escapade with murder and mayhem. Throw in a Meg's legal battle over her newly purchased old cottage, as well as her stalker, and you're in for an exciting murder mystery that encompasses the past and present. Solid five star read!
April 10, 2020
I like the main character who wears a hearing aide. I think the author does a good job with her interaction with people. Meg is an interior designer who loves to go on scavenger hunts with her friend and find old furniture, resurface, repaint, and make them look new. She goes on with a friend and they find a skeleton. They find another skeleton later on as well. The story unfolds at the end of what actually happen to them and that they had put an innocent person in jail. In the meantime, Meg, is trying to keep her cottage that she has fallen in love with and also has a stalker.
March 29, 2019
I really enjoyed "Better Homes and Corpses" and I liked "Hearse and Gardens", especially since it had more of Elle, the main character's best friend and fellow antique aficionado. I listened to this on Hoopla through my library and enjoyed the narrator, but the formula was more of the same. I'm not sure I would recommend that people read the second in the series unless they loved the first one and want more.
April 27, 2021
Ms Bridge continues to entertain. Her mysteries are not a typical light mystery. There is much depth and and large pool of characters.
There was much history in this second book in the series. The storyline was interesting and I was not even close to guessing the murderer. Although there was one person who actually committed the crime, others had their hands where they didn't belong.
Do not let the cute cover fool you. Very in depth for a cozy mystery.
There was much history in this second book in the series. The storyline was interesting and I was not even close to guessing the murderer. Although there was one person who actually committed the crime, others had their hands where they didn't belong.
Do not let the cute cover fool you. Very in depth for a cozy mystery.
October 14, 2017
I love any series by the beach. I know very little about the Montauk area but this was informative. Also had another favorite in it: an estate home. As a designer I enjoyed her work on the houses and using antiques.
I'm sure it's good to have romantic tension with 2 guys after one woman but I'm not really into that. Looking forward to the next book.
I'm sure it's good to have romantic tension with 2 guys after one woman but I'm not really into that. Looking forward to the next book.
July 20, 2018
this book was o.k. the characters were not a stand out or well rounded. they made it confusing and had to reread at times to keep them straight. the history of the times and Andy Warhol were good. as well as the setting the Hamptons made you want to be there. there was a little too much about Meg's life. however the ending was good. action-packed and seemed to tie everything together.
January 1, 2020
Fun cozy
In this second installment in the series, Meg works to complete her current decorating job and begin renovations of her newly purchased bungalow while helping Elle with salvaging a beach bungalow belonging to a wealthy family - and soon finds herself drawn into a murder mystery. Imaginative, well-executed cozy mystery.
In this second installment in the series, Meg works to complete her current decorating job and begin renovations of her newly purchased bungalow while helping Elle with salvaging a beach bungalow belonging to a wealthy family - and soon finds herself drawn into a murder mystery. Imaginative, well-executed cozy mystery.
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