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Mountain Murder Mystery
The Severn family—Jeff and his wife Phyllis, Lynette and her new fiancé, and single Andy—has gathered at the mountain home of their grandmother, Mary Agnes Severn, to celebrate Thanksgiving and hear an announcement regarding their late grandfather’s will. With news of an escaped convict in the hills, everyone is barely settled in before a huge snowstorm strands them in the large old house with only gas lamps and lanterns to keep the darkness away.
Local sheriff Roger Dickerson arrives to check on the family and seek shelter from the storm. Sparks fly between him and Andy as long-held passions bubble just under the surface, but before they can address them, Mary Agnes’s three servants are murdered one by one. Who is the murderer? Is it the escaped convict? Is it someone in the house? Everyone has a motive, and everyone has the means. What’s going on between Andy and Marcus the handyman? What’s going on between Phyllis and Marcus? Is there something going on between Roger and Marcus? It’s (snow)bound to be a wild week of murder, mystery, and mayhem!
Local sheriff Roger Dickerson arrives to check on the family and seek shelter from the storm. Sparks fly between him and Andy as long-held passions bubble just under the surface, but before they can address them, Mary Agnes’s three servants are murdered one by one. Who is the murderer? Is it the escaped convict? Is it someone in the house? Everyone has a motive, and everyone has the means. What’s going on between Andy and Marcus the handyman? What’s going on between Phyllis and Marcus? Is there something going on between Roger and Marcus? It’s (snow)bound to be a wild week of murder, mystery, and mayhem!
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 12, 2016
1 person is currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 10, 2016
1.5 stars
First of all, this being a release from DSP Publications, I was prepared for it not exactly having romance nor falling in the same sex genre. I was okay with that. So I guess if I should categorize this book, it would fall under Mystery Fiction genre.
Mountain Murder Mystery has a rather old-fashioned murder theme. We have a big cast of family members, and a sheriff, coming into a mountain home when murders happen in the midst of snowstorm which practically isolated everyone. I read a lot of this theme when I was younger, especially with Agatha Christie’s books (funny thing, I just watched the BBC version of “And Then There Were None”, which was brilliant adaptation!) or even that movie, "Clue". However, this story is set in a modern setting.
It resulted in a … well, rather ‘interesting’ experience to say the least. I’m not exactly saying that in positive note, though. It felt old-fashioned, but at the same time, some contemporary references were made, like the term “going commando”. So it just felt off and a little bit weird.
Another thing that I need to mention is the writing style. This book practically consists of almost all dialog; like 90% – 95% of it. Some of them were really LONG, it took one whole paragraph … for example:
OR
Yep, THAT long… While the rest are short enough, they’re still all dialog. Personally, it made the reading experience exhausting. Like reading a script for a stage drama *shrugs*
I wasn’t too impressed with the characters as well … especially the sheriff. I mean, here he was, in an isolated mountain home, and there were not one, not two, but THREE murders that happened while he was there. However, instead of being busy trying to investigate, he seemed to be more focused on rekindling some sort of relationship with one of the Severn family members. I know that he admitted he never handled a murder case before. However, he was practically the only law enforcer at the crime scene. Nobody else was available. So make some sort of attempt, will you?
And what’s with the grandmother – who was too busy commenting about her only single grandson? Which included her making an example of a woman, of whom she said “All I’m saying is that if Tammy Shingle can find a man, then there’s hope for us all”… which annoyed me to the very end, because I felt that her words (and later on her explanation) was a bit insulting to this Tammy character.
Lastly, and this is what makes me see red to be honest, is the conclusion of everything. We have the revelation which I could accept. It is a good enough motive. BUT then comes the revelation after the first revelation … let’s just say, THAT part seriously pissed me off. I don’t know why the author decided to go that way, maybe he thought it would be a fun ending, something not exactly mainstream. Well, I wasn’t amused. Not at all. In fact, it made me want to go inside the book and do a killing spree with all these characters myself.
*** MILD SPOILER ***
With all due respect to the author, this book failed to entertain me on all fronts. But the fact that I ended this book with extreme anger (in addition that the writing style was totally exhausting for me) was the main reason for my rating . Of course, I believe that people have different takes and experiences, so any of you might enjoy this more than I.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
First of all, this being a release from DSP Publications, I was prepared for it not exactly having romance nor falling in the same sex genre. I was okay with that. So I guess if I should categorize this book, it would fall under Mystery Fiction genre.
Mountain Murder Mystery has a rather old-fashioned murder theme. We have a big cast of family members, and a sheriff, coming into a mountain home when murders happen in the midst of snowstorm which practically isolated everyone. I read a lot of this theme when I was younger, especially with Agatha Christie’s books (funny thing, I just watched the BBC version of “And Then There Were None”, which was brilliant adaptation!) or even that movie, "Clue". However, this story is set in a modern setting.
It resulted in a … well, rather ‘interesting’ experience to say the least. I’m not exactly saying that in positive note, though. It felt old-fashioned, but at the same time, some contemporary references were made, like the term “going commando”. So it just felt off and a little bit weird.
Another thing that I need to mention is the writing style. This book practically consists of almost all dialog; like 90% – 95% of it. Some of them were really LONG, it took one whole paragraph … for example:
Andy walked over to the drinks table and began to fix himself a drink. “Oh, no? You want to know what happens when I’m proactive and put myself out there? Several months ago I went to a sold-out Kathy Griffin concert. Kathy Griffin. There was going to be a higher concentration of gay men in one venue than at any other time except maybe Pride Day. Surely the odds are in my favor, right? I mean, I didn’t go into this with unrealistic expectations. I wasn’t expecting to meet the man of my dreams, but I did hope I might get a date or even a one-night stand. At the very least, I figured I might get to flirt with someone, talk to some gay guys. But, no. There is a demon in hell who apparently loves to torment me. And I clearly provide a lot of entertainment for the little bastard. I get to the theater. I see gaggles of gay men wandering about the lobby area, and I think ‘This is a good sign.’ I go to the usher, and I’m escorted to my seat two rows from the stage. I turn and look behind me at a massive theater chock-full of gay men: gay men in the orchestra, gay men in the mezzanine, gay men in the balcony. I mean, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a gay man! So, what do I get for my seventy-dollar seat? A heterosexual couple in front of me, a heterosexual couple behind me, an empty seat to my right and to my left… a retired lesbian kindergarten teacher.”
OR
“I said, hush, Lynette.” Mary Agnes looked at Everett, “There is a reason why I have only the one phone line in this house.” She gestured to the phone on the table by the stairwell. “A person should only be on the phone if they actually have something important to say. Nowadays I hear the most inane conversations going on in the most inappropriate places.” As she spoke she walked behind the sofa to a cabinet next to the closet containing the extra quilts. “Just the other day I was at the grocery store and a woman was on the phone telling someone she was in the condiments aisle. I mean, is that really vital information that someone needed to know? No one is present in the moment anymore. No one focuses on what is happening right in front of them.” She opened a drawer and took out a hammer and a beautiful little satin bag with a drawstring, normally used to wrap a bottle of wine. “I resent when I’m talking to someone and their cell phone rings and they interrupt the conversation to speak with the person who called, only to tell them, ‘I can’t talk right now, I’ll have to call you back.’ Isn’t that what voice mail is for?” Mary Agnes stopped to look at the five people watching her with various expressions on their faces, ranging from curiosity to worry. “It’s a generation of Pavlov’s dogs!” she said scornfully. “A bell rings and they automatically answer the cell phone. I feel like I should keep sausage treats in my purse.” She walked over to the small table beside the sofa on the end where Everett sat. “And if I go to one more restaurant or one more play where I have to hear some cretin’s telephone ring with some hideous, atonal composition right at a key moment, why I may have to take advantage of the liberal concealed weapons laws in this state and start firing!”
Yep, THAT long… While the rest are short enough, they’re still all dialog. Personally, it made the reading experience exhausting. Like reading a script for a stage drama *shrugs*
I wasn’t too impressed with the characters as well … especially the sheriff. I mean, here he was, in an isolated mountain home, and there were not one, not two, but THREE murders that happened while he was there. However, instead of being busy trying to investigate, he seemed to be more focused on rekindling some sort of relationship with one of the Severn family members. I know that he admitted he never handled a murder case before. However, he was practically the only law enforcer at the crime scene. Nobody else was available. So make some sort of attempt, will you?
And what’s with the grandmother – who was too busy commenting about her only single grandson? Which included her making an example of a woman, of whom she said “All I’m saying is that if Tammy Shingle can find a man, then there’s hope for us all”… which annoyed me to the very end, because I felt that her words (and later on her explanation) was a bit insulting to this Tammy character.
Lastly, and this is what makes me see red to be honest, is the conclusion of everything. We have the revelation which I could accept. It is a good enough motive. BUT then comes the revelation after the first revelation … let’s just say, THAT part seriously pissed me off. I don’t know why the author decided to go that way, maybe he thought it would be a fun ending, something not exactly mainstream. Well, I wasn’t amused. Not at all. In fact, it made me want to go inside the book and do a killing spree with all these characters myself.
*** MILD SPOILER ***
With all due respect to the author, this book failed to entertain me on all fronts. But the fact that I ended this book with extreme anger (in addition that the writing style was totally exhausting for me) was the main reason for my rating . Of course, I believe that people have different takes and experiences, so any of you might enjoy this more than I.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
February 13, 2016
Full reviewage on Prism Book Alliance®
Let me start off by saying that I requested this book to read and review. It sounded like it would be a fantastic ride of a read.
This was not the case. :/
Right off the bat, this much was obvious: this author wanted to include every single detail of physical description they could, whether of place character action within it. I made the prose read rather dryly. It felt like technical writing instead of storytelling. It was precise but not expressive.
She hung up the other quilt and the empty hanger, then kneeled down to inspect the bare floor of the closet. When she rose, she turned and draped the thick quilt over the back of the sofa and meticulously smoothed it out.
I think this passage both exemplifies the style of this storytelling, as well as the story itself and how it was presented on nearly every page of this book. Sometimes, it was painful to read. Relatedly, this sounded like it was taking place in the 1950’s based on the dialogue and character reactions, and yet it was definitely a contemporary given many of the cultural references. Some of the phrases the characters used made me feel like I was reading an episode of “Leave it to Beaver”, and yet Mary Agnes, grandma to main character Andy, held very modern views, particularly regarding sexuality. The writing style and characterization did not match the story at all.
Sometimes one character would be doing this or that in one room of the house in which this story takes place, and then the next paragraph would be a different character in a different room, nothing connecting the two. Along the same vein, when an entire paragraph is comprised of a character walking from one location inside a room to another, doing various and sundry things, but with no emotional or plot related impact, then a story isn’t being told. Instead, we’re just reading about someone walking around a room.
Unfortunately, there’s more. There are several pages-long conversations about the most inane subjects that also have nothing to do with what is supposed to be a murder mystery. I sat through discussions about the weather channel, someone taking a job at Dairy Queen, and about the “reseeding schedule” for plants ruined due to a septic tank having to be dug out of the ground. Again, all with no substantive contribution to the story.
Instead, the events that would be major parts of any murder mystery are treated like blips on the screen.
The introduction of Roger, Andy’s possible love interest is handled rather clumsily, adding to the list of examples of the very prim and proper tone to the book, highlighting the mismatch between subjects and storytelling style.
There are a handful of humorous moments, stuff I would almost categorize as snarky. Most of them came from the mouth of Andy, and they did provide a small glimpse into the potential of this story and these characters. On paper, this should have been fantastic: a murder mystery involving a dozen characters snowed in thanks to a huge storm (even that element is undermined by one character’s admitted actions towards the end of the book), with family secrets galore, a murderer sneaking into the house to perform said murders, and bits of the aforementioned humor. Instead, it mostly felt farcical and two-dimensional. This last point is especially true when it comes to the “emotional” reactions of some of these characters to what should be the darkest and most difficult events of the book for them. The most glaring example of this is a scene with several characters arguing, and referencing a separate argument, about too much garlic in some cream one of them was making for Thanksgiving dinner. Picture it: there are dead bodies chilling in the wine cellar (to which one of the characters descends to choose the appropriate wine to go with the meal), bodies of loved ones, and these characters are discussing an argument about too much garlic.
The most unfortunate victims of this book are the characters. They are, again on paper, a very interesting mix, all with pasts and secrets and challenges and personality quirks that could have been wonderfully utilized for a thrilling story. They were not treated as such.
I had originally planned to provide one more example of the writing, an entire passage about a discussion regarding whether to leave the curtains open or closed in order to keep as much warmth in the house as possible after the electricity fails during the storm. But I just can’t do it. It’s extremely rare for me to actually become upset, angry, at having spent my time experiencing such an underwhelming book. It happened with this one.
I don’t enjoy sharing a review such as this. It’s not fun. But these are my reactions and my attempt to explain them. This is not a successfully told story. No tension, no direction, no mystery, and not much attention paid to the murders.
Let me start off by saying that I requested this book to read and review. It sounded like it would be a fantastic ride of a read.
This was not the case. :/
Right off the bat, this much was obvious: this author wanted to include every single detail of physical description they could, whether of place character action within it. I made the prose read rather dryly. It felt like technical writing instead of storytelling. It was precise but not expressive.
She hung up the other quilt and the empty hanger, then kneeled down to inspect the bare floor of the closet. When she rose, she turned and draped the thick quilt over the back of the sofa and meticulously smoothed it out.
I think this passage both exemplifies the style of this storytelling, as well as the story itself and how it was presented on nearly every page of this book. Sometimes, it was painful to read. Relatedly, this sounded like it was taking place in the 1950’s based on the dialogue and character reactions, and yet it was definitely a contemporary given many of the cultural references. Some of the phrases the characters used made me feel like I was reading an episode of “Leave it to Beaver”, and yet Mary Agnes, grandma to main character Andy, held very modern views, particularly regarding sexuality. The writing style and characterization did not match the story at all.
Sometimes one character would be doing this or that in one room of the house in which this story takes place, and then the next paragraph would be a different character in a different room, nothing connecting the two. Along the same vein, when an entire paragraph is comprised of a character walking from one location inside a room to another, doing various and sundry things, but with no emotional or plot related impact, then a story isn’t being told. Instead, we’re just reading about someone walking around a room.
Unfortunately, there’s more. There are several pages-long conversations about the most inane subjects that also have nothing to do with what is supposed to be a murder mystery. I sat through discussions about the weather channel, someone taking a job at Dairy Queen, and about the “reseeding schedule” for plants ruined due to a septic tank having to be dug out of the ground. Again, all with no substantive contribution to the story.
Instead, the events that would be major parts of any murder mystery are treated like blips on the screen.
The introduction of Roger, Andy’s possible love interest is handled rather clumsily, adding to the list of examples of the very prim and proper tone to the book, highlighting the mismatch between subjects and storytelling style.
There are a handful of humorous moments, stuff I would almost categorize as snarky. Most of them came from the mouth of Andy, and they did provide a small glimpse into the potential of this story and these characters. On paper, this should have been fantastic: a murder mystery involving a dozen characters snowed in thanks to a huge storm (even that element is undermined by one character’s admitted actions towards the end of the book), with family secrets galore, a murderer sneaking into the house to perform said murders, and bits of the aforementioned humor. Instead, it mostly felt farcical and two-dimensional. This last point is especially true when it comes to the “emotional” reactions of some of these characters to what should be the darkest and most difficult events of the book for them. The most glaring example of this is a scene with several characters arguing, and referencing a separate argument, about too much garlic in some cream one of them was making for Thanksgiving dinner. Picture it: there are dead bodies chilling in the wine cellar (to which one of the characters descends to choose the appropriate wine to go with the meal), bodies of loved ones, and these characters are discussing an argument about too much garlic.
The most unfortunate victims of this book are the characters. They are, again on paper, a very interesting mix, all with pasts and secrets and challenges and personality quirks that could have been wonderfully utilized for a thrilling story. They were not treated as such.
I had originally planned to provide one more example of the writing, an entire passage about a discussion regarding whether to leave the curtains open or closed in order to keep as much warmth in the house as possible after the electricity fails during the storm. But I just can’t do it. It’s extremely rare for me to actually become upset, angry, at having spent my time experiencing such an underwhelming book. It happened with this one.
I don’t enjoy sharing a review such as this. It’s not fun. But these are my reactions and my attempt to explain them. This is not a successfully told story. No tension, no direction, no mystery, and not much attention paid to the murders.
May 25, 2016
3.5 stars. Ten people + one huge mansion up in the mountains + one blizzard + an escaped killer on the loose = classic murder mystery with plot twists and red herrings.
I admit, I was both pleasantly and unpleasantly surprised by this story. This has an old-fashioned feel to it à la Agatha Christie, and she's even mentioned once. Basically, we're not given the POV of any of characters in the story. Everything we learn from them we must deduce from their expressions, speech, and reactions. That seemed like a perfectly valid way of approaching a murder mystery.
The book's written well. However, for the longest time, judging from the way people talked, I assumed this was an historical tale. Not until we get cell phones and modern day idioms that we realize this is a contemporary story after all. For a classic tale of who-dunit, that was both interesting and confusing. I like traditional murder mysteries, so the antiquated feel worked for me. The modern references worked at times, less in others, clashing with the classic feel. Nonetheless, this book had an appeal that made me read this in one sitting. The humor throughout, for example, seemed to fit with the narrative rather nicely. Except (and this seems to be the norm for this tale) for when it didn't, such as joking about too much garlic in their food when there are two dead bodies chilling in the wine cellar. Inappropriate!
The cast is composed of family members, servants, and a sheriff. The two people providing the gay romance aspect are Andy Severn, one of said grandchildren, and Roger Dickerson, the sheriff. But, and I can't emphasize this enough, this is most definitely NOT a romance. The two men aren't often alone, and when they are, they talk loads and then gloss over every sensual scene. Obviously since no one's inner thoughts are heard here it probably would have made those sex scenes awkward and impersonal, so I get why they were left out. But those of you who are expecting a classic murder mystery with some male heroes getting hot and heavy, look elsewhere.
As for the other characters, well, there's the usual: The engaged couple who don't know each other well yet, the married couple with straying eyes, the single gay guy with his bromance with his cousin and his other could-be romance with the sheriff, the eccentric matriarch of the family, two identical servant sisters, a flirtatious handyman, and so on. Their personalities came through loud and clear even though we don't hear their innermost thoughts. They seemed such archetypal charaters that I was immediately drawn into the complex tale.
One big negative, however, is the family matriarch, Mary Agnes, with her quirky ways. At first, she was charming in that quaint way of hers, and I liked her. Then she smashed someone's cell phone to pieces because she doesn't approve of cell phones. What? Yeah, no. I don't care who you are or how charmingly eccentric you are, you don't destroy other people's property for any reason. There went all my positive associations with her, and I wanted her to be one of the murder victims. Unfortunately, she wasn't.
The other puzzling thing was Roger, the sheriff. He wasn't a very good sheriff, considering three people get murdered on his watch, not to mention getting shot at, getting rooms broken into, etc. It might have been better to make him, say, a private investigator. That at least would have taken the pressure off from his sub-par performance as an officer of the law. Still, when he does take charge, he does so with authority. And if the deck wasn't so stacked against him from the start, his strategies might even have paid off better.
Now, there are maps and floorplans at the back of the book. I strongly suggest you utilize them to figure out who was where when and doing what. Basic who-dunit puzzle solving. I for one was glad that they were there because often I had trouble visualizing just what was happening. That was by no fault of the author and his writing capabilities, as he does a lot of descriptions, but purely my own forgetfulness.
Since there are so many people in the story and since we can't hear their thoughts, it's important to follow what people are saying. No, they don't always tell the truth, but will their expressions betray them? I had fun trying to figure things out. As a classic-style murder mystery, this delivered rather well. I certainly enjoyed reading this.
Not to spoil the ending, I still have to say that I was quite confused with who did what to whom when. There are a lot of revelations toward the end, and I had some trouble following those conclusions to the end. Plus, if you expect the two gay heroes to solve the murders, you're out of luck. They have virtually no role here other than as a two men who happen to be gay and who might be attracted to each other. I really wanted a gay guy to solve the crime. But... no, unfortunately we don't get that.
So, overall this was an interesting change from the typical crime stories of today. The classic feel, the two-dimensional characters, the mystery solved solely through hints in words and actions, all that was promising. In some ways this delivered, in others it failed. I suppose the biggest question is, would I read this again? Very possibly, if just to see if I understood what was happening. Would I recommend this to lovers of M/M and murder mysteries? Yes, with the caveat that you should like the latter more because you won't be getting much romance at all. Since the beginning, when no one's POVs are given, I knew to expect less romance, so in that respect I got what I expected and wasn't too disappointed. Would I read this author again? Sure. If writers take their craft seriously, they can only get better.
I admit, I was both pleasantly and unpleasantly surprised by this story. This has an old-fashioned feel to it à la Agatha Christie, and she's even mentioned once. Basically, we're not given the POV of any of characters in the story. Everything we learn from them we must deduce from their expressions, speech, and reactions. That seemed like a perfectly valid way of approaching a murder mystery.
The book's written well. However, for the longest time, judging from the way people talked, I assumed this was an historical tale. Not until we get cell phones and modern day idioms that we realize this is a contemporary story after all. For a classic tale of who-dunit, that was both interesting and confusing. I like traditional murder mysteries, so the antiquated feel worked for me. The modern references worked at times, less in others, clashing with the classic feel. Nonetheless, this book had an appeal that made me read this in one sitting. The humor throughout, for example, seemed to fit with the narrative rather nicely. Except (and this seems to be the norm for this tale) for when it didn't, such as joking about too much garlic in their food when there are two dead bodies chilling in the wine cellar. Inappropriate!
The cast is composed of family members, servants, and a sheriff. The two people providing the gay romance aspect are Andy Severn, one of said grandchildren, and Roger Dickerson, the sheriff. But, and I can't emphasize this enough, this is most definitely NOT a romance. The two men aren't often alone, and when they are, they talk loads and then gloss over every sensual scene. Obviously since no one's inner thoughts are heard here it probably would have made those sex scenes awkward and impersonal, so I get why they were left out. But those of you who are expecting a classic murder mystery with some male heroes getting hot and heavy, look elsewhere.
As for the other characters, well, there's the usual: The engaged couple who don't know each other well yet, the married couple with straying eyes, the single gay guy with his bromance with his cousin and his other could-be romance with the sheriff, the eccentric matriarch of the family, two identical servant sisters, a flirtatious handyman, and so on. Their personalities came through loud and clear even though we don't hear their innermost thoughts. They seemed such archetypal charaters that I was immediately drawn into the complex tale.
One big negative, however, is the family matriarch, Mary Agnes, with her quirky ways. At first, she was charming in that quaint way of hers, and I liked her. Then she smashed someone's cell phone to pieces because she doesn't approve of cell phones. What? Yeah, no. I don't care who you are or how charmingly eccentric you are, you don't destroy other people's property for any reason. There went all my positive associations with her, and I wanted her to be one of the murder victims. Unfortunately, she wasn't.
The other puzzling thing was Roger, the sheriff. He wasn't a very good sheriff, considering three people get murdered on his watch, not to mention getting shot at, getting rooms broken into, etc. It might have been better to make him, say, a private investigator. That at least would have taken the pressure off from his sub-par performance as an officer of the law. Still, when he does take charge, he does so with authority. And if the deck wasn't so stacked against him from the start, his strategies might even have paid off better.
Now, there are maps and floorplans at the back of the book. I strongly suggest you utilize them to figure out who was where when and doing what. Basic who-dunit puzzle solving. I for one was glad that they were there because often I had trouble visualizing just what was happening. That was by no fault of the author and his writing capabilities, as he does a lot of descriptions, but purely my own forgetfulness.
Since there are so many people in the story and since we can't hear their thoughts, it's important to follow what people are saying. No, they don't always tell the truth, but will their expressions betray them? I had fun trying to figure things out. As a classic-style murder mystery, this delivered rather well. I certainly enjoyed reading this.
Not to spoil the ending, I still have to say that I was quite confused with who did what to whom when. There are a lot of revelations toward the end, and I had some trouble following those conclusions to the end. Plus, if you expect the two gay heroes to solve the murders, you're out of luck. They have virtually no role here other than as a two men who happen to be gay and who might be attracted to each other. I really wanted a gay guy to solve the crime. But... no, unfortunately we don't get that.
So, overall this was an interesting change from the typical crime stories of today. The classic feel, the two-dimensional characters, the mystery solved solely through hints in words and actions, all that was promising. In some ways this delivered, in others it failed. I suppose the biggest question is, would I read this again? Very possibly, if just to see if I understood what was happening. Would I recommend this to lovers of M/M and murder mysteries? Yes, with the caveat that you should like the latter more because you won't be getting much romance at all. Since the beginning, when no one's POVs are given, I knew to expect less romance, so in that respect I got what I expected and wasn't too disappointed. Would I read this author again? Sure. If writers take their craft seriously, they can only get better.
April 5, 2017
3.5 stars
In all my years of reading, I can honestly say I’ve never read another story quite like this one. Kudos to the author on that fact alone.
This story has a rather large cast of characters, and well, it was like reading the script for a screenplay. While the author does a great job of describing the house, which made me think of an old sitcom, ‘Upstairs Downstairs’. The story is all tell. I can’t say whose point of view it’s told in, as I never got into the heads of any of the characters. Well not until the very end when the reader is given a tiny glimpse into Andy’s mind.
I have no idea if this is supposed to be slap stick comedy or if it just came across that way to me. Many a time I found myself laughing at things that probably should have been shocking. When the first person to be murdered walked into the room with a knife sticking out of her back, it was so comical I honestly laughed. Then as the body count mounts, dear old Mary Agnes states ‘if this keeps up we’ll run out of glasses’. Come on, two dead people in the house, stashed in the fruit cellar while they’re snowed in, and she’s concerned about what they’re going to drink out of?
On the flipside, there were a lot of things I think were supposed to be comical that I found downright annoying. One example was the ongoing teasing about cooking and the great garlic debate. However, I realize humor is subjective so others may very well enjoy the banter.
One thing I noticed was a lot of name dropping. People in their 40s or so will get a lot of the references, ‘Logan’s Run’ for one, but they will most likely fly over the heads of the younger generation. Hell a number of them flew over my head, for instance the entire story about going to a Kathy Griffin concert. I have no idea who she is and don’t want, or need, to know.
I hazard to refer to this book as same sex, as most characters are hetro, and the so called relationship between Roger and Andy is barely there, until they kiss passionately near the very end.
All in all this was a jolly good romp. I liked it.
Copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
In all my years of reading, I can honestly say I’ve never read another story quite like this one. Kudos to the author on that fact alone.
This story has a rather large cast of characters, and well, it was like reading the script for a screenplay. While the author does a great job of describing the house, which made me think of an old sitcom, ‘Upstairs Downstairs’. The story is all tell. I can’t say whose point of view it’s told in, as I never got into the heads of any of the characters. Well not until the very end when the reader is given a tiny glimpse into Andy’s mind.
I have no idea if this is supposed to be slap stick comedy or if it just came across that way to me. Many a time I found myself laughing at things that probably should have been shocking. When the first person to be murdered walked into the room with a knife sticking out of her back, it was so comical I honestly laughed. Then as the body count mounts, dear old Mary Agnes states ‘if this keeps up we’ll run out of glasses’. Come on, two dead people in the house, stashed in the fruit cellar while they’re snowed in, and she’s concerned about what they’re going to drink out of?
On the flipside, there were a lot of things I think were supposed to be comical that I found downright annoying. One example was the ongoing teasing about cooking and the great garlic debate. However, I realize humor is subjective so others may very well enjoy the banter.
One thing I noticed was a lot of name dropping. People in their 40s or so will get a lot of the references, ‘Logan’s Run’ for one, but they will most likely fly over the heads of the younger generation. Hell a number of them flew over my head, for instance the entire story about going to a Kathy Griffin concert. I have no idea who she is and don’t want, or need, to know.
I hazard to refer to this book as same sex, as most characters are hetro, and the so called relationship between Roger and Andy is barely there, until they kiss passionately near the very end.
All in all this was a jolly good romp. I liked it.
Copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2017
A large ensemble cast in an isolated house murder mystery which could have worked well but it lacked a 'lead character'. There were some interesting ideas here but it read more like a farce than a mystery. Falls into mm as a minor plot point is a mostly off stage relationship between Andy and Roger the Sheriff. Disappointing
January 14, 2016
I like old-fashioned murder theme but I have had problem in the start to understand in what time is the environment. Most of time is was a fun reading but then there are part a bit boring for particulars that seemed babbling on nothing important. I marked two stars for this story because the final. Aren't bad guys discovered and in jail? Seemed to me a bit as horror story to the end and Jeff, Lynette and Andy as poor fools oblivious to their same lovers.
February 5, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
3 stars
This book was not what I was expecting. Given the blurb at the back of the book and the title, one would assume that it would be foremost a mystery/suspense story. Instead, it almost was as if it was a humor-driven storyline, since the antics were nothing like what one would expect in a mystery. Despite this, I will admit that I was stumped as to who the murderer was right up until the end.
The story begins with an old-fashioned feel to it. I think setting the scene is important for readers to understand when and where the story takes place. Unfortunately, we are never really told much about time and place. At times, I was convinced that this may have been set 100 years ago based on what was being said and done, only to find modern phrases and actions thrown in to the mix.
It took me nearly ¼ of the book to start getting into the story. It’s disjointed and overloaded with characters right from the start. Part of the problem is that the story reads like a screenplay with it being told nearly entirely told in dialogue. This wouldn’t have been so bad had there been only a few characters. Unfortunately, there was a multitude of characters to go along with the endless dialogue.
Read Wendy’s review in its entirety here.
3 stars
This book was not what I was expecting. Given the blurb at the back of the book and the title, one would assume that it would be foremost a mystery/suspense story. Instead, it almost was as if it was a humor-driven storyline, since the antics were nothing like what one would expect in a mystery. Despite this, I will admit that I was stumped as to who the murderer was right up until the end.
The story begins with an old-fashioned feel to it. I think setting the scene is important for readers to understand when and where the story takes place. Unfortunately, we are never really told much about time and place. At times, I was convinced that this may have been set 100 years ago based on what was being said and done, only to find modern phrases and actions thrown in to the mix.
It took me nearly ¼ of the book to start getting into the story. It’s disjointed and overloaded with characters right from the start. Part of the problem is that the story reads like a screenplay with it being told nearly entirely told in dialogue. This wouldn’t have been so bad had there been only a few characters. Unfortunately, there was a multitude of characters to go along with the endless dialogue.
Read Wendy’s review in its entirety here.
May 18, 2020
3.5* I did enjoy this story - though I am still not sure if it was meant to be a satire or not!
Whilst reading, I could see this being a play in an old Victorian theatre with floor traps, with all the characters exiting and entering stage left and right - maybe because pretty much all the action was in the living room.
A classic closed room (or house in the this case) murder, with a cosy feel to it as well with the local sheriff Roger also closed in.
At the start I found it difficult to place the story in time as it felt quite old fashioned but had cars and freezers and then so placing in modern times.
Lots of victims, lots of suspects, lots of reasons especially once the trust is revealed. And more than one person playing a long game. Which also explained away some of my concerns in the spoiler.
Some humour as well and the bumbling Roger wasn’t quite so bumbling after all.
I did however find the ending unsatisfactory as two of the long game players joined forces
Whilst reading, I could see this being a play in an old Victorian theatre with floor traps, with all the characters exiting and entering stage left and right - maybe because pretty much all the action was in the living room.
A classic closed room (or house in the this case) murder, with a cosy feel to it as well with the local sheriff Roger also closed in.
At the start I found it difficult to place the story in time as it felt quite old fashioned but had cars and freezers and then so placing in modern times.
Lots of victims, lots of suspects, lots of reasons especially once the trust is revealed. And more than one person playing a long game. Which also explained away some of my concerns in the spoiler.
Some humour as well and the bumbling Roger wasn’t quite so bumbling after all.
I did however find the ending unsatisfactory as two of the long game players joined forces
July 25, 2016
The Severn family decide to gather in the mountain home of their grandmother, Mary Agnes to celebrate Thanksgiving. The three cousins are excited to spend time with their grandmother and to hear an announcement about their late grandfather's will. However, with the news of an escaped convict and Mary Agnes's three servants are murdered one by one, everyone is on edge. A huge snowstorm causes an landslide preventing the family from leaving the house. Is there the killer among them? Who will be safe?
The synopsis of the book basically gave away more than of the story than it was necessary. From the beginning, you know all the servants are murdered but they set it up as one of the servants might be involved. The story was written in a boring and long winded way. The dialogue & banter between characters got really boring and annoying at times. I am not sure if this was meant to be a comedy but some of the serious moments was just straight up ridiculous. The characters are unrealistic and the entire plot is ill-conceived. It really makes you question familial love.
**Disclosure - I received a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest opinion**
The synopsis of the book basically gave away more than of the story than it was necessary. From the beginning, you know all the servants are murdered but they set it up as one of the servants might be involved. The story was written in a boring and long winded way. The dialogue & banter between characters got really boring and annoying at times. I am not sure if this was meant to be a comedy but some of the serious moments was just straight up ridiculous. The characters are unrealistic and the entire plot is ill-conceived. It really makes you question familial love.
**Disclosure - I received a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest opinion**
January 14, 2016
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
An intriguing murder-mystery set in the mountains during Thanksgiving, with a lovely little background romance to help lighten the plot.
This novel did not start off on the right foot for me. It was confusing, disjointed, and Mary Agnes, the matriarch of the Severn family, is equally bewildering and distasteful. But once the plot finally gets underway (at the 1/3 mark), things finally start to get interesting, and I was able to sit back and enjoy the novel.
I love a good mystery, and I’ll admit that this one threw me off the scent a few times. I definitely had my suspicions about whodunit, but Dahlbeck did a great job of keeping things in the air.
There is a tiny romance weaved in there, with Andy Severn. It’s definitely tucked in the background, but I thought it was very sweet!
An intriguing murder-mystery set in the mountains during Thanksgiving, with a lovely little background romance to help lighten the plot.
This novel did not start off on the right foot for me. It was confusing, disjointed, and Mary Agnes, the matriarch of the Severn family, is equally bewildering and distasteful. But once the plot finally gets underway (at the 1/3 mark), things finally start to get interesting, and I was able to sit back and enjoy the novel.
I love a good mystery, and I’ll admit that this one threw me off the scent a few times. I definitely had my suspicions about whodunit, but Dahlbeck did a great job of keeping things in the air.
There is a tiny romance weaved in there, with Andy Severn. It’s definitely tucked in the background, but I thought it was very sweet!
December 30, 2016
More of a 3.5. This story is a little different from many of your murder mysteries. You have ten people stranded in one huge mansion up in the mountains with blizzard and an escaped killer on the loose. This is a classic murder mystery with lots of plot twists and a few red herrings. I liked the characters and I was laughing out loud several times.
January 3, 2016
Modern day with an old time mystery theme. Hilarious with enough suspects to keep you guessing. Lots of interesting character. I like the more serious murder mysteries but this was a fun ride! Great job, Benjamin Dahlbeck!
November 15, 2022
Cute but the characters are not very detailed, the relationship between the protagonists seems forced. Overall I didn't like it very much, especially for the finish, but I'm sure it's purely for personal taste.
March 9, 2016
Great mystery - the end really shocked me.
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