A Phantom Death

St. Rose Quilting Bee Mystery #1

by Annette Mahon

Can a group of "mature" women actually solve a murder---just by discussing it over the quilt frame?

The members of the St. Rose Quilting Bee ask themselves this very question when the lead actor in a traveling production of Phantom of the Opera is found dead in the Scottsdale desert.

Maggie Browne knew Jonathan Hunter when he was a child and he played with her boys on their ranch. The murder hits too close to home for her, and she decides to do some sleuthing of her own when the police fail to come up with anything.

She and fellow quilter Victoria volunteer at the theater as ushers to find out more information about the cast and to deduce possible suspects. But making character analyses of skilled actors is no easy task--there's the understudy, the distraught girlfriend, the overbearing mother--and they must consider each one.

Will they discover the murderer before he or she kills again?

Genres: Mystery, Crime

217 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Annette Mahon writes sweet Hawaiian romances and quilting mysteries. She loves to quilt and tries to put quilts into her books wheneveer possible. She is from Hilo, HI, and now lives in Scottsdale, AZ, with her husband and a spoiled Australian Shepherd.

Reviews

[Lynnaurya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book on a list of books that had something to do with 'Phantom of the Opera'. It was a cute story, reminded me of something I think my Grandma would have liked. Just for the fact that the main character is part of a Quilting Bee alone would have sold her on the book, she was a master quilter and created some of her own beautiful pieces.
A small read, I probably would have finished it in a day if I had more than an hour for lunch at work but still a lovely read. Immediatly had me thinking of Angela Lansbury in 'Murder She Wrote' which was also mentioned a few times in the book so I'm glad to have an alike mind. A little predictable in some instances but I still wanted to know how it ended officially.
I was especially pleased to see the little addendum at the end in regard to how someone can make their own quilting block.

Ironically this is the first book in a series, (I didn't realize this until after I looked into the author) but, I'm not sure if I'll look into the rest of the series. It seems to be a decent read on it's own without needing others to continue after it. I have so many other books to read, I'm glad to have added this to my 2025 'Read' shelf.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

hoooooo. ok. I mean. I feel a little bad even rating this because it is very clearly a small author attempting to write a cozy mystery about topics very close to her (POTO, Scottsdale, quilting). Those three elements come together very strongly in the book so I guess in terms of expressing passion, it's very well done. The mystery is interesting up until a certain point where it becomes pretty clear that it's going to be a basic solution. I'm familiar with the amateur sleuth genre, enough anyways, and for this one I just could not suspend my disbelief enough. That every other character was not only willing but excited to talk to this random lady about the case and about their own crimes ??? Yes, I'm aware that is what happens on MSW (which is frequently referenced in the book), but it just gets to a point. I hated that it was all this talking and visiting neighbors for chapters and then a solution gets thrown out in the last 5 pages and that's that. It is very abrupt ending. Not even my own love for phantom could save me from the cringe factor and the boredom of this book, but it did make me add on a star just for some of the references.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know me-- when I hear of a mystery series set in Arizona, I have to get my hands on it. Annette Mahon's setting was a familiar one. I could picture myself traveling the streets of Scottsdale with Maggie, as well as on out into the desert where the ever present land sharks are buying up as much land as possible to turn into cookie cutter housing for the rich and not-so rich. Also easy to envision was Maggie's quilting group, which is filled with a variety of characters sure to play featured roles in future books. I liked the way quilting really played a part in events and felt as though I learned a good deal about how a quilting group works. But my enlightenment did not stop there. I also became acquainted with the theater through reading Mahon's book.

An excellent setting, the imparting of knowledge-- and a darned good cast of characters. Between Maggie's sons and their families and the "Phantom of the Opera" cast, Mahon has plenty of scope to flex her characterization muscles, and she does without getting me tangled up in names once. Maggie is a strong, intelligent, caring woman who's the heart of her family and also has a busy role in her community. She's perfect as the main character.

For some reason, I knew the identity of the murderer almost immediately. I'm not sure why because I don't think the author made it that obvious. (Perhaps I wasn't wearing my tinfoil hat as I read the book?) I enjoyed reading about this group of older (mostly retired) women solving crime on my own turf, and I look forward to reading more of their adventures.

[Mary Newcomb]

The Phantom of the Opera comes to town on tour. Maggie Browne knew the "Phantom" when he was a little boy and spent lots of time with her family. After he is found murdered in the desert, Maggie decides to look into his murder. Egged on by her quilter friends, she becomes very involved and eventually sorts it all out.

[Becky Wiers · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a really easy read. It was more predictable and less suspenseful than I'm used to with the other books I've been reading. It was a good story, though, and I'm glad I read it. It reminded me of when I used to watch Murder, She Wrote" all the time.

[Pam]

06/20/08 rec via bookmooch

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. Not sure yet if I want to read more. I've got a lot to read right now.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had this on my list to read for a long long time, my library didn't have anything by this author. Recently while placing an order for books to read, I found a copy.