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Agnes Luthi Mysteries #1
Swiss Vendetta
In Tracee de Hahn's magnetic debut, Swiss police detective Agnes Luthi finds herself trapped in a chateau during the blizzard of the century when she's called out on her first homicide.
Detective Agnes Luthi, a Swiss-American police officer in Lausanne, Switzerland, has just switched over to the Violent Crimes unit from Financial Crimes in an effort to shed all reminders of her old life after her husband's death. Now, on the eve of the worst blizzard Lausanne has seen in centuries, Agnes has been called out on her very first homicide case. On the lawn of the grand Chateau Vallotton, along the edge of Lake Geneva, a young woman has been found stabbed to death. The woman worked for an art auction house in London, and had been taking inventory at the Chateau Vallotton, which is dripping in priceless works of art and historical treasures.
Agnes finds it difficult to draw answers out of anyone—the tight-lipped Swiss family living in the chateau, the servants who have been loyal to the family for generations, the aging WWII survivor who lives in the neighboring chateau, even the American history student studying at the Vallotton castle's library. As the storm rages on, roads become impassible, the power goes out around Lake Geneva, and Agnes finds herself trapped in the candlelit halls of the chateau with all the players of the mystery, out of her depth in her first murder case and still struggling to stay afloat after the death of her husband.
Detective Agnes Luthi, a Swiss-American police officer in Lausanne, Switzerland, has just switched over to the Violent Crimes unit from Financial Crimes in an effort to shed all reminders of her old life after her husband's death. Now, on the eve of the worst blizzard Lausanne has seen in centuries, Agnes has been called out on her very first homicide case. On the lawn of the grand Chateau Vallotton, along the edge of Lake Geneva, a young woman has been found stabbed to death. The woman worked for an art auction house in London, and had been taking inventory at the Chateau Vallotton, which is dripping in priceless works of art and historical treasures.
Agnes finds it difficult to draw answers out of anyone—the tight-lipped Swiss family living in the chateau, the servants who have been loyal to the family for generations, the aging WWII survivor who lives in the neighboring chateau, even the American history student studying at the Vallotton castle's library. As the storm rages on, roads become impassible, the power goes out around Lake Geneva, and Agnes finds herself trapped in the candlelit halls of the chateau with all the players of the mystery, out of her depth in her first murder case and still struggling to stay afloat after the death of her husband.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published February 7, 2017
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March 19, 2017
3.5 Agnes, who has recently suffered a devastating tragedy in her own life, newly transferred to Violent crimes, receives her first case. A young woman, working to an auction house, sent to catalog the family treasure, is found murders on a bench outside the chateau. The chateau belong to the Vallotons, an aristocratic family, the chateau itself situated on a lake in Switzerland.
Although resembling a country house mystery, there is also a strong element of the locked room mystery. The blizzard of the century has struck, soon power is out, telephone lines down, and cell phones are unable to get a signal. Very atmospheric, the cold, the intense ice and snow, closed in feelings, depending on candles and torches, fireplaces and extra clothes for heat, and of course a limited range of suspects. The chateau itself magnificent, so many rooms, cellars, ice houses and the characters varied and holding on to their pasts, their own secrets. There is much more going on then first appears and as Agnes investigates much is uncovered, not just in this family, but the connection to the chateau across the way, and the Family's past.
A very good start to a new series, plus I think this is the first mystery I have read set in Switzerland.
Well written, tightly plotted, steady pacing, and I loved how Agnes managing her own grief, still manages to stay on track and interpret the clues. I actually finished this a few days back when it was snowing here and for that kind of weather it was a perfect read.
ARC from Netgalley.
Although resembling a country house mystery, there is also a strong element of the locked room mystery. The blizzard of the century has struck, soon power is out, telephone lines down, and cell phones are unable to get a signal. Very atmospheric, the cold, the intense ice and snow, closed in feelings, depending on candles and torches, fireplaces and extra clothes for heat, and of course a limited range of suspects. The chateau itself magnificent, so many rooms, cellars, ice houses and the characters varied and holding on to their pasts, their own secrets. There is much more going on then first appears and as Agnes investigates much is uncovered, not just in this family, but the connection to the chateau across the way, and the Family's past.
A very good start to a new series, plus I think this is the first mystery I have read set in Switzerland.
Well written, tightly plotted, steady pacing, and I loved how Agnes managing her own grief, still manages to stay on track and interpret the clues. I actually finished this a few days back when it was snowing here and for that kind of weather it was a perfect read.
ARC from Netgalley.
November 28, 2016
I received a copy of Swiss Vendetta through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to Tracee de Hahn for the opportunity.
Swiss Vendetta reads like a fine-tuned Agatha Christie novel with all the trimmings......well-defined characters, a breath-taking Lausanne setting, and a storyline that has screeching tires hugging the winding roads of the French Alps.
Detective Agnes Luthi has just been transferred to the Violent Crimes Division of the Surete. She had previously spent many a year in the Financial Crimes Unit. A recent widow and the mother of three young sons, Agnes answers her cell phone. That simple action will change her life forever.
Agnes finds herself on a treacherous icy road in a relentless blizzard battling her way to the Chateau Vallontton on the shores of Lac Leman. The murder of a young woman found on the chateau grounds awaits her. Unprepared in lighter clothing and unprepared in confronting a frozen body, Agnes must draw out stoic resilience from within. What in the world was this woman doing outdoors in a snowstorm? "She was young and the young always have their secrets."
And there are secrets served up here on a solid sterling silver tray compliments of the opulent lifestyle at the chateau. The cast of affluent characters enter along with the dutiful staff. No one is leaving and no one new is entering. Hostage taking by the likes of a vicious storm.
Tracee de Hahn serves up one delicious mystery here with plots and subplots boiling in this tasty stew. We come to find a backstory into the life of Agnes as well which is quite unexpected and throws a giant snowball curve into the storyline. There's also plenty hiding in the tapestries of this chateau dwelling.
Me thinks that an Agnes Luthi series may well be in the making. If that's the case, it will be welcomed by many a fan of this book. Ready and excited for a little Swiss fondue, Tracee de Hahn.
And with a side of chocolates, please.
Swiss Vendetta reads like a fine-tuned Agatha Christie novel with all the trimmings......well-defined characters, a breath-taking Lausanne setting, and a storyline that has screeching tires hugging the winding roads of the French Alps.
Detective Agnes Luthi has just been transferred to the Violent Crimes Division of the Surete. She had previously spent many a year in the Financial Crimes Unit. A recent widow and the mother of three young sons, Agnes answers her cell phone. That simple action will change her life forever.
Agnes finds herself on a treacherous icy road in a relentless blizzard battling her way to the Chateau Vallontton on the shores of Lac Leman. The murder of a young woman found on the chateau grounds awaits her. Unprepared in lighter clothing and unprepared in confronting a frozen body, Agnes must draw out stoic resilience from within. What in the world was this woman doing outdoors in a snowstorm? "She was young and the young always have their secrets."
And there are secrets served up here on a solid sterling silver tray compliments of the opulent lifestyle at the chateau. The cast of affluent characters enter along with the dutiful staff. No one is leaving and no one new is entering. Hostage taking by the likes of a vicious storm.
Tracee de Hahn serves up one delicious mystery here with plots and subplots boiling in this tasty stew. We come to find a backstory into the life of Agnes as well which is quite unexpected and throws a giant snowball curve into the storyline. There's also plenty hiding in the tapestries of this chateau dwelling.
Me thinks that an Agnes Luthi series may well be in the making. If that's the case, it will be welcomed by many a fan of this book. Ready and excited for a little Swiss fondue, Tracee de Hahn.
And with a side of chocolates, please.
May 7, 2017
Swiss Vendetta by Tracee de Hahn is a 2017 Minotaur publication.
I love a good ‘whodunit’, and am thankful anytime I find one with a fresh approach, with a nice spin on a classic formula. The very slight Gothic tones didn’t hurt, either.
As a debut novel, the author did a wonderful job with the plot, atmosphere, and characterizations, making a very nice impression!
Anyone who loves mysteries will enjoy this novel!
4 stars
This review is the copyrighted property of Night Owl Reviews. To read the full review, click on this link- https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
I love a good ‘whodunit’, and am thankful anytime I find one with a fresh approach, with a nice spin on a classic formula. The very slight Gothic tones didn’t hurt, either.
As a debut novel, the author did a wonderful job with the plot, atmosphere, and characterizations, making a very nice impression!
Anyone who loves mysteries will enjoy this novel!
4 stars
This review is the copyrighted property of Night Owl Reviews. To read the full review, click on this link- https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
October 29, 2016
4.5 stars
Tracee de Hahn’s debut novel, Swiss Vendetta, is a must-read for mystery lovers. The mystery itself is highly entertaining and the resolution believable (to me this is where a lot of mysteries fail), but my very favorite part of the novel is the Swiss setting, particularly the Chateau Vallotton.
As the book opens, Agnes Luthi, a Swiss police detective, has recently switched from Financial Crimes to Violent Crimes following the death of her husband. Lausanne, Switzerland is in the midst of the snow storm of the century when Luthi gets called to the Chateau Vallotton to investigate the murder of a young woman, Felicity Cowell, who was stabbed on the Chateau’s lawn. The wealthy Vallotton family had hired Felicity to inventory the family’s priceless art collection and other valuable treasures. Two weeks into her inventory project, she is found stabbed on the lawn of Chateau Vallotton in the height of the horrific storm. The blizzard has knocked the power out across the entire region, and the roads are nearly impassable by the time Luthi gets to the Chateau. Luthi and her team are tasked with solving the crime before someone else is killed.
Swiss Vendetta contains a fabulous cast of characters, each with their own agendas and secrets. My favorite character is Luthi who feels guilty about being apart from her children during the blizzard but finds peace in focusing on something other than her husband’s suicide. Count Arsov who lives in the neighboring mansion has his own mysterious past and meticulously kept home. The Vallottons are an insular group who are not used to sharing their home with the myriad of visitors brought there by the murder and seem more concerned with their own lives than who murdered Felicity. There are numerous other carefully created characters that play significant roles in this very entertaining mystery.
De Hahn’s vivid, thoughtful descriptions of the Chateau and the eeriness created by the lack of electricity create a somber, spooky setting for Swiss Vendetta. The candlelight in the Chateau’s cavernous rooms cast shadows in corners and leave large areas in the dark adding to the mood. De Hahn capitalizes on this mysterious atmosphere and the various odd rooms that ancient chateaus might have such as dungeons, long, dank tunnels, and hidden rooms to create the perfect setting. Her equally fabulous depiction of the bitterly cold weather Luthi and her crew endure made me feel like I was right in the midst of the storm.
I highly recommend Swiss Vendetta and cannot wait to read the next installment in the series. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tracee de Hahn’s debut novel, Swiss Vendetta, is a must-read for mystery lovers. The mystery itself is highly entertaining and the resolution believable (to me this is where a lot of mysteries fail), but my very favorite part of the novel is the Swiss setting, particularly the Chateau Vallotton.
As the book opens, Agnes Luthi, a Swiss police detective, has recently switched from Financial Crimes to Violent Crimes following the death of her husband. Lausanne, Switzerland is in the midst of the snow storm of the century when Luthi gets called to the Chateau Vallotton to investigate the murder of a young woman, Felicity Cowell, who was stabbed on the Chateau’s lawn. The wealthy Vallotton family had hired Felicity to inventory the family’s priceless art collection and other valuable treasures. Two weeks into her inventory project, she is found stabbed on the lawn of Chateau Vallotton in the height of the horrific storm. The blizzard has knocked the power out across the entire region, and the roads are nearly impassable by the time Luthi gets to the Chateau. Luthi and her team are tasked with solving the crime before someone else is killed.
Swiss Vendetta contains a fabulous cast of characters, each with their own agendas and secrets. My favorite character is Luthi who feels guilty about being apart from her children during the blizzard but finds peace in focusing on something other than her husband’s suicide. Count Arsov who lives in the neighboring mansion has his own mysterious past and meticulously kept home. The Vallottons are an insular group who are not used to sharing their home with the myriad of visitors brought there by the murder and seem more concerned with their own lives than who murdered Felicity. There are numerous other carefully created characters that play significant roles in this very entertaining mystery.
De Hahn’s vivid, thoughtful descriptions of the Chateau and the eeriness created by the lack of electricity create a somber, spooky setting for Swiss Vendetta. The candlelight in the Chateau’s cavernous rooms cast shadows in corners and leave large areas in the dark adding to the mood. De Hahn capitalizes on this mysterious atmosphere and the various odd rooms that ancient chateaus might have such as dungeons, long, dank tunnels, and hidden rooms to create the perfect setting. Her equally fabulous depiction of the bitterly cold weather Luthi and her crew endure made me feel like I was right in the midst of the storm.
I highly recommend Swiss Vendetta and cannot wait to read the next installment in the series. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2020
3.5 stars - I would probably describe this as a literary country house whodunnit. The writing & character work in this mystery was really lovely, and I was also enchanted by the setting (Swiss chateaux in the middle of snow storm). I do think the plot & pacing suffered a bit for the emphasis on the writing & character work, but overall, this was a highly enjoyable police procedural
February 15, 2017
Swiss Vendetta is Tracee de Hahn's debut mystery novel, and that's a fact that many readers will find hard to believe. When an author comes out of the gate writing this well and telling a story this fascinating, it's deeply satisfying to the reader who knows that a special storyteller has arrived. I was expecting a nice read, a good story, but I received a thrilling read, an exceptional story. Swiss Vendetta is a locked-room style mystery and a police procedural where the lead investigator is on her first murder case. De Hahn skillfully ensconces the reader into a world where snow and ice have isolated the players in the drama. You will feel the cold and take the trip with Inspector Agnes Luthi in a meticulous examination of past and present clues. You will get to know characters that are complex with secrets that run deep. You will be enchanted with the setting of Lausanne, Switzerland. You will enter this locked room of frozen stillness and be taken on a suspenseful journey of the best intrigue.
Inspector Agnes Luthi has made a focus switch in her police work, from financial crimes to violent crimes to make a fresh start after the sudden death of her husband three months prior. She is readying to go home from her beginning day when she takes a call about a woman found dead on the grounds of Chateau Vallotton. With a nasty ice and snow storm in the makings, a prediction of the storm of the century category, Agnes must choose whether to brave the elements to investigate. She accepts the challenge and soon finds herself in a closed world of wealth and secrecy cut off from the rest of civilization by the unyielding weather, with no electricity. She and two other police officers, along with those officers' guide, were the last to get through to Chateau Vallotton. The woman who was found dead in the snow and frozen to the ground is determined to be a murder victim, stabbed in the back. The dead woman's clothes are the first puzzle, as she is in a gown from the Napoleon era with a man's coat over it and boots that are too large for her. What was she doing out in such weather, so ill-prepared for the elements, so oddly clothed? Inspector Luthi faces a family not open with outsiders and scant evidence in trying to solve who among the family and friends had reason to kill Felicity Cowell, an appraiser for a London auction house working on the Vallotton art pieces. The chateau provides the perfect metaphor for the case, with its endless secret tunnels and hidden doors and staircases. Having discovered one secret door, another one pops up to distract from the right path.
While searching for answers in the past lives of the Chateau's residents, Agnes is still searching for her own answers in her own recent past concerning the death of her husband. The inspector has much to prove in solving this murder, to herself and those with whom she works. Even though Agnes struggles with her personal life, she doesn't let it interfere with the job she has been assigned. This character is troubled but strong, with a strength that must be admired, and is. The whole cast of characters that de Hahn creates are each interesting with their own back stories, that are deftly worked into the story line.
I am always delighted to get in on the ground floor of an exceptional mystery series, but the price to pay is that there is a wait for the next novel. I look forward to more from Tracee de Hahn in this new, solid series.
Inspector Agnes Luthi has made a focus switch in her police work, from financial crimes to violent crimes to make a fresh start after the sudden death of her husband three months prior. She is readying to go home from her beginning day when she takes a call about a woman found dead on the grounds of Chateau Vallotton. With a nasty ice and snow storm in the makings, a prediction of the storm of the century category, Agnes must choose whether to brave the elements to investigate. She accepts the challenge and soon finds herself in a closed world of wealth and secrecy cut off from the rest of civilization by the unyielding weather, with no electricity. She and two other police officers, along with those officers' guide, were the last to get through to Chateau Vallotton. The woman who was found dead in the snow and frozen to the ground is determined to be a murder victim, stabbed in the back. The dead woman's clothes are the first puzzle, as she is in a gown from the Napoleon era with a man's coat over it and boots that are too large for her. What was she doing out in such weather, so ill-prepared for the elements, so oddly clothed? Inspector Luthi faces a family not open with outsiders and scant evidence in trying to solve who among the family and friends had reason to kill Felicity Cowell, an appraiser for a London auction house working on the Vallotton art pieces. The chateau provides the perfect metaphor for the case, with its endless secret tunnels and hidden doors and staircases. Having discovered one secret door, another one pops up to distract from the right path.
While searching for answers in the past lives of the Chateau's residents, Agnes is still searching for her own answers in her own recent past concerning the death of her husband. The inspector has much to prove in solving this murder, to herself and those with whom she works. Even though Agnes struggles with her personal life, she doesn't let it interfere with the job she has been assigned. This character is troubled but strong, with a strength that must be admired, and is. The whole cast of characters that de Hahn creates are each interesting with their own back stories, that are deftly worked into the story line.
I am always delighted to get in on the ground floor of an exceptional mystery series, but the price to pay is that there is a wait for the next novel. I look forward to more from Tracee de Hahn in this new, solid series.
April 21, 2021
3-1/2 ⭐️ rounded down. Story was just not my fave.
What I loved about it: strong woman detective, Suisse setting, murder mystery. Good thriller. Some WWII information.
Cons: didn’t care that much for the narrator. I just couldn’t connect with her. The characters were all men so even though it had a strong female lead, focus was centered on various men, especially dealing with a Russian man and his history and complaining. Just not my preference.
What I loved about it: strong woman detective, Suisse setting, murder mystery. Good thriller. Some WWII information.
Cons: didn’t care that much for the narrator. I just couldn’t connect with her. The characters were all men so even though it had a strong female lead, focus was centered on various men, especially dealing with a Russian man and his history and complaining. Just not my preference.
February 4, 2017
I was excited to read a new European series in a country that I don't read much about, particularly as it started off with a traditional "locked room" mystery. However, I struggled and struggled to get through it. I sort of liked Agnes, although I felt like de Hahn focused too much on one aspect of her history/personality to the detriment of others. There were a lot of other characters between the two snowed-in houses that seemed awfully flat. And then the mystery just got way too over the top. There was definite potential, but I just wasn't buying it.
The fine print: received ARC from NetGalley.
The fine print: received ARC from NetGalley.
August 19, 2018
Tracee de Hahn is onto something with Agnes Luthi. De Hahn's books are well-written. She depicts the Switzerland I've visited in terms that ring true. Her characters are interesting, and I cheer for them as they struggle to face their challenges. This book contains some unexpected plot twists (regarding Luthi's late husband) that I did not see coming, and I appreciate the author's clever plotting.
De Hahn also writes beautifully, which makes the stories more enjoyable. I have pre-ordered her next book.
De Hahn also writes beautifully, which makes the stories more enjoyable. I have pre-ordered her next book.
February 8, 2018
4 stelle e mezza (e sono molto tentata di dare il massimo dei voti)
Non ho resistito a un giallo ambientato in Svizzera, non lontano da dove abitano i miei cugini...
Agnes è vedova da poco e si èappena trasferita dalla divisione che indaga i crimini finanziari a quella dei crimini violenti, quando si ritrova ad indagare, col solo aiuto del suo ex-capo e di un giovane gendarme, la misteriosa morta di una giovane. Tutto ciò è avvenuto in un castello ancora abitato da una nobile famiglia: mentre leggevo le numerose descrizioni di questo edificio mi veniva in mente un vero castello che sorge sullo stesso lago e che ho visto da bambina. Si può dire che si tratta di "un giallo della camera chiusa" perché tutti i vari protagonisti si ritrovano bloccati nel castello a causa di una bufera di neve. Devo confessare che la soluzione mi ha colta di sorpresa, ma ho apprezzato tutta la storia e come è raccontata. Leggerò sicuramente anche i libri seguenti di questa serie.
Non ho resistito a un giallo ambientato in Svizzera, non lontano da dove abitano i miei cugini...
Agnes è vedova da poco e si èappena trasferita dalla divisione che indaga i crimini finanziari a quella dei crimini violenti, quando si ritrova ad indagare, col solo aiuto del suo ex-capo e di un giovane gendarme, la misteriosa morta di una giovane. Tutto ciò è avvenuto in un castello ancora abitato da una nobile famiglia: mentre leggevo le numerose descrizioni di questo edificio mi veniva in mente un vero castello che sorge sullo stesso lago e che ho visto da bambina. Si può dire che si tratta di "un giallo della camera chiusa" perché tutti i vari protagonisti si ritrovano bloccati nel castello a causa di una bufera di neve. Devo confessare che la soluzione mi ha colta di sorpresa, ma ho apprezzato tutta la storia e come è raccontata. Leggerò sicuramente anche i libri seguenti di questa serie.
March 1, 2017
Swiss Vendetta: A Mystery is Tracee de Hahn’s debut novel. Inspector Agnes Luthi is with the police force in Lausanne, Switzerland. She has just transferred from financial crimes to the violent crimes unit. Agnes is trying to get away from the memories of her recently deceased husband and its associations with her former boss, Robert Carnat. A severe winter storm is blowing into the area when Agnes is called out to her first murder scene at Chateau Vallotton on the shores of Lac Leman. Agnes has extreme difficulty in getting to the location due to the storm, but she finally arrives. The body of Felicity Cowell was found near a bench outside the chateau. Felicity is dressed in a man’s coat and boots over a vintage evening dress. Felicity had been working at the chateau for the last few weeks evaluating art for the auction house she works for in London. The storm strands Agnes at Chateau Vallotton without cell phone reception and without power. Agnes tries to question the Vallotton family and their guests, but they are less than forthcoming. But, thanks to the storm, Agnes will have extra time to ferret out answers and clues to the killer’s identity. When Mimi, the six-year-old ward of Daniel Vallotton’s father, goes missing, Agnes will have to work quickly put together all the pieces to identify the perpetrator. Will she be able to catch the killer before he (or she) strikes again?
Swiss Vendetta has an interesting mystery and a unique setting. I had an extremely hard time, though, getting through this novel. It took be three attempts to finish it. The writing style is formal which makes for difficult reading. The author liked to use $10 words as my father called them (an example is imperturbability). The conversations between characters were awkward and stilted. The beginning of the book is slow as Agnes drives to the crime scene (I fell asleep twice). Then we are introduced to a litany of characters who I could not keep straight (I was finally starting to figure out who was who near the end). I wish the author had provided a pronunciation guide (it would be helpful). Agnes is a hard to character to like. It is understandable that Agnes is grieving the death of her husband, but it overpowered her (and not because of her love for him). She has two sons to consider, but Agnes is very focused on herself. We find out the circumstances surrounding the husband’s death in the second half of the book (if you can make it that far). Agnes was depressed which clouds her outlook (she bummed me out). I found some information to be repeated and there is quite a bit of speculation on Agnes’ part (since she is snowed in and lacking in evidence). The novel gets better towards the end of the book. I give Swiss Vendetta 2 out of 5 stars. Swiss Vendetta just felt flat and sorrowful.
Swiss Vendetta has an interesting mystery and a unique setting. I had an extremely hard time, though, getting through this novel. It took be three attempts to finish it. The writing style is formal which makes for difficult reading. The author liked to use $10 words as my father called them (an example is imperturbability). The conversations between characters were awkward and stilted. The beginning of the book is slow as Agnes drives to the crime scene (I fell asleep twice). Then we are introduced to a litany of characters who I could not keep straight (I was finally starting to figure out who was who near the end). I wish the author had provided a pronunciation guide (it would be helpful). Agnes is a hard to character to like. It is understandable that Agnes is grieving the death of her husband, but it overpowered her (and not because of her love for him). She has two sons to consider, but Agnes is very focused on herself. We find out the circumstances surrounding the husband’s death in the second half of the book (if you can make it that far). Agnes was depressed which clouds her outlook (she bummed me out). I found some information to be repeated and there is quite a bit of speculation on Agnes’ part (since she is snowed in and lacking in evidence). The novel gets better towards the end of the book. I give Swiss Vendetta 2 out of 5 stars. Swiss Vendetta just felt flat and sorrowful.
March 18, 2017
3.5 stars I rather enjoyed this debut mystery. It had a lot of good things going for it and a few that didn't work for me.
Read the blurb--it does a very good job of setting the scene..
What worked:
The heroine is great. I really liked Agnes. She is smart, brave, and an emotional wreck. She is barely coping with her husband's recent death; she misses her three young sons, whom she had to leave with her mother-in-law. To add to the stress, said MIL doesn't like Agnes. So, our Agnes comes with a lot of baggage.
The setting and secondary cast of characters: Oh my, it is all very Mary Stewart: Remote chateau, cut off by the ice storm--perfect setting for an gothic sort of mystery. We have the titled family, the visitors who are trapped at the chateau, the policeman, doctor, and a taciturn guide from the village, the staff of the chateau, and the dead woman: most of these people have secrets. But which one is the killer?
The mystery itself was nice and twisty--the author does a good job with the red herrings.
What didn't quite work:
I though the author tried to cram one sub-plot too many into the story. We had the death of Felicity Cowell plot, the WWII sub-plot, the Russian mafia mini-plot, as well as the sub-plot involving the death of Agnes's husband. I would have really scaled back on the husband sub-plot, as it had nothing to do with the murder, except for how it was affecting Agnes's state of mind.
There was a plot moppet, Mimi, who was not (to me) a real child. She was on hand to find the body and to be in the right place at the right time to let the reader realize who the killer is.
One final note--I read this during a snowstorm. Even though I was sitting nice and warm in a well-lit house, I kept getting colder and colder! The author did a great job of evoking the cold, dark chateau and all the ice and wind.
I did like the author's voice, I did like Agnes--I will definitely read the next.
Read the blurb--it does a very good job of setting the scene..
What worked:
The heroine is great. I really liked Agnes. She is smart, brave, and an emotional wreck. She is barely coping with her husband's recent death; she misses her three young sons, whom she had to leave with her mother-in-law. To add to the stress, said MIL doesn't like Agnes. So, our Agnes comes with a lot of baggage.
The setting and secondary cast of characters: Oh my, it is all very Mary Stewart: Remote chateau, cut off by the ice storm--perfect setting for an gothic sort of mystery. We have the titled family, the visitors who are trapped at the chateau, the policeman, doctor, and a taciturn guide from the village, the staff of the chateau, and the dead woman: most of these people have secrets. But which one is the killer?
The mystery itself was nice and twisty--the author does a good job with the red herrings.
What didn't quite work:
I though the author tried to cram one sub-plot too many into the story. We had the death of Felicity Cowell plot, the WWII sub-plot, the Russian mafia mini-plot, as well as the sub-plot involving the death of Agnes's husband. I would have really scaled back on the husband sub-plot, as it had nothing to do with the murder, except for how it was affecting Agnes's state of mind.
There was a plot moppet, Mimi, who was not (to me) a real child. She was on hand to find the body and to be in the right place at the right time to let the reader realize who the killer is.
One final note--I read this during a snowstorm. Even though I was sitting nice and warm in a well-lit house, I kept getting colder and colder! The author did a great job of evoking the cold, dark chateau and all the ice and wind.
I did like the author's voice, I did like Agnes--I will definitely read the next.
March 1, 2017
I’m always looking for new mystery authors to read, so after noticing positive reviews for this book in trade journals, I picked it up. It had everything I look for in a mystery: a unique setting (a chateau in Switzerland), a compelling sleuth, and a good puzzle. Agnes Luthi is a Swiss-American police inspector who is struggling with the recent suicide of her husband. Recently transferred from the financial crimes to the violent crimes division, she is sent to a grand chateau on Lac Leman, just outside Lausanne, to investigate a murder. Unfortunately for Agnes, Switzerland is in the middle of its worst ice storm in decades. She barely makes it to the chateau before the power goes out, roads are closed, and the chateau’s inhabitants are all trapped there. Thus begins de Hahn’s variation on the classic locked-room mystery.
The murder victim is a young British woman who has been appraising antiques at the castle. There is no shortage of possible suspects in residence: the wealthy Vallotton family who owns the chateau, some foreign guests staying for an extended period, or even the mysterious elderly Russian gentleman who lives in the mansion next door. As Agnes makes her way through the list of possible killers, she learns secrets from the past and some surprising facts about her own husband’s death. And the cold, both literal and figurative, that seeps into the chateau is almost palpable.
Hopefully this book is the start of a series; I’d like to see more of Agnes Luthi. Swiss Vendetta is a perfect read for a cold winter’s night.
The murder victim is a young British woman who has been appraising antiques at the castle. There is no shortage of possible suspects in residence: the wealthy Vallotton family who owns the chateau, some foreign guests staying for an extended period, or even the mysterious elderly Russian gentleman who lives in the mansion next door. As Agnes makes her way through the list of possible killers, she learns secrets from the past and some surprising facts about her own husband’s death. And the cold, both literal and figurative, that seeps into the chateau is almost palpable.
Hopefully this book is the start of a series; I’d like to see more of Agnes Luthi. Swiss Vendetta is a perfect read for a cold winter’s night.
September 19, 2016
Perfect for fans of Louise Penny. Newly reassigned to the Violent Crimes Swiss police unit (although this book is not gorey with details), Detective Agnes Luthi drives through the worst ice blizzard in years to a chateau to investigate a murder. The murdered woman was pricing the chateau's antiques collection and was seemingly little known by the inhabitants, a wealthy and reclusive family. This is a perfect locked-room mystery, with everyone trapped by the iced over and treacherous landscape inside a huge, historic chateau complete with hidden stairways, servants and a family with a very rich history. You'll want to sip a cup of hot chocolate while trying to figure out who did it along with Detective Luthi. There's sure to be a sequel.
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September 25, 2019Inspector Agnes Lüthi is trying to put the tragic past behind her and move on for the sake of her children and her career. She decides to take a position with the violent crimes division and her first case will make find her treading lightly as she deals with the powerful and aristocratic Vallotton family while at the same time dealing with the storm of the century which is crippling the surroundings.
Agnes goes to Château Vallotton to investigate the death of a young woman who was there to evaluate some of the family heirlooms on behalf of an auction house. When Agnes arrives she finds several things that immediately tell her this young woman was murdered but who could have possibly done this to her and why?
The snow is not letting up and the family members all seem to have secrets that Agnes must delicately reveal. She is herself is cut off from the police force as all communication is lost and the roads are impassable. She longs to speak with her children fearing that they need her more than ever being the only parent they have now after the suicide of her husband.
The story gets more complicated when a young ward to one of the residents of the Château Vallotton goes missing. As Frances looks for the young child she also begins to find more clues into the death of of the young woman.
If you like locked-room mysteries this is one for you. I loved the atmosphere of surrounded by all that snow and with all those rooms and doors to look through for clues. I thought Agnes was an strong character and would like to see her find more comfort as she tries to get past her husband’s death. All in all, a mystery series I’d like to continue to follow.
Agnes goes to Château Vallotton to investigate the death of a young woman who was there to evaluate some of the family heirlooms on behalf of an auction house. When Agnes arrives she finds several things that immediately tell her this young woman was murdered but who could have possibly done this to her and why?
The snow is not letting up and the family members all seem to have secrets that Agnes must delicately reveal. She is herself is cut off from the police force as all communication is lost and the roads are impassable. She longs to speak with her children fearing that they need her more than ever being the only parent they have now after the suicide of her husband.
The story gets more complicated when a young ward to one of the residents of the Château Vallotton goes missing. As Frances looks for the young child she also begins to find more clues into the death of of the young woman.
If you like locked-room mysteries this is one for you. I loved the atmosphere of surrounded by all that snow and with all those rooms and doors to look through for clues. I thought Agnes was an strong character and would like to see her find more comfort as she tries to get past her husband’s death. All in all, a mystery series I’d like to continue to follow.
May 18, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. Great first book in a series.
A take on a locked-room mystery (they were locked in and on the grounds of a chateau during an ice-storm), with a gothic feel (historic chateau with secret room and passages). The characters were very well developed - the main character, Agnes is a police officer who has recently transferred from financial crimes to homicide. She has her own history that floats beneath the surface of the greater mystery. She is smart, dedicated, determined, and not one to be walked on or told how to do her job. The side characters were also well developed. I especially liked the family at the chateau. It would have been easy to write them as snooty rich people but the author made them all more nuanced and real. Actually I really thought all the characters were well drawn, even if they were not necessarily likable.
The author did a great job describing the environment, and setting a tone of menace underlying the surface. They mystery was also very well done throughout with reveals coming at an appropriate pace. Very good book, and I have already purchased the second in the series.
A take on a locked-room mystery (they were locked in and on the grounds of a chateau during an ice-storm), with a gothic feel (historic chateau with secret room and passages). The characters were very well developed - the main character, Agnes is a police officer who has recently transferred from financial crimes to homicide. She has her own history that floats beneath the surface of the greater mystery. She is smart, dedicated, determined, and not one to be walked on or told how to do her job. The side characters were also well developed. I especially liked the family at the chateau. It would have been easy to write them as snooty rich people but the author made them all more nuanced and real. Actually I really thought all the characters were well drawn, even if they were not necessarily likable.
The author did a great job describing the environment, and setting a tone of menace underlying the surface. They mystery was also very well done throughout with reveals coming at an appropriate pace. Very good book, and I have already purchased the second in the series.
January 20, 2019
The summary is not totally accurate, but maybe close enough. I am not sure what "a magnetic mystery" means, but I really liked this story. Being set in Switzerland and having a new female detective as the main character was very interesting.
Agnes Luthi is still recovering from the death of her husband, but she is sent out to a grand chateau, in the storm of the century, to investigate a murder. Once she finally arrives, along with a local policeman and a few others, nobody else can make it in or out, including her boss. Power lines have been knocked down by wind and ice, so there is no electricity, cell phone service, heat other than the fireplaces, or electronic assistance. So her first murder case proves quite a challenge!
A young woman has been found on the grounds, outside in the storm, stabbed in the back. She was at the chateau inventorying priceless works of art and historical treasures. But as in all good mysteries, there is more than one plot-line occurring, and nobody obviously apparent to want her dead. I did not figure out who did it ahead of time, and the who and why is just part of the interest of the story.
Agnes Luthi is still recovering from the death of her husband, but she is sent out to a grand chateau, in the storm of the century, to investigate a murder. Once she finally arrives, along with a local policeman and a few others, nobody else can make it in or out, including her boss. Power lines have been knocked down by wind and ice, so there is no electricity, cell phone service, heat other than the fireplaces, or electronic assistance. So her first murder case proves quite a challenge!
A young woman has been found on the grounds, outside in the storm, stabbed in the back. She was at the chateau inventorying priceless works of art and historical treasures. But as in all good mysteries, there is more than one plot-line occurring, and nobody obviously apparent to want her dead. I did not figure out who did it ahead of time, and the who and why is just part of the interest of the story.
July 28, 2021
Tense and Atmospheric Debut
DeHahn has crafted a solid debut. The unique setting-an ice bound chateau in a village in the Swiss Alps- is peopled with equally compelling and unusual characters. The tension builds as one by one, everyone’s secrets are revealed.
DeHahn has crafted a solid debut. The unique setting-an ice bound chateau in a village in the Swiss Alps- is peopled with equally compelling and unusual characters. The tension builds as one by one, everyone’s secrets are revealed.
April 22, 2017
I loved the setting of this book and the complexity of the characters. Swiss Vendetta is a mystery of many intriguing layers and I enjoyed every one of them.
August 6, 2017
This mystery is set in a Swiss chateau. The author is an architect and she brings the house and the setting to life and it was all so fascinating. Reminded me of P.D. James. Loved it.
July 8, 2018
Loved the cover, amazing setting and architectural details but it needed more character development and interaction.
July 6, 2019
I enjoy a good old-fashioned mystery and Swiss Vendetta felt very retro and like it could have been written any time in the past 100 years. There is some modern technology but it is taken out of play early on and is never a factor in solving the crime. It's a larger scale "locked room" murder mystery with the suspects trapped by a storm in an isolated chateau in Switzerland. The characters are the super wealthy chateau owners and extended family, along with their servants and the police called in when the body is discovered. This went in a direction I wasn't expecting and an element of the story that I had thought was unimportant developed into the solution to the mystery. This was not a fast paced thriller by any means but rather a slow build as piece by piece it led to the conclusion. The ending wasn't a huge twist or anything shocking but it was ultimately satisfying.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was not my favourite. There were plenty of different accents and I thought that aspect was well done but the overall tone was a bit monotonous and flat. The story was straightforward and without too many characters and should have been good in audio but the execution on this one was lacking.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was not my favourite. There were plenty of different accents and I thought that aspect was well done but the overall tone was a bit monotonous and flat. The story was straightforward and without too many characters and should have been good in audio but the execution on this one was lacking.
August 10, 2017
A mystery set in a Swiss chateau, reminiscent of the mysteries of Mary Stewart and Daphne du Maurier.
April 8, 2018
I so enjoyed reading this, and look forward to reading more books in the series. Excellent character development, many twists and fascinating background revelations for the characters. Shades of Agatha Christi, but might I say even better?
March 7, 2023
Social justice and predictable.
March 5, 2017
I requested this book from netgalley because:
1. I'm on foreign mystery kick
2. Switzerland? It's the most mysterious and elusive culture in Europe! What's it like, really???
I'm surprised this is the first novel by de Hahn. It's very professional: it's both literary and fast-paced, every character and detail is essential to the conclusion, and I learned quite a bit.
The main character, Agnes, is a fascinating heroine. She is just returning to work after the loss of her husband. She is still reeling bc the motivation for his suicide is unknown. She has many obstacles: a new job in violent crimes, single mother to three boys, ever-present in-laws who blame her for their son's demise, and - most interesting - she is a Swiss citizen born to American parents - a fact that marks her as a stranger among her countrymen. On her first day back at work after 3 months of grieving she is called to a wealthy castle on Lake Geneva to investigate the death of a woman found frozen on the property. What should be an open and shut case is, of course, discovered to be a murder. This is just the intro - the characters are caught between two properties in an epic snow storm. No one can enter or leave. She has 4 days to discover the murderer. It reads like Poirot and every detail is important.
Yes there are many coincidences that help her along the way - but who cares? It's well written, and I enjoyed every page. Popcorn on a cold weekend. I can't wait to read the next installment.
1. I'm on foreign mystery kick
2. Switzerland? It's the most mysterious and elusive culture in Europe! What's it like, really???
I'm surprised this is the first novel by de Hahn. It's very professional: it's both literary and fast-paced, every character and detail is essential to the conclusion, and I learned quite a bit.
The main character, Agnes, is a fascinating heroine. She is just returning to work after the loss of her husband. She is still reeling bc the motivation for his suicide is unknown. She has many obstacles: a new job in violent crimes, single mother to three boys, ever-present in-laws who blame her for their son's demise, and - most interesting - she is a Swiss citizen born to American parents - a fact that marks her as a stranger among her countrymen. On her first day back at work after 3 months of grieving she is called to a wealthy castle on Lake Geneva to investigate the death of a woman found frozen on the property. What should be an open and shut case is, of course, discovered to be a murder. This is just the intro - the characters are caught between two properties in an epic snow storm. No one can enter or leave. She has 4 days to discover the murderer. It reads like Poirot and every detail is important.
Yes there are many coincidences that help her along the way - but who cares? It's well written, and I enjoyed every page. Popcorn on a cold weekend. I can't wait to read the next installment.
February 22, 2017
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.
Agnes Luthi, an Inspector in Switzerland, finds herself trapped in a mansion with a blizzard and a murderer. She must put aside the feelings she is still struggling with following the death of her husband, and figure out who among the many family members and guests committed the crime.
I love mysteries set in isolated settings, so I was immediately drawn to this. It doesn't get much better, creepier, or more mysterious than a mansion no outsiders ever get to enter, snowed by a massive blizzard.
I also really liked that the main detective was a strong, smart, complex woman.
This book tried to do too much. There were so many characters and storylines it was hard to keep them all straight, and many plot points felt like they came out of left field because so much else was going on.
I wanted to love this book, but I just didn't. There was way too much going on, and the solution to the mystery, while interesting, just wasn't strong enough to carry the book.
Agnes Luthi, an Inspector in Switzerland, finds herself trapped in a mansion with a blizzard and a murderer. She must put aside the feelings she is still struggling with following the death of her husband, and figure out who among the many family members and guests committed the crime.
I love mysteries set in isolated settings, so I was immediately drawn to this. It doesn't get much better, creepier, or more mysterious than a mansion no outsiders ever get to enter, snowed by a massive blizzard.
I also really liked that the main detective was a strong, smart, complex woman.
This book tried to do too much. There were so many characters and storylines it was hard to keep them all straight, and many plot points felt like they came out of left field because so much else was going on.
I wanted to love this book, but I just didn't. There was way too much going on, and the solution to the mystery, while interesting, just wasn't strong enough to carry the book.
February 23, 2017
interesting locked room style mystery complete with WWII history and really rich people. I liked Agnes and would enjoy reading another mystery with her. This bogged down for me in the middle, in part because I was having a hard time visualizing the chateau and its grounds and in part because there were some red herrings that led more or less no where. Some of the characters were better fleshed out than others but I was left wondering about those (like- who were Mimi's parents?) Admirable debut- looking forward to more.
February 25, 2017
This is a straightforward, well-written whodunit. The setting is an ancient Swiss family home in the midle of "one of the worst ice storms in Switzerland", Agnes Luthi's first case back at work is to solve the murder of a young woman employed by the Valloton family. De Hahn weaves a riveting story that ties murder, mystery, love and loss in a neatly tied package. Her attention to detail allows for subtle clues that lead an observant reader to guess the identity of the murderer befor ethe climax, but doesnn't take away from the 'a-ha' moment.
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