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Stratford Upon Avondale Mystery #2
Come, Bitter Poison
Sexy film star. Long-held secrets. Murder by poison.
When international stage and film star Miles Elliot comes to Stratford Upon Avondale to play Macbeth, Maggie O’Flynn is thrilled. He’s been her actor crush for years. But when Miles ends up at the center of a murder investigation Maggie finds herself slipping back into the role of amateur sleuth. Before long many of her friends become suspects in not just one murder, but two. Maggie must discover who’s poisoning people associated with the Shakespeare Festival before one of her friends gets slapped with a murder charge. And she must do so while dodging paparazzi that are stalking her due to a supposed love affair she’s having with Miles Elliot.
With a bit of Shakespeare, copious amounts of tea, and a faux-English setting to rival anything the real England has to offer, COME, BITTER POISON is the second book in THE STRATFORD UPON AVONDALE mystery series. Though part of a series, COME, BITTER POISON can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. Lovers of cozy mysteries will find a cozy home in Stratford Upon Avondale.
When international stage and film star Miles Elliot comes to Stratford Upon Avondale to play Macbeth, Maggie O’Flynn is thrilled. He’s been her actor crush for years. But when Miles ends up at the center of a murder investigation Maggie finds herself slipping back into the role of amateur sleuth. Before long many of her friends become suspects in not just one murder, but two. Maggie must discover who’s poisoning people associated with the Shakespeare Festival before one of her friends gets slapped with a murder charge. And she must do so while dodging paparazzi that are stalking her due to a supposed love affair she’s having with Miles Elliot.
With a bit of Shakespeare, copious amounts of tea, and a faux-English setting to rival anything the real England has to offer, COME, BITTER POISON is the second book in THE STRATFORD UPON AVONDALE mystery series. Though part of a series, COME, BITTER POISON can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. Lovers of cozy mysteries will find a cozy home in Stratford Upon Avondale.
- GenresMysteryCozy MysteryCozy
233 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 8, 2016
118 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 26, 2024
Edited to add that some titles in this series are available on Kindle Unlimited but don't know for how long.
Rated 3 stars. #2 in the Stratford Upon Avondale cozy, contemporary mystery series set in a fictional village in America. Not great literature although I'm becoming very fond of the main character, Maggie, and her "possible" love interest, Nate. I was fortunate to get the first 5 in this series when they were free. Only #1 is free as of date of this review.
This is a series to read if you want a quick, easy read and aren't bothered by the occasional editing error. I'm looking forward to reading #3.
Rated 3 stars. #2 in the Stratford Upon Avondale cozy, contemporary mystery series set in a fictional village in America. Not great literature although I'm becoming very fond of the main character, Maggie, and her "possible" love interest, Nate. I was fortunate to get the first 5 in this series when they were free. Only #1 is free as of date of this review.
This is a series to read if you want a quick, easy read and aren't bothered by the occasional editing error. I'm looking forward to reading #3.
March 9, 2019
If murder can make you giggle then this one does! Maggie, ex-novice Nun and now the owner of a tea shop is thrilled that she will finally get to meet and greet one of her screen idols, Miles Elliot is going to be playing the part of Macbeth in the play of the same name and Darius, her actor friend, has invited her to be his guest at the meal to welcome him (Darius is an old friend of Miles from back when they both lived in England), at the meal Maggie manages to upset the lovies by naming Macbeth rather than calling it the Scottish Play, she doesn't believe that this will bring a curse upon peoples heads but she is forced to eat her words when the person sitting next to her dies rather dramatically! With Miles being suspect #1 she needs to put her sleuthing skills to work again to find out who is the Stratford Upon Avondale poisoner.
August 11, 2021
Book 2 of Monica Knightley's cozy mystery series revisits Stratford Upon Avondale, the charming northwestern town with a Shakespeare vibe. Ex-novice nun, romance writer, and tea room owner Maggie O'Flynn has once again involved herself in a murder investigation.
Book 2 picks up where Book 1, Alas, She Drowned, left off. The author skillfully recaps the happenings of the first book in this story, with just enough detail to bring the reader up to speed without overhwelming the current mystery. This new installment holds its own, but I do have to say I guessed who the killer was, which hardly ever happens. I don't think that's a good thing; I wanted to be fooled. Still, the story is worth your time, as is the series. I'll most likely read the books the follow over coming months; as of this writing there are eight more book.
August 26, 2016
While attending a reception dinner the man sitting next to Maggie O’Flynn dies - poisoned. But this is not the last one, what is the connection between the deaths.
This one didn't catch my imagination unfortunately
This one didn't catch my imagination unfortunately
June 6, 2019
Second in the series, but it can stand alone. Was OK - Seriously, who doesn't know the Macbeth curse thing??! Liked a lot of the secondary characters better than Maggie. She has an interesting backstory, but she's a bit too...I don't know...not as old as she needs to be to be really interesting? Would probably read more, if only for the secondary characters and the Shakespeare reference....Again, it was OK.
August 19, 2020
A great read
I love the quirky “sleuth”. I feel like I’m there without feeling like I’m drowning in details. Just when I get thought I had I figured out, some little tid bit of info would pop up and make me wonder.
Very rarely do I buy books - I usually stick with the free one, but every so often I will find a series that is worth spending the money on. This series is one of those.
I love the quirky “sleuth”. I feel like I’m there without feeling like I’m drowning in details. Just when I get thought I had I figured out, some little tid bit of info would pop up and make me wonder.
Very rarely do I buy books - I usually stick with the free one, but every so often I will find a series that is worth spending the money on. This series is one of those.
July 2, 2018
The mystery intrigued me enough to keep reading to find out whodunit. I found it rather implausible that the sex symbol movie star couldn't talk to Maggie without the paparazzi chasing them, but he had a secret life that he had kept hidden. Finding out the murderers was disappointing--not who this reader wanted to be the bad guys.
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March 1, 2020This is a wonderful book!
Secrets and unexpected twists make this story a winner! The writer does a fine job of entertaining the reader. There's a little bit of everything in this clever series, but nothing too graphic that might offend sensitive tastes. Well done, and on to the next book!
Secrets and unexpected twists make this story a winner! The writer does a fine job of entertaining the reader. There's a little bit of everything in this clever series, but nothing too graphic that might offend sensitive tastes. Well done, and on to the next book!
March 7, 2017
i am really enjoying the stratford upon avondale set of books.
looking forward to more of ms. knightly's excellent mysteries. i don't like having to write a certain amount of words before you accept the review. that is why i don't write reviews often.
looking forward to more of ms. knightly's excellent mysteries. i don't like having to write a certain amount of words before you accept the review. that is why i don't write reviews often.
June 20, 2018
Excitement was in the air, the town famous actor, would be the lead. For Maggie it was a crush for years , and soon rumors will abound of a love affair. Then a murder during the festival, once again she is an amateur sleuth. Nice enjoyable read.
November 3, 2018
Just a fun, lighthearted read, especially if you like British culture! I’m in grad school and have been reading heavy books; this book was the perfect mental detox. If you just need a nice distraction, the Stratford-Upon-Avondale series is it!
January 2, 2022
I enjoyed reading this story!
Monica, you spend an excellent amount of time making sure we know your characters as "real" people and the possibility that the story is a true one! I shall look forward to more of your books
Monica, you spend an excellent amount of time making sure we know your characters as "real" people and the possibility that the story is a true one! I shall look forward to more of your books
October 2, 2017
Kept me guessing
Fun setting and characters. Some of the heroine's internal dialogue and actions made me laugh out loud. I'll be back for the next book!
Fun setting and characters. Some of the heroine's internal dialogue and actions made me laugh out loud. I'll be back for the next book!
November 11, 2017
Poison
What a wonderful story. The characters were so interesting. I liked how the story was so well written. I hated for the story to end.
What a wonderful story. The characters were so interesting. I liked how the story was so well written. I hated for the story to end.
April 14, 2018
Fantastic
Once again, a truly incredible book. I enjoyed it at least as much as number one in the series. Recommended!
Once again, a truly incredible book. I enjoyed it at least as much as number one in the series. Recommended!
October 27, 2018
Enjoyed it and now reading the best in the series.
April 2, 2019
Lots of suspects in this murder mystery. I liked the way the author developed her characters.
July 16, 2020
The Scottish Play
I loved it. Maggie is such fun, it’s lighthearted and bubbly, her friends are so loyal. Cosy as it’s described...
I loved it. Maggie is such fun, it’s lighthearted and bubbly, her friends are so loyal. Cosy as it’s described...
April 23, 2021
3+. Good mystery, definitely a couple of things that pulled me out of the story, but overall very enjoyable.
June 22, 2016
Ah yes, "The Scottish Play". I've only heard that it is applicable when people are in a theatre building, but there are varied interpretations of the curse. All I really remember is that it involves turning around a couple of times and spitting a couple of times. But the mention of the word "M" can send believers into a tizzy and perhaps cause others with nefarious plans to take advantage of the situation that results.
Such is the case with Come, Bitter Poison, by new-to-me author Monica Knightley. I was a bit confused at one point, because after Maggie triggered the curse by saying that word during a welcome dinner for the actors, and her learning (and performing) the slightly embarrassing curse removal ritual ... well, she must have forgotten about all that because when it is brought up later, she seems not to know once again.
There's a bit of fun for Mags when Miles (famous stage and movie star and sex symbol) squires her around town. Maggie has had a star crush on Miles for years, and it is like a dream come true. Until the paparazzi find out and begin following her around town, disrupting her life and her business. There's also another tall, dark and handsome in town with interest in Maggie, so her romantic plate is f.u.l.l.!
Maggie's friends, both the old ones and the new ones are under suspicion of a murder at the theatre. And if that wasn't enough, there's another murder in town, of a man with ties to the theatre as well. So our intrepid heroine gets to work on two mysteries as well! (I guess this is Maggie's book for two-fers, eh?)
It's no secret I love the theatre and am obsessed with all things Scottish. What you may not know is that my favorite playwright EVER is William Shakespeare. All three of them are in Come, Bitter Poison, so I was pretty stoked to begin with. Even better, the book lived up to its promise; I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and can't wait to get back to Stratford-upon-Avondale!
Now that my own fandom has been established I charge the book Come Bitter Poison ... to "do thy work" so more readers can enjoy a great series!
(Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.)
Such is the case with Come, Bitter Poison, by new-to-me author Monica Knightley. I was a bit confused at one point, because after Maggie triggered the curse by saying that word during a welcome dinner for the actors, and her learning (and performing) the slightly embarrassing curse removal ritual ... well, she must have forgotten about all that because when it is brought up later, she seems not to know once again.
There's a bit of fun for Mags when Miles (famous stage and movie star and sex symbol) squires her around town. Maggie has had a star crush on Miles for years, and it is like a dream come true. Until the paparazzi find out and begin following her around town, disrupting her life and her business. There's also another tall, dark and handsome in town with interest in Maggie, so her romantic plate is f.u.l.l.!
Maggie's friends, both the old ones and the new ones are under suspicion of a murder at the theatre. And if that wasn't enough, there's another murder in town, of a man with ties to the theatre as well. So our intrepid heroine gets to work on two mysteries as well! (I guess this is Maggie's book for two-fers, eh?)
It's no secret I love the theatre and am obsessed with all things Scottish. What you may not know is that my favorite playwright EVER is William Shakespeare. All three of them are in Come, Bitter Poison, so I was pretty stoked to begin with. Even better, the book lived up to its promise; I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and can't wait to get back to Stratford-upon-Avondale!
Now that my own fandom has been established I charge the book Come Bitter Poison ... to "do thy work" so more readers can enjoy a great series!
(Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.)
May 8, 2016
Good book
I enjoyed reading all about Maggie and her adventures. She is quite the character but I think she needs another boyfriend.
I enjoyed reading all about Maggie and her adventures. She is quite the character but I think she needs another boyfriend.
August 31, 2016
Not a bad cozy mystery. Quick and light read.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews