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Bed-and-Breakfast Mysteries #14
Legs Benedict
A week of "mayhem-as-usual" at Hillside Manor kicks off with the arrival of a mysterious "Mr. Smith" and his floozie "Mrs." from New York City—and it accelerates into chaos when Mr. Smith himself kicks off, a victim of the foulest of plays. Hostess Judith McMonigle Flynn is shocked to learn that her now-defunct roomer was actually "Legs" Benedict—hit man for the notorious Ronzini Family—and that virtually every other guests at her B&B had good reason to want Legs broken. Judith's policeman-hubby Joe is understandably peeved that homicide happened (again!) under his own roof. And when the FBI moves in—more interested in nabbing a Nazi nutcase than a malicious mobster murderer—the local cops clear out, leaving Judith, Joe and irrepressible cousin Renie to find out who whacked the wiseguy before the hits keep coming.
279 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 31, 1998
31 people are currently reading
473 people want to read
About the author
Mary Daheim
94 books441 followersMary Rene Richardson Daheim was an American writer of romance and mystery novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 9, 2020
A fun little puzzle where you needed a scorecard to keep up with all the relationships and interactions if you wanted to keep them straight. There was enough laugh-out-loud farce to be entertaining, but not enough suspense or believability to be at all stressful; the obligatory murders were not in the least gruesome or shocking.
I am not the biggest fan of farce, so I kept putting it down in favor of more compelling reads, but it was the perfect book to have along for odd moments of waiting for cars to be repaired or kids to finish appointments.
I am not the biggest fan of farce, so I kept putting it down in favor of more compelling reads, but it was the perfect book to have along for odd moments of waiting for cars to be repaired or kids to finish appointments.
July 8, 2016
3.5 Stars. I enjoyed this entry in the series although I agreed with Judith that she was a little off, even I caught on to some things before she did. You almost needed a score card to keep track of everyone since no one was who they claimed to be and there were lots of subplots going on with the guests. It was fun having a book set on Heraldsgate Hill since it seems like it's been a while since I was at the B&B.
January 7, 2017
Too many characters and to many plots.
June 11, 2019
What started out as a promising cozy mystery turned into a ridiculously complicated mess of a story.
December 20, 2021
I give it 4 stars under the assumption that the author tied up all the loose ends, because frankly this was do complicated, with nobody being who they said they were, that I lost track!
July 8, 2024
My Analysis
I’m not sure where to begin with this. Good stuff, then the problems? Sure.
Good stuff – At first I thought that so many characters (and there were a lot of them…a LOT of characters) would be a problem. Too many characters means keeping everyone straight. However, I think the author did a good job of doing so. Plus, with so many suspects, all with secrets (and no spoiler here, EVERYONE had secrets) are what’s fun to unravel. The author sprinkled around a lot of minor clues that the reader had to remember from the beginning to the end. Some of the catches were easy. Come on, no spoiler here that the FBI who questions Gertrude is NOT real. But who he really is takes some thinking.
And the intricate puzzle that Daheim puts forth, further confusing with every chapter is just amazing. How she can conceive the complexities is wonderful.
I enjoyed the character development, as temporary as they may be, of Gertrude and Renie.
Problems –
I obtained this book a long time ago. I don’t remember where, probably part of a used ko sale. A little cozy mystery attracted me. I didn’t realize until I started this book, that Daheim has been a prolific writer. She’s written well over 60 books, including an A to Z series with her Alpine series. In fact, she finished the Z title and started over.
My point here is that she can write, but OMG, can we stop with the “ly” adverbs all over the place? How about tag lines that aren’t tag lines? Stop with tag lines that run on to tell what the the character is doing.
“Go into the house,” she said, standing and walking across to the car and getting inside to retrieve her coffee cup.
Okay, not a real example, but showing the type of sentences that are in every conversation.
Maybe this was written back when editors weren’t too worried. Maybe she is in the category of published authors where editors will ignore there egregious mistakes because they know the book will sell.
I will read more of her work, but will not be able to ignore the weaker writing.
Still, it was enjoyable Because of the problems the rank will drop from Blue to:
Purple Belt
I’m not sure where to begin with this. Good stuff, then the problems? Sure.
Good stuff – At first I thought that so many characters (and there were a lot of them…a LOT of characters) would be a problem. Too many characters means keeping everyone straight. However, I think the author did a good job of doing so. Plus, with so many suspects, all with secrets (and no spoiler here, EVERYONE had secrets) are what’s fun to unravel. The author sprinkled around a lot of minor clues that the reader had to remember from the beginning to the end. Some of the catches were easy. Come on, no spoiler here that the FBI who questions Gertrude is NOT real. But who he really is takes some thinking.
And the intricate puzzle that Daheim puts forth, further confusing with every chapter is just amazing. How she can conceive the complexities is wonderful.
I enjoyed the character development, as temporary as they may be, of Gertrude and Renie.
Problems –
I obtained this book a long time ago. I don’t remember where, probably part of a used ko sale. A little cozy mystery attracted me. I didn’t realize until I started this book, that Daheim has been a prolific writer. She’s written well over 60 books, including an A to Z series with her Alpine series. In fact, she finished the Z title and started over.
My point here is that she can write, but OMG, can we stop with the “ly” adverbs all over the place? How about tag lines that aren’t tag lines? Stop with tag lines that run on to tell what the the character is doing.
“Go into the house,” she said, standing and walking across to the car and getting inside to retrieve her coffee cup.
Okay, not a real example, but showing the type of sentences that are in every conversation.
Maybe this was written back when editors weren’t too worried. Maybe she is in the category of published authors where editors will ignore there egregious mistakes because they know the book will sell.
I will read more of her work, but will not be able to ignore the weaker writing.
Still, it was enjoyable Because of the problems the rank will drop from Blue to:
Purple Belt
August 18, 2017
If you like cozy mysteries then this is a book you will enjoy. Mary Daheim wrote several books with Judith and her cousin Renie featured. Judith runs a bed and breakfast. Odd things have happened there and will again. The guests this time seem to be a little odd and when one of them turns up dead, Judith feels responsible for bringing the killer to justice.
July 24, 2018
These are a series of cozie mysteries. If you are expecting accurate police procedures, riveting spine chilling mysteries you’ll be disappointed. But if you want a relaxing murder mystery filled with humor and relationships. Then this is the series for you!
These books never disappoint!
These books never disappoint!
May 27, 2019
“Legs Benedict” was a confusing read for me. The multiple story lines and characters with aliases made it difficult to follow. The storylines had potential but I just could not connect with the characters.
March 15, 2020
So many great characters. Great book. I am a sticker for reading book series from the beginning to end . However I found some of these books at different times. I still enjoyed them all even out of order. Great cozy mysteries.
February 4, 2023
This story "Legs Benedict" by Mary Daheim is the January author for the Cozy Mystery group of Good Reads. The creative characters, Northwest setting, and a 1999 ending will have readers wondering if her other books are crafted in the same manner. copy right 1999 279 pages
July 15, 2018
I wrote a review for this but the new version of the mobile app doesn't save both the rating and the review. Note to self, save rating and then come back in to do the review.
August 23, 2018
Ok
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2019
I always get a kick out of these bed and breakfast mysteries. I always like to see what the cousins are up to. Judith and Renie are funny.
July 6, 2020
Quick, light, cozy mystery. I used to read this series many years ago and picked up a couple recently from half price books.
August 15, 2020
Great early entry in this series! Really enjoyed this one.
September 15, 2023
Entertaining. I'd read another in this series.
Read
October 26, 2023We picked this up in a 5 dollar bags when menaul book exchange was going out of business. I gave up on page 118 of 279.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2024
Great story.!
April 26, 2025
Judith finds out her guests at her Bed-and-Breakfast are part of the Mob. Judith and Renie are busy trying to find out who killed one of her guests. Be sure and read this book, it's crazy as usual.
June 8, 2025
Hard on my Labrador mama heart, but it was good! Would read others from this series!
October 29, 2025
too confusing with the surplus of names- didn't enjoy this one
July 24, 2016
I have an affinity for cozy mysteries. They generally aren't written in pursuit of a spot on the bestseller list; rather, cozies are written to give the reader a sense of comfort and calm (ironically, by way of murder).
My mom read cozies to escape her three eccentric young daughters and grumpy husband: one daughter, the artist, painted five-foot tall green flowers on the side of the freshly painted rental when she was four; the adventurous daughter asked which way north was, and was found by neighbors five hours later walking up the beach, wearing a backpack, in pursuit of Santa in the North Pole (we lived on an island--she wasn't the brightest of the three of us); and the oldest daughter (that would be I) caused her first-year kindergarten teacher to quit by demanding that all classroom toy soldiers and toy weapons be removed from the classroom so that her classmates would not become violent adults, and that the teacher immediately stop smoking on her breaks because she would surely die of lung cancer. As to my mother's husband, he had some strange notion that feeding 40 stray cats, a stray goat, a duck, and 4 turtles (not stray) out of a 2-bedroom apartment was odd. He also became irrationally upset when the cat gave birth in his shoe. So you see, for my mother, it was either read a cozy or drink (or possibly dispose of the children and husband).
Years later, when my grandmother came to live with us (bigger house, different country, revolving pet door, dad retired and usually lost in Best Buy, girls now goth, theater geek, and raver) we slowly replaced her true crime books with cozies in order to keep her from roaming the house at night after taking her pain pills, looking for the Son of Sam whilst armed with a shoe horn.
And all this is how I came to read cozies myself, because they were always there to help me escape my crazy family, you could carry on a screaming match with a sibling and not miss much in the book, and thanks to grandma's Dahmer intervention, there were always a shitload in the house. (Serious reading was done away from the insane people.)
My mom read cozies to escape her three eccentric young daughters and grumpy husband: one daughter, the artist, painted five-foot tall green flowers on the side of the freshly painted rental when she was four; the adventurous daughter asked which way north was, and was found by neighbors five hours later walking up the beach, wearing a backpack, in pursuit of Santa in the North Pole (we lived on an island--she wasn't the brightest of the three of us); and the oldest daughter (that would be I) caused her first-year kindergarten teacher to quit by demanding that all classroom toy soldiers and toy weapons be removed from the classroom so that her classmates would not become violent adults, and that the teacher immediately stop smoking on her breaks because she would surely die of lung cancer. As to my mother's husband, he had some strange notion that feeding 40 stray cats, a stray goat, a duck, and 4 turtles (not stray) out of a 2-bedroom apartment was odd. He also became irrationally upset when the cat gave birth in his shoe. So you see, for my mother, it was either read a cozy or drink (or possibly dispose of the children and husband).
Years later, when my grandmother came to live with us (bigger house, different country, revolving pet door, dad retired and usually lost in Best Buy, girls now goth, theater geek, and raver) we slowly replaced her true crime books with cozies in order to keep her from roaming the house at night after taking her pain pills, looking for the Son of Sam whilst armed with a shoe horn.
And all this is how I came to read cozies myself, because they were always there to help me escape my crazy family, you could carry on a screaming match with a sibling and not miss much in the book, and thanks to grandma's Dahmer intervention, there were always a shitload in the house. (Serious reading was done away from the insane people.)
April 13, 2011
Judith run's a lovely bed and breakfest, but some how always get's involved in murders some how. But with the help of her cousin Renie and her cop husband joe they always figure it out in the end.
This time her B&B is over run with mobsters. And people that seem nice but arn't. Also while all this is going on her son Mike is about to have a baby and she has to deal with her old mother, who is a bit of a pain in the but.
A hit man from the mod gets killed, then a FBI agent comes and thinks that her mother is a nazi war criminal. One of her guests gets arrest for the murder of the other guest. A couple of the guests disaper and in the end the murder is the person you would least expect and for a reason that had nothing to do with the mob.
This time her B&B is over run with mobsters. And people that seem nice but arn't. Also while all this is going on her son Mike is about to have a baby and she has to deal with her old mother, who is a bit of a pain in the but.
A hit man from the mod gets killed, then a FBI agent comes and thinks that her mother is a nazi war criminal. One of her guests gets arrest for the murder of the other guest. A couple of the guests disaper and in the end the murder is the person you would least expect and for a reason that had nothing to do with the mob.
April 1, 2013
Didn't one of the previous books in this series have the housekeeper smoking as well? Maybe it was a different book, but I could have sworn it was this series. I remember being taken aback by it, especially when she stated the Bible said nothing about smoking, just drinking.
Also, Judith used to serve rum punch in the summer, but now says she never serves liquor? Um, okay...
I have to say, this has been one of my favorite books of the series. The mysteries were woven together very well. The hijinks were funny and slightly absurd but in that "truth is stranger than fiction" way instead of "I'm trying too hard to be confusing" way. I just really liked this one a lot.
Also, Judith used to serve rum punch in the summer, but now says she never serves liquor? Um, okay...
I have to say, this has been one of my favorite books of the series. The mysteries were woven together very well. The hijinks were funny and slightly absurd but in that "truth is stranger than fiction" way instead of "I'm trying too hard to be confusing" way. I just really liked this one a lot.
June 12, 2009
The new guests at Judith Flynn's bed and breakfast seem rather odd--for one thing, some of them seem to be previously acquainted, although none of them will admit it. But the last thing that Judith expects is for the Mob to drop by. No, actually, the last thing she expects is for an FBI man to arrive and claim that Judith's elderly mother was a concentration camp guard!
April 10, 2008
I read this book after my husband did and if you like a good mystery this was an awesome book! I really would like to read more of her books, but our Library is very limited! If anyone can tell me where I can find the rest of her books to buy or check out that would be awesome!
October 3, 2009
#14 in the bed-and-breakfast mystery series with Seattle inn keeper Judith Flynn and her cousin Renie Jones. This one has a cast of characters with guests and neighbors, murder, and confusing identities as she works through the various clues to help solve what happened.
February 28, 2011
I found a bunch of these B&B mysteries at my local used bookstore, so I keep dipping into them instead of Bill Bryson's book. I am reading BB's book, but these keep me entertained instead of challenging my feeble brain cells.
January 22, 2016
Judith McMonigle Flynn and her cousin Renie are up to their usual tricks trying to solve a murder and keep Judith's bed and breakfast afloat. The series is an over all good read. Some are better than others.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews