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Angel Lake Mystery #3
The Sour Taste of Suspicion
A murder mystery surrounding a miniature dollhouse. When Elise takes a position at spooky old Montgomery Manor as companion to her friend Lavina’s great aunt, she’s expecting an easy job for the holidays. What she doesn’t expect are dead bodies, ghosts and a murderer who’s picked her as the next target. Delving into the secrets and tragedies of the past, her only clue is a doll’s house from which pieces keep mysteriously disappearing. But what is the connection between the doll’s house and the real one? Is Montgomery Manor really haunted, or is there something even more sinister afoot? Elise will have to use all her all her ingenuity to answer the questions—and fast, or she just might find she’s the house’s newest ghost
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 4, 2016
644 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
August 24, 2019
..
This cozy little mystery is the third in the series 'Walking Calamity'. It includes a handful of delightfully quirky characters which were amiable and each had their own distinct personalities.
The only thing worse than a ship overrun with Elvis Impersonators is having to find the missing one. And the killer is out to find you.
However, I did not enjoy the unusual names that often cause a reader to pause and get distracted from the experience.
When Elise Pepper decides to take a long-overdue vacation, she discovers that her Caribbean cruise isn’t going to be quite the relaxing trip she’d hoped for.
Instead of enjoying a quiet getaway, she finds herself in the middle of a theme party. Who knew there were so many Elvises and Marilyn Monroes in the world?
I found this book more enjoyable than the first book of the series.
But when an Elvis goes missing and it turns out he was a wealthy philanthropist Elise is dragged into the mystery as the last person to see him.
The mystery was intermittently captivating, but not overly . . . clues scattered about for the reader to discover.
As she tries to convince everybody of what she saw, her frustration turns to fear when she realizes that she’s trapped on board with a killer who will stop at nothing to silence her.
This is a clean and wholesome book that is able to stand on its own and concludes with a H.E.A.
"5.0 out of 5 stars-A fun book with a cast of quirky characters and a great mystery"
"Easy to read hard to put down. There was an intriguing plotline with humor throughout, loveable characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery." "Must read!"--Amazon reviewers
..
This cozy little mystery is the third in the series 'Walking Calamity'. It includes a handful of delightfully quirky characters which were amiable and each had their own distinct personalities.
The only thing worse than a ship overrun with Elvis Impersonators is having to find the missing one. And the killer is out to find you.
However, I did not enjoy the unusual names that often cause a reader to pause and get distracted from the experience.
When Elise Pepper decides to take a long-overdue vacation, she discovers that her Caribbean cruise isn’t going to be quite the relaxing trip she’d hoped for.
Instead of enjoying a quiet getaway, she finds herself in the middle of a theme party. Who knew there were so many Elvises and Marilyn Monroes in the world?
I found this book more enjoyable than the first book of the series.
But when an Elvis goes missing and it turns out he was a wealthy philanthropist Elise is dragged into the mystery as the last person to see him.
The mystery was intermittently captivating, but not overly . . . clues scattered about for the reader to discover.
As she tries to convince everybody of what she saw, her frustration turns to fear when she realizes that she’s trapped on board with a killer who will stop at nothing to silence her.
This is a clean and wholesome book that is able to stand on its own and concludes with a H.E.A.
"5.0 out of 5 stars-A fun book with a cast of quirky characters and a great mystery"
"Easy to read hard to put down. There was an intriguing plotline with humor throughout, loveable characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery." "Must read!"--Amazon reviewers
..
December 7, 2016
Monday December 5 brought so much snow that it afforded me a much needed reading break from the packing and the moving. I settled down into the couch and read every word cover to cover and I loved it. This was by far my most favorite book in the series and I found it the most interesting story line. I love a good paranormal mystery as you know and while this was not at all a paranormal mystery, I did love the "ghost story" that CeeCee tells. When all was revealed at the end I did not fully suspect the killer, nor had I picked up on all the subtle clues that CeeCee left in the book, at the big reveal I was actually pretty shocked and really impressed. Loved the tiny details in this one and I had no trouble at all picturing the setting, from the "dust" to the tiny doll house and the tormented lady of the house this was a great story to curl up with for sure!
January 1, 2017
Is Myrtle over 100?
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are easy to understand and likeable and story line was quirky enough not to be predictable.
Since this book wasn't the first in the series I was a little lost on the basics but the story was so good from the start I had no desire to stop and read the first in the series, I'll read that next.
My hang up was Elise being a companion to Myrtle, a feisty little old lady. Now here's the rub. Elise finds her 2x's great grandmother's diary hidden in the house. The diary is dated 1917 when Myrtle is 8 yrs old. That means she would have been born in 1911 or so. She has children in their 30's . And the story takes place now, cell phones and all. For some reason that drove me nuts. I hate when time lines don't match. At least the motive and the reason for all the eerie happenings and those characters matched the time line, but I really wouldn't want to be working at 100+. I did go back and check dates and Myrtle even said that she met her husband in NYC at a club in the '20's.
Oh well, I still enjoyed the story and already have the other books at the ready..
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are easy to understand and likeable and story line was quirky enough not to be predictable.
Since this book wasn't the first in the series I was a little lost on the basics but the story was so good from the start I had no desire to stop and read the first in the series, I'll read that next.
My hang up was Elise being a companion to Myrtle, a feisty little old lady. Now here's the rub. Elise finds her 2x's great grandmother's diary hidden in the house. The diary is dated 1917 when Myrtle is 8 yrs old. That means she would have been born in 1911 or so. She has children in their 30's . And the story takes place now, cell phones and all. For some reason that drove me nuts. I hate when time lines don't match. At least the motive and the reason for all the eerie happenings and those characters matched the time line, but I really wouldn't want to be working at 100+. I did go back and check dates and Myrtle even said that she met her husband in NYC at a club in the '20's.
Oh well, I still enjoyed the story and already have the other books at the ready..
November 10, 2017
A nice light cozy. The characters are likable and the setting interesting. However, I just couldn't connect with the characters. I feel like the author missed so many opportunities to help us fall in love with this book. Don't misunderstand, it is a lovely story and if you enjoy cozy mysteries this is a good one. However, it had the potential to take us so much further. Aunt Myrtle is set up as a quirky, sassy old lady but her role in the book is small and limited. The romance for Elise is also a very small part of the story and limited. And perhaps that is the problem. Each character has such a small role that there isn't an opportunity for an emotional connection. The other thing that bothered me is the ages of Myrtle's family. Myrtle is approximately 78 and yet her children seem to be quite young. Of course she may have had them later in her life but that doesn't seem to fit with the bit of family history that was provided. Her sister would have been older - in the range of 85. I can't say anymore without creating a spoiler but the people she was friends with would also be in that age range. This just doesn't fit with what happens. At least not for me.
January 1, 2018
FOUR STARS: Elise is tired of living on ramen noodles, so she realizes she needs to find employment other than just as a dog walker as A Sour Taste of Suspicion by CeeCee James opens. Fortunately, her best friend, Lavina, has just the thing. Lavina’s rich Aunt Myrtle is getting up in years and needs a companion while she lives at the antebellum Montgomery Manor. Her family has found someone, but until that person can arrive, they want Elise to live at the manor with Aunt Myrtle. There are servants to wait on her, but she needs someone to socialize with. The deal sealer is the large sum the family is prepared to pay Elise.
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
November 8, 2017
Is there a ghost in the old mansion?
This was a great cozy mystery! A very well written story with a good, well developed plot! I loved cranky and crazy Aunt Myrtle! Is there a ghost in the old mansion? Elise is staying with Aunt Myrtle for a week and can she find the answers and things don't start out good after finding a dead man in her bathtub the first night there.
It was a fun story with a lot of intrigue. I was totally surprised by the ending!
This was a great cozy mystery! A very well written story with a good, well developed plot! I loved cranky and crazy Aunt Myrtle! Is there a ghost in the old mansion? Elise is staying with Aunt Myrtle for a week and can she find the answers and things don't start out good after finding a dead man in her bathtub the first night there.
It was a fun story with a lot of intrigue. I was totally surprised by the ending!
February 7, 2017
The Sour Taste of Suspicion is by far my favourite in the Angel Lake Mystery series!!! Elise has once again taken on the role of amateur sleuth and is determined to get to the bottom of her latest mystery. CeeCee James has really connected with her story and her characters and I really look forward to seeing what she has in store next for Elise and Angel Lake.
May 8, 2017
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review.
This was my first dip into the Angel Lake Mystery series, and I will be continuing with it. I found it a quick and easy read that kept me on the edge of my seat.
I loved the ghost story aspect, and at times I was quite creeped out (in a good way). Aunt Myrtle believes she's haunted by the ghost of her sister. Between footsteps, missing items, unexplained noises in the night it's the perfect blend of creepy and mystery.
One of the only things that bothered me was the lack of investigation from the police. One moment they're there taking statements and closing off the room...then they aren't seen or heard from again until the end of the book which is days later. I expected more police involvement during Elise's stay.
The only other thing that I would say I didn't like, was that I felt a few things weren't explained or solved fully. (Unless I just missed it, which is totally possible.) I don't give spoilers in reviews so I won't mention what those things are. They were minor anyway, so it doesn't bother me that much.
Overall, I would recommend this book. It was a well written cozy mystery and a good read.
This was my first dip into the Angel Lake Mystery series, and I will be continuing with it. I found it a quick and easy read that kept me on the edge of my seat.
I loved the ghost story aspect, and at times I was quite creeped out (in a good way). Aunt Myrtle believes she's haunted by the ghost of her sister. Between footsteps, missing items, unexplained noises in the night it's the perfect blend of creepy and mystery.
One of the only things that bothered me was the lack of investigation from the police. One moment they're there taking statements and closing off the room...then they aren't seen or heard from again until the end of the book which is days later. I expected more police involvement during Elise's stay.
The only other thing that I would say I didn't like, was that I felt a few things weren't explained or solved fully. (Unless I just missed it, which is totally possible.) I don't give spoilers in reviews so I won't mention what those things are. They were minor anyway, so it doesn't bother me that much.
Overall, I would recommend this book. It was a well written cozy mystery and a good read.
July 26, 2017
Elise is at it again, but this time she has some help from her friend Lavina. Someone needs to be a companion for Lavina's Aunt Myrtle. She lives in a mansion with servants. Pays a thousand dollars a week. Well, the pay is just what Elise needs so she agrees, then Lavina tells her that Aunt Myrtle is crazy. Elise goes, and the mansion is rather run down, the yards are not kept up, and inside the house things are not a clean as they should be. Strange, for someone who has servants. Then after Elise is shown her room she goes into the bathroom and finds a dead body! That is only the beginning of things. Elise hears noises in the night, Aunt Myrtle tells her that it's Anna, her dead sister making those sounds, and not only that....Anna takes things and moves things around. Elise can't really accept this so she starts snooping around and finds all kinds of interesting things that don't add up. Then all at once, Elise figures out who killed the man in the bathroom and other things, but is it too late? Has Elsie put herself into harms way? Read the book to find out.
May 3, 2018
I lived this book. Got it free so bad to go back to book 1in the series to really get the full story.
Having not had.time to read for a very long time this was a great series to get me back into it.
James has a great way of describing characters, situations and events that is not burdensome. And I enjoyed the fact there was enough love interest to keep disengaged without being overly mushy. The main character, Elise is back "home" after a failed 10 year marriage. In this volume she is a dog walker, but looking for a more lucrative job. Her friend Laguna volunteers her to be a live in companion for her Aunt Mrytle. The excitement starts the first night Elise moved in as she finds the gardener read in the bathtub in her bedrooms adjoining bathroom.
James description of the old mansion and Elise made me feel I was right there.
Having not had.time to read for a very long time this was a great series to get me back into it.
James has a great way of describing characters, situations and events that is not burdensome. And I enjoyed the fact there was enough love interest to keep disengaged without being overly mushy. The main character, Elise is back "home" after a failed 10 year marriage. In this volume she is a dog walker, but looking for a more lucrative job. Her friend Laguna volunteers her to be a live in companion for her Aunt Mrytle. The excitement starts the first night Elise moved in as she finds the gardener read in the bathtub in her bedrooms adjoining bathroom.
James description of the old mansion and Elise made me feel I was right there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2017
Now this book in the series is more my style, a ghostly mystery with a real dead body (lying in the bathtub), poor Elise taking on a job as the companion to Lavina's aunt (who might just be a bit daft, or is she?) Things are going bump in the night, items missing in the manor are also missing from within an exact replica dollhouse of the manor. Is it the ghost of Aunt Myrtle's long dead sister, or someone playing tricks on the old woman to truly drive her into insanity?
The murderer of the gardener has Elise running in circles trying to figure it all out. He/she/it makes a huge mistake by taunting Elise via crank phone calls and a doll created in her own image; she's not scared, she's angry and wants to get to the bottom of it all.
The murderer of the gardener has Elise running in circles trying to figure it all out. He/she/it makes a huge mistake by taunting Elise via crank phone calls and a doll created in her own image; she's not scared, she's angry and wants to get to the bottom of it all.
December 20, 2017
I enjoyed this story. It is book 3 in the Angel Lake mystery series and I had no problems following the story or the characters having not read the first two books. Elise needs a job that pays well and her friend gets her a job as companion to her elderly aunt. When she moves into the old mansion to start she discovers a dead body in the bathroom. Someone is trying to convince the aunt that she is going crazy and Elise is determined to solve the murder and the odd happenings around the house before the killer removes Elise from the scene of the crime. A good cozy mystery to solve and very likable characters.
January 11, 2018
Elise is tired of her steady diet of ramen noodles and her dog-walking business has hit a lull, so when best friend Lavina asks her to step in for a week to act as a companion to her great-aunt, she reluctanly agrees. As soon as Elise arrives, odd things begin to happen, and as great-aunt Myrtle reveals more about her troubled past in the old Southern mansion, even Elise begins to think the ghosts may be real. As she follows clues and learns more about the servants living with Aunt Myrtle, Elise realizes that although there are no ghosts, there are still those who would do harm to Aunt Myrtle and anyone else who gets in the way of the plans to recover the mansion's hidden treasure.
December 19, 2017
Another mystery solved by Elise!
When Elise agrees to be a companion for her friends elderly aunt, things aren’t what they seem. This is another in the series that was completely enjoyable and a well written mystery. Lavina is still so funny and we get a little bit of Brad thrown in as well.
When Elise agrees to be a companion for her friends elderly aunt, things aren’t what they seem. This is another in the series that was completely enjoyable and a well written mystery. Lavina is still so funny and we get a little bit of Brad thrown in as well.
May 10, 2017
Great mystery
I could not put this b down. Enjoyed every chapter. The characters were very obtained and so interesting. I had no clue who was scaring aunt Myrtle until the very end. Super enjpyable.
I could not put this b down. Enjoyed every chapter. The characters were very obtained and so interesting. I had no clue who was scaring aunt Myrtle until the very end. Super enjpyable.
May 17, 2017
Wonderful Read
I really appreciated the way this book was written. The characters were well described. I could picture them in my mind. The ending was not what I expected. I love that. All I can say is read and enjoy.
I really appreciated the way this book was written. The characters were well described. I could picture them in my mind. The ending was not what I expected. I love that. All I can say is read and enjoy.
Read
August 2, 2017Ghost , family and mystery makes this book a fun read at best. The characters will make you laugh and go along with them on the ride. I had to finish it in one night , due to I didn't want to put it down.
November 6, 2017
Fun reading! Light summer reading! I would recommend this Series!
Fun series! Does need to flesh out the characters more but each book has gotten better! Will keep reading this series!
Fun series! Does need to flesh out the characters more but each book has gotten better! Will keep reading this series!
March 16, 2018
A Nice Read For A Lazy Afternoon
Elise is at it again in this delightful cozy mystery.
I loved the storyline and all the characters especially Aunt Myrtlei.
This book is recommended for cozy mystery readers.
Elise is at it again in this delightful cozy mystery.
I loved the storyline and all the characters especially Aunt Myrtlei.
This book is recommended for cozy mystery readers.
March 28, 2018
Each one gets better!
This is the second book I've read in the series. I love the characters and the plots keep me guessing till the end. Looking forward to the next one in the series!
This is the second book I've read in the series. I love the characters and the plots keep me guessing till the end. Looking forward to the next one in the series!
May 6, 2019
Great cozy feel
Perfect cozy mystery. Just enough to keep you interested. Love this series and others by this author! The endings do feel a bit rushed but the characters keep you guessing!
Perfect cozy mystery. Just enough to keep you interested. Love this series and others by this author! The endings do feel a bit rushed but the characters keep you guessing!
February 16, 2020
Another great story
This series is one you can just relax and enjoy reading. I enjoy the characters but also the plot. There are enough twists to keep you wondering. If you enjoy a mystery without all the gory violence this series is for you.
This series is one you can just relax and enjoy reading. I enjoy the characters but also the plot. There are enough twists to keep you wondering. If you enjoy a mystery without all the gory violence this series is for you.
May 9, 2017
Fun series. This one really kept me guessing. On to book 4.
May 23, 2017
Love these books!
They keep you in suspense without being overdone in vulgarity. I really appreciate that! It's hard to find good Christian suspense books. Thanks!
They keep you in suspense without being overdone in vulgarity. I really appreciate that! It's hard to find good Christian suspense books. Thanks!
July 19, 2017
another good mystery, can't wait to read #4
August 19, 2017
Aunt Matilda
It was a really good mystery. I enjoyed the story. I look forward to the next book. I really enjoyed this one best so far.
It was a really good mystery. I enjoyed the story. I look forward to the next book. I really enjoyed this one best so far.
August 27, 2017
A quick read
This is good light readind for a summer day. Sort of silly and not a book I would keep in my library.
This is good light readind for a summer day. Sort of silly and not a book I would keep in my library.
February 12, 2018
Enjoyed alot
Really liked this mystery had no idea who the bad guy was till it was revealed! Look forward to more with brad and Elise!
Really liked this mystery had no idea who the bad guy was till it was revealed! Look forward to more with brad and Elise!
March 30, 2018
Well written Cozy Mystery
April 4, 2018
At first I was afraid it wasn’t going to be as good and it took a moment to get to the point where I was fully drawn in, but it got there!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews