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Discreet Retrieval Agency #4
Naughty on Ice
Naughty on Ice is the latest in Maia Chance's dazzlingly fun Prohibition-era caper series featuring society matron Lola Woodby and her stalwart Swedish cook, Berta.
The Discreet Retrieval Agency is doing a brisk holiday business of retrieving lost parcels, grandmas, and stolen wreaths. But with their main squeezes Ralph and Jimmy once more on the back burner, both Lola and Berta pine for a holiday out of New York City. So when they receive a mysterious Christmas card requesting that they retrieve an antique ring at a family gathering in Maple Hill, Vermont, they jump at the chance. Sure, the card is signed Anonymous and it's vaguely threatening, but it's Vermont.
In Maple Hill, several estranged members of the wealthy Goddard family gather. And no sooner do Lola and Berta recover the ring--from Great-Aunt Cressida Goddard's arthritic finger--than Mrs. Goddard goes toes-up, poisoned by her Negroni cocktail on ice. When the police arrive, Lola and Berta are caught-red-handed with the ring, and it becomes clear that they were in fact hired not for their cracker-jack retrieving abilities, but to be scapegoats for murder.
With no choice but to unmask the killer or be thrown in the slammer, Lola and Berta's investigations lead them deep into the secrets of Maple Hill. In a breathless pursuit along a snowy ridge, with a lovelorn Norwegian ski instructor and country bumpkin hooch smugglers hot on their heels, Lola and Berta must find out once and for all who's nice...and who's naughty.
The Discreet Retrieval Agency is doing a brisk holiday business of retrieving lost parcels, grandmas, and stolen wreaths. But with their main squeezes Ralph and Jimmy once more on the back burner, both Lola and Berta pine for a holiday out of New York City. So when they receive a mysterious Christmas card requesting that they retrieve an antique ring at a family gathering in Maple Hill, Vermont, they jump at the chance. Sure, the card is signed Anonymous and it's vaguely threatening, but it's Vermont.
In Maple Hill, several estranged members of the wealthy Goddard family gather. And no sooner do Lola and Berta recover the ring--from Great-Aunt Cressida Goddard's arthritic finger--than Mrs. Goddard goes toes-up, poisoned by her Negroni cocktail on ice. When the police arrive, Lola and Berta are caught-red-handed with the ring, and it becomes clear that they were in fact hired not for their cracker-jack retrieving abilities, but to be scapegoats for murder.
With no choice but to unmask the killer or be thrown in the slammer, Lola and Berta's investigations lead them deep into the secrets of Maple Hill. In a breathless pursuit along a snowy ridge, with a lovelorn Norwegian ski instructor and country bumpkin hooch smugglers hot on their heels, Lola and Berta must find out once and for all who's nice...and who's naughty.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published November 13, 2018
34 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
September 11, 2018
I think this one is my favorite of this series--so far. In this outing Lola and Berta receive an invitation to a holiday party in order to retrieve a stolen ring. Upon their arrival however, a murder happens. Nobody was expecting them and Lola and Berta have no idea who sent the invitation. The police automatically have misgivings of the ladies because they are outsiders. Lola and Berta aren't able to leave the small snowy town in Vermont so they begin their own investigation into the lady's death. Even though they aren't getting paid for this job, they can't help being curious. As more murders happen, things become more entangled. Berta seems tired all the time and Lola is worried about her and the future of the agency. Ralph, Lola's boyfriend, makes an unexpected appearance so he sets out to help Lola investigate. I really enjoyed the snowy atmosphere of Vermont and this investigation. I honestly didn't figure things out so I was pleasantly surprised at the ending. I also admit that I'm getting a crush on Ralph:) Best one yet!
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 24, 2018
3.5/5 stars
Lola Wooby and her gifted Swedish cook, Berta Lundgren, are at it again in the newest installment of the "Discreet Retrieval Agency" mystery series. The time is the Age of Prohibition and the scene is bucolic upstate Vermont. By way of a holiday invitation for drinks and dinner, our fearless ladies have been called to the Goddard Farm estate in the quaint village of Maple Hill; that is, quaint at first blush. Their mission, should they accept it, is to retrieve a stolen ring from "Aunt Daphne" and place it in the breadbox for safekeeping and subsequent retrieval. Sounds like an easy enough task and it gets them out of the frenzy of New York City during the days leading up to Christmas.
Why do things appear so simple on the surface, then turn into such a quagmire? While they're retrieving the ring, a murder occurs at Goddard Farm. With Lola and Berta being strangers to these parts, naturally, the police think they're the perpetrators. Heck, in such a small town, everyone else is a known entity. Our lady detectives can't leave town until the police complete their investigation. What investigation? The police think they already have the murderers. Their only chance to clear their names is to investigate and figure out who the murderer is. The story takes off from there and wanders about in several different directions until all things come to a dramatic conclusion.
This is a charming, period, cozy mystery with sheer farce strewn throughout. It bears little resemblance to reality. Would you accept a dinner invitation anonymously sent from a distant town you've never visited? I think not. Regardless, being curled up on the couch with an amusing mystery is the perfect antidote for a cold wintry day. This could make a lovely Christmas gift for your favorite mystery fan.
I am grateful to publisher St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for having provided a free uncorrected digital galley of this book. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Lola Wooby and her gifted Swedish cook, Berta Lundgren, are at it again in the newest installment of the "Discreet Retrieval Agency" mystery series. The time is the Age of Prohibition and the scene is bucolic upstate Vermont. By way of a holiday invitation for drinks and dinner, our fearless ladies have been called to the Goddard Farm estate in the quaint village of Maple Hill; that is, quaint at first blush. Their mission, should they accept it, is to retrieve a stolen ring from "Aunt Daphne" and place it in the breadbox for safekeeping and subsequent retrieval. Sounds like an easy enough task and it gets them out of the frenzy of New York City during the days leading up to Christmas.
Why do things appear so simple on the surface, then turn into such a quagmire? While they're retrieving the ring, a murder occurs at Goddard Farm. With Lola and Berta being strangers to these parts, naturally, the police think they're the perpetrators. Heck, in such a small town, everyone else is a known entity. Our lady detectives can't leave town until the police complete their investigation. What investigation? The police think they already have the murderers. Their only chance to clear their names is to investigate and figure out who the murderer is. The story takes off from there and wanders about in several different directions until all things come to a dramatic conclusion.
This is a charming, period, cozy mystery with sheer farce strewn throughout. It bears little resemblance to reality. Would you accept a dinner invitation anonymously sent from a distant town you've never visited? I think not. Regardless, being curled up on the couch with an amusing mystery is the perfect antidote for a cold wintry day. This could make a lovely Christmas gift for your favorite mystery fan.
I am grateful to publisher St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for having provided a free uncorrected digital galley of this book. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.
October 27, 2018
Naughty on Ice by Maia Chance was an interesting addition to the Discreet Retrieval Agency series.
Lola Woodby and Berta Lundgren receive a mysterious Christmas card inviting them to Maple Hill, VT to attend a party and retrieve a ring that has been stolen. Upon arrival at the home, they witness the hostess being poisoned and the police arrive with grave suspicions about Lola and Berta involvement in the murder. The plot moved smoothly but Lola and Berta were often lost amid the numerous clues, the odd and quirky family members, a few twists and the suspicious police department. The story seemed to slow down in the middle but eventually picked back up as Lola and Berta finally started putting the clues together. All in all a good read that kept me guessing until the reveal.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own. My rating is 3.5 stars.
Lola Woodby and Berta Lundgren receive a mysterious Christmas card inviting them to Maple Hill, VT to attend a party and retrieve a ring that has been stolen. Upon arrival at the home, they witness the hostess being poisoned and the police arrive with grave suspicions about Lola and Berta involvement in the murder. The plot moved smoothly but Lola and Berta were often lost amid the numerous clues, the odd and quirky family members, a few twists and the suspicious police department. The story seemed to slow down in the middle but eventually picked back up as Lola and Berta finally started putting the clues together. All in all a good read that kept me guessing until the reveal.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own. My rating is 3.5 stars.
January 13, 2019
Love this series. A charming cozy just brimming with period atmosphere. The two heroines of The Discreet Retrieval Agency are perfect (alone and together).
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March 9, 2022I do love a good series to read through. It was the gin references that first drew me to the Discreet Retrieval Agency, and the 1920s imagery on the covers.
This was light, candy floss content, and I enjoyed the latest instalment of Lola, Berta, & Ralph's adventures.
This was light, candy floss content, and I enjoyed the latest instalment of Lola, Berta, & Ralph's adventures.
December 2, 2018
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Genre: Detective fiction
Rating: 4.5/5.0 stars
Main Takeaway: A refreshing read reminiscent of classic post-war British detective fiction that kept me glued to the page.
**I received this book from the publisher, Minotaur Books, in exchange for an honest review. I received no compensation for this review, and the opinions expressed are in no way influenced by this transaction.**
Lola and Berta of the Discreet Retrieval Agency in 1920s New York City make their living retrieving stolen items and solving crimes. So when they receive an anonymous letter requesting the retrieval of a stolen ring, Lola and Berta travel to Maple Hill, Vermont and intrude on the Goddard family’s lives to complete the task. However, when Lola and Berta finally retrieve the ring, one of the Goddards is mysteriously murdered, and Lola and Berta placed in suspicion. Stuck in Maple Hill, the women of the Discreet Retrieval Agency have no choice but to try and solve this murder on their own, save their own skins, and make it home on time for Christmas.
This mystery was exactly what I needed to break my reading slump. Maybe slump isn’t the right word… rather, disinterest? Lack of time? Let me preface this all by saying I have not completed a book in over two months. TWO. MONTHS. Life, graduate school, work all got in the way, ate up my time, and when I finally found myself home in the evenings I found myself turning more often to Netflix than to my looming tower of books resting ominously by my bedside table. Naughty On Ice changed that.
Initially, I got pulled in with the Christmas setting (yes, yes, I know its not December. I simply don’t care. I love Christmas, and don’t try to stop me). The prohibition era caught me next. The clear influence of my literary hero and muse Agatha Christie made me obsessed (come on now, you can’t tell me you didn’t love that Poirot-esque reveal at the end?). And finally, the crafting of a good mystery full of twists and a killer reveal that makes you want to go back and look for all the clues.
If you’re looking for a cozy detective mystery to curl up with by the tree this season, make Maia Chance’s Naughty On Ice your choice. Did I mention its a series? I know what I’ll be binge-reading this winter!
Genre: Detective fiction
Rating: 4.5/5.0 stars
Main Takeaway: A refreshing read reminiscent of classic post-war British detective fiction that kept me glued to the page.
**I received this book from the publisher, Minotaur Books, in exchange for an honest review. I received no compensation for this review, and the opinions expressed are in no way influenced by this transaction.**
Lola and Berta of the Discreet Retrieval Agency in 1920s New York City make their living retrieving stolen items and solving crimes. So when they receive an anonymous letter requesting the retrieval of a stolen ring, Lola and Berta travel to Maple Hill, Vermont and intrude on the Goddard family’s lives to complete the task. However, when Lola and Berta finally retrieve the ring, one of the Goddards is mysteriously murdered, and Lola and Berta placed in suspicion. Stuck in Maple Hill, the women of the Discreet Retrieval Agency have no choice but to try and solve this murder on their own, save their own skins, and make it home on time for Christmas.
This mystery was exactly what I needed to break my reading slump. Maybe slump isn’t the right word… rather, disinterest? Lack of time? Let me preface this all by saying I have not completed a book in over two months. TWO. MONTHS. Life, graduate school, work all got in the way, ate up my time, and when I finally found myself home in the evenings I found myself turning more often to Netflix than to my looming tower of books resting ominously by my bedside table. Naughty On Ice changed that.
Initially, I got pulled in with the Christmas setting (yes, yes, I know its not December. I simply don’t care. I love Christmas, and don’t try to stop me). The prohibition era caught me next. The clear influence of my literary hero and muse Agatha Christie made me obsessed (come on now, you can’t tell me you didn’t love that Poirot-esque reveal at the end?). And finally, the crafting of a good mystery full of twists and a killer reveal that makes you want to go back and look for all the clues.
If you’re looking for a cozy detective mystery to curl up with by the tree this season, make Maia Chance’s Naughty On Ice your choice. Did I mention its a series? I know what I’ll be binge-reading this winter!
March 8, 2020
An entertaining and funny romp. Lola, an ex-wealthy widow, and her former Swedish cook/maid take on a job of retrieving a ruby ring for an anonymous client in the winter wonderland of Maple Hill, Vermont near Christmas. Of course, murder soon disrupts their plans. They become suspects as the uninvited party crashers caught "stealing" a ring. The only way they are ever going to get home to New York in time for Christmas is if they catch the murderer.
The chemistry between Lola and Berta is great as the two stumble their away through the investigation hindered by hostile residents who do not appreciate their detecting, particular when engaging in unlawful entering and asking intrusive questions. Lola and Berta don't help themselves with the less than brilliant explanations of what they are doing when they are caught.
I loved the wintery setting, after all we haven't had any winter to speak of where I live and we are suppose to. Berta's romantic entanglements with two suitors bring some laughs. Sometimes Lola and Berta seem to stumble around but they work the case. There are plenty of suspects that can keeping you guessing until the very end.
The chemistry between Lola and Berta is great as the two stumble their away through the investigation hindered by hostile residents who do not appreciate their detecting, particular when engaging in unlawful entering and asking intrusive questions. Lola and Berta don't help themselves with the less than brilliant explanations of what they are doing when they are caught.
I loved the wintery setting, after all we haven't had any winter to speak of where I live and we are suppose to. Berta's romantic entanglements with two suitors bring some laughs. Sometimes Lola and Berta seem to stumble around but they work the case. There are plenty of suspects that can keeping you guessing until the very end.
February 16, 2020
Delightful. Silly, but delightful.
November 12, 2018
Another madcap case for Lola and Berta aka the Discreet Retrieval Agency. It's 1923 and Christmas is just around the corner but Lola and Berta have taken a case that lands them in Maple Hill, Vermont. It's a very small town with a lot of snow and an interesting bunch of residents. One of them is a murderer. The case seems simple enough, retrieve a ruby ring that was stolen back in 1919. They should have known there was something fishy when they have an anonymous client. Off they go to Vermont, with Cedric the pup along for the ride. (Imagine carrying around a five pound dog while slogging through the snow trying to find a killer)
Just as they find the ring, still firmly attached to a very living finger, the first victim keels over, dead by poison. The ring then takes a back seat to the rest of their stay. And stay, they must, having been told, in very stern fashion, not to leave town. Wanting to be back in New York City for Christmas, Lola and Berta are very well motivated to catch the killer and the next train out of town.
These ladies are a wonderful pair of amateur detectives. They may have business cards to hand out but they are still sort of winging it. It's that situation that leads to laughs and gets them into hot water. Given that the setting is freezing cold deep snow, hot water sounds pretty good to Lola as she deals with icy cold wet feet having made the trip in not very practical high heeled boots. The descriptions of clothing, cars, food and ski jumping all make this a very vividly told story. I was sorry when it came to an end but, oh, what a nice ending it turned out to be. I can't wait for the next case for Lola and Berta.
My thanks to the publisher, St. Martin's and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Just as they find the ring, still firmly attached to a very living finger, the first victim keels over, dead by poison. The ring then takes a back seat to the rest of their stay. And stay, they must, having been told, in very stern fashion, not to leave town. Wanting to be back in New York City for Christmas, Lola and Berta are very well motivated to catch the killer and the next train out of town.
These ladies are a wonderful pair of amateur detectives. They may have business cards to hand out but they are still sort of winging it. It's that situation that leads to laughs and gets them into hot water. Given that the setting is freezing cold deep snow, hot water sounds pretty good to Lola as she deals with icy cold wet feet having made the trip in not very practical high heeled boots. The descriptions of clothing, cars, food and ski jumping all make this a very vividly told story. I was sorry when it came to an end but, oh, what a nice ending it turned out to be. I can't wait for the next case for Lola and Berta.
My thanks to the publisher, St. Martin's and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 22, 2018
Naughty on Ice, the fourth book in the Discreet Retrieval Agency Mystery series, is quite possibly my favorite so far. I love this series, set during the Prohibition era, filled with warmth and humor and offering some challenging puzzles to solve. Former society matron, current penniless widow Lola Woodby and her former cook turned sleuthing partner Berta Lundgren receive a mysterious Christmas card inviting them to a family gathering in Vermont - to retrieve an heirloom ring from another family member. They go to the party and find the ring but are surprised when their hostess keels over, poisoned. To further complicate matters, someone has stolen the file Berta created on the case so Berta and Lola can't prove they weren't at the party to steal the ring for themselves. Until they can prove their innocence, the ladies are stuck in the back woods of Vermont. Will they make it home to their beaus before Christmas? Or will they fall victims to a clever murderer? This is a delightful holiday read, but not so Christmassy that it can't be read at any time of the year. It would make a great gift for a mystery lover. But if you haven't read the first three books in the series (1. Come Hell or Highball 2. Teetotaled 3. Gin and Panic) I suggest you start with number 1 for optimal enjoyment. Still, there is no reason you can't start with any of the books.
May 7, 2021
Call this installment a turning point. It begins with Lola and Berta in their typical jam – working a stolen ring off a drunken auntie’s swollen finger while munching on cake left unguarded in a kitchen. That the owner of the home has just gone toes-up in the next room, poisoned at her own engagement party, is of little concern to the gals or their anticipated paycheck. At least until they become suspects along with the brother, adult children, and scandalously younger fiancé of the deceased. Who hired them? Who committed the murder? And can the gals solve both in this tiny Vermont town and still make it home for Christmas?
Berta soon tires of tromping through the snow and holes up in their hotel where she’s entertained by the affections of two senior suitors. Lola persists, but each time she thinks she has an answer, her main suspect dies. It’s Lola’s P.I. boyfriend, Ralph, to the rescue. He teams with Lola for a higher-stakes, farther-ranging investigation. To the author’s credit, almost all suspects have equally good motives. Even after the reader finally guesses the murderer, the extent of the crimes behind it keeps getting bigger.
Berta may be fading out but Ralph looks like he’s here to stay, which nicely sets up for more books in a Nick and Nora / Tommy and Tuppence vein.
Berta soon tires of tromping through the snow and holes up in their hotel where she’s entertained by the affections of two senior suitors. Lola persists, but each time she thinks she has an answer, her main suspect dies. It’s Lola’s P.I. boyfriend, Ralph, to the rescue. He teams with Lola for a higher-stakes, farther-ranging investigation. To the author’s credit, almost all suspects have equally good motives. Even after the reader finally guesses the murderer, the extent of the crimes behind it keeps getting bigger.
Berta may be fading out but Ralph looks like he’s here to stay, which nicely sets up for more books in a Nick and Nora / Tommy and Tuppence vein.
December 14, 2018
This series has grown on me. I still have a few issues with the characters but overall I enjoy following their antics. Berta was not really herself in this one and I missed her personality. Lola, well she still doesn't seem very smart to me, or perhaps it's supposed to be naivete that comes across as oblivion. Either way, I felt like she was handed the answer to part of the mystery really early on and didn't connect the rest of the dots even thought they were really obvious dots. The character that saw the most personal growth in this book was Ralph. He finally decided to take the back seat and let the ladies run their show. It was nice to see him give them their space to make mistakes while also quietly having their back. I was disappointed that there was no mention of what happened with Lola's family. In book 3 she was trying to make amends by being in her sisters wedding party. In this book there was a passing line about Lola not having any family to be with for X-mas but no explanation about why she was apparently on the outs with them again. Overall an entertaining read and I will continue with the series.
November 4, 2018
How have I missed this series? You gotta love a cozy where a great aunt is murdered with a poisoned Negroni! The Goddard family hired Lola and Berta to come to Maple Hill, Vermont and find a ring. Seems straightforward if extravagant in its way but of course it's. not. The Goddards have secrets, there is murder afoot, and everyone gets snowed in for a bit. Lola and Berta have a wonderful relationship which has clearly evolved since Lola lost her money. Their beaus Ralph and Jimmy figure in as well, especially when Ralph helps sort out the good guys from the bad. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is light, funny, and a very good read.
January 12, 2020
"Naughty on Ice" by Maia Chance is the fourth in her cozy mystery series Discreet Retrieval Agency.
It is Christmas time, but Lola and Berta is away from their home base of New York City. The lady detectives are in Vermont responding to an anonymous request to find an antique ring at a family event in Maple Hill.
By the time all is done, there are three murders in the same family and nothing is as it seems. The innocent are not, the the once thought guilty are dead, and not all maple syrup is sweet.
In 274 pages all is well and the women are back in NYC.
If you like cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this series. The stories are fun to read and there is a dog in the stories.
It is Christmas time, but Lola and Berta is away from their home base of New York City. The lady detectives are in Vermont responding to an anonymous request to find an antique ring at a family event in Maple Hill.
By the time all is done, there are three murders in the same family and nothing is as it seems. The innocent are not, the the once thought guilty are dead, and not all maple syrup is sweet.
In 274 pages all is well and the women are back in NYC.
If you like cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this series. The stories are fun to read and there is a dog in the stories.
December 9, 2018
Ridiculous dialog, “trembly, bunny-rabbit fear” and that was the least childish. I couldn’t help but imagining Lola Goodby as a Kewpie doll character. The plot may have worked but I just couldn’t get past the over-worded descriptions. If you like crazy, period piece madcap adventures, certainly Lola and Berta will lead you on a merry chase. However, I think there are much better in this genre specifically Deanna Raybourne and Alyssa Maxwell.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy.
March 29, 2019
The fourth entry in the Discreet Retrieval Agency series, this book sees Lola and Berta in a very frozen Vermont, trying to find a killer before the killer finds them. Invited via an unsigned, very suspicious Christmas card, they are amazed upon arrival to find their hostess has just died under suspicious circumstances, the family members are bizarre and are hateful towards them, and the cold, icy weather makes their investigation much harder. Eventually they find out the truth and avoid an icy death.
November 28, 2020
A fun mystery series set during Prohibition, but everyone seems to have access to alcohol. Two older ladies have formed a detective agency in New York. They receive a mysterious request to find a ring at a family gathering in Vermont. When someone shows up dead at the gathering, they take on the investigation, much to the consternation of the family members.
I learned some new vocabulary, the ladies are lots of fun and have boyfriends here and there. One even has a small dog she can carry in her bag.
I highly recommend this series and the author lives in my state.
I learned some new vocabulary, the ladies are lots of fun and have boyfriends here and there. One even has a small dog she can carry in her bag.
I highly recommend this series and the author lives in my state.
November 3, 2018
Naughty on Ice is another enjoyable addition to the Discreet Retrieval Agency series by Maia Chance.
We find our favourite lady detectives in snowy Maple Hill, Vermont after receiving a Christmas card with a job opportunity from an anonymous client. Tasked with retrieving an antique ring from an elderly woman at a wealthy family gathering, the ladies get more than they bargained for when the owner of the home dies after being poisoned. As strangers in town and uninvited guests caught stealing a ring, Lola and Berta become prime suspects in the murder and must race to find the real murderer before they get arrested.
What's really interesting about Naughty on Ice is that we are given a prologue with the mysterious Christmas card and then the first chapter starts with the police interrogation after the owner has been murdered. I thought it was a clever choice on Maia Chance's part to start the mystery with the murder having already taken place as opposed to working up to the murder.
I love the writing of the Discreet Retrieval Agency. Maia Chance does an amazing job of transporting readers back to the prohibition era by inserting the right amount of lingo and descriptive language to make readers feel as if they're right beside Lola. Each time I read a new novel in the series, I fall more in love with Lola, Berta and Ralph. They're incredibly likeable characters and I thought Naughty on Ice did a great job building on their relationships with each other.
I did feel the ending was a bit abrupt and that the mystery was wrapped up a bit too quickly. I would've liked a few more pages exploring what transpired at the end, but perhaps Maia Chance is saving that for the next book.
Naughty on Ice is the fourth book in the cozy mystery series and I can't wait to read the next adventure.
**I received an ARC via NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
We find our favourite lady detectives in snowy Maple Hill, Vermont after receiving a Christmas card with a job opportunity from an anonymous client. Tasked with retrieving an antique ring from an elderly woman at a wealthy family gathering, the ladies get more than they bargained for when the owner of the home dies after being poisoned. As strangers in town and uninvited guests caught stealing a ring, Lola and Berta become prime suspects in the murder and must race to find the real murderer before they get arrested.
What's really interesting about Naughty on Ice is that we are given a prologue with the mysterious Christmas card and then the first chapter starts with the police interrogation after the owner has been murdered. I thought it was a clever choice on Maia Chance's part to start the mystery with the murder having already taken place as opposed to working up to the murder.
I love the writing of the Discreet Retrieval Agency. Maia Chance does an amazing job of transporting readers back to the prohibition era by inserting the right amount of lingo and descriptive language to make readers feel as if they're right beside Lola. Each time I read a new novel in the series, I fall more in love with Lola, Berta and Ralph. They're incredibly likeable characters and I thought Naughty on Ice did a great job building on their relationships with each other.
I did feel the ending was a bit abrupt and that the mystery was wrapped up a bit too quickly. I would've liked a few more pages exploring what transpired at the end, but perhaps Maia Chance is saving that for the next book.
Naughty on Ice is the fourth book in the cozy mystery series and I can't wait to read the next adventure.
**I received an ARC via NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2018
What a fun duo. Lola and Berta are unconventional Lady Detectives. Formerly Mistress and Maid, Lola is living the free life as a widow doing as she pleases, and Berta is her elderly maid-turned-sidekick, and now partner in crime-solving. The two well-balanced and funny, Berta providing sage wisdom and wit to Lola's fashion-over-function and sometimes scattered personality.
This adventure was pretty well-paced, the plot kept me guessing at the whodunit, and I thought it wrapped up nicely.
I would definitely read more of these two.
This adventure was pretty well-paced, the plot kept me guessing at the whodunit, and I thought it wrapped up nicely.
I would definitely read more of these two.
December 16, 2018
Heady cocktail of silliness and lady detecting in the 1920s Prohibition Era Vermont. Written with obvious effort to be true to the talk of the times, it's a bit stilted to read, but still has moments of marvelous fun and murder motive insights, not to mention the surprise ending. The love interests are there because, as the epigraph explains: "What normal healthy girl doesn't kike to be both smart and naughty?" ~Colleen Moore in Chicago Daily News, 1922
April 13, 2019
This was rather mediocre as a detective novel. I guessed a plot twist, and then spent 120 pages until finally learning that I had, indeed, guessed correctly. While I am all for being one step ahead of the protagonist, this was several city blocks.
I also found the writing rather flat, and the ending hinged on the sudden reveal, which is a mystery trope that I don't care for.
All in all, rather disappointing.
I also found the writing rather flat, and the ending hinged on the sudden reveal, which is a mystery trope that I don't care for.
All in all, rather disappointing.
February 3, 2020
A little more madcap than usual, with winter weather and sports mingling in with bootlegging, romantic relationships, murder (of course), and a lot of walking. It starts out a little slowly, even though the murder basically happens on the first page. Lots of peripheral characters, but Lola and Berta wade through all of this and the snow to finally find the culprit. Fun and silly, even if not quite as believable.
November 20, 2025
I thought this was a fun, cute little mystery book. TBH when I bought it as a used book I had no idea what it was actually about but was well worth it. It had a very Sherlock Holmes and Watson type of vibe (though I wish the detectives had had just a smidge more banter between them) and some Casablanca type feel with the love interest tied in. Overall a pretty good and quick read, would recommend if you are wanting a fairly light mystery
July 26, 2018
My daughter won this advanced reader copy and was kind enough to let me borrow it. Lola, Berta and Ralph are back to solve another murder and I couldn’t be happier. It’s nice to catch up with old friends and tag along while they work through the clues to solve who done it. I love the 20s slang and the clothes it makes these stories such a kick.
November 1, 2018
When they receive an anonymous card asking them to retrieve a stolen family ring, Lola and Berta take their Discreet Retrieval Agency to Vermont. Before they can begin the job, someone dies from a poisoned drink and Lola and Berta are suspects. Another fun Prohibition-era mystery with loads of quirky characters and a mythical hairy beast.
November 20, 2018
This was the first book in this series that I have read. I hope to read many more of Maia Chances books. This was such a fun cozy mystery. There were many funny parts and some suspenseful parts. The characters were great. I received a copy of this book from Minotaur Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
January 15, 2019
Bootlegging and murder easily go hand in hand about this story of a very intertwined family in a Vermont town. Out heroines, with the help of their love interests, solve the crime. And fall into classic romantic twists along the way. Once I begin a series I'm compelled to stay with it. The fourth in this series I may becoming tired of the characters. And the plots. And the 'mystery'.
December 8, 2019
A fun book that really kept you guessing as to who was "the bad guy." I liked the relationship between Lola and Mrs. Berta,their repartee back and forth, and how they just jumped from one assumption to another-most wrong. It reminded me of the Amanda Quick books I've read because of the 20's language that was thrown out throughout the story. An enjoyable little diversion.
June 7, 2020
A really fun book for when you need a light read. This is the last (as of yet) in this series. The main characters are their usual fun and funny selves. The cast of suspects fits the images of the old 1920’s stories. The setting is the Vermont ski country. I enjoyed chuckling at and cheering for the lady detectives as they persevered through this one step forward and two steps back adventure.
December 16, 2018
Note to publisher/editor: please take away "italics" from this author's keyboard.
Never have I run across an author obsessed with the use of italics, to the point where it becomes a distraction to the reader.
Never have I run across an author obsessed with the use of italics, to the point where it becomes a distraction to the reader.
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