Fenella Woods is excited to be celebrating her first Christmas on the Isle of Man. She’s less enthusiastic that her former boyfriend, Jack, is coming for a long visit. While they split up months ago, before Fenella relocated to the island, Jack seems to be having trouble accepting that the relationship is over.
Jack managed to get himself an invitation to stay with Dr. Peter Grady, a university professor who has a second home on the island. Dr. Grady isn’t home when he and Fenella arrive, but a string of beautiful women looking for the man turn up almost immediately. When one of the women discovers Dr. Grady’s body in the master bedroom, Fenella finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation.
Letting Jack stay in her house on Poppy Drive is necessary, but that puts him right across the road from CID Inspector Daniel Robinson’s house. Daniel and Fenella are still trying to work out where their personal relationship is going. Now he’s investigating a murder where Jack could be considered a suspect and might be the killer’s next target
Can Fenella help Daniel solve the case and keep Jack safe? Can she incorporate American traditions into her first Manx Christmas? And what do you get a ghost for Christmas?
Diana started self-publishing in 2013 and over a decade later she now has over a hundred books available for readers. Writing remains her passion and she has no plans to stop writing in the foreseeable future.
Diana grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and earned a history degree from Allegheny College. She met her husband, an Englishman, while living and working in Washington, DC. Following their marriage, she moved to Derbyshire. A short while later, the happy couple moved to the Isle of Man.
During their years on the island, Diana and her husband welcomed two children, and Diana completed a master’s degree in the history of the island. In 2008, the family made the decision to move to the US. Now empty-nesters, Diana and her husband are living in the suburbs of Buffalo, New York, and contemplating moving somewhere that doesn’t get snow.
Diana also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future as Diana X. Dunn and Young Adult fiction as D.X. Dunn.
Joy and Jealousy is the 10th book in the author’s Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy mystery series. I do enjoy them, though some titles are stronger than others. In this one, Fenella’s ex-boyfriend Jack is coming to spend Christmas on the island. He has been given the key to a friend’s house, which Fenella is pleased about as she doesn’t want him staying with her in the luxury apartment she inherited from her Aunt Mona. The owner of the house has a bevy of girlfriends looking for him, but he is found murdered. During the investigation, where Fenella and Detective Daniel get to spend some time together, Jack undergoes a personality change. Fenella wonders how much Aunt Mona’s ghost has to do with that. An enjoyable light read.
Its a mystery that isn't hard to solve or I don't try to because I just like letting the story be told instead of figuring it out (typically for these anyway)
This was a very enjoyable mystery and though I had my suspicions on whodunnit, I was still quite surprised and thrilled with the ending.
I enjoyed learning more about Jack and Fenella's relationship- he really got on my nerves when he first arrived on the Island haha. I always enjoy visiting Fenella & her friends on the Isle of Man.
I really like Fenella’s adventures, but the dialogue and interactions with Jack were unbearable to read. He is a self centered, manipulative, emotional abuser and the fact that Fenella, even remotely, shows affection for him, is mind boggling. I found myself pretty much passing page after page of this monotonous, boring, finger on chalk board dialogue of Jack and Fenella, and just about wanted to pull my eyeballs out. I mean, who flies over the Atlantic Ocean to have someone balance their checkbook. I hope the next books are back to regular programming and hopefully sans jack.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is the tenth quirky mystery in the Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy series, featuring Fenella Woods and her dearly-departed Aunt Mona.
Fenella's ex-boyfriend Jack comes to visit her on the Isle of Man in December, just before Christmas. The first night he's there, staying in the home of Dr. Peter Grady (who offered Jack the use of his home while he was on the island), Dr. Grady is killed. The suspects are numerous: Peter was seeing at least four women, and it could have been any of them, or their husbands/boyfriends.
As usual, Fenella gets caught up in the police investigation. Between that and trying to convince Jack that she's not coming back to him, Fenella has her hands full ...
There are many truisms in this one about relationships, caring folks and new beginnings. I like the character developement and the Isle of Man seems like just a magical place. The wonderful car trunk will hold any number of items, the dresses- all designer, of course-fit well, and the main characters spend a lot of time walking on a promenade and eating desserts- British puddings-with chocolate and still fit into their clothes. I like the main characters, their pub/bookplace sounds great- even though I am not really fond of cats I seem to like all the pets described in this book series.
I wasn't at all sure about reading this book, as it includes Jack making good on his intent to visit Fenella on the Isle of Man. Sure enough, we were treated to an in-person look at the dynamics of their former relationship as Jack moaned helplessly and Fenella picked up the slack. I'm glad I continued reading, because otherwise I wouldn't have appreciated Jack's character growth as the days went by. I'm sure Mona's magic had more than a little influence over that growth. Diana Xarissa's magic definitely continues.
Another satisfying addition to the IOM Ghostly Cozy series. I like this series because the mystery doesn't get lost in the possible romances & relationships that Fenella with the sometimes overeager help of the ghostly Mona, great aunt to Fenella, gets involved in on the Isle of Man. Though I recommend reading the series in order, for a sweet Christmas story, you can't beat this one.
Another most enjoyable story by my favorite author!
It is nearly impossible for me to put a Diana Xarissa book down before the end. Her dialog is spot on and easy to follow and her characters seem like people you know well. This series even has a ghost as a main character that blends in and adds so much to the story line. Humerous, clean, always interesting mysteries - you can't go wrong
I quite liked the first few books, but Fenella and Daniel are becoming rather tiresome. Two forty-somethings, and neither can decide if they want to pursue a relationship after months on end? She still hasn't found the gumption to break off all contact with Jack? They're too old to be so diffident. I fail to see how she was so fascinating to all the men she dated earlier. But I find the settings interesting.
The mysteries with Fenella, ghostly Aunt Mona, Daniel and Shelley get better every book. The characters feel like people you want to have living beside you. The mysteries are intriguing and well written, though I do think this one ended too suddenly, which is why I gave it four stars instead of five. Can't wait till the next one!
I am really liking this series , even if auntie Bessie and then the sisters with B&B are my favorite. Jack came to island finally , his character developed mature so much in this book rather like him by the end. Great mystery was not sure who was the murder in this one until the end.
When Fenella’s old beau from Buffalo arrives for an unwanted Christmas visit, he has arranged to stay at an acquaintance’s house on the island. But things go awry from the beginning and soon Fenella and Jack are in the middle of another of Daniel’s murder investigations. Fun and mystery collide.
I Love the Isle of Man books- I Love where they take me and I can't wait for the next to make it's Debut. Now with that said, all the characters are really great except the one and I can't get past this n read on ..... I just can not. Can't wait for the next book it's "K". Love the books Thank you
Despite the authors apparent persistence in providing readers with a series of bland, surrealistic, and narrow formulaic presentations, every so often, a story defies the mould. For this to happen twice in a row is of itself extraordinary. This particular book provides the reader with a Justifiable Juxtaposition of humour, mystery and romance.
Fenella immerses herself in her first Manx Christmas, adding some of her own American traditions as she entertains her friends, including a visitor from her home in the US.
Unfortunately, she and her newly arrived guest are unceremoniously dropped right into a gruesome murder that causes some waves in their holiday plans.
This was one of my favorite Fenella novels to date. I enjoyed hearing her romance with Daniel grow in the holiday setting. Diana delivers another satisfying cozy read.
This is the 10th book in this series set in the Isle of Man . Love the quirky characters that return in the series as well as new additional characters that make each book a joy to read, The stories end and I am a!ways looking forward for the next in the series.
Her ex announces that he is coming to visit and someone he met offered to let him stay at the friend's weekend house, where he encounters several women and, of course, a murder. It was interesting to see how Christmas traditions differ from the US.
This was a great storyline switch up for Xarissa. I really liked the way she wove her tale through the characters viewpoints. I didn't see the ending turning the way it did.