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Evie Parker Mystery #2
Murder at the Tea Party
Warning: Afternoon tea with Lady Woodridge can and will be fatal.
Evangeline ‘Evie’ Parker, Countess of Woodridge, has trekked out to her country estate, Halton House. It’s time to pick up the reins and re-establish herself in the district. No easy task when one of her afternoon tea guests is poisoned. Is it a coincidence when another guest is found dead from poison?
Scotland Yard steps in. While Evie trusts they will find the killer, she takes exception when the finger of suspicion is pointed at her.
Evie has her hands full trying to keep the name of Woodridge free of scandal as well as mending fences with her maid Caro who has found a unique way of expressing her displeasure.
If the poisoner doesn’t get her then, surely, her maid Caro will…
Evangeline ‘Evie’ Parker, Countess of Woodridge, has trekked out to her country estate, Halton House. It’s time to pick up the reins and re-establish herself in the district. No easy task when one of her afternoon tea guests is poisoned. Is it a coincidence when another guest is found dead from poison?
Scotland Yard steps in. While Evie trusts they will find the killer, she takes exception when the finger of suspicion is pointed at her.
Evie has her hands full trying to keep the name of Woodridge free of scandal as well as mending fences with her maid Caro who has found a unique way of expressing her displeasure.
If the poisoner doesn’t get her then, surely, her maid Caro will…
264 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 28, 2019
986 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
About the author
Sonia Parin
124 books200 followersI write Cozy Mysteries: humorous historical (1920s), contemporary and paranormal.
All my books provide a 'clean' read - no swearing and no graphic violence.
These fun cozy mysteries are intended to provide lighthearted entertainment for those who enjoy quirky characters and humorous tales.
All my books provide a 'clean' read - no swearing and no graphic violence.
These fun cozy mysteries are intended to provide lighthearted entertainment for those who enjoy quirky characters and humorous tales.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
December 18, 2020
No.
No, it is not enough to "set" a novel in the 1920s and then write characters that talk like 2020.
My father was b. 1920, mother b. 1924. I know the idiom, I grew up with it. I have read most of the Golden Age detective writers, several times. Parin just doesn't bother, and most of her "research" was evidently done on Wikipedia.
She doesn't describe places, or people, or clothes and furnishings, which are what give period novels their period feel. And forget about social mores. No way (no way) would a well brought up young gel even in the US call her grandmother by her first name. And certainly not if that lady is a Dowager Countess!
It's also not enough to "set" a novel in 1920s Britain and then excuse the horrendous cultural errors by making your heroine and her sidekick Americans. Because you are, and because you haven't bothered to do much research into 1920s Britain.
Seriously, the Earl of Rosenthal?? I hope that's supposed to be a joke.
Go read Christie and Sayers and a dozen other easily accessible Golden Age authors, Parin, and try again.
Parin is no Greenwood.
Ugh.
No, it is not enough to "set" a novel in the 1920s and then write characters that talk like 2020.
My father was b. 1920, mother b. 1924. I know the idiom, I grew up with it. I have read most of the Golden Age detective writers, several times. Parin just doesn't bother, and most of her "research" was evidently done on Wikipedia.
She doesn't describe places, or people, or clothes and furnishings, which are what give period novels their period feel. And forget about social mores. No way (no way) would a well brought up young gel even in the US call her grandmother by her first name. And certainly not if that lady is a Dowager Countess!
It's also not enough to "set" a novel in 1920s Britain and then excuse the horrendous cultural errors by making your heroine and her sidekick Americans. Because you are, and because you haven't bothered to do much research into 1920s Britain.
Seriously, the Earl of Rosenthal?? I hope that's supposed to be a joke.
Go read Christie and Sayers and a dozen other easily accessible Golden Age authors, Parin, and try again.
Parin is no Greenwood.
Ugh.
January 19, 2023
I listened to this book on audio on the car and found it difficult to follow. I waited too long since reading the first book and pretty much forgot all about it. I remembered Evie and Tom pretty quickly. That was about it.
Plotwise this was a mixed bag. I didn't get why the village women formed their own Hunt Ball Committee and why they seemed to hate Evie and the Dowagers so much. The mystery picked up once Evie started investigating but the red herrings were super weird and the clues weren't there at all. I thought I knew who and why and how and Evie just had to prove it but ... red herrings. I don't really know why everyone was lying to Evie, especially about the puppy.
Who on earth is Philippa? Is she who she says she is? It's so random for someone's car to break down and were there car shows in 1920s England? I believe Tom is who he says he is. His ability to slip into the persona of Mr. Winchester and back to Tom the chauffeur leads me to believe he is not just a chauffeur. He might be an ex-Texas Ranger or Pinkerton. I think he really IS Mr. Winchester, a self-made man. Either that or Evie's grandmother is paying him a very generous salary or both.
I also didn't understand why Caro, Evie's maid, made her displeasure known about the little heir being sent to school at the age of 7. Evie isn't his guardian and it's not her place to say whether he should stay at the estate with a tutor. I would agree that he should be with his mother if it were an earlier time period when school masters beat the kids and other boys bullied the younger ones but by the 1920s, there were younger kids sent to school all the way from India so I don't think 7 is too young.
Cozy wise, this series is rather a mess. There are random historical facts just dropped in the conversation for no good reason, like facts from centuries ago that would be more relevant to a Regency set novel than 1920s. Mrs. Astor's 400 Club is not relevant to the 1920s and just random. Then there ARE 1920s facts dropped into the story like the Red Sox vs. Yankees rivalry. Har har. Not funny. Nope. That's a dead horse so let's stop with the jokes please. WE all know about the Curse of the Bambino but that's not even explained. It's just random Evie Team Yankees (Booo!) and Tom Team Red Sox (cheer!)
The narrator reads the book with a VERY posh British voice but Evie is supposed to be American! Otherwise this narrator would be perfect. I liked her for the Dowagers and even for Philippa's Aussie accent but I didn't get American from Evie and Tom.
I think I will probably give this series a pass. It's frivolous fun to pass the time but I've read better 1920s mysteries.
Plotwise this was a mixed bag. I didn't get why the village women formed their own Hunt Ball Committee and why they seemed to hate Evie and the Dowagers so much. The mystery picked up once Evie started investigating but the red herrings were super weird and the clues weren't there at all. I thought I knew who and why and how and Evie just had to prove it but ... red herrings. I don't really know why everyone was lying to Evie, especially about the puppy.
Who on earth is Philippa? Is she who she says she is? It's so random for someone's car to break down and were there car shows in 1920s England? I believe Tom is who he says he is. His ability to slip into the persona of Mr. Winchester and back to Tom the chauffeur leads me to believe he is not just a chauffeur. He might be an ex-Texas Ranger or Pinkerton. I think he really IS Mr. Winchester, a self-made man. Either that or Evie's grandmother is paying him a very generous salary or both.
I also didn't understand why Caro, Evie's maid, made her displeasure known about the little heir being sent to school at the age of 7. Evie isn't his guardian and it's not her place to say whether he should stay at the estate with a tutor. I would agree that he should be with his mother if it were an earlier time period when school masters beat the kids and other boys bullied the younger ones but by the 1920s, there were younger kids sent to school all the way from India so I don't think 7 is too young.
Cozy wise, this series is rather a mess. There are random historical facts just dropped in the conversation for no good reason, like facts from centuries ago that would be more relevant to a Regency set novel than 1920s. Mrs. Astor's 400 Club is not relevant to the 1920s and just random. Then there ARE 1920s facts dropped into the story like the Red Sox vs. Yankees rivalry. Har har. Not funny. Nope. That's a dead horse so let's stop with the jokes please. WE all know about the Curse of the Bambino but that's not even explained. It's just random Evie Team Yankees (Booo!) and Tom Team Red Sox (cheer!)
The narrator reads the book with a VERY posh British voice but Evie is supposed to be American! Otherwise this narrator would be perfect. I liked her for the Dowagers and even for Philippa's Aussie accent but I didn't get American from Evie and Tom.
I think I will probably give this series a pass. It's frivolous fun to pass the time but I've read better 1920s mysteries.
August 16, 2019
When Evie returns to the country. The two elderly Lady Woodridge's are in a feud with some of the other ladies over an annual ball. When Evie tries to broker a piece, the Committee Ladies have drawn the line.
Now two of them have died after having an afternoon tea, making Evie somewhat of a pariah.
This is another great story filled with humor, and solid, well-written characters.
I am definitely looking forward to the next in this series.
Now two of them have died after having an afternoon tea, making Evie somewhat of a pariah.
This is another great story filled with humor, and solid, well-written characters.
I am definitely looking forward to the next in this series.
April 16, 2019
Evie Parker
Entertaining storyline of a Murder, set in the 1920’s. Ladies that belong to a club are getting murdered, they have one thing in common, they had afternoon tea at Lady Woodbridge. Is Evie a suspect?
Entertaining storyline of a Murder, set in the 1920’s. Ladies that belong to a club are getting murdered, they have one thing in common, they had afternoon tea at Lady Woodbridge. Is Evie a suspect?
January 25, 2022
No, Badreads: Currently Reading, not "Read." This is the second time in recent months that I've had this problem with this app. Page 7.
I'm back to work on a novella set in 1920s England, so this is... light... research. It's crazy I didn't finish this novella decades ago, but I think I'm finally ready to do it.
I'm back to work on a novella set in 1920s England, so this is... light... research. It's crazy I didn't finish this novella decades ago, but I think I'm finally ready to do it.
July 31, 2020
REALLY A 2.5 RATING FROM ME
I know it is just me, I made the error of getting a book which is part of a series. I never felt I got enough information to understand relationships, past events or much of anything.
Evie is a widow. Her husband died in the Great War. She has inherited a large estate and her late husband’s son. As this story starts, she has sent the 7 year old boy off to school because she does not know much about children. She has also inherited her late husband’s mother and grandmother. The two dowagers have been in charge of life in the village and estate for quite some time They do not choose to let go of the reins easily.
There is also a chauffeur, Tom, or is he a possible beau? Same man and no one recognizes him as he changes his identity.
Yes, I know, it is evident I simply did not enjoy this book.
Evie has a woman to tea, and after the woman leaves, she dies. The dowager grandmother seems to take pleasure in talking about the fact, Evie may be a killer.
I LOVE HISTORICAL MYSTERIES. I particularly love the era between the two wars. I got this book because I wanted to love it. I simply cannot.
I know Ms Parin must be a talented author, this series is very successful. My rating for the book will based upon the fact that Ms Parin does descriptions very well.
I did not feel drawn to Evie, or any of the other characters.
I think this book was simply not a good fit for me.
I know it is just me, I made the error of getting a book which is part of a series. I never felt I got enough information to understand relationships, past events or much of anything.
Evie is a widow. Her husband died in the Great War. She has inherited a large estate and her late husband’s son. As this story starts, she has sent the 7 year old boy off to school because she does not know much about children. She has also inherited her late husband’s mother and grandmother. The two dowagers have been in charge of life in the village and estate for quite some time They do not choose to let go of the reins easily.
There is also a chauffeur, Tom, or is he a possible beau? Same man and no one recognizes him as he changes his identity.
Yes, I know, it is evident I simply did not enjoy this book.
Evie has a woman to tea, and after the woman leaves, she dies. The dowager grandmother seems to take pleasure in talking about the fact, Evie may be a killer.
I LOVE HISTORICAL MYSTERIES. I particularly love the era between the two wars. I got this book because I wanted to love it. I simply cannot.
I know Ms Parin must be a talented author, this series is very successful. My rating for the book will based upon the fact that Ms Parin does descriptions very well.
I did not feel drawn to Evie, or any of the other characters.
I think this book was simply not a good fit for me.
May 28, 2019
I could not be bothered to finish it. Inacurate details, poor research and vocabulary.
August 19, 2019
Delusions of grandeur
A terrific read. Loved it but it still has not quite hit the 1920's feel. This has more vibes of the later books of Dorothy L Sayers with a female in the role of Lord Peter Wimsey. But nevertheless a delightful read that thankfully has nothing of the Great Gatsby about it (I know it's a classic but I really hated that book). A wonderful plot of jealousy and delusions with the male in the role of the put upon.
She has decided to come back to her husband's ancestral home only to find that both Dowagers had moved out and her maid upset about her charge being set to boarding school (shown by the malfunctions that her outfits suffered) and an attempt to take over the planning of the annual Hunt Ball. With two members of the committee being poisoned after having tea with her, she is viewed as the main suspect. Now with Tom and a young woman who broke down outside the manor she decides to investigate. Can they find the answer amidst all the evasions and secrets around them ad lead the police to the culprit?
A terrific read. Loved it but it still has not quite hit the 1920's feel. This has more vibes of the later books of Dorothy L Sayers with a female in the role of Lord Peter Wimsey. But nevertheless a delightful read that thankfully has nothing of the Great Gatsby about it (I know it's a classic but I really hated that book). A wonderful plot of jealousy and delusions with the male in the role of the put upon.
She has decided to come back to her husband's ancestral home only to find that both Dowagers had moved out and her maid upset about her charge being set to boarding school (shown by the malfunctions that her outfits suffered) and an attempt to take over the planning of the annual Hunt Ball. With two members of the committee being poisoned after having tea with her, she is viewed as the main suspect. Now with Tom and a young woman who broke down outside the manor she decides to investigate. Can they find the answer amidst all the evasions and secrets around them ad lead the police to the culprit?
February 18, 2019
Another fun & mysterious cozy mystery
What a fun book and mysterious in finding who was doing the murders. It was looking like Evie was the one causing the deaths, except why would she!? Of course that didn't stop the gossips from speculating that she did. Except she wasn't the last place the victims had been. So now they need to find out where and why they were murdered. Great cozy & looking forward to the number 3 book!
What a fun book and mysterious in finding who was doing the murders. It was looking like Evie was the one causing the deaths, except why would she!? Of course that didn't stop the gossips from speculating that she did. Except she wasn't the last place the victims had been. So now they need to find out where and why they were murdered. Great cozy & looking forward to the number 3 book!
April 16, 2019
Fun Cozy
I enjoy reading about post world war 1 England during the roaring twenties and I enjoy this series about an American heiress who married into the gentry. Fun, clean and engaging.
I enjoy reading about post world war 1 England during the roaring twenties and I enjoy this series about an American heiress who married into the gentry. Fun, clean and engaging.
February 27, 2019
Comical
Not fabulous but not bad, just a light hearted read. Love the clothes and the maid is fun. Also the cars are great.
Not fabulous but not bad, just a light hearted read. Love the clothes and the maid is fun. Also the cars are great.
January 9, 2020
Book 2 in the series, i loved the first one and this one. Cant wait to buy more.
Great book.
Great book.
March 6, 2022
Who killed Mrs. Howard-Smith and why??? And then…??? Lots of behind scenes action but I enjoyed the story and recommend the book.
February 15, 2019
Another winner
Another great read! I enjoyed this 2nd in this series. Now looking forward to number three. A really good read.
Another great read! I enjoyed this 2nd in this series. Now looking forward to number three. A really good read.
April 9, 2019
cute
Interesting characters and great plot keeps you guessing. For the first time I had the wrong suspect for the murder.
Interesting characters and great plot keeps you guessing. For the first time I had the wrong suspect for the murder.
August 6, 2019
Light, but tons of fun
I am really enjoying this series! It's got really interesting characters, very believable, although they have secrets and the author has left it to us to figure it out.
I am really enjoying this series! It's got really interesting characters, very believable, although they have secrets and the author has left it to us to figure it out.
March 25, 2019
I like this cozy series and this second book takes us to the country manor. Here we encounter the older generation who are currently at odds with the village ladies over the social pecking order. So when well meaning Evie brokers a peaceful tea and the guest of honor/main opponent of her in laws drops dead that evening suspicion points to her. Evie is still balancing her roles and the relationship with her bodyguard/chauffeur/crime solver. Enjoyable and surprising killer.
August 22, 2019
Enjoyable read well researched and written
I do like the characters and how they interact, it's fun having three Lady Woodridges the two dowager's being rather entertaining and appropriately determined to run everything their own way. Tom Winchester who is sometime chauffeur, sometime bodyguard and also a gentleman who slides into whichever role protects Evie best the drop of a hat obviously has more to reveal about his history. Potentially his background is truly the one he used with the houseguests at Bicky's in the first novel.
Evie, herself, is quirky, like a fish out of water, she tries to maintain the role of the Countess of Woodridge but her American upbringing was rather different from the British aristocracy and she sometimes flounders, in a charming way, with how to handle the situations she finds herself in.
Suspected of poisoning first one and then another lady from the local area, who were trying to take the running of the Hunt Ball away from the Woodridge Countesses with their Hunt Ball Committee, is considered reason enough for Evie to have poisoned them. When the Antipodean "Bright Young Thing" Phillipa, who's car has broken down leaving her stranded is taken in by Evie until her auto can be repaired, and Tom returns as "Mr Winchester" the three get to work to ensure that the truth will out.
I don't notice any out of place Americanisms and being as the two leading characters are both American it's not particularly out of place if there are some.
A genteel tale that's well researched and written. Peopled with entertaining and enjoyable characters who are developing with a consistency. So much better than her contemporaries in the genre Ms Parin writes a good cosy read with no blood and gore.
I hadn't realised that I had also read her Mackenzie Witches series some time ago and really wish I had found these sooner. I must have a reread after completing this series. I do hope that she will continue both series, very different but equally enjoyable.
I do like the characters and how they interact, it's fun having three Lady Woodridges the two dowager's being rather entertaining and appropriately determined to run everything their own way. Tom Winchester who is sometime chauffeur, sometime bodyguard and also a gentleman who slides into whichever role protects Evie best the drop of a hat obviously has more to reveal about his history. Potentially his background is truly the one he used with the houseguests at Bicky's in the first novel.
Evie, herself, is quirky, like a fish out of water, she tries to maintain the role of the Countess of Woodridge but her American upbringing was rather different from the British aristocracy and she sometimes flounders, in a charming way, with how to handle the situations she finds herself in.
Suspected of poisoning first one and then another lady from the local area, who were trying to take the running of the Hunt Ball away from the Woodridge Countesses with their Hunt Ball Committee, is considered reason enough for Evie to have poisoned them. When the Antipodean "Bright Young Thing" Phillipa, who's car has broken down leaving her stranded is taken in by Evie until her auto can be repaired, and Tom returns as "Mr Winchester" the three get to work to ensure that the truth will out.
I don't notice any out of place Americanisms and being as the two leading characters are both American it's not particularly out of place if there are some.
A genteel tale that's well researched and written. Peopled with entertaining and enjoyable characters who are developing with a consistency. So much better than her contemporaries in the genre Ms Parin writes a good cosy read with no blood and gore.
I hadn't realised that I had also read her Mackenzie Witches series some time ago and really wish I had found these sooner. I must have a reread after completing this series. I do hope that she will continue both series, very different but equally enjoyable.
February 19, 2019
I quite enjoyed the first book, but I wasn’t too sure about Tom, to be honest I could have done without him. I don’t really get what the author is trying to do with him. He obviously provides a support and counterpoint to Evie, but why in this ridiculous way. The dual role just didn’t work, in fact the author is trying to make him fulfil numerous roles; chauffeur, bodyguard, employee, guest, car thief, investigator, socialite, friend and perhaps in the future, a romantic interest?
As for the mystery, I found this quite weak and I was especially disappointed when the perpetrator was revealed.
As for the mystery, I found this quite weak and I was especially disappointed when the perpetrator was revealed.
April 2, 2019
Delightful reading
Evie is a quirky character that you would like to know in real life. With an agile mind and a fourth right attitude, she immerses herself in everything around her, including the murder of a local socialite. The other characters are fun and superbly written. A wonderful story with authentic details and masterful storytelling!
Evie is a quirky character that you would like to know in real life. With an agile mind and a fourth right attitude, she immerses herself in everything around her, including the murder of a local socialite. The other characters are fun and superbly written. A wonderful story with authentic details and masterful storytelling!
February 5, 2019
Terrific!
Evie, friends, and family have another murder to solve as she visits her country estate in England. Very engaging characters, good dialogue, entertaining pursuit of potential murderers, and an excellent, twisty plot provide an enjoyable cozy mystery in 1920!
Evie, friends, and family have another murder to solve as she visits her country estate in England. Very engaging characters, good dialogue, entertaining pursuit of potential murderers, and an excellent, twisty plot provide an enjoyable cozy mystery in 1920!
May 3, 2019
Good story and very colorful characters
I am truly enjoying getting to know Evie , Tom, and the supporting characters in Evie's life. Looking forward to the next book in this series.
I am truly enjoying getting to know Evie , Tom, and the supporting characters in Evie's life. Looking forward to the next book in this series.
December 1, 2019
Not much mystery
An entertaining look at County Life of the wealthy in the 1920s. But there is not much of a mystery or much of a resolution.
An entertaining look at County Life of the wealthy in the 1920s. But there is not much of a mystery or much of a resolution.
May 24, 2020
While the mystery is better in this book than the first in the series, the character development is what continues to delight.
Evie Parker has returned to the estate of her husband's family. Both her mother-in-law and her grandmother-in-law are still living but have inexplicably moved to the dower house. Evie thinks that Sarah and Henrietta may be sending her a message. She's not quite figured out what it is but they are distracted by the fact that a band of local ladies seem determined to wrest the Hunt Ball from the Woodbridges who have always hosted it. During the war, Woodbridge Hall was turned into a convalescent home and the dowager countesses were busy helping so the location moved. Now, the ladies want to take it back over but a newly relocated matron has decided that the local villagers should stay in charge. Unfortunately, this is the same matron who falls dead after visiting Evie for tea.
Evie is viewed with some suspicion but it gets worse when another woman from the same committee dies after another tea party at Evie's. Working again with Tom Winchester, as well as Phillipa, an Australian motorist who has been staying at the house since her motorcar broke down right outside the house, Evie is going to solve this murder to prove her own innocence.
Evie Parker has returned to the estate of her husband's family. Both her mother-in-law and her grandmother-in-law are still living but have inexplicably moved to the dower house. Evie thinks that Sarah and Henrietta may be sending her a message. She's not quite figured out what it is but they are distracted by the fact that a band of local ladies seem determined to wrest the Hunt Ball from the Woodbridges who have always hosted it. During the war, Woodbridge Hall was turned into a convalescent home and the dowager countesses were busy helping so the location moved. Now, the ladies want to take it back over but a newly relocated matron has decided that the local villagers should stay in charge. Unfortunately, this is the same matron who falls dead after visiting Evie for tea.
Evie is viewed with some suspicion but it gets worse when another woman from the same committee dies after another tea party at Evie's. Working again with Tom Winchester, as well as Phillipa, an Australian motorist who has been staying at the house since her motorcar broke down right outside the house, Evie is going to solve this murder to prove her own innocence.
January 15, 2020
It was a "cute read", much like a"Miss Marple" mystery by Agatha Christie or a "Miss Silver" mystery, crossed with a "Mapp & Lucia" comic novel by E. F. Benson.
It's set in the English country-house milieu. Evie is a dowager-countess (She is an American by birth and her husband was killed in the Great War) and she has moved to her late husband's manor. Her mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law live nearby. [A confusion of dowager-countesses.] Some socially up-and-coming ladies are oh-so-politely muscling in on running the dowagers' annual village fete, and taking credit for it. They had run it the previous year, when the countesses were in mourning. Evie, acting as mediator, invites them to have afternoon tea with her and her in-laws. One lady is dead before next morning. Poisoned. Another consultation regarding the fete results in another poisoned society matron. The police suspect Evie, the "American countess". So, Evie must find the murderer to clear her name, hoping that her in-laws had not put a bit of poison in the pot - "just to make them sick enough to bow out of the fete, darling."
It's set in the English country-house milieu. Evie is a dowager-countess (She is an American by birth and her husband was killed in the Great War) and she has moved to her late husband's manor. Her mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law live nearby. [A confusion of dowager-countesses.] Some socially up-and-coming ladies are oh-so-politely muscling in on running the dowagers' annual village fete, and taking credit for it. They had run it the previous year, when the countesses were in mourning. Evie, acting as mediator, invites them to have afternoon tea with her and her in-laws. One lady is dead before next morning. Poisoned. Another consultation regarding the fete results in another poisoned society matron. The police suspect Evie, the "American countess". So, Evie must find the murderer to clear her name, hoping that her in-laws had not put a bit of poison in the pot - "just to make them sick enough to bow out of the fete, darling."
January 21, 2021
This is another book in the 1920's series about England and Evie's becoming a countess and trying to adapt to a different societal structure than in the U.S. Cora, her maid, is still upset with her and has little ways of showing it. Phillipa is a new person, staying at the house until her car is fixed.
As expected, there's another murder. There's also another murder, both of poison and, of course, Evie is expected to be the murderer. One question is whether the murders have to do with the plans for a ball or whether they are somehow tied into romantic interests of the murdered women.
Then there's also meat pies involved.
It's a really fun type of murder mystery, especially since it involves a different culture which is something that I think is covered well in the series.
As expected, there's another murder. There's also another murder, both of poison and, of course, Evie is expected to be the murderer. One question is whether the murders have to do with the plans for a ball or whether they are somehow tied into romantic interests of the murdered women.
Then there's also meat pies involved.
It's a really fun type of murder mystery, especially since it involves a different culture which is something that I think is covered well in the series.
September 24, 2021
Meh. I guess this isn't the right series for me, however much it seems perfect on the surface. I couldn't keep track of the characters, sometimes I couldn't pin down the personalities of the characters I did recognize because they weren't consistent, I didn't understand why the main character would interpret the dowager countess' highly insulting remarks as "teasing" or why she would put up with her maid sabotaging her clothes over and over (and say "we get on so well" about the maid), and why one minute she was so American and broad minded and didn't want to be called "Countess" or "milady" but the next she was perfectly happy to settle down in the country manor as lady of the manor, and...you get the picture. It was all over the place, and just seemed rather shallow.
Read
April 2, 2020I realized as I began this book that I had DNFed another by the same author and hoped this would be better. It was not. I stopped reading soon enough that I will not give it a star rating.
Maybe it was supposed to be humorous, but if so, it did not succeed, and the characters just seemed incredibly petty and unappealing. I had quit the other book for its lack of credibility, and this one had aspects of that as well. For example, Evie's maid is unhappy that Evie sent her young stepson off to boarding school, so she pulls the petals off of the flowers in Evie's hat. I can't imagine a maid doing that or, if she did, getting away with it.
Maybe it was supposed to be humorous, but if so, it did not succeed, and the characters just seemed incredibly petty and unappealing. I had quit the other book for its lack of credibility, and this one had aspects of that as well. For example, Evie's maid is unhappy that Evie sent her young stepson off to boarding school, so she pulls the petals off of the flowers in Evie's hat. I can't imagine a maid doing that or, if she did, getting away with it.
November 23, 2020
This was a quite enjoyable book. In fact, I think I enjoyed it more than the first one in the series.
Evie seems a little frightened of her lady’s maid, Caro, in this story. She allows Caro to sabotage her clothing because Evie won’t allow her ward to remain at Halton House instead of going away to boarding school. This fear seems a little contrived. Why would the mistress of the house be nonplussed about an employee’s behavior when the mistress can very easily retain someone else for that position?
Evie seems a little frightened of her lady’s maid, Caro, in this story. She allows Caro to sabotage her clothing because Evie won’t allow her ward to remain at Halton House instead of going away to boarding school. This fear seems a little contrived. Why would the mistress of the house be nonplussed about an employee’s behavior when the mistress can very easily retain someone else for that position?
November 21, 2023
Can't decide if I like it or not
The heroine of this story is not the brightest, but then neither are the rest of the characters and the story itself feels thin. Things are not made very clear- just why was the hunt ball hijacked by the committee and why did the first victim feel so antagonistic to Evie for instance. They spent an inordinate amount of time looking for gardeners who were growing Foxgloves but foxgloves are a native wildflower and grow in most hedgehogs and woods not just gardens so a big chunk of the story is just nonsense.
The heroine of this story is not the brightest, but then neither are the rest of the characters and the story itself feels thin. Things are not made very clear- just why was the hunt ball hijacked by the committee and why did the first victim feel so antagonistic to Evie for instance. They spent an inordinate amount of time looking for gardeners who were growing Foxgloves but foxgloves are a native wildflower and grow in most hedgehogs and woods not just gardens so a big chunk of the story is just nonsense.
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