Alibi for a Cold Winter's Night

Cybil Quindt Mysteries #3

by Ilsa Mayr

No good deed goes unpunished. Apprentice investigator Cybil Quindt never paid much attention to that saying until the cold days of December when three people in the homeless shelter where she volunteers are poisoned.  Though the powers that be would like to blame the killings on the homeless community, Cybil suspects that the murderer is someone who would profit by closing the shelter, which occupies a prime real estate location.

Before she can investigate, she is hired by an industrial maven to tail a husband suspected of philandering. When he and his pregnant mistress are murdered, Cybil is fleetingly tempted to believe in absolute evil. However, a break-in at the shelter, the stalking presence of a mysterious figure, and an attack on her life convince Cybil that the murders are connected and rooted in greed, jealousy, and hate.

Genres: Mystery

233 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book in the series that I had read. I thought the mystery was just ok. I did find myself a bit bored a little after half way through. I love that the setting took place in winter and it had an interesting story line involving a homeless shelter.
Homeless people start showing up dead around the shelter and its up to the main character who is a volunteer there to find out just who has it out for these people.
I had no issues with character development, being this is not the first book in the series, its a story all on its own.

[Roxann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a series featuring Cybil Quindt, who is learning to be a private investigator. A murder has taken place in a homeless shelter and it’s Cybil’s job to become a volunteer there and help solve the murder. She also has a second job to investigate a rich ‘cheating’ husband. More murders and a break-in occur before an ending is written that brings everything together.

Cybil is an appealing character. It is easy to identify with her and her personal situations. The plot was very well done.

I enjoyed the book and would read another from the author Ilsa Mayr.

[Alton Motobu · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Westport, Indiana, a few days before Christmas, three clients of a homeless shelter are killed for no apparent reason. Later a wealthy benefactor and his lover are murdered. Shelter volunteer (and P.I. trainee, Cybil Quindt) investigates whether the murders are all related. On the last page of the story the killer is revealed, but motives and methodology are not clear. There are many tangents, but not all of them are resolved. Similar story line to REQUIEM AT THE REFUGE by Sr. Carol Anne O'Marie which takes place in a battered women's shelter in San Francisco: clients are killed and wealthy benefactors are involved. I prefer O'Marie's version.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars. Rambled. Rushed ending. Too loose.

[Heather L · Rating 2 out of 5]

An okay mystery. There were some aspects that did not gel for me.

[Isabel Mansfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy Reading

[Rosemary Yoboby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Easy reading book

This book keeps you wanting to finish it. Hard to put down. Great plot. Easy to read I enjoyed it