What do you think?
Rate this book
Penny Brannigan #10
Remembering the Dead
In award-winning author Elizabeth J. Duncan's tenth Penny Brannigan mystery, Welsh amateur sleuth Penny Brannigan attends a dinner party at a posh country house--where a historic chair disappears and a waiter is murdered.
Artist and spa owner Penny Brannigan is dressed to the nines for a formal dinner at a charming country house. After dinner, the guests adjourn to the library for a private exhibition of the Black Chair, a precious piece of Welsh literary history awarded in 1917 to poet Hedd Wyn. But to the guests' shock, the newly restored bardic chair is missing. And then Penny discovers the rain-soaked body of a waiter.
When Penny learns that the victim was the nephew of one of her employees, she is determined to find the killer. Meanwhile, the local police search for the Black Chair. The Prince of Wales is traveling north to see the chair, so time is not on their side. A visit to a nursing home to consult an ex-thief convinces Penny that the Black Chair is connected to the waiter's murder. She rushes to Dublin to confront a disagreeable antiquarian, a gaggle of unsavory travelers, and an eccentric herbalist who seems to have something to hide. Can Penny find the chair and the culprit before she is laid to rest in the green grass of Wales?
Artist and spa owner Penny Brannigan is dressed to the nines for a formal dinner at a charming country house. After dinner, the guests adjourn to the library for a private exhibition of the Black Chair, a precious piece of Welsh literary history awarded in 1917 to poet Hedd Wyn. But to the guests' shock, the newly restored bardic chair is missing. And then Penny discovers the rain-soaked body of a waiter.
When Penny learns that the victim was the nephew of one of her employees, she is determined to find the killer. Meanwhile, the local police search for the Black Chair. The Prince of Wales is traveling north to see the chair, so time is not on their side. A visit to a nursing home to consult an ex-thief convinces Penny that the Black Chair is connected to the waiter's murder. She rushes to Dublin to confront a disagreeable antiquarian, a gaggle of unsavory travelers, and an eccentric herbalist who seems to have something to hide. Can Penny find the chair and the culprit before she is laid to rest in the green grass of Wales?
296 pages, Hardcover
Published September 10, 2019
38 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth J. Duncan
23 books399 followersAfter graduating from Carleton University, Ottawa, with a BA in English, Elizabeth J. Duncan worked as a writer and editor for some of Canada’s largest newspapers, and as a public relations practitioner.
A two-time winner of the Bloody Words Award for Canada's best light mystery, she is the author of two traditional mystery series, Penny Brannigan set in North Wales and Shakespeare in the Catskills featuring costume designer Charlotte Fairfax,
Elizabeth divides her time between Toronto, Canada and Llandudno, North Wales.
A two-time winner of the Bloody Words Award for Canada's best light mystery, she is the author of two traditional mystery series, Penny Brannigan set in North Wales and Shakespeare in the Catskills featuring costume designer Charlotte Fairfax,
Elizabeth divides her time between Toronto, Canada and Llandudno, North Wales.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
September 13, 2019
Remembering The Dead is the tenth book in the Penny Brannigan series.
Penny is asked by the owner of a manor house nearby to plan a party for him. The party is to celebrate “The Black Chair” which was given to Hedd Wyn posthumously, having been killed in WWI, the chair has been refurbished and will be heading to Wyn’s home which has been restored and will serve as a memorial. Dinner is finished and everyone is heading for the grand unveiling, but as they enter the room it is found that chair is no longer there. This is particularly saddening as the chair not only being valuable, but the Prince of Wales will be coming to Wyn house opening. Penny immediately goes outdoors to see if there are any clues as to might have made off with the chair, but what she finds instead is a dead body. The body is later identified as the nephew of one of her employees, Rhians. Penny decides to look into who might have been responsible for both the theft of the chair and the killing of one of the servants. In doing so needs to find out what her teenager friend, Jimmy, is unwilling to share with her and she runs across a former beau during her investigation.
Once again Elizabeth J. Duncan provides us with an interesting at Wales in a well-written and plotted story with well developed and interesting characters. The book kept me guessing until the end.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the Penny Brannigan series.
Penny is asked by the owner of a manor house nearby to plan a party for him. The party is to celebrate “The Black Chair” which was given to Hedd Wyn posthumously, having been killed in WWI, the chair has been refurbished and will be heading to Wyn’s home which has been restored and will serve as a memorial. Dinner is finished and everyone is heading for the grand unveiling, but as they enter the room it is found that chair is no longer there. This is particularly saddening as the chair not only being valuable, but the Prince of Wales will be coming to Wyn house opening. Penny immediately goes outdoors to see if there are any clues as to might have made off with the chair, but what she finds instead is a dead body. The body is later identified as the nephew of one of her employees, Rhians. Penny decides to look into who might have been responsible for both the theft of the chair and the killing of one of the servants. In doing so needs to find out what her teenager friend, Jimmy, is unwilling to share with her and she runs across a former beau during her investigation.
Once again Elizabeth J. Duncan provides us with an interesting at Wales in a well-written and plotted story with well developed and interesting characters. The book kept me guessing until the end.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the Penny Brannigan series.
June 11, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!
The first thought I had when I started was 'Oh no, this book appears to be later in a series I haven't read'. Yes, this is typical with me and cozies, and you either sink or swim. Thankfully, this is a swim kind of book and you became entralled by the mystery of the whodunnit. The set up was probably a little long for most people's taste, but I needed it coming into this blind. It meant I got a bit of backstory and had more of an idea of who and what to expect. Still though, it was a well crafted mystery and the eventual outcome was very satisfactory.
What I really liked in this one was the research into the area and the Chair. It made everything feel authentic and real, which helped immerse me in the story. I really liked the extended list of characters too, and that some returned from previous books where they might not have had the same role.
This is yet another series where I need to go back to the roots, but it looks like with book ten that it is still going strong. Five stars.
The first thought I had when I started was 'Oh no, this book appears to be later in a series I haven't read'. Yes, this is typical with me and cozies, and you either sink or swim. Thankfully, this is a swim kind of book and you became entralled by the mystery of the whodunnit. The set up was probably a little long for most people's taste, but I needed it coming into this blind. It meant I got a bit of backstory and had more of an idea of who and what to expect. Still though, it was a well crafted mystery and the eventual outcome was very satisfactory.
What I really liked in this one was the research into the area and the Chair. It made everything feel authentic and real, which helped immerse me in the story. I really liked the extended list of characters too, and that some returned from previous books where they might not have had the same role.
This is yet another series where I need to go back to the roots, but it looks like with book ten that it is still going strong. Five stars.
May 15, 2019
A Penny Brannigan book will catch your attention from the beginning and will hold it until the end. The 10th installment will not disappoint you as Penny searches for the killer of a server at a formal dinner to celebrate the 1O0th year anniversary the end of World War One. A chair was given to poet, Hedd Wyn and it important as a piece of Welsh history will make an appearance. It is known as the Black Chair.
Penny is the event chairman and is upset at the dinner when the Black Chair has disappeared. She is more upset when she finds one of her wait staff dead just outside the mansion. She vows to find the killer and justice for the boy. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND SERIES.
Disclosure: Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
Penny is the event chairman and is upset at the dinner when the Black Chair has disappeared. She is more upset when she finds one of her wait staff dead just outside the mansion. She vows to find the killer and justice for the boy. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND SERIES.
Disclosure: Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
February 6, 2020
I've read this series since the beginning and I love how the world of Llanelen and the characters have grown and expanded as the series progressed. In this one, Penny is tasked with preparing an elegant old fashioned dinner party at the local estate, featuring a historic artifact - The Black Chair, an honorary award given to celebrated bards; this one was given to a poet who died in WWI and was posthumously awarded the chair. After being refurbished, it is set to become the feature attraction at a local museum, but not before being unveiled at the dinner party. The dinner party mostly goes off without a hitch until a waiter goes missing and is later found dead -and the chair is missing! Penny sets off to find out who killed the young man and to find the missing historic piece.
Penny is quite involved with this one, even to go so far as to take the ferry to Ireland to track down a suspect. She also has to deal with a caravan of gypsies who set up camp in a field next to her house, the re-appearance of Gareth, who is in town to settle some affairs, and several other small problems that crop up. I enjoyed watching Penny slowly untangle all the threads to expose a killer and a thief, and I love catching up with the villagers in the tiny Welsh town.
Always a good read, this is another excellent addition to the Penny Brannigan series.
Penny is quite involved with this one, even to go so far as to take the ferry to Ireland to track down a suspect. She also has to deal with a caravan of gypsies who set up camp in a field next to her house, the re-appearance of Gareth, who is in town to settle some affairs, and several other small problems that crop up. I enjoyed watching Penny slowly untangle all the threads to expose a killer and a thief, and I love catching up with the villagers in the tiny Welsh town.
Always a good read, this is another excellent addition to the Penny Brannigan series.
August 23, 2019
This is the 10th book in the series, but I was able to muddle through fairly well. While at a dinner party that is supposed to end with the unveiling of Hedd Wyn’s Black Chair from 1917(which has been restored), we discover that the chair has been stolen and a person has been killed. The police were called in, but Penny has decided that she needs to investigate as well. Since Penny’s had experience solving mysteries in the past, no one objects to her involvement.
This is billed as a cozy mystery, but it was longer and drier than I would’ve liked. I normally devour this genre, but I just couldn’t get into the characters or story. I’m also a huge fan of anything historical, so it really threw me when I couldn’t get into it at all.
**I was provided an ARC of this story from Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
This is billed as a cozy mystery, but it was longer and drier than I would’ve liked. I normally devour this genre, but I just couldn’t get into the characters or story. I’m also a huge fan of anything historical, so it really threw me when I couldn’t get into it at all.
**I was provided an ARC of this story from Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
September 27, 2019
I have read all ten of the Penny Brannigan books. It is a series that I keep up with. When a new book comes out, I immediately search it out. Penny, who is a Canadian, when on a hiking trip through Wales fell in love with the country and moved there. She started out in the early books as a manicurist and now is a co-owner of a successful spa in her town.
I enjoy the books for the repeating characters. Mrs. Lloyd is a customer who know everyone's business. Over time I realized that I enjoy her character. I feel the author also perhaps has a soft spot for her from how she writes the character.
This book contained a stolen historical artifact, a dinner party in a country house, a murder and a missing person. Along the way, we meet a young artistic Irish traveler who I hope is in future books.
Another thing I like about the series, is that Penny works with the local police. She finds out valuable information and then puts it into their hands. They respect her opinion. She is not the type to go down into a dark basement without her cell phone. She uses her head while deducting. She, also, does not need a man to make her happy. She recently let a suitor go as she could see his feeling were more serious than hers. She enjoys her independence. I should mention too that a serious hobby with her is painting landscapes.
I am looking forward now to the eleventh book when it comes out. I enjoy this series.
I enjoy the books for the repeating characters. Mrs. Lloyd is a customer who know everyone's business. Over time I realized that I enjoy her character. I feel the author also perhaps has a soft spot for her from how she writes the character.
This book contained a stolen historical artifact, a dinner party in a country house, a murder and a missing person. Along the way, we meet a young artistic Irish traveler who I hope is in future books.
Another thing I like about the series, is that Penny works with the local police. She finds out valuable information and then puts it into their hands. They respect her opinion. She is not the type to go down into a dark basement without her cell phone. She uses her head while deducting. She, also, does not need a man to make her happy. She recently let a suitor go as she could see his feeling were more serious than hers. She enjoys her independence. I should mention too that a serious hobby with her is painting landscapes.
I am looking forward now to the eleventh book when it comes out. I enjoy this series.
September 23, 2019
4.5 Stars
This is the tenth book in the Penny Brannigan series by Elizabeth J. Duncan.
I am in awe of this author. A new favorite for me.
Sometimes when you read series with a lot of installments(books), you discover that the current books aren’t always as surprising or interesting as the previous books. I didn’t find that to be the case here. It felt like this was maybe book four or five in the series instead of ten. I thought that was pretty cool! Kudos to you for making it look so easy, Ms. Duncan.
Basic premise: Penny is roped into helping to plan an unexpected dinner party. An artifact (a chair) from near the turn of the century is coming to town and a local man has asked that the people in charge of it let the chair come to his home for a brief viewing. It will then be shown during an elaborate dinner party at this man’s house. The chair is then stolen and a waiter found dead before the night was complete. Now Penny is in investigation mode trying to uncover the killer.
I really enjoyed some of the people she met along the way like a young girl who had a passion for drawing plants, a thief who resided in a nursing home and a woman who was a bit of a wanderer. I also liked that there was a Detective Investigator in this book. I am not sure why they are so much more appealing to me than normal Detectives here in the states. I guess I must be weird that way. There was an odd entrance of the previous Detective Inspector that I thought was odd. I have not read other books in this series so I assume he was an important part of the series when it first started. Maybe the author was just trying to keep his memory alive in us in case he showed up in a future book in an important role.
I thought the mystery was excellent. It was a very circular plot and the story sort of wrapped around itself. I thought that was pretty neat. The lady Detective Inspector was wonderful and very patient which you don’t see a lot in cozy mysteries. Usually the police are merely annoyed by the amateur sleuth that they dare try and solve the mystery before they do.
I will definitely be reading more from this author. I find her work a bit unassuming and wish she had more of a cover the popped in order to draw other readers to her work. Wonderful stuff. Highly recommended.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is the tenth book in the Penny Brannigan series by Elizabeth J. Duncan.
I am in awe of this author. A new favorite for me.
Sometimes when you read series with a lot of installments(books), you discover that the current books aren’t always as surprising or interesting as the previous books. I didn’t find that to be the case here. It felt like this was maybe book four or five in the series instead of ten. I thought that was pretty cool! Kudos to you for making it look so easy, Ms. Duncan.
Basic premise: Penny is roped into helping to plan an unexpected dinner party. An artifact (a chair) from near the turn of the century is coming to town and a local man has asked that the people in charge of it let the chair come to his home for a brief viewing. It will then be shown during an elaborate dinner party at this man’s house. The chair is then stolen and a waiter found dead before the night was complete. Now Penny is in investigation mode trying to uncover the killer.
I really enjoyed some of the people she met along the way like a young girl who had a passion for drawing plants, a thief who resided in a nursing home and a woman who was a bit of a wanderer. I also liked that there was a Detective Investigator in this book. I am not sure why they are so much more appealing to me than normal Detectives here in the states. I guess I must be weird that way. There was an odd entrance of the previous Detective Inspector that I thought was odd. I have not read other books in this series so I assume he was an important part of the series when it first started. Maybe the author was just trying to keep his memory alive in us in case he showed up in a future book in an important role.
I thought the mystery was excellent. It was a very circular plot and the story sort of wrapped around itself. I thought that was pretty neat. The lady Detective Inspector was wonderful and very patient which you don’t see a lot in cozy mysteries. Usually the police are merely annoyed by the amateur sleuth that they dare try and solve the mystery before they do.
I will definitely be reading more from this author. I find her work a bit unassuming and wish she had more of a cover the popped in order to draw other readers to her work. Wonderful stuff. Highly recommended.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
September 2, 2019
Remembering the Dead by Elizabeth J. Duncan is the tenth A Penny Brannigan Mystery. Emyr Gruffydd is going to host a dinner in honor of the hundredth anniversary of Armistice Day and he has asked Penny Brannigan to help organize the event. There will be a display of World War I artifacts plus the newly restored Black Chair that was awarded posthumously to Welsh poet Hedd Wyn in 1917. When they remove the black drape from the bardic chair, they find it is gone. Penny is looking for Lane Hardwick who disappeared during the dinner service and discovers one of the waiter’s dead outside. The waiter is Rhodri Phillips, the nephew of her spa receptionist, Rhian who asks Penny to investigate. Remembering the Dead can be read as a standalone for those who are new to the series, but I would recommend reading The Cold Light of Mourning first which will introduce you to the series. I thought the book was well-written with developed characters. Mrs. Lloyd, Jimmy and Dilys are back. Mrs. Lloyd is the town busy body. She likes to attend the big events and know the latest gossip. Jimmy provides insight on the theft of the chair (being a former thief himself). Dilys is an unconventional woman who roams the area and drinks an herbal tea that is unappealing. We meet Riley who is staying in the traveller’s encampment near Penny’s house and a talented artist. It was interesting to learn about the Black Chair and the poet, Hedd Wyn. It would have been helpful if there had been a pronunciation guide for the Welsh names. Elizabeth J. Duncan is a descriptive writer which allows the reader to imagine the characters and the scenes, but it does slow down the pacing. The mystery is multifaceted with a twist or two. I like how it all tied together in the end, but I did feel it could have used a little tweaking. There were some tense moments that will have you quickly flipping the pages. Solving the mystery, though, is not a challenge. There are lovely cozy moments and the tea was hot and abundant. Reading Remembering the Dead is a pleasing way to spend a quiet afternoon. Remembering the Dead is a diverting cozy mystery with a delicious dinner, a misplaced bardic chair, encamped traveller’s, a wandering waiter, a lost coffee aficionado, and one kindhearted sleuth.
July 27, 2019
This was an okay cozy mystery. It is the tenth in the Penny Brannigan series but worked well for this new reader. Penny is a spa owner and artist and is apparently famous in her small town for solving murders.
She is asked to organize a formal dinner for a local landowner who plans to display the Black Chair which was given posthumously to the Welsh poet Hedd Wyn in 1917 after he died in World War I. The chair has been restored and is to be displayed in a restored farm site. In just three weeks, it will be visited by the Prince of Wales.
Things go well getting the dinner organized but somehow between the appetizer and the main course somebody makes off with the chair. Worst of all, the leave the body of a young local waiter behind. Also a young learning disabled man who was supposed to man the coffee station after the dinner is missing.
It turns out that the young waiter was the nephew of one of Penny's employees at the spa. So while she understands the importance of finding the chair, she is more focused and finding her missing young friend and solving the murder of the waiter.
The story does bring back a couple of her old boyfriends. One is a retired police officer who is moving to Scotland because of a woman he met. Penny isn't sorry to see him go since their relationship lacked the spark she wanted. The other was a bit of a bounder who didn't happen to mention that he had a wife while he was romancing Penny.
The story nicely weaves a number of different plot threads on the way to this story's satisfying conclusion. Fans of the series will enjoy revisiting old friends. This new reader is eager to read some of the earlier books.
She is asked to organize a formal dinner for a local landowner who plans to display the Black Chair which was given posthumously to the Welsh poet Hedd Wyn in 1917 after he died in World War I. The chair has been restored and is to be displayed in a restored farm site. In just three weeks, it will be visited by the Prince of Wales.
Things go well getting the dinner organized but somehow between the appetizer and the main course somebody makes off with the chair. Worst of all, the leave the body of a young local waiter behind. Also a young learning disabled man who was supposed to man the coffee station after the dinner is missing.
It turns out that the young waiter was the nephew of one of Penny's employees at the spa. So while she understands the importance of finding the chair, she is more focused and finding her missing young friend and solving the murder of the waiter.
The story does bring back a couple of her old boyfriends. One is a retired police officer who is moving to Scotland because of a woman he met. Penny isn't sorry to see him go since their relationship lacked the spark she wanted. The other was a bit of a bounder who didn't happen to mention that he had a wife while he was romancing Penny.
The story nicely weaves a number of different plot threads on the way to this story's satisfying conclusion. Fans of the series will enjoy revisiting old friends. This new reader is eager to read some of the earlier books.
April 28, 2019
Penny has been asked to organize an old fashion dinner party at the hall for her friend Emyr, where the unveiling of one of Wales national treasure the black chair would take place. Although the dinner was a success things didn’t go that well with the chair. Faced with two perplexing scenarios the disappearance of the chair and a murder, Penny finds herself involved in trying to solve the two crimes. A rather enjoyable and interesting read.
September 10, 2019
It's the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last.
I appreciated the well written cast of character, the pace, and the setting.
I loved the description of the setting that made me wish to be back in Wales, a place I love.
The mystery is good and it kept me guessing.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I appreciated the well written cast of character, the pace, and the setting.
I loved the description of the setting that made me wish to be back in Wales, a place I love.
The mystery is good and it kept me guessing.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
September 30, 2019
Penny Brannigan is asked to help organize a real, old-fashioned dinner party by the local squire, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War I and to see a famous artifact, a chair awarded to a poet who died in the war. The dinner goes well, until the chair is stolen and one of the waiters hired for the event is killed. The dead man had a connection to Penny's spa, and she's determined to find his murderer. At the same time, she's concerned about the chair, especially as it's to be shown at an exhibition attended by the Prince of Wales. In the course of events, Penny is also able to clear up some past issues in her romantic life, and seems to be set to become a mentor to a teenaged girl.
March 27, 2020
Enjoyable read - didn't even skip to the end of the book, which saying a lot for me.
October 9, 2023
Ten books in to this series, and I am still enjoying the characters and story. Reading Remembering the Dead felt like dropping in on old friends. Duncan weaves Welsh culture and history into every plot. In this one, a precious chair awarded to a WWI era poet is stolen, the same night as a young artist is murdered. Are the two related? Of course, Penny is on the scene, both as an amateur sleuth, and as an artist.
July 16, 2019
Enjoyed this book. This one made me think I'll have to check out the rest of the series. I've delayed publishing the full review until closer to publication date in September.
April 30, 2019
Another fine story in this very readable, thoughtful mystery series. The WWI connection in this entry is fascinating, adding a special dimension to yet another mystery for Penny to solve. The author has done an outstanding job in giving the readers an authentic historical background, intriguing characters, and vivid descriptions of the great Welsh setting. A highly reliable series that every library should acquire.
August 8, 2019
I am not sure how I did not pick up this series before, but I am so glad I did. I am going to read the previous books because this one was such a terrific book.
A top notch whodunit and great characters.
I highly recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
A top notch whodunit and great characters.
I highly recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
June 18, 2019
When Penny is asked by her friend Emyr to help plan a dinner party in order to show a select few the famed Welsh treasure, the Black Chair, she agrees. With the help of several locals, everything seems to be going swimmingly. She's also pleased that her young friend Lane is able to help as a server, and seems to be doing well, until he falls in the back pantry and spills drinks. Although he insists he's fine, Penny's not so sure when Lane disappears. And when the showing finally arrives, so does the Black Chair.
But it doesn't stop there - a young waiter is found fatally injured, and so the house becomes a crime scene, and everyone is a suspect. Worse still, they need to find the chair in three weeks' time, when the Prince of Wales is going to dedicate it where it will stand in a museum. Penny also discovers that the dead waiter is the nephew of one of her employees, and the woman asks her to help find the killer.
Now Penny's on the trail of a missing chair, a missing young man, and a missing killer. With the clock ticking against her, will she find the murderer or will he or she get away with stealing a national treasure and a killing?
This was basically a closed-door mystery without actually being closed-door. To wit: the murderer had to be someone in the home at the time of the theft of the chair, or a person who allowed the murderer to enter. Thus, we set the stage for Penny to eliminate guests and decide who the murderer might be.
When she acknowledges that she knows nearly all the guests, we have it narrowed down quite quickly. But then there's the sticking point of figuring out why the chair was targeted, and why the young man was murdered. Thus begins the investigation.
However, a couple of things irritated me. The host, Emyr, was an idiot. He should never have allowed his guests to leave, instead telling them that the police would, in all likelihood, wish to speak with them before they went home. But nooo --- he didn't want to inconvenience his guests, of course, so he'd rather lose a national treasure and possibly allow a murderer time to escape somewhere else. I ask you, does this make any sense at all? Anyone with any sense would know to keep their guests in the home, inconvenience be damned. After all, it was a matter of time, and if any of them - including the servers - knew anything, one would think that the police would be able to tell from body language. Honestly, the police didn't even seem to be really concerned that Lane was missing, which seemed odd as well.
Even if they were townspeople, time is of the essence in a murder, and I have never known the police to be happy when people were just allowed to leave and go their own way - nor a host who would rather them do so than be upset with him. I also didn't understand when, later on, he was upset that the forensics team was combing his house and grounds when a murder occurred. What did he expect them to do? Just say, 'oh, well, he'll be upset, and the killer may turn up eventually.' One would think he'd want to be helpful to find the killer and the Black Chair, not be annoyed.
I have several of the Penny Brannigan mysteries, and while I admit that Penny is intelligent and knows what she's about, she's well, rather dull as a person. There's no spark to her. She was perfect to organize the evening as she's methodical, but she doesn't have any real life within her. I can't imagine us being friends as she'd more than likely put me to sleep on a regular basis. (Which is why I am glad the mysteries are well written!).
I also didn't understand why we were told that Penny was a 'fulfilled, independent woman' but then admitted how it would be nice to come home to someone; if she wants that, all she has to do is put herself out there and date once in a while. Also, why was Gareth even in the book? If she had no regrets about losing him, it seemed odd that he should appear in a couple of scenes. There was also another person Penny was once fond of who showed up here, but this book seemed a bit to be about Penny burning bridges behind her. Maybe others didn't notice, but I certainly did. Either that, or the author was trying to show us how much better off Penny was 'without a man in her life.'
Other than that, I felt the book was written well, and the plot was done nicely, too. There weren't a lot of red herrings; but then there probably wasn't meant to be. It was more that there were a number of threads which, when pulled upon, lead to even more threads, and all those threads finally wound up together to weave the story into a final fabric that came together in one piece.
Once we discovered the reason for everything happening, you have to wonder why people think the way they do. Every action has a consequence, and every consequence leads to another action on someone else's part. It's an inescapable part of life; and in this case it lead to a tragic outcome that could have been prevented but wasn't.
All in all, the story kept me reading throughout the night, and I do like that; Penny is very clever and is able to hear one bit of information that leads her to several 'aha' moments, which is a good trait to have; and I liked the fact that she didn't run headlong into situations that could cause her danger. She actually thought about her course of action before she decided to take it. In the end, I liked the resolution to the story, and everything, of course, was tied up nicely. Recommended.
But it doesn't stop there - a young waiter is found fatally injured, and so the house becomes a crime scene, and everyone is a suspect. Worse still, they need to find the chair in three weeks' time, when the Prince of Wales is going to dedicate it where it will stand in a museum. Penny also discovers that the dead waiter is the nephew of one of her employees, and the woman asks her to help find the killer.
Now Penny's on the trail of a missing chair, a missing young man, and a missing killer. With the clock ticking against her, will she find the murderer or will he or she get away with stealing a national treasure and a killing?
This was basically a closed-door mystery without actually being closed-door. To wit: the murderer had to be someone in the home at the time of the theft of the chair, or a person who allowed the murderer to enter. Thus, we set the stage for Penny to eliminate guests and decide who the murderer might be.
When she acknowledges that she knows nearly all the guests, we have it narrowed down quite quickly. But then there's the sticking point of figuring out why the chair was targeted, and why the young man was murdered. Thus begins the investigation.
However, a couple of things irritated me. The host, Emyr, was an idiot. He should never have allowed his guests to leave, instead telling them that the police would, in all likelihood, wish to speak with them before they went home. But nooo --- he didn't want to inconvenience his guests, of course, so he'd rather lose a national treasure and possibly allow a murderer time to escape somewhere else. I ask you, does this make any sense at all? Anyone with any sense would know to keep their guests in the home, inconvenience be damned. After all, it was a matter of time, and if any of them - including the servers - knew anything, one would think that the police would be able to tell from body language. Honestly, the police didn't even seem to be really concerned that Lane was missing, which seemed odd as well.
Even if they were townspeople, time is of the essence in a murder, and I have never known the police to be happy when people were just allowed to leave and go their own way - nor a host who would rather them do so than be upset with him. I also didn't understand when, later on, he was upset that the forensics team was combing his house and grounds when a murder occurred. What did he expect them to do? Just say, 'oh, well, he'll be upset, and the killer may turn up eventually.' One would think he'd want to be helpful to find the killer and the Black Chair, not be annoyed.
I have several of the Penny Brannigan mysteries, and while I admit that Penny is intelligent and knows what she's about, she's well, rather dull as a person. There's no spark to her. She was perfect to organize the evening as she's methodical, but she doesn't have any real life within her. I can't imagine us being friends as she'd more than likely put me to sleep on a regular basis. (Which is why I am glad the mysteries are well written!).
I also didn't understand why we were told that Penny was a 'fulfilled, independent woman' but then admitted how it would be nice to come home to someone; if she wants that, all she has to do is put herself out there and date once in a while. Also, why was Gareth even in the book? If she had no regrets about losing him, it seemed odd that he should appear in a couple of scenes. There was also another person Penny was once fond of who showed up here, but this book seemed a bit to be about Penny burning bridges behind her. Maybe others didn't notice, but I certainly did. Either that, or the author was trying to show us how much better off Penny was 'without a man in her life.'
Other than that, I felt the book was written well, and the plot was done nicely, too. There weren't a lot of red herrings; but then there probably wasn't meant to be. It was more that there were a number of threads which, when pulled upon, lead to even more threads, and all those threads finally wound up together to weave the story into a final fabric that came together in one piece.
Once we discovered the reason for everything happening, you have to wonder why people think the way they do. Every action has a consequence, and every consequence leads to another action on someone else's part. It's an inescapable part of life; and in this case it lead to a tragic outcome that could have been prevented but wasn't.
All in all, the story kept me reading throughout the night, and I do like that; Penny is very clever and is able to hear one bit of information that leads her to several 'aha' moments, which is a good trait to have; and I liked the fact that she didn't run headlong into situations that could cause her danger. She actually thought about her course of action before she decided to take it. In the end, I liked the resolution to the story, and everything, of course, was tied up nicely. Recommended.
January 11, 2020
Reviewed at The Power of Words: https://bit.ly/35DCmPz
For anyone who enjoys British mysteries, the Penny Brannigan series by Elizabeth J. Duncan is a winner. And a Welsh setting is simply the icing on the cake! I discovered this series many years ago when searching for murder mysteries set in the UK and have greatly enjoyed each story. Remembering the Dead easily stands alone, but reading through the series gives a familiarity with the characters and setting.
Remembering the Dead is one of my favorites from the series, probably because of its historical detail and theme of honoring those who served and died in the first World War. I learned that Wales is a country that honors poets, the historical chair symbolizing that “the poet has a place at the table of princes.” The Black Chair itself was a national treasure, considered to be the masterpiece of a Belgian refugee. That it was bestowed upon a national poet was something that every person in the country would have known about – not exactly easy for a thief to hide.
Remembering the Dead has all the elements of a cozy mystery – murder committed off stage, amateur detective, idyllic setting – but is more serious and complex than what is typical for this genre. That’s a compliment, something that I loved about this story. The author vividly conveys the North Wales setting of Llanelen, with its natural beauty and interesting residents. When asked to organize a dinner party at Emyr’s estate, Ty Brith Hall, to celebrate Remembrance Day and mark the end of World War I, Penny Brannigan involves a few friends and business connections to help. The Black Chair, with its connection to the war, will also be there for one night, for the chair “represents all the empty chairs in front of the hearth that the lads and men of World War I never came home to.”
The mystery is well crafted, with beautiful prose, and one clue seemingly leading to another. I loved that there was a self-contained group of suspects, for the thief/murderer almost had to be a guest, staff, or someone with intimate knowledge of Emyr’s estate. Penny Brannigan makes a great protagonist with her skill, logic, intelligence and insight. She is methodic in her investigation and doesn’t rush headlong into danger. I loved reconnecting with some of the recurring characters who play important parts, such as the gossipy Mrs. Lloyd, ex-thief Jimmy, and eccentric herbalist Dilys. Remembering the Dead is an excellent mystery, one that I never wanted to put down.
Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
For anyone who enjoys British mysteries, the Penny Brannigan series by Elizabeth J. Duncan is a winner. And a Welsh setting is simply the icing on the cake! I discovered this series many years ago when searching for murder mysteries set in the UK and have greatly enjoyed each story. Remembering the Dead easily stands alone, but reading through the series gives a familiarity with the characters and setting.
Remembering the Dead is one of my favorites from the series, probably because of its historical detail and theme of honoring those who served and died in the first World War. I learned that Wales is a country that honors poets, the historical chair symbolizing that “the poet has a place at the table of princes.” The Black Chair itself was a national treasure, considered to be the masterpiece of a Belgian refugee. That it was bestowed upon a national poet was something that every person in the country would have known about – not exactly easy for a thief to hide.
Remembering the Dead has all the elements of a cozy mystery – murder committed off stage, amateur detective, idyllic setting – but is more serious and complex than what is typical for this genre. That’s a compliment, something that I loved about this story. The author vividly conveys the North Wales setting of Llanelen, with its natural beauty and interesting residents. When asked to organize a dinner party at Emyr’s estate, Ty Brith Hall, to celebrate Remembrance Day and mark the end of World War I, Penny Brannigan involves a few friends and business connections to help. The Black Chair, with its connection to the war, will also be there for one night, for the chair “represents all the empty chairs in front of the hearth that the lads and men of World War I never came home to.”
The mystery is well crafted, with beautiful prose, and one clue seemingly leading to another. I loved that there was a self-contained group of suspects, for the thief/murderer almost had to be a guest, staff, or someone with intimate knowledge of Emyr’s estate. Penny Brannigan makes a great protagonist with her skill, logic, intelligence and insight. She is methodic in her investigation and doesn’t rush headlong into danger. I loved reconnecting with some of the recurring characters who play important parts, such as the gossipy Mrs. Lloyd, ex-thief Jimmy, and eccentric herbalist Dilys. Remembering the Dead is an excellent mystery, one that I never wanted to put down.
Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
August 11, 2019
Remembering the Dead is the 10th instalment in the "Penny Brannigan" Mystery series. At first I thought is this a reprint but realized I must of read a previous instalment. This reads more as a traditional mystery than cozy in my opinion and took me longer to read. It was like stepping back to when all I read was British mysteries. This can be read as a stand alone but recommend reading in order.
Canadian amateur sleuth Penny Brannigan attends a dinner party at a posh country house--where a historic chair disappears and a waiter is murdered.
Artist and spa owner Penny Brannigan has been asked to organize a formal dinner to mark the centenary of the armistice that ended World War One. After dinner, the guests adjourn to the library for a private exhibition of the Black Chair, a precious piece of Welsh literary history awarded in 1917 to poet Hedd Wyn. But to the guests' shock, the newly restored bardic chair is missing. And then Penny discovers the rain-soaked body of a waiter.
When Penny learns that the victim was the nephew of one of her employees, she is determined to find the killer. Meanwhile, the local police search for the Black Chair. The Prince of Wales is due to open an exhibit featuring the chair in three weeks, so time is not on their side. A visit to a nursing home to consult an ex-thief convinces Penny that the theft of the Black Chair and the waiter's murder are connected. She rushes to Dublin to consult a disagreeable antiquarian, who might know more than he lets on, and during the course of her investigation confronts a gaggle of suspicious travelers and an eccentric herbalist who seems to have something to hide. Can Penny find the chair and the culprit before she is laid to rest in the green grass of Wales?
Story is well written and the Welsh setting is lovely. I liked Penny but other character felt more alive to me. Love Mrs Lloyd, Jimmy and little Riley as well a few other characters.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Canadian amateur sleuth Penny Brannigan attends a dinner party at a posh country house--where a historic chair disappears and a waiter is murdered.
Artist and spa owner Penny Brannigan has been asked to organize a formal dinner to mark the centenary of the armistice that ended World War One. After dinner, the guests adjourn to the library for a private exhibition of the Black Chair, a precious piece of Welsh literary history awarded in 1917 to poet Hedd Wyn. But to the guests' shock, the newly restored bardic chair is missing. And then Penny discovers the rain-soaked body of a waiter.
When Penny learns that the victim was the nephew of one of her employees, she is determined to find the killer. Meanwhile, the local police search for the Black Chair. The Prince of Wales is due to open an exhibit featuring the chair in three weeks, so time is not on their side. A visit to a nursing home to consult an ex-thief convinces Penny that the theft of the Black Chair and the waiter's murder are connected. She rushes to Dublin to consult a disagreeable antiquarian, who might know more than he lets on, and during the course of her investigation confronts a gaggle of suspicious travelers and an eccentric herbalist who seems to have something to hide. Can Penny find the chair and the culprit before she is laid to rest in the green grass of Wales?
Story is well written and the Welsh setting is lovely. I liked Penny but other character felt more alive to me. Love Mrs Lloyd, Jimmy and little Riley as well a few other characters.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own
April 5, 2019
Remembering the Dead is a delightful cozy mystery that you can curl up with.
This Penny Brannigan mystery begins when the famous Black Chair disappears from a private dinner/exhibition followed by the discovery of the body of one of the waiters. Penny then begins her quest to find out more information from different individuals in hopes of putting the pieces together and find the missing chair and killer.
I am not familiar with this series, but after finishing a different book with a more somber tone - this book came at the perfect time for me. It wasn't perfect, but I found it relaxing, plus I learned a bit of history as well that I wasn't expecting. In fact, I looked up the real Black Chair just to see it and it is quite something.
As a reader of mystery, I often times find the real pleasure in the book is trying to figure out who the culprit is by narrowing down from a sea of potential culprits and still not really knowing who it is by the end of the book. Because Remembering the Dead happens within a closed setting (someone's home) you might expect that multiple attendees were suspects or had conflicting testimonies or were able to tell just enough information that leaves you with more questions. However, I didn't really feel that this occurred and this is where my own conflict regarding the story comes from. While a lot happened at the party, I didn't really have a sea of potential culprits to select from and narrow down.
Overall, it was a pleasant read, but I just needed a little more.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This Penny Brannigan mystery begins when the famous Black Chair disappears from a private dinner/exhibition followed by the discovery of the body of one of the waiters. Penny then begins her quest to find out more information from different individuals in hopes of putting the pieces together and find the missing chair and killer.
I am not familiar with this series, but after finishing a different book with a more somber tone - this book came at the perfect time for me. It wasn't perfect, but I found it relaxing, plus I learned a bit of history as well that I wasn't expecting. In fact, I looked up the real Black Chair just to see it and it is quite something.
As a reader of mystery, I often times find the real pleasure in the book is trying to figure out who the culprit is by narrowing down from a sea of potential culprits and still not really knowing who it is by the end of the book. Because Remembering the Dead happens within a closed setting (someone's home) you might expect that multiple attendees were suspects or had conflicting testimonies or were able to tell just enough information that leaves you with more questions. However, I didn't really feel that this occurred and this is where my own conflict regarding the story comes from. While a lot happened at the party, I didn't really have a sea of potential culprits to select from and narrow down.
Overall, it was a pleasant read, but I just needed a little more.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2019
If you are new to this series, please don't be put off by the fact that this is the 10th in the series. It stands on its own very well and, if you like it as much as I did, you have nine books to enjoy. Penny Brannigan is a wonderful character and the setting is perfect. Penny even takes a trip to Ireland in this one in her search for clues to catch a killer.
Somebody has stolen a chair and, in the process, committed a murder. Who would kill over a chair? Well, this is a historical chair, known as the Black Chair and it was awarded back in 1917 to poet Hedd Wyn. It's Welsh literary history and its refurbishment was the reason for the gathering for a formal dinner at a local country house. Penny is in attendance and gets more than what was on the dinner menu. Instead of after dinner drinks and more conversation with fellow guests, they find that the famous chair has gone missing, replaced by a plain old chair. Penny goes outside to look for evidence of the thief only to discover homicide. As this isn't her first dead body, she goes into investigation mode and follows the clues. She realizes that the victim and the chair are connected and she travels to Ireland, trying to beat the clock in finding the killer and retuning the chair. The Prince of Wales is on his way to view the chair. Will it make its return in time?
This series is one that keeps its place on my must read list. When I start the latest one I'm certain to find a five star mystery to engage me. I haven't been disappointed yet.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Somebody has stolen a chair and, in the process, committed a murder. Who would kill over a chair? Well, this is a historical chair, known as the Black Chair and it was awarded back in 1917 to poet Hedd Wyn. It's Welsh literary history and its refurbishment was the reason for the gathering for a formal dinner at a local country house. Penny is in attendance and gets more than what was on the dinner menu. Instead of after dinner drinks and more conversation with fellow guests, they find that the famous chair has gone missing, replaced by a plain old chair. Penny goes outside to look for evidence of the thief only to discover homicide. As this isn't her first dead body, she goes into investigation mode and follows the clues. She realizes that the victim and the chair are connected and she travels to Ireland, trying to beat the clock in finding the killer and retuning the chair. The Prince of Wales is on his way to view the chair. Will it make its return in time?
This series is one that keeps its place on my must read list. When I start the latest one I'm certain to find a five star mystery to engage me. I haven't been disappointed yet.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 29, 2019
Remembering the Dead is the 10th installment in the "Penny Brannigan" Mystery series. I highly recommend the entire series Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the ARC. My opinion is my own.
In this next in series our intrepid protagonist Penny Brannigan attends a dinner party at quite the posh country house. Right away this reminded me of Agatha Christie with the perfect setting of a dinner party in a mysterious house .
Penny Brannigan has been asked to organize the formal dinner to mark the the armistice that ended World War One. After dinner, the guests gather together for a private exhibition of the Black Chair, a precious piece Welsh literary history awarded in 1917 to poet Hedd Wyn. But to the guests' shock the chair is missing. Right away everyone is a suspect and when a murder of a employee occurs Penny is on the case. Penny believes the two are connected and she is investigating on her suspicions of both the missing chair and the murder.
This cozy mystery has it all. A fun setting at a mysterious gathering, a historic item of Welsh significance and a surprising list of suspects. Penny is a savvy investigator and proven to be adept at finding the truth behind the murder and the missing item. A very fun mystery that kept me guessing to conclusion.
In this next in series our intrepid protagonist Penny Brannigan attends a dinner party at quite the posh country house. Right away this reminded me of Agatha Christie with the perfect setting of a dinner party in a mysterious house .
Penny Brannigan has been asked to organize the formal dinner to mark the the armistice that ended World War One. After dinner, the guests gather together for a private exhibition of the Black Chair, a precious piece Welsh literary history awarded in 1917 to poet Hedd Wyn. But to the guests' shock the chair is missing. Right away everyone is a suspect and when a murder of a employee occurs Penny is on the case. Penny believes the two are connected and she is investigating on her suspicions of both the missing chair and the murder.
This cozy mystery has it all. A fun setting at a mysterious gathering, a historic item of Welsh significance and a surprising list of suspects. Penny is a savvy investigator and proven to be adept at finding the truth behind the murder and the missing item. A very fun mystery that kept me guessing to conclusion.
October 17, 2019
#10 in the Penny Brannigan series. This 2019 series entry from author Elizabeth J. Duncan is brimming over with Welsh atmosphere and literary history. It is a cozy and series fans will see all their favorite series characters but they will also see what a small world coincidence makes. Penny travels to the university town and shares a café table with two young women who happen to be students who are familiar with the instructor she is seeking and also recognize the student she is asking about. This is just one of many coincidences, but this is a cozy so we won't let that get in the way of enjoying the tale and the Welsh flavor.
Penny Brannigan, a spa owner in Llanelen, Wales, is tasked by Emyr Gruffydd to plan a black-tie dinner party to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI. The party will include an exhibit of WWI artifacts, including the newly restored Black Chair, a historic Welsh treasure awarded posthumously to poet Hedd Wyn, the 1917 winner of Wales' highest literary honor. During the party, the chair disappears, and a waiter is found dead. Penny is asked to investigate the murder by the dead man's family, and Emyr wants her to locate the chair before the Prince of Wales' visit to Wyn's former home, now a museum. Penny is also worried about a witness who has disappeared.
Penny Brannigan, a spa owner in Llanelen, Wales, is tasked by Emyr Gruffydd to plan a black-tie dinner party to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI. The party will include an exhibit of WWI artifacts, including the newly restored Black Chair, a historic Welsh treasure awarded posthumously to poet Hedd Wyn, the 1917 winner of Wales' highest literary honor. During the party, the chair disappears, and a waiter is found dead. Penny is asked to investigate the murder by the dead man's family, and Emyr wants her to locate the chair before the Prince of Wales' visit to Wyn's former home, now a museum. Penny is also worried about a witness who has disappeared.
April 5, 2019
With thanks to the author, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.
Description
"In award-winning author Elizabeth J. Duncan's tenth Penny Brannigan mystery, Welsh amateur sleuth Penny Brannigan attends a dinner party at a posh country house--where a historic chair disappears and a waiter is murdered.
Artist and spa owner Penny Brannigan is dressed to the nines for a formal dinner at a charming country house. After dinner, the guests adjourn to the library for a private exhibition of the Black Chair, a precious piece of Welsh literary history awarded in 1917 to poet Hedd Wyn. But to the guests' shock, the newly restored bardic chair is missing. And then Penny discovers the rain-soaked body of a waiter."
I enjoyed this book and the nostalgic elements of this foray into Wales with Penny and her fellow villagers. Whilst there are a lot of things going on around the storyline, the characters are well described and interesting. I did find it a little slow at times as it is quite descriptive but this was never a serious concern as it quickly picked up again. I did not see the twist coming until it arrived, so the mystery was played out. Overall I would recommend this book and I would not hesitate to read other works by this author.
Description
"In award-winning author Elizabeth J. Duncan's tenth Penny Brannigan mystery, Welsh amateur sleuth Penny Brannigan attends a dinner party at a posh country house--where a historic chair disappears and a waiter is murdered.
Artist and spa owner Penny Brannigan is dressed to the nines for a formal dinner at a charming country house. After dinner, the guests adjourn to the library for a private exhibition of the Black Chair, a precious piece of Welsh literary history awarded in 1917 to poet Hedd Wyn. But to the guests' shock, the newly restored bardic chair is missing. And then Penny discovers the rain-soaked body of a waiter."
I enjoyed this book and the nostalgic elements of this foray into Wales with Penny and her fellow villagers. Whilst there are a lot of things going on around the storyline, the characters are well described and interesting. I did find it a little slow at times as it is quite descriptive but this was never a serious concern as it quickly picked up again. I did not see the twist coming until it arrived, so the mystery was played out. Overall I would recommend this book and I would not hesitate to read other works by this author.
April 21, 2019
What’s better than a good cozy? A good cozy that weaves some actual historical content into the storyline! This tenth entry in the Penny Brannigan series does just that and hit the mark on all fronts.
When the Black Chair, a piece of Welsh history, is restored and heading back for a grand celebration, one of the locals manages to arrange for it to be shown at his country manor house on the journey back home. With a private dinner party arranged, Penny agrees to coordinate the dinner. But when the chair is stolen and one of the servers is murdered, Penny finds the death hits closer to home as it turns out to be the nephew of her receptionist at the spa.
Penny has a feeling that an old flame may have a hand in the theft, though she struggles to believe he would have murdered anyone. As Penny pokes around she finds more dots and begins connecting them. While her hunch is strong, the police can’t make an arrest without evidence and Penny seems unable to connect those last few dots.
UK cozies always seem to be cozier and this series is no exception. I enjoy the Penny Brannigan series and have yet to be disappointed. A great series to add to your cozy must read authors.
When the Black Chair, a piece of Welsh history, is restored and heading back for a grand celebration, one of the locals manages to arrange for it to be shown at his country manor house on the journey back home. With a private dinner party arranged, Penny agrees to coordinate the dinner. But when the chair is stolen and one of the servers is murdered, Penny finds the death hits closer to home as it turns out to be the nephew of her receptionist at the spa.
Penny has a feeling that an old flame may have a hand in the theft, though she struggles to believe he would have murdered anyone. As Penny pokes around she finds more dots and begins connecting them. While her hunch is strong, the police can’t make an arrest without evidence and Penny seems unable to connect those last few dots.
UK cozies always seem to be cozier and this series is no exception. I enjoy the Penny Brannigan series and have yet to be disappointed. A great series to add to your cozy must read authors.
September 10, 2019
While this is the tenth in the Penny Brannigan mystery series, it is the first book that I have rad by Elizabeth J. Duncan. I so enjoyed it, I immediately purchased the first in the series and will read my way through them in order. This book can easily be read stand-alone and doesn’t seem to contain too much by way of spoilers for previous books.
In this story, Penny is confronted with a theft, a missing person and a murder. It seems as though all must be related and Penny goes to work solving all three.
Penny is a co-owner of a spa and, luckily for her, she can take off and go sleuthing. In this case, it kind squeezes the employees of the spa into doing more work than usual; however, they are all dedicated to having the crime solved.
The action takes place both in Wales and in Ireland and Penny heads across on the ferry to track down clues.
I didn’t see the entire end of the whodunnit but had a pretty good idea of part of the solution. I really enjoyed being surprised by the end and look forward to the next installment in the series.
I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.
In this story, Penny is confronted with a theft, a missing person and a murder. It seems as though all must be related and Penny goes to work solving all three.
Penny is a co-owner of a spa and, luckily for her, she can take off and go sleuthing. In this case, it kind squeezes the employees of the spa into doing more work than usual; however, they are all dedicated to having the crime solved.
The action takes place both in Wales and in Ireland and Penny heads across on the ferry to track down clues.
I didn’t see the entire end of the whodunnit but had a pretty good idea of part of the solution. I really enjoyed being surprised by the end and look forward to the next installment in the series.
I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.
June 4, 2019
This 10th installment in Duncan's Penny Brannigan series is a real treat for cozy fans!! I'd estimate that I read about 60 to 70 different mystery series and this Elizabeth J. Duncan series is a top 3 series for me. Of the first 10 books in the series, this one was my favorite!!
In this series, set in a village in North Wales, this particular book involves a dinner party for a World War 1-connected event. The plot is outstanding and I intend this as a high compliment, but it has an old-fashioned feeling. Though set in the present day, the story is well-told and proceeds at just the right pace. I also love the series characters who, over the course of these 10 books, have become "friends," at least in book terms.
This may well be my favorite mystery of the year, so far. Highly, highly recommended for cozy fans. I'd give it more than 5 stars, if I could.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.)
In this series, set in a village in North Wales, this particular book involves a dinner party for a World War 1-connected event. The plot is outstanding and I intend this as a high compliment, but it has an old-fashioned feeling. Though set in the present day, the story is well-told and proceeds at just the right pace. I also love the series characters who, over the course of these 10 books, have become "friends," at least in book terms.
This may well be my favorite mystery of the year, so far. Highly, highly recommended for cozy fans. I'd give it more than 5 stars, if I could.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.)
January 17, 2020
With shelves filled with unread books and several recent gifts waiting, I still visited my local library, knowing something would call to me. Voila! The latest book in the Penny Brannigan series is set in North Wales, possibly in a small town that is the unnamed murder capital of the UK.
Author Elizabeth Duncan has developed characters who have evolved over the series, changing with the times. Here she reaches back to 1917, honoring a Welsh poet who was killed in WWI, providing the reader with the history of his literary prize, the Black Chair. The descriptions of Ty Brith Hall, where a commemorative dinner is held, and the small town along the River Conwy reflect the history of North Wales and its beauty.
Of course, there is a murder, and Penny doggedly tracks clues. Along the way, she deals with a few men from her past, pays attention to her business, and most importantly, shows kindness and understanding to those who need it the most.
Author Elizabeth Duncan has developed characters who have evolved over the series, changing with the times. Here she reaches back to 1917, honoring a Welsh poet who was killed in WWI, providing the reader with the history of his literary prize, the Black Chair. The descriptions of Ty Brith Hall, where a commemorative dinner is held, and the small town along the River Conwy reflect the history of North Wales and its beauty.
Of course, there is a murder, and Penny doggedly tracks clues. Along the way, she deals with a few men from her past, pays attention to her business, and most importantly, shows kindness and understanding to those who need it the most.
August 30, 2019
When the local squire has a chance to display the Black Chair, a piece of Welsh history awarded posthumously to poet Hedd Wyn in 1917, Penny Brannigan is called in to help arrange a dinner for the local dignitaries. There hasn't been a dinner at the manor for some time and everyone is excited to either attend or help the event go off well.
Unfortunately, not only is the chair gone by the end of the evening, there's a dead body discovered as well. And when it's discovered to be the relative of one of Penny's employees, the grief quickly hits home. Characters both old and new feature in the solving of this mystery which ends up being a bigger planned heist than first thought.
I don't think you will need to have read previous books in the series but it probably helps. I didn't think the mystery quite came together in the end but it was nice to visit some of our favorite characters and to see at least one former baddie get his comeuppance.
Unfortunately, not only is the chair gone by the end of the evening, there's a dead body discovered as well. And when it's discovered to be the relative of one of Penny's employees, the grief quickly hits home. Characters both old and new feature in the solving of this mystery which ends up being a bigger planned heist than first thought.
I don't think you will need to have read previous books in the series but it probably helps. I didn't think the mystery quite came together in the end but it was nice to visit some of our favorite characters and to see at least one former baddie get his comeuppance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews