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Northwest Cozy Mystery #12
Murder at the Manor
Cecil Boatwright-Jones was the epitome of a crotchety old man
So crotchety he was murdered
After all, when you’re worth millions
And you won’t spend a dime
On your run-down English manor, Little Dockery
Or your family
Or anything else
Maybe murder is the answer
But it’s never acceptable
DeeDee and Jake wish they’d never left Seattle to accept a case in the village of Worcester, England. What started out as a wonderful excuse to spend some time in Europe quickly becomes a nightmare. Staying in a manor that has over one hundred rooms and a lot of secrets doesn’t make for pleasant dreams.
When everyone hates a man, finding people with a motive is not a problem. What is a problem is too many suspects with very good reasons to commit murder. DeeDee and Jake have another problem. If they don’t find the murderer, there’s a good chance they’ll be the next victims.
This is the 12th book in the Northwest Cozy Mystery Series by a two-time USA Today Bestselling Author.
So crotchety he was murdered
After all, when you’re worth millions
And you won’t spend a dime
On your run-down English manor, Little Dockery
Or your family
Or anything else
Maybe murder is the answer
But it’s never acceptable
DeeDee and Jake wish they’d never left Seattle to accept a case in the village of Worcester, England. What started out as a wonderful excuse to spend some time in Europe quickly becomes a nightmare. Staying in a manor that has over one hundred rooms and a lot of secrets doesn’t make for pleasant dreams.
When everyone hates a man, finding people with a motive is not a problem. What is a problem is too many suspects with very good reasons to commit murder. DeeDee and Jake have another problem. If they don’t find the murderer, there’s a good chance they’ll be the next victims.
This is the 12th book in the Northwest Cozy Mystery Series by a two-time USA Today Bestselling Author.
180 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 20, 2020
477 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 24, 2020
A bumbling cozy mystery poorly written...
Unfortunately, this is my first experience with this author. While I've read many cozy mysteries, and they've been well executed, sadly, this one is not. The investigative team brought to England from the US is bumbling and inept, constantly jumping to unfounded, and incorrect, conclusions, and seemingly the designated food and snack providers in every group scene. Jake went to a McDonalds in London and "bought himself a veritable feast..." The author has clearly never been to a McDonalds; it's all swill food. Walter sitting in a dining room and not being aware that an ambulance was on the property with its flashing lights which would have driven right by the dining room, but he could smell a cake cooking all the way from the kitchens. From a police officer stating, "If she wakes up, she'll be getting a thorough grilling from me. I'll make her wish she did die.", to an all cast meeting, after a murder and a poisoning, in the kitchen and baking a Victoria sponge that 'lifts all our spirits'. I barely made it to the end. My only consolation is that this book was free. I will give another of her free books a read, since so many people do rate her work on other books more highly, and hope for better.
Unfortunately, this is my first experience with this author. While I've read many cozy mysteries, and they've been well executed, sadly, this one is not. The investigative team brought to England from the US is bumbling and inept, constantly jumping to unfounded, and incorrect, conclusions, and seemingly the designated food and snack providers in every group scene. Jake went to a McDonalds in London and "bought himself a veritable feast..." The author has clearly never been to a McDonalds; it's all swill food. Walter sitting in a dining room and not being aware that an ambulance was on the property with its flashing lights which would have driven right by the dining room, but he could smell a cake cooking all the way from the kitchens. From a police officer stating, "If she wakes up, she'll be getting a thorough grilling from me. I'll make her wish she did die.", to an all cast meeting, after a murder and a poisoning, in the kitchen and baking a Victoria sponge that 'lifts all our spirits'. I barely made it to the end. My only consolation is that this book was free. I will give another of her free books a read, since so many people do rate her work on other books more highly, and hope for better.
March 5, 2020
Formulaic
Not impressed. Simplistic story with a very sudden and rushed ending. The characters were not interesting. I can not in any way recommend
Not impressed. Simplistic story with a very sudden and rushed ending. The characters were not interesting. I can not in any way recommend
May 16, 2020
Having all of her books, this one tried several times to get into the story and couldn’t, seemed to rambled with the different people.
A bit of history, an old manor to fix up, seemed interesting.
A bit of history, an old manor to fix up, seemed interesting.
March 11, 2021
I enjoyed this book but with a male narrator (all the previous books by this author has been female) it felt like a whole new series. I liked the fact that DeeDee and Jake travelled to England, finally a cozy mystery in a place that I know well and can easily imagine, well apart from living in a huge manor or having a murder happen. The mystery was interesting and it is not surprising that such a grumpy old man had so many suspects that could have carried out his murder. I think I had guessed who the killer was but was no where near coming up with the motive, a nice twist. I like the characters but it did feel strange no Bolto the husky.
DeeDee and Jake travel to England when a woman is accused of killing her father and hires them to prove her innocence. The grumpy rich old man lived in a stately manor that has seen better days and the daughter is relying on her inheritance to mix it up but with possibility of being accused of his murder the inheritance is on hold. DeeDee and Jake will have a number of suspects to eliminate because the man never met any body that he didn't insult, pick on or was just plain rude to. But a small town where everybody knows everybody's business is not the place to carry out a covert investigation and the killer strikes back.
The narrator was good as a reader but I am use to a female playing the part of the characters and it took a while to get use to the characters sounding so different. He used special effects such as echoes well.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
DeeDee and Jake travel to England when a woman is accused of killing her father and hires them to prove her innocence. The grumpy rich old man lived in a stately manor that has seen better days and the daughter is relying on her inheritance to mix it up but with possibility of being accused of his murder the inheritance is on hold. DeeDee and Jake will have a number of suspects to eliminate because the man never met any body that he didn't insult, pick on or was just plain rude to. But a small town where everybody knows everybody's business is not the place to carry out a covert investigation and the killer strikes back.
The narrator was good as a reader but I am use to a female playing the part of the characters and it took a while to get use to the characters sounding so different. He used special effects such as echoes well.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
October 28, 2020
Murder at the Manor takes Dee Dee and Jack Rogers to England to investigate the murder of Cecil Boatwright-Jones. Worth millions, he lived in the village of Finchingfield in an English manor--Little Dockery. Someone killed him with a syringe of potassium chloride. There is no shortage of suspects who didn't like the crotchety old man. His daughter, Cordelia, needs to find out who killed him so she can get her father's inheritance and begin to restore the manor. Dee Dee and Jack meet many interesting people in England. I enjoyed this book and the way author Dianne Harman provides reasons why people might have wanted Cecil dead.
October 27, 2021
Unloved to death…
DeeDee and Jake have been hired to investigate the suspicious death of a wealthy recluse in England. They soon discover that it is doubtful anyone will mourn the passing of Cecil Boatwright-Jones, including his family. His cruelty and selfishness are legendary and provide ample motives for anyone who knew him and the isolation of the minimally staffed manor allows virtually undetectable access.
Dianne Harman has the perfect recipe for another crime mystery in this series. The characters and plot twists kept me guessing until the very end. I especially like the tasty recipes included at the end of the book and can’t wait to try the Fry Bread and Scones!
DeeDee and Jake have been hired to investigate the suspicious death of a wealthy recluse in England. They soon discover that it is doubtful anyone will mourn the passing of Cecil Boatwright-Jones, including his family. His cruelty and selfishness are legendary and provide ample motives for anyone who knew him and the isolation of the minimally staffed manor allows virtually undetectable access.
Dianne Harman has the perfect recipe for another crime mystery in this series. The characters and plot twists kept me guessing until the very end. I especially like the tasty recipes included at the end of the book and can’t wait to try the Fry Bread and Scones!
August 27, 2024
Murder at the Manor: A Northwest Cozy Mystery (Northwest Cozy Mystery Series Book 12), my sixteenth read/listen from author Dianne Harman and my third read in her Northwest Cozy Mystery Series. Well-written and developed, a joy to read/listen to. I received an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. Charlie Glaize's narration adds to an excellent book's enjoyment. I look forward to reading more in this series & from this author, in fact I just put Murder on Bainbridge Island: A Northwest Cozy Mystery (Northwest Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) on my TBR list. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
August 6, 2021
I have read al the books in this series and have enjoyed them all. This book started out to be interesting in that the plot took DeeDee and Jake to England. Their intentions sounded good: find out who was the killer? Then to complicate things, Cordelia was poisoned. The ending was interesting that DeeDee found the killer via the Internet. I found the book easy reading but it really did not hold my interest thus the 3 star reading. Of course this is just my opinion and I will continue to read all future books in this series.
July 10, 2020
English Adventure
I loved this book! Made me want to go to visit England! The way they described the countryside was fabulous. I would love to visit. But the police described in the book aren’t very nice. They’re rather rude!!! Only issue I have are the secondary characters and why they didn’t get punished. Or if they did, why wasn’t it mentioned in the epilogue?? That’s all!! Recipes are great! English recipes at that!!!
I loved this book! Made me want to go to visit England! The way they described the countryside was fabulous. I would love to visit. But the police described in the book aren’t very nice. They’re rather rude!!! Only issue I have are the secondary characters and why they didn’t get punished. Or if they did, why wasn’t it mentioned in the epilogue?? That’s all!! Recipes are great! English recipes at that!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2020
Sometimes these cozy mysteries are a bit formulaic (and at times that is exactly what I want/like). But this one was really intriguing -- with crazy, excentric English locals, and Dee Dee and Jake navigating the clues with their usual insight and grace. I loved this episode in the Northwest Cozy series.
July 12, 2020
This is the 12th in the series. The main characters are DeeDee and Jake. They go over to England to help Cordelia prove herself innocent of the murder of her dad. They are having a heck of a time figuring out anything, when someone tries to murder Cordelia. Now they really have to figure this out fast, Can they do it ?
July 5, 2022
12th book in the Northwest cozy mystery series finds DeeDee and Jake in the Cotswolds in England investigating a murder. The old manor house is falling apart and when Cecil is found dead of poisoning, they work hard to figure out who did it. Several likely suspects abound but they finally figure it out.
November 16, 2024
interesting book
This was an interesting book to read; from the English manor to driving in England and trying to solve a murder, lots of action. Dealing with English law versus American law was also interesting. Hopefully I can find the next book in this series because following the adventures of DeeDee and Jake make for exciting reading,
This was an interesting book to read; from the English manor to driving in England and trying to solve a murder, lots of action. Dealing with English law versus American law was also interesting. Hopefully I can find the next book in this series because following the adventures of DeeDee and Jake make for exciting reading,
January 31, 2020
A Light Fun Read
This is one of those cozy mysteries that is pure escape reading. I mostly read nonfiction but I like to break it up by reading an occasional mystery. This is a quick run read with very likeable characters.
This is one of those cozy mysteries that is pure escape reading. I mostly read nonfiction but I like to break it up by reading an occasional mystery. This is a quick run read with very likeable characters.
April 12, 2020
Our Seattle Investigators Go To England
Jack and DeeDee go to a small village in the Cotswolds, hired by Cordelia to prove her innocence and find who killed her father. The old man was a terrible person, so there were many suspects. Very well done.
Jack and DeeDee go to a small village in the Cotswolds, hired by Cordelia to prove her innocence and find who killed her father. The old man was a terrible person, so there were many suspects. Very well done.
April 18, 2020
Jake and DeeDee in London
Jake and DeeDee are hired by a woman who is accused of murdering her abuse father, only to find out there are many other people who wanted him dead. As always a wonderful storyline, characters and great recipes!
Jake and DeeDee are hired by a woman who is accused of murdering her abuse father, only to find out there are many other people who wanted him dead. As always a wonderful storyline, characters and great recipes!
August 13, 2020
So it’s off to England that we go!!! I know that DeeDee and Jake have never met a killer like this one!! Pretty scary!! I like the way the book was written and the little twists and turns. I really love this series, this is my favorite one by Ms Harman!!
October 10, 2020
While Dee Dee's catering business is doing well she and Jake receive an invitation to help solve a murder in the Cotswolds near London. Upon arrival they find a family of unhappy relatives, any one of which could be the one.. Dianne's books are always fun!
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October 23, 2020
Boring
Was hard for me to finish reading. I usually love her books but this one sucked. It just seem to drone on & on. Your guess is as good as mine. I hope the next book is a whole lot better. Thanks Riee
Was hard for me to finish reading. I usually love her books but this one sucked. It just seem to drone on & on. Your guess is as good as mine. I hope the next book is a whole lot better. Thanks Riee
March 22, 2021
Hard to guess who used the needle
The story had me second guessing my original guess. As I worked my way through the new suspects introduced, I kept changing my original guess. The reason behind the reason for the murder was something new. Enjoyable read.
The story had me second guessing my original guess. As I worked my way through the new suspects introduced, I kept changing my original guess. The reason behind the reason for the murder was something new. Enjoyable read.
May 20, 2021
From Seattle to England...Jake and DeeDee Go International
Jake and DeeDee take a case in England and there are more than enough suspects. An old English manor in disrepair, murder, strained family relationships...a perfect cozy mystery.
Jake and DeeDee take a case in England and there are more than enough suspects. An old English manor in disrepair, murder, strained family relationships...a perfect cozy mystery.
July 8, 2021
Murder in the English countryside
The storyline was good, though the creepy factor was a little higher in this one. This one is 13th in the series and felt a little stale to me. I did enjoy the descriptions of the locale, the manor, and some of the villagers.
The storyline was good, though the creepy factor was a little higher in this one. This one is 13th in the series and felt a little stale to me. I did enjoy the descriptions of the locale, the manor, and some of the villagers.
December 2, 2022
A Little slow. The characters are ok just not something I could connect with. Just didn't ring true. No action to speak of. Guessed the murderer half way through. Would recommend for a beach read. Lazy day and don't want to get excited.
March 31, 2023
I enjoy mysteries and this one was difficult to figure out. DeeDee and Jake seemed to not know how to investigate and choosing who did it was totally wrong. Hoping that the next one is more interesting.
January 22, 2020
Excellent book
Another excellent book by Dianne Harman. This is a great series and this story is set in England. Can't wait for the next book.
Another excellent book by Dianne Harman. This is a great series and this story is set in England. Can't wait for the next book.
Read
January 24, 2021was a good book, could not put it d0wn,
December 26, 2021
Couldn't put it down
Really a good book. Kept me interested to the end. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery.
Really a good book. Kept me interested to the end. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery.
September 7, 2022
Another fun mystery read. This one takes place at an English mansion.
June 27, 2024
British edition!
I found this one to be intriguing. Loved hearing about the everyday life of a small English village. The food the pub the house with their low doors
I found this one to be intriguing. Loved hearing about the everyday life of a small English village. The food the pub the house with their low doors
July 19, 2020
Great!!
I am a huge fan of all things English countryside. This book is filled with character and mystery. Dianne keeps you guessing,!
I am a huge fan of all things English countryside. This book is filled with character and mystery. Dianne keeps you guessing,!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews