Poison in Paddington

Cassie Coburn Mystery #1

by Samantha Silver

When Cassie Coburn moved to London, she never thought she'd be involved in a quadruple homicide.

After a car accident ended her medical career before it even started, Cassie moved to London on a whim, expecting to see the sights and live the typical tourist backpacker lifestyle.

Instead she finds herself accompanying a French private detective, Violet Despuis, as they attempt to find out who poisoned four people in the middle of London.

Cassie's life soon includes this crazy detective, an ancient landlady with a curious past, a mischeivous orange cat who likes going for walks on a leash, and a super hot pathologist that Cassie is sure is out of her league.

And they haven't even found the murderer yet...

The Cassie Coburn mysteries are a cozy mystery series featuring a Sherlock-holmes style sleuth. If you want a light, fun, modern mystery featuring a San Francisco girl totally out of her element in London, and a crazy French woman who happens to be very good at noticing things, then this is the series for you.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Contemporary, Ebooks, Mystery Thriller

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 6, 2016

About the author

Samantha Silver lives in British Columbia, Canada, along with her husband and seventeen-year-old dog named Terra.

When she's not writing cozy mysteries, Samantha loves travelling (she's most recently been to Egypt, Jordan and Florida) skiing, eating Dairy Queen, and complaining about how hard running is.

To be notified about new releases, giveaways, sneak previews and more, sign up for Samantha's newsletter by visiting http://www.samanthasilverwrites.com/n...

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolute gem of a find amongst the drivel that has been offered lately in the cosy mystery genre, made even more enticing by being able to pick it up for free during a recent promotion by the author.
A cosy mystery with bite, we see our main characters Cassie and Violet, opposites in every way, join forces to help solve a crime that perplexes the police at every turn. Violet is super entertaining with her Sherlock-like observations while being exceptionally lacking in people skills. She takes Cassie under her wing, finding a person she can bounce her theories off while giving Cassie a new purpose in life and teaching her the finer points of investigation. Highly recommended for lovers of quality cosy mysteries.

[Obsidian · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. I really enjoyed this, but wish it had been a but longer. And I Hought that parts of Cassie's backstory we're a bit confusing. This is why I gave it five stars, but did not favorite it.

The first book in the Cassie Coburn mystery series (there are four books in this series) follows Cassie after a life changing accident changes her prospects of being a surgeon. Cassie movies from San Francisco to London to get over her depression that still lingers since her accident. After a bike of her gets stolen she has a hilarious meet up with a French woman named Violet Despuis who is a private detective helping out the London police. Violet takes an interest in Cassie after using her deduction skills on Cassie. Cassie finds herself intrigued by Violet since she has nothing else to do. The duo team up when Violet investigates a supposed serial killer case.

I really liked Cassie a lot. The similarities to Dr. Watson were great, but Silver did her own spin on it. I stead of going to war and suffering from a gambling problem, we have Cassie suffering from depression and an addiction to fast food. And Silver doesn't treat her like a bumbling partner to Violet. Cassie gets increasingly better at deductions with Violet a very good teacher.

Violet was interesting, but we don't learn much about her except she's estranged from her family.

I was confused about Cassie's backstory too. She mentions her father, but her mom was a single mother. I thought initially her father died, but another sentence I read made it seem like he abandoned the family. Also Cassie comes into a huge amount of money due to her accident. So her being a cheap skate about lodging (she initially stayed at a hostel) didn't feel real.

The writing was good and I thought the flow was great. The book moved quickly. I wasn't that interested in Cassie's love interest either. That part ruined the book a bit since it turned it into a more mainstream romance book.

The final clues that lead to the guilty party was great.

[Sandeep Pawar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate this cozy read. The humor is light, and feels good.
This is a murder mystery and handled by detective and her friend, the protagonist and not the police. I doubt how English people co-operate so nicely with non-police women.
Anyway, four stars from me. I had given complete five if there was seriousness in how the crime is commenced. If you can murder so easily, the life seems so hard.

[Ppcfransen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't really care for Cassie or Violet. Cassie is a narrator that tells me too much every step of the way and Violet was too condescending. If she was an actual person, I think she would have been the reason people voted Leave.

For someone that only looks at the facts, Violet did an awful lot of assuming herself.

Fact is four people died after eating soup they bought at a street vendor. Assumption is "If you're trying to poison as many people as possible, then you would want to go as long as possible without being noticed." Assumption is a serial killer would not use this method. Assumption is the murderer must have had one specific target in mind. Though in the narrative Cassie makes these assumptions, Violet is encouraging these assumption, suggesting she has made the same assumptions and not showing any facts to back up her assumptions.

And never did anyone ask: how did the killer get the poison in the soup? Who had access to that kettle?

Violet and Cassie go on to find evidence to back up their assumptions. Including breaking in to the office of one of the victims. Any evidence found there would not be usable in court as it is obtained illegally. Apparently, that doesn't bother Violet.

In the end, the whole thing comes down to the murderer admitting the crime. There is very little evidence (I mean facts here) to back up the murderer did it. Yet everyone is happy. I'm left wondering what would happen if this case is taken to court and the murderer pleads innocent.

[JoAn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun cozy mystery set in London with a French female detective, Violet, with Sherlock logical thinking and an American woman, Cassie, who is visiting the UK team up to solve a murder. Both Violet and Cassie are likable, the plot is paced quickly and there were enough twists to keep me guessing.

[Claire Chibi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5

This was a really cute, cheesy, and wholesome story, murders not withstanding. This is the first cozy mystery that I've tried and honestly I'm not sure that the genre is for me, but I'll probably try a few more before I decide for sure.

I had fun reading this book, the writing was pleasant to read and the mystery was simple but nicely paced. The main characters Violet and Cassie are very obvious expies of Sherlock and Watson, and I definitely got the impression that the author is a fan of BBC Sherlock with her portrayal of Violet (Also, I caught that Martin Freeman reference!). I'm not the biggest fan of Violet (yet), but I enjoyed following Cassie as the protag. The best character is clearly Biscuit though, I'm a sucker for a cute kitty :3

I wasn't amazed by my first time trying this genre, but it was still good fun, a nice break from the more horrifying murder mysteries and thrillers that I usually tend to read. I might pick up some more books in this series at some point!

[Tamera Glenn Devine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Very Agatha Christie in modern times, with a female Poirot and Hastings duo. So cute.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, light and easy murder mystery. It’s not a thriller but more of a hallmark style mystery.

[Sruthi Srinivasan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although it could have been a nice plotline, the characters and style were far too familiar. It felt like a mix of Sherlock Holmes, Hercule poirot and a protagonist narrative straight out of a meg Cabot novel.
Cassie is way too descriptive. There was no sense of mystery and I could guess the murderer way too early!
This book could have been a refreshing change with two female protagonists but instead it has a random hot guy subplot. I mean can you imagine John Watson or Captain Hastings getting sidetracked with a gorgeous coroner?

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5* A quick read that needed just a bit of editing. Good plot, likable characters (I was ok with Violet's brashness), great setting. I just wasn't too thrilled with the depiction of the Metropolitan police as being inept, or the overuse of 'hot' and 'superhot' in regards to a male character. Hopefully things will be more positive in the next installment.

[Kitty Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun and the perfect little palate cleanser after finishing a long dark fantasy book lol

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the female Watson and female Sherlock take on Sherlock mysteries. This loosely follows the first Sherlock story but set in modern London with definite twists so familiar or unfamiliar with the original, this will keep you entertained.

[Susan Royston · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Series for Me

I have just discovered Samantha and I have a new favorite author. This series is different than a lot of the cozy mysteries in that a tragedy causes a young woman to move to another country and try to find a reason to believe in life again. Cassie ,a trained orthopedic surgeon was hit by a car and her chosen field is no longer possible. Moving to London, she becomes involved with a private investigator who recognises that she needs help but with her doctor skills could also help her on a case. Cassie winds up with a cat, New apartment and some new friends. And something to look forward to again...life

[FangirlNation · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Poison in Paddington by Samantha Silver opens, Cassie Coburn gets into a car accident that has just ended the career as a surgeon that Cassie is just about to embark upon. Six months later, healed in body but not in mind and with a new $10 million settlement from the driver high on drugs, Cassie moves to London to find new life. Moving into a youth hostel, Cassie is disturbed to find her bike lock broken and her bicycle stolen, so she goes to report it at the police station. And this is where Cassie meets Violet Despuis, a Frenchwoman consulting in serious cases for the police department. Violet immediately deduces a lot of significant details about Cassie, which impresses the American woman. Then, just a day later Violet calls Cassie to come visit her, having found Cassie’s bike when she needed a break for her mind in her case. In a few short moments, Cassie has found herself involved in a sensational murder case in which four people have been poisoned with strychnine in stew.

Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shortly after moving to London from San Francisco to get a fresh start after a car accident shattered her dreams of becoming a surgeon, Cassie makes the acquaintance of eccentric Sherlock-esque French detective Violet Despuis, who is currently looking into a quadruple murder by poison (and annoying the investigating officers while she's at it). Soon, Cassie finds herself tagging along with Violet, and inbetween puzzling out clues to the mystery, the two women strike up an unlikely friendship.

Just how I like my cozy mysteries: Breezy, lighthearted fun with entertaining characters and a few twists to keep things interesting. A great introduction to a series I sure wouldn't mind reading more of.

[Sandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing, funny, and enticing. I couldn't put this book down. Cassie and Violet are a fantastic team as they work to solve the mystery. Violet is similar to a female Sherlock Holmes but so much more. Cassie is looking for a new passion in her life and Violet leads her to face her fears and her future. I will be reading more in this series and by this author.

[Sandra Nedopričljivica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and refreshing cozy! I really liked the character of Violet, a French lady who taught British police how to resolve the murder. Five stars because it's the first one, for encouragement, we'll see the others.

[Jane Floyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read

I liked everything about the characters and story line. I can see this being a good series for these characters. Each with their own stories and how they complete each other.

[Ted Tayler · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A promising start to the series"

I was in Australia in the last Samantha Silver cozy mystery I read. We've now moved to London and this series promises to be better. Some of the capers that Violet and Cassie got up to stretched credulity, but no more than watching an episode of Castle, or Private Eyes. It doesn't tax the grey cells too much, and you have to accept that the constant references to food and cuddly animals are a given.
One thing that surprised me in a book that I thought had been professionally edited was the plethora of exclamation marks. I was told to avoid them at all costs, as they're a sure sign of a weak writer. I rarely see one these days in all the books I review. Leaving them out might not make the book a great piece of literature, but some top reviewers would quit after they had found a handful.

[Hanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a surprisingly good free kindle read!! so good, in fact, that I'm giving it four stars instead of the standard kindle read of 3
Cassie and Violet were an awesome duo, and I'd be super down to read more of the series eventually
The characters were super well developed and there were some,,Choice Quotes
-"Remember: when you simply say you have changed your mind, they cannot prove you lied in the first place."
-"I'm not quite certain if you are playing stupid, or if you simply are stupid"

there was also a really cute kitty
in terms of the actual storyline and plot, it wasn't great??? but for a free kindle read, it wasn't that bad
the characters were really well written and I appreciate it

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet is awesome as a police consultant

This was really a fun mystery and I enjoyed seeing Violet in action. She's an absolute hoot with the way she investigates and it's pretty clear this adventure was just the boost that Cassie needed. She got a new place,a pet and became comfortable with herself as a doctor for the first time since her accident. I don't think she could have done that if she hadn't come to know and work with Violet. It's a fairly quick reading book and I am interested in continuing to read this series.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

First time reading this author, and it kept my attention. Almost like Sherlock and Watson only with females. Cassie is an American doctor who was training to be a surgeon until an accident messed up her knee and destroyed her hand. Wallowing in depression 10 months after, she finds herself in London. While she is reporting the theft of her bike at a police station, she meets Violet. Violet is unlikeable and arrogrant, but she can solve crimes better than the police. She sees something in Cassie and decides to involve her in the solving of a current crime. After fighting for her life, Cassie discovers that she does want to live, after all. As there are several books in the series, I have to guess that the two remain partners.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and fun. I enjoyed reading this. It was a very light read. I don’t think I will read further in this series because it’s not available at my library, and the whole plot was a bit silly. It was pretty light and quite unrealistic. (She basically finds herself working with a modern day Sherlock Holmes, but the stories are way less detailed and less intricate than real Sherlock Homes stories.)

[Grace Abeyta · Rating 4 out of 5]

author’s take on Sherlock Holmes

Very entertaining. The characters remind me very much of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson especially considering the book is written from the doctor’s point of view. I thought the writing was well done and the mystery entertaining and complex enough not to be obvious from the first. This book was a very satisfying read.

[Ruchika Pahwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice read!

The story is interesting. Though it drifts away from the real murder on several occasions, it retains its grip on the reader. I especially liked the mystery in the way the crime was planned.

[Janice Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining cozy mystery with dry humor to soften the more intense scenes. Delightfully unique characters with enough depth to make me want more.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like Holmes and Watson, only with French Vicki providing the extraordinary brains, and Cassie, the almost doctor, assisting and following where Vicki leads.

Entertaining enough.

[judith · Rating 2 out of 5]

such a simple plot.
that made the reading very boring.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun take on the Holmes/Watson relationship, with less opium use and more angst (about men, on the Watson character’s part). There were some elements in the writing that were a little annoying — repeated phrases, a lot of “I could only assume” type stuff, some typos — but not enough to keep me from enjoying the plot. Looking forward to the next one!

[K. Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Female Sherlock Holmes

A fun read! Characters delightful. Plot was original and well crafted. A must author to follow. Not the run of the mill cozy author