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Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery #9
Absence of Alice
For bargain hunter extraordinaire Sarah Winston, starting life over in Ellington, Massachusetts, has been a true trash-to-treasure success story, except when there's a run on dead bodies...
Sarah's latest client, Alice Krandle, is sure she has a fortune in antiques on her hands. She's already gotten a generous offer for the whole lot before her garage sale has even begun, but she thinks she can earn more with Sarah's expert help. The problem is that while Sarah's sorting through items from decades past, her landlady, Stella, faces a clear and present danger.
Stella's kidnapper has contacted Sarah with a set of instructions, and "Don't call the police" is at the top of the list. But they didn't say anything about Sarah's friend Harriet--who happens to be a former F.B.I. hostage negotiator...
Sarah's latest client, Alice Krandle, is sure she has a fortune in antiques on her hands. She's already gotten a generous offer for the whole lot before her garage sale has even begun, but she thinks she can earn more with Sarah's expert help. The problem is that while Sarah's sorting through items from decades past, her landlady, Stella, faces a clear and present danger.
Stella's kidnapper has contacted Sarah with a set of instructions, and "Don't call the police" is at the top of the list. But they didn't say anything about Sarah's friend Harriet--who happens to be a former F.B.I. hostage negotiator...
279 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published January 1, 2021
141 people are currently reading
383 people want to read
About the author
Sherry Harris
20 books602 followersSherry Harris is the Agatha Award nominated author of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale mystery series and the Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon mysteries. Sherry is a past president of Sisters in Crime and a member of Mystery Writers of America. Sherry loves books, beaches, bars, and bargain hunting — not necessarily in that order. She is also a patent holding inventor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
December 1, 2020
Absence of Alice by Sherry Harris brings murder, mystery and suspense to a cozy mystery set in Ellington, Massachusetts. This is the ninth book in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series.
Our protagonist, Sarah started a business two years ago organizing on site and online garage sales. Her latest client, Alice Krandle, is sure she can make a lot of money from the antiques and art work that she owns. Meanwhile, Sarah’s landlady and friend, Stella is kidnapped. Unfortunately, the kidnapper has decided to make life difficult for Sarah as well. He contacts Sarah with a list of rules including “Don’t call the police” as well as having her run all other town doing tasks. Sarah can’t get questions out of her mind. Who has kidnapped Stella? Why are they contacting Sarah? Should she abide by the rules? Will Stella be rescued? Is Sarah’s life also in danger? While she jumps to meet the kidnapper’s demands, Sarah is having to continue to work with clients on their garage sales as well as her own upcoming anniversary garage sale on the town common.
This novel continues to feature many of the reoccurring characters that are Sarah’s friends that I have come to know and enjoy spending time with as well as a few new characters to bring variety and twists to the story. Sarah’s growth over the course of the series is clearly demonstrated as well as how she interacts with and feels about the other characters.
This story brought more suspense and anxiety to the table than previous novels and is therefore somewhat darker. However, it is still a cozy mystery without the gory details being explicitly shown. Sarah’s emotional state and her ability to “think on her feet” play a large role in this novel. So does her resilience, courage, hope and love. There was a fast pace from scene to scene and the subplots tied together well. The tension, stakes and action built up to an exciting ending. Themes include murder, kidnapping, friendship, relationships and trust.
Overall, this was an intense cozy mystery that quickly drew me into Sarah’s world. I felt like I was trying to help her find Stella and identify the kidnapper. It’s the seventh book I have read by this author and I am looking forward to the next one. I recommend it to those that enjoy the genre. This can be read as a standalone novel, but I would recommend reading the series in order to gain more insight into the characters and their backgrounds.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Books and Sherry Harris via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for December 29, 2020. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Our protagonist, Sarah started a business two years ago organizing on site and online garage sales. Her latest client, Alice Krandle, is sure she can make a lot of money from the antiques and art work that she owns. Meanwhile, Sarah’s landlady and friend, Stella is kidnapped. Unfortunately, the kidnapper has decided to make life difficult for Sarah as well. He contacts Sarah with a list of rules including “Don’t call the police” as well as having her run all other town doing tasks. Sarah can’t get questions out of her mind. Who has kidnapped Stella? Why are they contacting Sarah? Should she abide by the rules? Will Stella be rescued? Is Sarah’s life also in danger? While she jumps to meet the kidnapper’s demands, Sarah is having to continue to work with clients on their garage sales as well as her own upcoming anniversary garage sale on the town common.
This novel continues to feature many of the reoccurring characters that are Sarah’s friends that I have come to know and enjoy spending time with as well as a few new characters to bring variety and twists to the story. Sarah’s growth over the course of the series is clearly demonstrated as well as how she interacts with and feels about the other characters.
This story brought more suspense and anxiety to the table than previous novels and is therefore somewhat darker. However, it is still a cozy mystery without the gory details being explicitly shown. Sarah’s emotional state and her ability to “think on her feet” play a large role in this novel. So does her resilience, courage, hope and love. There was a fast pace from scene to scene and the subplots tied together well. The tension, stakes and action built up to an exciting ending. Themes include murder, kidnapping, friendship, relationships and trust.
Overall, this was an intense cozy mystery that quickly drew me into Sarah’s world. I felt like I was trying to help her find Stella and identify the kidnapper. It’s the seventh book I have read by this author and I am looking forward to the next one. I recommend it to those that enjoy the genre. This can be read as a standalone novel, but I would recommend reading the series in order to gain more insight into the characters and their backgrounds.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Books and Sherry Harris via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for December 29, 2020. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
October 23, 2020
Jumping into a series at book nine is not always a wise move but in this case it worked for me. I was able to enjoy the book just fine and now have eight previous ones to read!
Absence of Alice was a great read. The main character, Sarah, has the rather unusual job of coordinating garage sales, although hers sounded rather more high market than the average sale! Of course she is also an amateur sleuth with a tendency to get involved in kidnappings and finding dead bodies.
All the basics of a classic cosy mystery in fact, but this one is maybe a tiny bit darker than usual. It is also a lot of fun with some very appealing characters and amusing dialogue. I enjoyed it very much and will be looking out for those earlier books.
My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Absence of Alice was a great read. The main character, Sarah, has the rather unusual job of coordinating garage sales, although hers sounded rather more high market than the average sale! Of course she is also an amateur sleuth with a tendency to get involved in kidnappings and finding dead bodies.
All the basics of a classic cosy mystery in fact, but this one is maybe a tiny bit darker than usual. It is also a lot of fun with some very appealing characters and amusing dialogue. I enjoyed it very much and will be looking out for those earlier books.
My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 2, 2021
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Sarah Winston is busy with a huge sale, but that takes a backseat when she receives a very important phone call. A call where she learns her landlady and friend Stella Wild has been kidnapped. The caller informs her that she must follow their rules if she ever wants to see Stella again alive and well.
Rule #1 – You can’t go to the police, your friend Seth, or Mike “The Big Cheese” Titone for help.
Rule #2 – You have to go about your daily routine like nothing’s happened. And act natural.
Rule #3 – You’ll complete all the daily tasks I send you while following rules number one and two.
Thankful that the creepy kidnapper had not mentioned her friend Harriet because she just may need her help as a former FBI hostage negotiator to save Stella. The person seems to know all about her life, so now she just needs to figure out how. Keeping secrets from her friends could cost her in the end but she has to do everything she can to find Stella even if it means following the rules to the letter.
Sarah is a strong independent protagonist and she is going to need to be more alert than normal to catch every clue because the people she usually leans on are all off-limits if she wants to save her friend. All the characters were have come to love over the course of this story return but with the exception of Harriet, no one even knows Stella is missing. We do meet a new character too. His presence was questionable at times but I hope he sticks around. All these characters are well-crafted and while the depths of the friendships are tested all their interactions are realistic and believable.
Ms. Harris has written a very complicated mystery with a lot of moving parts. Twists and turns make this a challenging mystery to solve. It had an extra eerie feel as the kidnapper always knew everything. It was a true game of cat and mouse that leads up to an incredibly surprising and exciting reveal.
What I really like is the way the author infuses humor in all the right places to keep the story within the cozy realm. Without it, this could have been a dark heavy mystery.
Absence of Alice kept me totally entertained. I was amazed by how quickly the pages flipped. My visit with Sarah and her friends ended much too soon, I am anxiously awaiting book ten!
Sarah Winston is busy with a huge sale, but that takes a backseat when she receives a very important phone call. A call where she learns her landlady and friend Stella Wild has been kidnapped. The caller informs her that she must follow their rules if she ever wants to see Stella again alive and well.
Rule #1 – You can’t go to the police, your friend Seth, or Mike “The Big Cheese” Titone for help.
Rule #2 – You have to go about your daily routine like nothing’s happened. And act natural.
Rule #3 – You’ll complete all the daily tasks I send you while following rules number one and two.
Thankful that the creepy kidnapper had not mentioned her friend Harriet because she just may need her help as a former FBI hostage negotiator to save Stella. The person seems to know all about her life, so now she just needs to figure out how. Keeping secrets from her friends could cost her in the end but she has to do everything she can to find Stella even if it means following the rules to the letter.
Sarah is a strong independent protagonist and she is going to need to be more alert than normal to catch every clue because the people she usually leans on are all off-limits if she wants to save her friend. All the characters were have come to love over the course of this story return but with the exception of Harriet, no one even knows Stella is missing. We do meet a new character too. His presence was questionable at times but I hope he sticks around. All these characters are well-crafted and while the depths of the friendships are tested all their interactions are realistic and believable.
Ms. Harris has written a very complicated mystery with a lot of moving parts. Twists and turns make this a challenging mystery to solve. It had an extra eerie feel as the kidnapper always knew everything. It was a true game of cat and mouse that leads up to an incredibly surprising and exciting reveal.
What I really like is the way the author infuses humor in all the right places to keep the story within the cozy realm. Without it, this could have been a dark heavy mystery.
Absence of Alice kept me totally entertained. I was amazed by how quickly the pages flipped. My visit with Sarah and her friends ended much too soon, I am anxiously awaiting book ten!
November 5, 2020
I’ve never read a book by Author Sherry Harris that I didn’t love! She grand slams another home run with the ninth story of the fabulously entertaining Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series.
Sarah Winston has made great friends and caught the attention of a few enemies since beginning her career as a garage sale organizer. Harriet Ballow, former FBI superagent, is on Sarah’s team now, and she’s a force to be reckoned with. I love the candor and experience she brings to the story.
Harsh reality hits Sarah hard when her best friend, Stella, is kidnapped by a maniac, and Sarah is threatened by this ‘anonymous’ person if she tells anyone; especially, the police which includes Stella’s boyfriend, Awesome. (You know that’s not gonna go over well). The Author creates a creepy character who plays an evil cat and mouse game with Sarah for reasons unknown.
The action; immersed with Ms. Harris’s trademark ability to add amusement in tense situations; scores a fast 5 Star Review from yours truly. I honestly couldn’t tell who was Sarah’s friend, or who was her foe, at times. My heart was in my throat as she trusted someone I felt sure was a killer!
All my favorite re-curring characters were here—such as Sarah’s handsome district attorney boyfriend, Seth; and Mike, ‘the Big Cheese’ Titone; and others, and they were practically running circles around themselves trying to figure out the anonymous kidnapper’s identity. I was absolutely stunned by the ending and the reveal of the evil perpetrator. Oh. My. Gosh!
This is a must read mystery! I highly, highly recommend the entire series to mystery readers.
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. All opinions are my own.
Sarah Winston has made great friends and caught the attention of a few enemies since beginning her career as a garage sale organizer. Harriet Ballow, former FBI superagent, is on Sarah’s team now, and she’s a force to be reckoned with. I love the candor and experience she brings to the story.
Harsh reality hits Sarah hard when her best friend, Stella, is kidnapped by a maniac, and Sarah is threatened by this ‘anonymous’ person if she tells anyone; especially, the police which includes Stella’s boyfriend, Awesome. (You know that’s not gonna go over well). The Author creates a creepy character who plays an evil cat and mouse game with Sarah for reasons unknown.
The action; immersed with Ms. Harris’s trademark ability to add amusement in tense situations; scores a fast 5 Star Review from yours truly. I honestly couldn’t tell who was Sarah’s friend, or who was her foe, at times. My heart was in my throat as she trusted someone I felt sure was a killer!
All my favorite re-curring characters were here—such as Sarah’s handsome district attorney boyfriend, Seth; and Mike, ‘the Big Cheese’ Titone; and others, and they were practically running circles around themselves trying to figure out the anonymous kidnapper’s identity. I was absolutely stunned by the ending and the reveal of the evil perpetrator. Oh. My. Gosh!
This is a must read mystery! I highly, highly recommend the entire series to mystery readers.
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. All opinions are my own.
December 31, 2020
Sarah Winston is happily preparing a garage sale for her latest client, Alice Krandle, when she gets a phone call claiming to be from someone who has kidnapped Sarah’s landlady and friend, Stella. With clear instructions not to contact the police, she sets out to find Stella while also following the kidnapper’s strange demands. Can she find her friend in time?
Yes, this book is part thriller, but it is still part cozy as well. The balance truly works. The twists and turns kept me glued to the page. Because of the plot, the book is a bit darker than a typical cozy, but it is just a shade or two darker. One reason this book still feels cozy is the locations and characters we love are front and center. How this plot impacts the characters and their relationships is realistic and does a great job of building on what we’ve seen in previous books. There are discussions of some of the Sarah’s other cases, and they are vague enough to avoid most spoilers, but I still recommend reading the books in order. If you aren’t already a fan, you’ll be hooked in no time. And those who already know and love Sarah will be thrilled with her latest adventure.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Yes, this book is part thriller, but it is still part cozy as well. The balance truly works. The twists and turns kept me glued to the page. Because of the plot, the book is a bit darker than a typical cozy, but it is just a shade or two darker. One reason this book still feels cozy is the locations and characters we love are front and center. How this plot impacts the characters and their relationships is realistic and does a great job of building on what we’ve seen in previous books. There are discussions of some of the Sarah’s other cases, and they are vague enough to avoid most spoilers, but I still recommend reading the books in order. If you aren’t already a fan, you’ll be hooked in no time. And those who already know and love Sarah will be thrilled with her latest adventure.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
March 28, 2021
Another good story about Sarah and her garage sale business. Her friend is kidnapped and she is told not to go to the police and it leads her to a chase and a shocking to her development.
December 20, 2020
Sarah Winston's dear friend and landlady has disappeared and she is desperate to find her. But when she begins receiving very personal, detailed directions from Stella's kidnapper, Sarah will go to almost any lengths to find her without anyone else in her life being harmed.
This is one of my favorite series; it is very well-written and I really enjoy browsing through and buying items at garage sales, flea markets, etc. The book moves at a good pace but I had a bit of difficulty connecting with the Alice in Wonderland "kidnap theme." Sarah's character has nicely developed from military spouse, to a difficult divorce and being an ex-military spouse. Now she is an independent woman with confidence, perseverance, tenacity and loyalty to her friends.
The book also brings to light a sad issue of military families needing food stamps. I am shocked that our brave troops and their families would have to suffer like this!
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC of this book. My review is voluntary.
This is one of my favorite series; it is very well-written and I really enjoy browsing through and buying items at garage sales, flea markets, etc. The book moves at a good pace but I had a bit of difficulty connecting with the Alice in Wonderland "kidnap theme." Sarah's character has nicely developed from military spouse, to a difficult divorce and being an ex-military spouse. Now she is an independent woman with confidence, perseverance, tenacity and loyalty to her friends.
The book also brings to light a sad issue of military families needing food stamps. I am shocked that our brave troops and their families would have to suffer like this!
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC of this book. My review is voluntary.
December 30, 2020
Another excellent entry in this series. I HAD to keep reading to find out who dunnit, and I wasn't even close to guessing the villain. I love a nice, complex plot with lots of twists and turns and this one definitely had plenty of surprises.
January 3, 2021
Grabs you from the opening chapter and doesn't let go until the final twisted ending. A must read for any cozy fan. Work along with Sarah Winston as she tries to solve the kidnapping of a close friend who has been taken by a twisted person bent upon revenge against her.
July 12, 2021
Score another 5 stars for this author and this series! While this was still a cozy mystery, there was a little bit of a darker flare. Sarah has her garage sales with the normal drama, but Stella gets kidnapped and Sarah is instructed not to tell any of her usual crew. She finds a loophole in the request and gets Harriet's help. I thought the way it was played out was pretty good. I didn't guess the whodunit. The author went a little different with that for me. I was actually sad with the reveal. I hope the next one is a little lighter!!
October 31, 2020
I have been a fan of this series from the beginning and know that anytime I pick up a book in the series I will be entertained. Absence of Alice is the 9th book in the series and for me, I thought this was the best one yet. It kept me on the edge of my seat and turning pages to see how Sarah was going to dig her way out of trouble this time. Sarah Winston is a terrific main character. She definitely gets herself into trouble with her sleuthing but it is never deliberate or reckless. This time around, she finds herself unable to rely on the police or Seth as she is taunted by someone who is hurting those people close to her. This was a fast-paced read and if I hadn't accidentally fallen asleep at 1 a.m. while reading on my kindle, I probably would have read this in or sitting. The storyline was action-packed and the mystery was multilayered. As a reader, I had to pay close attention to all the twists and turns woven throughout the story. Historically, I have never been that great at figuring out "whodunit" before the end of the book. This was especially the case with Absence of Alice, as Ms. Harris crafted an engaging, puzzling, action-packed mystery full of twist and turns and a reveal that I did not see coming.
I will continue to read this series for as long as Ms. Harris continues to write these books. Each story is engaging and entertaining. The mysteries are always very well done and make the reader work to find the clues and piece them together to figure out the killer's identity. The characters are well written and likable. At the end of the day, as a reader, Sarah is the type of character that you could picture having as a friend in real life.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by Kensington, through Netgalley. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I will continue to read this series for as long as Ms. Harris continues to write these books. Each story is engaging and entertaining. The mysteries are always very well done and make the reader work to find the clues and piece them together to figure out the killer's identity. The characters are well written and likable. At the end of the day, as a reader, Sarah is the type of character that you could picture having as a friend in real life.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by Kensington, through Netgalley. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
October 14, 2020
Sherry Harris never disappoints, her two series are among my top five favorites. And this is one of her best books. Sarah Winston has come a long way from military spouse to garage sale organizer over the course of the series. Her business is doing well, as is her love life. However, someone has kidnapped her best friend and is forcing her to "play the game" to get her back unharmed. While the story is strong enough to read on its own, the back stories of her friends and acquaintances provide a depth to the deeds and the resolve of the mystery. Highly recommended! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2020
As a big fan of Sherry Harris, and Absence of Alice is the best book in this series.
Sarah Winston is an unforgettable character, full of charm, wit, and dedication, to her friends, business, and family.
In this book, Sarah is working on a garage sale for a client, but when a strange phone call sets off a string of events that has the potential to hurt the ones she loves, she must go against everything she believes in to find the answers.
I felt that this book was like an odd scavenger hunt, having Sarah wait for clues, racing against the clock, and keeping most of it from those she loves the most.
I had no idea how this was going to play out, but I was not prepared for how it ended. I was stunned, I still am actually, which proves just how excellent this story is.
I can't wait to see what happens next in this exciting series.
Sarah Winston is an unforgettable character, full of charm, wit, and dedication, to her friends, business, and family.
In this book, Sarah is working on a garage sale for a client, but when a strange phone call sets off a string of events that has the potential to hurt the ones she loves, she must go against everything she believes in to find the answers.
I felt that this book was like an odd scavenger hunt, having Sarah wait for clues, racing against the clock, and keeping most of it from those she loves the most.
I had no idea how this was going to play out, but I was not prepared for how it ended. I was stunned, I still am actually, which proves just how excellent this story is.
I can't wait to see what happens next in this exciting series.
November 15, 2020
This is the first of this series that I have read, but it will not be the last. Like cozy mysteries it was easy to dive right into this volume of the series, I have the first book already on reserve at the library. While I enjoyed this book, I have to say I’m not certain it truly felt like a cozy mystery which is what I was expecting. That being said, I have a wide array of genre interests and I really enjoyed this story. It was fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. The amateur sleuth, Sarah, is certainly put in a tough spot in this story but she is resourceful and a very like able narrator. The book starts with a bang with Sarah getting a call from a mysterious man claiming he has kidnapped her best friend.
December 11, 2021
I recommend the Sarah Winston Garage Sale series. The array of characters, friendships and storylines are good. I cannot wait to see what is in store for Sarah, Stella, Seth, Mike and the rest of the crew.
January 5, 2021
Great read! I have to admit that I was a little worried that I would have a problem getting into this book not having read the previous books in the series. Boy, was I wrong! It did take me a couple chapters, but once I did this book flew and left me hungry for more of this series!
First of all, the characters were stellar. They were active and there was always something new going on. I love a fast pace! Second, the plot was different from books I've read before which really got me interested.
I will be going back so that I can catch up on the books I've missed. But this is an absolute gem! Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book. I loved it.
First of all, the characters were stellar. They were active and there was always something new going on. I love a fast pace! Second, the plot was different from books I've read before which really got me interested.
I will be going back so that I can catch up on the books I've missed. But this is an absolute gem! Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book. I loved it.
August 13, 2024
There were some things I enjoyed about this story. There was a unique usage of a Halloween costume. The murder mystery was fun. It was neat that the lead owned a yard sale business. There were plenty of twists and surprises to keep me guessing.
There were things that I didn’t like too. Most revolved around sexual themes. No thanks!
Content: profanity, crude gestures, expletives, sexual perversion, prostitution, alcohol, premarital sex
There were things that I didn’t like too. Most revolved around sexual themes. No thanks!
Content: profanity, crude gestures, expletives, sexual perversion, prostitution, alcohol, premarital sex
February 18, 2021
Sherry Harris hit it out of the park with this one! GREAT storyline...so intriguing and had me guessing who the kidnapper was until the reveal! I loved how the depth of Mike's friendship with Sarah is a strong thread throughout the book.
January 17, 2022
This book dragged on for me. I love the others in the series, but just found the main character to be extremely annoying this time. She kept saying she would go to the police after 2 days but it seemed like weeks had gone by before that finally happened.
January 11, 2021
Readers know that there are books that will be good before they even crack the spine. What they don’t know is how good it will be. The newest “A Sarah W. Garage Sale Mystery” Absence of Alice, is one of those books. It doesn’t matter if you have not read any of the other books in this series; readers will fall in love with Sarah. They will also take up the hobby of garage sales if they’re not careful!
Sarah’s garage sales business is going well, despite having a former helper now her competition and being a bit underhanded. But when someone kidnaps Stella, she is faced with a decision she hopes she will not regret. This time a killer is playing a game, and it’s very personal. The suspects are people Sarah wouldn’t naturally suspect or fear. The motive, however, isn’t clear to her. Could her new competition be so desperate for business that she is will to kill and kidnap someone to run Sarah’s garage sales business into the ground? Is she being targeted because of her mobster next-door neighbor? Does she or Stella have an enemy that would be this despicable? There are just too many possibilities.
In this book, for the first time, I felt that Sarah was truly in danger and that we might lose a beloved character. The mystery was written very well, and the cast was everything a reader would want in a cozy. Some were helpful; some were threatening, others were unaware of the danger but worried about Sarah anyway. I loved having Harriet more involved this time, she is a wonderful character, and I could see her and Sarah becoming involved in and solving future investigations. Introducing us to Alice as one of Sarah’s garage sale customers was delightful, and having an added mystery surrounding her kept the story fresh and exciting. The book is action-packed and has twists and turns readers won’t see coming. Before they know it, readers will either have a new hobby, going to garage sales, or having a garage sale of their own. This series makes people want to clean out their old junk and maybe find a treasure.
Absence of Alice is a roller coaster ride with plenty of drama. The killer may not be easy to discover, and many readers will not figure out the who-done-it until the very end. Of course, Sarah figures it out but only just in time. Her newest garage sale is a success, and all is righted in her world, or as right as it can ever be for Sarah. Readers of this series know it won’t be long before she is knee-deep in murder again, soon. This is one of my favorite series, and it keeps getting better with each new installment. I highly recommend this series to readers who love a real mystery, charming characters, and happy endings.
Sarah’s garage sales business is going well, despite having a former helper now her competition and being a bit underhanded. But when someone kidnaps Stella, she is faced with a decision she hopes she will not regret. This time a killer is playing a game, and it’s very personal. The suspects are people Sarah wouldn’t naturally suspect or fear. The motive, however, isn’t clear to her. Could her new competition be so desperate for business that she is will to kill and kidnap someone to run Sarah’s garage sales business into the ground? Is she being targeted because of her mobster next-door neighbor? Does she or Stella have an enemy that would be this despicable? There are just too many possibilities.
In this book, for the first time, I felt that Sarah was truly in danger and that we might lose a beloved character. The mystery was written very well, and the cast was everything a reader would want in a cozy. Some were helpful; some were threatening, others were unaware of the danger but worried about Sarah anyway. I loved having Harriet more involved this time, she is a wonderful character, and I could see her and Sarah becoming involved in and solving future investigations. Introducing us to Alice as one of Sarah’s garage sale customers was delightful, and having an added mystery surrounding her kept the story fresh and exciting. The book is action-packed and has twists and turns readers won’t see coming. Before they know it, readers will either have a new hobby, going to garage sales, or having a garage sale of their own. This series makes people want to clean out their old junk and maybe find a treasure.
Absence of Alice is a roller coaster ride with plenty of drama. The killer may not be easy to discover, and many readers will not figure out the who-done-it until the very end. Of course, Sarah figures it out but only just in time. Her newest garage sale is a success, and all is righted in her world, or as right as it can ever be for Sarah. Readers of this series know it won’t be long before she is knee-deep in murder again, soon. This is one of my favorite series, and it keeps getting better with each new installment. I highly recommend this series to readers who love a real mystery, charming characters, and happy endings.
December 31, 2020
Absence of Alice is another spectacular book in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series by Sherry Harris.
Sarah and her friend Harriet are preparing an indoor garage sale for Alice Krandle, a new client. After spending hours pricing the knickknacks, artwork, and expensive figurines, Sarah wants to wind down for the day. Unfortunately, a random phone call, revelation of a kidnapping, and strict instructions has Sarah running across town. Stella, her landlady, has been kidnapped and her kidnapper is using Sarah to complete bizarre tasks in order to gain, or lose, precious time to locate Stella. At a loss for what to do or where to turn, Sarah realizes the kidnapper didn't include Harriet in his list of no-nos. Harriet is former FBI with contacts all over the place. With some strategy and hiding things from her friends, including her boyfriend Seth, maybe Sarah will be able to locate Stella before any harm comes to her - even if it means losing the trust of everyone around her. Stella's life is more valuable and Sarah hopes to find her alive. It's better to ask for forgiveness sometimes, at least Sarah hopes so.
I really enjoy the Garage Sale Mysteries by Sherry Harris. As a lover of garage sales, yard sales, flea markets, etc., a cozy setting of this nature makes me happy. Sarah is a great protagonist and has been in such a way that I feel like I know her personally. She has very realistic characteristics and the author really brings Sarah to life. I love all the secondary characters the author has created for this series, too. Seth, Pelltner, Mike “the big cheese” Titone, Stella, Awesome, and all the rest compliment this series so well. I’m glad Sarah’s love life doesn’t overpower the stories, providing a nice balance and sense of realism to her.
As I said about the rest of the books in the series, Absence of Alice is a fantastic cozy mystery full of twists, turns, distractions, and multiple storylines. There are suspenseful, humorous, and heartbreaking moments that are sure to keep the reader engaged. The author provides a few characters as the potential suspects and expertly pulls the tablecloth out from underneath them without spilling the truth. The ending was a complete shocker! The Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries are one of my favorite cozy series'. The author keeps the stories fresh and entertaining. The characters are wonderful, and I love the setting.
Sarah and her friend Harriet are preparing an indoor garage sale for Alice Krandle, a new client. After spending hours pricing the knickknacks, artwork, and expensive figurines, Sarah wants to wind down for the day. Unfortunately, a random phone call, revelation of a kidnapping, and strict instructions has Sarah running across town. Stella, her landlady, has been kidnapped and her kidnapper is using Sarah to complete bizarre tasks in order to gain, or lose, precious time to locate Stella. At a loss for what to do or where to turn, Sarah realizes the kidnapper didn't include Harriet in his list of no-nos. Harriet is former FBI with contacts all over the place. With some strategy and hiding things from her friends, including her boyfriend Seth, maybe Sarah will be able to locate Stella before any harm comes to her - even if it means losing the trust of everyone around her. Stella's life is more valuable and Sarah hopes to find her alive. It's better to ask for forgiveness sometimes, at least Sarah hopes so.
I really enjoy the Garage Sale Mysteries by Sherry Harris. As a lover of garage sales, yard sales, flea markets, etc., a cozy setting of this nature makes me happy. Sarah is a great protagonist and has been in such a way that I feel like I know her personally. She has very realistic characteristics and the author really brings Sarah to life. I love all the secondary characters the author has created for this series, too. Seth, Pelltner, Mike “the big cheese” Titone, Stella, Awesome, and all the rest compliment this series so well. I’m glad Sarah’s love life doesn’t overpower the stories, providing a nice balance and sense of realism to her.
As I said about the rest of the books in the series, Absence of Alice is a fantastic cozy mystery full of twists, turns, distractions, and multiple storylines. There are suspenseful, humorous, and heartbreaking moments that are sure to keep the reader engaged. The author provides a few characters as the potential suspects and expertly pulls the tablecloth out from underneath them without spilling the truth. The ending was a complete shocker! The Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries are one of my favorite cozy series'. The author keeps the stories fresh and entertaining. The characters are wonderful, and I love the setting.
December 26, 2020
This is the ninth book in a series by Sherry Harris about Sarah Winston who started over in Ellington, Massachusetts as a bargain hunter and is now hugely successful. With her business booming, she is preparing a garage sale for her latest client, Alice Krandle, as well as undertaking her own second-anniversary sale to be held on the town common in just over a week's time. Whilst relaxing with a cup of tea Sarah doesn't expect to receive a phone call about her landlady, Stella, who is being held hostage, but what is the kidnapper's game?
I thoroughly enjoyed Absence of Alice and found it compelling. I've read a novel from a different series (Sea Glass Saloon Mystery) by Sherry Harris although I haven't yet read any of the others from her Sarah Winston Garage Sale series. However, this did not mar my appreciation for Absence of Alice as it was easy to read. I thought protagonist Sarah was a great character as she was personable, and possessed impressive amounts of inner strength, warmheartedness and intelligence.
The mystery itself included more than enough twists and variety to keep me guessing and turning the pages. A good bunch of people surrounded Sarah, and I especially liked her handy former FBI hostage negotiator friend and employee, Harriet Ballou. This is a great, very high quality, fun read, and I intend to catch up with the other books in this unique series. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Sarah. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I thoroughly enjoyed Absence of Alice and found it compelling. I've read a novel from a different series (Sea Glass Saloon Mystery) by Sherry Harris although I haven't yet read any of the others from her Sarah Winston Garage Sale series. However, this did not mar my appreciation for Absence of Alice as it was easy to read. I thought protagonist Sarah was a great character as she was personable, and possessed impressive amounts of inner strength, warmheartedness and intelligence.
The mystery itself included more than enough twists and variety to keep me guessing and turning the pages. A good bunch of people surrounded Sarah, and I especially liked her handy former FBI hostage negotiator friend and employee, Harriet Ballou. This is a great, very high quality, fun read, and I intend to catch up with the other books in this unique series. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Sarah. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
October 7, 2020
Absence of Alice is the ninth installment in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series set in Ellington, Massachusetts and featuring garage sale organizer, Sarah Winston. Business is booming and Sarah is looking forward to hosting an antique sale for Alice Krandle and preparing for her own two year anniversary sale to be held on the Town Common.
Sarah receives a phone call from a creepy man who informs her that he's kidnapped her landlady Stella Wild. The man says that Sarah can't call the police, tell her DA boyfriend Seth or clue in her reputed mobster neighbor, Mike "the Big Cheese" Titone. The kidnapper soon has Sarah playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an ongoing Alice in Wonderland theme. People are turning up dead and Sarah, knowing she needs to act quickly to find Stella, enlists the help of retired FBI hostage negotiator and her part time employee, Harriet Ballou to track down a killer.
A chilling mystery with a surprise ending will have you holding your breath as y0u turn the pages. The plot is a little darker and heavier than the usual cozy but makes for a terrific rainy afternoon read. This is a great addition to the series and readers will enjoy catching up with the residents of Ellington.
I received an advanced copy of Absence of Alice from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.
Sarah receives a phone call from a creepy man who informs her that he's kidnapped her landlady Stella Wild. The man says that Sarah can't call the police, tell her DA boyfriend Seth or clue in her reputed mobster neighbor, Mike "the Big Cheese" Titone. The kidnapper soon has Sarah playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an ongoing Alice in Wonderland theme. People are turning up dead and Sarah, knowing she needs to act quickly to find Stella, enlists the help of retired FBI hostage negotiator and her part time employee, Harriet Ballou to track down a killer.
A chilling mystery with a surprise ending will have you holding your breath as y0u turn the pages. The plot is a little darker and heavier than the usual cozy but makes for a terrific rainy afternoon read. This is a great addition to the series and readers will enjoy catching up with the residents of Ellington.
I received an advanced copy of Absence of Alice from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.
December 28, 2020
Absence of Alice is the ninth book in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series written by Sherry Harris. The well-plotted mystery is complex, and there are enough twists and red herrings to keep the reader engaged throughout the book. Ms. Harris provides enough character background that this book can be read as a standalone.
Sarah Winston lives in Ellington, Massachusetts, and loves garage sales. She provides professional services to people having garage sales and volunteers at the local military base’s thrift shop. Sarah is beside herself when a person who claims to have kidnapped her good friend and landlady, Stella Wild, contacts her. The kidnapper tells Sarah that if she wants to get Stella back alive, there are three rules she must follow. Sarah must act natural and go about her daily routine as if nothing’s happened, she can’t go to the police, including Stella’s fiancé, Nathan “Awesome” Bossum, her boyfriend and District Attorney, Seth Anderson, or Mike “the Big Cheese” Titone, who has mob connections, for help, and she must complete all the tasks given to her in one week. Sara’s first task is to go to a specific address, where she finds a dead body dressed in an Alice in Wonderland costume and breaks the first rule of contacting the police. Sarah enlists the help of her friend, Harriet Ballou, a retired FBI hostage negotiator.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Sarah Winston lives in Ellington, Massachusetts, and loves garage sales. She provides professional services to people having garage sales and volunteers at the local military base’s thrift shop. Sarah is beside herself when a person who claims to have kidnapped her good friend and landlady, Stella Wild, contacts her. The kidnapper tells Sarah that if she wants to get Stella back alive, there are three rules she must follow. Sarah must act natural and go about her daily routine as if nothing’s happened, she can’t go to the police, including Stella’s fiancé, Nathan “Awesome” Bossum, her boyfriend and District Attorney, Seth Anderson, or Mike “the Big Cheese” Titone, who has mob connections, for help, and she must complete all the tasks given to her in one week. Sara’s first task is to go to a specific address, where she finds a dead body dressed in an Alice in Wonderland costume and breaks the first rule of contacting the police. Sarah enlists the help of her friend, Harriet Ballou, a retired FBI hostage negotiator.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
February 20, 2021
There is a reason that Sherry Harris’s Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries has become one of my favorite cozy mystery series. Absence of Alice, the ninth book in the series, exemplifies the tight writing, layered plotting, and intricate mystery that I have come to expect – and love.
In this installment, Sarah is preparing a garage sale for her client, Alice Krandle, when she discovers that Stella, her friend and landlady, has been kidnapped. The kidnapper gives her specific instructions to follow – including that she tell no one (including the police, her boyfriend (and DA) Seth, and her possibly mob-connected friend, Mike) – if she wants to see Stella alive again. Despite some misgivings, Sarah embarks on a secret mission of deception, racing against time – and an unknown and dangerous enemy – to save her friend.
Absence of Alice is a fantastic thrill-ride, with so many twists and turns that it is impossible to put down. It is as much a modern thriller as a cozy mystery, and each clue builds on the next to create an intense and compelling novel. The wonderful cozy elements are also present, and visits with from minor characters such as pizzeria-owners Angelo and Rosalie DiNapoli add to the charm. And exploration of Sarah’s relationships with Stella, Seth, and Mike each add a wonderful layer of complexity.
Absence of Alice is a book – and series – not to be missed. But if you have not yet started the series, it would be best to start with the first book Tagged to Death to get the full effect. I am looking ever so forward to the next installment in this most excellent series.
Note: I received an ARC of Absence of Alice from NetGalley and Kensington Books. The above is my honest review.
In this installment, Sarah is preparing a garage sale for her client, Alice Krandle, when she discovers that Stella, her friend and landlady, has been kidnapped. The kidnapper gives her specific instructions to follow – including that she tell no one (including the police, her boyfriend (and DA) Seth, and her possibly mob-connected friend, Mike) – if she wants to see Stella alive again. Despite some misgivings, Sarah embarks on a secret mission of deception, racing against time – and an unknown and dangerous enemy – to save her friend.
Absence of Alice is a fantastic thrill-ride, with so many twists and turns that it is impossible to put down. It is as much a modern thriller as a cozy mystery, and each clue builds on the next to create an intense and compelling novel. The wonderful cozy elements are also present, and visits with from minor characters such as pizzeria-owners Angelo and Rosalie DiNapoli add to the charm. And exploration of Sarah’s relationships with Stella, Seth, and Mike each add a wonderful layer of complexity.
Absence of Alice is a book – and series – not to be missed. But if you have not yet started the series, it would be best to start with the first book Tagged to Death to get the full effect. I am looking ever so forward to the next installment in this most excellent series.
Note: I received an ARC of Absence of Alice from NetGalley and Kensington Books. The above is my honest review.
September 22, 2020
With Absence of Alice, Sherry Harris offers us a prime example of the quality and uniqueness that makes the Sarah Winston Mystery series outstanding. I am an avid reader of cozy mysteries and Sarah Winston meets many of the best characteristics of the cozy world, but the variety alone takes it beyond the standard for the usual cozy mysteries. At the same time, the small-town warmth, great friendships, and Sarah’s somewhat unusual career of organizing garage sales, as well the limited description of murders keep the series and Absence of Alice on the lighter side of traditional mysteries.
When Sarah gets a call that her best friend has been kidnapped, the kidnapper says he will kill Stella if Sarah approaches any of people she usually counts on. She believes that he can find out if she does so; nothing is secret in a small town. Her only choice is to act as normal as possible and do everything he says while she tries to figure out who he is and where he is hiding Stella. For a woman who is friends with police officers and dating the district attorney, she is in a really bad position. It doesn’t help that she doesn’t lie. She cannot image why anyone would kidnap a friend to get at her or who would play games, deadly games, with her in exchange for clues to her friend’s whereabouts. Even if she does manage to rescue her friend, odd are that her other friends will feel betrayed and little that matters in her life will be the quite same again.
Sarah’s strength and intelligence in life and in solving murders, as well as her kind heart and the warmth of her circle of friends draw me to this must-buy series time after time. I requested an ARC through NetGalley because I love the series so much that I just can’t wait to get my hands on it and I know am going to shout about it anyway, but I also love it so much that I pre-order a personal copy for every book. #NetGalley #Absence of Alice
When Sarah gets a call that her best friend has been kidnapped, the kidnapper says he will kill Stella if Sarah approaches any of people she usually counts on. She believes that he can find out if she does so; nothing is secret in a small town. Her only choice is to act as normal as possible and do everything he says while she tries to figure out who he is and where he is hiding Stella. For a woman who is friends with police officers and dating the district attorney, she is in a really bad position. It doesn’t help that she doesn’t lie. She cannot image why anyone would kidnap a friend to get at her or who would play games, deadly games, with her in exchange for clues to her friend’s whereabouts. Even if she does manage to rescue her friend, odd are that her other friends will feel betrayed and little that matters in her life will be the quite same again.
Sarah’s strength and intelligence in life and in solving murders, as well as her kind heart and the warmth of her circle of friends draw me to this must-buy series time after time. I requested an ARC through NetGalley because I love the series so much that I just can’t wait to get my hands on it and I know am going to shout about it anyway, but I also love it so much that I pre-order a personal copy for every book. #NetGalley #Absence of Alice
December 24, 2020
This is the ninth in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series.
Sarah’s landlady and friend, Stella is kidnapped. The kidnapper has decided to make life difficult for Sarah. She isn’t allowed to call the police & is sent all over the surrounding area doing tasks for the man.
I haven’t read this series in order. I had no problem keeping up and following the storyline and characters’ backgrounds.
I enjoyed the mystery and the misdirections only added to the intensity of finding out who was behind it.
This mystery was top notch and I can’t wait for the next. In the meantime, I’ll catch up on the four I have recently purchased.
I was given an Advanced Readers Copy from Netgallery. I am not required to leave a positive review.
Sarah’s landlady and friend, Stella is kidnapped. The kidnapper has decided to make life difficult for Sarah. She isn’t allowed to call the police & is sent all over the surrounding area doing tasks for the man.
I haven’t read this series in order. I had no problem keeping up and following the storyline and characters’ backgrounds.
I enjoyed the mystery and the misdirections only added to the intensity of finding out who was behind it.
This mystery was top notch and I can’t wait for the next. In the meantime, I’ll catch up on the four I have recently purchased.
I was given an Advanced Readers Copy from Netgallery. I am not required to leave a positive review.
December 30, 2020
Sarah Winston's garage sale business is thriving and her latest client Alice is counting on Sarah to get top dollar for her antiques. In Absence of Alice, Sarah works hard to get the most money for Alice, and to do all she can to help her friend Stella, who has found herself in a very dangerous situation. I really enjoyed this well-written mystery that kept me guessing and second guessing til the very end. The characters are realistic, developed, and likable. The Boston suburb setting has a nice town square and a restaurant whose owners are like family to Sarah. I love this series and always look forward to the next installment! Highly recommended to anyone who love a great mystery, the Boston area, garage saleing, or peeks into military life.
I received an advance copy of this book. This review contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
I received an advance copy of this book. This review contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
January 27, 2021
First, I really like her writing. Grammatically correct and such.
Second, HUGE anxiety in this book. Someone's bad things happen to the characters, so I couldn't be certain that everything would turn out ok (as it's true in some cozy mysteries).
Third, I couldn't stop reading this book! The first book in a while I started up past my bedtime not wanting to put the book down.
Fourth, great mystery. Never would have guessed, but looking back it made sense. Was it the most obvious character, or the least? It was fun.
Fifth, great characters!
Second, HUGE anxiety in this book. Someone's bad things happen to the characters, so I couldn't be certain that everything would turn out ok (as it's true in some cozy mysteries).
Third, I couldn't stop reading this book! The first book in a while I started up past my bedtime not wanting to put the book down.
Fourth, great mystery. Never would have guessed, but looking back it made sense. Was it the most obvious character, or the least? It was fun.
Fifth, great characters!
September 19, 2020
Garage sale organizer Sarah Winston markets, prices and values items for her clients. In a sinister and devious plot, she is forced into the horrifying position of making impossible choices which are infinitely harder than object valuations. She is led through a labyrinth of problems, each unexpected, each calling on her to draw on her wit and intellect.
An unconventional cozy mystery, Absence of Alice is all about suspense which is a wonderfully refreshing surprise. The story has substance and depth. I found myself unable to put it down to break for lunch! Such a smooth and easy read, start to finish. The unique cleverness of the plot is the biggest draw for me. The author had me guessing and re-guessing, scrutinizing each character to bits. Everything just works seamlessly...thoughtful, smart and engaging.
Seeking a different mystery with gripping dark elements, yet still a cozy without the violence? You really should read this, my favourite thus far in the series. Brilliant. An easy 5 star.
My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this riveting book in exchange for an unbiased review. Much appreciated.
An unconventional cozy mystery, Absence of Alice is all about suspense which is a wonderfully refreshing surprise. The story has substance and depth. I found myself unable to put it down to break for lunch! Such a smooth and easy read, start to finish. The unique cleverness of the plot is the biggest draw for me. The author had me guessing and re-guessing, scrutinizing each character to bits. Everything just works seamlessly...thoughtful, smart and engaging.
Seeking a different mystery with gripping dark elements, yet still a cozy without the violence? You really should read this, my favourite thus far in the series. Brilliant. An easy 5 star.
My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this riveting book in exchange for an unbiased review. Much appreciated.
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