A Body in the Attic

Myrtle Clover Mysteries #16

by Elizabeth Spann Craig

Attics can be full of surprises.

Who could have murdered Darren Powell? He was a very pleasant man fond of puttering around in his garden and playing chess. He didn't seem at all the type of person who'd find himself murdered in his own attic.

Myrtle and her senior sidekick Miles step in to investigate. The more they learn about Darren, the more interesting he becomes. And now someone else might be in danger. Can they learn the killer's identity before he strikes again?

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery

212 pages, Paperback

First published May 21, 2020

About the author

Author also writes under Elizabeth Craig

Elizabeth is the bestselling cozy mystery author of the Southern Quilting mysteries, the Myrtle Clover Cozy Mysteries, the Village Library Mysteries, and Memphis Barbeque mysteries for Penguin Random House, Midnight Ink, and independently. Find out more about her books and sign up for her newsletter on her website: http://elizabethspanncraig.com . Find her books on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list...

Reviews

[Rebecca Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Spann Craig’s A Body in the Attic is a well-written and solidly engaging cosy mystery starring everyone’s favourite octogenarian sleuth. The funny and unique characters are memorably entertaining and the mystery plot is interesting. This is the sixteenth book in the series but it works as a standalone.

It’s another day in Bradley and there’s another murder mystery to solve! Octogenarian sleuth Myrtle and her sidekick Miles stumble upon the body of Miles’ friend Darren Powell. Quiet and mild-mannered Darren loved playing chess and exploring his attic. Who could possibly want to kill such an unimposing man? But, the more Myrtle and Miles dig into Darren, the more interesting he seems. Darren had recently come into money and the lengthy suspect list includes his wayward nephew, a smarmy lawyer, and a love rival. Can Myrtle crack the case before there’s another victim?

This is such a quick, light, and funny read with wonderfully mature writing! The mystery plot is excellently-paced with many memorable and viable suspects. There are several red herrings and a few nice twists. I like that I didn’t figure out the murderer until the big reveal but their motives do make sense and fit the plot well.

I love how familiarly consistent and entertaining these books are! This instalment is filled with the usual hilarious scenes of Myrtle’s sleuthing, butting heads with her Police Chief son Red, her cooking misadventures, trying to wrestle the book club members into having intelligent discussions, and bossing around poor long-suffering sidekick Miles. Although the same general scenarios remain a staple in these books, Craig ensures that they are never stale but, instead, they are always funny and unique and actually contribute to moving the plot along.

I particularly love that Craig imbues the ordinary activities of senior small town life with such fun and humour. The memorable and unique characters are fantastic as always! Savvy and formidable Myrtle is clever, nosey, and oh so funny! She’s one of the best and most consistently written characters in cosy mysteries. Myrtle’s shenanigans are laugh-out-ridiculous but realistic and are just the right touch of quirky without being outlandish.


🔦🔦🔦🔦 ½ out of 5 flashlights!

[France-Andrée · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miles has found a partner to play chess with when he tires of losing at Scrabble with Myrtle. It’s too bad though that the new friend gets murdered while rummaging through his attic. Darren, the victim, had made a lot of money after finding a painting in the said attic so a lot of people wanted to borrow from him: his sister, nephew, girlfriend… so many suspects.

I love this series, I enjoy Myrtle a lot and Miles too… maybe because I see my future in her if I live to be an octogenarian? The books, the crosswords and the insomnia. It’s just a fun series. I didn’t guess the killer! It’s the first time in this series that I don’t, I did enjoy that very much, I missed the vital clue this time around.

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. This is another fun mystery in the Myrtle Clover series. At book 16 you know what to expect but at the same time it still remains entertaining and can still elicit a chuckle. I love the characters and it wouldn't be the same with out predictions from Wanda, Elaine trying a new hobby, Pudding and Dusty shuckin there cleaning and gardening jobs, hiding from neighbour Erma and even Myrtle and Miles own insomnia. Actually the more I think about it, the more I remember the little quirks from the delightful characters that make it such a great series and one I love joining. The mystery was woven well into Myrtle's everyday life and gave her and Miles plenty of opportunity to investigate like only they can. I did guess who the killer was and picked up on the clue that gave the killer way. I love mysteries that are full of clues so the reader can solve it themselves. I hope I don't have to wait too long for the next mystery with the Octogenarian slueths.
Fed up with always losing at scrabbling with ex English teacher Myrtle, Miles turns his hand to chess. Hopefully practicing with novice Myrtle means he can get back into winning form and play against his friend, Darren. But when Darren phones Miles it seems he has more on his mind than chess, he found some old newspaper clipping he wants to share. When Miles and Myrtle arrive at his house they find no sign of him, until Miles ventures into his attic and finds his dead body. Who would want him dead?and why? Could it be connected with the newspaper clipping? Or the previous treasure he found in the attic that made him a rich man. Miles and Myrtle set out to find out.
I liked the narrator. She used her voice well to provide different sounding characters up and down the age spectrum.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Body in the Attic is the sixteenth book in A Myrtle Clover Cozy Mystery series and another delightful read.

Myrtle and Miles are pretty bored as nothing much happens in their tiny town, but then Miles gets a rather mysterious call for help from his chess partner Darren. Unfortunately when they get to Darren's house they find him dead.
Darren had recently gotten wealthy as he sold an old painting he found in his attic. Apparently he found something else there and the murdered found it out.
Nothing will stop Myrtle asking questions and finding out the truth if nothing else to irritate her son. As the unlikely duo starts investigating they will stir hornet's nest and possibly put themselves in danger as Myrtle's favorite psychic predicts.

I absolutely love this series.
The characters have that southern charm that makes them so special and lovable. I love how the author always comes up with different hobby for Elaine and how it always turns into disaster one way or the other.
Or their middle of the night coffee and cookies sessions.
It the perfect blend of mystery, humor and quirkiness. It's like your friends telling you their misadventures.
Each installment is highly anticipated.

[Julie Trapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Attics can be full of surprises.
Who could have murdered Darren Powell? He was a very pleasant man fond of puttering around in his garden and playing chess. He didn't seem at all the type of person who'd find himself murdered in his own attic. Myrtle and her senior sidekick Miles step in to investigate. The more they learn about Darren, the more interesting he becomes. And now someone else might be in danger. Can they learn the killer's identity before he strikes again? [amazon synopsis]

Once again, Myrtle and Miles are on the hunt for a killer. Myrtle is rather abrasive, but she's old. Why does Miles continue to let himself be bullied into doing things and badgered by Myrtle? Needed a better editor - was the dog's name Crystal or Charlie?

[Squirrel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book details petty whines and jealousies. People may feel these things, but do they really lead to murders that little old ladies investigate? Most people can't find someone to date, and this town keeps having love triangles? Myrtle goes crosses the line repeatedly from pushy to bully, and Miles continues to choose being miserable over standing up for himself. This continues the previous book's trend of spineless men and overbearing woman. Elaine is belittled, even though she's successful as a professional photographer (doesn't mean the work is great, but she is being paid for it and it is being published.) She's successful as a baker (no one is forcing Red to eat everything, but that's overlooked.) It reads as misogyny, even though the author is credited as a woman.

[George Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love This Series!

I gave this rating because of the excellent story lines. This one contained not one but two murders. One of the murdered men was friend of Miles and he discovered the body which was very upsetting to him. There lots of action including book club, a visit to Wanda, enjoying Elaine's new hobby and it's consequences!

[Annathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always happy to see a new Myrtle book

I am a big fan of Myrtle. I hope to be mentally spry when I’m her age. Always a cozy read, yet engaging. A continuous noodling of who done it throughout the book.

[Samantha Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the interaction between Myrtle and Miles. She’s determined and opinionated, and he’s so sweet with her. The narrator, Lisa Lynn Sandlin - one of my absolute favorites - brings the characters and story to life and is just fantastic! I loved it.

[Susan E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good yarn

A good story. Having read all the previous books in the series, they are predictable in having two murders followed by the attempted murder of Myrtle.
My real concern is the author's appalling use of pronouns!

[Cay Resko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love a good Myrtle Clover cozy mystery. So humorous and homey. She always gets the culprit too.

[Darvionne J Givhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Ms. Myrtle as always!

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Body in The Attic

Another great book by Elizabeth Spann Craig. I love this series. They are great mysteries, but light and easy to read. I can't wait for the next book

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Myrtle Clover Mystery

Another great Myrtle Clover Mystery. I love these books, and have read all of them. Can't wait for the next Myrtle and Miles adventure!

[Adam Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn't read a book since before the pandemic, I used to always read on the subway. This was the perfect tonic to get back into reading.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good story. Poor Red - the Gnome Army out again.

[Cassie Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Myrtle Clover and Miles Bradford return in another installment of the Myrtle Clover Mysteries. This time, it’s Miles that discovers the body, one of his friends by the name of Darren. The body is discovered in the attic of Darren’s home, where he’d been looking things over. After inviting Miles over a mere half hour before, the newspaper clippings that he’d called to show Miles are gone, meaning somebody may have killed Darren to hide whatever was there.

As Myrtle and Miles begin questioning suspects, they learn more about Darren. Due to finding a rare painting, it turns out that Darren has a lot of money, which could be another motive for murder. His entire family seems to have a reason to kill him, but who did it? If Myrtle and Miles can’t figure it out, the murderer might be coming for them next. It’s a race against time to find out who killed Darren, and time is running out.

With the same core cast of characters, this is an excellent book to add to your collection. The new characters, as is usual for Craig, are varied and just secretive enough to keep intrigue flowing. And if that doesn’t beat all, Elaine has a surprising hobby in this one which turns out just as detrimental as the others, though in an entirely different way. I was laughing throughout all of her scenes.

This book was a great addition to the series. It could be read early on if you’re just getting into the series, though not as the first book. If you love Myrtle and Miles, pick up this book. The mystery is fantastic, and the result of this one surprised me. With so many secrets in Bradley, it’s sure to allow the series to be continued for a long while. And I will be there for every one of them.

[Allyson Dyar · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Miles this time who finds the dead body in the attic of one of his chess-playing friends and of course, Myrtle is on the case to figure out whodunit.

This is another solid entry in the series and even Elaine's newest hobby is more amusing than usual.

Well-worth reading if you're a fan. Even if you're not a fan, this is a good book to start reading the series.

As always, Myrtle gets a solid 5 stars.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got completely blindsided by the killer! 😕 I totally thought it was someone else! Oh well, you solve some, you don't solve some it was still a Great story. 😊 Poor Miles though, not only did he find a dead body AGAIN but it was a kinda friend of his. He's going to move back to Atlanta if this keeps up.