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Cait Morgan #9
The Corpse with the Crystal Skull
Welsh Canadian globetrotting sleuth, and professor of criminal psychology, Cait Morgan, is supposed to be “celebrating” her fiftieth birthday in Jamaica with her ex-cop husband Bud Anderson. But when the body of the luxury estate’s owner is discovered locked inside an inaccessible tower, Cait and her fellow guests must work out who might have killed him – even if his murder seems impossible. Could the death of the man who hosted parties in the 1960s attended by Ian Fleming and Noël Coward be somehow linked to treasure the legendary Captain Henry Morgan might have buried at the estate? Or to the mission Bud and his secret service colleagues have been sent to the island to undertake?
334 pages, Paperback
Published June 25, 2020
About the author
Cathy Ace
42 books390 followersCathy Ace migrated from her native Wales to Canada at the age of 40. She is the award-winning author of the traditional Cait Morgan Mysteries featuring her Welsh Canadian criminology professor sleuth who travels the world tripping over corpses, which have now been optioned for TV. She also writes the cozier WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries featuring a quartet of female PIs who run their business out of a Welsh stately home. Both series have been well-reviewed. Her award-winning standalone, THE WRONG BOY, is a gripping novel of psychological suspense, set in Wales, and has also been optioned for TV.
"Ace is, well, an ace when it comes to plot and description.” The Globe and Mail
Cathy's work has won the prestigious Bony Blithe Award for best Canadian light mystery, an IPPY and an IBA Award, and has been shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story.
Her short story "Dear George" appeared on the UK's O Level English Language syllabus and, together with another story, "Domestic Violence", has been produced for BBC Radio 4. You can find out more about Cathy, her books, and events she'll be attending, at www.cathyace.com
"Ace is, well, an ace when it comes to plot and description.” The Globe and Mail
Cathy's work has won the prestigious Bony Blithe Award for best Canadian light mystery, an IPPY and an IBA Award, and has been shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story.
Her short story "Dear George" appeared on the UK's O Level English Language syllabus and, together with another story, "Domestic Violence", has been produced for BBC Radio 4. You can find out more about Cathy, her books, and events she'll be attending, at www.cathyace.com
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 6, 2020
Dollycas’s Thoughts
A locked room, a dead host, and a crystal skull . . . who knew turning 50 in Jamaica could bring so much drama. Then again drama does follow Cait Morgan and Bud Anderson everywhere they go. Bud inviting his friends Jack and John with their significant others has Cait thinking there is something else going on besides their holiday and celebration. In fact, they could be suspects in the murder of dear Freddie.
After nine stories in this series, you would think I would know Cait Morgan very well but the author continues to find ways to keep her fresh. A professor of criminal psychology, excellent amateur sleuth with a very analytical way of looking at clues and forming theories. My absolute favorite part of the story is near the end when Cait uses her eidetic memory to untangle all her observations and puts them in order and explains what happened and whodunit.
The supporting characters are complex, all dealing with real-life issues. This really adds to the story and gives the characters more depth than expected in one book of a long-running series.
Again, Ms. Ace has written a complicated mystery, so much so that Cait has trouble eliminating suspects especially living in such close quarters with people who all seem to be hiding something. She knows Bud didn’t kill Freddie but she knows he is keeping something from her. Twists and turns galore set this mystery on a new course more than once keeping the characters and this reader on their toes.
I loved the descriptions of former Lieutenant Sir Henry Morgan’s estate. It is an extraordinary place with quite a history and a perfect place to set a murder mystery. It is very private, not your typical Jamaican beach locale. Full of treasures like the crystal skull, who knows what is truly hidden in this idyllic place. Because of the privacy the guests don’t run into other tourists and we know a pretty penny was paid for this amazing vacay.
The Corpse with the Crystal Skull was a Perfect Escape for me. I had to force myself to put the book down to go to sleep. Each book in this series can be read on its own but to really get to know Cait and Bud and all their adventures I recommend starting at the beginning.
A locked room, a dead host, and a crystal skull . . . who knew turning 50 in Jamaica could bring so much drama. Then again drama does follow Cait Morgan and Bud Anderson everywhere they go. Bud inviting his friends Jack and John with their significant others has Cait thinking there is something else going on besides their holiday and celebration. In fact, they could be suspects in the murder of dear Freddie.
After nine stories in this series, you would think I would know Cait Morgan very well but the author continues to find ways to keep her fresh. A professor of criminal psychology, excellent amateur sleuth with a very analytical way of looking at clues and forming theories. My absolute favorite part of the story is near the end when Cait uses her eidetic memory to untangle all her observations and puts them in order and explains what happened and whodunit.
The supporting characters are complex, all dealing with real-life issues. This really adds to the story and gives the characters more depth than expected in one book of a long-running series.
Again, Ms. Ace has written a complicated mystery, so much so that Cait has trouble eliminating suspects especially living in such close quarters with people who all seem to be hiding something. She knows Bud didn’t kill Freddie but she knows he is keeping something from her. Twists and turns galore set this mystery on a new course more than once keeping the characters and this reader on their toes.
I loved the descriptions of former Lieutenant Sir Henry Morgan’s estate. It is an extraordinary place with quite a history and a perfect place to set a murder mystery. It is very private, not your typical Jamaican beach locale. Full of treasures like the crystal skull, who knows what is truly hidden in this idyllic place. Because of the privacy the guests don’t run into other tourists and we know a pretty penny was paid for this amazing vacay.
The Corpse with the Crystal Skull was a Perfect Escape for me. I had to force myself to put the book down to go to sleep. Each book in this series can be read on its own but to really get to know Cait and Bud and all their adventures I recommend starting at the beginning.
June 23, 2020
The Corpse with the Crystal Skull is a delightful addition to Cathy Ace's Cait Morgan series.
Cait Morgan makes for a terrific protagonist, witty, clever, and deftly human in her insecurities, she uses her training in criminal psychology and eidetic memory to help solve a murder that stumps the local police, not to mention Cait's husband and his cohorts who are visiting Jamaica for more than just a little R and R.
The supporting characters are equally engaging. My enjoyment of this book came as much from the dynamics between the characters as unraveling the whodunit, though it's a twisty and complex mystery to complement the fun characters.
Cathy Ace has a sharp ear for dialogue, a knack for creating appealing characters, and a deft hand at crafting a satisfying plot. Her characters struggle with aging, relationships, marriages, past traumas, and issues of class, making for an excellent exploration into the human condition—augmenting the clever murder investigation.
Set on a posh, private estate in Jamaica, the location adds another level to the story as Ace shows us the vast differences between the "haves" and "have nots" on the island. A mysterious missing treasure, a locked tower, and a reclusive Italian movie star all add up to a fun summer read.
If you aren't familiar with Cathy Ace's Cait Morgan Series, this book will have you dying to pick up book one.
Visit the virtual book tour stop on my blog: https://www.elenataylorauthor.com/202...
Cait Morgan makes for a terrific protagonist, witty, clever, and deftly human in her insecurities, she uses her training in criminal psychology and eidetic memory to help solve a murder that stumps the local police, not to mention Cait's husband and his cohorts who are visiting Jamaica for more than just a little R and R.
The supporting characters are equally engaging. My enjoyment of this book came as much from the dynamics between the characters as unraveling the whodunit, though it's a twisty and complex mystery to complement the fun characters.
Cathy Ace has a sharp ear for dialogue, a knack for creating appealing characters, and a deft hand at crafting a satisfying plot. Her characters struggle with aging, relationships, marriages, past traumas, and issues of class, making for an excellent exploration into the human condition—augmenting the clever murder investigation.
Set on a posh, private estate in Jamaica, the location adds another level to the story as Ace shows us the vast differences between the "haves" and "have nots" on the island. A mysterious missing treasure, a locked tower, and a reclusive Italian movie star all add up to a fun summer read.
If you aren't familiar with Cathy Ace's Cait Morgan Series, this book will have you dying to pick up book one.
Visit the virtual book tour stop on my blog: https://www.elenataylorauthor.com/202...
June 21, 2020
Fans of light mysteries and locked room murders will enjoy The Corpse with the Crystal Skull, the ninth title in Cathy Ace’s Cait Morgan series. Cathy Ace is an accomplished writer, with many titles to her credit. In Cait Morgan, the author gives readers an entertaining middle-aged lead character, who is blessed with a photographic memory, something that enables her to recall details others might miss. Set in Jamaica, and seasoned with intrigue and Henry Morgan’s buried treasure, the novel dishes up a healthy list of possible suspects.
July 4, 2020
4.5 stars. Review originally published onThe Bookwyrm's Hoard blog on 7/01/2020.
Cait Morgan brings her eidetic memory, analytical mind, and psychologist’s insight to bear when a Jamaican holiday turns out to be anything but festive… and rather more of a busman’s holiday for Bud and his “retired” friends and colleagues, Jack and John. When the host of their holiday rental — an estate once owned by the privateer-cum-Lieutenant Governor, Sir Henry Morgan — is found dead in a locked room, the trio, plus Cait, Jack’s wife Sheila, and John’s much-younger girlfriend Lottie, must try to figure out who killed him and how. There’s also the fraught question of whether Freddie’s death was personal, or perhaps related either to Capt. Morgan’s fabled lost treasure or to the men’s mission.
Cait struggles a little in this novel, which I found refreshing given her usual competence and self-confidence. Her wits and deductions are as sharp as ever, but she is still a bit shaken by events from a previous novel, and she’s facing a situation in which several people she knows and trusts could have had a motive to kill Freddie. Cait’s tendency to analyze people, and her extraordinary ability to do so, cuts both ways: it makes her an insightful criminal profiler, but outside of her marriage, she doesn’t really connect to people on a personal level. That tendency leads to several awkward and sometimes painful situations in this book, but there are also signs that perhaps she is willing to grow a little in that area. (If I had to guess, I’d say that Cait’s Myers-Briggs type is either INTJ or ISTJ, well-balanced between iNtuition and Sensing, but waaaay over on the T side of the Thinking-Feeling spectrum.)
As I’ve come to expect from Cathy Ace, the mystery is complex and intriguing, the pacing is excellent, and the solution is clever and mostly unexpected. (As a sop to my mystery-reader pride, I hasten to add that my suspicions did lean at least partially in the right directions, and I had figured out a few minor bits and pieces before the denouement.) Ms. Ace always “plays fair” with her readers; if you pay attention, all the clues are there, but it’s even odds whether you’ll pick up the right ones, or put them together in the right order. Meatier than most of today’s light cozy mysteries, The Corpse with the Crystal Skull and other Cait Morgan novels are traditional mysteries where the puzzle takes center stage, and violence is never glorified: stories that will appeal to afficionados of Agatha Christie and other writers of mystery’s Golden Age.
Ace’s descriptions of Jamaica make the island come alive; I could feel the evening breeze and the sultry afternoon heat, hear the waves, see the flowers and the swift and glorious sunsets. This is, however, more the Jamaica of tourists and wealthy (white) foreign residents than the ordinary citizen’s experience; the latter is mostly out of sight, and Jamaica’s legacy of slavery and colonialism is only touched on here and there, except in the history of Sir Henry Morgan. Enjoy the descriptions of the island’s beauty, but bear in mind that you’re only seeing part of the picture, as it were.
All in all, I found The Corpse with the Crystal Skull a most enjoyable evening’s reading — it kept me turning the pages until nearly 2:30 am! If this is your first introduction to Cait Morgan, it can certainly be read as a standalone, as can all the books in the series; you’ll find references to events in previous books, but anything you need to know is explained, usually as part of Cait’s ruminations. (The book is told in first person, from Cait’s POV.) On the other hand, if you prefer to follow the main character’s personal life in chronological order, I suggest starting with book #1, The Corpse with the Silver Tongue.
FTC disclosure: I received a review copy from the author for a blog tour. All opinions are entirely my own.
Cait Morgan brings her eidetic memory, analytical mind, and psychologist’s insight to bear when a Jamaican holiday turns out to be anything but festive… and rather more of a busman’s holiday for Bud and his “retired” friends and colleagues, Jack and John. When the host of their holiday rental — an estate once owned by the privateer-cum-Lieutenant Governor, Sir Henry Morgan — is found dead in a locked room, the trio, plus Cait, Jack’s wife Sheila, and John’s much-younger girlfriend Lottie, must try to figure out who killed him and how. There’s also the fraught question of whether Freddie’s death was personal, or perhaps related either to Capt. Morgan’s fabled lost treasure or to the men’s mission.
Cait struggles a little in this novel, which I found refreshing given her usual competence and self-confidence. Her wits and deductions are as sharp as ever, but she is still a bit shaken by events from a previous novel, and she’s facing a situation in which several people she knows and trusts could have had a motive to kill Freddie. Cait’s tendency to analyze people, and her extraordinary ability to do so, cuts both ways: it makes her an insightful criminal profiler, but outside of her marriage, she doesn’t really connect to people on a personal level. That tendency leads to several awkward and sometimes painful situations in this book, but there are also signs that perhaps she is willing to grow a little in that area. (If I had to guess, I’d say that Cait’s Myers-Briggs type is either INTJ or ISTJ, well-balanced between iNtuition and Sensing, but waaaay over on the T side of the Thinking-Feeling spectrum.)
As I’ve come to expect from Cathy Ace, the mystery is complex and intriguing, the pacing is excellent, and the solution is clever and mostly unexpected. (As a sop to my mystery-reader pride, I hasten to add that my suspicions did lean at least partially in the right directions, and I had figured out a few minor bits and pieces before the denouement.) Ms. Ace always “plays fair” with her readers; if you pay attention, all the clues are there, but it’s even odds whether you’ll pick up the right ones, or put them together in the right order. Meatier than most of today’s light cozy mysteries, The Corpse with the Crystal Skull and other Cait Morgan novels are traditional mysteries where the puzzle takes center stage, and violence is never glorified: stories that will appeal to afficionados of Agatha Christie and other writers of mystery’s Golden Age.
Ace’s descriptions of Jamaica make the island come alive; I could feel the evening breeze and the sultry afternoon heat, hear the waves, see the flowers and the swift and glorious sunsets. This is, however, more the Jamaica of tourists and wealthy (white) foreign residents than the ordinary citizen’s experience; the latter is mostly out of sight, and Jamaica’s legacy of slavery and colonialism is only touched on here and there, except in the history of Sir Henry Morgan. Enjoy the descriptions of the island’s beauty, but bear in mind that you’re only seeing part of the picture, as it were.
All in all, I found The Corpse with the Crystal Skull a most enjoyable evening’s reading — it kept me turning the pages until nearly 2:30 am! If this is your first introduction to Cait Morgan, it can certainly be read as a standalone, as can all the books in the series; you’ll find references to events in previous books, but anything you need to know is explained, usually as part of Cait’s ruminations. (The book is told in first person, from Cait’s POV.) On the other hand, if you prefer to follow the main character’s personal life in chronological order, I suggest starting with book #1, The Corpse with the Silver Tongue.
FTC disclosure: I received a review copy from the author for a blog tour. All opinions are entirely my own.
October 11, 2020
I'm super excited to read another of Cathy Ace's books in the Cait Morgan Mystery series.
This time Ace brings The Corpse with the Crystal Skull, where Cait Morgan and her husband Bud Anderson travel to Jamaica along with 4 of their friends.
It's been a while since I'd read for Ace and this book references some of the events that happened in the previous one, namely The Corpse with the Ruby Lips (which I read in 2016!). I don't remember the events of the last book so I felt a bit disconnected at the beginning.
However, once the mystery began, I was immersed in the book.
The Corpse with the Crystal Skull opens with the three couples in a luxury estate in Jamaica. Cait knows everyone except Charlotte Fortescue "Lottie", who accompanies Bud's friend John.
The trip to Jamaica was meant to be getaway for Cait and Bud for a month. "Then Bud somehow managed to invite Jack and Sheila to join us for a fortnight then he'd also gone and asked John and his 'plus one' to come along for the final week."
During their stay, their host, and estate owner, Freddie Burkinshaw seemingly dies. However, the circumstances surrounding his death seem off to Cait who begins to investigate.
There's something odd about the way Freddie supposedly drops dead. He's shot in the heart in a room locked from the inside within a tower. On his desk rests a crystal skull, the only key to the room is found in Freddie's pocket along with a gun on the floor.
Sounds like a suicide, right?
That's what the police think. But Cait and Bud aren't buying it.
"The crystal skull. That was [Freddie's] most prized possession."
Unbeknownst to Cait, Bud and the other two men are on a secret mission to uncover a historical artefact and destroy it. Cait finally weeds out this information from Bud and joins him in his quest.
As The Corpse with the Crystal Skull progresses, Cait discovers that there were many issues between their friendly host Freddie and other business owners on the island. Chief among them is their nearest neighbor Nina Mazzo.
"Knowing what I do now about the men's mission, their expressions make sense. Sheila's doesn't. I recall that when Amelia broke the news of Freddie's death, Sheila seemed annoyed, not shocked. "Damn it!" she had said. That doesn't seem right."
Also, their friend Sheila seems to be acting strangely in some situations.
There are lots of deceptions in The Corpse with the Crystal Skull from many parties, the good and the bad. This offered tons of suspense and intrigue but also some confusion. Especially when characters like Bud have to talk in code or in indirect messages.
As Cait and the group delve deeper into Freddie's life and into the secret operation undertaken by Bud, John, and Jack, secrets emerge about Freddie, who it seems had made many enemies over the years.
"Freddie had a reputation for being able to get things for people. Unusual things. Probably some illegal things. Freddie built a network of contacts and used that to build a network of 'customers.'"
It seemed that many people wanted Freddie dead for different reasons.
One of the things I liked about The Corpse with the Crystal Skull is the references to books and movies, especially Ian Fleming and James Bond. While I watched some of the movies, I've never read any of the books. Maybe I should reconsider?
I enjoy the way Cait and Bud interact with each other, calling each other husband and wife, respectively.
I also loved the conclusion, which was Cait Morgan ala Agatha Christie. Bringing everyone together and slowly making the killer emerge.
Overall rating for The Corpse with the Crystal Skull: 4.5 stars
"Freddie was shot, that's for sure. Straight through the heart. But that's not what's really interesting. What's really interesting is that he'd also been poisoned."
This time Ace brings The Corpse with the Crystal Skull, where Cait Morgan and her husband Bud Anderson travel to Jamaica along with 4 of their friends.
It's been a while since I'd read for Ace and this book references some of the events that happened in the previous one, namely The Corpse with the Ruby Lips (which I read in 2016!). I don't remember the events of the last book so I felt a bit disconnected at the beginning.
However, once the mystery began, I was immersed in the book.
The Corpse with the Crystal Skull opens with the three couples in a luxury estate in Jamaica. Cait knows everyone except Charlotte Fortescue "Lottie", who accompanies Bud's friend John.
The trip to Jamaica was meant to be getaway for Cait and Bud for a month. "Then Bud somehow managed to invite Jack and Sheila to join us for a fortnight then he'd also gone and asked John and his 'plus one' to come along for the final week."
During their stay, their host, and estate owner, Freddie Burkinshaw seemingly dies. However, the circumstances surrounding his death seem off to Cait who begins to investigate.
There's something odd about the way Freddie supposedly drops dead. He's shot in the heart in a room locked from the inside within a tower. On his desk rests a crystal skull, the only key to the room is found in Freddie's pocket along with a gun on the floor.
Sounds like a suicide, right?
That's what the police think. But Cait and Bud aren't buying it.
"The crystal skull. That was [Freddie's] most prized possession."
Unbeknownst to Cait, Bud and the other two men are on a secret mission to uncover a historical artefact and destroy it. Cait finally weeds out this information from Bud and joins him in his quest.
As The Corpse with the Crystal Skull progresses, Cait discovers that there were many issues between their friendly host Freddie and other business owners on the island. Chief among them is their nearest neighbor Nina Mazzo.
"Knowing what I do now about the men's mission, their expressions make sense. Sheila's doesn't. I recall that when Amelia broke the news of Freddie's death, Sheila seemed annoyed, not shocked. "Damn it!" she had said. That doesn't seem right."
Also, their friend Sheila seems to be acting strangely in some situations.
There are lots of deceptions in The Corpse with the Crystal Skull from many parties, the good and the bad. This offered tons of suspense and intrigue but also some confusion. Especially when characters like Bud have to talk in code or in indirect messages.
As Cait and the group delve deeper into Freddie's life and into the secret operation undertaken by Bud, John, and Jack, secrets emerge about Freddie, who it seems had made many enemies over the years.
"Freddie had a reputation for being able to get things for people. Unusual things. Probably some illegal things. Freddie built a network of contacts and used that to build a network of 'customers.'"
It seemed that many people wanted Freddie dead for different reasons.
One of the things I liked about The Corpse with the Crystal Skull is the references to books and movies, especially Ian Fleming and James Bond. While I watched some of the movies, I've never read any of the books. Maybe I should reconsider?
I enjoy the way Cait and Bud interact with each other, calling each other husband and wife, respectively.
I also loved the conclusion, which was Cait Morgan ala Agatha Christie. Bringing everyone together and slowly making the killer emerge.
Overall rating for The Corpse with the Crystal Skull: 4.5 stars
"Freddie was shot, that's for sure. Straight through the heart. But that's not what's really interesting. What's really interesting is that he'd also been poisoned."
November 22, 2020
This book, the ninth in Cathy Ace’s Cait Morgan series, is a gem.
Cathy’s plots are always devious and twisted, surrounded by wonderful complex and interesting characters, and set in fabulous locations around the world. What is not to love about a murder that happens behind a locked door in the castle tower on the island of Jamaica. Cait, celebrating her “50th birthday,” with all the worries about reaching that milestone, Bud and four friends are enjoying a little rest and relaxation…or are they? Is there another reason they have come to the island? Who wanted their murdered host, who partied with the likes of Noel Coward and Ian Fleming, and might have found a buried treasure, dead? Grab an iced tea or a beer, a comfy chair and settle in on your patio or balcony and spend the afternoon…you will love it…I did!
Thank you, Cathy, for me sending an advanced readers copy. Don’t miss this book… it will be available on June 29th.
Cathy’s plots are always devious and twisted, surrounded by wonderful complex and interesting characters, and set in fabulous locations around the world. What is not to love about a murder that happens behind a locked door in the castle tower on the island of Jamaica. Cait, celebrating her “50th birthday,” with all the worries about reaching that milestone, Bud and four friends are enjoying a little rest and relaxation…or are they? Is there another reason they have come to the island? Who wanted their murdered host, who partied with the likes of Noel Coward and Ian Fleming, and might have found a buried treasure, dead? Grab an iced tea or a beer, a comfy chair and settle in on your patio or balcony and spend the afternoon…you will love it…I did!
Thank you, Cathy, for me sending an advanced readers copy. Don’t miss this book… it will be available on June 29th.
November 6, 2020
A very good series. Smart and well planned with a lot of little twists and turns.
Welsh Canadian globetrotting sleuth, and professor of criminal psychology, Cait Morgan, is supposed to be “celebrating” her fiftieth birthday in Jamaica with her ex-cop husband Bud Anderson. But when the body of the luxury estate’s owner is discovered locked inside an inaccessible tower, Cait and her fellow guests must work out who might have killed him – even if his murder seems impossible. Could the death of the man who hosted parties in the 1960s attended by Ian Fleming and Noël Coward be somehow linked to treasure the legendary Captain Henry Morgan might have buried at the estate? Or to the mission Bud and his secret service colleagues have been sent to the island to undertake?PRAISE FOR THE CAIT MORGAN MYSTERIES“…touches of Christie or Marsh but with a bouquet of Kinsey Millhone.” —The Globe and Mail“A sparkling, well-plotted, and quite devious mystery…” —The Hamilton Spectator“…a sympathetic amateur detective, a locked-room mystery, a small cast of colourful suspects, loving descriptions of food and drink, and a few red herrings thrown our way…with a nod to a fresh literary or filmic artifice in each novel in the series
Welsh Canadian globetrotting sleuth, and professor of criminal psychology, Cait Morgan, is supposed to be “celebrating” her fiftieth birthday in Jamaica with her ex-cop husband Bud Anderson. But when the body of the luxury estate’s owner is discovered locked inside an inaccessible tower, Cait and her fellow guests must work out who might have killed him – even if his murder seems impossible. Could the death of the man who hosted parties in the 1960s attended by Ian Fleming and Noël Coward be somehow linked to treasure the legendary Captain Henry Morgan might have buried at the estate? Or to the mission Bud and his secret service colleagues have been sent to the island to undertake?PRAISE FOR THE CAIT MORGAN MYSTERIES“…touches of Christie or Marsh but with a bouquet of Kinsey Millhone.” —The Globe and Mail“A sparkling, well-plotted, and quite devious mystery…” —The Hamilton Spectator“…a sympathetic amateur detective, a locked-room mystery, a small cast of colourful suspects, loving descriptions of food and drink, and a few red herrings thrown our way…with a nod to a fresh literary or filmic artifice in each novel in the series
July 20, 2020
So excited to get hold of a new Cait Morgan! I’m huge fan of the series and this one does not disappoint. Absolutely love the setting and Cathy is a master of the locked room mystery. Each character is memorable, and the story has stayed with me since I finished a few weeks ago. Felt like I was right there in the historic home and around the island, right down to the heat. Cracking good writing with an intricate puzzle to solve. Not just a who done it but it who’s who as Cathy learns more about the people closest to her and about herself. A+ book for Agatha Christie fans and any mystery fan or anyone who just enjoys a good story.
July 7, 2020
As usual with this series this is an excellent, enthralling locked-room mystery. I've never been to Jamaica, but the author provided a very good sense of place. I really enjoyed the history, along with the possibility of missing treasure. And I loved the mentions of Enid Blyton, Nancy Drew, and the Hardy Boys — some of my childhood favorites! In addition to the mystery, Cait is faced with an unpleasant view of herself. The characters are well-realized and believable, while the plot is extremely inventive. Highly recommended.
July 13, 2020
Author Cathy Ace has always captured her readers from page one and this new Cait Morgan doesn't disappoint. With a stunning Jamaican setting she sets up a story within a story, characters to root for and of course those you would like to - well you know what I mean. Her writing is crisp and I enjoy the added research as I follow the plot. Let's not forget she sets us up with a locked room mystery and a clever end. If you have not read the other books in the series no worries you can pop right into this one as the author gently fills you in on their backstory.
Thank you Cathy Ace - Nina
Thank you Cathy Ace - Nina
April 9, 2021
Cait Morgan and her husband are vacationing on Jamaica with four of their friends at an impressive estate. The setting, plot, and historical background are interesting. However, Cait’s behavior is often childish and self-centered with a lot of whining and nagging. It does not help that the author has her, claim that Elizabeth I is the only queen with Welsh blood, quite forgetting about Elizabeth’s half-sister and cousin. The book feels as if it was somewhat rushed into publication.
October 14, 2023
Another good read and mystery(ies?) in this Cait Morgan series by Cathy Ace, this one written during the early months of Covid19. The action in this book takes place in Jamaica, with lots of plot twists & turns, spy activities related to old WW2 issues, pirate treasures from Captain Morgan, etc. I had somehow missed the publication of this book, so I caught up with the electronic version. There are still 3 more new books to read in this series, with a 4th new one to be published soon.
September 5, 2020
While not the tightest entry in this series, this is an eminently enjoyable story.
The Jamaicans were a little cliched for my liking.
The cloak and dagger was interesting.
The solution was very much of our time. (No spoiler here!)
The Jamaicans were a little cliched for my liking.
The cloak and dagger was interesting.
The solution was very much of our time. (No spoiler here!)
November 5, 2020
A Cait Morgan cozy murder mystery that takes place in a pirate's tower built in the 1600s next to a residence on Jamaica. I mostly enjoyed this very much. Great location and plot. Cait was sometimes annoying and I didn't like the soap-opera turns in the plot. But a great ending. Copyright 2020.
April 18, 2024
I love this writer , this was another great book. Cait and bud are off to Jamaica to celebrate Cait's 50th or so she thought. Until the main host ends up dead and cait finds out that not all is what it seems.
November 16, 2020
I like travelling the world with Cait and Bud, in this book I loved the descriptions of the food. I really like the wrap up at the end and how Cait reveals the murderer.
August 11, 2020
This novel was a compelling read for me. Filled with well developed characters that had me exclaiming aloud, a location where I was familiar, foods that made me drool, and not least, a story plot that had the pages of the book flying.
Cait Morgan is in Jamaica with husband, Bud, and their closest friends. Cail is celebrating her half century Birthday, or so she was led to believe. Soon, it becomes apparent that this trip is more about secret missions (remind you of James Bond?)
Then the host of this glamorous Bed and Breakfast is killed. Henry Morgan the pirate could be the silent killer, or could it be the mole inside the friends group?
You will have to read for yourselves, but be prepared to order take-out so you don't have to miss a word.
Cait Morgan is in Jamaica with husband, Bud, and their closest friends. Cail is celebrating her half century Birthday, or so she was led to believe. Soon, it becomes apparent that this trip is more about secret missions (remind you of James Bond?)
Then the host of this glamorous Bed and Breakfast is killed. Henry Morgan the pirate could be the silent killer, or could it be the mole inside the friends group?
You will have to read for yourselves, but be prepared to order take-out so you don't have to miss a word.
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November 1, 2020The ninth adventure in the Cait Morgan series, The Corpse with the Crystal Skull, sees the Welsh-Canadian criminology professor heading to Jamaica with her husband and friends for her 50th birthday celebrations. As you probably already know, whether it’s a small English village or an island in the Caribbean, whenever a sleuth turns up somewhere in a cosy mystery bodies start piling up.
Full review on my blog and the Crime Fiction Lover website: https://westwordsreviews.wordpress.co...
Full review on my blog and the Crime Fiction Lover website: https://westwordsreviews.wordpress.co...
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