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The Violet Carlyle Mysteries #27
Silver Bells & Murder
Violet and Jack take the train to Scotland with their friends for the holidays only to arrive and realize that the village has been exposed to scarlet fever. Given the delicate babies in their family, they determine to insulate themselves at the lodge they'd taken.
Nearly desperate for some peace and holiday cheer, they intend nothing but lolling by the fire, diving into cupfuls of eggnog, and feasting.
Only, once again, they discover a body. The worst of it is that they were alone at the lodge when the crime was committed. Is it possible that one of them is the killer? Join Vi and friends as they determine their loyalties and hunt a murderer.
Book TWENTY-SEVEN in the Violet Carlyle Mysteries. Are you ready for the roaring twenties? You’ll love Vi, her patient husband Jack, her indulgent twin Vic, and their friends. For fans of Carola Dunn, Jacqueline Winspear, Georgette Heyer, and Lee Strauss. A light, cozy mystery with a fun peek into life in the life of a bright young thing. No swearing, graphic scenes, or cliffhangers.
Nearly desperate for some peace and holiday cheer, they intend nothing but lolling by the fire, diving into cupfuls of eggnog, and feasting.
Only, once again, they discover a body. The worst of it is that they were alone at the lodge when the crime was committed. Is it possible that one of them is the killer? Join Vi and friends as they determine their loyalties and hunt a murderer.
Book TWENTY-SEVEN in the Violet Carlyle Mysteries. Are you ready for the roaring twenties? You’ll love Vi, her patient husband Jack, her indulgent twin Vic, and their friends. For fans of Carola Dunn, Jacqueline Winspear, Georgette Heyer, and Lee Strauss. A light, cozy mystery with a fun peek into life in the life of a bright young thing. No swearing, graphic scenes, or cliffhangers.
129 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 22, 2020
590 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 16, 2020
I'm in the minority here, but I didn't care for this short cozy. I know. I know. Why in bejeezus did I jump into an established series at Book 27? Well, a lot of cozy mysteries can be standalone. None are that difficult to figure out. Cozy mysteries are humorous and light on the murder. Simply put, they're fun. Was this cozy fun? Mmm...not quite. If I were to describe the first half of this 'mystery' it would go something like this: Spoiled British socialites, on a Scottish holiday, are flabbergasted to discover that their Christmas holiday won't go down as planned due to scarlet fever and isolation. (Sound familiar?) Therefore, spoilt aristocrats must fend for themselves. Translation – they'll have to unpack and dress without assistance. Gasp! They're forced to serve their own food and all they can rustle up is champagne, cheese, and smoked fish. —Dum-dum-dum— How will they ever survive? For real. Like, the plot of cooking food (or not knowing how to cook) goes on for half of the story. The rest of the time they're taking comical stabs at one another. (None of it remotely funny) As for the murder mystery, it's terribly weak. I've finished the story and still clueless as to why the victim was slain. The plot is weaker. Supposedly, scarlet fever is decimating the village and all these numbnuts can think of is food. Then, there's a dead body in the holiday rental and still...guess what everyone is concerned with...yep. Food! I mean, hello. Your Littles are present. There's a body in the library and it's unlikely that Miss Scarlet is the killer. The murder weapon isn't a candlestick. Yet, everyone is still cracking jokes. And, while I'm thinking about it...what gives with Denny's weird giggle-fits? Creepy. I didn't think grown men giggled. Chuckles, maybe. Not giggling. O.K. Perhaps I shouldn't have started a series at the end, a series that appears to be beloved by many. I might have enjoyed this more had I introduced myself to Violet and her friends from Book 1. To be fair, I'm going to ̶t̶o̶r̶t̶u̶r̶e̶ ̶m̶y̶s̶e̶l̶f̶ read the first book in The Violet Carlyle Mysteries. I feel like I should give this a chance. I like historical cozies. Everyone seems to enjoy these silly characters. That has to mean something.
2.5 Stars
2.5 Stars
January 29, 2021
Having read previous books in this series this one didn't disappoint. I wasn't sure of the first book but once I got used to some of the unusual Americanism for books set in English 1920s Society (they never use a car, always an auto) I began to enjoy them. They are very lighthearted and as Vi matures throughout the series she becomes more acceptable. In this one the friends arrive at a deserted railway station, struggle through deep snow to a deserted house, even more struggle to look after themselves as the servants haven't materialised everyone in the nearby village apparently being afflicted by scarlet fever. Needles to say there is a murder to be solved.
December 27, 2020
So Vi and jack join the crew in Scotland for the Christmas holidays only to be greeted at the train station by with the news that the entire village is shuttered be Scarlet Fever is running rampant in the village. No servants, no telephone and a less than as advertised hunting lodge. Plus there seems to be a peeping tom and then there is the dead body in the office!
January 21, 2021
I like these "cozy" mysteries. They are light and fun, and I use them as a sleep aid at bedtime. However, they are poorly edited. Be prepared for odd sentences, repeated words (the word "winced" appeared 3 times in two pages in a previous story), and other problems.
March 25, 2021
Merry Christmas?
3*s should really be 3.5. It's not that this installment was bad it's just that the previous ones were fantastic (excluding the prior short stories which was so so). Anyway the group is celebrating Christmas together in a remote lodge. The nearby village is deserted and the servants hired to assist them have fled. What could go wrong? The bright young things are incompetent at performing the most basic of household duties (except Smith), making coffee, cooking food, lighting a fireplace etc. Really? Of course there's a murder but I didn't care. Speaking of Smith..What I wanted to know was...Bea and Smith did whaaat? When, where, how? Inquiring minds (like me) want to know. A lost opportunity for a great story. Now that's an installment I'd love to read.
3*s should really be 3.5. It's not that this installment was bad it's just that the previous ones were fantastic (excluding the prior short stories which was so so). Anyway the group is celebrating Christmas together in a remote lodge. The nearby village is deserted and the servants hired to assist them have fled. What could go wrong? The bright young things are incompetent at performing the most basic of household duties (except Smith), making coffee, cooking food, lighting a fireplace etc. Really? Of course there's a murder but I didn't care. Speaking of Smith..What I wanted to know was...Bea and Smith did whaaat? When, where, how? Inquiring minds (like me) want to know. A lost opportunity for a great story. Now that's an installment I'd love to read.
November 23, 2020
Very Good!
Vi , Victor, Jack, Kate and friends are isolated in a decaying place they had rented for Christmas to escape the Earl’s family Christmas. Lies, no servants, cold, and snow make the situation awful and the murder of an intruder escalates their problems since the police constable accuses one of them of the murder. Their sleuthing skills at work solve the murder, of course!
Vi , Victor, Jack, Kate and friends are isolated in a decaying place they had rented for Christmas to escape the Earl’s family Christmas. Lies, no servants, cold, and snow make the situation awful and the murder of an intruder escalates their problems since the police constable accuses one of them of the murder. Their sleuthing skills at work solve the murder, of course!
November 27, 2020
A wonderful series of stories!
I'm glad another one will be out soon. With this large number of books, I feel like a part of this merry group of friends. I will miss being with them every evening. All their adventures I was there right with them. I will miss them! This is like this stupid quarantine business with covid. I will have to start a new series now. The next one will be Severin de Noir,by Beth Byers too. Happy reading!
I'm glad another one will be out soon. With this large number of books, I feel like a part of this merry group of friends. I will miss being with them every evening. All their adventures I was there right with them. I will miss them! This is like this stupid quarantine business with covid. I will have to start a new series now. The next one will be Severin de Noir,by Beth Byers too. Happy reading!
December 12, 2020
The Perfect Christmas Present
Lady Vi and the gang are in top form in this delightful caper! With a nod to the Covid crisis they are forced to fend for themselves without staff while spending Christmas together leading to some hilarious calamities in the kitchen. It has to be hard to come up with new murder plots but Ms Byers provides a unique one. It is detached from and yet is very personal to the group. The murderer's comeuppance is particularly delicious.
Lady Vi and the gang are in top form in this delightful caper! With a nod to the Covid crisis they are forced to fend for themselves without staff while spending Christmas together leading to some hilarious calamities in the kitchen. It has to be hard to come up with new murder plots but Ms Byers provides a unique one. It is detached from and yet is very personal to the group. The murderer's comeuppance is particularly delicious.
December 13, 2020
You have made easier, Beth
You have made it easier, by lending is your creative talent. What writers, artists, songwriters, singers, and actors don't seem to understand is that they were as important to fighting this pandemic as the front line workers. Just not as in as much danger, but still important!
You have made it easier, by lending is your creative talent. What writers, artists, songwriters, singers, and actors don't seem to understand is that they were as important to fighting this pandemic as the front line workers. Just not as in as much danger, but still important!
March 31, 2022
Snow Bound! What a Christmas holiday trip! No one can make coffee, no one can cook (or not very well) , snow bound, scarlet fever epidemic, no servants, no phone, and now a dead body! So, who done it? I didn’t solve it myself….can you? Curl up with a comfy chair, a cuppa, and this story and enjoy.
November 24, 2022
Another wonderful story
Loyalty goes both ways for this group of friends, and status has little place in the friendship they all share. Oh, to be a member of such a wonderful group of friends. The plot is easily followed, the group of characters of friends is wonderful and the story is truly of the Christmas Spirit. I definitely highly recommend this book.
Loyalty goes both ways for this group of friends, and status has little place in the friendship they all share. Oh, to be a member of such a wonderful group of friends. The plot is easily followed, the group of characters of friends is wonderful and the story is truly of the Christmas Spirit. I definitely highly recommend this book.
December 3, 2020
Excellent
Christmas vacation but the inn has no cooks or staff. This book is witty, A bit of a picks in who the murderer is and why? Love the 20's setting and who the murderer might be.
Christmas vacation but the inn has no cooks or staff. This book is witty, A bit of a picks in who the murderer is and why? Love the 20's setting and who the murderer might be.
December 4, 2020
A Fun Read
I love the Violet Carlyle mysteries in general and this book in particular. It was so interesting to read how the story progressed. I really didn't guess where the story was going. This group of friends are magnificent. Beth Byers, you have done it again.
I love the Violet Carlyle mysteries in general and this book in particular. It was so interesting to read how the story progressed. I really didn't guess where the story was going. This group of friends are magnificent. Beth Byers, you have done it again.
July 5, 2023
Silver Bells & Murder book 27
This was a fun murder mystery and frame up with a bully trying to trick them into turning on each other.But then,the tables are turned.Laugh out loud and full of snickers and giggles.❣️💃🏻😈🤣😉
This was a fun murder mystery and frame up with a bully trying to trick them into turning on each other.But then,the tables are turned.Laugh out loud and full of snickers and giggles.❣️💃🏻😈🤣😉
November 26, 2020
Just right for this time of yesr
A little lighter than the rest of the series, but enjoyable just the same. I love following this group/family as they develop.
A little lighter than the rest of the series, but enjoyable just the same. I love following this group/family as they develop.
November 29, 2020
Wonderful
A fun read , I really enjoyed this book the characters are really well written and enjoyable to read I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cosy mystery stories.
A fun read , I really enjoyed this book the characters are really well written and enjoyable to read I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cosy mystery stories.
December 26, 2020
A Clever Christmas Story
Beth Byers wrote a clever who done it again! This time with a hidden agenda, mysterious circumstances, and of course a deadbody!
Beth Byers wrote a clever who done it again! This time with a hidden agenda, mysterious circumstances, and of course a deadbody!
March 21, 2021
Such a fan of Violet and friends
It’s nice to have a series to fall back on when you are looking to spend a weekend among light hearted friends
It’s nice to have a series to fall back on when you are looking to spend a weekend among light hearted friends
August 19, 2021
Good
For some reason I found this book satisfying. A group of adults unable to care for themselves and a ridiculous mystery. I enjoyed it.
For some reason I found this book satisfying. A group of adults unable to care for themselves and a ridiculous mystery. I enjoyed it.
April 3, 2022
dirty deeds
The gang heads off to a rental in Scotland to avoid Christmas with Lady Eleanor and the get their just rewards. Murder pinned on them.
The gang heads off to a rental in Scotland to avoid Christmas with Lady Eleanor and the get their just rewards. Murder pinned on them.
March 10, 2023
This was not a good story.
July 12, 2021
Great book. And the saga continues.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews