After a long slog of dark days, Vi and friends buy a yacht and go for some time on the sea. It’s what they need. Their nightmares come to an end along with the gray days too many of them have been fighting. They stop in at Monaco and, to their surprise, find old school friends. A few days of revelry, an evening party, and--of course—a body.
Once again, they’re pulled into another round of questions and investigations. This time, they’re the suspects. Forced into working to solve another murder, will they lose the peace they’ve found? Or will they find a way to navigate the murder and maintain a level of happiness?
This series of books are short easy reads. I've enjoyed them. Until now.
SPOILER: The last chapter just explains the story. We're reading and it's predictable but suddenly everyone is in England and Vi is explaining the end to Victor. There's no mention at all of a new character introduced in this story. Did she stay or did she go to England? The regular cast of characters all seem mad at each other. I doubt I'll continue with this series.
I love this series and the characters, but this book was off for me, didn’t enjoy the book at all, struggled to finish it, and found the final chapter didn’t really close the book for me, not sure what the change was but didn’t like this book.
I love buying and reading these types of books. Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
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With this book, the author returns to the high level of character development and structure that can be found in the first books.
The sorrow, depression or “gray days” as Vi terms them are still there, but do not drag down the flow of the work as they have in the more recent books.
Sadly, a rich and fascinating - and very complicated plot - is allowed to derail at the end as if the author were in a mad rush to finish and move on.
Simply put, the complicated nature of the plotnand the richness of the various very interesting villains and “saints” deserve a much better denouement than the author appears willing to write.
I enjoyed the book for the early writing, the clever character development, and the descriptions of life on the yacht and on the islands.
The ending, however, is something I decided I willing was simply willing to allow the author to throw away.
I have read all of the 30 Violet Carlyle murder mysteries. Some are more believable than others, but they are always good to read. This particular book had a slightly different feel than some of the others, possibly because of the location, possibly because so much of the mystery revolved around Smith, the most unknowable of the group of family and friends who have become family. The yacht was an interesting character by itself, in that everything revolved around it and its exotic locations. Like all the books in this series, it is short, easy to read, and done in 2 hours. (I do hope that Rita can get pregnant soon!)
I love reading about this group of characters who love each other so much they would kill for each other if necessary. Not that the occasion would ever arise. The fact is they are an extraordinary group of people who are as close and as loyal as any close knit family, despite the lack of blood ties with most of them. The plot is easily followed and the characters remain fascinating and very interesting after 30 episodes. The story is well written and ends far too soon. I highly recommend this book and any others in this series.
Vi her husband and best friends take a long needed break. They rent a yacht and cruise the Mediterranean. All they wanted was a rest from all the mayhem in their lives. This was a time to test, reassess and heal. So much had happened marriage, children and deaths. So many deaths. Now they finally can relax. But of course it was not to be. Murder seems to follow them everywhere.
I love this series and have read all of the books. This one was definitely not one of favorites. There was too much talk. Not enough “doing”. It was like the author was trying to figure out how to get the family involved in a foreign country…..and it couldn’t happen because they had no knowledge of the culture, the family dynamics. And they had no power to investigate. Hopefully the next book has them back home—- in familiar territory.
But again it wasn't really a case and they didn't really solve anything. The whole book seemed to be more about how sorry they could all feel, firstly for themselves and then for each other. It all snacks of people with too much money and not enough to do. If I' m supposed to feel sorry for them then too bad. I just want to shake them, preferably by the neck!
From the very first of this series it was one of my favorite in this genre. As soon as I finished one book I would anxiously await the next. In the last one or two something seemed a bit off. Some of the main characters seemed to have undergone a personality change. In this some, including Violet, became extremee.
I usually love the Violet Carlyle books. I devour them as soon as I see them in my kindle unlimited. This one, while it was foreshadowed by the previous book, didn't give the same satisfaction when I finished reading. In fact, I reread the ending 3 times to make sure I hadn't missed something. I will still look forward to the next one, though.
The “books”(novellas) are getting shorter. The plots are getting weaker. The conclusion was disappointing and obvious. The author should utilize advanced readers. The errors in her books are easily avoided by allowing someone that takes the time to actually read the words to do a proofread.
These books are a fast and fun read. The plots are clever and the characters continue to be developed. I recommend the Violet Carlyle series to anyone who enjoys the period and a cleverly plotted mystery.
A really good read, well worth five stars. Violet and family are on a cruise when there is a murder. The murdered man is found in Jack and Violet's bath tub. There are strange shenanigans afoot.
Once again a fascinating Murder mystery with all the sweet friendships. Trying to figure out who but also trying to help love each other to the other side of what problem or heartache they were facing. The relationships are the best part.
I have read every book so far in this series to this point. I enjoy immensely Ms. Byers characters, their wit, their friendships, and honest feelings. Truly a joy and escape to solve a mystery with them!
This was an odd entry in this series. Everyone seems to be suffering from shell shock. First they don't even know the victim and second only Smith and Beatrice solve the mystery. Not a favorite.