Deadly Decorum

by Jacqueline Vick

The Harlow Brothers are back at Inglenook resort, and not just because Edward is missing his long-distance love, Claudia Inglenook. The former college linebacker turned ghost writer of the Aunt Civility etiquette books is the guest of honor at a charity fundraiser, where he’ll appear as the allegedly agoraphobic Auntie’s representative.

As Edward’s secretary, Nicholas is forced to tag along. His one hope for the weekend is the event will give Edward’s declining book sales a boost. For the record, he despises Claudia.

At the kickoff costume ball, one of the guests is found impaled with the sword from Edward’s Zorro outfit, and as Nicholas scrambles to clear Edward’s name, he comes up against suspects and motives he’d rather not reveal. Then he discovers a secret that could mean the end of Aunt Civility.

Though Edward stands to lose everything, he and Nicholas push to find the truth, but when the killer targets those the real Aunt Civility loves, solving the mystery becomes a fight for survival.

348 pages, ebook

First published May 19, 2021

About the author

Jacqueline Vick writes mysteries that include farcical situations and satirical humor. She writes about characters who are reluctant to accept their greatest (and often embarrassing) gifts.

She is the author of THE FRANKIE CHANDLER PET PSYCHIC MYSTERIES about a woman who, after faking her psychic abilities for years, discovers animals can communicate with her. The series evolved out of her desperate attempts to train a rescued mutt with fear-based aggression. Two visits with animal communicators inspired the article Calling All Canine Clairvoyants for Fido Friendly Magazine.

Her second series is THE HARLOW BROTHER MYSTERIES, featuring brothers Edward and Nicholas Harlow. Edward, a former college linebacker, now ghost writes the Aunt Civility etiquette books. Nicholas is his secretary and general dogsbody.

Her first mystery, Family Matters, was a semifinalist in the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Competition. Her short stories have appeared in numerous publications, including Future Mystery Anthology Magazine and The Best of Everyday Fiction Two Anthology. Her novella, Lovely As, was a finalist for the Black Orchid Novella Contest.

When she isn’t writing, Jacqueline enjoys acting as the neighborhood dog sitter and testing new recipes on her long-suffering husband.

Reviews

[Christine DeSmet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deadly Decorum has the tone and setup of an Agatha Christie “Poirot” novel combined with a game of Clue. The fussy, proper Poirot, for example, figured out “closed” mysteries on a train, boat, and in a mansion. Vick has chosen the mansion for this energetic mystery starring the Harlow brothers who are the front men for a fictional etiquette expert known as Aunt Civility. A fundraiser with a masked ball gives cover for the killer and suspects galore. Like Poirot, the brothers go about exploring motives and mansion rooms in an entertaining way. Witty but weary Nicholas Harlow brings readers more depth than we might expect at first. He’s tired of being an assistant to his brother Edward who writes the fictitious aunt’s books. The men were football players a few years ago and now the constraints of being prim and proper are wearing on them. Another fun aspect was event coordination, which provides the mystery’s backdrop. Readers who have been part of putting on meetings and conferences—or fundraiser balls—will appreciate the details and frustrations here. A fun romp! It might make you bring out the Clue game again. You’ll surely look for the next novel starring the Harlow brothers.

[Sherrill Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder and Good Manners square off once again, this time in Jacqueline Vick's Harlow Brothers Mystery series, Book 3, Deadly Decorum. The brothers (and Aunt Civility) return to Inglenook Resort for a weekend charity event. It doesn't take long for a murder to occur! Abounding with humor, propriety, victims, and suspects, the book kept me entranced to its surprise ending. Vick is also adept at taking the reader into the heads and hearts of Nick and Edward Harlow, which helped transport me to the scene and thrusted me into the action. Whodunit? Aunt Civility knows! Read the book. Then, you will, too.

[Tracey Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

What fun!
When Edward and Nicholas Harlow do a book signing event and cross paths with Edward's old flame Claudia and a bunch of fundraising fanatics, you can bet there will be a mystery to solve. Add in a Masked Ball, six or seven Zorros and Aunt Civility's book of manners, and there's sure to be trouble! I love the premise of Vick's books and this one delivers fun antics and a good mystery.
I highly recommend this book!

[Susan Burlew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edward Harlow writes a column and books as Aunt Civility. He pretends to be her nephew representing his reclusive aunt. This is not his dream job but it pays the bills. His younger brother Nicholas is his secretary and general dogsbody. They seem to find trouble wherever they go. A cozy mystery with lots of humor and odd but likeable characters. Highly recommend!!!

[Sharon Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manners and Murder go hand in hand in the Harlow brothers mysteries series by Jacqueline Vick. Book Three, Deadly Decorum, finds the brothers at the Inglenook resort again where they encounter mistaken identities, romantic rivals, and a host of misunderstandings. Murder and jealousy wrapped in charm and wit, the novel is a delightful read!

[Laurel Kristick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Won this in a Goodreads giveaway and am grateful to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this.

A solid mystery with quirky characters. I haven’t read the first two in the series, but this worked as a stand alone. In a funny way, reminded me of Agatha Christie.

[Nikki Sowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a free copy from Goodreads via giveaway. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading others in the series. It was an easy read and kept me guessing until the end.

[R. Fulleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #3 in the Harlow Brothers, "Deadly Decorum" by Jacqueline Vick is a fun read, somewhat harking back to the old days of the "who done it?" stories. The story is filled with murder, a host of suspects (anyone of which could have done it), detectives, and of course, the two Harlow Brothers, Edward and Nick. Add in the characters who are at the Inglenook Lodge to see Aunt Civility’s nephew, Edward, and you’ve got this story. The story definitely keeps its pace throughout.

I can recommend this story to anyone looking to read a good murder mystery. By the way, I started reading the Harlow Brothers Mystery series after thoroughly enjoying the author’s, Frankie Chandler Pet Psychic Mysteries.