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Medlar Mystery #3
Zapomenutá vražda
Starobylé anglické sídlo, nevyřešená vražda a příliš mnoho podezřelých... Zkrátka dokonalá dovolená pro autorku románů Saru Medlarovou.
Poté co Sara Medlarová, její neteř Kate a jejich kamarád Jack vyřeší v malém městečku Lachlan na Floridě dva případy vraždy, potřebují změnu prostředí. Sara jim domluví návštěvu u své staré kamarádky v Anglii. Po příjezdu na Oxley Manor, staletí staré sídlo, jež bylo proměněno v luxusní hotel, Kate s Jackem rychle dochází, že má Sara něco za lubem. Zjistí, že Sara pozvala také několik dalších osob, aby se k nim na Oxley připojily.
Když se všichni sejdou, Sara jim vysvětlí, proč jsou tu. Před desítkami let z Oxley utekli dva lidé a od té doby o nich nikdo neslyšel – a Sara chce ten starý případ vyřešit. Stejně jako lidé, kteří zde byli tu noc, kdy dva lidé zmizeli, se hosté ocitnou v živoucím představení.
Při rekonstrukci událostí té noci začne být očividné, že všichni mají co skrývat a nikdo není v bezpečí, zvlášť když je po objevení těla jasné, že přinejmenším jedna z osob, která zmizela, byla zavražděna.
Sara, Jack a Kate se znovu ocitnou v centru záhadného případu, který mohou vyřešit jenom oni. Někdo je však ochotný dál zabíjet, aby udržel pravdu o Oxley Manor pohřbenou, a žádný z hostů není v bezpečí.
Poté co Sara Medlarová, její neteř Kate a jejich kamarád Jack vyřeší v malém městečku Lachlan na Floridě dva případy vraždy, potřebují změnu prostředí. Sara jim domluví návštěvu u své staré kamarádky v Anglii. Po příjezdu na Oxley Manor, staletí staré sídlo, jež bylo proměněno v luxusní hotel, Kate s Jackem rychle dochází, že má Sara něco za lubem. Zjistí, že Sara pozvala také několik dalších osob, aby se k nim na Oxley připojily.
Když se všichni sejdou, Sara jim vysvětlí, proč jsou tu. Před desítkami let z Oxley utekli dva lidé a od té doby o nich nikdo neslyšel – a Sara chce ten starý případ vyřešit. Stejně jako lidé, kteří zde byli tu noc, kdy dva lidé zmizeli, se hosté ocitnou v živoucím představení.
Při rekonstrukci událostí té noci začne být očividné, že všichni mají co skrývat a nikdo není v bezpečí, zvlášť když je po objevení těla jasné, že přinejmenším jedna z osob, která zmizela, byla zavražděna.
Sara, Jack a Kate se znovu ocitnou v centru záhadného případu, který mohou vyřešit jenom oni. Někdo je však ochotný dál zabíjet, aby udržel pravdu o Oxley Manor pohřbenou, a žádný z hostů není v bezpečí.
360 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2020
765 people are currently reading
4673 people want to read
About the author
Jude Deveraux
199 books7,049 followersJude Gilliam was born September 20, 1947 in Fairdale, Kentucky. She has a large extended family and is the elder sister of four brothers. She attended Murray State University and received a degree in Art. In 1967, Jude married and took her husband's surname of White, but four years later they divorced. For years, she worked as 5th-grade teacher.
She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.
Jude won readers' hearts with the epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men. Jude's early books are set largely in 15th- and 16th-century England; in them her fierce, impassioned protagonists find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are equally scrappy -- medieval Scarlett O'Haras who often have a low regard for the men who eventually win them over. They're fighters, certainly, but they're also beauties who are preoccupied with survival and family preservation.
Jude has also stepped outside her milieu, with mixed results. Her James River trilogy (River Lady, Lost Lady, and Counterfeit Lady) is set mostly in post-Revolution America; the popular, softer-edged Twin of Fire/Twin of Ice moves to 19th-century Colorado and introduces another hunky-man clan, the Taggerts.
Deveraux manages to evoke a strong and convincing atmosphere for each of her books, but her dialogue and characters are as familiar as a modern-day soap opera's. "Historicals seem to be all I'm capable of," Jude once said in an interview, referring to a now out-of-print attempt at contemporary fiction, 1982's Casa Grande. "I don't want to write family sagas or occult books, and I have no intention of again trying to ruin the contemporary market." Still, Jude did later attempt modern-day romances, such as the lighthearted High Tide (her first murder caper), the contemporary female friendship story The Summerhouse, and the time-traveling Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, with 2002's The Mulberry Tree, Deveraux seems to be getting more comfortable setting stories in the present, which is a good thing, since the fans she won with her historical books are eager to follow her into the future.
Jude married Claude White, who she later divorced in 1993. Around the same time she met Mohammed Montassir with whom she had a son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in 1997. On Oct. 6th, 2005, Sam died at the age of eight in a motorcycle accident.
Jude has lived in several countries and all over the United States. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an additional home in the medieval city of Badolato, Italy.
She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.
Jude won readers' hearts with the epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men. Jude's early books are set largely in 15th- and 16th-century England; in them her fierce, impassioned protagonists find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are equally scrappy -- medieval Scarlett O'Haras who often have a low regard for the men who eventually win them over. They're fighters, certainly, but they're also beauties who are preoccupied with survival and family preservation.
Jude has also stepped outside her milieu, with mixed results. Her James River trilogy (River Lady, Lost Lady, and Counterfeit Lady) is set mostly in post-Revolution America; the popular, softer-edged Twin of Fire/Twin of Ice moves to 19th-century Colorado and introduces another hunky-man clan, the Taggerts.
Deveraux manages to evoke a strong and convincing atmosphere for each of her books, but her dialogue and characters are as familiar as a modern-day soap opera's. "Historicals seem to be all I'm capable of," Jude once said in an interview, referring to a now out-of-print attempt at contemporary fiction, 1982's Casa Grande. "I don't want to write family sagas or occult books, and I have no intention of again trying to ruin the contemporary market." Still, Jude did later attempt modern-day romances, such as the lighthearted High Tide (her first murder caper), the contemporary female friendship story The Summerhouse, and the time-traveling Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, with 2002's The Mulberry Tree, Deveraux seems to be getting more comfortable setting stories in the present, which is a good thing, since the fans she won with her historical books are eager to follow her into the future.
Jude married Claude White, who she later divorced in 1993. Around the same time she met Mohammed Montassir with whom she had a son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in 1997. On Oct. 6th, 2005, Sam died at the age of eight in a motorcycle accident.
Jude has lived in several countries and all over the United States. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an additional home in the medieval city of Badolato, Italy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 473 reviews
July 23, 2024
**3.5-stars rounded up**
When Romance novelist, Sara Medlar, arranges a trip to the United Kingdom for herself, her niece, Kate, and their friend, Jack, she has more on her mind than a relaxing family vacation.
Their destination, Oxley Manor, is a stately historic property that her friend Stella has recently converted, with generous funding from Sara herself, into a luxury hotel.
The Manor house has a troubled history, including the disappearance of two young people twenty years ago.
It was assumed the pair had run off together, but that wasn't confirmed and their whereabouts were never discovered.
Sara feels inspired. Her plan is to go to the house, inviting all the folks who were there the night of the disappearance, and finally weed out the truth once and for all.
Then, obviously, she will write a book about it.
A Forgotten Murder was such a delight to read. It has a classic Cozy Mystery format with a fun group of main characters.
I loved Sara, Kate and Jack. Their chemistry is engaging and definitely a hoot to read. Together they bring some serious amateur sleuthing skills to the table and y'all know, I eat that stuff up!!
This is actually the third book in the Medlar Mystery series. I haven't read any of the other books and had no problem jumping right in. I never felt lost or like I wish I had more info.
It was fast-paced, with plenty of twists and red herrings. The side characters were all over the top and fun to learn about.
Since reading this, I have added the first two books in the series to my 'to be read' list and definitely plan to get to them.
I think with these three solving mysteries, my attention could be held for years to come.
Although the ending got truly wild indeed, I am so happy to have a new go-to cozy mystery series.
Thank you so much to the publisher, MIRA, for reaching out and bringing this book to my attention.
Also, a hearty thank you to them for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity and it is clear, y'all know my tastes!
When Romance novelist, Sara Medlar, arranges a trip to the United Kingdom for herself, her niece, Kate, and their friend, Jack, she has more on her mind than a relaxing family vacation.
Their destination, Oxley Manor, is a stately historic property that her friend Stella has recently converted, with generous funding from Sara herself, into a luxury hotel.
The Manor house has a troubled history, including the disappearance of two young people twenty years ago.
It was assumed the pair had run off together, but that wasn't confirmed and their whereabouts were never discovered.
Sara feels inspired. Her plan is to go to the house, inviting all the folks who were there the night of the disappearance, and finally weed out the truth once and for all.
Then, obviously, she will write a book about it.
A Forgotten Murder was such a delight to read. It has a classic Cozy Mystery format with a fun group of main characters.
I loved Sara, Kate and Jack. Their chemistry is engaging and definitely a hoot to read. Together they bring some serious amateur sleuthing skills to the table and y'all know, I eat that stuff up!!
This is actually the third book in the Medlar Mystery series. I haven't read any of the other books and had no problem jumping right in. I never felt lost or like I wish I had more info.
It was fast-paced, with plenty of twists and red herrings. The side characters were all over the top and fun to learn about.
Since reading this, I have added the first two books in the series to my 'to be read' list and definitely plan to get to them.
I think with these three solving mysteries, my attention could be held for years to come.
Although the ending got truly wild indeed, I am so happy to have a new go-to cozy mystery series.
Thank you so much to the publisher, MIRA, for reaching out and bringing this book to my attention.
Also, a hearty thank you to them for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity and it is clear, y'all know my tastes!
March 17, 2020
EXCERPT: Puck didn't expect to find a body. She certainly hadn't been looking for a skeleton of a man no one seemed to remember. How she had mourned him when he disappeared. Her mother told her to stop snivelling, that at fourteen she had no idea what love was.
But she did know!
Now, so many years later, she was still at Oxley Manor, and this morning she was hiding from her mother - as usual. The absurdity that she was thirty-eight years old and still trying to escape Mummy wasn't lost on her. If her beloved cottage hadn't been gifted to her, she would leave Oxley. Maybe.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: An English manor home, an unsolved mystery, too many suspects to count… It’s the perfect holiday for romance novelist Sara Medlar.
After solving two murder cases in their hometown of Lachlan, Florida, Sara Medlar, her niece Kate and their friend Jack need a change of scenery. Sara arranges for them to visit an old friend of hers in England. Upon arrival at Oxley Manor, a centuries-old estate that has been converted to a luxury hotel, Kate and Jack quickly realize that Sara is up to something. They learn that Sara has also invited a number of others to join them at Oxley.
When everyone assembles, Sara lets them know why they are there. Decades earlier, two people ran off together from Oxley and haven’t been heard from since—and Sara wants to solve the case. As the people who were there the night the two went missing, the guests find themselves cast in a live mystery-theater event.
In reenacting the events of that night, it becomes clear that everyone has something to hide and no one is safe, especially when the discovery of a body makes it clear that at least one of the people who disappeared was murdered.
Sara, Jack and Kate are once again at the heart of a mysterious case that only they are able to solve. But someone is willing to continue to kill to keep the truth about Oxley Manor buried, and none of the guests are safe.
MY THOUGHTS: I liked the gist of this story but really, it was too long. I loved the characters...Sara, a well known romantic novelist who has developed a penchant for solving real life mysteries; Jack and Kate, her proteges; Puck, whose mother appears to detest her; Clive, the hanger-on; Nadine, so beautiful, so lonely; Willa, who just wants to be loved; Diana, earmarked to marry the heir to Oxley Manor, but who disappears the same night as Sean, the stable manager; Byon the poet; Nicky, heir to Oxley; Mrs Aiken, housekeeper and Puck's mother; and Bella, friend of Sara and current owner of Oxley.
This book had the potential to be really suspenseful, but it wasn't. Oxley is an old Manor House with its own chapel, graveyard, an attic and, no doubt, a cellar. A lot could have been made of the setting, but this was an opportunity missed to create a really atmospheric read.
It was interesting, and while I wouldn't call it 'irresistible' it was certainly intriguing enough to keep me reading. There are plenty of suspects for the title of murderer, all with motive and opportunity.
I did not realise, when I picked this book up, that A Forgotten Murder is the third in a series. While it does work as a stand alone, personally I would have liked a little more information on how Jack and Kate came to be involved with Sara. I enjoyed this enough that I intend to read the first two books in the series just to find out.
This is a cosy mystery. There are references to violence and sex, but no graphic descriptions.
🤫🗝💌.5
THE AUTHOR: Jude Gilliam was born September 20, 1947 in Fairdale, Kentucky. She has a large extended family and is the elder sister of four brothers. She attended Murray State University and received a degree in Art. In 1967, Jude married and took her husband's surname of White, but four years later they divorced. For years, she worked as 5th-grade teacher.
She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Mira US & Canada for providing a digital ARC of A Forgotten Murder by Jude Devereux for review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
But she did know!
Now, so many years later, she was still at Oxley Manor, and this morning she was hiding from her mother - as usual. The absurdity that she was thirty-eight years old and still trying to escape Mummy wasn't lost on her. If her beloved cottage hadn't been gifted to her, she would leave Oxley. Maybe.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: An English manor home, an unsolved mystery, too many suspects to count… It’s the perfect holiday for romance novelist Sara Medlar.
After solving two murder cases in their hometown of Lachlan, Florida, Sara Medlar, her niece Kate and their friend Jack need a change of scenery. Sara arranges for them to visit an old friend of hers in England. Upon arrival at Oxley Manor, a centuries-old estate that has been converted to a luxury hotel, Kate and Jack quickly realize that Sara is up to something. They learn that Sara has also invited a number of others to join them at Oxley.
When everyone assembles, Sara lets them know why they are there. Decades earlier, two people ran off together from Oxley and haven’t been heard from since—and Sara wants to solve the case. As the people who were there the night the two went missing, the guests find themselves cast in a live mystery-theater event.
In reenacting the events of that night, it becomes clear that everyone has something to hide and no one is safe, especially when the discovery of a body makes it clear that at least one of the people who disappeared was murdered.
Sara, Jack and Kate are once again at the heart of a mysterious case that only they are able to solve. But someone is willing to continue to kill to keep the truth about Oxley Manor buried, and none of the guests are safe.
MY THOUGHTS: I liked the gist of this story but really, it was too long. I loved the characters...Sara, a well known romantic novelist who has developed a penchant for solving real life mysteries; Jack and Kate, her proteges; Puck, whose mother appears to detest her; Clive, the hanger-on; Nadine, so beautiful, so lonely; Willa, who just wants to be loved; Diana, earmarked to marry the heir to Oxley Manor, but who disappears the same night as Sean, the stable manager; Byon the poet; Nicky, heir to Oxley; Mrs Aiken, housekeeper and Puck's mother; and Bella, friend of Sara and current owner of Oxley.
This book had the potential to be really suspenseful, but it wasn't. Oxley is an old Manor House with its own chapel, graveyard, an attic and, no doubt, a cellar. A lot could have been made of the setting, but this was an opportunity missed to create a really atmospheric read.
It was interesting, and while I wouldn't call it 'irresistible' it was certainly intriguing enough to keep me reading. There are plenty of suspects for the title of murderer, all with motive and opportunity.
I did not realise, when I picked this book up, that A Forgotten Murder is the third in a series. While it does work as a stand alone, personally I would have liked a little more information on how Jack and Kate came to be involved with Sara. I enjoyed this enough that I intend to read the first two books in the series just to find out.
This is a cosy mystery. There are references to violence and sex, but no graphic descriptions.
🤫🗝💌.5
THE AUTHOR: Jude Gilliam was born September 20, 1947 in Fairdale, Kentucky. She has a large extended family and is the elder sister of four brothers. She attended Murray State University and received a degree in Art. In 1967, Jude married and took her husband's surname of White, but four years later they divorced. For years, she worked as 5th-grade teacher.
She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Mira US & Canada for providing a digital ARC of A Forgotten Murder by Jude Devereux for review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
March 12, 2020
I was very happy that Ms. Deveraux reminded us in the beginning of the book who the main characters were and their relationship with each other. It has been a while since I read the last book in the series. Once that was nicely accomplished, we were knee deep into this new murder/mystery! As always, the dialogue was snappy, crisp and oh so delicious! The author has a wicked, clever sense of humor and it translates beautifully through her writing. The murder/mystery itself was fabulous. There are a lot of "suspects" here, so you need to pay close attention. Each suspect had such unique personality characteristics. Frankly, most of them were not nice people. Just when you think you have figured out who did it, you end up saying "nope, it could not be that person." IMHO, those are always the best murder mysteries. A thoroughly enjoyable series from a favored author of mine. ;)
March 13, 2020
A Forgotten Murder by Jude Deveraux is a compelling mystery novel. Sara Medlar is a retired romance author who is bored. She decides to journey to Oxley Manor in March with her niece, Kate and honorary grandson, Jack. Oxley Manor, a country house hotel, is closed for March so repairs can be made to the aging manor house. Sara’s money paid for the massive renovations that Isabella “Bella” Guilford made when she purchased Oxley Manor. Kate and Jack soon learn that Sara wishes to investigate a disappearance that happened in 1994. The earl-to-be, Nicky was having a party with his friends. Sean and Diane walked out of the house and were never seen again. Sara has arranged to bring back the remaining party members to recreate that night and get to the truth. A Forgotten Murder is a classic whodunit brimming with suspects, subtle clues, and red herrings. You do not know if the suspects are telling the truth or lying through their teeth (which is the fun part). The suspense built as the story progressed. You could feel the tension as the trio got closer to the truth. The story alternates between the past and the present. It all flowed together beautifully in this twisty whodunit. I thought the characters were developed and realistic. A Forgotten Murder is the third book in A Medlar Mystery series, but it can be read alone. After reading A Forgotten Murder, you will find yourself eager to go back and read the prior books. If you enjoy reading cozy mysteries, then I suggest you pick up A Forgotten Murder. A Forgotten Murder is captivating mystery with shady suspects, a cantankerous cook, a disconcerting disappearance, arguable auto accident, a thrilling theatrical reenactment, and remarkable revelation.
February 13, 2021
This was just “meh” for me. Not having read any others in the series with these characters was okay. I still felt I got the gist of their relationship. I was also glad I hadn’t because I don’t find the characters that interesting. A few suspenseful twists but not mysterious enough. I didn’t like them putting on play to reenact the crime as they try to solve it. That was cheesy and then having the man who was the outcome of a rape play his father in the rape scene of the reenactment was just crazy to me. He didn’t know until then how he came to be and his mom let him act that out!? That was bad IMO! Anyway moving on!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2020
A Forgotten Murder by Jude Deveraux is the third book in the Medlar Mystery series. I have not read the other two and thoroughly enjoyed this one. I would categorize this as a cozy mystery.
Sara Medlar is an author and she likes to solve mysteries in real life too. Sara has help from her niece, Kate and their friend Jack. There is reference to their backgrounds and family dynamics but it didn’t interfere with the story. It did make me want to go back and read the other books.
The mystery reminded me of clue. Sara has invited ‘the pack’ back to Oxley Manor to determine what happened to two members of their pack that has never been seen from again. Did they run off together or did something happen to them. And if something did happen to them, who in the pack was the reason.
The cast of characters is quite interesting and entertaining. As their insecurities and true personalities are revealed you realize anyone of them could have a motive. They story goes back and forth from present time to when they went missing. It was also fascinating to see how each member of the team turned out.
I enjoyed the dynamics between all of the characters. Jude is the ultimate story teller and this book did not disappoint.
Sexual content – kissing and clean banter
Violence – murder, rape(not described in detail)
Drinking – minor drinking at the manor, in the past many of the characters would get drunk and high
Language - minor
Sara Medlar is an author and she likes to solve mysteries in real life too. Sara has help from her niece, Kate and their friend Jack. There is reference to their backgrounds and family dynamics but it didn’t interfere with the story. It did make me want to go back and read the other books.
The mystery reminded me of clue. Sara has invited ‘the pack’ back to Oxley Manor to determine what happened to two members of their pack that has never been seen from again. Did they run off together or did something happen to them. And if something did happen to them, who in the pack was the reason.
The cast of characters is quite interesting and entertaining. As their insecurities and true personalities are revealed you realize anyone of them could have a motive. They story goes back and forth from present time to when they went missing. It was also fascinating to see how each member of the team turned out.
I enjoyed the dynamics between all of the characters. Jude is the ultimate story teller and this book did not disappoint.
Sexual content – kissing and clean banter
Violence – murder, rape(not described in detail)
Drinking – minor drinking at the manor, in the past many of the characters would get drunk and high
Language - minor
March 9, 2020
Rated 2.5 of 5 stars
So this book was a difficult read for me. I must admit, I did a lot of skimming because the dialogue or the story just didn’t resonate with me. So here’s a little about the story… the setting takes place at an English mansion that was once dilapidated but has now been renovated into a hotel. Oxley Manor, an estate owned by a patriarch interested in horse racing, is the place where family and friends convened to spend summers together. One summer there are disappearances of two people that cause the crew to disband for many years. Sara Medlar, a retired bestselling novelist and financier of the Oxley Manor renovation, invites everyone back to the manor to engage in her own investigation of the mystery. This is where I started to question things in the novel, like…why? Lol. She brings her niece and friend Jack along to help her. The three, Kate, Sara and Jack, all meet the old crew from Oxley Manor’s old days and tries to question them to find what they believe is a killer in their midst.
I struggled with this novel for several reasons. The characterization was very superficial for me and therefore, I didn’t identify with anyone at halfway through the book. I also thought Sara was a strange characterization where she was so much older but acted like a very young person in speech and in activity. Jack was not endearing but I think he was meant to be as well as Kate who stood as nothing more than a blank sheet of paper to jot down what she questioned people on. I had no connection at all to any characters. Also, the alternating storylines between past and present threw me off a bit. I just wanted to know what was happening in the present and let the secrets come out where they may. Even one of the characters of the book said “show, don’t tell” which is a writer prompt and took me out of the story a bit as if the author was trying to explain to the readers why she was doing a flashback before doing it. In the end, the dialog was not my favorite and I scanned over a lot of rambling conversations, flirtations and the like in order to get to something of substance. The twist at the end was good but getting there didn’t make it quite worth it for me.
I’d recommend this book for those that like cozy mysteries as it fits that genre better than mystery/thriller. You’ll get a lot of banter, gossip, flirtation and sidebar conversation as you work your way through the mystery.
Raging Book Reviews
*Special thanks to #NetGalley @netgalley and #Harlequin #MIRA for the ebook to review.
So this book was a difficult read for me. I must admit, I did a lot of skimming because the dialogue or the story just didn’t resonate with me. So here’s a little about the story… the setting takes place at an English mansion that was once dilapidated but has now been renovated into a hotel. Oxley Manor, an estate owned by a patriarch interested in horse racing, is the place where family and friends convened to spend summers together. One summer there are disappearances of two people that cause the crew to disband for many years. Sara Medlar, a retired bestselling novelist and financier of the Oxley Manor renovation, invites everyone back to the manor to engage in her own investigation of the mystery. This is where I started to question things in the novel, like…why? Lol. She brings her niece and friend Jack along to help her. The three, Kate, Sara and Jack, all meet the old crew from Oxley Manor’s old days and tries to question them to find what they believe is a killer in their midst.
I struggled with this novel for several reasons. The characterization was very superficial for me and therefore, I didn’t identify with anyone at halfway through the book. I also thought Sara was a strange characterization where she was so much older but acted like a very young person in speech and in activity. Jack was not endearing but I think he was meant to be as well as Kate who stood as nothing more than a blank sheet of paper to jot down what she questioned people on. I had no connection at all to any characters. Also, the alternating storylines between past and present threw me off a bit. I just wanted to know what was happening in the present and let the secrets come out where they may. Even one of the characters of the book said “show, don’t tell” which is a writer prompt and took me out of the story a bit as if the author was trying to explain to the readers why she was doing a flashback before doing it. In the end, the dialog was not my favorite and I scanned over a lot of rambling conversations, flirtations and the like in order to get to something of substance. The twist at the end was good but getting there didn’t make it quite worth it for me.
I’d recommend this book for those that like cozy mysteries as it fits that genre better than mystery/thriller. You’ll get a lot of banter, gossip, flirtation and sidebar conversation as you work your way through the mystery.
Raging Book Reviews
*Special thanks to #NetGalley @netgalley and #Harlequin #MIRA for the ebook to review.
December 15, 2022
Sākumā bija jāiešūpojas, bet notikumi palika tikai dinamiskāki un lasīju ar aizrautību. Tāds romāns, kur tiešām vakarā iegrimt un aizmirst par visu. Vietām gan bija vai nu tulkotāja, vai pareizrakstības kļūdas un tas ir pārsteidzoši, ja es ko tādu pamanu. Parasti iegrimstu stāstā un šādas lietas paskrien garām nemanītas. Man gan tas netraucēja sekot stāstam. Stāstā melo visi un gandrīz par visu!
May 21, 2020
This third book in the Medlar series, Kate and Jack, and Kate’s aunt Sara travel to Oxley Manor in England under the auspices of Sara visiting an old friend. It doesn’t take Kate and Jack to realize that this isn’t just a trip to visit an old friend. Sara has much more in mind, and soon Kate and Jack learn that they were not the only ones invited to the manor. There was the mystery of two missing people two decades ago, and Sara means to get to the bottom of it. This was another great book in the series and I cannot wait to see what else the trio have in store.
Extended review to come.
Extended review to come.
March 9, 2020
Kate, Jack, and Sara need a break after two books of solving murders. Sara decides to fly them all to England, to an estate that her book earning help to reinvigorate. To an estate where a couple ran away twenty years ago and the heir killed himself, maybe because of the couple who disappeared. Now, Sara has invited the group who was there when the two young adults vanished in an attempt to either figure out what happened, or to gather information for the book that she claimed she wasn't writing. Neither Kate nor Jack is amused. Especially when it seems that someone doesn't want the truth of two decades ago uncovered.
If you enjoyed the first two books, you will probably find this one about the same. I find Deveraux to be often uneven, ranging from 2 to 4 stars in my opinion but this one is very much like the first two in this series.
If you enjoyed the first two books, you will probably find this one about the same. I find Deveraux to be often uneven, ranging from 2 to 4 stars in my opinion but this one is very much like the first two in this series.
April 7, 2020
A vacation at a troubled Manor, where two people had disappeared decades ago, had Sara come up with a plan of inviting all the people present on that day to get to the truth.
Having read this author a long time ago, I was quite eager to get to this. A cozy whodunit where I played the Detective to try to get to the killer before Sara. I had a few suspects in mind.
The writing was quite twisty with dead ends and real clues. The author kept the plot hopping, there was pure sleuthing in the prose.
Overall the author had the magical touch. A fun read
Having read this author a long time ago, I was quite eager to get to this. A cozy whodunit where I played the Detective to try to get to the killer before Sara. I had a few suspects in mind.
The writing was quite twisty with dead ends and real clues. The author kept the plot hopping, there was pure sleuthing in the prose.
Overall the author had the magical touch. A fun read
May 16, 2020
Sara Medlar, a world-renowned bestselling author with her niece Kate and honorary grandson Jack is flying from Florida to Oxley Manor, an estate that has been converted into a country house hotel in England. The plan was to enjoy a well-earned vacation but Oxley manor has a past that piques Sara’s interest and with the help of Kate and Jack, Sara begins to inquire into the circumstances that led to two missing people.
The mystery was exciting and had an Agatha Christie feel as all the central characters involved from years earlier meet again at the manor and reenacts the scenes that went into play on the particular night. Each and every person had something to hide and facing their own past was never going to be easy, to know the foibles of youth, to know that one has been the cause of extreme distress to another friend, and to push everything under the carpet with the callousness of being young and carefree, each person involved had to face the truth about themselves about the night in question before the truth is thrown into the light.
I loved Sara Medlar’s character, and also Kate and Jack, the small element of romance between them kept the story entertaining. Puck, as a 40 yr old woman considered to be different and weird touches the heart, the only person who knows that the grounds in the manor also hides a body. A Forgotten Murder is Book # 3 in the Medlar Mystery series by Jude Deveraux and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Of course, being a fan of historical romances, I have read quite a few books by the author but this cozy mystery was really a surprise. Looking forward to catch up with other books in this series.
The mystery was exciting and had an Agatha Christie feel as all the central characters involved from years earlier meet again at the manor and reenacts the scenes that went into play on the particular night. Each and every person had something to hide and facing their own past was never going to be easy, to know the foibles of youth, to know that one has been the cause of extreme distress to another friend, and to push everything under the carpet with the callousness of being young and carefree, each person involved had to face the truth about themselves about the night in question before the truth is thrown into the light.
I loved Sara Medlar’s character, and also Kate and Jack, the small element of romance between them kept the story entertaining. Puck, as a 40 yr old woman considered to be different and weird touches the heart, the only person who knows that the grounds in the manor also hides a body. A Forgotten Murder is Book # 3 in the Medlar Mystery series by Jude Deveraux and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Of course, being a fan of historical romances, I have read quite a few books by the author but this cozy mystery was really a surprise. Looking forward to catch up with other books in this series.
March 3, 2020
Book: A Forgotten Murder
Author: Jude Deveraux
Rating: 1 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Mira Books, for sending me an ARC.
I really thought that I would enjoy this one, but I just couldn’t get into the story. I mean, it did have everything that I like in a book, but for some reason it just didn’t click for me. I loved the concept of it, but there was just something to it that made it very difficult for me to get into.
I honestly forgot that I was even reading this at times. It was so easy for me to put down and walk away from. I found myself skimming parts and just not really caring about what was going on. It’s not anyone’s fault either. The book is actually pretty well done, but it just didn’t work for me. It’s just one of those deals where it’s me, not the book.
We are thrown right into the middle of things. Jude starts out with a rathe exciting beginning in the woods with a rather grim discovery. Then, we are taken to a different group and get to see something else. Honestly, I really don’t remember-again, it’s not the book’s fault. Again, this should have pulled me in, but it just didn’t. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been reading a lot of books lately that follow this set up or what.
Anyway, that’s all I’m going to say about this one.
This book comes out on March 10, 2020.
Author: Jude Deveraux
Rating: 1 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Mira Books, for sending me an ARC.
I really thought that I would enjoy this one, but I just couldn’t get into the story. I mean, it did have everything that I like in a book, but for some reason it just didn’t click for me. I loved the concept of it, but there was just something to it that made it very difficult for me to get into.
I honestly forgot that I was even reading this at times. It was so easy for me to put down and walk away from. I found myself skimming parts and just not really caring about what was going on. It’s not anyone’s fault either. The book is actually pretty well done, but it just didn’t work for me. It’s just one of those deals where it’s me, not the book.
We are thrown right into the middle of things. Jude starts out with a rathe exciting beginning in the woods with a rather grim discovery. Then, we are taken to a different group and get to see something else. Honestly, I really don’t remember-again, it’s not the book’s fault. Again, this should have pulled me in, but it just didn’t. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been reading a lot of books lately that follow this set up or what.
Anyway, that’s all I’m going to say about this one.
This book comes out on March 10, 2020.
March 11, 2020
A Forgotten Murder by Jude Deveraux is the third book in the Medlar Mystery series. First I am glad they moved the location of this murder because I do not think their small town in Florida could handle another old death. Two was enough. Fast pace book but not as strong as the previous two books. I figured out the ending pretty fast and because we were in a new location we spent more time learning the new characters then really on the core three. Don't get me wrong there was a focus on the three it just seemed to lack that camaraderie that was in previous books. Cool setting and I really want to go visit the United Kingdom again. I am giving three stars. Originally 3.5 stars but rounded down due to the ending being abrupt.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Mira for an ARC. This is an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Mira for an ARC. This is an honest review.
October 15, 2020
1.5 Stars
This book was kinda awful and boring. It took me like a month to get through it! I almost gave up, but I liked the first one so I trudged on. After looking at my review for the second book (slow and boring too), I don't think I'll continue with this series if she writes more.
This book was kinda awful and boring. It took me like a month to get through it! I almost gave up, but I liked the first one so I trudged on. After looking at my review for the second book (slow and boring too), I don't think I'll continue with this series if she writes more.
March 8, 2020
Let me begin by saying if you haven't read the first two books in this series you will want to do so quickly after you read this one!
Ms.Deveraux is a master at storytelling. As well as creating the best characters.
A little backstory for you.
Sara Medlar is a successful romance writer from Florida. Her partners in meddling are her niece Kate and her godson, Jack.
Soon after solving a couple of murders in their own town, Sara has decided they need a holiday. An old friend of hers in England owns an enormous estate with a rich and sketchy past. Now, it is a hotel but closes in March for the neverending repairs and renovations such as an old place needs. A perfect time for a visit from the woman who bankrolled the renovations.
Sara has also invited a number of other people and Kate and Jack are puzzled and know immediately that she is up to something. But what? Is she writing a book? Doing research? Or is it something more dangerous?
When the motley crew arrives, Sara lets them in on why they have been summoned.
Decades ago, this group was here in this house when two people ran off and were never heard from again. Sara intends to uncover what happened to the couple by casting the group in a Hercule Poirot type of theatrical event.
What the group doesn't know is...no, I'm not spoiling it for you! Suffice it to say that no one is what they say they are and you will not believe the ending! This time our author, Sara, may not live to write the tale!
The characters in this were brilliantly done. I love Sara, Jack, and Kate. The secondary characters were awful at first glance but in the end, my heart hurt for a few.
I absolutely adored this one!
NetGalley/ March 10th, 2020 by MIRA
Ms.Deveraux is a master at storytelling. As well as creating the best characters.
A little backstory for you.
Sara Medlar is a successful romance writer from Florida. Her partners in meddling are her niece Kate and her godson, Jack.
Soon after solving a couple of murders in their own town, Sara has decided they need a holiday. An old friend of hers in England owns an enormous estate with a rich and sketchy past. Now, it is a hotel but closes in March for the neverending repairs and renovations such as an old place needs. A perfect time for a visit from the woman who bankrolled the renovations.
Sara has also invited a number of other people and Kate and Jack are puzzled and know immediately that she is up to something. But what? Is she writing a book? Doing research? Or is it something more dangerous?
When the motley crew arrives, Sara lets them in on why they have been summoned.
Decades ago, this group was here in this house when two people ran off and were never heard from again. Sara intends to uncover what happened to the couple by casting the group in a Hercule Poirot type of theatrical event.
What the group doesn't know is...no, I'm not spoiling it for you! Suffice it to say that no one is what they say they are and you will not believe the ending! This time our author, Sara, may not live to write the tale!
The characters in this were brilliantly done. I love Sara, Jack, and Kate. The secondary characters were awful at first glance but in the end, my heart hurt for a few.
I absolutely adored this one!
NetGalley/ March 10th, 2020 by MIRA
June 10, 2022
The series is fairly light but I like the main characters. I will say that it continues to mention weight and body size way more often than it should, but still better than the first book. Overall, it's a fun read.
October 14, 2024
Adorei a escrita desta autora e, a maneira, como nos faz embrenhar, rapidamente, numa aventura misteriosa!
Adorei a ligação das 3 personagens principais, na qual reparei que este livro faz parte de uma saga, sendo que as personagens principais são sempre este trio! Fiquei curiosa para ler os livros que antecedem este!
À medida que ia lendo, não estava a conseguir colocar ninguém como assassino, só mais para o fim é que consegui ligar os pontos e, dizer quem era, antes de ser revelado!
Gostava de ver mais sobre a evolução da rela��ão de 2 personagens que tem tudo para se juntarem !
Adorei a ligação das 3 personagens principais, na qual reparei que este livro faz parte de uma saga, sendo que as personagens principais são sempre este trio! Fiquei curiosa para ler os livros que antecedem este!
À medida que ia lendo, não estava a conseguir colocar ninguém como assassino, só mais para o fim é que consegui ligar os pontos e, dizer quem era, antes de ser revelado!
Gostava de ver mais sobre a evolução da rela��ão de 2 personagens que tem tudo para se juntarem !
March 8, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: A Forgotten Murder
Author: Jude Deveraux
Book Series: Medlar Mystery Book 3
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: March 10, 2020
Genre: Mystery
Recommended Age: 16+ (TW rape mention , alcohol, drugs mention, violence, gore, language)
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 400
Amazon Link
Synopsis: An English manor home, an unsolved mystery, too many suspects to count… It’s the perfect holiday for romance novelist Sara Medlar.
After solving two murder cases in their hometown of Lachlan, Florida, Sara Medlar, her niece Kate and their friend Jack need a change of scenery. Sara arranges for them to visit an old friend of hers in England. Upon arrival at Oxley Manor, a centuries-old estate that has been converted to a luxury hotel, Kate and Jack quickly realize that Sara is up to something. They learn that Sara has also invited a number of others to join them at Oxley.
When everyone assembles, Sara lets them know why they are there. Decades earlier, two people ran off together from Oxley and haven’t been heard from since—and Sara wants to solve the case. As the people who were there the night the two went missing, the guests find themselves cast in a live mystery-theater event.
In reenacting the events of that night, it becomes clear that everyone has something to hide and no one is safe, especially when the discovery of a body makes it clear that at least one of the people who disappeared was murdered.
Sara, Jack and Kate are once again at the heart of a mysterious case that only they are able to solve. But someone is willing to continue to kill to keep the truth about Oxley Manor buried, and none of the guests are safe.
New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux has crafted another irresistible case in her bestselling Medlar Mystery series.
Review: For the most part I enjoyed this mystery book. It was a fun read and it was very fast paced for me. The characters were well developed and the story really kept me intrigued.
However, this book was kind of hard to get into. The book just starts in the middle of the action and while some readers really enjoy that and I do on occasion, it didn’t help me here. The book was kind of chaotic as well and sometimes really hard to follow along with. It also took some time for me to get into the book.
Verdict: A good mystery, but pay attention to it.
Book: A Forgotten Murder
Author: Jude Deveraux
Book Series: Medlar Mystery Book 3
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: March 10, 2020
Genre: Mystery
Recommended Age: 16+ (TW rape mention , alcohol, drugs mention, violence, gore, language)
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 400
Amazon Link
Synopsis: An English manor home, an unsolved mystery, too many suspects to count… It’s the perfect holiday for romance novelist Sara Medlar.
After solving two murder cases in their hometown of Lachlan, Florida, Sara Medlar, her niece Kate and their friend Jack need a change of scenery. Sara arranges for them to visit an old friend of hers in England. Upon arrival at Oxley Manor, a centuries-old estate that has been converted to a luxury hotel, Kate and Jack quickly realize that Sara is up to something. They learn that Sara has also invited a number of others to join them at Oxley.
When everyone assembles, Sara lets them know why they are there. Decades earlier, two people ran off together from Oxley and haven’t been heard from since—and Sara wants to solve the case. As the people who were there the night the two went missing, the guests find themselves cast in a live mystery-theater event.
In reenacting the events of that night, it becomes clear that everyone has something to hide and no one is safe, especially when the discovery of a body makes it clear that at least one of the people who disappeared was murdered.
Sara, Jack and Kate are once again at the heart of a mysterious case that only they are able to solve. But someone is willing to continue to kill to keep the truth about Oxley Manor buried, and none of the guests are safe.
New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux has crafted another irresistible case in her bestselling Medlar Mystery series.
Review: For the most part I enjoyed this mystery book. It was a fun read and it was very fast paced for me. The characters were well developed and the story really kept me intrigued.
However, this book was kind of hard to get into. The book just starts in the middle of the action and while some readers really enjoy that and I do on occasion, it didn’t help me here. The book was kind of chaotic as well and sometimes really hard to follow along with. It also took some time for me to get into the book.
Verdict: A good mystery, but pay attention to it.
October 16, 2020
Disappointing. But that's how I've felt about every book in this series and that's sad because I've been a Deveraux fan since I "discovered" her in 1980 with the Black Lyon. That book, the Black Lyon followed by the Duchess and the rest of the Montgomery books got me through law school. Coming home after working an 8 hour day and then going to school at night I needed something to take me away from all the heavy thinking and Deveraux's romances were just what I needed. Later on her romances were my escape when I was completing my masters. Some of my other favorite authors like Jennifer Ashley have made the transition from romance to mystery brilliantly. Sadly, not so my long time go to, Jude Deveraux.
The writing in this series is flat. There is none of the spark and passion you see in her romances. At times I get the feeling that she has turned to mysteries more because her publisher or agent pushed her to it in the search for more readers rather than it is a choice she herself has made. Even the romance scenes in this one are gratuitous and do nothing for the story. It reads more like a young adult than a true mystery.
I need to stop expecting more from this series and re-read some of her fabulous earlier romances and stick with tried and true mystery writers.
The writing in this series is flat. There is none of the spark and passion you see in her romances. At times I get the feeling that she has turned to mysteries more because her publisher or agent pushed her to it in the search for more readers rather than it is a choice she herself has made. Even the romance scenes in this one are gratuitous and do nothing for the story. It reads more like a young adult than a true mystery.
I need to stop expecting more from this series and re-read some of her fabulous earlier romances and stick with tried and true mystery writers.
August 22, 2021
I liked parts and disliked others. Some was a bit too far fetched for me, for example the play. The series is enjoyable but also a bit forgettable. I feel bad saying that but I think the romance part has evolved slowly and not sure I could call it a slow burn - just slow. Needs more heat, especially from Kate. This story felt like a jumble. A few murders that and events that overlap and a co fluency of events that aren’t always easy to follow. Lastly, the ending felt abrupt. The visual cue would be someone saying “the end” and then a hand clap. It felt abrupt and unfinished and rushed.
July 19, 2020
A really great book !!! there were a few parts that dragged on ... overall I couldn’t put it down 😍
April 27, 2020
I enjoyed this mystery of a cold case, the forgotten case of 1994, so much. It read more like a day time soap/drama than a heart pounding true crime. So yeah, I was surprised it was so captivating. Loved how smooth going it was. The only time I was panicking with real concern for an MC's safety was in the final chapter!
Loved the characters! They were so well drawn and so well developed. I was invested in them all and with what happened to them. I thought I could solve the cold case until suddenly, there came a present day case! Oxley Manor, the scene of the crime, was so prefect! A centuries-old estate, almost haunting, creepy, and derelict in the past, yet elegantly renovated and converted to a luxurious hotel now, with the huge funding from Sara, a retired?, rich, bored, romance author! The new owner was supposed to be her friend for years.
Loved Jack and Kate together. I wish they had their planned romance trip to Scotland. It just wasn't meant to be. They were busy helping Sara solving crime! Maybe in the next book they could make the trip so Jake could wear kilt and made Kate's fantasy come true.
The cold case murderer and an accomplice were a total surprise for me. I didn't see that coming! I was sad and repulsed with how it happened. The present day case was so obvious! I nailed who-did-it without too much trouble! I'm planning to read more of Jude Deveraux's mystery!
Sharing one of my favorite scenes:
Loved the characters! They were so well drawn and so well developed. I was invested in them all and with what happened to them. I thought I could solve the cold case until suddenly, there came a present day case! Oxley Manor, the scene of the crime, was so prefect! A centuries-old estate, almost haunting, creepy, and derelict in the past, yet elegantly renovated and converted to a luxurious hotel now, with the huge funding from Sara, a retired?, rich, bored, romance author! The new owner was supposed to be her friend for years.
Loved Jack and Kate together. I wish they had their planned romance trip to Scotland. It just wasn't meant to be. They were busy helping Sara solving crime! Maybe in the next book they could make the trip so Jake could wear kilt and made Kate's fantasy come true.
The cold case murderer and an accomplice were a total surprise for me. I didn't see that coming! I was sad and repulsed with how it happened. The present day case was so obvious! I nailed who-did-it without too much trouble! I'm planning to read more of Jude Deveraux's mystery!
Sharing one of my favorite scenes:
"She must have been temporarily in sane."
"I think maybe they all were. She—"
"I don't mean to interrupt this little powwow," Jack said, "but why are you here?" . . .
"To offer help," Kate said. "He's come all the way from Nelson, Australia, and he wasn't born until after his mother disappeared. He's our one true innocent."
"And Teddy," Jack said. . .
"How could I have forgotten Teddy?" Kate mumbled. "Teddy is—" She broke off because her phone buzzed—as did Jack's and Chris's. "Please, please don't let anybody else be dead," . . .
"Do people often drop dead around here?" . . .
"Here, there, everywhere we go . . . Put a shovel in the ground, hit a bone."
May 12, 2020
A Forgotten Murder by Jude Deveraux is an outstanding and captivating addition to Ms. Deveraux's Medlar Mystery series.
Ms. Deveraux's writing is descriptive with snappy dialogue and clearly drawn characters that I felt like I got to know as the story progressed. The mysteries (yes, there is more than one) is well crafted with each of the characters trying to put their best foot forward while hiding their past, several hidden clues, red herrings and a twist at the end that I did not see coming.
I received a copy of this book from my local library.
Ms. Deveraux's writing is descriptive with snappy dialogue and clearly drawn characters that I felt like I got to know as the story progressed. The mysteries (yes, there is more than one) is well crafted with each of the characters trying to put their best foot forward while hiding their past, several hidden clues, red herrings and a twist at the end that I did not see coming.
I received a copy of this book from my local library.
February 24, 2020
4 Stars
This is the third book in the Medlar Mystery series by Jude Deveraux.
To me this sort of spans the distance between what a cozy mystery is and a plain ole mystery. I am leaning toward just a mystery category. Sara is heralded as the lead but I felt like that position went more to Kate and Jack. I actually found them the most engaging in this particular story.
The story begins with a young woman falling into a hole and finding the remains of someone she knew while going to school. She takes the watch off the person which is inscribed with his name. Years later, Sara, Kate and Jack come to this estate very close to where this dead body is located. Sara, a fiction writer, has been enamored by the mysteries surrounding Oxley Manor and has gathered a whole slew of suspects to the manor in order to ferret out the killer.
This story felt like it was a little bit on the longish side and scenes could have been edited out in my opinion but the mystery does keep you totally engaged in wanting to know the why of it all.
Great story. I haven’t read much in the Deveraux line and to be honest, I didn’t realize she wrote under the mystery/cozy mystery umbrella. I remember my mother reading Deveraux romances when I was younger. And I assume the author is branching out into a new genre. I think she captured the feel of a cozy mystery very well and hope to see more in this line of books.
If you love a good mystery book, you have to check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is the third book in the Medlar Mystery series by Jude Deveraux.
To me this sort of spans the distance between what a cozy mystery is and a plain ole mystery. I am leaning toward just a mystery category. Sara is heralded as the lead but I felt like that position went more to Kate and Jack. I actually found them the most engaging in this particular story.
The story begins with a young woman falling into a hole and finding the remains of someone she knew while going to school. She takes the watch off the person which is inscribed with his name. Years later, Sara, Kate and Jack come to this estate very close to where this dead body is located. Sara, a fiction writer, has been enamored by the mysteries surrounding Oxley Manor and has gathered a whole slew of suspects to the manor in order to ferret out the killer.
This story felt like it was a little bit on the longish side and scenes could have been edited out in my opinion but the mystery does keep you totally engaged in wanting to know the why of it all.
Great story. I haven’t read much in the Deveraux line and to be honest, I didn’t realize she wrote under the mystery/cozy mystery umbrella. I remember my mother reading Deveraux romances when I was younger. And I assume the author is branching out into a new genre. I think she captured the feel of a cozy mystery very well and hope to see more in this line of books.
If you love a good mystery book, you have to check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
April 14, 2021
This is the third book in this series about a novelist, and two other characters that delve into murder mysteries, despite the danger to themselves. This one has Aunt Sara visiting and old friend in a country manor house for research on a new novel. This time she is interested in a twenty year disappearance, during a house party of friends. She intends for her niece, and her other companion to go on a trip to Scotland. Plans have a way of falling apart especially when they find the skeleton, of one of the missing persons long ago, with two bullet holes in an abandoned well. All of the original people from the house party are reassembled, and the investigation begins. They were young, and foolish, and cruel in their ways back then, and more than just murder is uncovered, by more than just one person. The book kept the Murders, and mysteries surrounding them going to the last page. It was a many layered tale, of greed, passion, lies, and even killing relatives to the final page. This book kept my interest, but there were plots, and sub plots, that went on past twenty years , to the present. It had multiple characters, and families involved. I gave it a four star rating. O let Manor was truly an old estate that has seen years of evil plots, and twisted minds. One murder , or mystery went right into another, and so on.
May 2, 2020
I really like this series. The characters are well thought out and the mysteries well plotted. Jude Deveraux seems to handling her entree into the world of mysteries just fine after many years in the historical and contemporary romance camp.
In this book, here family of sleuths are in merry old England, so we get an old fashioned English country house mystery. (And that's just fine with me.) A couple of snags: it's an old mystery and Sara has to gather the suspects herself. Which seems to work.
In this book, here family of sleuths are in merry old England, so we get an old fashioned English country house mystery. (And that's just fine with me.) A couple of snags: it's an old mystery and Sara has to gather the suspects herself. Which seems to work.
January 13, 2023
I finished it, though I'm not sure why. I think I kept hoping it would get better. I didn't like any of the characters, including the three main ones, Sara, Kate, and Jack. I thought the plot was contrived and the resolution through "the play" about the night from two decades before, written by Sara and Byon, was dumb. It was clear that Mrs Aiken was involved in Sean's murder since she was so hateful. That's the author taking the easy way, by making the killer so mean. Also, it was said several times early in the book that Isabella was related to the Renlow family but that was never explained. So the fact that she was also a killer wasn't a surprise. I hated that both Sara and Chris let themselves be harmed by her. So annoying when characters waltz right into dangerous situations. I do not recommend and will definitely never read another by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and review A Forgotten Murder by Jude Deveraux. The third book in the mystery series of novelist Sara Medlar, we travel to England to help her niece hide out and find a mystery that has been around for decades. Jude Deveraux is a master writer and she captivates me that she is still creating new and intriguing reads after all these years.
A definite must read series! Start with book one.
#NetGalley #Mysteries #book3 #MustRead2020
#HarperCollins #Edelweiss #AForgottenMurder
A definite must read series! Start with book one.
#NetGalley #Mysteries #book3 #MustRead2020
#HarperCollins #Edelweiss #AForgottenMurder
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