Winter Mayhem

Evie Parker Mystery #14

by Sonia Parin

A 1920s Historical Cozy Mystery:

A visit to the Woodridge family nanny turns into a hunt for a killer.

Evie, the Countess of Woodridge, and Tom Winchester drive to a nearby village to visit the now retired Nanny Fulham to deliver a Christmas tree from the Halton House farm. Nanny Fulham is still settling into her new life and, to Evie’s dismay, finding it difficult. It seems not everyone has been welcoming.

What is meant to be a brief visit is extended when Nanny Fulham is accused of theft.

Unless they can prove her innocence, Nanny Fulham will spend Christmas in prison.

Fun-filled 1920s Cozy Mystery

Genres: Cozy, Cozy Mystery

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 2, 2022

About the author

I write Cozy Mysteries: humorous historical (1920s), contemporary and paranormal.

All my books provide a 'clean' read - no swearing and no graphic violence.

These fun cozy mysteries are intended to provide lighthearted entertainment for those who enjoy quirky characters and humorous tales.

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun story with so many twists I'm sure the author was pulling her hair out.
At least figuratively.

I normally like to give a short synopsis, but I can't without giving a spoiler of some type.

I'll just say that it was an entertaining read and I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Lonny Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evie Parker, Countess Woodbridge. is the opposite of Sherlock Holmes. Holmes is about minute clues, arcane knowledge, and logical, deductive reasoning. Evie is impressions and instinct. Certainly, she gathers facts and follows clues, but posits scenario after scenario, imaginatively envisioning the crime, then discarding her ideas if they don't fit the facts. There is nearly always some small thing niggling at her until she sorts it out and unlocks the mystery. Ordinarily I am enchanted by her and her cast of delightfully eccentric servants and relatives, but I just couldn't quite get into this entry in the series. Ebooks have sertainly allowed many fine storytellers to get their work out to a wider audience than traditional publishers could, but as they are generally much cheaper than hard copies, it sometimes feels like authors rush through their sequels just to get fresh content out there. I cannot say if that was the case here, but this feels a bit under written, like an underdone steak.

[Amanda Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something and...

.. well, nothing!!

Evie visits Nanny Fulham in her new home to deliver Christmas gifts from the village. But Nanny, or Glenda as she's asked Evie to call her, doesn't seem to have really settled into life in a new village and the house she's inherited is rather more than a little cottage.. it's more like a dower house.

Having returned home to Henrietta, Sara and Toodles shenanigans and discovered that they have cast Edgar in their secret play Evie's happy to focus on Glenda's problem.. especially when word arrives that she's been accused of stealing three french hens.

Setting off Evie, Philippa and Tom, are in disguise as a movie production team looking for a quaint village to film in. Fun and games ensue as the villagers schemes and Evie's disguise create a new puzzle.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been reading this series because it turned up on kindle unlimited and I liked the idea of a cozy mystery series set in the 20s in England. I've persevered even though I find so many things to dislike but this one may just have finally meant I give up. First, there really was no true mystery just Evie poking her uninvited nose in where it didn't belong; second, come on, only the readers notice the constant allusions to the well known Christmas carol - from partridge in a pear tree clear though to 12 drummers drumming? Sheesh!!!; and finally, third, the author sets up a whole secondary story involving Toodles, Sara et al and then never explains what the hell it was all in aid of? I won't lose sleep over it, but honestly, nothing irritates me more than an author, especially in a supposed mystery, leaving plot threads dangling.

[Stephanie Richmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Evie's adventures

Always love Evie Parker's adventures and shenanigans, and book 14 does not disappoint. I noticed this one does not mention Evie and Tom's engagement or Evie's family's intent to find him a title, did I miss something?

[Audrey VerVer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale of twists and turns

My Lady solves a very complicated mystery. I love the characters in this series. They are so eclectic. Evie sorted out the mystery concerning a former nanny.

[KELLY A JACK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winter Mayhem 📕book 14

This is a cute mystery book that reminded me of Who’s On First with Abbot and Costello .Nothing is as it seems Every one was playing an invisible game or part Good humour and banter.❣️🙀🤨

[Tambra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Sonia's books, I have bought, read, loved every book in this series. Sharing it with my friend Debbie.

[Patricia Moran · Rating 3 out of 5]

strange

This particular mystery had an avant-garde feel , in my opinion. It wandered in odd directions with unnecessary pit stops. I did not enjoy this mystery.

[Terri Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

surprises!!

This book was a surprise! Enjoyed it very much!! On to the next one, what will happen? Really love this series!

[JoyceCharbonneau · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a favorite

Too ridiculous! And annoying! If you are looking forward to a nice, cozy mystery, skip this book in the series.

[Gillie Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lost interest about halfway through. Too muddled, convoluted… same as evie’s mind. By the end, the anticlimactic end, I simply didn’t care.