Augusta Hawke

Augusta Hawke #1

by G.M. Malliet

Sometimes it's safer not to know your neighbors' secrets.

Where are Niko and Zora Norman? Crime writer Augusta Hawke puts her sleuthing skills to the test to solve the mystery of her disappearing neighbors in the first entry in a new series.

While Augusta Hawke is a successful author of eighteen crime novels, since her husband's death she's been living vicariously through her Jules Maigret-like detective Claude and his assistant Caroline. Then a handsome police detective appears investigating a real-life mystery.

Where are her neighbors, the Normans? No one has a clue what's happened - except Augusta. Although she isn't nosy, spending all day staring out the windows for inspiration means she does notice things. Like the Normans arguing. And that they've been missing a week.

Once the Normans' car is found abandoned, Augusta senses material for a bestseller and calls on the investigatory skills she's developed as a crime writer. But she soon uncovers long-hidden secrets and finds herself facing real-life dangers her characters never faced . . . ones she can't write her way out of.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Amateur Sleuth, Cozy, Mystery Thriller, Cozy Mystery

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 5, 2022

About the author

G.M. Malliet is the author of three mystery series; a dozen or more short stories published in The Strand, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine; and WEYCOMBE, a standalone suspense novel.
 
Her Agatha Award-winning Death of a Cozy Writer (2008), the first installment of the DCI St. Just mysteries, was named one of the ten best novels of the year by Kirkus Reviews. Subsequent Max Tudor novels were Agatha finalists.

Reviews

[Anissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wrote a nice long review and Goodreads glitched it! I can't!

I really enjoyed reading this. Augusta and her BFF Misaki were friend and sleuther goals. I had some suspicions and questions at times when Augusta didn't but I did fall for some red herrings. I read this over a busy stretch and when I had to put it down, I thought about it. It sustained my interest the entire time and that's all to the good. A very engaging read. I will read the next and hope there are more to come.

Recommended.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the author's other series Max Tudor and have read her other series as well, so I was excited to get this one. I am sorry to say that for me, it was nowhere near as good as the Max Tudor books. Some of this I believe is because of the setting. The author has a great talent in writing excellent British humor and because I never look at book descriptions to closely [because often the WHOLE FREAKING BOOK gets told to you there and it is such a disappointment to be spoilered this way], I never realized this was set in the USA until I started reading and I think that added to some of my ambivalence towards this book. I was used to a certain type of humor and that is decidedly missing in this book.

The mystery was okay, but the end was severely lacking [what a tepid reveal - I never felt anyone was really in danger; there was no edge-of-your-seat feeling] and it just added to the overall meh feeling. Augusta COULD become a really good MC, but right now she is just okay. She is 42, but the author writes her like she is 70 [some of the conversations before she reveals her age made me think she was ancient, and then her age is revealed and I just rolled my eyes]. FORTY-TWO is not old. It was rather infuriating if I am being honest here. It is something I wish authors would stop doing. Most forty-two year olds aren't mostly retired and writing novels and living in Old Town Alexandria like they are 70; they are working hard, raising families and living life. Stop making MC's who act like life is over after 40 for pete's sake. If there is going to be a second book, I highly recommend that the attitude around Augusta's age change. Its offensive and off-putting.

For those who really enjoyed this book, I hope that there is a second book for you all. Do I think it could be a better book than this one? Absolutely. There WERE parts of this book that were funny and pretty good, so I believe that a second book could be even better. Will I be reading it? I doubt it. I just didn't enjoy this enough to want to continue on with this character. I am very disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley, G.M. Malliet, and Severn House for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the neighbors of Augusta Hawke, a successful cozy mystery writer, vanish, she can’t resist looking into this true crime. How glad I am to know that Augusta Hawke is the debut in a new series because I can’t get enough of Hawke’s acerbic wit.

I adore author G.M. Malliet’s Max Tudor series and I like Malliet’s other series, the one featuring Detective Chief Inspector St. Just — although not as much. Both are set in England, but Malliet set her newest series, featuring the eponymous Augusta Hawke, in Old Town Alexandria, Va. It’s not just a new location; it’s a new voice. Wicked Autumn is better than Death of a Cozy Writer, but they’re very similar in style: two very handsome sleuths — one an MI-6 man-turned-priest, the other a copper — surrounded by eccentric villagers. Augusta Hawke is more vulnerable, less perfect, and I adored the glimpse into the nasty nature of the publishing industry. (My husband’s a published writer, so I have first-hand experience.) And I never saw the ending coming. Highly, highly recommended.

If you’re lucky, you’ll get to listen to this novel on Audible with Erin Dion doing a perfect job.

[Judy Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Augusta Hawke is the first title in what will most likely become a series written by G. M. Malliet. Augusta is a widow living on the outskirts of Washington, D. C., the author of a well-established series of mystery novels set in Italy and financially independent due to the success of her writing. Augusta notices things. She certainly isn't a "village busybody" but she does pay attention to the neighbors living close around her, just doing so from afar. The beginning of this story gave me a decided "Rear Window" vibe, but the story soon takes off in a direction of its own. This novel is presented as a first-person narrative which requires a steady handed author to keep it from dissolving into a messy muddle. Having the location of Augusta's fiction novels set in Italy helped keep the information regarding fiction and real crimes firmly separated.

For me a first novel in a series or even a standalone book requires that I hand over control of my tendency to be critical until I've given the author a chance to sink or swim. So far I like the Augusta Hawke character even though I did get to the point of wishing she wasn't quite so chipper all the time. Maybe dial that back just a tad and I wouldn't cringe so often. The mystery is very well constructed, and I was genuinely surprised when the culprit was revealed. I'm looking forward to another Augusta Hawke, maybe next year.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for an e-galley of this novel.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, low-stakes mystery with an absolutely terrific sense of humor.

I was a bit skeptical coming into this book because I wasn’t a huge fan of Malliet’s Max Tudor series (and this is coming from someone who is a pretty easy sell when it comes to English countryside mysteries), but this was a pleasant surprise.

The mystery itself is fine, nothing especially unique but competently plotted and solved. What really makes this book is that it’s kind of hilarious, and plays with genre tropes in a way that is both unique and delightful.

Augusta is a fantastic heroine, funny and likable and self-deprecating in a way that is endearing without ever feeling maudlin or pitiful.

Can we make this a series? I could absolutely do with more of Augusta and her world.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[G.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the author: I just came across this very nice review from Mishka on Amazon and I had to share. I was a Kinsey Millhone fan for decades and I'm so glad if that influence is showing!

"I thoroughly enjoyed Augusta Hawke. The title character is interesting, likeable, and just that dash of crazy required for an amateur sleuth to do the things they need to do to make a book fun. Augusta is like if you took a big cup of Kinsey Millhone and added a dash of Stephanie Plum--she's doggedly committed to finding her missing neighbors and has no issue telling a few lies if it'll get her the information she needs, even if her attempts to pull off of some of those maneuvers are less than subtly executed. A charming mystery, and I look forward to spending time with Augusta again in the future."

[Larry Fontenot · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this novel is a small book, it took me ages to finish. I've read only a few GM Malliet books and generally liked them. This is the first book in a new series, and I did not really enjoy it. It had some interesting characters, a good plot and the obligatory twist at the end. But I found the main character, Augusta Hawke, just too flighty for my taste. She does foolish things and seldom regrets them. I did like her friends Misaki. Both Misaki and Augusta have great moments of witty dialogue, and Augusta's asides are funny. But I just did not find this book appealing or noteworthy.

[Michele Dancer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in a new series by Malliet, and our amateur detective is a mystery writer based in the upscale part of Washington, DC. A wealthy couple in her neighborhood goes missing after making arrangements with the wife's mother to care for their baby, and it is the thought of the baby losing his parents which spurs Augusta to get involved in finding them. It also doesn't hurt that the detective assigned to the case is a hottie.
This wasn't a bad book as mysteries go, and I will definitely try the next in the series. The writing is fine, the main characters held my interest, and the mystery itself turned out to be more complicated than you might have expected. The problem with it is that a mystery should, by it's very nature, be hard to put down. This wasn't. Additionally, it is so crammed with excess characters and story lines that I often had to look back and see what I had missed. There is also a bit at the very end that I'm still not quite sure about. It's also possible that I just wasn't in the mood to read a mystery.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed Malliet's other series, to a degree, but this is miles better. The narrator, a widowed writer of successful thrillers, lives a quiet life, by design, but tends to watch the couple across the courtyard, who seem to have a perfect marriage--until they disappear, leaving their young child alone. With the help of a retired lawyer who is a neighbor, and to the disgruntled warnings of the police detective in charge of the case, Augusta places herself in the midst of the investigation until she finds herself in a very unpleasant place indeed.

[Risa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Augusta Hawke is a fun narrator to read, at first I was a bit confused by all the random tangents of the city and the traffic and the neighbors etc, but then I realized that it's because she lives a lonely life. She keeps herself sheltered in a small bubble and her hobby is looking out the window to see what her neighbors are up to during her breaks from writing. Once she goes all in sleuthing, she gradually comes out of her bubble and she has somewhat made peace with certain things at the end of the book. The twist was surprising and I liked the interactions between Augusta and some of the side characters like Misaki, Zora, and Julia. Things do take a bit to develop, but I enjoyed reading Augusta's inner thoughts so I didn't mind it.

[Celia Morse · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read and enjoyed all of G M Malliet's previous two series of slyly humorous English mysteries, but this book, the first in a projected series set in Washington DC, lacks humor, charm, and a likeable main character. Very disappointing.

[Megan Edwards · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I didn't really enjoy this book. I listened to the audio version and the narrator wasn't very good so that may have tainted my experience.

[Kenzie Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I was hoping for at all..

[Gail C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

G. M. Malliet has brought us a new central character and a thoroughly modern setting in her latest entry into mystery fiction, Augusta Hawke. Augusta is a fabulously successful writer of mysteries that seem to fall closer to the thriller/adventure/spy novel than anything else. She is a dedicated writer, and has her regular routine of writing four pages per day. The rest of her time is primarily spent inside her exclusive townhome in the Old Town section of Washington, D.C. Some of her time is spent watching the neighbors, gazing out the back of her home, across a green expanse, and into the homes of people who live across the green. Her watching is fairly mild, and not intended to be intrusive, she simply has this as a primary source of entertainment. While Augusta would likely deny the characterizations, she has come as close to being a recluse as anyone can who still travels for book-related activities.

The entertainment factor of her neighborhood watch turns into much more when the couple she primarily watches disappears, leaving their son behind with his grandparents. Questions arise, with everyone asking were they both kidnapped, was one kidnapped by the other, are they both dead? Augusta becomes intrigued by these questions and the desire to know, and plagued by having heard a short scream just prior to their disappearance which, when she finally tells the police about, they seem to pass off as unimportant

Deciding she needs to investigate, Augusta begins her own questioning of various people, enlisting the occasional help of her friend Misaki. She boldly wanders into homes and businesses where people who might be involved or who might know something can be found, and asks questions trying to discover what happened to the couple.

The book is told in a conversational style, as though Augusta is relating a lengthy story to the reader. There is little anxiety or violence throughout the book, rather a strong story that creates interest in the reader to find out what happens next.The pace is consistent, and the plot is well crafted and intriguing. The story draws the reader in, and it is easy to want to read just one more chapter, or two or three for that matter, before returning to the real world. While the reader can put it down and pick it up at leisure, it can stay in the back of the reader’s mind and offer a consistent tug back to the book as soon as possible. The pace does pick up in the final chapters of the book as Augusta closes in on the guilty parties. It is refreshing that she does not require a man to rush in and save her, at the same time the police detective who has been called in on the first cast does have a part in the successful conclusion of the situation.

I’ve read two other series written by Malliett, both of which took place in Europe, although that was the end of their similarity. This is the first series that I know about which takes place in the United States with American characters throughout. It is very entertaining, and demonstrates the ability of Maliett to create a wide variety of characters and locations. It is impossible to know where the series is headed, but I will be watching for the next book with eager anticipation. While the mystery is contained within this book, the reader may find themselves hoping to meet some of the secondary characters, such as the detective and Misaki, in future books.

My thanks to Severn House Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy for this review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

[S.J. Higbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let’s get one thing straight – if you’re looking for an action-packed, foot-to-the-floor thriller, then pass on this one. Instead, you get a slow-burn building sense of wrongness that gradually develops into an investigation – although Augusta is the first to admit that she largely started looking into her neighbours’ disappearance because she’d hit a bit of a wall with her latest manuscript. Indeed, it’s debatable whether the pacing is a tad too slow at times, though I was never in any danger of abandoning this one. Augusta’s dry humour held me throughout. Her personality and my liking for her is the outstanding aspect of this book – I definitely am looking forward to reading more in the series.

Not in the first flush of youth, Augusta was widowed when her beloved husband died in a car crash. Upsettingly, the circumstances of his death led to very hurtful discoveries about him hand the double life he was leading. And since his death, she has retreated into her writing, watching the world from her window and her regular walks with her dog. I liked how the devastation of Marcus’s death slowly is revealed – this aspect of the story could have so easily slid into a self-pitying whine. However, Augusta uses humour as her defence and refuge, which had me grinning and thoroughly rooting for her. The writing is accomplished and Malliet is clearly an experienced storyteller with a particular talent for writing a strong, sympathetic protagonist capable of engaging this reader’s affection – I really cared about Augusta.

That is particularly important when the stakes suddenly become a whole lot higher as the book suddenly shifts up a couple of gears during the climactic denouement. And while I’d a suspicion about the actual villain – the backstory and extent of the antagonist’s wrongdoing came as a shock. Recommended for fans of contemporary mysteries that aren’t too gritty or dripping with gore and feature a strong female protagonist. While I obtained an arc of Augusta Hawke from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10

[Margie Bunting · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the first in a new mystery series by GM Malliet, I enjoyed getting to know Augusta in the first few chapters. Once I got into the rhythm of the first-person narrative, I was enthusiastically along for the ride.

The author successfully uses her own experience as a prolific writer to infuse her protagonist with authenticity. When we discover Augusta is writing the 19th in her long-running series, it is a surprise and a thrill. We hear about her own protagonist, French detective Claude, and his sidekick, Caroline. The latter is a favorite with readers of the series, to the point where Augusta sometimes has to ask herself what Caroline would do in fraught situations.

As a successful author, Augusta lives in an upscale neighborhood where she can't help noticing that her close neighbors, a married couple, have suddenly disappeared, leaving their baby behind with a family member. Intrigued and looking for something to distract her from her lagging work in progress, Augusta can't help doing some investigating on her own, to the initial disgust and eventual respect of a police detective assigned to the case.

There is a lot to admire in this book--the author's unique voice, a convoluted case with a host of potential persons of interest, a dollop of humor, and an ending that, while it resolves the case, leaves things open for more fascinating stories and the potential for romantic interest in future entries in the series. I'll be looking for the next one.

My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of the book.

[Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've found a new favorite author! G.M. Malliet has such a great voice. Augusta Hawke is part cozy mystery, part regular mystery and a good dose of humor as the author shows some of her own personality through Augusta. It's a face paced, can't put down read with a nice twist at the end. I really like the Augusta character. She's totally someone you'd like to have as a friend. This is a super read for men and women and for introducing a junior high level person to how enjoyable a good mystery can be.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite liked this initial entry in a new series. I put aside the Max Tudur series part way thru the third book but so far this one appeals to me. The main character has a lot of potential and making her an author of crime fiction gives Malliet a chance to 'write what she knows'. There is sly humor and potential for an interesting cop / amateur relationship, working or personal. My biggest complaint is that Augusta is made to sound older than her early 40's.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winding story that leads into a intriguing mystery. Hijinks and twists seem to lead elsewhere but all vines braid together for a satisfying end. Scarce profanity (f). Narrator is terrific (I sped up the speech rate as it seemed more a more natural way of talking. 3-1/2⭐️⭐️⭐️🔅

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Augusta Hawke is the first book in what I hope will be a new series by G.M. Malliet. I have thoroughly enjoyed her previous series and was intrigued by the plot of her new book. When I first started the book I wasn’t sure where it was going but the more I read the more I enjoyed it. This a contemporary mystery that takes place in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. The protagonist Augusta is a mystery writer who has the habit of looking into the homes of her neighbors. When one of the couples go missing leaving behind their baby Augusta is sure there is foul play and using the thought process of her fictional crime characters she sets off to solve the mystery. The book has lots of pithy observations and a sort of mad cap sensibility but it drew me in. The authors first hand knowledge of the area is evident in this present day cozy mystery.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable mystery. Loved the fact the protagonist is a successful mystery writer, but found it had a bit too much first person exposition.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Augusta Hawke is the introduction to a new series that left me wanting more. With its theme of someone sitting at a window watching the comings and goings of the neighbors, some readers may think of A.J. Finn's The Woman at the Window. If you're vintage like me, you might think of Alfred Hitchcock's classic Rear Window. At least Augusta is looking out the window while she's writing one of her books, and not being an idle curtain-twitching busybody.

Since the death of her husband, Augusta has, for the most part, shut herself away in her suburban Washington, DC townhouse. Her life revolves around writing her long-running police procedural set in the south of France and those vignettes she sees of her neighbors' lives. Once the police start investigating the disappearance of Mr. and Mrs. Norman, Augusta's writing radar begins to ping. There could be a bestseller in this! What's fun is watching how her investigation begins to pull her back into the real world with face-to-face interactions with real people.

Although I did deduce what was going on, it didn't bother me a bit because Augusta had a stranglehold on me. Malliet really made me like the woman. I was sad that she'd shut herself away and then happy when she began getting out and investigating. In no time at all, I found myself caring about what happened to her.

The story, the main character, and the wit are first-rate, and another facet of the book that I loved was the inclusion of all the insider information on the publishing world and the Washington, DC area. One of Augusta's comments that mentioned James Patterson had me crowing with laughter, so not only does she make me care about her, but she also makes me laugh. You can't beat a combination like that.

Now that I've met Augusta Hawke and want to invite her over for coffee, there's only one thing left to do: wait months for her next adventure. It will be worth the wait, I'm sure.

(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)

[Cydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. Erin Dion, the narrator was excellent

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for an advance copy of Augusta Hawke, the first novel to feature the crime writer and her amateur sleuthing in Washington D.C..

When Augusta receives a visit from a handsome detective she learns that her neighbours Niko and Zora Norman are missing. Thinking about it she realises that she hasn’t seen them for a week, not that she’s spying, but as a lonely widow who works from home she can’t help noticing their comings and goings, especially as her living room overlooks theirs. When she discovers that they left their baby behind she is determined to investigate.

I have mixed feelings about Augusta Hawke as a novel. I had not read any of the author’s previous work, so was pleased to get the opportunity to remedy that omission and join a new series at the beginning.

Initially I was entranced by Augusta’s first person narrative as she is slightly cynical and highly amusing about the author’s craft and modus operandi. It boded well, but for me her narrative style soon ran out of steam. This is a matter of personal taste as I can’t be bothered with with all the faffing about and stupid errors she makes in the name of comedy. It’s too much to ask me to believe that the author of 18 bestselling crime novels could be so disorganised and flail so much in an endeavour that has nothing to do with her. It’s all about the laughs and you can only repeat the same basic idea so often.

On the other hand I can see cosy lovers really liking this novel. It is slick and professional and Augusta has a distinctive voice. The writing is great, descriptive and imaginative with plenty of (American) cultural references. It is slow to get going, not much happens in the first half of the novel beyond introducing the basic premise of the disappearance, presenting the characters and letting the reader get to know Augusta. I liked the vague hints about the death of her husband, insinuating as they do that there is perhaps more to Augusta than she’s letting on. The second half of the novel is more lively. Augusta still blunders about, but there’s more to blunder into, including personal danger and a neat resolution.

[Beachreader · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just could not get interested in this story or care at all about this weird character named Augusta Hawke. I quit at page 92, after finally accepting that the book was never going to improve. Apparently this author, whom I have never heard of, has had previous mysteries published.

Besides a dragging, boring story, the geographic inaccuracies in the story kept assaulting me. Authors, do not make the setting of your book a real locale you know nothing about. That is the purpose of fictitious towns. You can say whatever you want since it exists only in your imagination.

Since I was bored by the story, I began noting all the discrepancies that jumped out at me. Permit me to enlighten you Ms Malliet:

1. Old Town, the setting of your book, is not in the southeast quadrant of DC as your character says. It is in Virginia, which is one of the states in the USA. Although you do later say it is in Virginia, I'm not sure you grasp the idea of it being a state. Since you and your publisher are not Americans, I guess there was no one to correct this.

2. The detective had a card that said "Old Town Police Department" and someone went to Old Town City Hall. Old Town is a neighborhood in the city of Alexandria. It does not have a police department or a city hall.

3. Several times the characters say something about a lockdown during covid. No place in Virginia has ever had a "lockdown" during covid.

4. The DC tv stations include channels 4, 5, 7, 9, 22, 26, and 32. There is no channel 8 (unless you are a Cox cable subscriber living in Fairfax County and get this county government channel).

[Catherine Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

G M Malliet did not make a smooth transition from writing cozies about Britain to this book with an American heroine based in America. To start with, a character who is a native American should use American idioms, not British. While it doesn't happen often, when a British-ism pops up, the effect is startling. For instance, Americans don't carry our garbage out to the bin (something the heroine mentions more than once), we take it out to the garbage can, the trash can, or even the dumpster, but not to the bin. And I've never heard an American say that a playboy's reputation is that of "a bit of a lad."
Malliet does not seem comfortable with her own heroine. The character at the beginning of the book is not the one who ends the book. Augusta starts out as a sarcastic narrator, along the lines of, but not quite making, the hardboiled effect of a noir detective. As the book proceeds, there is not even the pretense of the sarcastic, noir detective but rather Augusta is more compassionate, although the compassion never feels real either. And, it's not that the character develops a new ethos as she works to solve the mystery; it's just a disconnect between beginning and end of the story.

[Annie (is so far behind 😬) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unassuming heroine, an author by trade, who wonders what has happened to her Washington, DC, neighbours, who have suddenly disappeared, is a wonderful start to a new series by G M Malliet. A bit different than her previous series’, so took a chapter or two to find the rhythm, but I loved this and the fact that widowed Augusta is so…unobtrusive and, dare I say it, dull? Not everyone can be exciting and adventurous and daring, but it doesn’t mean that a widow has to fade into the background. She just prefers a quiet life. I found myself really relating to Augusta, because I consider myself unobtrusive and, dare I say it, dull. Perhaps ‘wallflower’ is a better term, or introvert.

I’m a big fan of G M Malliet, and like every book, this won’t be for everyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and am very much looking forward to the second one.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC to read and review. All opinions are strictly my own.

[Rennie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing to really dislike but also nothing particularly awesome. I did like the "voice" of the main character and the occasional flash of humour. Otherwise, a so-so plot that meant that, at the halfway point, I just skipped to the end to confirm my suspicions and called it a day and will likely not read the next one.

[Sarah Nealy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original, and well written. I don't think I've read a mystery novel written in first person before, it was unique. I listened to the audio book and have to say although I got used to the narrator, the physical copy may be better.

[Linda Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read quite a few of G.M.Malliet's books and always appreciated her ability to use humor to such good effect and her deft plotting. Most of her whodunnits are set in the UK, and she created the perfect English village in her Max Tudor mysteries. I've read quite a few of G.M.Malliet's books and always appreciated her ability to use humor to such good effect and her deft plotting. Most of her whodunnits are set in the UK, and she created the perfect English village in her Max Tudor mysteries. Augusta Hawke, however, is set in the Washington DC area in Georgetown. Augusta is a successful mystery writer, with 18 novels to her credit. She is widowed, living in an upscale townhouse community. She is intensely private and organized, knowing little about her neighbors. Like many such developments in America, people come and go, keeping themselves to themselves. She does take some interest in the young couple living directly across from her. Zora and Niko Norman are a handsome pair with an almost-year-old baby. It's not that she watches them purposely, but they have no curtains, and she is home almost all the time. Plus, she is stalled on novel #19.

When the perfect couple goes missing, the dishy Detective Narducci asks what Augusta knows about them. She realizes that she is probably the only one who knows there is trouble in the Norman marriage. Augusta saw a heated argument through the window and heard a shriek from who she thought must be Zora. Augusta doesn't want to be stereotyped as nosy, so she doesn't tell Narducci at that time. Instead, she contacts Zora's mother at the downtown DC gallery she owns. The baby is safe, and Zora's parents never liked or trusted Niko. Augusta enlists Misaki Nelson, a retired lawyer, in her search for the Normans. The two are off to the races. A sleazy PI (and true crime writer) involves himself in their investigation as well. Detective Narducci is decidedly not happy. There are moments of wry humor, hilarity, and great danger before they find the missing Normans. The only negative is an overly quick wrap-up.

Some people don't enjoy the first-person narrative, but I enjoyed being in Augusta's head. She is unique and fearless. I hope there are more novels to come. I like Augusta, and new opportunities open up in her life, which has been stagnant. Thanks to NetGalley and Severn Books for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.