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The entire town is buzzing with excitement and counting down the days to the most significant event of the year - Charles Granger’s Venetian Ball. Everyone is excited, everyone except Abby Maguire. She hasn’t received an invitation…Gate-crashing the event is the only way she can think of being included. When one of the most prominent guests suddenly dies, Abby can’t help wondering if she’d been deliberately left out of the guest list.With a town hungry for news and gossip, Abby and Faith set up their crime-board at Charles Granger’s mansion. This is the perfect setting to kick back and relax while Detective Joshua Ryan carries out his investigation. However, even when Abby Maguire takes a back seat, she somehow manages to stumble on a significant piece of information that leads her straight to the killer and to danger.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2022

207 people are currently reading
67 people want to read

About the author

Sonia Parin

122 books198 followers
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.

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Community Reviews

5 stars
197 (62%)
4 stars
83 (26%)
3 stars
30 (9%)
2 stars
6 (1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Marcia-Lee Finocchio.
604 reviews6 followers
October 10, 2018
Last Dance

Another interesting story involving Abby and Faith, trying to solve a murder. I enjoy all of Sonia books, and am looking forward to reading more.!
Profile Image for Sherry L. Lucas.
10 reviews1 follower
July 16, 2020
I enjoyed the Deer Abby books. They are funny and lighthearted cozy mysteries. The protagonist is endearing, and the other characters are quirky and engaging.
I appreciated that the plots of the series did not follow the cozy mystery norm. There are moments in each book that I laughed out loud. I look forward to new books in this series.
200 reviews
July 31, 2019
Want more

I have enjoyed these series of books they have good characters which are fully rounded and they way it ended has left me in anticipation for book 6

I wish it would be made for tv perfect Sunday night viewing
260 reviews
July 1, 2019
Another excellent story!

Abby is in a delicate place when everyone she knows is invited to a ball, well everyone except her! She's in a a quandary about what to do. Admit to everyone that she didn't get invited and have them pity her or figure out how to attend?

This was an amusing premise, that ends up with Abby gate crashing the ball and all the complications of trying to find a dress at the last minute to how exactly she slides into the ball! When a high society lady ends up dead, it's up to Abby and the whole crew to help Joshua figure out who did it and how.
337 reviews1 follower
June 2, 2020
Wonderful

A cracking good read the characters are really well written and enjoyable to read I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cosy mystery stories
Profile Image for Krystyna.
5,134 reviews54 followers
September 30, 2018
The ball, the dress, the death!

Awesome - an absolutely terrific read!
She hadn't received an invitation to the Ball that everyone was raving about. But this wasn't going to stop her - she'll gatecrash! However what she didn't expect was the uncrowned queen of the ball to collapse and die! What happened? Was it natural or murder? If murder - how? As she and her friend move into the manor to investigate they start unearthing secrets. Will they be enough to catch the killer? A great plot that has all the hallmarks of a good Agatha Christie. Brilliant characters that just get better and better.
Profile Image for Irene Sauman.
Author 13 books39 followers
December 10, 2019
I enjoy this series, especially as it is set in Australia - an Australia I don't entirely recognise but that's okay. Cozy mysteries are supposed to be a little quirky and the characters of Eden are certainly that. Yet also real, and thankfully no ockers, no Aussie stereotypes, just people.
The only real complaint I have are the typos - or more accurately auto-corrections. Faith asks 'should we courtesy' - meaning curtsy of course. And then 'Abby braised herself'. Quite painful that. Far better had she just braced herself.
But I look forward to the next in the series.
1,700 reviews35 followers
July 3, 2021
While everyone in town is talking about the upcoming Venetian Ball.
Abby is quietly pouting and wondering why she didn't receive an invite too?
In the end, Abby decides to gate crash the event.
When one of the wealthy ladies drops dead during the event.
Detective Ryan ask Abby to assist as she had been helpful in the past.
Frustration mounts as Abby tries to investigate.
It seems she is being asked to help, but is also being blocked on a regular basis.

There may also be a blossoming romance in the works that probably no one expected.
Especially Faith.
109 reviews2 followers
May 2, 2019
Superb as always

As always Abby gets to the bottom of the mystery with a lot of red herrings thrown out to distract you. I loved that Detective Joshua actual asks for Abby's help in this book. Can't wait to read the next one.
378 reviews2 followers
August 9, 2020
Such a fun series! The MC continues to immerse herself in this wonderfully eccentric town. There’s a mystery to ponder (as in why didn’t the MC receive an invitation to the town’s “event of a lifetime”?) and a murder to solve (with motives that lurk from decades earlier). Recommended!
434 reviews5 followers
October 3, 2021
The Venetian Ball

Thank you for this intriguing mystery story. Abby, once again, investigates and almost becomes a victim. Her intuition often gets her into trouble. I really enjoy your storylines and the many different characters.
100 reviews
October 3, 2018
💜 there books

Sonia Parin is a terrific author. Her mysteries are well written. All the characters contribute to the story. Really hoping for a romance between Abby and Joshua.
Profile Image for Kitten  Peters.
1,017 reviews5 followers
April 17, 2019
Cute

Abbey is the only one in town not invited to the ball so she hate crashed and then a murder occurs
614 reviews2 followers
April 16, 2022
Another good storym

Again, once I got all the new characters straightened out the flow of the story was much better! Excellent story telling, MS Parin!
4,417 reviews43 followers
May 4, 2022
Who killed Marigold and why??? Why wasn’t Abby invited to the Venetian Ball??? A s servant or a sister or… I enjoyed the story and recommend the book.

531 reviews
March 4, 2020
First Class

The one percent, of Eden are throwing a ball. Abby is the only one in town who has not received an invitation. First she must find a dress, then gate crash, a five star affair. All goes well, until her dog, Doyle starts to bark at a women, right before she drops dead. Read and enjoy!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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