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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!