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A Culinary Mystery #2
English Trifle
High Crimes at High Tea Things to Do in England Visit Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and the London Zoo Take the Jack the Ripper tour creepy! Sample authentic English scones and crumpets Discover a dead body What begins as a holiday trip for amateur sleuth and cooking aficionado Sadie Hoffmiller and her daughter, Breanna, turns into a bizarre mystery when they discover a dead body in the sitting room of an English manor. Breanna's boyfriend, Liam, is heir to both the family title and the family estate of Southgate, where everyone seems to have a secret . . . or two. When the body in the sitting room disappears, Sadie and Breanna are stranded at the estate until the police can clear them to leave. With their departure delayed, they might as well solve the murder. Armed with a jogging whistle, her personal recipe collection, and an unfailing sense of American justice, Sadie begins her own investigation to find the killer. But as Sadie uncovers layer after layer of misdirection, secrets, and outright lies, she wonders if anyone is telling the truth or if the case is really as hopeless as it appears to be. Take a missing family history, toss in a secret romance, mix with a mysterious murder, and this is one vacation Sadie will never forget.
361 pages, Paperback
First published July 15, 2009
122 people are currently reading
1412 people want to read
About the author
Josi S. Kilpack
66 books2,061 followers I wrote my first book while on bed rest with my third child in 1998 and haven't stopped. My most recent books have been Historical Romance through the Proper Romance line with Shadow Mountain Publishing.
I currently live in Willard, Utah with my husband, and children.
I currently live in Willard, Utah with my husband, and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 604 reviews
February 28, 2019
The second in the culinary mystery series featuring Sadie Hoffmiller and her daughter Breanna, this story sees them in England, visiting the estate of Breanna's fiance. However, this is not just a pleasant visit: when Sadie and Breanna are taking tea in the parlor, they discover a dead body behind a curtain - impaled by a fireplace poker that has him fastened to the wall. Things get even more complicated when after seeking help they return to the room to discover the body is gone, and no one believes them. This is definitely a good British mystery that keeps the reader turning pages, especially with some unexpected surprises here and there.
August 17, 2009
I have to say that I enjoyed the first book in this series a little more than this one, but it was still a fun, whodunit mystery. Sadie (the main character) got a little annoying and over the top for me in this one. This book is about Sadie and her daughter, Breanna, and the mystery they encounter at a Christmastime vacation in England, while visiting Breanna's boyfriend.
February 21, 2022
Another one that was slow this start but I think it was because of all the English accents. I needed to adjust to something different. This book is set in England while Sadie and Breanna are on holiday visiting Breanna boyfriend. When about to go back home Sadie finds a body .. a murdered buddy and will not stop until she figures it out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2016
This is book two in the Sadie Hoffmiller Mystery series. Sadie and Breanna find themselves caught up in a murder investigation in Devonshire England. It's a fun book with seven original recipes including Crumpets and English Scones. Enjoy!
May 8, 2018
Sadie rocks! I enjoyed this one even as much as the first. Very clever, a fast read as well.
November 6, 2021
The second mystery Sadie helps uncover. It’s fun and contributes to the reflection across cultures - this is set in the UK - and social and gender roles. I know it was probably not always intentional, but it’s nice to read and go through the week with Sadie as she thinks she knows it all. For the genre and what the teaser brings, it is an interesting read!
November 8, 2010
I didn't like this one nearly as well as Lemon Tart. For a fluff book, I'm probably analyzing it too much, but I really felt like it was an unbelievable plot with too many angles (most of which didn't really seem to matter in the end anyway) that was executed poorly. I think a good mystery should have the reader guessing and leave them just a trifle confused, but in the end, things should begin to start clicking, leaving the reader with many "aha moments" and recognizing the significance of various characters. Instead, everything seemed forced in this book, like the author didn't have enough time to really sort out the details herself. For example, all the times Sadie sneaks down to the kitchen and insists on helping...really, those just seemed like the author didn't have any other bright ideas.
I also felt like the overall writing quality went down from the previous book...too many pointless details, too much pointless dialogue, etc. (As an example, one of the details that really bugged me was when Sadie changed the ring tone on her phone to Stevie Wonder's song. I was sure that her phone would ring at just the wrong moment, blaring out the aforementioned song, but nothing came of it, so why waste a paragraph telling us about it? I guess maybe it was an attempt to develop Sadie's personality?) Also, I didn't like the English setting because it seemed like the only knowledge the author really had of the country was from a couple visits herself and maybe reading a book or two. It just wasn't believable to me, and some of the "English details" seemed more like the author saying, "See? Look! I know about England!"
In the author's defense, I couldn't put the book down for the last fifty pages, but in the end, I really was disappointed.
But will I be reading the next book? Um...yes. So I guess that says something.
I also felt like the overall writing quality went down from the previous book...too many pointless details, too much pointless dialogue, etc. (As an example, one of the details that really bugged me was when Sadie changed the ring tone on her phone to Stevie Wonder's song. I was sure that her phone would ring at just the wrong moment, blaring out the aforementioned song, but nothing came of it, so why waste a paragraph telling us about it? I guess maybe it was an attempt to develop Sadie's personality?) Also, I didn't like the English setting because it seemed like the only knowledge the author really had of the country was from a couple visits herself and maybe reading a book or two. It just wasn't believable to me, and some of the "English details" seemed more like the author saying, "See? Look! I know about England!"
In the author's defense, I couldn't put the book down for the last fifty pages, but in the end, I really was disappointed.
But will I be reading the next book? Um...yes. So I guess that says something.
September 19, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It is like the mysteries I enjoy so much. I love trying to figure out the "whodunit". I really don't like figuring it out who did until the end. Just because I don't feel the intrigue of the book as much.
I did at one time have an idea (early in the book) who it might be because of a comment made. But Josi led me astray and I didn't think about it again until right near the end when all the readers would find out who did it.
The author's development of characters was superb! I look forward to reading the rest of this series.
I also loved the way the reader read the book, as she used an English accent in some places.
I did at one time have an idea (early in the book) who it might be because of a comment made. But Josi led me astray and I didn't think about it again until right near the end when all the readers would find out who did it.
The author's development of characters was superb! I look forward to reading the rest of this series.
I also loved the way the reader read the book, as she used an English accent in some places.
August 8, 2024
3.5⭐️ A fun continuation of the series. Some things felt obvious while other things took me by surprise. But all in all enjoyable and not too spooky of a murder mystery which I appreciated.
I think I liked the first one slightly better, but I still settled on giving them the same rating.
I think I liked the first one slightly better, but I still settled on giving them the same rating.
January 26, 2023
So fun! Cross between Princess Diaries and Clue. I'm looking forward to reading her other books and making English crumpets and scones.
February 5, 2023
I love these easy enjoyable reads with fun mysteries that draw you in without creeping you out. I call them dessert books. So enjoyable without a lot of work. Not as filling obviously but still so good. Sadie’s character again drove me nuts through most of the book as I cursed her for missing stuff plain as day but I think she was written that way. I will keep reading the series.
April 6, 2010
If you can survive the first third of this book, when likable busybody Sadie Hoffmiller transforms into a rude, inconsiderate, ugly American while she's a guest in an English country house, you'll like the rest of the book as well as Lemon Tart, the first of Kilpack's culinary mystery series. Sadie's egregious behavior is especially disturbing because the character claims to have read books in which English country houses play a role, and so should understand why her intrusiveness and rudeness are so disturbing to the staff and residents. Also disturbing is Sadie's claim to be a good judge of character or "reading people," when she mistakes others' discomfort with her un-guestlike behavior for "hiding something" about the obligatory (thus not a spoiler) opening murder. Further, there is no reason why Sadie had to indulge in in-your-face rudeness to accomplish any task required by the plot. She could have been her more-flies-with-honey-than-vinegar sweet self and claimed ignorance rather than entitlement when she found herself in a bad situation, and the reader could have enjoyed the first part of the book instead of wondering who this person is and what she's done with the Sadie we knew and loved.
I gave this book the benefit of the doubt despite Sadie's behavior, not because she had been touring England for a week prior to the opening events of the story and was perhaps tired, or because she was perhaps concerned for her daughter or their host, but because she was a lovable person in Lemon Tart and I hoped she snap out of her boorishness soon. She did, and the plot and characters were enjoyable and appealed to the Anglophile in me. The manner in which some documents could be used specifically to undermine someone's claim to certain rights was never explained (and I could never figure it out), but that the villain thought the documents could be used that way was (again, perhaps) enough to motivate the villainy.
If you can avoid throwing the book through your window, in whatever country it is located, until Sadie calms down and wises up to basic etiquette, you will enjoy this book and probably think it was worth it--I did. But I hope none of these character changes are evident in Devil's Food Cake, the next book in the series.
I gave this book the benefit of the doubt despite Sadie's behavior, not because she had been touring England for a week prior to the opening events of the story and was perhaps tired, or because she was perhaps concerned for her daughter or their host, but because she was a lovable person in Lemon Tart and I hoped she snap out of her boorishness soon. She did, and the plot and characters were enjoyable and appealed to the Anglophile in me. The manner in which some documents could be used specifically to undermine someone's claim to certain rights was never explained (and I could never figure it out), but that the villain thought the documents could be used that way was (again, perhaps) enough to motivate the villainy.
If you can avoid throwing the book through your window, in whatever country it is located, until Sadie calms down and wises up to basic etiquette, you will enjoy this book and probably think it was worth it--I did. But I hope none of these character changes are evident in Devil's Food Cake, the next book in the series.
December 23, 2011
The second of Josi S. Kilpack's culinary mysteries is set at an earl's elegant estate in English where spunky heroine Sadie Hoffmiller busybodies her way into another murder case. Sadie, a 56-year-old widow from Colorado, has accompanied daughter Breanna to the home of Breanna's love-of-the-moment, Liam Martin, who is heir to his father's title. When the earl's male nurse turns up dead in the stately home with a poker in his chest, Sadie can't resist the urge to snoop around the estate, asking questions she shouldn't ask, and poking her nose in where she doesn't belong, including the sumptuous kitchen where she manages to whip up a delicious breakfast casserole while trying her hand at British crumpets And, yes, she does makes some headway into solving the mystery, although she makes a few errors in judgment and leaps to some wrong conclusions before all the answers unfold. Nevertheless, Sadie's help is really invaluable to the case since everyone else in the household seems clueless, including the police inspectors--all stereotypical, stuffy, by-the-book fellows, who couldn't find the proverbial elephant in a telephone booth. Yummy recipes abound in this mystery, including the breakfast casserole, scones, crumpets, and high tea lemon cookies. Unfortunately, plot gaps abound as well (as they did the first book Lemon Tart). Also, I found all the genealogy business tedious. But who cares? This is another fun romp with Sadie that left me eager to read her next adventure.
June 18, 2010
I love the premis of this book. To be honest, it was very appealing to me and I had heard good things about the book.
I found the book to be slow and dull. After sticking with the book, I came to a point where I was going to quit half way. I stayed through it but decided to just skim the last few chapters.
I found Sadie, the main character, a little annoying. She was very pushy and a bit self-righteous for me. Her daughter Breanna was a weak character who was engaged to the potential next Earl and heir to the estate they were staying at, Southgate. At one point Breanna and Liam suddenly break up and then by the end they make up. This was just mentioned and not explained.
Josi Kilpack's writing is so wordy throughout the book. This became very irritating to me. I began to think to myself that I don't care what the character is doing or not doing or feeling or...whatever.
Although the mystery was not completely hidden from me,there were some elements of surprise. It was nice to finish the book because it gave me a sense of completion but it was not an enjoyable read for me.
I found the book to be slow and dull. After sticking with the book, I came to a point where I was going to quit half way. I stayed through it but decided to just skim the last few chapters.
I found Sadie, the main character, a little annoying. She was very pushy and a bit self-righteous for me. Her daughter Breanna was a weak character who was engaged to the potential next Earl and heir to the estate they were staying at, Southgate. At one point Breanna and Liam suddenly break up and then by the end they make up. This was just mentioned and not explained.
Josi Kilpack's writing is so wordy throughout the book. This became very irritating to me. I began to think to myself that I don't care what the character is doing or not doing or feeling or...whatever.
Although the mystery was not completely hidden from me,there were some elements of surprise. It was nice to finish the book because it gave me a sense of completion but it was not an enjoyable read for me.
October 28, 2016
These books will not win any awards in my book, but I just can't help reading them. And I will probably continue to read them. Here are a few reasons
1) They are perfect "escapist reading" for me. I had a too busy Harvest Break and just needed something light-hearted, simple, and entertaining to read. This fit the bill.
2) The main character's name is Sadie. My daughter is named Sadie. I just think that is fun.
3) The main character reminds me a little of me. Or how I imagine I might end up in another 15 years. Kind of a busybody who means well, but sometimes puts her nose into things that she should just stay out of.
4) I just love the food titles. The food pictures. The recipes inside. The foodie in me is just drawn to these aspects of this series.
5) It is good, clean reading. Nothing that will make you blush or make you not able to recommend them to your teenager or your mother.
So there you go. It feels good to finally explain to myself why I keep reading these books. Tee!hee! Don't get me wrong, there were some suspenseful parts and I loved the setting in a country estate in Great Britain, they just aren't 4 star quality in my book. And they WILL make you hungry!
1) They are perfect "escapist reading" for me. I had a too busy Harvest Break and just needed something light-hearted, simple, and entertaining to read. This fit the bill.
2) The main character's name is Sadie. My daughter is named Sadie. I just think that is fun.
3) The main character reminds me a little of me. Or how I imagine I might end up in another 15 years. Kind of a busybody who means well, but sometimes puts her nose into things that she should just stay out of.
4) I just love the food titles. The food pictures. The recipes inside. The foodie in me is just drawn to these aspects of this series.
5) It is good, clean reading. Nothing that will make you blush or make you not able to recommend them to your teenager or your mother.
So there you go. It feels good to finally explain to myself why I keep reading these books. Tee!hee! Don't get me wrong, there were some suspenseful parts and I loved the setting in a country estate in Great Britain, they just aren't 4 star quality in my book. And they WILL make you hungry!
October 21, 2009
I had a great deal of fun with Sadie this time around. I'd even go so far as to say I liked English Trifle better than Lemon Tart, but I think that has more to do with the setting of English Trifle than anything else.
I see Sadie as kind of like my mom, if my mom were remotely adventurous (luv ya Mom!). The recipes at the end of some of the chapters make my mouth water, but I have to confess it's the peek at Devil's Food Cake at the end of the book that really has me excited. If that delicious sounding cake recipe is in the book, I'll be making it for sure!
Josi Kilpack knows how to craft a good story. English Trifle is a marvelous example of "show don't tell" in writing, something I have problems with myself. She blends back story and setting with visualization so nothing distracts the reader from the plot. And her plot left me guessing till the very end, which is so very important in a murder/mystery. Great job, Josi! Keep it up.
I see Sadie as kind of like my mom, if my mom were remotely adventurous (luv ya Mom!). The recipes at the end of some of the chapters make my mouth water, but I have to confess it's the peek at Devil's Food Cake at the end of the book that really has me excited. If that delicious sounding cake recipe is in the book, I'll be making it for sure!
Josi Kilpack knows how to craft a good story. English Trifle is a marvelous example of "show don't tell" in writing, something I have problems with myself. She blends back story and setting with visualization so nothing distracts the reader from the plot. And her plot left me guessing till the very end, which is so very important in a murder/mystery. Great job, Josi! Keep it up.
September 12, 2009
I enjoyed this book, but found Sadie's gung ho attitude just a little annoying at the beginning of the investigation. I found the mystery plausible and the characters believable. It was interesting to watch Sadie's opinions shift as she found out more about each character and how she had to change her initial assumptions as more facts were uncovered. The recipes look wonderful and I will be trying them, especially the crumpets. I had no idea they were made the way they are. If I had to choose, I would say I liked Lemon Tart A Culinary Mystery better. I am looking forward to the third installment and will be reading Ms. Kilpack's other work as well. I appreciate an LDS author who doesn't hit me over the head with religious views. Sadie has and uses faith; she has standards she lives by but she's not self-righteous.
January 25, 2019
The motives were fairly well cemented and believable, but I didn't care for most of the characters. I'm tremendously impressed that anyone can write a 12 volume series. That's an no minor accomplishment. The other 10 books will have to go on without me because I don't think I like Sadie much. Her double standard just got to me. She is okay poking around in people's personal spaces, but is upset when they do the same to her. I found myself rolling my eyes more than once.
Perhaps the semi-British accent of the narrator got to me too, or maybe I'm just cranky today.
Perhaps the semi-British accent of the narrator got to me too, or maybe I'm just cranky today.
March 15, 2012
My grandmother had a word for people like Sadie Hoffmiller - -Nebby. And that is not a compliment. Mostly predictable plot and Sadie is more annoying than ever. I know people like Sadie - always right, know it all, can't mind their own business, come up with their own rules (everything on the bulletin board must be stapled and not pinned), fake smile to get what they want, and generally not helping. If I read another one of these books it would be for the recipes.
July 17, 2009
I must make crumptets!!!! I really enjoyed this book. It's the second in a series, but can be read on it's own. None of that review of previous book, which I find obnoxious and tedious. Each of the characters stands on their own. Side note: I thought English food was supposed to be awful. This book has several recipes that look good and I will be making some of them in the future.
December 1, 2009
I'd give this a 2.5 stars, if I could. I had a difficult time getting into the story and did not find it as fast-paced or enjoyable as Lemon Tart. However, there are some amusing parts and it is suspenseful, and, of course, Sadie is so very likeable. I am looking forward to the 3rd book nonetheless.
September 21, 2020
First off, this reminds me of The One Where Ross Got High. I'm just saying.
Anyway, this one was more predictable, I figured it out early on in the book. I mean come on, it was so...easy. And Sadie at first was a little Cuckoo over solving mysteries which felt out of character for the down to earth woman she was in Lemon Tart.
Anyway, this one was more predictable, I figured it out early on in the book. I mean come on, it was so...easy. And Sadie at first was a little Cuckoo over solving mysteries which felt out of character for the down to earth woman she was in Lemon Tart.
January 19, 2018
I just couldn’t anymore with this book. I really wanted to like it because I love a clean mystery series but the main character is just so juvenile! I mean she’s Grandma age and acts like I would except from a tween “investigator” series.
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November 2, 2012So dull I couldn't even finish it. I skipped to the end to find out who the killer was and left it at that. Wish I could give it some stars, but I just didn't have the energy to trudge through it.
February 5, 2019
Today I am going to read an Agatha Christie mystery just to get the taste of English Trifle out of my mouth.
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January 6, 2020Josi S. Kilpack's novel English Trifle tells the story of a young adult, Breanna, and her mom, Sadie, who become caught up in a murder mystery before leaving England and returning home to America. Breanna's boyfriend, Liam, grew up in England and then lived in America for sixteen years. Liam, Brianna, and Sadie spend a couple days back in England. The day of when they were supposed to return back home is when Brianna and Sadie find a body pinned to the wall and that's where the murder mystery begins.
This book was a fun one to read. The sensory details given gave such clear imagery and helped me feel as though I was in the story. As I read I was able to imagine each place I was in. Each room and place described in the book was painted out in my mind from all the great detail given. Being that this story is a murder mystery, as you read you can't help but analyze each character described and this was easy to do with all the show don't tell and sensory detail written out in the story.
A great lesson to learn in the story is the ability of being alert. At the beginning of the story Sadie asks many questions and wants to help investigate on the mystery and help, although Liam would much rather have both her and Breanna in their room safe. When the investigator comes Sadie is alert and asking questions and wondering what is going on. Sadie's daughter, Breanna, tells her mom that she is very nosy and needs to stay out of other people business but in some cases asking questions is not a bad thing. We can all learn from that and know that when you are unsure you can ask questions and be sure that you are totally confident with what information you have received.
I love the way the author used such great detail and wonder how long it took her to become so great and show don't tell and sensory detail. I'm sure she researched lots on murder mysteries and spent time planning out each little idea of her plot.
I recommend this book to people who love a mystery and who enjoy investigating. I think when reading you will have a fun time making your own assumptions as to who the murderer is and what happened. I enjoyed this book a lot and think that the author wrote it perfectly especially with her great sensory detail and show don't tell.
This book was a fun one to read. The sensory details given gave such clear imagery and helped me feel as though I was in the story. As I read I was able to imagine each place I was in. Each room and place described in the book was painted out in my mind from all the great detail given. Being that this story is a murder mystery, as you read you can't help but analyze each character described and this was easy to do with all the show don't tell and sensory detail written out in the story.
A great lesson to learn in the story is the ability of being alert. At the beginning of the story Sadie asks many questions and wants to help investigate on the mystery and help, although Liam would much rather have both her and Breanna in their room safe. When the investigator comes Sadie is alert and asking questions and wondering what is going on. Sadie's daughter, Breanna, tells her mom that she is very nosy and needs to stay out of other people business but in some cases asking questions is not a bad thing. We can all learn from that and know that when you are unsure you can ask questions and be sure that you are totally confident with what information you have received.
I love the way the author used such great detail and wonder how long it took her to become so great and show don't tell and sensory detail. I'm sure she researched lots on murder mysteries and spent time planning out each little idea of her plot.
I recommend this book to people who love a mystery and who enjoy investigating. I think when reading you will have a fun time making your own assumptions as to who the murderer is and what happened. I enjoyed this book a lot and think that the author wrote it perfectly especially with her great sensory detail and show don't tell.
April 28, 2024
I was wishy washy on the first book in this series so I thought I'd try the next one just in case it was better. But no, it grated on me even more than the first. The main character was still an immature & bossy middle-aged lady who acts 40 years younger than her age. She gets into everywhere she isn't wanted, is frequently rude, pushes her daughter & others into uncomfortable conversations, puts people's livelihoods in danger with breaking rules and instructions, and thinks cooking food for others can solve her misbehavior.
In the first book it was sort of understandable that Sadie was nosy & overenthusiastic because it's in her neighborhood and town and she was close friends with the victim. But in this book she is a short term guest in another country and has a very tenuous relationship to the victims & suspects-- no excuse. I also didn't appreciate that Sadie, when seeing a handsome man, discounted her boyfriend back home.
In addition, it frequently ignores the "show, don't tell" rule, just like the first one (lots of info dumps). Also a problem with continuity-- in the first book the daughter Breanna said how she looked up the background of her boyfriend (including residency history) before she dated him but then in English Trifle she is quite surprised to find out he is the heir to an earldom...
To be fair, there wasn't anything wrong with the setting and there are a few lines that are funny. It's a fast read and it's clean.
Content
Language: none
Sex/nudity: mild, dating and marriage discussed
Violence: murder, suicide, bodily harm
Misc: blackmail, alcoholism & institutionalization referenced
In the first book it was sort of understandable that Sadie was nosy & overenthusiastic because it's in her neighborhood and town and she was close friends with the victim. But in this book she is a short term guest in another country and has a very tenuous relationship to the victims & suspects-- no excuse. I also didn't appreciate that Sadie, when seeing a handsome man, discounted her boyfriend back home.
In addition, it frequently ignores the "show, don't tell" rule, just like the first one (lots of info dumps). Also a problem with continuity-- in the first book the daughter Breanna said how she looked up the background of her boyfriend (including residency history) before she dated him but then in English Trifle she is quite surprised to find out he is the heir to an earldom...
To be fair, there wasn't anything wrong with the setting and there are a few lines that are funny. It's a fast read and it's clean.
Content
Language: none
Sex/nudity: mild, dating and marriage discussed
Violence: murder, suicide, bodily harm
Misc: blackmail, alcoholism & institutionalization referenced
November 8, 2017
Sadie and her daughter go to England, and they find a dead body in the hotel lobby. The police officers come and investigate, but Sadie still wants to help out. She knows all the maids, the butler, the cook and other workers at the hotel and she ends up helping them cook the meals. Sadie goes in the freezer, and someone shuts it. Now she knows, whoever was trying to lock her in was most likely the killer. She eventually gets out and they find out who the killer is. I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't tell you who it is. But the person who it was is definitely not who you'd think it was.
The theme, in my opinion, for this book is, 'Things aren't always as they seem'. This matches this book well, because Sadie figures out the case, and makes the meals for the hotel, plus, the killer is not who you'd think it was.
I usually don't like murder mysteries because the movies and books are so predictable. But this book is different. It's so good, because each chapter leaves you more clues. Sadie figures out these mysteries, while she isn't even an investigator. That shows you that people can do amazing things.
The theme, in my opinion, for this book is, 'Things aren't always as they seem'. This matches this book well, because Sadie figures out the case, and makes the meals for the hotel, plus, the killer is not who you'd think it was.
I usually don't like murder mysteries because the movies and books are so predictable. But this book is different. It's so good, because each chapter leaves you more clues. Sadie figures out these mysteries, while she isn't even an investigator. That shows you that people can do amazing things.
February 1, 2024
Sadie and her daughter, Breanna, are on holiday in England visiting Breanna's boyfriend, Liam, and his family. Just as the trip is coming to an end, during their final afternoon tea, one of the house staff is found skewered to a wall by Sadie and Breanna. Suddenly their trip takes a strange turn, especially when nobody in the house believes them and the body disappears. When Liam's cousin, Austin, seeks to provide an obstacle to discovering the truth of not just the dead person but of the Earl's illness, Sadie puts herself on the case and has her sights set on Austin. Not endearing herself to the household, Sadie is determined to prove that she and Breanna saw what they saw and how the man died.
This was a fun read, if not slightly improbable, set over in England. Sadie is a bit of a nuisance and comes off as a rude American, but she also accomplished what the police and Liam couldn't. And she certainly doesn't shrink back from dangerous situations. I enjoyed this but it's clear this series is a filler kind of series while I'm waiting for books to become available that are higher up on my TBR.
This was a fun read, if not slightly improbable, set over in England. Sadie is a bit of a nuisance and comes off as a rude American, but she also accomplished what the police and Liam couldn't. And she certainly doesn't shrink back from dangerous situations. I enjoyed this but it's clear this series is a filler kind of series while I'm waiting for books to become available that are higher up on my TBR.
September 18, 2020
I couldn't say that I'm an authority on British culture or manners, but isn't it good manners -everywhere- to not push yourself into someone else's kitchen and take over cooking? Sadie felt even more ignorant and overbearing in this novel, but I enjoyed the addition of her daughter, who seems much more level headed.
I still don't know how I feel about Sadie personally. I certainly don't find her as charming as she professes to be. The mystery was interesting. As usual, Sadie seems to dive in head first. She rarely thinks up plausible excuses beforehand or keeps her cool in the moment. I did get this one figured out ahead of time and I hope that Sadie learns to be more suspicious and guarded as a result. I love this author (I'm familiar with her historical works) and can't tell if Sadie is intentionally rough around the edges to allow for growth, but I hope so.
I still don't know how I feel about Sadie personally. I certainly don't find her as charming as she professes to be. The mystery was interesting. As usual, Sadie seems to dive in head first. She rarely thinks up plausible excuses beforehand or keeps her cool in the moment. I did get this one figured out ahead of time and I hope that Sadie learns to be more suspicious and guarded as a result. I love this author (I'm familiar with her historical works) and can't tell if Sadie is intentionally rough around the edges to allow for growth, but I hope so.
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