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A Renaissance Faire Mystery #3
Deadly Daggers
Jessie Morton's latest apprenticeship at the Renaissance Faire is in service to Daisy, the master swordsmith. But when a professional dueler-and Daisy's former flame-is murdered, it's up to Jessie to keep a sharp eye out for the killer.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 7, 2010
6 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
About the author
Joyce Lavene
78 books648 followersaka Elyssa Henry and Joye Ames, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant
Joyce Lavene and Jim Lavene are a wife and husband team who have written and published more than 70 books since 1999. They live in North Carolina with their family and enjoy cooking, photography and ghost hunting.
Joyce Lavene and Jim Lavene are a wife and husband team who have written and published more than 70 books since 1999. They live in North Carolina with their family and enjoy cooking, photography and ghost hunting.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 3, 2019
It's the third week of our cozy mystery readathon on my blog @ This Is My Truth Now and we're reading Deadly Daggers, the third book in the Renaissance Faire series, by Joyce and Jim Lavene. Based on my read of the first two books, I was still apprehensive going into week three. I did like this book a little more than the last two, but the same issues that concerned me earlier continue to occur. Perhaps it's the style from 10-15 years ago versus today, or that the sub-genre was exploding with a multitude of themes in the early/mid 2000s, but something just seems rushed and 'off' with this series.
It's 100% clear the authors can write and are well experienced in the Renaissance. I like these aspects of the books, but I'm not a fan of the randomness and the disconnected scenes that jar me from just relaxing in the read. If those were fixed, it'd be a solid 4-star series all the way. But looking at it from an overall perspective, the good parts only balance out the bad parts and leave me with a mediocre feel for the books. I've been told other series by these authors are better, so I might give them a chance in the future.
In this caper, the character of Daisy was great. She's a strong woman who takes no prisoners and fights for her rights. When she appears to be the villain, she tells the cops to look elsewhere and stop bothering her. Go Daisy! I wish Jessie had some of these characteristics. She's a strong protagonist, but she falls way too weak in her knees when Chase is around. She waffles between anger and immaturity, but when she's focusing on the crimes, she's got a dynamite head.
I hope book 4 keeps things on the up and up, but I'm worried, ma, I'm worried!
It's 100% clear the authors can write and are well experienced in the Renaissance. I like these aspects of the books, but I'm not a fan of the randomness and the disconnected scenes that jar me from just relaxing in the read. If those were fixed, it'd be a solid 4-star series all the way. But looking at it from an overall perspective, the good parts only balance out the bad parts and leave me with a mediocre feel for the books. I've been told other series by these authors are better, so I might give them a chance in the future.
In this caper, the character of Daisy was great. She's a strong woman who takes no prisoners and fights for her rights. When she appears to be the villain, she tells the cops to look elsewhere and stop bothering her. Go Daisy! I wish Jessie had some of these characteristics. She's a strong protagonist, but she falls way too weak in her knees when Chase is around. She waffles between anger and immaturity, but when she's focusing on the crimes, she's got a dynamite head.
I hope book 4 keeps things on the up and up, but I'm worried, ma, I'm worried!
January 18, 2014
Book #42 for 2013
I didn't really dislike this book, but the whole thing felt off to me. I'm not exactly an expert on Renaissance faires, but I've been to several of the larger ones as well as a few SCA functions, and I'm familiar with the behind-the-scenes lifestyle of Silver Dollar City (a sort of living history-based theme park). By comparison, this book's world seemed silly and over-the-top. Maybe that's what the authors were going for, but it failed to draw me in.
I also found the "real" cop's attitudes and actions to be unrealistic, and I can't imagine any professional police organization conducting a murder investigation in this slapdash manner. The subplots seemed even more painfully contrived than the murder plot, the sleuth character was generally annoying, and the rest of the cast and crew seemed cartoonish.
So maybe I did dislike this book just a little. Not enough to lop off another star, though. If you're looking for something light and silly with people in period garb waving swords about, you could probably do a lot worse than this.
I didn't really dislike this book, but the whole thing felt off to me. I'm not exactly an expert on Renaissance faires, but I've been to several of the larger ones as well as a few SCA functions, and I'm familiar with the behind-the-scenes lifestyle of Silver Dollar City (a sort of living history-based theme park). By comparison, this book's world seemed silly and over-the-top. Maybe that's what the authors were going for, but it failed to draw me in.
I also found the "real" cop's attitudes and actions to be unrealistic, and I can't imagine any professional police organization conducting a murder investigation in this slapdash manner. The subplots seemed even more painfully contrived than the murder plot, the sleuth character was generally annoying, and the rest of the cast and crew seemed cartoonish.
So maybe I did dislike this book just a little. Not enough to lop off another star, though. If you're looking for something light and silly with people in period garb waving swords about, you could probably do a lot worse than this.
January 2, 2011
Fun fun ren faire mysteries. Wish this place really existed
July 5, 2012
I love this series. Each book I read seems to get better and I want to read more.
September 25, 2025
Another fun trip to the ren faire. I enjoy the characters and the setting is a lot of fun. The mystery was good and I enjoyed reading it.
February 26, 2017
This series is improving. I do like the camaraderie at the faire. Jesse is still very insecure in her relationship with Chase, but hopefully that will get better. Chase's brother visits this time around. It is cool to learn about a different craft every book. The mysteries are decent, although often you have a good idea who might be guilty.
June 21, 2012
story set in a Ren Faire/in SE US
February 17, 2015
This is a great series. The characters are quirky and so is the setting, that's what draws me back.
I'm looking forward the reading on.
I'm looking forward the reading on.
May 3, 2013
Again, Jessie is working for the summer at the Renaissance Faire. This time she is apprenticing to the swordsmith, Daisy. Daisy is excellent with a sword. Jessie is apprenticing with her to learn swordmanship and how to craft a sword. She is still working on her doctoral dissertation and still in love with Chase. She runs into someone outside the jail who claims to be Chase's fiancée - actually his ex-fiancée. She also meets Chase's brother, Morgan. She was unaware he had a brother, but is learning why Chase never mentioned him, or Brooke. There are more complications on the way. Alastair, the great swordsman, is coming to the village and a duel is scheduled between him and Daisy. There is an impromptu clash between the two before the official duel in which Daisy bests Alastair, but barely, and Jessie prevents him taking revenge on her. Then Alastair turns up dead in the castle where he and his entourage were spending the night. Alastair's collection of dangerous daggers has disappeared and a sword has been driven clear through him. Daisy, is of course, a suspect because it had to be someone fairly strong. But Jessie is sure it isn't her and so begins to check on others in Alastair's entourage. She is so busy working on the case and dealing with Chase's brother and ex-fiancée and trying to match-make among the residents, that she doesn't have a lot of time to work on her craft, but it's just the first week or two into the summer.
in fact, she ends up challenging Brooke to a duel and Brooke chooses bow and arrows. But Jessie has already worked with the arrowsmith a previous summer.
in fact, she ends up challenging Brooke to a duel and Brooke chooses bow and arrows. But Jessie has already worked with the arrowsmith a previous summer.
September 3, 2010
The third of the Lavenes' Renaiassance Faire Mysteries (after Wicked Weaves and Ghastly Glass) has doctoral student Jessie Morton apprenticing at Swords and Such, home of the Village's swordmaster Daisy Reynolds.
The start of Jessie's apprenticeship is delayed a bit, however, because famous swordsman Alastair is visiting for a demonstration, and has challenged Daisy to a duel. Once Jessie meets Alastair, she's pretty sure Daisy will win, but protocol says she must not.
Daisy, it turns out, once had a tempestuous relationship with Alastair, and has no intention of losing. After the duel, Alastair blood-soaked corpse is found in his bed, and Daisy becomes the chief suspect.
Jessie is certain that Daisy is not guilty, and since her boyfirend, Village bailiff Chase Manhattan doesn't seem to agree, she decides it's up to her to convince the police of Daisy's innocence, with many mishaps ensuing.
For the uninitiated, Jessie's dissertation is called "Proliferation of Renaissance Crafts in Modern Times", and her research involves spending each summer with a different craftsmith at Faire. Ignoring the fact that this means her dissertation could take years and years to finish, this is a great premise for a series.
The Lavenes have done a great job describing what life might be like at a permanent Renaissance Faire theme park while skilfuly creating an enjoyable mystery.
The start of Jessie's apprenticeship is delayed a bit, however, because famous swordsman Alastair is visiting for a demonstration, and has challenged Daisy to a duel. Once Jessie meets Alastair, she's pretty sure Daisy will win, but protocol says she must not.
Daisy, it turns out, once had a tempestuous relationship with Alastair, and has no intention of losing. After the duel, Alastair blood-soaked corpse is found in his bed, and Daisy becomes the chief suspect.
Jessie is certain that Daisy is not guilty, and since her boyfirend, Village bailiff Chase Manhattan doesn't seem to agree, she decides it's up to her to convince the police of Daisy's innocence, with many mishaps ensuing.
For the uninitiated, Jessie's dissertation is called "Proliferation of Renaissance Crafts in Modern Times", and her research involves spending each summer with a different craftsmith at Faire. Ignoring the fact that this means her dissertation could take years and years to finish, this is a great premise for a series.
The Lavenes have done a great job describing what life might be like at a permanent Renaissance Faire theme park while skilfuly creating an enjoyable mystery.
August 22, 2013
It's going to be tough summer. Jessie studies with Daisy, renowned swords-woman of the village this summer in hopes of learning how to make a dagger. Somehow Jessie didn't take in what hot and heavy work this would be - working on olde worlde clothing in summer heat near a forge... It doesn't help that Portia and Bart are pressuring her to work her matchmaking magic or that Daisy is having troubles of her own. Daisy's ex-lover Alastair is the RenFaire's star visitor this summer, until Alastair gets himself murdered right after losing a public duel with Daisy (which was right after he insulted her publicly.) Meantime Alastair's evil dagger collection is also floating around the village, and as they are valuable (and possibly evidence) its Chase's job to help locate them. Jessie insists on helping, as usual. Meantime Chase's brother and ex-fiance are trying to convince to the brave Bailiff to either come back with them and run the family business or sign away his share. There's never a dull moment in this village, or in this mystery :)
December 29, 2013
Back to the Renaissance Faire! What fun.
Jessie is researching ancient crafts in modern times for her PhD, and what better place to research than the Faire? Where everything is sort of ancient, except that Lady Visa is very welcome.
The lovey-dovey bits add some fun to the book. Besides Jessie and her boyfriend Chase, there are three or four other sort-of-relationships that are very entertaining, and which add to the murder drama.
I like the sword-making parts, it seemed very accurate to me (based on other books I read and absolutely no actual experience)especially the part where one person makes the blade, one person makes the hilt, and another person adds jewels, if this is a court sword.
You know what's really accurate? The jerk-who-was-killed is revealed to have commissioned a sword from teh apprentice, then complained about the quality so he didn't pay - but he took the sword anyhow. That's believable.
So who had a motive to kill said jerk? Everyone... And the killer was totally unexpected.
Jessie is researching ancient crafts in modern times for her PhD, and what better place to research than the Faire? Where everything is sort of ancient, except that Lady Visa is very welcome.
The lovey-dovey bits add some fun to the book. Besides Jessie and her boyfriend Chase, there are three or four other sort-of-relationships that are very entertaining, and which add to the murder drama.
I like the sword-making parts, it seemed very accurate to me (based on other books I read and absolutely no actual experience)especially the part where one person makes the blade, one person makes the hilt, and another person adds jewels, if this is a court sword.
You know what's really accurate? The jerk-who-was-killed is revealed to have commissioned a sword from teh apprentice, then complained about the quality so he didn't pay - but he took the sword anyhow. That's believable.
So who had a motive to kill said jerk? Everyone... And the killer was totally unexpected.
October 12, 2013
I pulled this book off the shelf because my friends and I were talking about visiting the Renaissance Festival today and I thought it would give me an idea what to expect. At first I was worried this book would be cheesy, given that the main character's boyfriend is named Chase Manhattan and comes from serious money. But the authors manage to explain that in a rather logical manner and proceed to paint a charming portrait of a town peopled with oddballs and oddities (Bart the Human Tree, Fred the Red Dragon, Robin Hood, Mother Goose, people who duel with swords and bow and arrow, and monks who duel with flour) and you come to love this weird little world. It is a nice combination of a historical mystery and a modern cozy, with a less far-fetched involvement by the main character in sniffing out the murderer than you find in a cozy set in a more ordinary world. The mystery was pretty well done and the characters were fun. I would read another in this series.
July 5, 2014
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It had earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It had earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
May 15, 2014
Jessie is once again back at the Renaissance Faire, this time apprenticing under a master sword maker. When an outsider comes in to Duel Daisy the swordmaker and then he is murdered. Twelve daggers of strange origins go missing and the hunt is on to find the murderer and the missing daggers. Add in Chase's brother trying to get Chase to leave the Renaissance or to sign off his part of the family business and another great subplot is added. A great read.
December 2, 2011
I'm either getting used to the writing style, or this was, truly, better than the first two in the series! I thought the writing was smoother; the story better; character development is the best thing about this amateur sleuth series. A Renaissance Faire is a great place to visit and *make believe*. Jessie is growing on me.
November 7, 2010
Very disappointing in comparison to the previous 2 books in the series. It seems to be going downhill with each book. We already know the main characters, there was little interaction between them, we met a new character and it felt flat. Just flat. Disappointed.
December 16, 2010
This series is really maturing into some very good mysteries! Less crafting in this one, and the Ren Faire keeps getting less and less like the ones I know from Real Life but the story is juicy. (And there was less romance, whichI find distracting in mysteries.)
July 25, 2013
The story wasn't bad but the flow seemed a bit slow at times. I found myself only able to stand reading 10 to 30 pages at a time. Hoping that it was just this book and not the whole series, but I guess I will find out if I choose to continue with them.
September 6, 2016
I really enjoyed this mystery. First of all, this series is not as predictable as some. But this book of the series was especially delightful to me, since it included so many things that were familiar to me.
November 1, 2010
Another fun setting for an easy read mystery. Renaissance faire! Yay!! The setting was great, the mystery interesting enough and the characters real. Made me want to work a faire!
November 30, 2010
Best of the series so far!
August 25, 2015
A Renaissance festival murder mystery?! It is like a dream come true for me! This book had a very strong story to it, very detailed and dangerous! Not one you want to put down, it is a great book!
May 31, 2013
Extra 1/2 star for the insanity.
January 29, 2015
Fun series. Love the characters. It does what a cozy is supposed to. Good reading. Not much thinking and maybe a chuckle or two.
May 19, 2018
I like this series more and more as I get into it. The Ren characters are great. I especially like Daisy the swordmaker and big Bart.
July 22, 2018
Lively and entertaining.
February 12, 2021
Deadly Daggers (A Renaissance Faire Mystery, #3)
Deadly Daggers (A Renaissance Faire Mystery, #3)
by Joyce Lavene
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July 7, 2022
Recently I read an article about Medieval Times employees attempting to unionize and my wife mentioned that this Renaissance Faire mystery series might be a good one to check out. I picked the wrong book in the series I guess. This had to be the stupidest book I have ever read. The plot was almost non-existent. The characters were ALL annoying and I learned pretty much nothing about Renaissance Faires.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews