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Sylvia Shipman Murder Mysteries #2
Murder With Means
Sylvia is still struggling with the terrible secret she has learned about Miles, when she is dealt a fresh blow. During a visit to an art museum, she unknowingly becomes the last person to speak with a murder victim alive.
Forced to set aside her misgivings, Sylvia must trust Miles enough to lean on his help once again. Together, can the pair catch an elusive killer before the trail goes cold?
Forced to set aside her misgivings, Sylvia must trust Miles enough to lean on his help once again. Together, can the pair catch an elusive killer before the trail goes cold?
163 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2023
410 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Blythe Baker
117 books387 followersBlythe Baker is a thirty-something bottle redhead from the South Central part of the country. When she’s not slinging words and creating new worlds and characters, she’s acting as chauffeur to her children and head groomer to her household of beloved pets.
Blythe enjoys long walks with her dog on sweaty days, grubbing in her flower garden, cooking, and ruthlessly de-cluttering her overcrowded home. She also likes binge-watching mystery shows on TV and burying herself in books about murder.
Blythe enjoys long walks with her dog on sweaty days, grubbing in her flower garden, cooking, and ruthlessly de-cluttering her overcrowded home. She also likes binge-watching mystery shows on TV and burying herself in books about murder.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 1, 2024
Rating: 3.8 / 5
Admittedly, while I still can't credit the mystery aspect as being anything spectacular, I have concluded that I nonetheless like the characters in this series, and therefore will be continuing it until the end and hopefully keeping up with the fun--unless, of course, something ghastly happens to turn me off the whole thing!
Ahem, so in this new mystery, we have Sylvia teaming up with Miles and also with her sister Joan, as the latter two were present and actually spoke to the murder victim right before the act happened! The setting is a nouveau art gallery this time, and while the sisters are impacted by the death, Sylvia in particular feels some responsibility to solve the case. (All this, whilst she's also still struggling with what she kind-of learned about Miles in the previous book, and doesn't know whether to trust him or not yet.)
While the mystery aspect of this book still didn't quite do it for me--because while I didn't per se guess who it was this time, let's just say that I would have appreciated more of a twist, but maybe being overly clever's really not the point of this series--I will admit that the characters and their relationships ARE growing on me. For instance, Sylvia and Joan are similar only in stubbornness, and different in everything else, but still get along very well as sisters. Sylvia's the oldest, but she doesn't really like taking charge and is fine with Joan doing so--up to a point, that is.
But, of course, the real star of the relationships in this novel is Sylvia and Miles's relationship. After the revelations of the previous book----Sylvia distances herself from Miles and isn't really able to learn anything about his past, because...he NO share.
Ahem, meanwhile, Miles himself is still loyal to Sylvia, but as readers going through things from her point of view, while I don't suspect him for the same reasons that Sylvia does, I do very much want to know his story and don't know quite what to make of him otherwise. Until the author chooses to reveal more, I'll just have to reserve my judgement, I guess.
One thing is certain though: these two OH-Yes-They-DO! have a thing for each other. Sylvia herself may not realize what she's feeling for Miles yet; and Miles may be struggling on his own end for all we know; but yes oh yes, they WILL end up together as couple goals, I'm sure of it! (I didn't compare them to Sybil and Branston in my previous review for nothing, after all!)
All in all, the rating of this book's exactly the same as for the first book in the series, but with the understanding that different reasons contributed to what's ultimately the same rating. Fair? Fair. Ta-ta while I head on over to the next one!
Admittedly, while I still can't credit the mystery aspect as being anything spectacular, I have concluded that I nonetheless like the characters in this series, and therefore will be continuing it until the end and hopefully keeping up with the fun--unless, of course, something ghastly happens to turn me off the whole thing!
Ahem, so in this new mystery, we have Sylvia teaming up with Miles and also with her sister Joan, as the latter two were present and actually spoke to the murder victim right before the act happened! The setting is a nouveau art gallery this time, and while the sisters are impacted by the death, Sylvia in particular feels some responsibility to solve the case. (All this, whilst she's also still struggling with what she kind-of learned about Miles in the previous book, and doesn't know whether to trust him or not yet.)
While the mystery aspect of this book still didn't quite do it for me--because while I didn't per se guess who it was this time, let's just say that I would have appreciated more of a twist, but maybe being overly clever's really not the point of this series--I will admit that the characters and their relationships ARE growing on me. For instance, Sylvia and Joan are similar only in stubbornness, and different in everything else, but still get along very well as sisters. Sylvia's the oldest, but she doesn't really like taking charge and is fine with Joan doing so--up to a point, that is.
But, of course, the real star of the relationships in this novel is Sylvia and Miles's relationship. After the revelations of the previous book----Sylvia distances herself from Miles and isn't really able to learn anything about his past, because...he NO share.
Ahem, meanwhile, Miles himself is still loyal to Sylvia, but as readers going through things from her point of view, while I don't suspect him for the same reasons that Sylvia does, I do very much want to know his story and don't know quite what to make of him otherwise. Until the author chooses to reveal more, I'll just have to reserve my judgement, I guess.
One thing is certain though: these two OH-Yes-They-DO! have a thing for each other. Sylvia herself may not realize what she's feeling for Miles yet; and Miles may be struggling on his own end for all we know; but yes oh yes, they WILL end up together as couple goals, I'm sure of it! (I didn't compare them to Sybil and Branston in my previous review for nothing, after all!)
All in all, the rating of this book's exactly the same as for the first book in the series, but with the understanding that different reasons contributed to what's ultimately the same rating. Fair? Fair. Ta-ta while I head on over to the next one!
August 12, 2023
Cozy mystery
Sylvia Shipman and Miles the handsome buttler work together to solve a murder mystery after an artist is killed at a art exhibition, but can Sylvia trust Miles when she knows that there's still so much she doesn't know about him?
I love these two!
Sylvia is always on the look out to solve a murder or mystery but hasn't realized she has a natural gift for it yet, while Miles is just there to fly in and save her when she gets in to trouble.
Ahhh couple goals!!!
Sylvia Shipman and Miles the handsome buttler work together to solve a murder mystery after an artist is killed at a art exhibition, but can Sylvia trust Miles when she knows that there's still so much she doesn't know about him?
I love these two!
Sylvia is always on the look out to solve a murder or mystery but hasn't realized she has a natural gift for it yet, while Miles is just there to fly in and save her when she gets in to trouble.
Ahhh couple goals!!!
February 3, 2023
Another disappointing “Blythe Baker” project
I have found the last several “Blythe Baker” projects to be disappointing.
I really am indifferent as to whether a novel is the work of a gifted individual or a team project - such as the “Blythe Baker” works.
Either way, I desire good character growth, a plot that is carefully developed with incremental details, and an ending that flows naturally from the rest of the work.
None of that happened in this book, and my hope is that the last book in this series will be written - or maybe just overseen - by someone who respects the reader’s desire for a good read.
I have found the last several “Blythe Baker” projects to be disappointing.
I really am indifferent as to whether a novel is the work of a gifted individual or a team project - such as the “Blythe Baker” works.
Either way, I desire good character growth, a plot that is carefully developed with incremental details, and an ending that flows naturally from the rest of the work.
None of that happened in this book, and my hope is that the last book in this series will be written - or maybe just overseen - by someone who respects the reader’s desire for a good read.
November 11, 2023
This is a good story with very interesting characters with an unusual friction between the lead protagonist and Miles her "butler". So far, he has done nothing but help her achieve her goals, yet she cannot fully trust him, because of the unfortunate snooping on her part in his personal effects. The plot is easily followed with surprising twist and turns, and the premise is getting justice for the murdered. I do recommend this book.
September 10, 2023
Murder with Means Book 2 Sylvia Shipman Murder Mysteries
Sylvia continues her solving a murder. As she mingles with the artists and their world, a woman is killed and Sylvia finds she can't let the police solve it. Her sister Joan and her father's butler Miles again help her find the killer.
Sylvia continues her solving a murder. As she mingles with the artists and their world, a woman is killed and Sylvia finds she can't let the police solve it. Her sister Joan and her father's butler Miles again help her find the killer.
May 18, 2023
Life in New York City has changed a lot for many after the stock market crash. Sylvia's father is very concerned, more so than he should be, and Sylvia sets out, with the help of Miles, to find out the root cause.
Good writing, interesting plot, lots of colour in characters and setting.
Good writing, interesting plot, lots of colour in characters and setting.
August 14, 2023
A murder happens at an art exhibition and Sylvia and her sister where the last ones to talk to the victim, leaving Sylvia to start the hunt to finding the killer with the help of their new butler Miles who Sylvia is still having trouble trusting after finding an interesting news paper cutting in his belongings.
I'm loving the slow could be romance building between Sylvia and Miles, every time she starts thinking about him I'm like girl yes!
I'm loving the slow could be romance building between Sylvia and Miles, every time she starts thinking about him I'm like girl yes!
June 1, 2023
I find I don’t care for the heroine. Someone says sorry for your loss and she responds it’s not your fault?! I do like the butler, Miles.
November 10, 2023
Miles
What is going on with him. Truth or a lie from him in the next book, I'm curious to find out. This will be book 3 in the series read today.
What is going on with him. Truth or a lie from him in the next book, I'm curious to find out. This will be book 3 in the series read today.
November 18, 2024
BORING!
March 12, 2025
Nowhere near as good as the first. The murder and the murderer made no sense.
Hopefully 3 is better
Hopefully 3 is better
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews