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Myrtle Clover Mysteries #2
Morte no Jantar (Os Mistérios de Mirtes Clover)
Quem quer petiscos quando se pode ter Dickens e Twain? Para os residentes da sonolenta cidade de Bradley, na Carolina do Norte, Jill Caulfield parecia além de reprovações. Era voluntária no abrigo das mulheres, trabalhava na pré-escola da igreja, limpava casas para ganhar dinheiro extra e, na verdade, apreciava o trabalho duro. Não era nada menos do que uma santa se comparada a seu marido bêbado e desempregado. Quando a investigadora intrépida, Mirtes Clover, apanha Jill, sua nova diarista, espiando em seu armário de remédios ela deveria ter ficado chateada. Mas a descoberta de que Jill não era certinha e imaculada a fez parecer muito interessante aos olhos de Mirtes. Mirtes continuaria a descobrir, alegremente, o que movia Jill. Se ela não tivesse sido assassinada de maneira ridícula. Quem quer petiscos quando se pode ter Dickens e Twain? Para os residentes da sonolenta cidade de Bradley, na Carolina do Norte, Jill Caulfield parecia além de reprovações. Era voluntária no abrigo das mulheres, trabalhava na pré-escola da igreja, limpava casas para ganhar dinheiro extra e, na verdade, apreciava o trabalho duro. Não era nada menos do que uma santa se comparada a seu marido bêbado e desempregado. Quando a investigadora intrépida, Mirtes Clover, apanha Jill, sua nova diarista, espiando em seu armário de remédios ela deveria ter ficado chateada. Mas a descoberta de que Jill não era certinha e imaculada a fez parecer muito interessante aos olhos de Mirtes. Mirtes continuaria a descobrir, alegremente, o que movia Jill. Se ela não tivesse sido assassinada de maneira ridícula.
208 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2011
249 people are currently reading
1230 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Spann Craig
91 books472 followersAuthor also writes under Elizabeth Craig
Elizabeth is the bestselling cozy mystery author of the Southern Quilting mysteries, the Myrtle Clover Cozy Mysteries, the Village Library Mysteries, and Memphis Barbeque mysteries for Penguin Random House, Midnight Ink, and independently. Find out more about her books and sign up for her newsletter on her website: http://elizabethspanncraig.com . Find her books on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list...
Elizabeth is the bestselling cozy mystery author of the Southern Quilting mysteries, the Myrtle Clover Cozy Mysteries, the Village Library Mysteries, and Memphis Barbeque mysteries for Penguin Random House, Midnight Ink, and independently. Find out more about her books and sign up for her newsletter on her website: http://elizabethspanncraig.com . Find her books on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
October 9, 2022
Oh I just fell in love with this author! Can’t wait to read more of her books!
March 12, 2017
3 1/2 Stars
I didn't like this one as much as the first one [though there are plenty of laugh out loud moments in this book; I snerked a lot while reading it]; it was a bit convoluted and I am not totally convinced in the why's of the murders. That said, it was still a decent read and I will be continuing on in this series; I really love Miss Myrtle and her sense of humor and her intelligence and her not wanting to get shuffled off to the nursing home just because she is old[er]. Good read!
I didn't like this one as much as the first one [though there are plenty of laugh out loud moments in this book; I snerked a lot while reading it]; it was a bit convoluted and I am not totally convinced in the why's of the murders. That said, it was still a decent read and I will be continuing on in this series; I really love Miss Myrtle and her sense of humor and her intelligence and her not wanting to get shuffled off to the nursing home just because she is old[er]. Good read!
March 28, 2015
Another fun adventure with Myrtle Clover. The more Myrtle Clover books I read the more I enjoy them. The personalities are consistent and I love the way Myrtle uses her garden gnomes to protest her son's trying to keep her from investigating murders. Myrtle's neighbor, Erma is always a delight in her way of annoying Myrtle. It seems like there is always some miscommunications involving Myrtle and her book club. In this book, Myrtle is trying to get the group to focus on more "meaningful" literature for reading. Myrtles idea gets twisted around and suddenly it's "Myrtle's idea" to change the club to a supper club and hence the progressive dinner. Myrtle actually thinks it's a horrible idea. Add to that the fact that everyone knows Myrtle is a horrible cook and that is preparing dessert part of the dinner ... adds even more humor. One of the dinner hostesses is murdered; a woman supposedly everyone loved but in reality, a lot of people had a reason to not like her. Using her friend Miles as her sidekick, comparing him to Watson for her Sherlock Myrtle investigates to dig for the truth; much against Police Chief son Red's consternation. This series makes it seem that becoming an Octogenarian sleuth is something to look forward to after retirement.
September 22, 2012
Myrtle, a retired English teacher, was frustrated with her book club. She felt they were wasting their time reading and discussing drivel while she longed to have discussions on the great works of literature. Unfortunately, her idea got co-opted into a supper club. On the night of the first progressive dinner, one of the members of the club wound up dead on her kitchen floor, lying in a puddle of blood. Myrtle, who had an interesting relationship with her sonRed, the local police chief, vowed to solve the crime before Red did. Along the way, Myrtle becomes friends of sorts with a feral cat she names Pasha. Of course, Pasha winds up being key to the story. This certainly was not great literature but it gave me an enjoyable few hours of reading nonetheless. For lovers of cozy mysteries, this one is a nice choice.
December 28, 2011
Sometimes I just can't resist the 99 cents digital books. This cozy has the oft seen older woman busy body trying to outdo her lazy police chief son. Add in a few cronies and a few dogs and cats and you're set for a quiet evening at home.
November 13, 2013
Like several other reviewers, the reason for my reading of this particular title was largely based on the fact that I acquired the ebook for free! And, while I wouldn't classify it as one of my favorite reads, I did enjoy this book for what it was.
What it was, in my opinion, was a great example of a cozy mystery. It wasn't super exciting and fast-paced, but the plot moved along adequately enough as Myrtle, the retiree-turned-super-sleuth, tries to solve yet another murder in her small, southern town. Sex, drugs, violence and all the other things you find in more mainstream mysteries is present, but scaled back and not overly graphic. Obviously, there needs to be a certain level of suspension of disbelief employed, especially when evaluating the individual characters (who seem more like generalized stereotypes rather than real people with real flaws), but at the same time, there is a level of truth in the idea that maybe our secrets aren't as secret as we think they are...and that maybe our neighbors aren't as fond of us as we think.
Third in the series, Progressive Dinner Deadly is actually the second Myrtle Clover Mystery I've read and the formula seems to work well. This was a comfortable and familiar read, perfect for a rainy day. It wasn't without a few laugh out loud giggles either. However, this book was a little different than the other one in the series I've read; this one seemed to throw in the element of a DOUBLE mystery, which was interesting, albeit a little predictable. Overall, I gave this book a fairly neutral rating. It isn't for everyone but there's something addictive about these series. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more about Miss Myrtle!
What it was, in my opinion, was a great example of a cozy mystery. It wasn't super exciting and fast-paced, but the plot moved along adequately enough as Myrtle, the retiree-turned-super-sleuth, tries to solve yet another murder in her small, southern town. Sex, drugs, violence and all the other things you find in more mainstream mysteries is present, but scaled back and not overly graphic. Obviously, there needs to be a certain level of suspension of disbelief employed, especially when evaluating the individual characters (who seem more like generalized stereotypes rather than real people with real flaws), but at the same time, there is a level of truth in the idea that maybe our secrets aren't as secret as we think they are...and that maybe our neighbors aren't as fond of us as we think.
Third in the series, Progressive Dinner Deadly is actually the second Myrtle Clover Mystery I've read and the formula seems to work well. This was a comfortable and familiar read, perfect for a rainy day. It wasn't without a few laugh out loud giggles either. However, this book was a little different than the other one in the series I've read; this one seemed to throw in the element of a DOUBLE mystery, which was interesting, albeit a little predictable. Overall, I gave this book a fairly neutral rating. It isn't for everyone but there's something addictive about these series. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more about Miss Myrtle!
January 28, 2015
The Myrtle Clover mysteries series are a cookie cutter style of books. Having said that I must in all honesty say they are also entertaining. Myrtle is a retired English teacher living in small town American. She is in her 80's and is not ready to go gentle into that good night.
Myrtle like all good mother's thinks her son still needs her help. Fortunately for Myrtle and her nosy nature, her son Red happens to be the chief of police and she is all too willing to help with the occasional murder. She has also been know to show displeasure with her son by displaying her vast collection of garden gnomes in her front yard.
In Progressive Dinner, Myrtle's plan backfires. Being a retired English teacher, she wants to up grade the class of books her book club reads. She isn't the bodice ripper type. With the book club not being the Shakespeare crowd, a progressive dinner club seems like a perfect way to upgrade the club.
The club is to move from house to house sampling different parts of the meal. Myrtle being less than a stellar cook is bored to tears until one of group is murdered. Myrtle's inner Sherlock is ready to solve the case!
If you like someone who is ready to take on the world, who is more than a tad nosy, and works the "little old lady" shtick to her advantage, then give this series a try. (Hey you gotta love garden gnomes as a torture device.)
Myrtle like all good mother's thinks her son still needs her help. Fortunately for Myrtle and her nosy nature, her son Red happens to be the chief of police and she is all too willing to help with the occasional murder. She has also been know to show displeasure with her son by displaying her vast collection of garden gnomes in her front yard.
In Progressive Dinner, Myrtle's plan backfires. Being a retired English teacher, she wants to up grade the class of books her book club reads. She isn't the bodice ripper type. With the book club not being the Shakespeare crowd, a progressive dinner club seems like a perfect way to upgrade the club.
The club is to move from house to house sampling different parts of the meal. Myrtle being less than a stellar cook is bored to tears until one of group is murdered. Myrtle's inner Sherlock is ready to solve the case!
If you like someone who is ready to take on the world, who is more than a tad nosy, and works the "little old lady" shtick to her advantage, then give this series a try. (Hey you gotta love garden gnomes as a torture device.)
March 18, 2013
I would give this book one-and-a-half stars if I could. I did finish it, although I was tempted to put it down several times.
I will say that I enjoyed the characters and found most of them interesting and believeable. Some reminded me of people I have known.
I also enjoyed the portrait of small-town white Southern life with their values, priorities, and behaviors, in many cases different from those in my part of the country.
But I found it boring for the most part. I didn't enjoy the long, lengthy conversations, and I found the plot totally unbelievable, more like a comic book than a novel. I also wasn't impressed with the writing style. It reminded me of my high-school short-story writing class.
I will say that I enjoyed the characters and found most of them interesting and believeable. Some reminded me of people I have known.
I also enjoyed the portrait of small-town white Southern life with their values, priorities, and behaviors, in many cases different from those in my part of the country.
But I found it boring for the most part. I didn't enjoy the long, lengthy conversations, and I found the plot totally unbelievable, more like a comic book than a novel. I also wasn't impressed with the writing style. It reminded me of my high-school short-story writing class.
February 1, 2015
What a fun Cozy Mystery series! I love Myrtle Clover. In this book the Book Club decides to convert to a Dinner Club when Myrtle suggests changes, hoping for a better genre of books. What can go wrong with a progressive dinner? Anything is possible when octogenarian Myrtle Clover is involved!
I loved this character even though she may not be the sweetest berry in the patch. I could remember a teacher I had that could fit her shoes. She is a quirky crime solver and that gossip that everyone loves to tell their problems to.
I am so excited because I discovered that I have 5 more of the series on my Kindle!
I loved this character even though she may not be the sweetest berry in the patch. I could remember a teacher I had that could fit her shoes. She is a quirky crime solver and that gossip that everyone loves to tell their problems to.
I am so excited because I discovered that I have 5 more of the series on my Kindle!
February 2, 2013
Normally I love the antics in a good cozy mystery --- but after reading 10% of the book I still didn't know what the mystery was. Lots of people having conversations I wouldn't stick around to hear even if I was there in person, and several people I honestly didn't care about.
On the chance that I just wasn't in the mood for this pace, I'll give it the 2 stars because it has a good cover design and might appeal greatly to someone else, just not to me.
On the chance that I just wasn't in the mood for this pace, I'll give it the 2 stars because it has a good cover design and might appeal greatly to someone else, just not to me.
January 10, 2013
Okay, I couldn't finish this book. I enjoy a good mystery now and then, but honestly, I could not get interested in a single character of the book. The main character is a retired school teacher named Myrtle. Myrtle came across as holier- than-thou and not at all likable. I actually didn't care what out a single character. If a book doesn't capture my interest within the first quarter, I put it down. Wished I hadn't wasted my time.
June 21, 2012
GREAT read! Entertaining, likeable characters - well written and just plain fun! I felt sorry for Myrtle trying to get the Book Club to read classic books, had to super frustrating as a retired schoolteacher! Love all the old Geezers!
August 10, 2013
Even giving this book 2.5 stars would test my generosity. It just isn't that good and the constantly shifting POV drove me bonkers.
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October 29, 2020I'm struggling a little bit with how to rate this second in the Myrtle Clover series (and the second that I read), partly because I liked the first one so much and everything after it is naturally going to be compared to the debut. Unlike the debut there are some plot holes and others misses that make this second book, though well written, less tight and there is even some drag in the last quarter of the novel.
Besides getting signed up for things by her police chief son, Red, Myrtle gets roped into participating in a progressive dinner, the idea of which is humorously attributed to her. In fact there's a lot of humor in this book with its running gags of gnomes and her son volunteering her for things to keep her occupied. This, of course, moves the plot along and you just know that once the progressive dinner is decided upon that a dead body can't be too far behind.
Ms. Craig uses the same screenshot method used in the first book to give a run down on all the people who may have reason to do away with the victim, but it's not as smooth as the last time. I don't know if spacing would have helped (it wasn't used in the first book) but in reading the first 'screen' in transitioning to the second it made me think another character had walked into the room rather than that we were moving to the next location and potential suspect. Also, there was the inevitable copy-edit miss where Myrtle is talking to Miles on the phone from her house and the next page, during the conversation, she taps Miles' end table.
The next thing that bothered me was that the attempted murder following the successful main murder seemed to have the perpetrator prepare in advance to take someone out well before they knew they had to do so. (I'm not giving spoilers so leaving that vague).
Really trying to give nothing away here. Ms. Craig attempts a twist on the two murder formula in her novels but it really feels like an add on and I would have been more satisfied with a shorter, perhaps longish novella than what we end up with here, even though I didn't think the solution was wholly convincing. The last quarter dragged a little up until the somewhat clever but rather obvious solution.
Finally, though I know plenty of eighty year-olds from my gym who are pretty fit, and Myrtle's walking everywhere keeps her in fairly good shape, I don't believe a few first time visits to the gym make her as quick and strong as she needs to be. I know we have to suspend some disbelief, but we need help doing that. I will give her profs on setting up with Pasha, the cat, something in the final scene, which she did very well and with humor.
I neglected last time to mention the formatting. I like it very much, especially the inclusion of accurate page numbers (meaning page 1 begins where the text starts) and the pages on my Kindle just look nice.
I like Ms. Craig's writing and I already bought the next book in the series after finishing this one. I hesitate to rate this a 2 because I didn't dislike the book, but I don't think it holds up well against the first in the series.
Somewhere between 2 & 3, so I'll just round up.
Besides getting signed up for things by her police chief son, Red, Myrtle gets roped into participating in a progressive dinner, the idea of which is humorously attributed to her. In fact there's a lot of humor in this book with its running gags of gnomes and her son volunteering her for things to keep her occupied. This, of course, moves the plot along and you just know that once the progressive dinner is decided upon that a dead body can't be too far behind.
Ms. Craig uses the same screenshot method used in the first book to give a run down on all the people who may have reason to do away with the victim, but it's not as smooth as the last time. I don't know if spacing would have helped (it wasn't used in the first book) but in reading the first 'screen' in transitioning to the second it made me think another character had walked into the room rather than that we were moving to the next location and potential suspect. Also, there was the inevitable copy-edit miss where Myrtle is talking to Miles on the phone from her house and the next page, during the conversation, she taps Miles' end table.
The next thing that bothered me was that the attempted murder following the successful main murder seemed to have the perpetrator prepare in advance to take someone out well before they knew they had to do so. (I'm not giving spoilers so leaving that vague).
Really trying to give nothing away here. Ms. Craig attempts a twist on the two murder formula in her novels but it really feels like an add on and I would have been more satisfied with a shorter, perhaps longish novella than what we end up with here, even though I didn't think the solution was wholly convincing. The last quarter dragged a little up until the somewhat clever but rather obvious solution.
Finally, though I know plenty of eighty year-olds from my gym who are pretty fit, and Myrtle's walking everywhere keeps her in fairly good shape, I don't believe a few first time visits to the gym make her as quick and strong as she needs to be. I know we have to suspend some disbelief, but we need help doing that. I will give her profs on setting up with Pasha, the cat, something in the final scene, which she did very well and with humor.
I neglected last time to mention the formatting. I like it very much, especially the inclusion of accurate page numbers (meaning page 1 begins where the text starts) and the pages on my Kindle just look nice.
I like Ms. Craig's writing and I already bought the next book in the series after finishing this one. I hesitate to rate this a 2 because I didn't dislike the book, but I don't think it holds up well against the first in the series.
Somewhere between 2 & 3, so I'll just round up.
February 26, 2020
I read this book a while ago and remembered that I really enjoyed, so was pleased to see it had made its way on to audible. I jumped at the chance to see if I was right. Glad I did because my memory was right I did enjoy it, in fact I might just have to say I enjoyed it even more as an audio book. I love the characters and the way they interact with each other, especially the way Myrtle let's her son know he is in trouble by having gnomes facing his house, this leads to some laugh out loud actions between the characters and not just with mother and son. It's also fun that the amateur detective is elderly adding a new twist to the normal cozy mystery genre. The mystery is fun and with plenty of quirky suspects it keeps you guessing. This is definitely a series I will be looking into collecting for my audio book library.
Myrtle a retired school teacher is disappointed about the choice of reading material being read by her reading group and vowels to bring some classics into everyone's lives. Her plans go a rye when everybody mistakenly believes she is suggesting that they change the book club to a dinner club. Fearing the worse she has no choice but go along with the decision even if it means the end of her precious book club but not even she could have predicted how horribly wrong the event would go. As word of the dinner party spreads the evening doesn't start out well and Myrtle's friend Miles finds his house under siege with drunk guests and only one bathroom, fights break out but that doesn't explain why at the end of the night at the second from last house to be visited they find a dead body. Who could want the cleaner dead? As Myrtle investigates plenty of suspects turn up because little miss innocent wasn't quite as innocent as she appears. Just as Myrtle is wrapping up the case she stumbles over another body. This time it is the dead woman's husband. Was it suicide? Guilt over killing his wife ? Or is Myrtle's son right and she should give up her night time walks because she has made herself a target for s killer.by asking to many questions.
Liked the narrator and though she put her voice to good use creating lots of different sounding voices for each of the characters.
Myrtle a retired school teacher is disappointed about the choice of reading material being read by her reading group and vowels to bring some classics into everyone's lives. Her plans go a rye when everybody mistakenly believes she is suggesting that they change the book club to a dinner club. Fearing the worse she has no choice but go along with the decision even if it means the end of her precious book club but not even she could have predicted how horribly wrong the event would go. As word of the dinner party spreads the evening doesn't start out well and Myrtle's friend Miles finds his house under siege with drunk guests and only one bathroom, fights break out but that doesn't explain why at the end of the night at the second from last house to be visited they find a dead body. Who could want the cleaner dead? As Myrtle investigates plenty of suspects turn up because little miss innocent wasn't quite as innocent as she appears. Just as Myrtle is wrapping up the case she stumbles over another body. This time it is the dead woman's husband. Was it suicide? Guilt over killing his wife ? Or is Myrtle's son right and she should give up her night time walks because she has made herself a target for s killer.by asking to many questions.
Liked the narrator and though she put her voice to good use creating lots of different sounding voices for each of the characters.
July 28, 2024
Myrtle Clover just wants her Book Club to choose some better books. She wants to read more classics than beach reads. But somehow her planned Book Club Coup ends up morphing their book discussion nights into a.....progressive dinner club instead. The group will now troop through the neighborhood going from house to house for each course of a dinner. And, Myrtle is in charge of the dessert.
Myrtle hates this new format. And somehow the entire group thinks it was her idea. How could this possibly get worse?
But it does.
When the group gets to one of the next stops in the progressive dinner.....the host is dead.
Murdered.
She just wanted to read better books! Not get sucked into a murder investigation......
But...at least that's better than finishing all the stops on that doomed progressive dinner night. I don't think Myrtle would have made it through all the courses to host the group in the final dessert course at her house!
This was a cute addition to this series. Myrtle gets so worked up about things! And the people around her are so small town nosy, dramatic and just.....too much at times. [Which is why I live in a big city, and not a small town. Never going back!]
I enjoy this series. It has a nice mix of humor, small town quirkiness and old lady sass. But, I do wish the plots were a bit more varied. This author seems to write her books on a basic formula (her Village Library series was the same way), and it gets boring after awhile. I enjoyed this second book in the series, but I'm not sure I will make it through 24 books. Unless there is a little more plot variety thrown in, I think I will move on way before I finish all the books in this series.
We shall see! I can always take a break if the series gets old, and read the books from my local library. I donated my paperback copies to make room on my bookshelves. Not a reflection on the quality of this series. The books just took up an entire shelf, and I wanted the space for other books. I will continue reading at my own pace through these books by checking out through Hoopla rather than keeping all those physical books.
Myrtle hates this new format. And somehow the entire group thinks it was her idea. How could this possibly get worse?
But it does.
When the group gets to one of the next stops in the progressive dinner.....the host is dead.
Murdered.
She just wanted to read better books! Not get sucked into a murder investigation......
But...at least that's better than finishing all the stops on that doomed progressive dinner night. I don't think Myrtle would have made it through all the courses to host the group in the final dessert course at her house!
This was a cute addition to this series. Myrtle gets so worked up about things! And the people around her are so small town nosy, dramatic and just.....too much at times. [Which is why I live in a big city, and not a small town. Never going back!]
I enjoy this series. It has a nice mix of humor, small town quirkiness and old lady sass. But, I do wish the plots were a bit more varied. This author seems to write her books on a basic formula (her Village Library series was the same way), and it gets boring after awhile. I enjoyed this second book in the series, but I'm not sure I will make it through 24 books. Unless there is a little more plot variety thrown in, I think I will move on way before I finish all the books in this series.
We shall see! I can always take a break if the series gets old, and read the books from my local library. I donated my paperback copies to make room on my bookshelves. Not a reflection on the quality of this series. The books just took up an entire shelf, and I wanted the space for other books. I will continue reading at my own pace through these books by checking out through Hoopla rather than keeping all those physical books.
March 30, 2020
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and all opinions expressed herein are my own.
This is the second [or possibly third book per Audible] in the Myrtle Clover Mysteries series. I have not read any of the prior books in this series. It is a standalone book with no cliffhanger ending. I had no trouble following the narrative or the characters motivations without having read the prior book[s] in this series. There are some references to events which seemed to have occurred in the prior book[s] but, the author does not dwell on them and there are quick summaries provided.
I really enjoyed the MC Myrtle - an octogenarian English teacher who is dissatisfied with her bookclub and has a son Red, who is a policeman in their very small town. I loved how the bookclub evolved into a supper club into a progressive dinner party. Plus, there was a lot of fun as Myrtle adopts a stray cat named Pasha [or really, the cat adopts her]. There's lots of humor and some really clever sarcastic asides. The relationship between Miles and Myrtle is plain fun.
The narrator, Lia Frederick, does a wonderful job and makes each character distinct. She has a very pleasant voice and good pacing.
This is the second [or possibly third book per Audible] in the Myrtle Clover Mysteries series. I have not read any of the prior books in this series. It is a standalone book with no cliffhanger ending. I had no trouble following the narrative or the characters motivations without having read the prior book[s] in this series. There are some references to events which seemed to have occurred in the prior book[s] but, the author does not dwell on them and there are quick summaries provided.
I really enjoyed the MC Myrtle - an octogenarian English teacher who is dissatisfied with her bookclub and has a son Red, who is a policeman in their very small town. I loved how the bookclub evolved into a supper club into a progressive dinner party. Plus, there was a lot of fun as Myrtle adopts a stray cat named Pasha [or really, the cat adopts her]. There's lots of humor and some really clever sarcastic asides. The relationship between Miles and Myrtle is plain fun.
The narrator, Lia Frederick, does a wonderful job and makes each character distinct. She has a very pleasant voice and good pacing.
September 22, 2021
This book ticks most of the cozy mystery boxes, but I’m not sure that’s necessarily a compliment.
Myrtle Clover is a retired English teacher with a penchant for solving crimes in her small hometown. Conveniently, (or inconveniently, from Myrtle’s perspective) her son is the chief law enforcement officer. In this episode, a member of Myrtle’s book/supper club is murdered right before hosting the main course and Myrtle takes it upon herself to investigate. Translation: she’s desperate to solve the case before her son does. She withholds information. She puts herself at risk. She has a rather abrasive interview style. She’s no Jessica Fletcher. She’s not even an early Jane Marple.
And yet …
I kept reading.
While I enjoy elderly/retired detectives, not all of them are endearing. Myrtle has her quirks, but she often comes across as judgmental or condescending and I find that a little off-putting. Still, the plot is fast paced (although a bit stilted) and there was enough of a twist at the end to keep me engaged. So, even though I’m only giving this one three stars, I will most likely read another just because this one was sufficiently entertaining.
Myrtle Clover is a retired English teacher with a penchant for solving crimes in her small hometown. Conveniently, (or inconveniently, from Myrtle’s perspective) her son is the chief law enforcement officer. In this episode, a member of Myrtle’s book/supper club is murdered right before hosting the main course and Myrtle takes it upon herself to investigate. Translation: she’s desperate to solve the case before her son does. She withholds information. She puts herself at risk. She has a rather abrasive interview style. She’s no Jessica Fletcher. She’s not even an early Jane Marple.
And yet …
I kept reading.
While I enjoy elderly/retired detectives, not all of them are endearing. Myrtle has her quirks, but she often comes across as judgmental or condescending and I find that a little off-putting. Still, the plot is fast paced (although a bit stilted) and there was enough of a twist at the end to keep me engaged. So, even though I’m only giving this one three stars, I will most likely read another just because this one was sufficiently entertaining.
October 22, 2018
Myrtle, a very proper, single, retired octogenarian school teacher is president of the local book club. She is very displaced with the trivial "beach reads" the club has been reading and conspires with her friend, Miles, to begin reading classic literature. Other members of the club find this idea reprehensible, as they had trouble understanding the "book about the Boy Scout and the bird" (To Kill a Mockingbird to the rest of us). Her plan degenerates into a progressive dinner supper club, which eventually leads to not one but two murders!
Myrtle has 'helped' her son, a local policeman, solve another murder, but her son wants her to keep out of it. Instead, he tries to get her involved in activities he thinks are suitable for someone her age. I agree with Myrtle that this makes her furious!
Myrtle has 'helped' her son, a local policeman, solve another murder, but her son wants her to keep out of it. Instead, he tries to get her involved in activities he thinks are suitable for someone her age. I agree with Myrtle that this makes her furious!
September 15, 2019
~Predictable Cozy Murder Mystery
~I did enjoy it and I’d recommend it to other readers. The reader must be aware that the main character, Myrtle Clover, can easily get on anyone nerves. She definitely has her own ideas about how things should be done, and she is not above trying to force her ideas and goals onto the rest of the community.
~I realize that every cozy murder mystery has to have a unique and clever amateur sleuth to help the police solve the mystery. However, this retired schoolteacher, who is constantly arguing with her law enforcement son is just a bit too much.
~This is not meant to be a true criticism of the book. I did say that I enjoyed it…it is simply a light read. It is one that I’d say, you could read as a palate cleanser, between the reading of serious mystery books.
~I did enjoy it and I’d recommend it to other readers. The reader must be aware that the main character, Myrtle Clover, can easily get on anyone nerves. She definitely has her own ideas about how things should be done, and she is not above trying to force her ideas and goals onto the rest of the community.
~I realize that every cozy murder mystery has to have a unique and clever amateur sleuth to help the police solve the mystery. However, this retired schoolteacher, who is constantly arguing with her law enforcement son is just a bit too much.
~This is not meant to be a true criticism of the book. I did say that I enjoyed it…it is simply a light read. It is one that I’d say, you could read as a palate cleanser, between the reading of serious mystery books.
April 9, 2020
This is a fun little cozy mystery with the main character being a 80 something retired English teacher turned reporter turned investigator. She lives in a small town and is trying to turn the book club back to the classics when they all vote her down and make it a progressive dinner club and yet some how she gets blamed for the change. What does every small town have - drama, drama, drama and it all becomes more clear how much of it is in the town as the dinner begins.
The narrator did a great job and was fun to listen to. This is great for those who enjoy the cozy mystery genre. It has plenty of twists and turns, for me I felt it moved a little slow but was still entertaining.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
The narrator did a great job and was fun to listen to. This is great for those who enjoy the cozy mystery genre. It has plenty of twists and turns, for me I felt it moved a little slow but was still entertaining.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
April 25, 2019
I dug this one out of my "been hanging around forever" collections, and I'm thinking I probably should have left it there. I think I must have picked it up as a freebie at one point. Maybe my problem is that I didn't read the first book in the series. I have no idea if we were introduced to this huge cast of characters in some in the first book, or if we are supposed to remember who is who. I certainly couldn't keep them straight or figure out the complicated relationships. Are we supposed to like Myrtle Clover, because I found her intolerable. I'm a retired English teacher. If I ever start behaving as she behaves, I hope somebody will slap me upside the head and snap me out of it!
September 19, 2020
3.5 Myrtle's book club isn't stimulating enuf for her - too many fluff books. At the next meeting, she enlists the help of Miles to change the course of the club to more classics. Unfortunately, she gets the credit for changing the book club to a progressive dinner club, husbands included. Myrtle is really not interested, but volunteers for the dessert course the first dinner. When a body is found during the main course, Myrtle is determined to solve the case before her son, the police chief, can solve the case.
Myrtle is feisty and quite spry for her age (the word is used far too many times- we get it) and nosy. A fun cozy.
Myrtle is feisty and quite spry for her age (the word is used far too many times- we get it) and nosy. A fun cozy.
May 26, 2017
This book could have used another round of editing or two. The characters were disagreeable to me -- not entrancingly disagreeable, just disagreeable. They warmed up and so did the plot by the 8th chapter. It's a pretty good mystery. I haven't read any of the other series by this prolific writer. This book needed some more critical re-work by the author and her editor. It could be worth it.
And the octogenarian protagonist is 6 feet tall? Really? She "reads" diminutive.
Cute cover.
And the octogenarian protagonist is 6 feet tall? Really? She "reads" diminutive.
Cute cover.
October 7, 2019
As much as I tried I just never developed any connection to any of the characters. Myrtle the main character I really just couldn't stand at all. The mystery wasn't even all that big a deal to solve. I felt like I walked in on a television show already in progress and all the characters had been defined and laid out already. Maybe I'll come back to this one day after reading the first Clover mystery and see if it makes any difference.
October 21, 2019
Lovely
A lovely cozy murder mystery. Myrtle does it again, she put the Gnomes out in the garden to upset her son Red after the volunteers her for voluntary work to keep her busy and away from the murders. Myrtle befriends a ferral cat that keeps giving her dead creatures as gifts and helps her get away from a tricky situation. I can't wait to read the next book to see what happens.
A lovely cozy murder mystery. Myrtle does it again, she put the Gnomes out in the garden to upset her son Red after the volunteers her for voluntary work to keep her busy and away from the murders. Myrtle befriends a ferral cat that keeps giving her dead creatures as gifts and helps her get away from a tricky situation. I can't wait to read the next book to see what happens.
February 16, 2020
Adorable mystery. A retired woman with her son cop meddling her business is again. While her son had hoped that her snooping into and solving murders was a one time thing, Myrtle finds herself up to her eyeballs in mystery. It is up to her to solve it before her son just to prove to him that she doesn't need him volunteering her for other social activities to keep her out of trouble. A very good read and I am looking forward to more!
August 3, 2020
Enjoyable, full of humor with good narration, sets the plot in a small town with a retired English teacher. She loves gardening and decorating with the gnomes. When a body is found murdered, now who will be cleaning houses. She had a lazy husband, and a bit too much curiosity, but why kill her. Mrytle is more than ready to solve. . The narration was good, clear voice and added to this story. Good series. Given audio for my voluntary review
September 4, 2020
A clean cozy mystery with an abundance of quirky characters. A woman thought to be admired turns out to be disliked by almost everyone and her seeming perfection turns out to have a dark side. When found dead in her kitchen there is no shortage of suspects. With humor woven into the story , and some false leads, it will keep you guessing until the last chapter. I received this audiobook at no cost from Audiobookworm for my honest review.
November 18, 2023
Fun read, well laid with bread crumbs going every-which way...it could be anyone and finding out your instincts are wrong is particularly fun in this tale. Did not care for the cumbersome ties back to the first book, which came across as a heavy-handed sales pitch; they were distractions rather than 'insider' nods. Also imo the basic setup of a mother competing with her son comes across as 'disturbed' rather than funny.
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