Scan barcode
thephdivabooks's review against another edition
3.0
In British Murder, Kensington books brings us two Lucy Stone mysteries in one volume, transporting us from Tinker Cove to England for two cozy mysteries.
ENGLISH TEA MURDER
Lucy needs a break from her busy life, when one of her friends tells her about a trip to England. The friends are set to enjoy a girls’ trip, until their tour leader Professor Temple dies mid-flight (and they have to leave his body in his seat!). Though the initial theory is that Temple died of an asthma attack, Lucy suspects some very unnatural causes.
BRITISH MANOR MURDER
Lucy is depressed since her grandson Patrick was taken from her care to reunite with his parents in Alaska, when her best friends push her to get away from Tinkercove for a bit and refresh herself at an English country house owned by the Earl of Wickham. What should have been a relaxing stay at a glamorous English manor turns deadly when two bodies are discovered on the manor grounds.
Reflection
I always think cozy mysteries tend to have a range from those on the cozy side of the spectrum (the book focuses more on the characters and their activities than the mystery) and the mystery side of the spectrum (the murder case stays at the forefront). In both books, it was clear that Leslie Meier sticks to the far cozy side of the spectrum. Despite the dead bodies, the mysteries don't really kick off until the second half of each book, which was disappointing to the mystery fan in me.
I think others who like more cozy than mystery in their reads may like this more than I did!
ENGLISH TEA MURDER
Lucy needs a break from her busy life, when one of her friends tells her about a trip to England. The friends are set to enjoy a girls’ trip, until their tour leader Professor Temple dies mid-flight (and they have to leave his body in his seat!). Though the initial theory is that Temple died of an asthma attack, Lucy suspects some very unnatural causes.
BRITISH MANOR MURDER
Lucy is depressed since her grandson Patrick was taken from her care to reunite with his parents in Alaska, when her best friends push her to get away from Tinkercove for a bit and refresh herself at an English country house owned by the Earl of Wickham. What should have been a relaxing stay at a glamorous English manor turns deadly when two bodies are discovered on the manor grounds.
Reflection
I always think cozy mysteries tend to have a range from those on the cozy side of the spectrum (the book focuses more on the characters and their activities than the mystery) and the mystery side of the spectrum (the murder case stays at the forefront). In both books, it was clear that Leslie Meier sticks to the far cozy side of the spectrum. Despite the dead bodies, the mysteries don't really kick off until the second half of each book, which was disappointing to the mystery fan in me.
I think others who like more cozy than mystery in their reads may like this more than I did!
dogearedandfurry's review
3.0
I received a copy of this via NetGalley in return for an unbiased review. Confusingly it wasn’t clear that there were two books in one. I thought it was progressing super slowly...
Anyway, this book started out well - there was a lot of detail about London. It did seem very odd that a college runs a school trip abroad for 4 students, plus their parents, and then 4 others (one who teaches a class there and her three friends)... I mean if you can only run a trip by bringing family and some other very tangentially connected adults? I did wonder - as another reviewer seems to have done - whether this was to help the author write off a visit as a business expense. It was hard to warm to most of the characters, in particular the teens and Quentin. The “bonus” murder at the end felt a little like filler, and all wrapped up too quickly.
The second book sees Lucy return to England with Sue, as a result of a chance encounter Sue had with an Earl in the British Museum, during the English Tea Murder book. This was marginally better with characters and plot, though I’m a bit confused how in one breath Lucy and Bill are worried about college fund money, and in the next she’s flying to England...
As cosy mysteries go, they’re about par for the course - fairly light and not taxing to the brain. But I can’t say I really connected with any of the characters, so probably won’t be trying any others in the series.
Anyway, this book started out well - there was a lot of detail about London. It did seem very odd that a college runs a school trip abroad for 4 students, plus their parents, and then 4 others (one who teaches a class there and her three friends)... I mean if you can only run a trip by bringing family and some other very tangentially connected adults? I did wonder - as another reviewer seems to have done - whether this was to help the author write off a visit as a business expense. It was hard to warm to most of the characters, in particular the teens and Quentin. The “bonus” murder at the end felt a little like filler, and all wrapped up too quickly.
The second book sees Lucy return to England with Sue, as a result of a chance encounter Sue had with an Earl in the British Museum, during the English Tea Murder book. This was marginally better with characters and plot, though I’m a bit confused how in one breath Lucy and Bill are worried about college fund money, and in the next she’s flying to England...
As cosy mysteries go, they’re about par for the course - fairly light and not taxing to the brain. But I can’t say I really connected with any of the characters, so probably won’t be trying any others in the series.
robinlovesreading's review against another edition
3.0
British Manor Murder is #27 in the Lucy Stone series. It is an omnibus that includes English Tea Murder and British Manor Murder. I have previously reviewed both of these titles and thus they have been copied into this review.
Lucy Stone’s hometown of Tinker’s Cove, Maine, is where her heart is. But traveling to merry old England brings delightful adventure—along with a helping or two or murder—in these beloved mysteries . . .
ENGLISH TEA MURDER
A trip to England, sponsored by Winchester College, sounds practically perfect to Lucy Stone—until the tour leader suffers a fatal asthma attack mid-flight. Lucy suspects some very unnatural causes, but luckily, she packed her sleuthing skills. Between stops for afternoon tea, visits to historic sites, and catching up with an old flame, she’s ensnared in a daring scheme. But will it lead her to a criminal mastermind—or ensure that she’s the next victim?
MY THOUGHTS:
If Lucy Stone wasn't nervous at being at least seven miles high in the air while flying to London, on a sponsored trip by Winchester college, when a fellow passenger suddenly drops dead, she certainly is now.
The man that died was tour leader, George Temple. The cause of death was apparently an asthma attack, but, as always, Lucy seeks to see if there was anything else at play here. So, par her natural course, Lucy acts as amateur sleuth yet again.
When in London, Lucy runs into someone from her past - and a man that has sparked her interest - Quentin Rea. Lucy has no business being drawn to Quentin as she is married to Bill, and is the mother of four, and is also now a grandmother.
Not only must Lucy ignore Quentn's overtly flirty behavior, she begins to notice other odd activity among other members of the group that are part of the tour. Strangely enough, just about everyone on the tour has some type of connection to the victim. When it is discovered that there was a real motive for revenge, then Lucy gets even closer to the cause. After another tour member dies, Lucy realizes that she just have to dig deeper and that she might have an idea as to what has happened. Can she prove her ideas, or will this place her in grave danger?
English Tea Murder was a quick read. I wasn't too keen on Lucy being tempted by Quentin, but I guess as it it can be human nature, it was understandable. However, there was enough intrigue to keep the story rolling at a great pace. I look forward to continuing the series.
BRITISH MANOR MURDER
Lucy can’t wait to join her friend Sue for a gala hat show at the English country house owned by the Earl of Wickham. But at Moreton Manor, there are secrets—and some unpleasant relatives—lurking among the elaborate chapeaus. When a bludgeoned body is found in a hidden room, Lucy must sift through friends and family foes to find the low-down killer stalking the upper crust, before more blue blood runs red . . .
MY THOUGHTS:
Every now and again, Lucy Stone manages to get trips out of the country. That is the case in the next book in Leslie Meier's series. She will be joining best friend Sue and is heading to England. This is not her first time in the UK, but this time her objective is different. She is to attend a hat exhibition at an exclusive manor. Unfortunately for Lucy, wherever she is, there is always a body found. That is indeed the case at this time.
Our intrepid amateur sleuth cannot simply plow and and solve this as she has done countless times before. She is in rather an exclusive manor and they are honoring traditions from times of the past. So Lucy really has to be on her Ps and Qs this time around.
British Manor Murder was a light read, and not one of my favorites in the series. I am always glad to read these books, however, because as a whole, this is a great series. Having read all the books in order has made Lucy, husband Bill and their four children (now adults) very dear to me. I think I like Lucy better in her town of Tinker's Grove, Maine. When she heads out of the country and tries to solve murders, I rather lose interest.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Lucy Stone’s hometown of Tinker’s Cove, Maine, is where her heart is. But traveling to merry old England brings delightful adventure—along with a helping or two or murder—in these beloved mysteries . . .
ENGLISH TEA MURDER
A trip to England, sponsored by Winchester College, sounds practically perfect to Lucy Stone—until the tour leader suffers a fatal asthma attack mid-flight. Lucy suspects some very unnatural causes, but luckily, she packed her sleuthing skills. Between stops for afternoon tea, visits to historic sites, and catching up with an old flame, she’s ensnared in a daring scheme. But will it lead her to a criminal mastermind—or ensure that she’s the next victim?
MY THOUGHTS:
If Lucy Stone wasn't nervous at being at least seven miles high in the air while flying to London, on a sponsored trip by Winchester college, when a fellow passenger suddenly drops dead, she certainly is now.
The man that died was tour leader, George Temple. The cause of death was apparently an asthma attack, but, as always, Lucy seeks to see if there was anything else at play here. So, par her natural course, Lucy acts as amateur sleuth yet again.
When in London, Lucy runs into someone from her past - and a man that has sparked her interest - Quentin Rea. Lucy has no business being drawn to Quentin as she is married to Bill, and is the mother of four, and is also now a grandmother.
Not only must Lucy ignore Quentn's overtly flirty behavior, she begins to notice other odd activity among other members of the group that are part of the tour. Strangely enough, just about everyone on the tour has some type of connection to the victim. When it is discovered that there was a real motive for revenge, then Lucy gets even closer to the cause. After another tour member dies, Lucy realizes that she just have to dig deeper and that she might have an idea as to what has happened. Can she prove her ideas, or will this place her in grave danger?
English Tea Murder was a quick read. I wasn't too keen on Lucy being tempted by Quentin, but I guess as it it can be human nature, it was understandable. However, there was enough intrigue to keep the story rolling at a great pace. I look forward to continuing the series.
BRITISH MANOR MURDER
Lucy can’t wait to join her friend Sue for a gala hat show at the English country house owned by the Earl of Wickham. But at Moreton Manor, there are secrets—and some unpleasant relatives—lurking among the elaborate chapeaus. When a bludgeoned body is found in a hidden room, Lucy must sift through friends and family foes to find the low-down killer stalking the upper crust, before more blue blood runs red . . .
MY THOUGHTS:
Every now and again, Lucy Stone manages to get trips out of the country. That is the case in the next book in Leslie Meier's series. She will be joining best friend Sue and is heading to England. This is not her first time in the UK, but this time her objective is different. She is to attend a hat exhibition at an exclusive manor. Unfortunately for Lucy, wherever she is, there is always a body found. That is indeed the case at this time.
Our intrepid amateur sleuth cannot simply plow and and solve this as she has done countless times before. She is in rather an exclusive manor and they are honoring traditions from times of the past. So Lucy really has to be on her Ps and Qs this time around.
British Manor Murder was a light read, and not one of my favorites in the series. I am always glad to read these books, however, because as a whole, this is a great series. Having read all the books in order has made Lucy, husband Bill and their four children (now adults) very dear to me. I think I like Lucy better in her town of Tinker's Grove, Maine. When she heads out of the country and tries to solve murders, I rather lose interest.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
alienshrimp's review against another edition
3.0
I hadn't read the previous books, so this was a little confusing for me. I was unaware that the book was a series, and also contained two different stories. Overall, I enjoyed it. It was a cute cosy mystery, but I wish the stories had been sequential.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley.
mreadsbooksnfics's review
3.0
I was very excited when I saw someone I follow on Goodreads review this book based on the cover alone. It was so cute, and I love all things British so I was prepared for some great cozy mysteries. This was not the case, and I was a little peeved I wasted so much time on these two stories I really did not care about.
These two stories were previously published and are like the 17th and 23rd book in the series so they are set five years apart. If you have not read the books, which i have not, there were a lot of characters and the stories lacked interest to me. The first story was Lucy and her friends going on a college trip and the leader of the group dies. They think it could have just been an allergic reaction, but there is a mystery going on. The descriptions of London were cool, and that was the only portion of the book I liked. One of her friends meets a rich earl or duke, and they both love hats. Lucy solves the mystery of what happened to the leader of the group, and I thought it was kind of strange.
The second book is five years later and Lucy is depressed so she goes with her friend to see the guy she met in the first book that likes hats. So there is going to be a hat show and there is another mystery going on at the house they are staying in. Someone is found dead, and there are other things going on in this family. Their problems were mundane and i ended up skimming this second book a lot towards the end. I grew bored at the story, and there was nothing about the mystery I wanted to know more about. It just seems like Lucy has bad luck and people die when she is around, and she should just stop trying to solve mysteries because if she stayed at her house, all of these people would probably be alive.
I did not like that these were books so late in the series and that they were published so far apart in the timeline of the books. It was also really long for a cozy mystery omnibus. The formatting was so bad, and I struggled to read the stories. I hope this will be fixed during publishing.
I do not plan to read more of this series, and I do not recommend this unless you have read all of the books before and between so you know what the heck is going on. I have not had any luck with cozy mysteries, it may not the genre for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Press for the advanced review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given freely upon my own volition.
These two stories were previously published and are like the 17th and 23rd book in the series so they are set five years apart. If you have not read the books, which i have not, there were a lot of characters and the stories lacked interest to me. The first story was Lucy and her friends going on a college trip and the leader of the group dies. They think it could have just been an allergic reaction, but there is a mystery going on. The descriptions of London were cool, and that was the only portion of the book I liked. One of her friends meets a rich earl or duke, and they both love hats. Lucy solves the mystery of what happened to the leader of the group, and I thought it was kind of strange.
The second book is five years later and Lucy is depressed so she goes with her friend to see the guy she met in the first book that likes hats. So there is going to be a hat show and there is another mystery going on at the house they are staying in. Someone is found dead, and there are other things going on in this family. Their problems were mundane and i ended up skimming this second book a lot towards the end. I grew bored at the story, and there was nothing about the mystery I wanted to know more about. It just seems like Lucy has bad luck and people die when she is around, and she should just stop trying to solve mysteries because if she stayed at her house, all of these people would probably be alive.
I did not like that these were books so late in the series and that they were published so far apart in the timeline of the books. It was also really long for a cozy mystery omnibus. The formatting was so bad, and I struggled to read the stories. I hope this will be fixed during publishing.
I do not plan to read more of this series, and I do not recommend this unless you have read all of the books before and between so you know what the heck is going on. I have not had any luck with cozy mysteries, it may not the genre for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Press for the advanced review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given freely upon my own volition.
alienshrimp's review
3.0
I hadn't read the previous books, so this was a little confusing for me. I was unaware that the book was a series, and also contained two different stories. Overall, I enjoyed it. It was a cute cosy mystery, but I wish the stories had been sequential.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley.
More...