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judyward's review against another edition
3.0
Emma Kelling, a wealthy Boston widow over 60, agrees to substitute as hostess for an aged and ailing friend for the summer on the remote island of Pocapuk, Maine. Each summer her friend rents out tiny Pocapuk for an artist's retreat. This year, the group includes writers, illustrators, and a psychic and the group indicates to Emma that they are going to search for the long-rumored Pocapuk treasure. But then a stranger to the island is found dead, the psychic is drugged, and several people are assaulted. It's up to Emma and her cousin-in-law, Theonie, to figure out what's going on. There's nothing like a couple of outraged elderly women to strike fear in the hearts of a group and island-bound suspects and uncover the truth. An easy and breezy read.
slferg's review against another edition
I really enjoy these mysteries. Sarah and Max are not so prominent in this one - the main character is Sarah's Aunt Emma and Theonia plays a part as well. Emma Kelling is filling in at her friend's summer place on Pocacup Island. She takes along some costume jewelry to repair for the playhouse in an old gladstone bag. On the ferry ride over, someone steals the bag, and just before the stop for the island, the last one on the ferry, one of the guests discovers the bag and returns it to her. Later that night, an unknown man claiming amnesia turns up in a battered wetsuit. But Emma, sorting through the jewelry to see if it's still all there, discovers something hidden in the lining - real stones - which she puts in a hidden safe the owner disclosed to her.
There is a lot of stuff going on - several people hit over the head and knocked out - and one of the guests has planned on searching for rumored treasure on the island. He has not informed his hostess or asked her permission, so Emma tries to quash the project as much as she can. But in this ill-assorted bunch, there is much going on.
There is a lot of stuff going on - several people hit over the head and knocked out - and one of the guests has planned on searching for rumored treasure on the island. He has not informed his hostess or asked her permission, so Emma tries to quash the project as much as she can. But in this ill-assorted bunch, there is much going on.
quietjenn's review against another edition
4.0
Although this is part of the Kelling/Bittersohn series, Sarah and Max are but the scantiest of players in the drama. Instead, the delightful Aunt Emma - and a guest appearance by cousin Theonia - take center stage. This particular stage being a small Maine island that she is somewhat caretaking for the summer, as a bunch of artists and historians descend to make much madness. Said madness beginning before Emma has even made it off of the ferry. And it's delightful.
pinoncoffee's review
4.0
Treasure! Strangers together on an island! People getting hit on the head!! Good times.
ssejig's review
4.0
I'm fairly certain that I picked this book up at a garage sale. Or a thrift store? I had it on my TBR shelves for about 2 years before I finally picked it up. And it's taken me a LONG time to get through it. Not that it was bad, it just kept putting me to sleep. It's the first in the series for me and, based on the name of the series, I'm assuming that the main character in this book is not the recurring detective. Which I actually really like as a plot conceit (and still do on re-read when I'm working through the series.) Rather, it is Sarah's Aunt Emma who is involved in a mystery.
Emma seems to be your stock New England older woman from a small town; pragmatic, part of the community. She is heavily involved in the local theater and, when a friend asks Emma to act as hostess for a group of artists and writers on an island, Emma takes along the costume jewelry to make some repairs.
Well, on the ferry, Emma is drugged and her bag disappears. But it quickly shows up in the men's restroom. Why was the bag taken? And why has a mysterious man with amnesia shown up on the island? A man who soon dies. And who are are these strange people that have been invited to the island? Including one man who calls himself "Count" and wants to search for treasures and a woman who is supposedly psychic who is suddenly not feeling well enough to come out of her room?
Page 147: "I've noticed the strap's getting a bit chewed" "Aren't we all?"
Emma seems to be your stock New England older woman from a small town; pragmatic, part of the community. She is heavily involved in the local theater and, when a friend asks Emma to act as hostess for a group of artists and writers on an island, Emma takes along the costume jewelry to make some repairs.
Well, on the ferry, Emma is drugged and her bag disappears. But it quickly shows up in the men's restroom. Why was the bag taken? And why has a mysterious man with amnesia shown up on the island? A man who soon dies. And who are are these strange people that have been invited to the island? Including one man who calls himself "Count" and wants to search for treasures and a woman who is supposedly psychic who is suddenly not feeling well enough to come out of her room?
Page 147: "I've noticed the strap's getting a bit chewed" "Aren't we all?"
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