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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
1920 and in the village of Walmsley Parva Edwina Davenport gets more than she bargained for when old friends Beryl Helliwell replies to her advertisement for a lodger. Trying to help out her friend Beryl insinuates that they are detectives looking into the secrets of the village, not helped by the total ineptitude of the local untrained constable.
An unlikely pair, but a delightful pair, a well-written easy to read mystery and look forward to reading the next in the series
A NetGalley Book
An unlikely pair, but a delightful pair, a well-written easy to read mystery and look forward to reading the next in the series
A NetGalley Book
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved everything about this book! Delightful, start to finish, and I very much hope that the author has plans for more books in this series.
This is your traditional "odd couple" story, and the two very different main characters - Edwina, the polite, slightly down-on-her-luck Brit, and Beryl, the flamboyant, well-off, and brassy American - make for a hugely fun romp of a cozy mystery!
The contrast in Beryl and Edwina make a perfect combination, as it allows for each of them to take the lead at different times, and in different situations depending what's best, during their investigation of suspicious goings on in Edwina's small, supposedly quiet quaint English town, where Beryl has come to stay with her, not wanting to go back to America while Prohibition is still on.
The two of them are wonderful in their own ways, and together they are just hilarious, clever, and the perfect complement to one another. They each also exasperate the other at times, which is its own kind of fun.
The town is your typical small English village, but the supporting characters offer lots of fodder for goings-on and shenanigans that so often characterize such villages.
Truly, everything about this book charmed and entertained me. I listened to this as an audio book, and had the added delight of it being narrated by Barbara Rosenblat, who is just spectacular, and who brings any book she narrates to the top of the mountain in terms of taking a book to the next level of wonderful by bringing story and characters fully to life through her narration. If you like audio format, this is a great book to listen to.
Loved this start to finish, and already can't wait for a next book!
This is your traditional "odd couple" story, and the two very different main characters - Edwina, the polite, slightly down-on-her-luck Brit, and Beryl, the flamboyant, well-off, and brassy American - make for a hugely fun romp of a cozy mystery!
The contrast in Beryl and Edwina make a perfect combination, as it allows for each of them to take the lead at different times, and in different situations depending what's best, during their investigation of suspicious goings on in Edwina's small, supposedly quiet quaint English town, where Beryl has come to stay with her, not wanting to go back to America while Prohibition is still on.
The two of them are wonderful in their own ways, and together they are just hilarious, clever, and the perfect complement to one another. They each also exasperate the other at times, which is its own kind of fun.
The town is your typical small English village, but the supporting characters offer lots of fodder for goings-on and shenanigans that so often characterize such villages.
Truly, everything about this book charmed and entertained me. I listened to this as an audio book, and had the added delight of it being narrated by Barbara Rosenblat, who is just spectacular, and who brings any book she narrates to the top of the mountain in terms of taking a book to the next level of wonderful by bringing story and characters fully to life through her narration. If you like audio format, this is a great book to listen to.
Loved this start to finish, and already can't wait for a next book!
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The characters were engaging enough, but there was something off about the story. The tone was weird - there were moments that gave me the impression it was supposed to be a semi-humorous story, but not enough of those moments to make it clear. The murderer sets the plot in motion by trying to kill one of the protagonists, then - when they have far more cause to kill them - attacks them non-fatally. The book is also weirdly coy about time, and takes forever to specify how long ago the events that precipitated the plot took place. How hard is it to say what year it currently (in book) is and how many years ago other things happened? Why be coy about it? Oh, it's ~~some~~ time after World War One. And ~~some~~ time during Prohibition in America. And stuff happened ~~some~~ time during the war. That's not clever, that's annoying.
(Also, the editing in the book was so bad that a character actually briefly changes names for a page or two. And that was just the most WTF error I noticed.)
(Also, the editing in the book was so bad that a character actually briefly changes names for a page or two. And that was just the most WTF error I noticed.)
I remember seeing this book a few months ago I believe on one of my cozy Mystery Facebook groups and was interested immediately. I love all things British and was watching Midsomer Murder like a fiend. So when the opportunity arose to review an ARC I was positively giddy. Now I will say that it was not my favorite but I will tell you why and I will tell you that some people may love this book.
I loved the main characters Beryl and Edwina as well as Edwina’s dog Crumpet. I thought the characters were engaging and the local to be wonderfully written. What I was not crazy about was the historical references that I knew nothing about. If you are into historical fiction I think that you would get a lot out of this. I am one who was looking for something more akeen to a Golden Age Mystery not so much a historical mystery if that makes sense. I think though that this shows me a bit more about my interests in books and for that I am happy. I always like to push myself to read things a little out of my comfort zone and this was a little out of my comfort zone, without me knowing it. Some parts sailed by and some seemed to go on and on. Now if this had been more of a Golden Age style, Agatha Christie or even Magpie Murder esque novel I would most likely go out in the streets with copies handing them out to strangers. But I will say that this novel has me guessing until the final couple of chapters who was the killer. The whole conclusion was a bit of a surprise.
Synopsis: As friends, the boisterous and brash American Beryl couldn’t be less alike than the prim and proper British Edwina. But as sleuths in an England recovering from the Great War, they’re the perfect match . . .
1920: Flying in the face of convention, legendary American adventuress Beryl Helliwell never fails to surprise and shock. The last thing her adoring public would expect is that she craves some peace and quiet. The humdrum hamlet of Walmsley Parva in the English countryside seems just the ticket. And, honestly, until America comes to its senses and repeals Prohibition, Beryl has no intention of returning stateside and subjecting herself to bathtub gin.
For over three decades, Edwina Davenport has lived comfortably in Walmsley Parva, but the post–World War I bust has left her in dire financial straits and forced her to advertise for a lodger. When her long-lost school chum Beryl arrives on her doorstep--actually crashes into it in her red motorcar--Edwina welcomes her old friend as her new roommate.
But her idyllic hometown has a hidden sinister side, and when the two friends are drawn in, they decide to set up shop as private inquiry agents, helping Edwina to make ends meet and satisfying Beryl’s thirst for adventure. Now this odd couple will need to put their heads together to catch a killer--before this sleepy English village becomes their final resting place . . .
I loved the main characters Beryl and Edwina as well as Edwina’s dog Crumpet. I thought the characters were engaging and the local to be wonderfully written. What I was not crazy about was the historical references that I knew nothing about. If you are into historical fiction I think that you would get a lot out of this. I am one who was looking for something more akeen to a Golden Age Mystery not so much a historical mystery if that makes sense. I think though that this shows me a bit more about my interests in books and for that I am happy. I always like to push myself to read things a little out of my comfort zone and this was a little out of my comfort zone, without me knowing it. Some parts sailed by and some seemed to go on and on. Now if this had been more of a Golden Age style, Agatha Christie or even Magpie Murder esque novel I would most likely go out in the streets with copies handing them out to strangers. But I will say that this novel has me guessing until the final couple of chapters who was the killer. The whole conclusion was a bit of a surprise.
Synopsis: As friends, the boisterous and brash American Beryl couldn’t be less alike than the prim and proper British Edwina. But as sleuths in an England recovering from the Great War, they’re the perfect match . . .
1920: Flying in the face of convention, legendary American adventuress Beryl Helliwell never fails to surprise and shock. The last thing her adoring public would expect is that she craves some peace and quiet. The humdrum hamlet of Walmsley Parva in the English countryside seems just the ticket. And, honestly, until America comes to its senses and repeals Prohibition, Beryl has no intention of returning stateside and subjecting herself to bathtub gin.
For over three decades, Edwina Davenport has lived comfortably in Walmsley Parva, but the post–World War I bust has left her in dire financial straits and forced her to advertise for a lodger. When her long-lost school chum Beryl arrives on her doorstep--actually crashes into it in her red motorcar--Edwina welcomes her old friend as her new roommate.
But her idyllic hometown has a hidden sinister side, and when the two friends are drawn in, they decide to set up shop as private inquiry agents, helping Edwina to make ends meet and satisfying Beryl’s thirst for adventure. Now this odd couple will need to put their heads together to catch a killer--before this sleepy English village becomes their final resting place . . .
A perfect cosy mystery. Fun and relaxing. Can’t wait to read the next one.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Audio
A nice cozy little mystery to clear my murderous fog before I dive back in.
A nice cozy little mystery to clear my murderous fog before I dive back in.