Scan barcode
asroka's review against another edition
3.0
I would rate this at 3.5 if I could. I just can't give a four and I feel bad giving it a 3.
The book was a very slow read for me. I enjoy reading museum mysteries but it seemed like some parts of the story just dragged on. I was able to figure out one of two suspects near oh, the first 1/4 of the book?
I don't know if the "budding romance" thing is common in cozy mysteries, but if I were to read the next book in this series, I already know how it would start.
I liked the story enough, but, it just wasn't excellent and it was way too slow a book for me.
The book was a very slow read for me. I enjoy reading museum mysteries but it seemed like some parts of the story just dragged on. I was able to figure out one of two suspects near oh, the first 1/4 of the book?
I don't know if the "budding romance" thing is common in cozy mysteries, but if I were to read the next book in this series, I already know how it would start.
I liked the story enough, but, it just wasn't excellent and it was way too slow a book for me.
deanie's review against another edition
4.0
Actually 3.5 stars
Eleanor "Nell" Pratt is in charge of fundraising for the Society for the Preservation of Pennsylvania Antiques, a small museum in Philadelphia. However, when she finds the body of one of her co-workers, she gets swept up into a mystery involving missing artifacts and documents from the museum's collection.
I like museums. I even took a class on museums while getting my art history degree. And I've volunteered in development, so I have a bit more relatable background to this mystery than a lot of people. I think it was interesting. The book did drag in places, but overall was a good start to a new series. I'm not sure where the author will go from here, because the opportunities for new mysteries in a museum seems limited, but I'd read them.
Eleanor "Nell" Pratt is in charge of fundraising for the Society for the Preservation of Pennsylvania Antiques, a small museum in Philadelphia. However, when she finds the body of one of her co-workers, she gets swept up into a mystery involving missing artifacts and documents from the museum's collection.
I like museums. I even took a class on museums while getting my art history degree. And I've volunteered in development, so I have a bit more relatable background to this mystery than a lot of people. I think it was interesting.
Spoiler
Most established museums have way more things than they're capable of displaying, so stealing seemingly unimportant stuff to sell to collectors on the black market could be easy to get away with (and lucrative) for museum employees who lack integrity, like Charles.diannel_04's review against another edition
I just couldn't get into this book. I don't know what it was but I didn't like the characters and the setting, although it should have interested me because I am a history fanatic, just did nothing for me.
smiley7245's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cute story, but the bad guy was not a surprise. I figured out what was going before they had an actual, logical, suspect. Still, I really liked FBI James. I will probably read the next one, but I will not rush right out and buy it immediately.
shakyteach's review against another edition
4.0
I love Sheila Connollly's Orchard series, but this new series is even better. I lovethe setting and the characters are wonderful. Great first book for a new series.
katherineep's review against another edition
4.0
This was a slow start but once the story got going I loved it. I spotted the bad guy very early on but seeing how it all unraveled was interesting. I like that Nell starts developing a backbone and some confidence as the book prgoresses and goes from kind of bland to likable. I LOVE Marty's character. She bumped the book up to 4 stars for me and I hope to see more of her. Connolly's writing is always solid and this new series does not disappoint.
readtoinfinity's review against another edition
1.0
The story was not interesting I really had to push myself to finish the book. The mystery was no good and there really was no character development and no intrigue. It was a bland story and mystery, has no flavor. The best character was Marty and that's about it. I only finished the story to find out what happened but the criminal was evident since the beginning, like I said not very good.
ladytiger7647's review against another edition
3.0
This could have been about woo pages shorter and better written. It almost seemed like the author had a quota and she filled it with repeating facts and getting really nowhere. I also couldn't get over her portrayal of Philly especially a missed joke about SEPTA almost always being late.
krisrid's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun, well-written and entertaining cozy mystery. I enjoyed it.
The setting of a small Pennsylvania historial society was an interesting approach, although there wasn't really much actual history in the story, aside from brief references to various pieces or artifacts or documents held by the society. But that was okay as the story and the murder investigation were engaging enough.
The cast of characters in this book I found enjoyable as well. They are all different, quirky in their own ways, but believeable people to play their various roles in the story. I was able to connect to them and want to go along with them on their adventures.
And what adventures there are! The players in this murder mystery get themselves into all sorts of shenanigans, some voluntarily, and some not, but all of the stuff the characters get up to is interesting, and really keeps the reader moving through the story. The pacing of this book I fould to be just right.
The eventual solution was a tad predictable, or, possibly the author just gave enough clues that even I, who is usually not the person who figures out whodunnit before the reveal, sort of had an inkling of what was going to happen before the announcement. But this was still a fun, fast, easy read that I enjoyed. As a cozy, this is a good entry in the genre and I would consider reading others in this series.
The setting of a small Pennsylvania historial society was an interesting approach, although there wasn't really much actual history in the story, aside from brief references to various pieces or artifacts or documents held by the society. But that was okay as the story and the murder investigation were engaging enough.
The cast of characters in this book I found enjoyable as well. They are all different, quirky in their own ways, but believeable people to play their various roles in the story. I was able to connect to them and want to go along with them on their adventures.
And what adventures there are! The players in this murder mystery get themselves into all sorts of shenanigans, some voluntarily, and some not, but all of the stuff the characters get up to is interesting, and really keeps the reader moving through the story. The pacing of this book I fould to be just right.
The eventual solution was a tad predictable, or, possibly the author just gave enough clues that even I, who is usually not the person who figures out whodunnit before the reveal, sort of had an inkling of what was going to happen before the announcement. But this was still a fun, fast, easy read that I enjoyed. As a cozy, this is a good entry in the genre and I would consider reading others in this series.
leighannsherwin's review against another edition
4.0
I started listening to this book a while ago and the narrator was annoying. She just sounded annoyed throughout the entire book. I decided to try again as we were going on a road trip and needed something to fill the gaps when we lost radio signal or it was too dark to sightsee. Getting past the reading of the book the story itself is quite an enjoyable read. It focuses on Nell Pratt who works as a fundraiser for a Philadelphia museum/historical society. Nell is asked by Marty Terwilliger to pull out letters her ancestors wrote to George Washington. Nell discovers they are missing and the man in charge of cataloguing everything Alfred Findlay reveals that's not all that has gone missing. While Nell ponders that there is a possible thief in their midst Alfred is found dead in the stacks of the library. Ruled an accident at first Nell wonders if there's more too it and working with Marty and Marty's cousin and FBI agent Jimmy Morrison they begin to compile a case. Nell and Marty make a hilarious team. Marty comes across as snobby and awful at first but by the end of the book I loved her. Enjoyable and often funny I would read more in this series but I'll try to skip the audio unless the narrator changes because she ruined it for me.