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thenovelbook's review
4.0
A very impressive debut novel by Erica Ruth Neubauer! I could barely bring myself to put this down.
The plot moves swiftly along and the two main characters, Jane and "Redvers," are easy to like but with just enough mystery to leave you wanting more. There will be a lot to explore in succeeding books!
Set in the 1920's, the bulk of the action takes place within Mena House, a hotel sitting in the very shadow of the pyramids of Egypt. Jane has come on a vacation with her aunt after being widowed in the first world war. Jane's story of life with her husband comes trickling out within the novel, and though she appears confident and secure, the reader learns about her weaknesses as they pop up in context. Within the first few pages, she meets a diverse cast of characters at the hotel. Some can be trusted; others have ulterior motives. A murder discovered early one morning lands Jane squarely on the radar of local investigators, and purely in self-defense she finds herself doing a little investigating on her own...well, not entirely on her own! The banter and chemistry between her and Redvers lights up every page.
Can't wait for more!
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advance review copy.
The plot moves swiftly along and the two main characters, Jane and "Redvers," are easy to like but with just enough mystery to leave you wanting more. There will be a lot to explore in succeeding books!
Set in the 1920's, the bulk of the action takes place within Mena House, a hotel sitting in the very shadow of the pyramids of Egypt. Jane has come on a vacation with her aunt after being widowed in the first world war. Jane's story of life with her husband comes trickling out within the novel, and though she appears confident and secure, the reader learns about her weaknesses as they pop up in context. Within the first few pages, she meets a diverse cast of characters at the hotel. Some can be trusted; others have ulterior motives. A murder discovered early one morning lands Jane squarely on the radar of local investigators, and purely in self-defense she finds herself doing a little investigating on her own...well, not entirely on her own! The banter and chemistry between her and Redvers lights up every page.
Can't wait for more!
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advance review copy.
amanda_poznanski's review
adventurous
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
3.5
bibarbie's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer is the debut of A Jane Wunderly Mystery series. This historical cozy mystery takes us back in time to 1926 (the Roaring Twenties) where prohibition is in full swing in the United States, dress lengths are shorter than ever, and women are bobbing their hair. Jane Wunderly is traveling with her Aunt Millie to Egypt where Jane cannot wait to visit the pyramids. They are staying at Mena House which has a golf course and a pool along with a variety of intriguing guests. Aunt Millie is quick to send an eligible bachelor in Jane’s direction the first evening (much to Jane’s annoyance). Jane was widowed at age twenty-two when her husband died in the Great War. She is not interested in finding a new husband after her experience with the first one. Jane must admit, though, that Mr. Redvers is enigmatic and dashing. Alcohol flows freely in Egypt much to Aunt Millie’s delight. Anna Stainton, a female guest, takes a dislike to Jane and is quick to cause discord between them. When Anna is found shot in her room, Jane becomes Inspector Hamadi’s top suspect. Jane sets out to prove her innocence and gets assistance from Redvers. There are a variety of suspects in Anna’s death. Jane follows each lead searching for the guilty party. It depends on your sleuthing level whether you find this mystery a cinch or perplexing. I liked that there was more than one mystery to solve. I was unable to get into Murder at the Mena House. I believe part of the problem was the first-person narrative. Jane’s descriptions of her facial expressions were awkward, and I was unsure why she would describe her own expressions in the first place. The author is a detail-oriented writer which does allow a reader to visualize the character and scenes, but it also slows down the pace of the story. I did enjoy the descriptions of the clothing and Egyptian sites. I thought the author captured the time period especially with the attitudes and manners (an example is “I should have had security tackle her on the way out, but it seemed improper.”) I wanted the book to have more action and a peppier pace. I did like Jane Wunderly with her natural curiosity, the mysterious Redvers and the gregarious Aunt Millie. Who knows where their adventures will take them next time! Murder at the Mena House has murder, mystery and mayhem in Egypt.
medusasmayhem's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
thephdivabooks's review against another edition
3.0
The setting and characters are so fun! A perfect quarantine read!
RTC
RTC
emilybordelovewrites's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
bargainsleuth's review
4.0
For my complete reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com
I was recommended this fairly new series a few years ago as something fans of Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody Emerson series of cozy mysteries set in Edwardian Egypt. Naturally, I had to check it out and see for myself because I sorely miss Elizabeth Peters and her books. While I won’t say Murder at Mena House is an excellent book, it’s a good start to a series that I see with great potential.
The murderer turns out to be somewhat of a surprise to me, so well done, author! I’ve rated the book higher than average due to this and look forward to catching up with Jane Wunderly in the future.
I was recommended this fairly new series a few years ago as something fans of Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody Emerson series of cozy mysteries set in Edwardian Egypt. Naturally, I had to check it out and see for myself because I sorely miss Elizabeth Peters and her books. While I won’t say Murder at Mena House is an excellent book, it’s a good start to a series that I see with great potential.
The murderer turns out to be somewhat of a surprise to me, so well done, author! I’ve rated the book higher than average due to this and look forward to catching up with Jane Wunderly in the future.
mjporterauthor's review
4.0
I do love a 1920's murder mystery, and Murder at the Mena House is set in Egypt no less. It has a very Agatha Christie vibe about it, although our main character is far from as fastidious as Poirot and benefits from an intriguing back story.
The mystery unravels quickly and well, and there are more than enough suspects to keep the reader guessing as to what's really happening.
An enjoyable read and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.
The mystery unravels quickly and well, and there are more than enough suspects to keep the reader guessing as to what's really happening.
An enjoyable read and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.