Mystery, Murder and Marriage?

Mystery, Murder, and Marriage?

Murder at the Mikado
by Julianna Deering

This is the third book in the Drew Farthering Mystery series. I reviewed Death by the Book about six or so months ago, and I read the first book, Rules of Murder after I read Death by the Book.

What do you love in a mystery? Clues, multiple suspects, style, multiple murders, red herrings, and few obvious clues that help you solve the mystery. A classic whodunit. Ah, but this is more than that.

The subplot is the romance between Drew and his newly engaged fiancée, Madeline, who, in truth, have only known each other six months. They met in the first book, Rules of Murder, fell in love at first sight, and the rest is supposed to be history. But will it be?

A former flame of Drew’s shows up unexpectedly and pleads with him to clear her of a murder charge. Madeline is totally against Drew’s participation, even as she helps him decipher clues and move closer to a solution.

It seems that Fleur Landis is a beauty, and a master seductress. Madeline says she believes that Drew isn’t attracted to her anymore, but her heart has a hard time overcoming her own fear of losing Drew, as she lost another some years previous.

To the main plot – Drew stays on the case and little-by-little uncovers motives, suspects, more bodies, and finally figures out what happened. There’s a great scene in the vein of the classic gathering of suspects where the truth comes out. As a result, a shocking surprise occurs that has life-changing implications for a number of the characters.

I won’t summarize the murder plot for you. The romance was more fun, and got quite heated, but not in the way you might suspect.

What I will do is tell you who I liked, and who I didn’t like, as characters. I didn’t like Fleur, and I didn’t blame Madeline for not trusting her. In Fleur’s defense, however, she had apparently settled down from her femme fatale ways, having gotten married to one of Drew’s accountants at the factory, and had a child.

That’s who I liked – Peter Landis, Fleur’s little four-year boy. He was adorable. I liked him and his father very much. Peter just loved Drew’s cat, Mr. Chambers, and the cat liked him, too.

Of the three novels, I liked the second one, Death by the Book best, but that’s only because I like the main characters to be in danger, and Drew certainly was. Although I guess you could say that there was danger of a different sort for him and Madeline in this book. Did they get married, or did they break up? They certainly had one whale of an argument that hurt both of them. 

I rate this four stars. I’m notorious for only giving five-star ratings to books that blow me away. This one didn’t blow me away, but I liked it. And if I say I liked it, I really do. I liked it. I wanted to read it. It is quite satisfactory. Oh dear, am I beginning to sound a bit British?

I received an e-book version complimentary from Bethany House and Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Stuck Together - Troubled Thinking

Stuck Together

by Mary Connealy

 

I really enjoy Mary Connealy’s books. I’ve read the Kincade Brides series and several other trilogies I’ll mention at the end. Last year I reviewed Fired Up, and I jumped at the chance to review Stuck Together. Some of Mary’s stories are better than others, and I’d say anything she does in full-length trilogy form is worth reading. I’ve read some of her stand-alone shorter novels, but I find these full length novels are better, because the characters and plot are more fully developed and considered.

As I mentioned in my last review of Fired Up, I figured Stuck Together would center on Vince Yates and Tina Cahill, and it does. Tina is fellow Regulator-preacher Jonas Cahill’s sister. She’s small, but she’s mighty…a crusader for temperance. In the first chapter, she starts a brawl. It’s incredibly funny to read.

As for Vince, we actually find out more about his past as his family shows up unexpectedly in Broken Wheel. His dad drops off his mother and a half-sister, then promptly leaves. Vince’s mom has dementia and the half-sister, Melissa takes care of the wife of her father, but after Melissa and Jonas fall in love, care of Mrs. Yates falls mainly to Tina, and Vince.

As Vince struggles with his own self-image and his growing love for Tina, he is also called upon to continue being sheriff and lawyer of Broken Wheel, even though he doesn’t really like it. We find out that Vince actually had higher education, but didn’t want to follow in his father’s footsteps.

Vince has always seemed to me to be the strong, silent type, but he isn’t. He just doesn’t share a lot. But he is a natural leader, a trait confirmed several times throughout this story.

Towards the beginning of the book, just after his mother has been dumped on him, he takes a trip from Texas to New Orleans, supposedly to find information on how to treat crazy people, because Lana Bullard escaped from jail. But Tina suspects an ulterior motive when she observes Mrs. Yates’ condition.

Vince and Tina find themselves Stuck Together in taking of Mrs. Yates, and in their hearts. Vince explains it nicely. “I can’t believe the time I wasted trying not to end up stuck together with the only single woman left in town.”

Mary Connealy has a knack for writing humor in the midst of very serious situations, and bringing the comic relief that is needed in writing drama.

I would recommend any of Mary Connealy’s books for those who love historical fiction westerns. Her characters are well developed, even as they conceal things from each other. This book ends the Trouble in Texas series. I wonder what she’ll come up with next.

You’ll rarely be disappointed with Mary’s books. You don’t to read any other series of hers in order to enjoy this book. It can also be a stand-alone book, although your understanding of the characters and situations in this story will be enriched if you read the others as well. I have a tendency to sometimes read books out of order. Only rarely do I read all of a series. But I’ve read most of Mary’s books – her Kincade Brides, Sophie’s Daughters Trilogy, two other trilogies, Montana Marriages and Gingham Mountain. They’re all good.

I’d rate this 4-1/2 stars. I rarely give five stars out to a book. It has to really blow me away – because I’m such an avid reader. So if I say I really like it, I really do.

            I received this book from the publisher in return for my honest opinion.

EDIT-ADDITION: I just have to add to this review, the link to Mary Connealy's website, where you can read a FREE prequel to the Trouble to Texas series. This 13-chapter novella, details what it was like in Andersonville for our four Regulators (Luke Stone, Dare Riker, Vince Yates, and Jonas Cahill). She also shows us Seth Kincade and Callie Stone. THIS FREE prequel - I give FIVE STARS to!

***** I read it in about two hours time on a Friday evening, and I was caught up. I loved it! Kudos, Mary! Her blog says she could have done so much more, but since readers had been asking for more details about their time in Andersonville, she provided it. I loved it!

Here's the link: http://mconnealy.blogspot.com then click on the Trouble in Texas Prequel tab. You won't be disappointed.