I’ve been going to bed this week with this fun read, Death of a Cozy Writer by G.M. Malliet–the audiobook–by day’s end these days, my eyes are too tired to read. It’s not age. It’s the pandemic. It’s always the pandemic.
It’s a fun British-style cozy mystery that’s both a tribute and a send up of classic Agatha Christie. I really enjoyed it. In the end, the plot and the solution are very, very contrived–but then, Dame Agatha loved that.
For romance lovers–the subplots skewer love rather than celebrate it, except for one really sweet unlikely background love story. If you need romance in your reads, this one is not for you. If you want reality in your reads–ditto. But if you want a brain candy puzzle teaser–this is a lovely one.
Death of a Cozy Writer
written by G. M. Malliet
narrated by Davina Porter
Series: A St. Just Mystery, Book 1
Winner of the 2008 Agatha Award for Best Fist Novel
WHAT IT’S ABOUT:
From deep in the heart of his 18th century English manor, millionaire Sir Adrian Beauclerk-Fisk writes mystery novels and torments his four spoiled children with threats of disinheritance. Gathering them all together for a family dinner, he announces his latest blow – a secret elopement. Within hours, eldest son and appointed heir Ruthven is found cleaved to death by a medieval mace. And soon Sir Adrian himself is found slumped over his writing desk – an ornate knife thrust into his heart.
Trapped amid leering gargoyles and stone walls, every member of the family is a likely suspect. Using a little Cornish brusqueness and brawn, can St. Just find the killer before the next-in-line to the family fortune ends up dead?
©2008 G.M. Malliet (P)2012 Dreamscape Media, LLC
WHAT THE CRITICS SAY
“Malliet’s debut combines devices from Christie and Clue to keep you guessing until the dramatic denouement.” ( Kirkus Reviews)
“Fans of English detective work will welcome Malliet’s droll debut, the first in a new series.” ( Publishers Weekly)
“In her series debut, Malliet, who won a Malice Domestic Grant to write this novel, lays the foundation for an Agatha Christie-like murder mystery.” ( Library Journal)
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