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Work InformationDeath of a Cozy Writer by G. M. Malliet    Books Read in 2011 (384) Series to Try Out (22) No current Talk conversations about this book.  leslie.98 | Jun 27, 2023 |    ) JEatHHP | Aug 23, 2022 | All of these wealthy aristocrats were unlikeable, uncaring and snobby. But the writing was very good and made fun of them throughout which was entertaining. The ending was somewhat far-fetched, confusing and a bit of a disappointment. I do enjoy this author’s writing style and will read more by her. (  ) gaylebutz | Dec 24, 2021 |  ) rendier | Dec 20, 2020 | 1. Cover art included a fountain pen. 2. The word “writer” in the title. 3. The cover blurb sounded good. There are explanations behind the first two, but they don’t tie to this review. Sir Adrian Beauclerk-Fisk is a writer of a long series of best-selling cozy mysteries. He is also a pompous, egotistic snob who delights in pitting his children against each other with threats of their inheritance and frequent changes in his will. Ruthven (pronounced Riv-ven) Beauclerk-Fisk, the eldest, is first in line for the bulk of the inheritance and title. He is also pompous and a control freak. His wife, Lillian, is a social climber. George Beauclerk-Fisk is number two in line. A narcissistic young man of the belief that women can’t resist him, is involved in the gallery scene, is not super sharp and is a bit shady. Albert, number three son, is the black sheep of the family. An actor with a drinking problem and a string of failed roles in plays, figures he won’t get much of anything, but could use a little money. Sarah Beauclerk-Fisk is the nerdish daughter. A lump of a woman, unhappy in life, but has published a top selling cookbook of odd, healthy recipes and working on another. She tends to get distracted in details. These are the central characters, and along with others, they’ve been invited to the family estate to attend Sir Adrian’s wedding to Violet Mildenhall. They are not happy about this change in the status quo as they are worried what this will do the their inheritance. Ruthven researches Violet’s past and finds her first husband died a mysterious death, which provoked quite a scandal. Ruthven plans to present this juicy bit to their father in hopes of him cancelling the wedding. During a family meal, Sir Adrian shocks the family by announcing that the actual wedding has occurred a week earlier. Needless to say, the children go into a panic. When Ruthven is found brutally murdered in the wine cellar, the question turns to who is the next in line for the title and money; never mind the murder. The answer is left in limbo when Sir Adrian turns up dead the following day. Detective Chief Inspector St. Just is getting ready for a vacation when this case is dropped in his lap. He has quite a list of suspects to choose from and also finds a connection to the earlier mysterious death of Violet’s husband. Seems he has three deaths to resolve. The style is similar to Christie, Sayers and others of that era. There are humourous snippets and threads can be a bit tangled to follow. I enjoyed the characters and the plot moved along at a good pace. ( ) ChazziFrazz | Sep 20, 2020 | no reviews | add a review
Belongs to SeriesArthur St. Just (1) AwardsDistinctions
Fiction.
Mystery.
HTML: Winner of the 2008 Agatha Award for Best First Novel From deep in the heart of his eighteenth century English manor, millionaire Sir Adrian Beauclerk-Fisk writes mystery novels and torments his four spoiled children with threats of disinheritance. Tiring of this device, the portly patriarch decides to weave a malicious twist into his well-worn plot. Gathering them all together for a family dinner, he announces his latest blow â?? a secret elopement with the beautiful Violet... who was once suspected of murdering her husband. Death of a Cozy Writer was chosen by Kirkus Reviews as a Best Book of 2008, nominated for a Left Coast Crime award (the Hawaii Five-O for best police procedural), short-listed for the Macavity Award for Best First Mystery, nominated for the Anthony Award for Best First Novel and was a finalist for the David G. Sasher, Sr. Award for Best Mystery Novel. Praise: "Fans of English detective work will welcome Malliet's droll debut, the first in a new series."â??Publishers Weekly "Malliet's debut combines devices from Christie and Clue to keep you guessing until the dramatic denouement."â??Kirkus Reviews "Malliet's skillful debut demonstrates the sophistication one would expect of a much more established writer. I'm looking forward to her next genre-bender, Death and the Lit Chick."â??Mystery Scene "Almost every sentence is a polished, malicious gem, reminiscent of Robert Barnard . . . the book is perfect for the lover of the classical detective story or the fan of great sentences."â??Deadly Pleasures "In her series debut, Malliet, who won a Malice Domestic Grant to write this novel, lays the foundation for an Agatha Christieâ??like murder mystery."â??Library Journal "An affectionate homage to the Golden Age of British crime fiction by a skilled writer rapidly attracting attention."â??The Sherbrook Record "This tale cleverly adds modern touches to an Agatha Christie style classic house mystery."â??Mystery Women Magazine "Wicked, witty and full of treats!"â??Peter Lovesey, recipient of Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Crime Writer's Association and Malice Domestic "The traditional British cozy is alive and well. Delicious. I was hooked from the first paragraph."â??Rhys Bowen, award-winning author of Her Royal Spyness "Death of a Cozy Writer is a romp, a classic tale of family dysfunction in a moody and often humourous English country house setting."â??Louise Penny, author of the award-winning Armand Gamache series of murder mysteries "The connections made by St. Just are nothing short of Sherlock Holmes at his most coherent. A most excellent No library descriptions found. |
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 Google Books — Loading...GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.6Literature English (North America) American fiction 21st CenturyLC ClassificationRatingAverage: (3.29)
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Wikipedia in English
5
Davina Porter did a good job narrating. (