Kate Kingsbury

When the gardener at Bellehaven Finishing School finds the body of Home Management teacher Kathleen Duncan, the police and headmistress Meredith Llewellyn initially think it was a tragic accident. But Meredith soon discovers that the tree limb that hit Kathleen on the head did not accidentally fall off the tree - it was sawed off and Meredith thinks it may have been used as a murder weapon. The police still say it was an accident so Meredith decides to investigate Kathleen's death without show more their help. But she won't be alone - Kathleen's ghost is eager to help her.

"High Marks for Murder" is the delightful first mystery in the new Bellehaven House cozy mystery series. Author Rebecca Kent previously wrote two cozy mystery series under the name Kate Kingsbury and this book is as good as any of the Kingsbury books. The mystery is set in England in 1905 and Meredith will reminder readers of a typical Kingsbury heroine - a feminist who struggles to conform to the times. Kent does a good job of capturing that period of time, especially with the students and the maids who aren't as willing as their elders to give in to the constrictions of that time. The book is filled with great characters including Meredith and her fellow teachers Felicity and Essie; Tom, the elderly gardener; Mrs. Wilkins the cook; and maids Grace and Olivia. The ghost of Kathleen added a nice supernatural atmosphere to the book that I really enjoyed and I also liked the gentle sense of humor throughout the book. The mystery elements were well done, although I felt a bit let down when the killer was revealed. I also didn't care for the romance that is hinted at between Kathleen and Stuart Hamilton, owner of Bellehaven, but perhaps it will grow on me in further books.

"High Marks for Murder" is a good cozy mystery and I look forward to reading more in this series. show less

As blustery Fall winds cool the Oregon coast, Melanie West and her grandmother, Liza, open the Merry Ghost Inn. They didn't expect to have the grand opening so late in the year, but their new business venture was delayed by six months after a fire damaged a large part of the building. With all the repairs and renovations finally completed, Melanie and Liza welcome their first guests, a senior citizen group from Portland. The six seniors are members of a book club and all live in the same show more retirement community. After just one day at the Inn, things go drastically wrong when one of the group, a cranky troublemaker that none of them really liked, is found dead in the driveway outside. When the police discover that Walter Dexter's fall from the second floor balcony wasn't an accident, Melanie, Liza and their assistant, Cindi, start investigating. Who sawed the balcony railings so that Walter would fall to his death? Could one of their seemingly harmless elderly guests be a murderer?

Doom With a View is the second book in the Merry Ghost Inn series. I haven't read the first book yet, but easily followed the characters and plot of this new book. I adore Melanie, Liza and Cindi. They are all different, but very strong, determined and intelligent women. I also enjoy how Liza is sure their resident ghost (they call him Orville) is real....but Melanie thinks it's some defect in the house. That sound of laughter they all hear....Melanie contends it couldn't possibly be a ghost. It has to be the house settling.

The book is a quick read at less than 200 pages. The mystery is fast paced and doesn't bog itself down in fluff and unnecessary details. It gets right down to business with the dead body popping up in Chapter 1. Boom -- dead guest. Right to the point. I have no problem with that. I don't like it when I'm reading a mystery novel and get through almost half of it before there is any mystery. This book cuts to the chase immediately. It doesn't just focus on the deceased guest and investigation though...there is plenty of speculation about Orville the Ghost, quite a bit of character development, interaction with side characters...good story building. I liked the fast pace, and the setting. The characters are quirky and interesting. The mystery had plenty of suspects and surprises. Max the dog is the required loyal fur face, helping his owners solve the crime and barking at empty space -- or is it Orville? :)

All in all, a fun cozy mystery! Once I started reading, I moved book one, Dead and Breakfast, to the top of my TBR pile. I want to enjoy more Melanie and Liza antics while I wait for book 3!

Kate Kingsbury is a pen name used by author Doreen Roberts Hight. She also writes the Pennyfoot Hotel series and Manor House Mysteries under the same pseudonym. For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://www.doreenrobertshight.com/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Opinions expressed are entirely my own.** show less

I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley.

There's much to be said about a cozy mystery that is cozy enough that you can blaze through the whole book in a single day. I hadn't read the first book in this series, but I had no problems getting into the groove here. The setting is the Oregon coast, centered around the tea room of protagonist Vivian, a widowed grandmother who is living out her dream by baking up loads of delectable British baked goods each day and solving a murder or show more two while she's at it. In this book, a local beachcomber is killed, and though she doesn't know the man, she's intrigued that a Big Ben sculpture from her shop was in his shack when he died. She sets out to find out how it ended up there, and ends up emotionally invested in proving that man wasn't involved in any other crimes at the time of his death.

Some elements of the investigation felt forced. I especially cringed when Vivian set about questioning a small child who was even given the Big Ben as a gift--that just seems all sorts of awkward in this day and age. The point of view shifts to the local detective also didn't feel necessary at all--all they did was confirm his interest in dating one of the workers in the tea shop. Even so, the mystery overall was quite good, and I ended up being surprised by the identity of the killer. I loved the sweet romance that Vivian develops with Hal, too. That made me smile throughout the book. show less

The book starts with a bang when a body is found lying sprawled in the rocks. The opening delves straight into the mystery starting with the first paragraph by immediately setting up the victim and the prime suspect. The story weaves between Vivian - our amateur sleuth - and Detective Lieutenant Tony Messina as he investigates the murder. His part of the plot becomes increasingly complicated as his interests shift from detective interrogating a suspect to a growing attraction to Jenna - her show more assistant. Jenna has a strong connection to the victim who turns out to be her ex-husband Dean - who also has a long list of enemies. From the women he's cheated on to the woman - and owner of the nightgown he was found in - he was with before he died to a gambling 'friend,' there is no storage when it comes to suspects. The growing list of suspects and motives creates a compelling mystery full of twists and turns.

Kingsbury has a flair for capturing the attitudes and personalities of her characters which provides a well-rounded picture of them through the eyes of her protagonist, specifically her two assistants. Jenna is described as rarely showing emotion and having a talent for startling other people. But while she's blunt - even rude at times - she's also loyal and always willing to lend a helping hand. Her backstory is tragic with an abusive father, the death of her brother, foster homes, and a miserable ex-husband - the murder victim. These elements are what push her desire to bury the past and create a balance to Vivian's other assistant Gracie who is described as being in a constant state of excitement with an impulsive and unpredictable nature that has her always ready to embark on an adventure. Every character has a vivid personality - for example, Natalie of the Sophisticated Grape wine shop is described as being onstage everywhere she went and "out to impress everyone who entered her realm."

Vivian has made her lifelong dream come true - which took more than sixty years to achieve - so the story has a strong voice that incorporates the pride she has. The descriptions of the tearoom are elegant, vivid, and beautifully capture the English aesthetic. Vivian is living her dream though she still carries a weight of grief around her from the loss of her husband three years prior. Despite this, she has a playful way about her that adds to the lighthearted tone of the story which pairs well with the lovely Oregan coast as a setting. Moments are provided that take you into the peacefulness of the setting through vivid details such as the fragrance of seaweed and the salty air. Reading Kingsbury's descriptions always delivers a strong presence in every scene that easily takes you into the setting with the humorous names of shops (Furry Fun pet supplies shop) and the whimsical shops such as the Beach Bums Cafe description of having a Hawaiian theme that's overdone with gaudy decor. show less