Madrigals and Mayhem

When the local toyshop reopens after the death of the owner, Molly is pleased to make a new friend in the owner's granddaughter Charlotte who has taken over the store. However, neither of them expects to find a gravely ill intruder when Charlotte gives Molly a tour.

Molly soon gets involved in solving a mystery as Christmas nears. Charlotte's relatives were angry that her grandfather left everything to her including the clues to the location of a very valuable doll. But no one thought they were angry enough to try to kill her.

As Molly investigates, she finds herself stumbling onto clues and additional crimes. Meanwhile, she is busy finding books about dollhouses for a display that echoes the historical dollhouse in the toy store's show more window. The book within a book in this episode deals with a grief-stricken child and the dollhouse figures who try to ease her sorrow.

I enjoy this series which is set in Cambridge. I like that Molly and her mother are making a new life for themselves in England working in a bookstore that has been in the family since the 1600s. show less

Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney has Molly eager to experience her first Christmas in Cambridge with her family and friends. An attempted murder, though, was not on Molly’s Christmas wish list nor is a murder. I found Madrigals and Mayhem to be easy to read. I like the cast of characters as well as the setting. I just love Thomas Marlowe—Manuscripts and Folios. The shop is rich in history and full of fabulous books. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the toy shop. I wanted Charlotte’s dollhouse, and I like how it played into the story. I was not a fan of the lengthy excerpts from the dollhouse book. They took me away from the story. The mystery was interesting but simple to solve. I wish the guilty party had not been so show more obvious. There were several suspects and more than one crime (which I liked). I did not like the repetitive details. Molly learns something or finds a clue, she shares it with someone, and then they go to the pub and share it with their circle of friends (and so on). The treasure hunt was a fun addition. There is a good reveal and wrap up at the end. There is romance in the story as well. I liked a special announcement at the end. I enjoyed the book references and bookmarked a couple of them. The story needed more Christmas. Madrigals and Mayhem can be read as a standalone for those new to The Cambridge Bookshop Series. Take a trip to Cambridge in Madrigals and Mayhem for a dollhouse display, poisoned pastries, greedy relatives, a treasure hunt, rough rehearsals, and a cheery Christmas. show less

This fourth book in the Cambridge Bookshop series (though the first I've read) is a solid cozy mystery. After reading it, I am eager to start at the beginning of the series and read them all.

Molly is in England to help run her family's ancestral bookstore and eager to enjoy an English Christmas. A nearby toyshop reopens and Molly befriends, Charlotte, the owner. Unfortunately, Charlotte's family is feuding and there are murders and murder attempts, and Molly gets involved in trying to solve the cases.

This is a charming, engaging cozy mystery, full of music and theater (Molly auditions for the Christmas Madrigals and Mayhem show) and doll/dollhouse involvement.

I absolutely loved it!!

Highly recommended for fans of cozy mysteries and show more Christmas mysteries.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review) show less

Molly is excited about her first Christmas in England. She is the one tasked with making a Christmas plan for the store and her head is spinning with ideas. When an after hours murder takes place in the toy shop across the street and the young woman who now owns the store is assumed the murderer, Molly isn't so sure. Quite suddenly, even though she had plenty to do, she finds herself asking questions and looking for clues.

In this latest addition to the Cambridge book shop mystery series, mysterious poisonings, destructive break-ins, and missing valuables lead readers through twists and turns to solve the crimes. Family rivalries abound as Molly and friends become involved in helping Charlotte, the owner of the Magpie Lane toy shop, to find out what is happening and why. The Christmas setting adds interest to the story, as does the madrigal performance at which many clues are revealed. Romance also makes an appearance and provides a perfect setup for future entries in the series.

Although this book can be read as a standalone, readers familiar with the series will enjoy becoming reacquainted with Aunt Violet and Molly's mom, as well as other merchants on show more Magpie Lane. This is a clean and cozy mystery, without overt violence, strong language, or descriptive intimacy (kisses only).

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. show less

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this advance reader copy.

I didn't make it all the way through this story. Too many people, confusing relationships and a plodding story had me picking up and putting down the book until I gave up and read the ending. It turned out to be the most oblivious character, Occam's razor. The characters a nice enough, well written, the plot had promise and it's a bookshop/toy store/university setting, that's a bookworm's dream.

#MadrigalsandMayhem #MinotaurBooks #NetGalley #mystery #cozymystery #bookshopmystery

Not bad, just flat. Hard to believe the protagonist is part-owner of a bookstore; very little flavor of a bookstore in the book, plus it doesn't interrupt her self-appointed detecting role. The friends around the protagonist have little personality beyond "perfect." Very little about madrigals.