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Brilliant British Historical Mysteries: From Cradle to Grave and Sister Boniface Mysteries

19 Nov

From Cradle to Grave
Rhys Bowen
Rhys Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness Mystery Series, set in the 1930s, is always charming. From Cradle to Grave has heroine Georgie, a cousin to the royal family experiencing new motherhood as well as a mystery involving the suspicious deaths of several first sons. What seems like tragic accidents might be something much more sinister. I liked that Georgie wants to care for her son beyond simply seeing him at tea time and flouts some of the traditions of the time period, but yet still feels enough pressures of her age that it doesn’t feel unrealistic for the 30’s and take the reader out of the story. I also thought she did a good job with foreshadowing the upcoming war and the complexities of British attitudes to Germany and Hitler during that time period. The mystery element of the novel takes a bit to get started, but it is an intriguing one. I’d recommend reading the series in order, but you can jump in at this novel and not feel lost.

Sister Boniface Mysteries
If you are a fan of the Father Brown TV series then you will be delighted that the first two seasons of spinoff series Sister Boniface Mysteries, set at the start of the 1960s, is now also available from Hoopla to Hoboken Library card holders. The series stars a nun who uses her interest in forensics science to help the local Great Slaughter Constabulary solve crimes. This a funny cozy series that will appeal to fans of Agatha Christie’s mysteries set in small British towns. Episodes involve everything from a pirate radio station to a possible ritualistic killing.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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Great Mysteries Part 2-Who Let the Dogs (and ducks) Out: For Duck’s Sake and Two Parts, Sugar, One Part Murder

6 Aug

For Duck’s Sake
by Donna Andrews
For Duck’s Sake is the latest in Donna Andrews long running Meg Langslow Mystery Series. Sometimes series when they run a long time can run out of ideas and become boring, but I always find Andrews stories full of charm. This novel certainly has a lot going on it. Meg must help with the town’s dog adoption festival including a doggie parade of the adoptable canines. On top of that her brother and his family are putting in a duck pond on their nearby property (hence the ducks in the title). When the digging for the pond unearths a body, a mystery about both who the body is as well as why they were murdered is added to the mix. Unlike some cozies the body is found early on in the story so if you are a new reader and like your mysteries focused on solving the crime, you will enjoy this story. There are plenty of appearances though of Meg’s quirky family and friends like New Age Maven Rose Noir, kind hearted vet Clarence, and Meg’s cantankerous grandfather for long term series fans to enjoy. All the various plot threads knit together nicely in the end. I’m looking forward to Meg’s next outing in the Winter holiday themed, Five Golden Wings, which will be available in October.

Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder
by Valerie Burns
I adored reading Valerie Burn’s latest in her Baker Street Mystery Series that I couldn’t resist going back and reading the first book, Two Parts Sugar, One Parts Mystery. I found this one equally charming and I didn’t find it detrimental to my enjoyment reading out of order. I loved seeing how Maddy went from urban social media influencer to moving to a small town in Michigan near the Great Lakes. Here we see her inheriting her Great Aunt’s home and business along with a gigantic English Mastiff named Baby (his full show name comes from a tribute to Hoboken’s own Frank Sinatra). It was nice knowing reading this one, that despite her heartbreak that caused her to take this plunge, that true love was in her future. I gave up on a long running mystery series that never felt like it progressed in a satisfactory manor a love triangle between the main character and her suitors, so I it was great to see that this series allowed for sufficient character development. The mystery about the death of New Bison’s mayor is intriguing and it is also nice to see another African American amateur detective; for those looking for more diverse, cozy foodie mystery reads you can check out Abby Collette’s Ice Cream Parlor Mystery Series and her Books & Biscuits Mystery Series as well as Valerie Wilson Wesley’s A Glimmer of Death and Olivia Matthews’s Spice Isle Bakery Mystery Series.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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