"Agnes Sharp and the Wedding to Die For" by Leonie Swann

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Agnes Sharp and the Wedding to Die For" by Leonie Swann is the third and final novel in the Agnes Sharp series. I’ve read and loved the other two books, so I eagerly awaited this one. It closes with a bang—literally—and not in a good way. But more on that later.

Agnes Sharp, a former police officer, shares her English country home, Sunset Hall, with a group of quirky seniors: Edwina, an ex–Secret Service agent who loves reptiles; blind Bernadette, the bride-to-be; her groom, Jack, a former hitman; Marshal, an ex-military strategist; Winston, who uses a wheelchair; Charlie, the new resident and vlogger; plus Hettie the turtle, Brexit the wolfhound, and Oberon, a white boa constrictor.

When Bernadette and Jack decide to marry at the high-class Foxglove Manor, which becomes available at the last minute, Agnes isn’t thrilled—Bernadette’s move will mean losing a beloved housemate. Still, she goes along with the plans. Time is short, and they need to come up with additional guests to make up the numbers. The unexplained death of the verger last year doesn’t help her peace of mind either, and she has to deal with Charlie’s latest idea—online dating—to boot. But once again, trouble follows the Sunset Hall gang: poison-pen letters, dead bodies, and a murderer on the loose, determined to stop the wedding.

This novel is packed from start to finish with murder, mayhem, mystery, intrigue, quirky characters, and shenanigans aplenty. The pace is slow, and the suspense-o-meter isn’t high—but it’s not that kind of book. It stands well on its own, though it’s best to read the previous installments first to fully appreciate the characters and their peculiarities.

I enjoyed most of it. It has the same humor, eccentric and likable characters, sharp writing, and creative plot as the earlier books. I loved the camaraderie among the characters and the hint of romance. The dating scenes were fun, and the few glimpses into Hettie the turtle’s and Oberon the white boa constrictor’s minds added a delightful, quirky touch.

However, the ending spoiled it for me. It didn’t fit the tone of the story or the spirit of the series, and the epilogue didn’t quite work either. It left a sour taste in my mouth. Therefore, I rated it 3.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up to 4. I reviewed the previous two books and loved them more—they had more heart and feel-good vibes, in my opinion. 

This book will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries with eccentric older sleuths. Even though the ending didn’t land for me, I’ll miss this oddball crew. It’s been such a fun, original series to follow. 

* Thank you Edelweiss and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "Agnes Sharp and the Wedding to Die For" by Leonie Swann