"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

"The Margaret Code" by Richard Hooton

 

"Elizabeth is Missing" meets "The Marlow Murder Club" in this endearing crime tale set in England. I loved both books, so the description of the plot immediately grabbed my attention. The story follows Margaret, an 89-year-old woman with early-stage dementia, and is told from her perspective as she shares her thoughts with her late husband and us, the readers.

Margaret Winterbottom has a secret she hasn’t shared with anyone, not even her family. She has lived on Garnon Crescent her entire life and believes she knows her neighbors - until she’s proven wrong. When her best friend next door, Barbara, is found dead in her house, Margaret’s world is turned upside down.

With the help of her 15-year-old grandson, Margaret tries to crack the case, as the police seem to be focusing on the wrong suspects. But as her memory starts to fade, the lines between past and present blur, and she’s unsure of what’s real. Misplaced objects only add to her confusion. As the duo digs deeper into the mystery, secrets come to light, and emotions flare.

The story captivated me from the very beginning and held my attention until the last page. I loved the book, and Margaret, in particular, got under my skin. Her reminiscences of World War II, her moments with her late husband, and her bond with her grandson were incredibly touching.

The author mentioned that the story was inspired by his own relationship with his grandmother, and his love for her shines through in his portrayal of Margaret. She is a well-rounded, fleshed-out character, and it was easy to become invested in her struggles and her life. When she forgot her way home, my heart truly went out to her.

The book explores themes of loss, the role reversal between parents and children, memory, aging, and the effects of illness on family relationships. The author paints a realistic picture of a woman on the cusp of amnesia and its impact on her family. It was heartbreaking to read about the illnesses of aging, and the desperate need to hold on to the present.

The writing is richly detailed, and I could easily picture each character, place, and scene. I loved how Margaret spoke to her late husband throughout the story, sharing her worries and reflecting on her life. Her relationship with her grandson was heartwarming, and I appreciated his care for her. Margaret’s daughter irritated me at first, but as the story unfolded, I came to understand her better.

By the last section of the book, I had my suspicions about the identity of the perpetrator, but I was still pleasantly surprised by the twists. I also appreciated how the second plotline regarding Margaret’s past was woven into the present-day mystery. The pacing was moderate, which suited the story of an aging heroine. 

The style of writing is easy to follow, but the book could benefit from another round of editing. Some chapters start without capital letters, and in a few words, the letter “O” appears randomly in uppercase. Despite these minor issues, I’m giving the book full stars. It’s a compelling debut, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I recommend it to fans of the genre and anyone who loves crime stories solved by elderly amateur sleuths. I look forward to reading more from this author.

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

* For more info about the book: "The Margaret Code" by Richard Hooton

"The Vanishing at Echo Lake" by Joseph Falank

 

"The Vanishing at Echo Lake" by Joseph Falank is a horror tale following three couples on a weekend getaway at a secluded lake house. I love the vacation-gone-wrong trope, so the blurb caught my eye.

Six friends go on vacation after not seeing each other for months due to COVID. Each deals with their own issues. The marriage of Ben and Kelsey is on the rocks; Teddy and Denna are childless and fighting over job prospects and having kids; Pete and Carrie need a break from daily life. Arriving at the lake, they find troubles have followed them. Something odd is going on at Echo Lake, and their weekend getaway takes a dark turn.

I liked the premise of the book and the setting. It was a quick read with an interesting premise. Unfortunately, its execution fell short. The book is written from a third-person point of view, and the focus shifts from one character to another. The characters are mostly likable, and I enjoyed the dynamics between them. I also appreciated the insertion of real-world issues such as COVID, livelihood problems, and vaccination in the tale.

The book has potential but needs some serious editing. The “bones” of the story are good; however, the execution needs improvement. The pacing is uneven, with moments of high tension followed by slower, less engaging passages. The suspense occasionally fizzles due to overwritten internal monologues and repetitive descriptions, such as the rehashing of marriage problems or the toppings on pizza in dialogues. It could have been scaled down and tightened up a bit.

In addition, I found the writing style a bit clunky and repetitive. There were some run-on sentences, repetitive thoughts, and redundant descriptions. It felt repetitive to be told about the couples' issues multiple times or to read similar descriptions of situations from different perspectives.

While there are some horror vibes, it never actually feels tense enough to be scary. Also, some questions remain open, and the explanations given were not sufficient. While I liked the exploration of the characters' emotions, I think the story would benefit from culling the repetitive descriptions and inner reflections.

Overall, it’s a decent read with plenty of potential. It definitely had moments that kept me engaged, and I appreciated the real-world issues interwoven into the narrative. With some more refinement, it could really shine. I rate the book 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it to fans of light horror.


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

* For more info about the book: "The Vanishing at Echo Lake" by Joseph Falank

"Agnes Sharp and the Trip of a Lifetime" by Leonie Swann

 

Sunset Hall's doyenne motley crew is back! "Agnes Sharp and the Trip of a Lifetime" by Leonie Swann is the second book in the 'Agnes Sharp Mysteries' and is just as good as the first. I loved the first book and was thrilled to get my hands on the second one.

Agnes Sharp shares her English country house, Sunset Hall, with a group of other seniors, including the athletic Edwina, who used to work for the Secret Service; the blind Bernadette, whose clothes are as colorful as her past; the strategist Marshal; the wheelchair-bound Winston; the chic Charlie; the turtle Hettie; Lillith, a dead housemate; and the wolfhound Brexit. Agnes now has a hearing aid, so she hears more than she wants to.

When Edwina wins a holiday to a high-end luxury eco-conscious hotel, our gang decides to join her. With the boiler out of order, the heating not working, and murders afoot, this is as good a time as any to take a break from it all. Alas, murders and mayhem seem to follow our gang, and pretty soon the vacation goes awry. The plot thickens when the hotel is cut off from the outside world, and it becomes clear that a murderer is on the loose. And this time we even have a white boa and a bit of romance!

I enjoyed the book very much. I liked the different setting (vacations gone wrong is one of my favorite tropes), the humor, and the dynamic between the gang. The book is written in the third person, alternating between the seniors and the snake, but the focus is still on Agnes. I loved reading the perspective of Oberon the snake. I also loved the Agatha Christie references ("Murder in the Library") and the side stories.

Quirky characters, some funny situations, and shenanigans aplenty made this a great read! The author paints the Eden Hotel with vivid strokes, and I loved the references to Adam, Eve, and the snake. There was indeed a snake in Eden, and not just the boa one. This is a light mystery, but there are a few moments of genuine tension.

The pace was just right and kept my interest from start to finish. The book can be read as a stand-alone, but I would recommend also reading the previous one to gain a better understanding of the dynamics. The book will appeal to both fans of the mystery/suspense genre and those who are simply looking for a good, light read. It has drama, tense scenes, and a lot of humor. Highly recommended, of course! I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

* 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 Trip of a Lifetime" by Leonie Swann

"Pride and Prejudice in Space" by Alexis Lampley

 

It is a truth universally acknowledged that one can never have enough of Elizabeth Bennet and Darcy. I adore Jane Austen's work, and "Pride and Prejudice" is among my favorite books of all time. Therefore, I eagerly seized the opportunity to delve into a retelling of it set in a futuristic universe. For those unacquainted with the original tale or who haven't watched the movies (is it possible??), here's a brief summary.

"Pride and Prejudice in Space" unfolds in the Londinium Lunar System, following the Bennet family, blessed with five daughters. We meet sweet Jane, who sees the good in everyone; spirited and witty Elizabeth, who harbors a passion for spaceships; bookish and reserved Mary, also fond of music; Lydia, an art enthusiast and talented gowns designer; and the youngest, Kitty, with a love for nature and gardens. With their estate set to pass to a relative due to an entailment clause upon their father's death, their mother is determined to see them all married and settled.

When the affable and wealthy bachelor Charles Bingley arrives in the neighborhood, accompanied by his sisters and the aloof Darcy, the mother sets her sights on pairing him with Jane. While Bingley is warmly received, Darcy's prideful demeanor earns him Elizabeth's immediate disdain, sparked by a petty remark. What ensues is a tale as old as time, replete with humor, pride, and prejudice.

Though Elizabeth serves as the primary protagonist, the narrative also delves into the stories of Jane and several other characters. The author vividly paints the futuristic world, inviting readers to yearn for its exploration. I found the adaptation of the original tale delightful and appreciated the subtle changes made to it. Despite my familiarity with the story from numerous readings, this version provided an enjoyable experience. While some lines were directly lifted from the original and the plot largely followed the same lines with a twist or two, it was to be expected.

The book boasts over 50 illustrations depicting the Londinium Lunar System, Lydia Bennet's gown designs, and Elizabeth Bennet's spaceship sketches, all of which I adored. Additionally, diary entries and communications from various characters added depth to the narrative. The setting, descriptions of interplanetary travel, witty banter, and world-building were all highlights for me. I appreciated the portrayal of the sisters as more caring and loving than in the original tale, as well as the alterations made by the author. The substitution of outings with visits to other planets or space escapades added a fresh dimension. The mother remained as irritating as ever, while the father remained indifferent and cynical.

However, one aspect troubled me. Given the futuristic setting, it seemed odd that the main protagonists remained idle. What functioned in the original narrative, where upper-class women did not work during the Regency era, felt somewhat out of place in a futuristic society. Nevertheless, I understand the need to remain true to the original tale. Additionally, there were a few typos, instances of the title insertion on odd pages, and an occasional lack of spacing between words, suggesting another round of editing would be beneficial.

Overall, "Pride and Prejudice in Space" was a delightful and charming read that I immensely enjoyed. Despite knowing the outcome, I remained invested in the story throughout. Therefore, I rate it 4 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it to fans of the original book, aficionados of space opera, and anyone seeking a captivating tale. Even those unfamiliar with the original tale will find enjoyment in the story.

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

* For more info about the book: "Pride and Prejudice in Space" by Alexis Lampley