"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

"Big Bad Wool" by Leonie Swann

 

Who doesn't love a good Sheep Detective story?? Big Bad Wool by Leonie Swann is an entertaining mystery told through the eyes of a flock of sheep. This is the second book in the Sheep Detective series. It continues from where Three Bags Full ends but stands perfectly well on its own. I haven’t read the first one, but I’ve enjoyed a few of Swann’s books, so I knew I was in for a good time—and boy, was I right.

Rebecca inherits her father George’s Irish flock and, per his will, continues reading to them and takes them to Europe. The flock now arrives in France with their new shepherdess and settles near a haunted French chateau. Rebecca lives in a shepherd’s wagon with her card-reading mom and sheepdog, Tess.

The flock is full of unique characters: Miss Maple – the smartest sheep; Sir Richfield – the old leader ram; Lane – the fastest; Othello – the new ram; Maude – the best nose; Zora – obsessed with abysses; Mopple the Whale – the memory sheep; and a young, nameless Winter Lamb who insists on getting a name. They’re joined by an “unsheared” sheep and a little black goat with wild ideas.

And beyond the fence? Goats. Herds of sheep and goats don’t get along very well. The sheep think the goats are smelly and reckless. The goats don’t understand the sheep. And of course, there are also people, dogs, and the Garou – a wolf-turned-human (or a human-turned-wolf).

Life in rural France becomes strange and frightening when deer, rabbits, and finally a human are found dead in a meadow and the nearby forest. It turns out this is not the first time—and the “Garou” is believed to be responsible for all of it. The flock of sheep embarks on a mission to expose the “Garou” and protect their shepherdess.

The sheep try to make sense of the human world using sheep logic, courage, and lots of grass-licking. The plot thickens with quirky humans, animal and goat characters, and even a mysterious wardrobe standing in the middle of the meadow. Woolpower will save the day!

I enjoyed the book very much—the humor, the atmosphere, the unique perspective. The storytelling is a bit slow-paced, fitting the rhythm of the sheep. I loved their sense of community, the simple way they interpret things just as they are, and that they are always together. I loved the way the mystery unfolded and how everything becomes clear in its own time.

Time spent with Miss Maple and her flock is time worth spending. I hope there is another book coming. The way they attempted to change their fortunes by eating tarot cards or took everything literally was hilarious. Fans of books written from animals’ POV will do well to read this book. Recommended, of course!

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

* For more info about the book: "Big Bad Wool" by Leonie Swann

"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

"Red Side Story" (Shades of Grey #2) by Jasper Fforde

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eddie Russett is back! "Red Side Story" is the sequel to "Shades of Grey" and continues the story of twenty-year-old Eddie Russett and Jane Grey who live on the fringes of Red Sector West. Jasper Fforde is one of my favorite authors. I loved the "Thursday Next" series and "Shades of Grey," so I was delighted to get an ARC of this book.

Welcome to Chromatacia, a world divided into four sectors known as Red, Green, Yellow, and Grey. Society is color-vision-segregated, and the societal hierarchy is regulated by one's color perception, with Red being the highest class and Grey the lowest. This is a rigid society that reminds one of the Nazi regime, with its strict rules, codes of conduct one must follow, and culling of the undesirables. The Yellows are fanatic enforcers of the rules, following the Munsellian Doctrine based on Munsell's Book of Harmony. Original thought is frowned upon, as is questioning the rules.

Eddie is forced into an arranged marriage with Violet, the daughter of the powerful DeMauve family, although his heart belongs to Jane. Complementary colors are forbidden to fraternize, so Eddie and Jane can't get married. Eddie and Jane try to figure out the riddle of life and break free from the shackles of society, while a death sentence hovers over their heads for a murder they didn’t commit.

I loved the book. It is even better than the first book, which I loved. Full of social criticism, great world-building, and strong character development, the author weaves an excellent story that draws readers in from the start. The book is written in a natural, flowing style. Although the book was very witty and quite easy to read, it explores several serious subjects and themes, such as family bonds, loyalty and friendship, fallible human nature, and racism. The author does a tremendous job of capturing the personalities of his characters.

It's a delightful read with engaging, multifaceted characters. The storyline is easy to follow, and the author gives an excellent sense of setting. I really loved the world-building, and the ending was satisfying. Jasper Fforde crafted a world that was unique in its own right and overflowing with imaginative depth. Although the book can be read on its own, it is preferable to start with the first book to understand the background. In this book, the reader finally gets an explanation of how the world came about and the meaning behind it. "Red Side Story" is a breath of fresh air, a book that surpassed every expectation I had set for it. People who loved the first book in the series will surely love this one. Highly recommended, and full stars from me!

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

* For more info about the book: "Red Side Story