Publication May 21, 2024
Event planner Sophie Winston remains one of my favorite amateur sleuths. She's smart, likable, and genuinely seems to care about her friends and family. She's strong and independent but not foolish. She does an excellent job of having backup when she's going into potentially dangerous or volatile situations. Let's face it, all cozy mystery amateur sleuths aren't that far sighted. While Nina and ex-husband Mars seem to be her usual sidekicks, her circle of friends is there for her, just as she is for them. So, a smart, relatable cast of characters headed by a hard-working woman who isn't afraid to ask the tough questions but does it in a reasonable safe manner. Now, true, that doesn't mean she doesn't occasionally run into trouble, that's expected, but she's not TSTL, ie "too stupid to live". You're also going to learn a great deal about charcuterie boards of all kinds.
As for the mystery, it's really two mysteries that mesh into one as the book goes along. Who killed antiques dealer Orson Chatsworth and, hmm, what secrets from the past might be hiding in a hidden room. Yep, a hidden room. It holds some answers for Sophie but also creates just as many questions. I don't want to give away too much as it's delicious fun (you'll see why I use the word delicious as you read) stumbling across the clues as they slowly but surely emerge. Is Jordan as arrogantly entitled as he seems? Why do so many think they're entitled to money from Orson's estate? Family squabbles? Greed? Jealousy? All those and maybe more?
What will happen to Orson's beloved dog Rosebud? And, speaking of dogs, I definitely liked that the author made a point of mentioning how Sophie harnessed, then clicked her dog Daisy into the seat-belt. A minor thing, yes, but a nice reveal of Sophie's attention to not just detail but her focus on safety. But, as for the murder investigation, lots of suspects, albeit Sophie is reluctant to suspect some, and many red herrings throughout with a real surprise twist at the end. Nope, not telling. You'll just have to read it. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks - #KensingtonCozies for inviting me to Old Town Alexandria again. I love how the end of each chapter leaves us wanting to hurry to the next, although I am inclined to think that with all the food talk and yummy recipes we may cheat a bit and use those brief moments as an excuse to grab something tasty. I definitely never read this series without at least a snack nearby.
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