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krisrid's review against another edition
4.0
I really love this series! This is the third book, and I loved it just as much as the first two. I am really hoping the author has more books in her for the series, because it is great!
I am continuing to love the smart, funny, loving relationship between Wren and Death [prounounced Deeth]. They are both terrific people, and the banter and play between them is one of the best things about these books. They are not sappy or annoying, instead they come across as real, sensible people who happily found each other and get along famously.
I also like the interactions between Death and his brother, which ramped up a lot in this book. They are every set of male siblings you've ever met, who love each other, but cover that up with pranks and insults and making fun of each other. It makes for some very funny scenes.
And speaking of funny, one of the funniest scenes ever happens where Wren is having a set-to with a religious nutbar kook, and he starts spouting bible references at her. Wren has a young boy helping her with auction stuff at the time, and he calls his aunt [Wren's employer from the auction company and a woman who takes nobody's shit!] and she snaps back from memory competing bible verses which are repeated to Wren to throw back at said kook. The verses start flying fast and furious and while I am not doing it justice, it is an absolutely hysterical scene, as the woman bests the bible thumper at every turn, unfuriating him that a mere woman could possibly know the bible better. I loved it! It is just one scene that showcases the delightful humour that this book, as well as the other two are full of. The author clearly has a wonderful sense of humour and uses it to great effect through her characters. Definitely one of the best parts of the book!
I did take off one star because the identity of the killer and why the murder happened was so incredibly obvious that even I figured it out really early on. Since I never even TRY to figure out whodunnit, if I know first, then it's a really open secret. That's not a criticism exactly, but for a cozy, it is something to be aware of, if you are the type who likes a tough mystery to solve. But it really didn't take away any of my enjoyment of the story or the characters.
This is definitely one of my favourite series, and one I will continue reading if the author plans more books. I really love everything about this series!
I am continuing to love the smart, funny, loving relationship between Wren and Death [prounounced Deeth]. They are both terrific people, and the banter and play between them is one of the best things about these books. They are not sappy or annoying, instead they come across as real, sensible people who happily found each other and get along famously.
I also like the interactions between Death and his brother, which ramped up a lot in this book. They are every set of male siblings you've ever met, who love each other, but cover that up with pranks and insults and making fun of each other. It makes for some very funny scenes.
And speaking of funny, one of the funniest scenes ever happens where Wren is having a set-to with a religious nutbar kook, and he starts spouting bible references at her. Wren has a young boy helping her with auction stuff at the time, and he calls his aunt [Wren's employer from the auction company and a woman who takes nobody's shit!] and she snaps back from memory competing bible verses which are repeated to Wren to throw back at said kook. The verses start flying fast and furious and while I am not doing it justice, it is an absolutely hysterical scene, as the woman bests the bible thumper at every turn, unfuriating him that a mere woman could possibly know the bible better. I loved it! It is just one scene that showcases the delightful humour that this book, as well as the other two are full of. The author clearly has a wonderful sense of humour and uses it to great effect through her characters. Definitely one of the best parts of the book!
I did take off one star because the identity of the killer and why the murder happened was so incredibly obvious that even I figured it out really early on. Since I never even TRY to figure out whodunnit, if I know first, then it's a really open secret. That's not a criticism exactly, but for a cozy, it is something to be aware of, if you are the type who likes a tough mystery to solve. But it really didn't take away any of my enjoyment of the story or the characters.
This is definitely one of my favourite series, and one I will continue reading if the author plans more books. I really love everything about this series!
dollycas's review against another edition
5.0
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I love this series! Morgan is working at Hadleigh House, an old abandoned mansion, to inventory the furnishings and other contents for auction. She finds an old sketchbook that is truly a treasure. It seems to tell a story from World War I about a soldier and his angel. Meanwhile Tony Dozier, an army vet is arrested for killing a man that was protesting his wife’s funeral. Wren and Death (Dee-th) “it’s a family name” Bogart meet the man and know right away he didn’t kill anyone. Death also has PTSD and knows that is what the vet is dealing with. Maybe the sketchbook can help explain the vet’s confusion and lead them to the real killer.
Three books and we are still peeling back the layers on these characters. They continue to grow closer and deal with each other’s battles. They are falling in love but still have barriers up so as to not cause each other pain, both physically and emotionally. The author seems to understand that their healing is a process, not something that can be fleshed out in a hurry but revealed over time. For me as a reader that draws me to these characters in a major way.
The setting this time was quite interesting. A big old house, a cemetery, and a camp for wounded veterans are all located close together but getting to the house is difficult because there is only a walking path until a bridge car be rebuilt for vehicles. The picture on the cover depicts things very well.
The theme of the story is very current, there is a group, the Church of the Army of Christ (CAC), a militant hate group, they protest around the area. This group disrupted the Dozier funeral because Tony’s wife was a Muslim. She and Tony were the only survivors of an attack in Afghanistan only to get back to the states and have her killed by a drunk driver. Tony dealing with the tragedy he witnessed overseas as a medic combined with his wife’s tragic death has left him just a shell of a man. The author wrote this book long before the current administration was sworn in but she clearly saw the degree of hatred during the election and she tackled that and the plight of veterans so well in this story.
As for the mystery, it wasn’t exactly complex but it wasn’t straight forward either. I knew who didn’t do it, just as Morgan and Death did, so I was really tuned in to all the others I viewed as suspects. I just had a feeling and surprisingly I turned out to be right, but it played out in a really scary, edge of your seat way.
The topics may seem heavy for a cozy mystery but Ms. Ross adds the humor, romance and character building in a way to keep it all balanced. I was very happy with the last chapter set up to take us into the next Death and Morgan story. It is going to be hard to wait a year to have it in my hands.
If this is a new series for you I really recommend you start with Death & the Redheaded Woman, then Death & the Brewmaster’s Widow, before you read this story. These are rich characters you will enjoy more if you meet them from the beginning.
I love this series! Morgan is working at Hadleigh House, an old abandoned mansion, to inventory the furnishings and other contents for auction. She finds an old sketchbook that is truly a treasure. It seems to tell a story from World War I about a soldier and his angel. Meanwhile Tony Dozier, an army vet is arrested for killing a man that was protesting his wife’s funeral. Wren and Death (Dee-th) “it’s a family name” Bogart meet the man and know right away he didn’t kill anyone. Death also has PTSD and knows that is what the vet is dealing with. Maybe the sketchbook can help explain the vet’s confusion and lead them to the real killer.
Three books and we are still peeling back the layers on these characters. They continue to grow closer and deal with each other’s battles. They are falling in love but still have barriers up so as to not cause each other pain, both physically and emotionally. The author seems to understand that their healing is a process, not something that can be fleshed out in a hurry but revealed over time. For me as a reader that draws me to these characters in a major way.
The setting this time was quite interesting. A big old house, a cemetery, and a camp for wounded veterans are all located close together but getting to the house is difficult because there is only a walking path until a bridge car be rebuilt for vehicles. The picture on the cover depicts things very well.
The theme of the story is very current, there is a group, the Church of the Army of Christ (CAC), a militant hate group, they protest around the area. This group disrupted the Dozier funeral because Tony’s wife was a Muslim. She and Tony were the only survivors of an attack in Afghanistan only to get back to the states and have her killed by a drunk driver. Tony dealing with the tragedy he witnessed overseas as a medic combined with his wife’s tragic death has left him just a shell of a man. The author wrote this book long before the current administration was sworn in but she clearly saw the degree of hatred during the election and she tackled that and the plight of veterans so well in this story.
As for the mystery, it wasn’t exactly complex but it wasn’t straight forward either. I knew who didn’t do it, just as Morgan and Death did, so I was really tuned in to all the others I viewed as suspects. I just had a feeling and surprisingly I turned out to be right, but it played out in a really scary, edge of your seat way.
The topics may seem heavy for a cozy mystery but Ms. Ross adds the humor, romance and character building in a way to keep it all balanced. I was very happy with the last chapter set up to take us into the next Death and Morgan story. It is going to be hard to wait a year to have it in my hands.
If this is a new series for you I really recommend you start with Death & the Redheaded Woman, then Death & the Brewmaster’s Widow, before you read this story. These are rich characters you will enjoy more if you meet them from the beginning.
andersenmom's review
4.0
This was a delightful book, with hilarious exchanges (my favorite was the scripture battle). Most of the time I laughed through it. It's a lovely story.
irishcontessa's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Another fantastic entry in the series! I continue to love the characters and the plots are always engaging. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
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