klettie's review
3.0
I just enjoy these books. Lovely palate cleansers. They lack something to make them a bit more gripping but I nevertheless enjoy that they are put downable.
veva85's review
5.0
another masterpiece
I adore this series. Bea is such a compelling character you just can’t help but cheer for her. I need more of her :)
I adore this series. Bea is such a compelling character you just can’t help but cheer for her. I need more of her :)
ksanders013's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
looneytunes_ana's review against another edition
4.0
The book is pretty good and the ending was satisfying. However it was hard for me to keep track of investigation especially with the info dump that kept happening. That was the only problem I had with the book
jcguzzetta's review
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Who doesn't love a good murder mystery dinner party that turns into an actual murder investigation?!
I was so delighted that another Beatrice-Hyde Clare mystery was released! I just adore these books. It's the characters mostly. Bea can be a little too "in her head" sometimes, but overall, I just appreciate her and the Duke. Both together and separate (although we don't really get the Duke on his own). I love how they work together. I love how he believes in her, in spite of the fact that everyone else thinks she's crazy or eccentric or unfashionable. And I like the mysteries themselves, too. This was another in a line of great books in this series!
I was so delighted that another Beatrice-Hyde Clare mystery was released! I just adore these books. It's the characters mostly. Bea can be a little too "in her head" sometimes, but overall, I just appreciate her and the Duke. Both together and separate (although we don't really get the Duke on his own). I love how they work together. I love how he believes in her, in spite of the fact that everyone else thinks she's crazy or eccentric or unfashionable. And I like the mysteries themselves, too. This was another in a line of great books in this series!
vabookworm703's review
3.0
[b:A Ghastly Spectacle|56263972|A Ghastly Spectacle (Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mysteries, #8)|Lynn Messina|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1607824771l/56263972._SY75_.jpg|87647726] is the latest installment in [a:Lynn Messina|42550|Lynn Messina|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1419305089p2/42550.jpg]'s delightful Beatrice Hyde-Clare series - an entertaining set of Regency Era, cozy mysteries.
In this installment, Lady Abercrombie's plans hosts a murder mystery part to showcase Bea's cleverness to the ton goes awry, as is wont to happen in all things Bea, she stumbles across a real murder.
In typical fashion, Bea investigates the clues and susses out the murderer's identity . . . only after enduring the horrific behavior of the most tedious guests at the world's worst dinner party. (I really could have done with a lot less of the ping-ponging accusations and bickering amongst the guests).
Some how I missed the fact the Flora engaged in her own murder investigation, fortunately Ms. Messina very nicely summarized the events of her own adventure as well as the pertinent information from earlier installments (still I highly recommend reading the previous books).
This was a fast paced, delightful, if somewhat formulaic, novel. Although it is my least favorite (mostly due to the extended bickering amongst the guests) offering, it is still an entertaining and fun read.
In this installment, Lady Abercrombie's plans hosts a murder mystery part to showcase Bea's cleverness to the ton goes awry, as is wont to happen in all things Bea, she stumbles across a real murder.
In typical fashion, Bea investigates the clues and susses out the murderer's identity . . . only after enduring the horrific behavior of the most tedious guests at the world's worst dinner party. (I really could have done with a lot less of the ping-ponging accusations and bickering amongst the guests).
Some how I missed the fact the Flora engaged in her own murder investigation, fortunately Ms. Messina very nicely summarized the events of her own adventure as well as the pertinent information from earlier installments (still I highly recommend reading the previous books).
This was a fast paced, delightful, if somewhat formulaic, novel. Although it is my least favorite (mostly due to the extended bickering amongst the guests) offering, it is still an entertaining and fun read.
ssejig's review
3.0
Beatrice Hyde-Clare is trying to figure out how to be a duchess. She is used to being in the shadows as a spinster, not put in front of the ton as the woman who snared a duke and has now solved several murders. She really doesn't think that her friend Lady Abercrombie's tack is the right one, but the woman has already invited a number of people to participate in a murder mystery dinner party so Beatrice feels obliged to attend. Of course, one of the attendees ends up dead (one of the hostess's paramours, in fact) and it is up to Beatrice to solve the crime. And she does, but there is still 40% left in the book.
I really loved seeing Bea's deductive reasoning to figure out who is going to be the faux murderer in the party and I did enjoy getting to see her relationship grow with the duke. The mystery was okay but after the 60% mark, I kept wondering why I was still reading until about the 70% mark. Some nice filler but I wanted the story to just get on with it already.
I really loved seeing Bea's deductive reasoning to figure out who is going to be the faux murderer in the party and I did enjoy getting to see her relationship grow with the duke. The mystery was okay but after the 60% mark, I kept wondering why I was still reading until about the 70% mark. Some nice filler but I wanted the story to just get on with it already.