Sunday, March 17, 2013

A DEADLY GRIND by Victoria Hamilton



Publisher:   Berkley
Date published:   May 1, 2012
ISBN:  978-0425248010
Genre:   cozy mystery
Book format: Paperback
Obtained via:  Publisher
Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com

 

Vintage kitchen gadget and appliance collector Jaymie Leighton is hot on the trail of a marvellous Hoosier – a marvellous kitchen cabinet that can hold not only her pots, pans and utensils but store her cooking and baking supplies within easy reach. Looking over other items such as vintage cookware Jaymie hears a discussion about a valuable button. When a bottle of buttons is offered up for bid Jaymie joins in and wins the eclectic collection of buttons. She also wins the Hoosier.

At home along with her older sister, Becca, she begins to look over the cabinet and despite her best efforts cannot open one of the compartments. Busy with preparations for the Queen’s Tea event and helping her neighbour, Anna, with her bed and breakfast, she puts aside digging into the Hoosier. Before she can get back to checking the piece out she and Becca are shaken away that night by someone breaking into their home. Fortunately the prowler didn’t seem to get what he came for—but the news is not good—he’s dead. Murdered by an unknown person and left on Jaymie and Becca’s porch. Between serving the Queen’s Tea at Queensville’s annual event and helping Anna at the B&B Jaymie finds herself in the middle of the murder mystery begun with the mysterious burglar dying on her porch.

With a host of strangers in town for the event suspects abound. Can Jaymie figure out who killed the man on her porch before she joins him in death?

A DEADLY GRIND is author Victoria Hamilton’s first book in her Vintage Kitchen mystery series and it sets the stage for some fun cozy mysteries to come our way. She engages in some marvellous plays on words – not the least of which is the title.  If you are a coffee drinker you’ll get it right away. I know when I did I laughed at myself because it was so cleverly done.

There are an interesting array of secondary characters that leave you wondering if they are the culprit. I was surprised and caught totally off guard when the perpetrator was finally revealed. Some of the characters will be back, others will move on. I’d like to see more of Mr. Bourne if for no other reason than his stories. He weaves quite a tale!

Like Jaymie, I kind of struggled with Anna and how she was running, but not quite really running, her B&B.  Deedee and Valetta were a hoot.  And, of course, I totally adored Hoppy her Yorkie-poo and Denver, her kitty. They do their part to help solve the crime and they do it well.

The mystery keeps you turning pages and trying to see if you can figure out who did it before Jaymie. 

Definitely a must read! And I eagerly look forward to book 2!


This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

 

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