Publisher: Berkley
Published: January 27, 2015
ISBN: 978-0425257296
Genre: Cozy
Mystery
Format: Print
Obtained via: Publisher
Reviewed by
name and email address: Gina Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com
FIVE HEARTS
While
working at his part-time job in the library of Athena College one afternoon the
Mayor drops by with something special for Charlie Harris. Among the original residents of Athena, the
Longs have long supported the college. This
time the Mayor comes with a set of four diaries from her family’s ancestor,
Rachel Long, dating back to the civil war.
No sooner has Mayor Long departed from Charlie’s office when he
approached not by one but two people demanding…not asking but demanding…to see
the diaries. One is determined to obtain
tenure at the college no matter what and is certain the diaries are the way
there. The other is running for political
office and his campaign is certain they will affect the outcome. In a delicate balancing act of trying to meet
everyone’s needs…and demands…Charlie contacts the Mayor to see what she wants
to do but before he can follow her direction one of the involved parties turns
up dead. On top of that, other things
happen that may or may not be related to the crime.
Another
diary turns up while at the same time a memoir goes missing. Charlie is not without his resources though
and he turns to some of the town’s most notable, long time citizens. Their stories, however, raise more questions
than answers. Can Charlie find the
killer before the killer finds another victim?
I’ve
thoroughly enjoyed Miranda James’s Cat in the Stacks Series from the very
beginning. His latest, ARSENIC AND OLD
BOOKS is by far the best one yet. James
really and truly out-writes James in this one.
While he’s always been a good writer there was a shift in this one that
made for a tighter read. It’s still
James’s voice—just even better.
Diesel
has been, and continues to be, my favorite character in the book. As much as I like Charlie, Diesel does steal
the show. James does a super job of
portraying cat behaviour. That said, Charlie’s development over the books has
been nicely done, especially with his developing relationship with Helen
Louise. I like that he hasn’t gone down
the road of the “love triangle” that we’re starting to see more and more of in
cozy mysteries. As a “cozy purist” in my
own way that kind of romance ploy has no place in a cozy. Editors, publishers, agents and the authors
that might write them may disagree but sticking to the story and series serves
Miranda James really well.
The
mystery in this one was nicely done. The
excerpts from Rachel’s diary were well placed and appeared in just the right
places to keep the reader interested.
This
is definitely one to add to your TBR.
This series does not have to be read in order to enjoy the individuals
books, but if you are looking for a series with every book a good read this is
definitely the one to read.
This is an objective review and not an endorsement of
this book.
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