Published: May 2, 2017
ISBN: 978-0425276600
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Print
Obtained via: Publisher
Reviewed by name and email address: Gina Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com
THREE-1/2 HEARTS
Interior designer Meg Barrett’s business has taken off and she’s
scored a major coup by doing the interior of the Bibliophile B & B. The inn’s unique concept of a different room
dedicated and designed to the era of certain authors has made this perhaps one
of the most enjoyable projects Meg has undertaken. The inn’s opening is timed
to occur in conjunction with Sag Harbor’s annual book and antiquarian fair.
Even more exciting, Franklin Hollingsworth has in his possession a recently
discovered original manuscript by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The manuscript has
attracted interest from a diverse group of people. Unfortunately, along with a
collection of book aficionados, the manuscript has attracted a killer. Once
again Meg finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation.
I was attracted by Kathleen Bridge’s Hamptons Home & Garden
mysteries series mainly because it takes place not only near where I grew up,
but in some of the towns we went to on vacation or day trips. Bridge does a fabulous job of describing Sag
Harbor, Montauk and the surrounding towns—especially during the summer traffic
crush. Her creation of the Bibiliophile B&B is sheer genius and I sure wish
it existed for real. Imagine spending a few days surrounded by first editions…signed
first editions of some of the world’s greatest literature! The mystery of the stolen manuscript in
GHOSTAL LIVING had some nice twists to it.
Very clever at the outcome.
When I read and reviewed her first book, BETTER HOMES AND
CORPSES, I mentioned that it was disappointing that more wasn’t made of Meg
having a hearing impairment. She is a unique amateur detective with the hearing
impairment and her lip reading could add some nice depth to the character and
how she solves her crimes. I was glad to see Bridge having Meg use that skill
in GHOSTAL LIVING.
While I did enjoy the descriptions of the various venues in the book – the towns, the rooms at the inn, etc., it seemed to take a long time for Meg to actually start looking for the killer. At one point I thought I was reading a travelogue instead of a mystery.
She does have, as is the pattern cozies seem to be falling into,
a love triangle. I’m not the only reader
who finds them annoying, especially when they drag on through several books. If
I want to read a romance, I’ll pick one up.
I don’t mind the sleuth having a love interest, but I want the focus on
the detective’s smarts, cunning and creativity, not trying to figure out which guys
she wants to be with. While Bridge does have the triangle aspect, she does a
nice job of including it and then dispensing with it. In fact, it’s more of a
background issue than actually part of the story so you don’t see much of it at
all.
A nice addition to a fun series.
This is an objective review and not an endorsement of
this book.
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