Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure by Rhys Bowen

MRS. ENDICOTT'S SPLENDID ADVENTURE is the latest historical fiction from Rhys Bowen (In Farleigh Field). She is a personal favorite and a prolific author of novels including The Constable Evans mysteries, The Royal Spyness series, and many featuring Molly Murphy in addition to several dealing with WWII and its impact.  This novel begins in 1938 in Surrey, England and moves fairly quickly to the South coast of France (near Marseille) throughout the war. After Mrs. Endicott’s husband seeks a divorce, she – and a group of “strays” – settle in a charming village whose inhabitants, including many fishermen, are largely self-sufficient. Gradually, Mrs. Endicott and her companions (an older woman with health problems, a kind-hearted cleaner fleeing spousal abuse, and a young, unmarried lass) build a community and start to thrive. Even in this remote area, the war years are predictably difficult, but most everyone (including other English ex-pats, a broad-minded priest, and the head of a nearby monastery), pull together. Mrs. Endicott learns to try new adventures, reflecting, “All my life I've been sensible and reasonable. I've done the right thing, tried to please everybody, but nobody ever tried to find out what I wanted.” Instead of giving into despair, she and the others grow and manage to find happiness. At one point, the abbot advocates prayer: “Why don't you start with three things you're blessed with, three things you're afraid of and finally three things you ask of him? And don't forget to listen, too.” An uplifting story in a beautiful setting. 

From Cradle to Grave by Rhys Bowen

FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE by Rhys Bowen is the latest (19th) mystery story in Bowen’s Royal Spyness series featuring Lady Georgiana. Although these cozy tales have a loyal and enthusiastic readership, I have found the last few (see The Proof of the Pudding and Peril in Paris) to offer a less positive picture of the heroine. Similarly, in this case, she needs to hire a nanny and stand up for herself against interfering relatives. Given that Lady Georgiana and her friend Belinda have shown themselves as more than capable in solving murders, those tasks should not seem to be so daunting although they help move the story forward. Once again, I would recommend reading earlier entries in this light and entertaining series. FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE eventually develops into a fine mystery (multiple young aristocratic men are dying without any apparent link) but hopefully Lady Georgiana will channel her grandmother and show a stronger spirit in future outings.

Peril in Paris by Rhys Bowen

PERIL IN PARIS by Rhys Bowen is the latest in her Royal Spyness mystery series featuring Lady Georgiana Rannoch. Set in the mid-1930s and taking place primarily in the French capital, this new addition is not as strong as previous entries. Georgie, now pregnant, has come to Paris while husband Darcy is on assignment there. She spends time with her old friend Belinda, her mother, and fashion designer Coco Chanel. There is a murder at a fashion show and Georgie investigates, but it is as if her pregnancy has contributed to a personality change. She is much more hesitant than I recall from earlier adventures. The mystery, too, is not all that involving although there is an element of pre-WWII espionage. PERIL IN PARIS is fine as light entertainment, but readers will be much more apt to enjoy earlier titles in this series like God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen or Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding. 

The Castle in the Glen by Rhys Bowen

THE CASTLE IN THE GLEN is the latest stand-alone historical mystery by Rhys Bowen, bestselling author of more than sixty novels. This is the story of a famous mystery writer, Iris Blackburn, who was recently diagnosed with dementia and needs to find a co-writer to help finish her latest work, the prequel to her best-selling Inspector Melrose series. She offers the opportunity to Emma Callander, a young writer living in London, but from Australia. Emma is hesitant at first but quickly becomes enthralled by the author’s book within a book about the drowning death of the daughter of a laird and her male companion. The draft chapters describe fictional Melrose’s first solo case and he, too, is concerned about solving the puzzle, especially since the main suspect, a rival suitor, has disappeared. To help writing and revising, Emma is given a trip to Glascow and the Isle of Skye and there she begins to learn some troubling facts and is threatened while also starting a romance. The pace picks up and readers will likely predict some of the ending Bowen has crafted, but she includes numerous twists and surprises, so they are unlikely to foretell them all. The unique geography and environment on Skye is vividly described in this entertaining combination of suspense and historical fiction.

The Last Mrs. Summers and more mysteries

I have been reading mystery stories by Agatha Award winner Rhys Bowen for decades – starting with
the Evan Evans series which is set in Wales. Her latest, THE LAST MRS. SUMMERS, takes place mainly in Cornwall and features Lady Georgiana and her good friend from the Her Royal Spyness series, Belinda. This time, the duo are exploring a poorly maintained cottage that Belinda recently inherited. Desperate for a place to stay, they end up at the nearby estate of a former classmate and find the atmosphere there to be unsettling indeed. In this mystery, Bowen offers numerous references to DuMaurier’s Rebecca, including an unfeeling husband married for the second time, a suspicious and manipulative housekeeper, and a sense of a haunting presence. The story is rather involved with several subplots and some Cornish smuggling, too. While not her best effort, Bowen’s many fans will find THE LAST MRS. SUMMERS to be enjoyably diverting.

COZY CASE FILES, A COZY MYSTERY SAMPLER contains selections by Carolyn Haines, Ashley Weaver, Ellie Alexander, Jane K. Cleland, Donna Andrews, Vivien Chien, Elizabeth Penney, Diane Kelly, Cate Conte, Susan Cox, and Ellen Hart.  If you are looking for a new series for a quick “cozy” read or simply a chance to appraise the writings of these mystery authors, pick it up. Containing the beginnings of new books due out in Fall, 2020, there’s a story for all cozy fans, including one about finding the body of a missing student right before his class’ 20th high school reunion (In a Midnight Wood by Hart) and another which focuses on the aftermath of a car accident witnessed by the owner of a Chinese restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio (Killer Kung Pao by Chien). Both full mystery novels will be reviewed here shortly.  Hopefully, this sampler (10th in the series) will help you to find some new authors to explore in addition to current favorites, too.

Agatha Christie's Influence ...

HERCULE POIROT'S SILENT NIGHT by Sophie Hannah is the fifth mystery she has written about Agatha Christie’s intrepid detective, but the first that I have had the pleasure to read. This novel takes place at an old mansion which is literally about to crumble into the sea as the cliff it sits upon is eroding. It seems that the family who lives there is disintegrating, too – there is much animosity between the two sisters (married to two brothers), their parents, and in-laws. The patriarch is gravely ill and about to enter hospital, but his wife is certain that he will be killed after another patient is murdered. Temporary guests Poirot and his friend, Edward Catchpool, are caught up in the drama and preparations for Christmas festivities. In fact, many clues emerge as Catchpool unobtrusively interviews suspects while decorating Christmas trees. The key is past transgressions and as Poirot notes, “without the determination to keep the terrible secret at all costs there would have been no motive to commit any murders at all.” Readers will be surprised and entertained by this holiday-themed tale.  

THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING by Rhys Bowen is number 17 in the series which features Lady Georgiana Rannoch. It is exciting that she and her husband are about to have a baby, but this mystery lacked suspense and the perpetuator and motive were fairly obvious from the start. Numerous guests attend a fancy dinner party and eat the same food, but a few become ill and more than one dies.  In order to save the reputation of her chef, Georgie has to figure out how the murder occurred and greatly benefits from some brainstorming with none other than Agatha Christie herself (a fellow guest at the exclusive dinner). Fans of this long-running series will likely enjoy Georgie’s increased confidence and triumph at entertaining with a French chef; many, however, may prefer other, more puzzling, cozy mysteries.

Cozy Mystery stories ...

Here are a couple of additions to popular mystery series:

GOD REST YE, ROYAL GENTLEMEN by Rhys Bowen is yet another title in the Royal Spyness series involving Lady Georgiana.  This time, she and several family members are invited to be guests near Sandringham as the Queen celebrates Christmas.  A terrific blend of 20th century history (involving European politics prior to WWII), plus upper-class manners and holiday customs, this mystery brings Lady Georgiana once again face-to-face with a murderer. Someone takes a shot at the Prince of Wales, future King Edward VIII, and several employees are also hurt or die in suspicious circumstances while on the estate.  As the holidays near, look for GOD REST YE, ROYAL GENTLEMEN if you would like reading about “a cast of charming, quirky characters … [in a] lovely English Christmas cozy” (quote from Publishers Weekly review).

CLAWS FOR ALARM by Rita Mae Brown is A Mrs. Murphy mystery – actually number 30 in the series involving a dog named Tucker, and two cats, Pewter and Mrs. Murphy. I generally enjoy spending time with their owners: Harry, former postal worker, and her husband, Fair who is the local vet in Crozet, Virginia. However, it seems like Rita Mae Brown and her “co-author” Sneaky Pie Brown are sadly running out of ideas. The dialogue and text here felt repetitive and the story itself, involving the death of a local matriarch and subsequent squabbling by her adult children, was not particularly original or inventive.  Combining the modern day happening with a mystery set far in the past generally adds confusion encouraging the reader to focus on one storyline or the other. Earlier tales in this series are more engaging and worth a look. 

Mastering the Art of French Murder

MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER, a historical mystery by Colleen Cambridge, is a LibraryReads selection for April and the first book in a new series subtitled An American in Paris. Cambridge has written numerous other mystery stories and this one’s twist is that budding chef Julia Child is neighbor and friend to the protagonist, Tabitha Knight. The story takes place in post-WWII Paris and a young woman is found dead after a late night party at Julia Child’s residence. Tabitha (recently arrived from Detroit) sets out to solve the murder and keep blame from falling on Julia and/or her family. Unfortunately, Tabitha seems rather naïve and impulsively reckless, leading to some unnecessarily dangerous situations. For me, the time period and the descriptions of the city itself (with scenes near the Eiffel Tower and in Montmartre) were stronger aspects than the puzzle of the murder; the party guest list in effect limited suspects to a narrow, sometimes hard to distinguish, list. However, the series has potential and fans of historical mysteries (and, as others have noted, of authors like Jacqueline Winspear and Rhys Bowen) are likely to enjoy MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER.