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MURDER MANSION
The Painted Lady Inn Mysteries #1
M.K. Scott
Released November 9th, 2015
Sleeping Dragon Press
Donna’s dream of running a Victorian
Bed and Breakfast is almost a reality. Her lack of inn keeping expertise, a
shabby house in need of dire renovation and lack of money has slowed her down a
bit. The murdered man in the upstairs parlor is her biggest obstacle. Less
determined people might give it up, but not Donna. No killer is going to stop her from serving
apple crumb cake to high paying guests.
Her natural skill at the Clue board
game, along with the grudging assistance of veteran detective, Mark Taber, an
overweight Puggle, and a chatty octogenarian neighbor should help her sniff out
the killer unless she’s snuffed out first.
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EXCERPT
MY REVIEW
When 50-year-old Donna buys a new house, planning to turn it into an inn, she never expected to find a man dead in one of her rooms.
A man not just dead, but murdered, too!
With the investigation going through her house, will she be able to finish her preparations and have her inn ready soon enough? Having those thoughts and being anxious about her plans, she starts investigating the murder with Mark, the detective who has been assigned to the case, and the help of her octogenarian neighbor and Donna's overweight dog!
This was an unusual story, I fully enjoyed reading about.
I particularly loved Donna, the protagonist.
She is a determined woman, who has seen her share of life and knows what she wants! When left at the altar at the young age of 22 she decided to never get married. Now, at the age of 50, I would expect her to seem a little older, but surprisingly she did not! Her way of thinking was quite refreshing, and I loved so much the way she stands by her beliefs and decisions. She has set her mind on making her new house into an inn, and won't settle for anything else!
I also loved Mark! He is clever and witty, even if Donna disapproves of a few of his unhealthy habits!
The way the author wrote this story was lovely, emphasizing what a witty heroine Donna was, as well as giving as crystal clear impressions of the rest of the people involved!
A murder mystery so well planned and narrated! I completely loved the fact that in the solving of the mystery not only detectives were involved, but also everyday people - and animals! Also, the unexpected twists and turns would just get me on the edge of my seat, another way in which this story amazed me!
All in all, 4 stars to a murder mystery, which involved a detective
and a very stubborn, very determined and awesome nurse!
EXCERPT
The
strident alarm announced five AM vibrating with vicious vigor on the bedside
table. Its annoying shriek would pierce
the heaviest stupor sleep could produce. Her eyes blinked slowly focusing on
the red numerals. It continued its wail
until she slapped it into silence. Daniel gifted her with the clock on her last
birthday, joking it could wake the dead.
The
murdered man took shape in the predawn darkness. He was standing beside her
bed, looking just as lifeless, but standing. His bowed head straightened, and
his eyes opened, and he stretched out his open hands toward her. His lips
moved. A whispery voice choked out the words, “Find my killer.”
Fear
strapped her to the bed, keeping her in place better than a dozen bungee cords.
The specter’s pale blue eyes held hers, imploring her, although she felt there
was some imperiousness about his attitude. Definitely had to be a doctor in his
previous life or some other profession where he ordered people around, and they
all scurried to his bidding.
An honest
to goodness ghost, a real live spirit—she
paused to consider if spirits merited the adjective live or whatever—stood by her
bed issuing commands. Her fingers gripped the covers, slowly pulling them up
her chest, then over her head, cutting off her view of the glowing ghost. He
had to be glowing. How else would she see him in the dark or the color of his
eyes? Of course, it could all be the tail end of a dream brought on by a very
stressful day. There might have never been
a murdered man in her inn either. Her lips
pursed as she considered the possibilities. What if she never had purchased the
old Victorian? Of course, there’d be no Detective Taber, and she’d still be
welcome at The Good Egg restaurant.
The alarm
grumbled again, starting weak and growing
in irritating intensity. Work remained a constant. It also demanded she lower
the covers. It had taken years to rate
the primo first shift rotation. Unfortunately, it started early in the morning.
Technically, it started at seven, but she had to be there at six-thirty to get
the shift change information along with enough time for a cup of coffee.
Her
mattress depressed somewhere near her leg freezing her heart in mid-beat. A
gentle snuffling sound started it again. Jasper, her dog, often took it upon
himself to be the second alarm system. With closed eyes, she dropped the covers
afraid if she opened them, her unwelcome visitor would still be there. Jasper’s
tongue bathed her face while encasing her in a cloud of smelly dog breath. Ack, he really needed breath mints. Her
eyelids flickered open, taking in the shape of her dog illuminated only by the
glowing clock and the power lights from various chargers. Her hand reached
blindly behind her, finding the clock and
turning it off.
No ghost anywhere in the dark room, but just
to be sure, she announced, “I’ll find your killer. Not for you, mind you, but
for me. I don’t want that kind of thing attached to my inn.” No reason to have
some dead man bossing her around. She had enough of that in real life.
MY REVIEW
When 50-year-old Donna buys a new house, planning to turn it into an inn, she never expected to find a man dead in one of her rooms.
A man not just dead, but murdered, too!
With the investigation going through her house, will she be able to finish her preparations and have her inn ready soon enough? Having those thoughts and being anxious about her plans, she starts investigating the murder with Mark, the detective who has been assigned to the case, and the help of her octogenarian neighbor and Donna's overweight dog!
This was an unusual story, I fully enjoyed reading about.
I particularly loved Donna, the protagonist.
She is a determined woman, who has seen her share of life and knows what she wants! When left at the altar at the young age of 22 she decided to never get married. Now, at the age of 50, I would expect her to seem a little older, but surprisingly she did not! Her way of thinking was quite refreshing, and I loved so much the way she stands by her beliefs and decisions. She has set her mind on making her new house into an inn, and won't settle for anything else!
I also loved Mark! He is clever and witty, even if Donna disapproves of a few of his unhealthy habits!
The way the author wrote this story was lovely, emphasizing what a witty heroine Donna was, as well as giving as crystal clear impressions of the rest of the people involved!
A murder mystery so well planned and narrated! I completely loved the fact that in the solving of the mystery not only detectives were involved, but also everyday people - and animals! Also, the unexpected twists and turns would just get me on the edge of my seat, another way in which this story amazed me!
All in all, 4 stars to a murder mystery, which involved a detective
and a very stubborn, very determined and awesome nurse!
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M.K. Scott is the pen name of husband and wife team, Scott &
Morgan. This is their first cozy mystery together, although Scott has worked
with several of the Morgan K Wyatt books. The couple has several books
planned for the series. In an effort to give the series an authentic touch,
Scott and Morgan participated in cooking lessons, winery tours, and stayed at
several Bed and Breakfasts. Research is a hard job, but someone has to do it.
Thank you so much for hosting and reviewing MURDER MANSION!
ReplyDeleteIt was a total pleasure!
DeleteThanks for hosting :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review too. I do this stuff early in the morning before the eyes are quite focused.
DeleteIt was an absolute pleasure reading and reviewing this story!! Thank you very much for the chance! :)
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