Death in the Mayfair Hotel - Fliss Chester

A Bookworm's World is today's stop on the tour for Death in the Mayfair Hotel, the sixth entry in Fliss Chester's - The Cressida Fawcett Mystery series. 

It's Christmas Eve in 1925 London, Cressida Fawcett is at the Mayfair Hotel with her chums and acquaintances - including her wee dog Ruby. The festivities have just begun when Cressida discovers a body. And it's someone she knows...

This is the first book I've read in this series. I was easily able to suss out who was who and some background. 

I really liked the characters. Although she is part of the upper crust, Cressida is keen on helping the local constabulary find out who the culprit is before midnight and the doors are opened. This isn't the first time she's helped them. She's smart, curious, and determined. I liked puzzling over the clues with her. The supporting cast was just as good, especially her best friend Dotty.

This setting gives us a large locked room mystery. Chester describes the setting very well and I could imagine  the ballrooms and the down belows. The customs, mindsets, expectations and rules of the time period are part of the setting - and the plot. There were a number of choices for the 'whodunit'. Chester gives us that and some red herrings on the way.

Cosy mysteries are my 'get away from it all, escapist' reads. Death in the Mayfair Hotel has all the bits that make up a cosy tale. A spunky lead that's an amateur sleuth, a dog or cat that helps out, a possible love interest yes, there's one or two of these. And while it's not a small village, the upper crust are the stand ins for that component. A fun read and a lovely cosy. Thanks Fliss Chester!

"Fliss Chester lives in Surrey with her husband and writes historical cozy crime. When she is not killing people off in her 1940s whodunnits, she helps her husband, who is a wine merchant, run their business. Never far from a decent glass of something, Fliss also loves cooking (and writing up her favourite recipes on her blog), enjoying the beautiful Surrey and West Sussex countryside and having a good natter."

You can find Fliss on Instagram as well as on X (Twitter)

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The Murders in Great Diddling - Katarina Bivald

Oh, I got a laugh when I read the title of Katarina Bivald's newest book - The Murders in Great Diddling.

But really, this small village isn't living up to to it's name. Run Down might be a better descriptor.

And author Berit Gardner is looking for a story to tell. She's in Great Diddling when an explosion kills a man in the library...

... and that death spurs on the villagers to use the event as.. well....an event that might just save the village and the residents. They are indeed a quirky bunch. But there may be some who have their own plans.

This is the perfect tale for booklovers. Amongst the shenanigans (which had me laughing outload), there are many truths about why and how we can't without them. 

 

I chose to listen to The Murders in Great Diddling. The reader was Helen Lloyd. She did a wonderful job in presenting Bivald's work. There many characters in the book. Lloyd gives each a different voice and they suited the players. She captures the action and emotions with her voice rising and falling, low and rising. Her voice is easy on the ears, clear and easy to understand. Her accent is lovely. Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt of The Murders in Great Diddling.

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust - Alan Bradley

I let out a squeal when I discovered that Alan Bradley had written a new Flavia de Luce book - What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust. The titles are always quite enigmatic and it's fun seeing how they fit the story.

Now, this is number eleven in this series. You could read it as a stand alone, but you'd be depriving yourself of an addicting series! And some context. 

Flavia is a 'young woman' now, but she is still the irrepressible ten year old we met in the first book in the series. I love her inner dialogue, her running feud with her sisters and now her young cousin, her joy in solving cases ahead of the constabulary, tinkering in her laboratory and working with her poisons. Still riding her beloved bicycle Gladys that was her mothers. I could go on and on about this absolutely wonderful lead character. As a ten year old myself I always wanted to be a certain character in a mystery. But I think being Flavia would a lot more interesting!

So, a great character, now how about the mystery found in every book? Just as good! They're always well written and are satisfying. Bradley brings forward happenings and clues from the last book and weaves them into the current book. Whoa! I did not see the plotting going where it did in this latest! The whodunit was surprising and satisfying but left the door open for more. Please Alan Bradley!

See for yourself - read an excerpt of What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust.

Flavor Lab Creations - Dr. Logan Richardson

It might still be drinks on the deck where you live. Or maybe it's the season for warmer fare, or just an everyday drink. No matter where you are, Dr. Logan Richardson, has a number of  suggestions in his new book - Flavor Lab Creations: A Physicists' Guide to Unique Drink Recipes.

Yes, Logan is a scientist, but his writing is interesting, knowledgeable, engaging, funny, and easy to read. I found the 'how' and why' fascinating. That's what makes this book more than just a recipe book. There are info boxes and various facts throughout. Color photos accompany the recipes. Instructions are very clear.

Pumpkin Spice Latte anyone? Buttered Popcorn Soda? Make your own Instant Coffee? Kombucha? And so many more! Great for the curious mixologist in your life. 

(And check out Logan's  YouTube channel for Flavor Lab food.)

Wordhunter - Stella Sands

Wordhunter is the latest book from Stella Sands.

I picked it up as the premise caught my eye. The lead character is Maggie and she is studying to qualify as a forensic Linguist. When the police ask for her help she is thrilled. I did find the 'how to' of this field really interesting. I can see how this could be used as a tool in so many ways.

I wasn't as enamored of Maggie. She's loud, abrasive, she has issues with pills and alcohol and more. I felt like I should be behind her as she's had a hard life in many ways. Losing her best friend was one of those hard ways. Her dialogue and pushy ways annoyed me. As did using that 'c*** word in the first few pages.

Maggie ends up working a second case with the police and is paired up with a Detective. Cue up the fractious relationship. Throw in another crime, no, make that two at least. Maybe three. Perhaps too many threads. 

There is a crack in the door for a follow up to this book. I have to be honest and say that I won't be looking for it. But, see for yourself - read an excerpt of Wordhunter. I also encourage you to check out the other reviews for this book on Goodreads.

Murder in the Scottish Highlands - Dee MacDonald

A Bookworm's World is a stop today on the tour for the first book in Dee MacDonald's new series - Murder in the Scottish Highlands.

I read many genres, but I've always got a cosy mystery on the go. They're my "escape from it all" reads. 

 Ally McKinley has just retired to a wee village and opened a B and B in a restored building. It's all as she hoped. Right up to the moment she sees the murdered man in her courtyard...

And you  know what's coming don't you? Yes, Ally decides to work on the 'case' herself.

  

All the elements are here for a wonderful cosy. A small village where 'things like this don't happen', A number of quirky (and nosy) villagers, some quite handsome ones too, an amateur sleuth, a dog and a good plot. 

I enjoyed Ally as a lead character in this new series. I definitely want to see what happens next in little Locharran. 

I think Dee MacDonald's own life adds much to this series - She grew up in the Highlands and has run a B and B for ten years. 

Aged 18, Dee arrived in London from Scotland and typed her way round the West End for a couple of years before joining BOAC (forerunner of British Airways) in Passenger Services for 2 years and then as a stewardess for 8 years. She has worked in Market Research, Sales and at the Thames TV Studios when they had the franchise.

Dee has since relocated to Cornwall, where she spent 10 years running B&Bs, and only began writing when she was over 70! Married twice, she has one son and two grandsons.

You can find Dee on Facebook as well as on X. See what some others thought as well.