4.5 stars rounded to 5. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. My review will be released close to book launch. It was very well researched and enjoyable, although I found much of Outremer scenes somewhat difficult and a bit slow.
William the Marshal has always been a favorite of mine also, as is anything about Henry II and Eleanor's family. That being said, I loved the past quarter of the book the best, and felt emotional at the end.
I recommend this closing chapter of the Marshals great life and of course,would love to hear more about his children's lives. Ancel perhaps also, and I adored how adroitly his brother's life was organized.
Jean d'Early being part of the end of the story is appropriate and perfect, as were the Author's Notes ( which I wish I had read first). Recommended heartily for followers of this family and era.
#APlainVanillaMurder #NetGalley
This was my first China Bayles mystery, thanks Susan Wittig Albert and NetGalley for this ARC. I reviewed a Darling Dahlia new release recently so wanted to try this series also as the author is a favorite of mine.I think it was fine that I had not read others in the series, as the author has brief vignettes to "catch up".
"China finds herself teaming up with the very pregnant Pecan Springs police chief Sheila Dawson to solve a vanilla-flavored murder."
Ah..so here we go.. the beginning was a little slow ( although it was explained this was a faster paced murder investigation than usual), as the quick witted chief Shelia quickly saw it was not a suicide. She was helped in this because she was called in instead of the coroner by the security chief at the University when a professor was found dead. Sheila and her deputy Dylan Miller view the body together and both are sure it was murder.
China, on the other hand is called in as friend of the deceased's ex- wife and begins to pick up clues.So the action jumps from Chief Sheila to China who ultimately pieces together the murder and some associated crimes. These included a distant murder, smuggling and finally the kidnapping of the victim's young daughter.
An interesting and light read which I enjoyed.
Although I am new to this author,first one read Dec. 30 2018, I have read all except book #2 and loved them all ( some more than others of course). I plan to purchase book #2 today so will be well positioned for further rereads, which WILL happen after a suitable time.
How will it feel going back to a premarriage, preshared household status for Gemma and Duncan? I'll soon find out..I had to hurry to read this one for two reasons, one I could borrow from my library and two it was a continuation, of sorts of the prior book, To Dwell in Darkness, as well as some of the two books prior to that.
One of the things I do enjoy greatly, is a series with vibrant characters that builds upon segments of prior works. Each of these books has at least one of the main characters involved in a new crime while still looking at aspects of a prior one, a great feat for an author.
This one started with Gemma involved in a new case involving a lovely young nanny found laying in a garden accessible only to properties that back up to it. Duncan on the other hand is secretive and still greatly concerned with what appears to be some conspiracy that has felled his prior supervisor, Denis. Melody and Doug are linked more to Duncan's issue than anything happening in their own departments.
It concluded in a rush of activity, bringing in new characters and some others who rose to this particular occasion. Closure and looking forward to the next in series and of course rereads in the future. Very fine writing and history as well as vibrant characterization
A fun read by a fine author which happily I got on Amazon Prime to read. I enjoy reading her WWII era stand-alones and this was no exception. It got a bit cluttered at the very end and I had to keep jumping back to see who was after who at that point. The characters concealed their "true colors" pretty well, except for Jeremy who was a "bad apple" but played the hero for a time.
The author's very good historical note brings it into perspective: M15, Bletchley Park and the Link show turmoil in England at this time of the War which was then just in Europe.
Happily the hero and one of the heroine daughters of Lord Westerham of Farleigh got together in the end as did a few others. Enjoyable.
"DCI Nelson has been receiving threatening letters. They are anonymous, yet somehow familiar. They read like the letters that first drew him into the case of The Crossing Places, and to Ruth. But the author of those letters is dead. Or are they?
The past is reaching out for Ruth and Nelson, and its grip is deadly."
Oh my how wonderful this book was! I reread a few parts of it immediately, just for savor.Very hard to believe it is the 11th book of a 10 book series as it is so riveting. The characters sparkle and seem to jump off the page, even recently introduced ones. Elly Griffiths is the very best whatever type of book she attempts.
Ruth Galloway is always my heroine as she is brilliant, somewhat untidy, a bit reclusive and loving. Harry Nelson yells, bangs on doors and drives too fast- and he loves his wife, daughters ( all 3 of them) and apparently Ruth also.
The archeology aspect of it are very well done and with my anthropology degree ( sadly without a dig) endear me even more to the series. The author does impeccable research so everything is plausible.
Get this book and meet Harry and Michelle's new baby and "see" what he looks like and experience the 3 sisters finally getting together. Another baby is kidnapped, 2 murders (one recent), a stone age burial and a suicide are encountered and dealt with by Kings Lynn Serious Crimes Unit.. The Stone Circle held many surprises for the residents of the Norfolk area as well as disclosing some character defects for several people.Get yours in May or Pre Order now
5 Star read.. I have the next book started ( Garden of Lamentations) which I was lucky enough to borrow from my digital library. The two books seem to complete a series.. regarding undercover police and danger to many (including Duncan).
"Recently transferred to the London borough of Camden from Scotland Yard headquarters, Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and his new murder investigation team are called to a deadly bombing at historic St. Pancras Station. By fortunate coincidence, Melody Talbot, Gemma's trusted colleague, witnesses the explosion"
I love the characters,the mysteries are terrific as is the historical setting.. This time around they are sharing some cases between Duncan, Melody and Doug. Whatever transpired with Ryan Marsh is going to go into the next book for sure.
Another book is coming out this year, what will I do until then? Rereads start next year.
"In the past . . .
On a blisteringly hot August afternoon in Crystal Palace, once home to the tragically destroyed Great Exhibition...In the present . . .On a cold January morning in London, DI Gemma James is back on the job now that her husband, Det.Supt. Duncan Kincaid, at home to care for their three-year-old foster daughter. Assigned to lead a Murder Investigation Team in South London, assisted by her colleague, newly promoted Sergeant Melody Talbot."
As always a great read, with the mystery set in a different place in England,and with fine historical context. I knew a bit about the Crystal Place but not about the "place" Crystal Palace. The crime(s) fit the area and Duncan, Gemma, Melody and Doug rose to the occasion to help solve them.
Duncan figures out a way to get back to work and get Char situated in a happy school setting. Melody and Doug both have new relationships looming. The mystery was solved in a exciting way that you need to read to appreciate.
Everything and everyone got sorted out at the end of course EXCEPT for poor Duncan, whose work environment took a strange turn. I have now downloaded the last 2 books before the upcoming new ones, so that I will know in what direction their story will be going.
Love this series!!
