Footsteps in the Dark by Georgette Heyer

Charles and Celia, along with Peter, and Margaret, brother and sister to Celia, have inherited an old house in a small village in England. An eccentric Aunt had left it to them complete with no electricity and a ghost known as the Monk. It has an old Priory and a neighbor, Mr. Titmarch, who floats around in the dark of night chasing moths and crosses regularly onto their land. The other Neighbors are the Colonel, and the Vicar and his wife. If the place only had rats Celia and Margaret could probably manage but they draw the line at the Monk.

Georgette Heyer writes a very well-executed Mystery with this one. Her characters are droll, sophisticated and amusing.The book is a light-hearted mystery but at the same time there is a sinister undercurrent. Things keep happening that are odd.  Heyer, has a natural genius for farcical remarks and post-war humor in which the men are both bored, sanguine and witty while they perform quite heroic things they make light of...this was a very good book to start at night but the problem was how to stop. I like the way the Golden Era produced mysteries.The plot and people are entertaining enough that I kept reading till the early hours and still kept on.

This one is much lighter, and funnier than other Heyer's but the plot is no less interesting. The Aunt adds a lot to the eccentric side. I wish I could have joined them while they moved the planchette around. I just really like the characters in this one. I feel Georgette Heyer is underrated as a mystery writer. This is a good one...

Blurb:

What begins as an adventure soon becomes a nightmare...

Locals claim it is haunted and refuse to put a single toe past the front door, but to siblings Peter, Celia, and Margaret, the Priory is nothing more than a rundown estate inherited from their late uncle-and the perfect setting for a much-needed holiday. But when a murder victim is discovered in the drafty Priory halls, the once unconcerned trio begins to fear that the ghostly rumors are true and they are not alone after all! With a killer on the loose, will they find themselves the next victims of a supernatural predator, or will they uncover a far more corporeal culprit?

Killalot (An Ivy Meadows Book Six) by Cindy Brown

Ivy Meadows goes undercover at a Renaissance Fair as a sashaying, mute, belly dancer ...with a sign hanging on her bum. She plunges into her sleuthing to find out who had killed a Jouster. The Knight's horse that had been stolen- ended up at a famous Broadway Producer's Ranch. Strictly in the name of following a lead she puts herself up for an acting job as Marilyn Monroe. The characters at Renaissance include a bird training act, a fellow jouster who has been arrested and a Wizard who partakes of magic dust a little too often.

Cindy Brown writes from a strong background in the Theater. Her cast of characters are finely drawn and ring true to form. The hilarious Ivy, who is always late, drinks too much coffee and has a boyfriend she worries about- adds a great touch to these cozy mysteries. The action keeps the book a fast read because you never know what Ivy/Olive will get into next. The character is someone you would love to have as a friend though.

 The Renaissance Fair plot provides a lot of magic, color and fabulous people. If you enjoy funny, fast- paced mysteries this is the one for you. I do and so I am giving it 5 stars.


Blurb:

A jouster, a playwright, and a detective walk into a faire…but it’s no joke when one ends up dead.

Actress and part-time PI Ivy Meadows is thrilled when she learns that the famous playwright behind Hello Dolly Madison is in Arizona. Not so much when she realizes he’s a suspect in the murder of a Renaissance faire jouster.

As is her friend Riley. And about a thousand other people, all disguised in Renaissance costume during the fatal jousting match.

When Ivy is hired to investigate the killing, she goes undercover as a Cockney belly dancer at the faire and finagles her way into the playwright’s Kennedy-inspired version of Camelot—as Marilyn Monroe, no less.

Then, in the midst of her toughest case ever, Ivy has to solve another dilemma: Will she follow her lifelong dream of being an actor or settle down with the love of her life?

The murder investigation, the play, and real life come together in a twist that begs the question: Is there a happily-ever-after for anyone?

Tandem Demise: A Cycle Path Mystery by Duffy Brown

Evie wandering around the dockside at night finds a dead body-one more to add to her black cloud. Evie had been trying to save money on freight, apparently her bike rental shop makes just enough to pay bills yearly. Fiona and she are intrigued and determined to be in on the solution. The local Police come in the form of Nate Sutter. The body appears to be one that Sutter recognizes or else he likes looking at the stars in thought...a lot. There is a sweet addition in the form of Evie having a romance, not that stops her from dogging the investigation. The Wedding planners added a nice touch as did the Police Clerk and her boyfriend...but Evie's Mother was quite simply a hoot.

Duffy Brown writes a quirky, just-fun mystery. Mackinac Island is one that anybody would want to visit with no car traffic and charming little shops. The characters are people you would like to revisit and build a relationship with if you knew them in person. The dialog is hilarious at times with a touch of slapstick events but I found myself laughing more than once.

Do yourself a favor and read this one if you like warm, rollicking mysteries with likeable people, charming places and a few red herrings. Five stars for this one.


Blurb:
Smugglers on the hunt, a police chief on the run, lost loot and a dead wedding planner have the Mackinac Island regulars riding in circles

After solving two murders, bike shop owner Evie Bloomfield thought life on Mackinac Island would settle into boredom until she finds out Nate Sutter, island police chief and once-upon-a-time under cover cop is on the run. Some badass guys from Nate’s Detroit days think he stole money from them in a champagne smuggling operation and now they’re headed to the island to get their loot. Evie is determined to help Nate because he’s a good cop, Nate is determined to keep interfering Evie and island locals out of harms way, and the crooks are determined to get their money.
To add to the island’s problems there’s a dead guy on the dock and the new wedding planner is more interested in playing bedroom bingo than ordering bridal bouquets.

With the help of Fiona, Evie’s BFF and local newspaper editor, Evie is determined to prove Nate innocent, figure out how champagne smuggling, bodies on the dock and a bad wedding planner are tied together and not wind up taking a long walk off a short pier herself.