Three-Day Town (Deborah Knott Mysteries, #17) by Margaret Maron

May 21, 2012 Tracey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: new-york, netgalley, mystery

I've read some Margaret Maron, and collected several in preparation for the inevitable binge. I've only read a couple of the Sigrid Haralds, though, and so was pleased that Three-Day Town (which I received from Netgalley, thank you) was part of the Deborah Knott series; these books have been on my radar for a while but somehow never actually wound up in my hands, so I looked forward to meeting Judge Knott. I don't really like starting in the middle of a series (instant spoilers for every book be...more I've read some Margaret Maron, and collected several in preparation for the inevitable binge. I've only read a couple of the Sigrid Haralds, though, and so was pleased that Three-Day Town (which I received from Netgalley, thank you) was part of the Deborah Knott series; these books have been on my radar for a while but somehow never actually wound up in my hands, so I looked forward to meeting Judge Knott. I don't really like starting in the middle of a series (instant spoilers for every book before it), but I have to say, I found this a great place to break in. And then, to my surprise (not having read the synopsis), who should enter the picture but Sigrid Harald.

I do feel obliged to remark that the book shares one of what I feel are the besetting sins of "cozy" mysteries - to wit, the fact that death follows the featured character(s) around like a stray puppy. It's inevitable, I know, but stretches my suspension of disbelief more than most fantasies. In these series, Sigrid Harald is a homicide cop, and so has every reason to keep encountering death; Deborah Knott is a judge married to a cop, and is therefore in a situation where she might do so also. However, this book sends her and her husband on vacation - a week in New York, their long-delayed honeymoon. And within forty-eight hours someone is dead in their borrowed apartment.

That out of the way (and, really, who cares?), it's a great story. The writing is so fluid and full of character I can't imagine why I haven't read more Margaret Maron. Coming off a recent stretch of Carol O'Connell's Mallory novels, read far more recently than the Sigrid books, I'm seeing a resemblance between those two main characters; Sigrid isn't a psychopath, but she is a social misfit in some of the same ways. This could be one reason I haven't read more Maron, if my ambivalence toward Sigrid here is evidence. I was a little sorry every time the narrative switched over from the first-person intimate of Deborah Knott to the third-person chilly of Sigrid Harald.

*That* being said, the sure-handed telling of the story is a sight to see. Neither main character has all the facts, and their relationship (all but nil, and not likely to grow warmer) does not see them swapping confidences. In the meantime, other secondary characters go about with bits of information, leaving the reader to wait until either Deborah or Sigrid makes the necessary connection and resulting discovery. There is one aspect of the story (where the obscene statue came from), revealed to the reader in a flash-back prologue, which is never revealed to the main characters. This book is obviously the product of a seasoned writer. I can't say I adore Deborah, and I can't even say I much like Sigrid (though I'm intrigued by her); I found the evolution of the murder mystery a little far-fetched; even so, all in all, it was a good read. (less)

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Nov 22, 2011 Marlene rated it 5 of 5 stars

Three-Day Town is a reference to New York City: James Cameron once referred to it as "the finest three-day town on earth". In Margaret Maron's very fine new entry into her Judge Deborah Knott series, Deborah and her husband travel to New York for a belated honeymoon. Their stay is longer than three days, because they become involved, as usual, in both family business and murder.
In 1942, a naive college freshman pilfers a risque and disgusting piece of object d'art from a college professor that s...more Three-Day Town is a reference to New York City: James Cameron once referred to it as "the finest three-day town on earth". In Margaret Maron's very fine new entry into her Judge Deborah Knott series, Deborah and her husband travel to New York for a belated honeymoon. Their stay is longer than three days, because they become involved, as usual, in both family business and murder.
In 1942, a naive college freshman pilfers a risque and disgusting piece of object d'art from a college professor that she is certain is a complete poseur. In her 18-year-old certainty, she is absolutely sure she knows everything. She's right about one thing, the piece is so vulgar, there are so many possible suspects, and the college is still so mired in puritanical values, that the theft will not be reported. It takes her almost 60 years to try to give it back, and when she does, it becomes evidence in a murder. But it's still vulgar.
Judge Deborah Knott and her husband, Major Dwight Bryant, escape Colleton County North Carolina for week's vacation in New York City. They've been married for a year, but this is the first chance they've had to take a honeymoon, between her sitting on the bench as a county judge and his duties with the sheriff's department. It's certainly a long-awaited vacation.
They're borrowing Dwight's sister-in-law's apartment for a week. It's a co-op in a secure building close enough to the Theater District to see the lights. And they have a family errand to run--Deborah has a package to deliver from a distant cousin to that cousin's daughter. It should be simple, and they should have a relaxing and enjoyable trip.
But things start going wrong the first evening.
The superintendant of the building is murdered in their apartment. And that package? It turns out to be the original disgusting sculpture from 1942-but no one knows the history yet, just that it's vulgar and artistic. And then there's the cousin. Cousin Anne is in New Zealand, but her daughter is the one who comes to pick up the package, and ends up investigating the murder. Anne's daughter is Lt. Sigrid Harald of the NYPD Homicide Division, and she is on the scene visiting with Deborah and Dwight when the body is discovered.
Deborah and Dwight become involved in the investigation in New York, as well as familial crime-solving long distance--there's a problem back in North Carolina that requires Deborah's skills. This vacation turns out to be more of a Busman's Honeymoon, but this couple is always happiest when they are crime-solving, until Deborah's nosiness puts her in the killer's sights.
Escape Rating A+: Three-Day Town was a treat! The story takes Deborah and Dwight away from their home ground but still shows them doing what they do best, solving a murder by poking their very intelligent noses into everyone else's business. At the same time, the strong family ties that make me follow this series are very much in evidence. Deborah solves a problem for her cousins back home, and, best of all, Sigrid Harald is back!
Sigrid Harald is a police lieutenant in the NYPD, a tall, slim, angular woman who solves homicides and doesn't have much of a personal life. Except that one very interesting man saw something beautiful in her that no one else saw, and because of him, her life and world opened up. If that description sounds familiar, it's intended to. I think Sigrid Harald may be one of Eve Dallas' literary fore-mothers. Except that Sigrid had a better childhood and a less happy ending than Eve, at least so far. It was good to see Sigrid again. I've missed her.
If you enjoy police procedural-type mysteries with strong female detectives, I highly recommend both the Judge Deborah Knott series and the Sigrid Harald series. Three-Day Town was a fantastic visit with both of these fine investigators, but if you have never met these women before, I would start with the first book in each series, Bootlegger's Daughter for Deborah and One Coffee With for Sigrid.
The next Deborah Knott book will be The Buzzard Table, sometime next year. Another year, another dead body. Or two. With buzzards in the title, it sounds like she'll be back in North Carolina. I can hardly wait.
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Oct 13, 2012 Smoochys rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is really more of a Sigrid Harold book than a Deborah Knott book. The premise is that Dwight and Deborah are taking a delayed honeymoon in New York where they will be staying in the apartment of Dwight's sister-in-law. While on the trip a man is found murdered in the apartment, and Sigrid Harald is called to the case. For readers of the Sigrid Harald mysteries this is a really good thing because you get see her do her stuff. If you're like me and find Sigrid to be way too dry, then it's not...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Dark Haven rated it 3 of 5 stars

Rating 3.5
Let me first say, I was hooked on Margaret Maron after reading "A Bootlegger's Daughter" which swept all the mystery awards back in 1993. I've enjoyed every Knott story Ms. Maron has written. On one hand, I was looking forward to reading this tale because this would be the first time that Ms. Maron has written Deborah and Sigrid in the same story. On the other hand, I began reading this story with sadness because I learned that this would be the last story with Deborah Knott. I hope t...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Jocelyn rated it 2 of 5 stars

Kind of a normal mystery. Guy with no apparent enemies gets killed. Who did it?

Deborah and Dwight are in New York City for a belated honeymoon, so good-bye North Carolina setting and hello Lieutenant Sigrid Harald, a Margaret Maron character from another series. Maron must have had fun, letting Sigrid and Deborah size each other up. But it took some work to follow the multiple points of view.

Exercise: Complare and contrast Three-Day Town with Busman's Honeymoon (Dorothy Sayers).

Comparisons:

Reade...more

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Feb 06, 2012 Kathleen Hagen added it · review of another edition

Three-day Town, by Margaret Maron, b-plus, Narrated by C. J. Critt, Produced by Recorded Books, Downloaded from audible.com.

In this, the 17th book in the Judge Deborah Knott series, Dwight and Deborah are going to New York City for their honeymoon, which has been delayed for an entire year since their marriage. They plan to at least look up a distant relative of Deborah Knotts-Sigrid Harald, a NYPD lieutenant. So this is an attempt to bring her two series, Deborah Knott,and Sigrid Harald togethe...more

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Jan 02, 2012 Babs rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

I really enjoyed this book. Found myself gravitating toward it more than the other book I am currently reading. I guess that’s because this book wasn’t as grim a story as the other book and a bit easier a read; but not so simple and easy as to be boring or predictable.

The author also blends two characters she has created and written about in this series. I found that interesting, but also a tiny bit confusing. I don’t recall reading either of the character’s series before, and this was billed a...more

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Dec 19, 2011 Lisarenee rated it 3 of 5 stars

In 1940, a small vulgar bronze sculpture was stolen by a student from a teacher at Stillwater College. Now, over 70 years later, the same sculpture of erotica is the center of a more sinister crime. This time it's not just theft that's involved, but murder.

Deborah (a judge) and her husband Dwight (a deputy sheriff) are finally taking their honeymoon in New York. As a Christmas gift, Dwight's sister-in-law offered them the use of an apartment she owns in New York for a week. When Mrs. Lattimore h...more In 1940, a small vulgar bronze sculpture was stolen by a student from a teacher at Stillwater College. Now, over 70 years later, the same sculpture of erotica is the center of a more sinister crime. This time it's not just theft that's involved, but murder.

Deborah (a judge) and her husband Dwight (a deputy sheriff) are finally taking their honeymoon in New York. As a Christmas gift, Dwight's sister-in-law offered them the use of an apartment she owns in New York for a week. When Mrs. Lattimore heard they were going to NY she asked them if they might deliver a package to her daughter, Anne Harald. As Anne was out of town, the next person in line to receive the object was Anne's daughter, Sigrid Harald (an NYPD homicide detective). Hence, two of Margaret Maron's series come together in this book. I always love it when an author does this.

I enjoyed the mystery as to who the murderer was and why the crime was committed. I thought Dwight and Deborah were cute together and they made me smile. The statuette, was a fun touch, and I could just imagine the looks on Dwight's and Deborah's faces when they opened up the package. I also liked how even though Dwight and Deborah were not within their jurisdiction, Sigrid kept them in the loop of what was being found within the investigation. The secondary mystery presented by Deborah's nephew, and the observation he made about his situation that helped in solve the NYC crime, was also a nice addition to the story.

At first, the crime appeared to be unsolvable. There were no witnesses and the crime scene had been contaminated by many of the guests attending a party in the neighboring apartment. They felt no remorse in using the bathroom of the apartment whose door had been left open. Plus, the suspects were plentiful as everyone who attended the party had the opportunity to commit the crime. Slowly, as the story progresses, a criminal is found through diligence and a touch of luck.

Why is the book called Three-Day Town? It's related to the quote by James Cameron at the beginning of the book: "I love short trips to New York; to me it is the finest three-day town on earth."

Overall, a very entertaining and enjoyable read. I gave it 3 out of 5 roses.(less)

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Dec 18, 2011 Larraine rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've been reading Margaret Maron for at least 10 yrs. I started with her first Debra Knott book, backtracked to her Sigrid Harald books, finished those, and now I look forward to the next book. Maron stopped writing the Sigrid Harald series. She had lived in Brooklyn for years, but returned to roots when she moved to North Carolina. In the last Harald book, Sigrid had inherited the large estate of a wealthy artist with whom she had had a long relationship. Not long ago, an announcement was made...more

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Dec 14, 2011 Lesa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Some readers were waiting for the next Judge Deborah Knott mystery from Margaret Maron. I’ve been waiting sixteen years for the next Sigrid Harald book. Maron satisfied all her fans by bringing her characters together in Three-Day Town.

Deborah and her husband, Dwight Bryant, have been married for a year, but they finally have time to take a honeymoon. Dwight’s sister-in-law loans them her Manhattan apartment for a week. After taking the train from North Carolina, they expect a week of playing to...more
Some readers were waiting for the next Judge Deborah Knott mystery from Margaret Maron. I’ve been waiting sixteen years for the next Sigrid Harald book. Maron satisfied all her fans by bringing her characters together in Three-Day Town.

Deborah and her husband, Dwight Bryant, have been married for a year, but they finally have time to take a honeymoon. Dwight’s sister-in-law loans them her Manhattan apartment for a week. After taking the train from North Carolina, they expect a week of playing tourist and playing honeymooners. And, everyone at the apartment building welcomes them, from the building superintendent to a minor TV celebrity who invites them to a party. Before they can settle in and enjoy themselves though, they have an errand. Deborah has to deliver a package to Lieutenant Sigrid Harald of the New York Police Department, a box sent from her grandmother.

When Sigrid hears what is in the box, she suggests she’ll pick it up that night, meeting the Bryants at their neighbor’s party. When Deborah realizes the apartment door is open, she asks the police to accompany her. Together, they find a body. It looks like it will be a busman’s honeymoon for the judge and her husband, a major in the sheriff’s department. Sigrid Harald has her team to bounce ideas off of, but has an additional team with Deborah and Dwight. And, as people disappear, and stories of thefts pile up, Sigrid will need all the suggestions she can get.

Mysteries probably make up about 70% of my reading, so I read about three of them a week. But, mysteries become something special when they come from the hand of a master. It’s no slight to other authors to say Margaret Maron’s characters and plot rise above so many others. Maron has been concentrating on the Deborah Knott books in recent years, but she skillfully brought Sigrid Harald into the story, and gave enough backstory to introduce her to new readers or remind others of the characters. And, if readers hadn’t read any of the award-winning Deborah Knott novels, it was easy to “meet” the judge and her husband.

Maron manages to switch point of view skillfully, moving from first person as Deborah speaks to third person for Sigrid’s chapters. It works perfectly in Three-Day Town.

In fact, so much of Three-Day Town was perfect. As a fan of New York City, I loved the glimpses of the city. I totally agreed with Deborah’s love of Times Square. Maron captured the glitz and enchantment at night.

But, my favorite part of the book wasn’t even the mystery. It was the chance to catch up with Sigrid Harald, her wonderful roommate, Roman Tramegra, and her team. As fellow blogger, Kaye Wilkinson Barley said, it’s like coming home.

So, thank you, Margaret Maron, for Three-Day Town, a trip back to New York City and Sigrid Harald’s world as seen through Deborah Knott's eyes.(less)

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Dec 08, 2011 Sharon Redfern rated it 5 of 5 stars

Three Day Town is the latest in Margaret Maron’s Judge Deborah Knott series. Deborah and Dwight, her husband of about one year, are finally getting away for a mini-honeymoon in NYC. As part of the trip, they are bringing a parcel to be delivered to the daughter of one of their friends. They are staying in an apartment owned by the wife of one of Deborah’s relatives. The first night there, they attend a party next door and come home to the body of the building’s superintendent in the apartment.
No...more Three Day Town is the latest in Margaret Maron’s Judge Deborah Knott series. Deborah and Dwight, her husband of about one year, are finally getting away for a mini-honeymoon in NYC. As part of the trip, they are bringing a parcel to be delivered to the daughter of one of their friends. They are staying in an apartment owned by the wife of one of Deborah’s relatives. The first night there, they attend a party next door and come home to the body of the building’s superintendent in the apartment.
Now, the story gets interesting! The investigating police officer is Lt. Sigrid Harald, the protagonist from an earlier Maron series. Ms. Harald is an acerbic, somewhat humorless detective with a past tragedy in her life. She is also the granddaughter of Deborah and Dwight’s elderly friend who asked them to deliver the parcel. The contents of the parcel are somewhat shocking and may be connected to the murder. There are all kinds of interesting characters woven throughout this story. Well to do society types, art lovers and artists, service workers in the co-op, and New York’s finest all play a part in this mystery.
One of the interesting things about this book was seeing Deborah work away from her home base. She and Dwight contribute to the solution but not with much cooperation from Ms. Harald. The taciturn detective’s character becomes more likeable as we learn more about her, but she is the opposite of Deborah’s open, earthy personality. I have to say that I decided to go back and read the older series after reading this book. I asked the author if future Harald books were planned and she said no but that there would be appearances in future Knott books.
This book has plenty of suspense and the characters are well done. One of Ms. Maron’s strengths is the believability of her characters. They add to the story and don’t distract the reader with useless red herrings. As usual, the interplay between Dwight and Deborah is wonderfully romantic even in the midst of a murder. I have to say that I will be glad to see them back home in the next book. I just love the family dynamics and the southern ambiance in these books. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!!
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Dec 01, 2011 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

her books are light and fluffy - this more than most. One of the most entertaining part of her 'world' is the family connections ..but this time they added nothing to the story - in fact they actually hurt the story as the author tried to push southern relations/connections to the extreme. The essential mystery would be just the same if Deborah and Dwight went to NY and stayed at any timeshare/apartment rental/co-op and not at one belonging to a sister-in-law, also there was no need for the cop...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Mary Gramlich rated it 5 of 5 stars

THREE-DAY TOWN by Margaret Maron
11/11- Grand Central Publishing - Hardcover, 288 pages

Is it ever possible to take an uncomplicated day off?

Deborah and Dwight are on their way to New York for on a well-deserved honeymoon after a year of marriage. After a year, they have gone from being a married couple to extended family in short order but have taken it all in Southern stride.

The last thing either of them suspected would be an involvement in an apparent homicide while settling in New York contemp...more THREE-DAY TOWN by Margaret Maron
11/11- Grand Central Publishing - Hardcover, 288 pages

Is it ever possible to take an uncomplicated day off?

Deborah and Dwight are on their way to New York for on a well-deserved honeymoon after a year of marriage. After a year, they have gone from being a married couple to extended family in short order but have taken it all in Southern stride.

The last thing either of them suspected would be an involvement in an apparent homicide while settling in New York contemplating what to see first. They have no jurisdiction but that never stopped Deborah from sticking her nose in before so why start now. Besides, it happened in their temporary apartment so they have to keep on top of things, right.

With an excessive amount of suspects, the officer in charge Lieutenant Sigrid Harold is doing her best to sort things out. Sigrid had only been there by coincidence through some obscure relation to Deborah and the need to receive a package via Deborah from her grandmother. This apparent package may have been the murder weapon but no one can be sure since it is missing along with some other items.

The victim turns out to be the building superintendent who did not have a known enemy in the world but does have a unique relationship with his somewhat unstable wife. As this all plays out Sigrid winds up with too many suspects, some unbelievable secrets, deep deception, and lies. Not all men are what they claim to be, some women keep chasing illusions of how life should be, and there is always somebody that just won’t stop messing with the elevator.

Dwight and Deborah get a taste of New York, help chase down a murderer, get to know the neighbors, and still have time for a glass of wine at the end of the day. This is not anyone’s idea of a honeymoon but with Deborah and Dwight, anything can happen.

This book is a great ride for both the long time follower and new reader to the series as Ms. Maron always writes an entertaining and eventful book. As always, you have Deborah and Dwight at the center with a host of secondary characters surrounding them to liven up the story. What is always a fact with a Margaret Maron book you are entranced to keep reading to find out “who did it”?(less)

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Oct 14, 2011 Linda Baker rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

I am a long time fan of Margaret Maron's Deborah Knott series and was delighted to get an advance look at the newest entry through netgalley.com. As a native North Carolinian who has lived "away" for a long time, these books are almost as good as a visit home!

This novel is somewhat different, as the action takes place on New York's Upper West Side. Dwight and Deborah are finally taking a long-delayed honeymoon in New York, staying in an apartment loaned to them by Deborah's sister-in-law. They o...more

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Jan 12, 2013 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, romance

So nice to interact with Sigrid again. I love her but since Oscar died haven't heard much about her.

Many authors do a cross series book & like the "very special episodes" during sweeps week in the 80s when "facts of life meets different strokes" it ends up a hot mess. But Maron is very wise how she uses her characters & the mash up works wonderfully. All the characters stay in their respective styles & the plot moves in & around them, not forcing interactions.

Finally, a little f...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Katie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mysteries

I love Margaret Maron's Deborah Knott series, so I'm sad to say I found this one a little disappointing. In this cross-series books, Deborah Knott and her husband Dwight Bryant finally get to take a honeymoon, and they travel to New York City. They're having a wonderful time staying in a friend's apartment until the superintendent turns up dead on the balcony. In comes Sigrid Harald, the detective who stars in another of Maron's mystery series, to figure out whodunnit.

Deborah doesn't necessarily...more

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Jan 05, 2012 Lynda rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was one of Margaret Maron's most enjoyable books because it connected Judge Deborah Knott and New York Detective Sigrid Harald in a baffling mystery. Deborah and her husband Major Dwight Bryant are off to New York City for their long delayed honeymoon. Their host Kate has asked them to deliver a package for a distant cousin, Anne Harald, Sigrid's mother. Once the Bryants reach New York and find their way to the co-op apartment Kate has loaned them for the week, they contact Dectective Haral...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Kimba (Caffeinated Book Reviewer) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Three-day Town was a suspenseful, plot twisting murder mystery. The plot contains the perfect setting, witnesses and suspects. Maron shares this story from the POV of Deborah and Sigrid.
Judge Deborah Knott is feisty, smart and loves shoes. She is excited to be spending a week in New York with the love of her life, Sheriff’s Deputy Dwight Bryant. After celebrating their one year anniversary they are finally getting a honeymoon. Dwight’s sister-in-law owns an apartment on the Upper West Side and...more Three-day Town was a suspenseful, plot twisting murder mystery. The plot contains the perfect setting, witnesses and suspects. Maron shares this story from the POV of Deborah and Sigrid.
Judge Deborah Knott is feisty, smart and loves shoes. She is excited to be spending a week in New York with the love of her life, Sheriff’s Deputy Dwight Bryant. After celebrating their one year anniversary they are finally getting a honeymoon. Dwight’s sister-in-law owns an apartment on the Upper West Side and has arranged for them to stay there in January. Cold or not these southerners are looking forward to a week in the big city.
Deborah is asked to deliver a package for a distant relative. Once in New York she makes arrangements for the package to be picked up. Before it can, they discover the package has been stolen. To make matters worse, there is a dead man in their apartment. Ironically the package was intended for the mother of Lt. Sigrid Harald of the NYPD. Sigrid is assigned as lead homicide detective. Together they try to solve this murder and recover the package. The story that unfolds is believable and compelling.
I enjoyed the colorful characters in this novel. The suspects and witnesses were unique and added intrigue to this complex murder case. Author Margaret Maron chose the perfect setting for this crime. It paved the way for a multitude of possible suspects, scenarios and an array of witnesses. I was completely immersed in the tale she masterfully painted. Three-Day Town is the seventeenth book in the Deborah Knott Mysteries Series. This book can be read as a standalone. I had no problems understanding any past connections. I look forward to reading more of this authors work.
I want to thank netGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC. It was given in exchange for my unbiased review. This book will be published on November 21, 2011.
You can see more of my reviews on my blog:
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Feb 04, 2012 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Nice plot. Didn't like the seesawing back and forth of who was doing the narrating - too confusing. Nice that they finally left North Carolina.

Judge Deborah Knott and Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant are on a train to New York, finally on a honeymoon after a year of marriage. January in New York might not be the perfect time to visit, but they'll take it. The trip is a Christmas present from Dwight's sister-in-law, who arranged for them to stay in an Upper West Side apartment for one week. While i...more

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Dec 20, 2011 LORI CASWELL rated it 5 of 5 stars

Judge Deborah Knott and Sheriff’s Deputy Dwight Bryant have been married for a year but have yet to take honeymoon. His sister-in-law has offered them her apartment in New York while her tenant is away in Europe. Part of the rental agreement was that she could use the apartment when he was away and she has given a week to Dwight and Deborah as a Christmas present. They have also been asked to deliver a package to a friend’s daughter who lives in New York.

They arrive in New York and after a serie...more Judge Deborah Knott and Sheriff’s Deputy Dwight Bryant have been married for a year but have yet to take honeymoon. His sister-in-law has offered them her apartment in New York while her tenant is away in Europe. Part of the rental agreement was that she could use the apartment when he was away and she has given a week to Dwight and Deborah as a Christmas present. They have also been asked to deliver a package to a friend’s daughter who lives in New York.

They arrive in New York and after a series of phone calls learn that the friend’s daughter is out of the country, but her granddaughter, Sigrid Harald, a lieutenant for the NYPD, will pick up the package. But when she arrives the package is missing and the building superintendent is dead. Deborah and Dwight just can’t stand by and not get involved in the investigation. They team up with the lieutenant to catch a killer.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
If the name Sigrid Harald looks familiar to fans of this author it is because she is the main character in Margaret Maron’s other series. In this book the series collide to solve this murder in the Big Apple. It was nice to see Sigrid back in action and the hint that she may be visiting Colleton County in the future.

After the last book in this series it was nice to have change of setting. Colleton County had enough drama and it was nice to have a little break. But the author adds a little mystery to remind us of the Deborah and Dwight’s North Carolina home.

Maron is an excellent storyteller and masterfully plotted a story featuring both her star characters together into this book. The New York characters were quite a change but the one that had be laughing out loud was Luna DiSimone, thinking everyone from the south had to be related, her apartment was quite interesting and the dialogues were priceless.

An array of plot twists keeps the reader on their toes and this reader was very surprised at the end.

As a fan of both series I loved this book. I think it could also be read as a stand alone, but once you get a taste of this wonderful series you will want to read them all. (less)

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Nov 06, 2011 Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love this series by Margaret Maron so I was absolutely thrilled that it was offered on Net Galley and even more thrilled that I was accepted to review it.

Judge Deborah Knott and Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant are finally able to take their long awaited honeymoon. They head to New York City and the apartment of Dwight's sister-in-law. Deborah has a package to deliver in NYC that will lead them into a great adventure. The daughter of the recipient of the package is New York PD Lieutenant Sigrid...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Debbie Maskus rated it 2 of 5 stars

This novel, unlike all the other novels of the Deborah Knott series is set in New York City. The time is January and a snowstorm has encased the city, but murder continues. Maron also wrote a series set in New York with Sigrid Harald as the main character. Maron penned the last Sigrid mystery in 1995, but this novel seems to predict the reemergence of Sigrid. Sigrid seems the main character of this novel. Sigrid leads the police investigation, while Deborah and Dwight seem to be by-standers. The...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Spuddie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Deborah and Dwight are off to New York for a week for a much-postponed honeymoon with keys to their sister-in-law Kate's apartment where they'll stay. Deborah also totes a package for the daughter of a local woman, but discovers on arriving that she is out of the country on an extended holiday, so informed by Sigrid Harald, the woman's daughter. She asks Deborah to open the package--it's a rather obscene statuette--and makes arrangements to pick it up. But by the time she arrives, there's a dead...more

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Jul 28, 2012 Patty rated it 5 of 5 stars

Deborah and Dwight finally get that honeymoon they've been putting off. With a loan of an apartment from a good friend, tickets to see a Gilbert & Sullivan opera, and a whole week to themselves in New York City, what could go wrong.

Well, murder for one thing. First night there and the superintendent of the building is found dead in the apartment they are using. Enter one Sigrid Harald, police officer and the starring character in an earlier set of mysteries by Margaret Maron.

I admit this ta...more

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Dec 20, 2011 Janet rated it 2 of 5 stars

Maybe I wasn't in the mood for this one, but the third time I read the phrase "[Sigrid Harald's] cool gray eyes", I knew I'd had enough. I haven't read the author's Sigrid Harald books, in fact I was about to start reading "One Coffee With", but Sigrid Harald in this book, bringing her together with Deborah Knott, I didn't think I'd like it. Sigrid strikes me as humorless and standoffish, perhaps a result of having lost the love of her life, but really. It may have seemed like a keen idea to bri...more

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May 04, 2012 Judy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Deborah Knott and her husband, Dwight Bryant, finally take their honeymoon after a year of marriage. They are loaned an apartment on the Upper West Side in New York City owned by their sister-in-law for a week's stay in January. Predictably enough, things don't go as planned. Deborah had been asked to take a package to New York and deliver it to Lt. Sigrid Harald of the NYPD (the main character of an earlier series written earlier by Maron). However, when Lt. Harald stops by to pick up the packa...more

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Jan 26, 2012 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Publisher's synopsis:
Judge Deborah Knott and Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant are on a train to New York, finally on a honeymoon after a year of marriage. January in New York might not be the perfect time to visit, but they'll take it. The trip is a Christmas present from Dwight's sister-in-law, who arranged for them to stay in an Upper West Side apartment for one week. While in New York, Deborah has been asked to deliver a package to Lt. Sigrid Harald of the NYPD. Sigrid offers to swing by the ap...more Publisher's synopsis:
Judge Deborah Knott and Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant are on a train to New York, finally on a honeymoon after a year of marriage. January in New York might not be the perfect time to visit, but they'll take it. The trip is a Christmas present from Dwight's sister-in-law, who arranged for them to stay in an Upper West Side apartment for one week. While in New York, Deborah has been asked to deliver a package to Lt. Sigrid Harald of the NYPD. Sigrid offers to swing by the apartment to pick up the box, but when they reach the apartment, they discover that it is missing and the doorman has been murdered. Despite their best efforts to enjoy a blissful getaway, Deborah and Dwight soon find that they've teamed up with Sigrid and her team to catch the killer before he strikes again.

My thoughts:
First things first, I was new to Margaret Maron's books and her wonderful characters Deborah Knott and Sigrid Harald! If you don't already know them, this is a brilliant way for Maron to introduce Knott and Harald to new readers and new fans!!!

The title of the book, Three-Day Town references a quote by James Cameron who commented that New York City is "the finest three-day town on earth" and Maron's story unfold over just three days. I likes the characters and being a huge fan of the city, I easily felt like I was there with them, trying to figure out who was murdering the people in the apartment building and why.

Maron crafts a well spun tale and a very enjoyable one. Her characters are crisply drawn and different enough in nature so as to add a multi-layered mix of suspects and victims alike! I liked that there was some tie ins with relatives and friends of relatives. To me that's the way my world is populated and it seems like a normal community of interwoven lives.

For me, reviewing mysteries and suspense stories are the most difficult. The synopsis gives you the plot and I hope I've told you enough about how I saw the story painted by the author. It's fun, I almost had the murderer figured out and that's what a suspense is about, the "who done it?" part of the book is strong and yet fun to read.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars! It held my interest and Maron tells a great story!

*This galley was provided to my by the publisher through NetGalley.com and in no way affected my honest review. (less)

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Aug 07, 2012 Mysterious Ed rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: law-enforcement, nyc

#17 of the Deborah Knott series. In this 2001 novel (Deborah and husband Dwight take a belated honeymoon (They were married Winter's Child (2006)) to NYC where they encounter NYPD Lt. Sigrid Harald (last seen in Sigrid Harald #8 Fugitive Colors (1995)).

Deborah Knott and her husband, Dwight Bryant, travel to New York City for a belated honeymoon. They bear a small bronze sculpture for Anne Harald from her dying mother. Deborah arranges to meet Anne's daughter, NYPD Lt. Sigrid Harald, who will pic...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Pegweaver rated it 3 of 5 stars

I rated this one 3 stars because I did like it... but I'd be lying if I didn't admit I was a bit disappointed in it. I thought the story was not all that interesting, and since I'm a big fan of Judge Knott, I was looking forward to learning more about the goings on in her life. Maron introduced her other character Detective Harald, which was great... but since I haven't read any of that series {yet} I didn't like it that a large portion of this book was written from her perspective. It did make...more

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Nov 26, 2011 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: amateur-detective, mystery, police-detective

Combining Maron's two mystery series, Three-Day Town is much like its title - a brief visit to somewhere exciting. Deborah Knott and her husband Dwight go to New York for a belated winter honeymoon, only to stumble across a dead body in their apartment. Responding to the homicide is a time-shifted Sigrid Harald, picking up her story a couple of years (and yet decades) after the death of the artist who transformed her life.

The story is an easy read, effortlessly charming and intriguing us with th...more

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Three-Day Town (Deborah Knott #17)

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