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A Bucket of Ashes (Nell Sweeney Mystery Series #6)
by
P.B. Ryan
From the Mary Higgins Clark Award nominee-a new Gilded Age mystery.
Nell's reputation as a model governess is threatened by a secret from her past-and the possibility that she might be carrying Will Hewitt's child. But these problems pale with what she learns: that the body of her only remaining brother has been discovered- and that he was wanted for murder.
Nell's reputation as a model governess is threatened by a secret from her past-and the possibility that she might be carrying Will Hewitt's child. But these problems pale with what she learns: that the body of her only remaining brother has been discovered- and that he was wanted for murder.
ebook, 288 pages
Published
July 9th 2010
by Smashwords
(first published December 4th 2007)
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Clearly my reluctance to read the final book didn't last very long. But I feel robbed! The book actually ended at 75%, with the final 25% being an extra long excerpt from the first book. Really, we need an excerpt from the first book after reading the last one? This was also the most poorly edited book. The previous books might have had one or two errors, per book. This one had many errors, 'Nell' appeared as 'No', 'one' as 'on', and in one sentence he and his were both used instead of she and h...more
Wow.. So this is how it ends.
I was so happy with this series all the way that I got absolutely blind-sided by this book!
I have to admit: I skipped a few pages in this one! I skipped a few a lot of pages in this one. I still got the gist of it.
I did not skip pages because I didn't like the book! I think the reason was that there were more words than were necessary on some of the pages. I do like descriptive writing, but sometimes you just have to get on with it!
I do understand the need to bring...more
I was so happy with this series all the way that I got absolutely blind-sided by this book!
I have to admit: I skipped a few pages in this one! I skipped a few a lot of pages in this one. I still got the gist of it.
I did not skip pages because I didn't like the book! I think the reason was that there were more words than were necessary on some of the pages. I do like descriptive writing, but sometimes you just have to get on with it!
I do understand the need to bring...more
Aug 22, 2011
Sharanya
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical,
mystery
The series wrap up is pretty much that - a wrap up. I was somewhat disappointed with the mystery aspect - it started out well, with Nell finding out about the death of her brother, and that it seems to have happened in shady circumstances. But then as the plot unfolds it seems to become less and less engaging - not a whole lot of intrigue or mystery, just finding out who actually did commit the deed (it was the person they thought it was all along, big surprise) about halfway through, and then j...more
I found this a very satisfying conclusion to the Nell Sweeney series. Since this is the concluding volume, I will take a few moments to provide my overall impressions of the series, which I would recommend.
Pros
--I really liked the character of Nell Sweeney. Great protagonist.
-- I also liked the majority of the supporting characters and found them interesting.
--Well written books, with vivid settings and descriptions
-- Nell and Will's ongoing will they or won't they romance is actually involving...more
Pros
--I really liked the character of Nell Sweeney. Great protagonist.
-- I also liked the majority of the supporting characters and found them interesting.
--Well written books, with vivid settings and descriptions
-- Nell and Will's ongoing will they or won't they romance is actually involving...more
Disappointing... more could have been told of the relationship between Nell and Will. Seems as if the author could only tell half a story in this final story of Nell Sweeney.
Nell and the Hewitt's are spending the summer months on the cape, she learns from Cyril Greaves that her brother Jamie was killed in a fire. His body not correctly autopsied and sold to a medical school.Nell stops the sale of her brother's body and has him properly buried. Slowly Nell learns the truth of what happened to he...more
Nell and the Hewitt's are spending the summer months on the cape, she learns from Cyril Greaves that her brother Jamie was killed in a fire. His body not correctly autopsied and sold to a medical school.Nell stops the sale of her brother's body and has him properly buried. Slowly Nell learns the truth of what happened to he...more
I was a little disappointed in this last installment. I knew it was short, but when I got to the end and I was only 74% into the book, I got little confused. Then when I realized the last 26% of the book was the first part of Still Life With Murder, I think you could say I was feeling put off. Why would you an excerpt from the first book in a series in the last book of the series? Common sense leads one to believe this is material one is already familiar with. I also thought the story could've w...more
I finish on a sigh. This relationship between the hero and heroine is fraught with emotional and situational complexity. The mystery this time was a personal one, dealing with the last of Nell's demons. My only complaint is that it was rather short. I could have read on for quite a lot longer. But then I like long books. The mystery was secondary, but that was perfectly fine by me. The characters were so richly drawn, it seemed natural that their story would take the spotlight. I'm rather sad to...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I must say that this entire series was so much fun to read. I'm not sure but I think these books are only available as ebooks (I could be wrong).
This book ended the series perfectly.
I first came to this series because I was looking for some historical fiction about Boston.
I would LOVE to see these books made into movies. My dream cast for main characters would be: Nell = Kate Winslet and Will = Hugh Jackman.
I'm not usually a fan of the murder mystery so I was suprised at how captured I was righ...more
This book ended the series perfectly.
I first came to this series because I was looking for some historical fiction about Boston.
I would LOVE to see these books made into movies. My dream cast for main characters would be: Nell = Kate Winslet and Will = Hugh Jackman.
I'm not usually a fan of the murder mystery so I was suprised at how captured I was righ...more
Well, things end as we've pretty much guessed. William and Nell get married at the end. (Surely, this can't be a spoiler, if you've read even the first book.)
This is the worst of the series. It's shorter, most of the book is used to wrap up the love story, and even that is done in a very rushed way. The mystery portion is not very interesting, either.
The author could revive the series of the happily married sleuths solving some crimes in San Francisco, and again when they return to Boston, but I...more
This is the worst of the series. It's shorter, most of the book is used to wrap up the love story, and even that is done in a very rushed way. The mystery portion is not very interesting, either.
The author could revive the series of the happily married sleuths solving some crimes in San Francisco, and again when they return to Boston, but I...more
When I picked up the first book in this series as a Kindle freebie, I was doubtful that I’d really enjoy it. Although it’s historical, I was not into historical mysteries at the time. But by the time I was done, I’d enjoyed it so much, I not only planned to read the rest of the series but I was suddenly on the hunt for similar historical mysteries! None have been quite as good but a few particular series might suffice as a replacement now that this one is finished.
What was more surprising is th...more
What was more surprising is th...more
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Final book in the Gilded Age mystery series and it reads exactly like that -- a series wrap up. The mystery element was almost an after thought. This book was dedicated wholly to wrapping up loose ends on the personal and character front.
Throughout the series, Nell, the main character has been guarding some pretty heavy secrets for very good reason. Only Will, her best friend and the man she's quietly (and sufferingly) in love with knows them all. Well all is revealed in this installment, for th...more
Throughout the series, Nell, the main character has been guarding some pretty heavy secrets for very good reason. Only Will, her best friend and the man she's quietly (and sufferingly) in love with knows them all. Well all is revealed in this installment, for th...more
Aug 31, 2008
Christina (AKA Babbling)
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favorite-books
Quoted from my review @ http://misscz.wordpress.com
Comments: Nell has a lot on her plate. Her only surviving sibling, Jamie, is dead. He was a fugitive, wanted for the murder of Susannah Cunningham. Also occupying her mind is that fact that she’s pregnant with Will’s baby and Will is in France. In the previous book, the American ambassador asked President Grant for an experienced battle surgeon, and Will was offered the job. Nell even begins to question whether Will — rootless vagabond, cardshar...more
Comments: Nell has a lot on her plate. Her only surviving sibling, Jamie, is dead. He was a fugitive, wanted for the murder of Susannah Cunningham. Also occupying her mind is that fact that she’s pregnant with Will’s baby and Will is in France. In the previous book, the American ambassador asked President Grant for an experienced battle surgeon, and Will was offered the job. Nell even begins to question whether Will — rootless vagabond, cardshar...more
The end of the series, this one finds Nell asking her scumbag husband for divorce. People who haven't read the rest of the series won't understand the gravity of such a request for someone as devout as Nell. She doesn't do it lightly and without risk.
In addition she must investigate the death of her brother Jamie. Did he die in the commission of a crime, was he murdered, how did he really die?
I won't spoil the ending of this series, but I can recommend it.
In addition she must investigate the death of her brother Jamie. Did he die in the commission of a crime, was he murdered, how did he really die?
I won't spoil the ending of this series, but I can recommend it.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This felt like it was more of a short story to wrap up the series. I was glad to see a happy ending to the series but overall it wasn't as good as some of the first books.
As for the series overall, I really liked the first 3 books. 4 was good but was getting old and 5 and 6 were not as strong. I loved the relationship between Nell and Will but Will left at the end of every book. And he came back at the beginning of every book. It got old.
As for the series overall, I really liked the first 3 books. 4 was good but was getting old and 5 and 6 were not as strong. I loved the relationship between Nell and Will but Will left at the end of every book. And he came back at the beginning of every book. It got old.
Okay, this one was better. Nell's brother is killed and she and Will solve the crime. The love story comes to fruition and I liked the fact that there was story and crime stuff intertwined. Still, many misspelled words and typos....grrrrrrr. I'm glad to be finished with the series. Thank goodness they were short since I ended up not really liking them but since I paid for them, I had to read them, right?!!
Though the murder in this book seemed distinctly perfunctory, as the obvious point was to finally bring Nell and Will together, I did enjoy this final installment in the series quite a bit. P. B. Ryan seems to have finally gotten into her narrative stride towards the end of the series, which is unfortunate, but I'm sure bodes well for her other novels. Definitely an enjoyable series, if not the most difficult of reads.
I loved this series and was satisfied with the ending (this book - I assume at least, maybe it will continue). I usually hate romance-themed books though, so maybe that's why I liked it when many people seemed not to. My only complaint is that the Kindle edition had a LOT of typos (the only one of the series that did - I read them all back to back so it really stood out).
This is such a great series. The books draw you in and it is hard not to start the next book immediately after finishing the previous. I feel that slight sense of loss, knowing that I won't be reading any more Nell Sweeney mysteries, but I am so glad that I read these books. I highly recommend them all - just make sure you read them in order!
A series that began with such potential ends with a worn out and predictable whimper. Much of this final installment feels forced (even the 'mystery' is far-fetched) in order to bring about a fairytale ending. Ryan is an effective and engaging writer; unfortunately, she was unable to maintain the freshness of the story.
Yet another, "I read it in two hours," story from Ryan. I did enjoy this story and it was all wrapped up in a perfect little bow at the end. I guess this means no more gilded age mystery books. Not sure if I am happy or relieved about that.
Although perhaps not as good as others in the series, the book was still great. I believe it is the finale of the series and loose ends were tied up with aplomb. On the whole the series was fantastic and I highly recommend all of the books!
Very good. It was admirable of Nell to care about knowing the truth about her brother's death as well as his character. I liked this book...I'm just sad that this is the end of my involvement in the life/romance of Nell and Will.
Glad of the ending even if others did not agree. Yep it was short but it stalled a bit so I'm glad it was. I really enjoyed the series and mostly could not put it down. Each installment was an enjoyable, fun, satisfying read.
It was with sadness that I finished the sixth and final installment of this delightful mystery series. Five stars for the ending and a plea to Ms. Ryan to consider a seventh... the possibilities of Boston in the 1870s seem endless!!
this is a great series! finished all six books in a row. great historical mysteries, great protagonist and uber interesting look at the class structure of boston in the years following the civil war.
I like how she wrapped the series up at the end. Wish there would have been a little more to the story. It was a short book for a series end. Overall I really enjoyed these books!
This was the sixth book in the series, and as soon as I finished one I was grabbing the next. A very engaging story that continues to unwind throughout the six books. Great fun reading!
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