A Tale of Two Biddies

League of Literary Ladies #2

by Kylie Logan

When it comes to solving mysteries, these ladies are in a league of their own…

Summer can be the best of times or the worst of times for the resort town of Put-in-Bay on Lake Erie. For Bea Cartwright, business is booming as guests storm her B and B for the Bastille Day celebration. In honor of the holiday, the League of Literary Ladies is reading the Charles Dickens’ classic, A Tale of Two Cities. It would be hard to make a more apropos selection—especially when they have their very own Defarge sisters, elderly twins Margaret and Alice, who run the local knitting shop.

On Bastille Day, the head-banging rock band Guillotine shows their chops for the tourists—but the celebration is soon cut short. With something needling the Defarge dowagers and secrets that lead to murder, solving this mystery will be a far, far better thing than the Literary Ladies have done before. They’ll just have to make sure to keep their heads while they try to stop a killer’s reign of terror…

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Adult, Contemporary

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 4, 2014

About the author

Also writes as Miranda Bliss, Casey Daniels, Zoe Daniels, Connie Deka, Mimi Granger, Anastasia Hastings, Connie Lane, Connie Laux, Constance Laux, Lucy Ness.

Reviews

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good second book in the series. I am enjoying the character development and have much curiosity on Bea's past (she seems to be quite rich, has some intricate knowledge coming out of nowhere and has no ties to family of any kind)...

From the title, you had to know there was more to Alice and Margaret than we were initially told... their story is good, but I feel the ending went too quickly. I think Kylie Logan could have added in a final chapter explaining how everything happened, e.g. Richie's poisoning.

I look forward to Book 3 but hopefully we start learning more about Bea!

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like how Kylie Logan links each of these mysteries to a well known novel. The first book referred to Murder on the Orient Express and this one relied on A Tale of Two Cities. The League of Literary Ladies have developed a reputation for themselves in their small community, so this time around they have more people keeping track of their actions. This requires a bit more subterfuge.

The relationship between the women has progressed from the first installment, where they started out as feuding neighbours. There are still tensions, but they are working on alleviating those rather than returning to fighting. They help each other as well as annoy each other. And I have to wonder if the judge who sentenced them to be a book club has any second thoughts about what he has unleashed on the community!

In addition to the mystery, we are given three other questions to consider. First, what exactly is Bea's history? What has brought this New Yorker to this remote island town? Second, what's up with Levi? It's become apparent that he's escaping something in his past too. Third, can Bea and Levi quit sniping at each other long enough to see if they have a chance at being a couple?

Those outstanding issues make me want to request book number three right away, but I currently have a large pile of library books and delayed gratification will make the third volume more enjoyable anyway.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was a great mystery. Usually the first and even second books in a series aren't the best, but this book was simply amazing, and I can't wait to read the next one.

I loved the characters, in this book you see more development in many of the characters, especially Levi and Kate. The new characters were also quirky and lovable in their own way.

The mystery, however, was the best part of this book. So many well-thought-out clues add together in the end.

I really can't think of anything bad about this book. I hope the author finally gets Levi and Bea to talk to each other in the next book, instead of them continuously avoiding each other, but besides that this is a great book.

[Jessica Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

For complete review check out my blog at https://booksaplentybookreviews.blogs...

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book of this series that I read earlier this spring. When I found out one of the book groups I'm in on Facebook was going to discuss the third book in October, I thought that while I was on vacation last week I'd read the second book. I had already felt like I knew these ladies and they were friends I was going back to visit.

When Bea Cartwright found the body of a local guy named Richie, everyone wondered if he really had been killed as he'd feared ever since a few days before when he said he was pushed into the water. The town was having a Bastille themed festival, and that included a heavy-metal band named Guillotine. It turned out that Richie had a few secrets he'd been keeping, one which most likely led to his murder.

I was really surprised when the killer was revealed. It was a great plot twist! I can't wait to read the next since it's a Halloween theme!

[Keisha | A Book Like You · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm really, really sad to be giving this book only a 2 star. It's mostly my fault and not the book's. This took me nearly 3 months to finish. I really do love Kylie Logan's writing. The first book in this series was great. I just wasn't as interested in this particular storyline/mystery. I missed seeing the League of Literary Ladies all together. I felt like we got more of just Bea and Chandra in this one. Also, if you are familiar with the classics that these cozy mysteries are based on, I feel like you're probably going to be able to decipher "who done it." Maybe not the "how," but still, if you can go in blind, I would. I will say that the way the author weaves stories and explains the reveal are great, though. Here's to hoping I'll enjoy book 3 more!

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just didn’t care. I didn’t care about who was killed. I didn’t care about the festival. I didn’t care about the wool shop, the b&b or the bar. I really didn’t care about the romantic interlude with the main character and Levi. I didn’t even care about whodunit. But I finished it and hope no others in this series cross my path.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Kylie Logan creates such vibrant characters. These Literary Ladies started out as sworn enemies and quickly became friends when forced to spend time together in a book club. They don’t see eye to eye on everything but are learning to accept each other quirks or in Chandra’s case, her cats annoying behavior. They are spending more and more time together and again they find themselves right in the middle of another police investigation.

It has been quite a few years since I had read A Tale of Two Cities but Chandra’s brief little synopsis brought back my memory quickly. It will also help those who have never read the Dicken’s tale.

The Bastille Day celebration was quite an event that bought a very interesting group of characters to town. From a group of Charles Dickens impersonators to an old rock band and their groupies. A rock band with their own guillotine no less.

Logan again has written a captivating mystery with plenty of suspects and diversions. There are nods to Dicken’s original story and the perfect balance of humor. Bea is still hiding something that is holding her back from a romantic relationship with Levi. He says he knows she is isn’t telling the truth about why she came to town and opened the Bea & Bee. Every time I though we were going to get another piece to her past they were always interrupted. I am looking forward to this whole subplot playing out over the series.

I wonder what classic the League of Literary Ladies will choose for their next book blub read.

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

In order to draw in tourists, South Bass Island is hosting Bastille Week, and Bea and her book club are reading A Tale of Two Cities as a result. However, the added tourists bring chaos even before someone is murdered.

While I wasn't familiar with the Dickens classic, the parallels are pointed out for us, so that wasn't an issue. Instead, I could focus on the mystery, which threw me completely several times, although I did finally get part of the solution correct. The characters are strong, and the book just has a sense of fun that made it hard to put down.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Bastille Day in Put-in-Bay, the little town on South Bass Island. French Independence Day brings with it a Charles Dickens impersonator contest, an 80s rock band in disguise (well, sorta, lol!), and murder! Bea and company are up to their baguettes in investigations in this one - A Tale of Two Biddies is a nicely written second installment in Kylie Logan's League of Literary Ladies series. A+

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I I loved book one, but book two is even better! I've never read A Tale of Two Cities, but there was enough explained for me to understand the references, and it helped me understand a Mel Brooks joke. The mystery was amazing, with lots of twists and a shocking ending.

[nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite the read. Especially the mystery. I like that characters are slowly growing with each book.

The writing is especially good here. Also the moments with Levi and Bea are also good.

Then at the end I was like, wait book are you serious? Already want to read the next one.

[Kate]

Abandoned. No time to waste on a book where the heroine is perfectly able to take care of herself yet spends time telling the reader that of course she can’t actually take care of herself. The sexism in cozies like this is frustrating. I don’t mind a heroine who has to be rescued, I mind when the author makes sure to tell the reader that despite her competence, the heroine knows she really can’t solve any problems because Lady.

Beyond that this is just a tough slog. It reads like a formula book written by any author.

[Johnna · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really fun read. Love this series!

[Reenah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the first book in this series, but this one was boring and forgettable.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. I did the think the mystery was in your face and not super surprising. But I like all the characters so much. I like Chandra so much.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The League of Literary Ladies from Put-In-Bay, Ohio have chosen "A Tale of Two Cities" as their newest book club selection. Bea Cartwright, and her three friends Chandra, Kate, and Luella selected the book in honor of the town’s upcoming Bastille Day celebration, and some parts of the book seem to be coming to life in their small tourist town. From elderly knitters named Defarge to a visiting rock band whose stage show includes a working guillotine, some of the parallels to events going on in their town are becoming eerie. Bea was happy to leave the hustle and bustle of New York for her new home, but when an unpopular resident of the town is murdered, Bea feels compelled to investigate the crime. She feels the victim, who didn’t get much respect in life, deserves to get justice in death. So Bea sets out to learn secrets being kept by some of the residents of the town, while trying to keep her own secrets safe.

"A Tale of Two Biddies" is a great follow-up to the excellent debut in the series, "Mayhem at the Orient Express". The setting near Lake Erie is unique and adds something extra to the book. Some details about the town are included, but I didn’t get the same feeling for the location as I did in the first book of the series. The interesting, likeable characters are another highlight of the book. I love the camaraderie between Bea and her fellow members of the League of Literary Ladies. They are a diverse group of friends and it’s great to see how well they all get along and support each other. I also enjoy the chemistry between Bea and bar-owner Levi Kozlov. It seems there could be romance in their future, even though Bea is fighting her feelings, partly because of secrets she is keeping from Levi and her other friends in Put-In-Bay.

The murder investigation kept my interest throughout the book. Bea is an intelligent investigator and I like seeing her get to the truth of the unusual events occurring in the town. Some of what she discovers was expected, but there are a few surprises. The ending is a good one and everything ties in well with the book club’s selection of "A Tale of Two Cities".

The book is very accessible to readers who haven’t read the prior book in the series. The plot in this book doesn’t rely on events that took place in the prior book, and information is given to help new readers catch up on the characters. However, even though the backstory of how the women became friends is touched on in this book, the details that play out in the series debut are worth reading about and would add to the enjoyment of this novel.

This book is well-written and clever. Readers who enjoy books by Ellery Adams anyone looking for a book with an interesting plot and an intelligent, strong main character will like the book. This series is my favorite by author Kylie Logan, who also writes the Button Box Mysteries and the Chili Cook-off Mysteries.

This review was originally written for The Season EZine. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Tale Of Two Biddies is the second book in the League of Literary Ladies Mystery series.

I must say that I enjoyed this book more than the first.

Port-in-Bay is busy readying itself for the celebration of Bastille Day. Bea Cartwright, owner of Bea's B&B couldn't be more pleased with her business. The local business people are having a little picnic near the pier at DeRivera Park, a couple days before the big celebration begins. Shortly after the passenger ferry from the mainland ties up, a fifties year old, Richie ends up in Lake Erie. He claims he was pushed, but no saw what happened. Arriving from the mainland is the musical group Guillotine, a past their prime band and a bunch of groupies out of the 1980's. The band has also brought a guillotine which is sitting prominently on the B&B's porch. Dino, the head of the band, says that the guillotine is perfectly safe and demonstrates that it is. But later at Levi's bar, the Guillotine's are giving a pre concert show for the locals, when three men jump up and put a watermelon in the guillotine and it severs it in half. Then a short time later Bea notices Richie and he his not responding to her calls. Richie is dead and it is learned that he had been poisoned. Richie wasn't the handiest of handymen and had caused a man to lose his business, when a house blew up when Richie forgot to turn off the gas. So there is the man who lost his business and, of course, the house owner too that become persons of interest in the poisoning. So the Literary Ladies are busy trying to find out who might have wanted Richie dead, to actually make it happen.

Another event at the Bastille Day celebration is the Charles Dickens impersonator contest. Six people have entered the contest to see who does the best job of portraying Dickens. It just so happens that League is reading The Tale of Two Cities this month.

Once again Logan has provided the reader with an interesting cast of characters. The characters from the first book are back to provide the reader with their enjoyable banter. The DeLarge sister are real treat too. Up in years, they enjoy heckling each other.

An enjoyable read and will be watching for the next book.

[Ronna · Rating 5 out of 5]

First line in this book tells so much about how this fun cozy takes off from the book, A TALE OF TWO CITIES and it's author Charles Dickens------" It was the best of thymes, it was the worst of thymes." And the fun and mystery continues throughout with this theme.

The small town of Put-in Bay on Lake Erie is the backdrop for this year's Bastille Day celebration, with a contest for a Dickens's look alike character and a trivia contest about Dickens. The town even has their own Defarge sisters that run the knitting store. But someone has put a damper on everything by murdering the town's "screw-up". Who did he bother so much that he needed to die?

This second in the League of Literary Ladies Mysteries continues to fascinate me with it's connection to a famous book. The cast of characters is varied but works really well together within this small town setting. I suggest reading the first book before this one to get introduced to all the characters. The ladies were put together by a judge "sentenced" to meet once a month as a book group because they couldn't stop bickering amongst themselves. Great series that I hope goes on for a long time!

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I loved the first one, for some reason I had a hard time staying as invested in this one. A lot of the humor was missing and the mystery itself was a bit all over the place, although I didn't guess a twist at the end. I do like how that twist and other things in the novel tied into the story they had been reading, A Tale of Two Cities. The Dickens impersonators were funny in their way but things like that were kind of side distractions. Little time was actually spent at the inn or any of the locations of the first book. I think the main issue is the style of mystery being solved was mainly filled with dialogue exchanges through the story. I still feel little chemistry with the main character's love interest. Full review to come.

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderfully comical mystery from Kylie Logan. A group of ladies we have already learned to love in the first book, a classic piece of literature as a backdrop, and characters that are very familiar to small town dwellers like myself, all add to the fun of the story. And this book also gave me something to think about: who is in my small town that I never pay enough attention to, or get to know? I'll be pondering that!

[Melodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, but nowhere near as good as the 1st one. Was hard to keep all the characters straight, and story just seemed a bit lackluster. Maybe this writer has too many irons in the fire since she writes 3 series. I notice Jenn McKinlay is suffering with a couple of her series, too. As I said, not a bad book, but not a good one either.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun read which I started the series because my book club was reading the 3rd book in the series for it’s October choice. I had already read book one so immediately checked checked this book out. I’m glad I did.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun loving cozy mystery. I love the league of ladies mystery group. They are so great together. Never a dull moment. I love the references to the classic story of Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities. Also loved the people dressing up as Charles Dickens and trying to act like him too.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Entertaining, but not as good as book #1.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The mystery seemed pretty obvious to me, but that's not really the problem. The problem is that everything felt very by-the-numbers, most especially the "romance" (which is really terrible).

[Anam Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, it's official now. I have a new author to add to my list of favorites.

This is the third book I have read by Kylie Logan and once again it is delightful. (I read one out of order)

Her characters are all so different from each other, but somehow together, they click. As odd as some might seem, we all know someone who could fit into the mold. The League of Literary Ladies is a great method to center a mystery around. The book club was formed unwillingly as a punishment for their complaining about each other to the local government officials. They reluctantly met and solved a murder in the first book of the series. Now in the second book, we do have a murder, but we have so much more going on.

It is impossible to describe just how much fun it is to have a mystery that shares attributes with classic literature. A Tale of Two Biddies is a play on A Tale of Two Cities and in the reading you will find elements of the Dickens classic played out on a modern island in Lake Erie. I find it so much fun to look for the similarities of the two books and compare things found in each.

I am eager to start the third book in the series to see how the relationship with Levi and Bea will play out in it. Thank goodness there are 5 in the series so far. Hoping that Ms. Logan can write faster than I can read

[Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am generally enjoying this series; the characters have a nice dynamic, I appreciate female friendships, and the mysteries are usually interesting. in this entry, the island is packed for a Bastille Day celebration which somehow entails Charles Dickens impersonators (fun) and a heavy metal band called Guillotine, who happen to be an aging boy band with their boy band fans. quirky. the twists were neat. I'm pretty sure we're never going to see Bea in the same room as F X O'Grady. I don't know if this needs to be marked as a spoiler because I actually have No Idea if this is a good guess, but I will anyway. the covers are really cute even though the cat plays an extremely minor role in the story and is a nuisance more than anything.

the reason I didn't rate this higher is I'm not wild about the romance side plot and I think Bea's reasons for investigating are pretty thin. there was also so much going on in the story that the book group really took a back seat, like 1-2 short interactions for most of the characters. the ending was also a bit abrupt.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kylie Logan is one of my favorite authors. I started diggin' her books when I read DON OF THE DEAD: Pepper Martin Mystery #1 under her other name, Casey Daniels. Then I found she wrote other fun series under Kylie Logan and I was in.
This is a busy book, highly enjoyable busy book. A lot of characters, a lot of stuff going on, plenty of suspects and a great "I did not see that comin'!".
Main character, Bea, owns and operates her bed and breakfast and has secrets she's trying to keep. I like her League of Literary Ladies group, nicely eclectic and a weensy bit eccentric, excellent chemistry. They work well together to work through their investigations, getting in some scrapes.

The 'boy band' who came to town cracked me up. And their fans. I can see that kind of thing happening, living in the glory days.

A good mystery, great setting and well-done characters with a good premise.
I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.

[Penny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have real problems with this series. I really like the characters in these stories by Kylie Logan, even though I'd love to know more about each one's daily lives (after the first book you'd think we wouldn't just read the same thing as last time). You'd have to be pretty dense to not figure out the murderer - Alice and Margaret were never in the room at the same time plus the title gave it away - for me at least. Also, why in the world would a grown woman (Bea) and man (Levi) be so ridiculous and coy with each other? Fairly sickening to be honest. And come on - Bea 'hates' the writer FX something-or-other and doesn't want the 'ladies' to read 'his' works and she's apparently semi-ultra-rich .... raise your hand if you think/know Bea IS FX something-or-other? Sigh, like I said, I do like the characters, but I won't be on their island again.