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Death Takes Priority
(Postmistress Mystery #1)
by
Introducing a murder mystery that really delivers!
After caring for her dying aunt and being dumped by her fiance, Cassie Miller decides to return to her small hometown in the Berkshires to lick her wounds and live in the house where she was raised. Leaving behind her managerial position in the Boston main postal office, Cassie trades in her tailored suits and high heels fo ...more
After caring for her dying aunt and being dumped by her fiance, Cassie Miller decides to return to her small hometown in the Berkshires to lick her wounds and live in the house where she was raised. Leaving behind her managerial position in the Boston main postal office, Cassie trades in her tailored suits and high heels fo ...more
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Start your review of Death Takes Priority (Postmistress Mystery #1)
Author Jean Flowers has made a wonderful start to her Postmistress Mystery series. DEATH TAKES A PRIORITY should be a priority on everyone’s reading list.
Congratulations to author Flowers for creating a fresh subject for this cozy mystery. A lead character who is a postmistress is a nice change of pace as far as occupations go for a series protagonist. And Cassie Miller is quite a character. She’s intelligent, kind hearted, and a joy to read. All of the residents of Ashcot, Massachusetts are fu ...more
Congratulations to author Flowers for creating a fresh subject for this cozy mystery. A lead character who is a postmistress is a nice change of pace as far as occupations go for a series protagonist. And Cassie Miller is quite a character. She’s intelligent, kind hearted, and a joy to read. All of the residents of Ashcot, Massachusetts are fu ...more
2.5 stars
Reviewed by Kim
There’s a saying, “Not every book is for every reader.” That statement is so true of Death Takes Priority and myself. I picked up the book expecting to like it. The cover is beautiful, the blurb grabbed my attention, and it’s the first book in the series. All things that are great. Sadly, the book is nowhere close to one of my favorite reads. There wasn't anything about it to make me want to read more of this series. I forced myself to continue reading, because not knowin ...more
Reviewed by Kim
There’s a saying, “Not every book is for every reader.” That statement is so true of Death Takes Priority and myself. I picked up the book expecting to like it. The cover is beautiful, the blurb grabbed my attention, and it’s the first book in the series. All things that are great. Sadly, the book is nowhere close to one of my favorite reads. There wasn't anything about it to make me want to read more of this series. I forced myself to continue reading, because not knowin ...more
this book is a fresh take and new debut to a cozy mystery series. Cassie Miller takes the job is postmistress to run the one-man shop of a post office in the small town of North Ascot, Massachusetts. partially to short out the estate of her mother, more or less is a change of career. not long after she gets the job there is a theft of phone books from the locked backroom at the post office. which she hopes to get to the bottom of that mystery. while sitting up a date with Scott James, an employe
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The illness of a family member and a failed relationship bring Cassie Miller back to her hometown, a small town in the Berkshires. She leaves her managerial position in Boston to become the postmaster at her local post office. After a break-in at the post office and the murder of a local man, Cassie finds herself right in the middle of the investigation when her date becomes a suspect in both crimes.
This is a very well-written and solid story that keeps you guessing right up until the end. It is ...more
This is a very well-written and solid story that keeps you guessing right up until the end. It is ...more
This was a good start to a new series. I really enjoyed it. The story revolves around Cassie, who decides to move back to her small hometown of North Ashcot from Boston after her fiancee breaks things off and her aunt is dying. Cassie has taken over management of the post office but she still misses the big city life and her friends there.
One morning she discovers all the new phone books missing. She is puzzled as to why anyone would want to steal all of the phone books. While she is debating wh ...more
One morning she discovers all the new phone books missing. She is puzzled as to why anyone would want to steal all of the phone books. While she is debating wh ...more
Death Takes Priority This book started out a little slow (which was necessary to set up a few plot points) but turned into a really good read. Pretty good plot; although I found it easy to unravel most of it well before the end of the book, it was worth the read to see how it all played out.
Overall, an enjoyable start to what looks like a promising series and I enjoyed the postal anecdotes at the end of the book.
Overall, an enjoyable start to what looks like a promising series and I enjoyed the postal anecdotes at the end of the book.
I am feeling back in a cozy-ish mood and picked up this one when I was out at Barnes and Noble. I love the idea of the theme, the postmistress in a small town. I have a small town near me that had a town post office and it was the hub of the town. There was quite a protest when it was moved outside and people could no longer stop by there on their walk through town. Needless to say I was eager to read about this.
So, I liked the theme and the main character, Cassie. I read other reviews and some ...more
So, I liked the theme and the main character, Cassie. I read other reviews and some ...more
Death Takes Priority by Jean Flowers was an easy read with a smoothly paced plot as it introduces the characters for this new cozy series. I liked Cassie and enjoyed reading about her patrons at the post office. However, I could have easily done without her constant thinking about her ex-fiance and the life she left behind in Boston. I also liked the supporting characters, Ben, Sunni and Quinn as they added a much needed boost to keep the plot moving.
Good first book in the series!
I really enjoyed this book. The story was good and kept me guessing. The characters were like able and I really liked Cassie. The post office setting was different and I liked it. I’m glad this happened to be the only book I could get from the library for the author of the month.
I really enjoyed this book. The story was good and kept me guessing. The characters were like able and I really liked Cassie. The post office setting was different and I liked it. I’m glad this happened to be the only book I could get from the library for the author of the month.
Fun enough read, but definitely written for a 60+ age range.
I read this simply because it had a street on the cover. It was okay though I found it a little boring and didn't really like the main character. The only character I really liked was the chief of police, Sunni Smargon. Not a series I'd continue.
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What a fun new series that I hope to see many more novels from! This is the first cozy that I've read by this author, and I'm looking forward to reading more.
Cassie, who has worked her way up the postal service ladder in Boston, returned to her hometown to care for her aunt who had taken her in when she was orphaned. There happened to be a position in North Ashcot, MA for a postmistress of a one-man shop. Qualified for it, she was given the position and moved in with her aunt for the final month ...more
Cassie, who has worked her way up the postal service ladder in Boston, returned to her hometown to care for her aunt who had taken her in when she was orphaned. There happened to be a position in North Ashcot, MA for a postmistress of a one-man shop. Qualified for it, she was given the position and moved in with her aunt for the final month ...more
This book was nonstop fun and adventure, with a whole lot of post office insider info to make it interesting and different. Not to mention the likable characters and good mystery! Couldn't putting it down!!
...more
Death Takes Priority is the first book in the A Postmistress Mystery series. Jean Flowers is the pen name for Camille Minichino.
Cassie Miller had returned to her childhood home on North Ashcot, MA to take care of her dying aunt. She has traded in her managerial job at Boston's Main Post Office and has taken over as Postmistress at North Ashcot. The previous postmaster has retired, but has agreed to work part time for Cassie.
The first mystery that Cassie encounter is the case of the missing phone ...more
Cassie Miller had returned to her childhood home on North Ashcot, MA to take care of her dying aunt. She has traded in her managerial job at Boston's Main Post Office and has taken over as Postmistress at North Ashcot. The previous postmaster has retired, but has agreed to work part time for Cassie.
The first mystery that Cassie encounter is the case of the missing phone ...more
More of a 1.5, barely rounded up because rating it a 1 seems harsh.
It was okay. I finished it, so that's one thing. But I had no problems putting it down to pick it up again the next day, or even a few days later. The story didn't keep me gripped.
The author tried to juggle a lot of things with the main character: a "fish out of water" in her childhood hometown after leaving it for a while, while holding a job that theoretically keeps her in the center of town gossip, and a recalcitrant detectiv ...more
It was okay. I finished it, so that's one thing. But I had no problems putting it down to pick it up again the next day, or even a few days later. The story didn't keep me gripped.
The author tried to juggle a lot of things with the main character: a "fish out of water" in her childhood hometown after leaving it for a while, while holding a job that theoretically keeps her in the center of town gossip, and a recalcitrant detectiv ...more
Strong characters with a twisted murder plot really make this a great read. Cassie Miller takes the job of post master in the home town that she left 20 years ago. Family issues brought her home and lead to her leaving her managerial job in the main Boston post office. While trying to renew old friendships and make new ones, she is caught up in a murder involving phone books stolen from her post office. This story involves theft, murder, gambling, politics and the juicy gossip that goes on in sm
...more
Jean Flowers (aka Camille Minichino) has done it again. She's written a light-hearted mystery featuring likable characters in a charming New England village. Cassie Miller, on the rebound from romance and urban living, takes a job as post mistress in the small town where she grew up. Things have changed. People have changed. Some for the better and some for the worst. Make a pot of tea or coffee, curl up in your favorite reading chair, and enjoy a cozy romp. You'll never complain about service i
...more
I've become interested in the "cozy mystery" genre and was pleased to receive a copy of Death Takes Priority through the First Reads program.
I thought this novel was strong on plot, the characters interesting, and I think the series has potential. I rated this book three stars, because the reason behind the murder in this mystery felt weak and implausible.
I would read more books by the author, Jean Flowers. I think she has created a memorable character in the small-town postmistress, Cassie. ...more
I thought this novel was strong on plot, the characters interesting, and I think the series has potential. I rated this book three stars, because the reason behind the murder in this mystery felt weak and implausible.
I would read more books by the author, Jean Flowers. I think she has created a memorable character in the small-town postmistress, Cassie. ...more
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway.. I enjoyed it and the characters.. Cassie returns to her hometown after a breakup in Boston. She gets herself in involved in a murder case involving her old boyfriend Wendell. She is quite the sleuth trying to figure out her broke into the post office and who killed Wendell. Cassie is a great character.
To be honest, I wasn't able to get past Chapter 3 of this book. It's getting off to a very slow, stereotypical start. The last straw for me is a character named Sunni. I keep expecting Shia militants to jump out of the impeccably trimmed shrubbery to attack her. If the author had spelled it "Sunny", I might have had the patience to finish the book.
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Fun new cozy series
This was an enjoyable mystery with a small town post mistress as main character. I'll definitely buy the next book. ...more
This was an enjoyable mystery with a small town post mistress as main character. I'll definitely buy the next book. ...more
I really wanted to like this book but I just could not get into it.
Cassie Miller used to work for the postal service in Boston, but when her aunt got sick and her boyfriend dumped her, she ran home to North Ashcot, Massachusetts. She took over the office of Postmaster and has been home for three months, trying to find her way again with people she's known and some she hasn't.
When she accepts a lunch date from a local antiques dealer, Scott James, she doesn't know that it's going to end abruptly, with Scott taken in for questioning - it seems someone from Cassie ...more
When she accepts a lunch date from a local antiques dealer, Scott James, she doesn't know that it's going to end abruptly, with Scott taken in for questioning - it seems someone from Cassie ...more
Cassie Miller has moved back to her hometown of North Ashcot, Massachusetts to care for her beloved aunt during her final days. She worked in the hectic Boston post office so jumped at the chance to become the new postmistress when the position became available. Who knew that a small town could hold just as much drama as the major metropolis. Cassie quickly finds herself involved in a few mysteries when she notices that the town's phone books are missing. She then stumbles across a new love inte
...more
This is definitely a cozy, with a postmaster of a small town as the narrator.
She has returned to her hometown after love gone wrong and sees people she knows and takes excellent care of her territory.
When she has her lunch date interrupted by the local police who escort her date off for interrogation, she finds she does not have a lot of really great friends in town who can come get her and drive her back to town.
She misses her life back in Boston at times. She is a busy body and wants to know ...more
She has returned to her hometown after love gone wrong and sees people she knows and takes excellent care of her territory.
When she has her lunch date interrupted by the local police who escort her date off for interrogation, she finds she does not have a lot of really great friends in town who can come get her and drive her back to town.
She misses her life back in Boston at times. She is a busy body and wants to know ...more
As a member of the Letter Writers Alliance Book Club (https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...), I was excited by its latest selection, Death Takes Priority (Postmistress Mystery #1), because I haven't read a cozy mystery in some time, and as a Postcrosser and sometimes stamp collector, the main character's occupation as a postmaster piqued my interest. I liked the series' setting, but I was not particularly captivated by its plot. I stalled several times while reading the story, but when it com
...more
Yeah, this was okay. Honestly, I finished it last night and I literally just finished another book a few minutes ago and now I've mostly forgotten what was in Death Takes Priority. I didn't get the agonizing over whether to deliver the letter in the beginning...or who it goes to. Why didn't she just put it in the mail box for the guy? Especially when she was so lazy about the phone book distribution...it just seemed like she picked and chose what was important and what could be skimmed over with
...more
This was a pretty solid start to a series.
I liked that Cassie was so interested in her job and honestly reluctant to look into things further, even when it was obvious she had some personal suspicions.
It didn’t really track that she was so annoyed about Quinn not sharing the contents of the letter she returned to him when she otherwise stuck carefully to the rules of being a post master.
Also some of the supporting characters were so indistinct it was hard to keep them straight.
Those things aside ...more
I liked that Cassie was so interested in her job and honestly reluctant to look into things further, even when it was obvious she had some personal suspicions.
It didn’t really track that she was so annoyed about Quinn not sharing the contents of the letter she returned to him when she otherwise stuck carefully to the rules of being a post master.
Also some of the supporting characters were so indistinct it was hard to keep them straight.
Those things aside ...more
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I picked this up at B&N recently thinking it was a new series. I was disappointed to find that not only is it not new, but the 3rd and last book in the series came out 2 years ago. The worst part is that it was really good! The main character is sarcastic and a bit snarky without coming across as mean or rude and the setting is really cute. Maybe the author will eventually self-publish some more books in the series.
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