The Body in the Wardrobe

Faith Fairchild #23

by Katherine Hall Page, Tanya Eby (Narrator)

Attorney Sophie Maxwell has come to Savannah to be with her new husband, Will. But nothing throws cold water on a hot relationship faster than a dead body. Worse for Sophie, no one believes the body she knows she saw is real. Fortunately, Sophie has a good friend in Faith Fairchild. With teenage Amy being bullied by mean girls and husband Tom contemplating a major life change that will affect all the Fairchilds, Faith is eager for distraction in the form of some sleuthing. In between discussions of newlywed agita, surprising Savannah customs and, of course, fabulous low country food, Faith and Sophie will pair up to unmask a killer!

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Cooking

Audio CD

First published April 26, 2016

About the author

Katherine Hall Page is the author of twenty-five previous Faith Fairchild mysteries, the first of which received the Agatha Award for best first mystery. The Body in the Snowdrift was honored with the Agatha Award for best novel of 2006. Page also won an Agatha for her short story “The Would-Be Widower.” The recipient of the Malice Domestic Award for Lifetime Achievement, she has been nominated for the Edgar, the Mary Higgins Clark, the Maine Literary, and the Macavity Awards. She lives in Massachusetts and Maine with her husband.

Reviews

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had a like/loathe relationship with the "Body in the ( )" books and their heroine, Faith Sibley Fairchild, since the first one I ever read, years ago. The series started out as just another cozy series, with just another culinary professional stumbling over a corpse and, of course, investigating. Where other series have kind of staggered on, doing basically the same thing over and over book after book, this one actually has improved: the writing has become more assured and interesting, and as the years have gone by the family has grown, and the children grown up convincingly (if not in keeping with actual time passage; it's kind of like dog years, only the other way around, with the characters aging not quite one year for every two real-world years). It was a shock when one installment of the series brought me to tears; you'll see an anomalous five star rating for one of these on my shelves.

The "loathe" part of the relationship is down to the cultural prejudice and snobbery that pervades the series. It's still there: even after – what, fifteen years in book time and (wow!) 26 years in real time, Faith still yearns for Manhattan and obviously thinks of herself as superior to these villagers. (Her food snobbery still irritates me, too: eat boxed cereal? Pfaugh! I get it - you're a chef. Ease up.) There are times when I want to start a Free Tom! campaign – he's such a nice fellow, and what does he see in her, and all that sort of thing. Now, in this book, Faith's friend Sophie has moved from Maine to Savannah, Georgia with her brand new husband, and so of course now there is the added layer of South versus North. Gosh, that was fun.

And I have to admit, all of the conspicuous consumption in the series gets old. Oh, dear, I have to go to a formal party and I don't have a thing – well, I'll just call my personal shopper at Bergdorf and have her spend an hour or so helping me pick out a couple of things which she can then overnight to me. Hm, it's a little awkward getting around right now – there, all better, I bought a car with my pocket change. Hey! Let's fly up to Maine for an impulsive weekend getaway!

Yes, I'm aware that this could be considered inverted snobbery and prejudice. Liberté, égalité, and all that. The thing is, I'm just a bit puzzled by the target audience of the books. Are they meant for we middle-class schlubs who can't afford so much as a t-shirt from Bergdorf Goodman, never mind two dresses shipped overnight by a personal shopper? (The first tee I saw on the website was $760.00. For a men's cotton shirt with a lion on it that looks it should be for sale at a craft fair. What kind of anencephalous - - sorry, got derailed there. You can slum it and pay $60 for a truly ugly truly plain gray thing that looks like you bought it at an Army surplus store for under $5. I wouldn't, but you can.) And it would take some intensive saving to be able to afford a flight anywhere. (Hell, I'm still trying to pay for my kidney stone.) Do people in general really enjoy having their noses rubbed in things they can't ever afford? I for one find it particularly annoying in Faith, daughter of and wife of ministers, who never seems to quite get the message that her caviar and designer luggage lifestyle is inappropriate for her setting. It can't feel very good for a parishioner to go to her minister for solace after losing her job, only to see his wife come home with a basket of ingredients for the family dinner that cost more than an average week's salary.

But … But.

The writing is still really actually pretty darned good. There's a sort of tacit acknowledgement in there that yes, it is a bit unusual that Faith – and her friends – keep tripping over dead folks; it's all a vehicle for getting the story told. That out of the way, this is a very engaging story, with some deliciously (heh) spooky undertones and nice characterization. It's a series that has outgrown its gimmicky start, and grown up along with the characters. I think the series has officially reached the status of Comfort Books.

My other remaining quibble with this book and its series-mates is the section of recipes at the back. They're rarely anything I would ever make, and they're rarely the dishes mentioned in the course of the books for which I would actually love recipes. Over and over in the series Faith or someone will cook something that sounds terrific, and it's never heard of again; then someone will make something using either ingredients I either can't find or can't afford, or some combination which might be amazing but which sounds appalling – and there's the note to look for the recipe at the back of the book. Seriously, the books are beyond the subgenre now – I would approve of the recipe sections being retired.

I received this book, free for an honest review, through LibraryThing's Early Readers program. Thank you!

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sanpere Island, Penobscot Bay, Maine. Present Day. Katherine Hall Porter’s The Body in the Wardrobe
(Faith Fairchild Mysteries, #23) is an absolute delight! I enjoyed everything about this mystery. Sophie Maxwell, a lawyer, meets Will Tarkington Maxwell on Sanpere Island during the summer. Now Sophie has become Sophie Maxwell Maxwell and has moved to Savannah, GA, to be with her new husband, Will, who is a private detective for white collar crimes. Unfortunately, Will has been spending a great deal of time in Atlanta on a case, but Sophie has been meeting Will’s family and his extended family who appear to be almost everyone in GA. Sophie is slowly adjusting to Southern traditions as she has Yankee ‘roots’. One night she opens a wardrobe to hang up an outfit and out falls a ‘dead’ body, but when reinforcements arrive, and they all go to the bedroom - the body is gone. The friends and family in GA do not believe Sophie saw anything. Even Will is skeptical, but Sophie’s ‘Yankee’ friend, Faith Fairchild, does believe her. With Will gone so much, Sophie talks to Faith quite often. Faith has her own problems as her daughter has to attend a different school than most of her friends because of a poorly drawn town map, and her daughter is dealing with a set of Mean Girls. Plus, Faith’s husband, a minister, is thinking of moving to a new parish. Leaving Alesford? Faith decides to visit Sophie. Together they make an unbeatable team! Great mystery! Loved it! 5 stars.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Am I the only one to notice the two major plot rip-offs in this latest installment of Page's Faith Fairchild novels?

1. The first is taken right from the pages of Daphne duMaurier's Rebecca. Sophie Maxwell is encouraged by her unpleasant sister-in-law to have a dress made in the style of one that is shown in a portrait of her new husband's late grandmother. In both novels, the young heroine's costume reveal ends with a furious husband.

2. The other is that the novel's supernatural elements in a quaint southern city seem to be a rip-off of Karen White's House on Tradd Street series, except that this series is set in Savannah, rather than Charleston. Is Page hoping to spin-off a new series in the same vein?

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book by Katherine Hall Page, with double sleuths Faith Fairchild and Sophie Maxwell. I loved the book prior to this one too, which introduced the reader to Sophie. I took a break from from reading these, and I'm either going to start at the beginning, or just go back and read what I've missed. Happy to be back! Highly recommended!

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of running around, lots of conversation, a little bit of (somewhat predictable) mystery. Didn't love it.

[Susan Sarabasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unusual premise that kept me reading into the night.
Loved the descriptions of Savannah, GA. It’s now on my Bucket List of places to visit.
Wonderful characters and friendships.

I kept wondering why these independent women did not ask their husbands about why or how decisions were being made without their input. However, it seems to have been necessary to the plot.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...

The Body in the Wardrobe
A Faith Fairchild Mystery #23
By Katherine Hall Page
ISBN#9780062439505
www.katherine-hall-page.org
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

Synopsis:

Minster’s wife, caterer, and part-time sleuth Faith Fairchild pairs up with Sophie Maxwell, last seen in Body in the Birches and now a newlywed living in historic Savannah, Georgia, where Sophie crosses paths with murder. Another delightful entry in the beloved mystery series, complete with delectable recipes.

Attorney Sophie Maxwell has come to Savannah to be with her new husband, Will. But nothing throws cold water on a hot relationship faster than a dead body. Worse for Sophie, no one believes the body she knows she saw is real. Will is spending an awful lot of time in Atlanta on a case he claims is urgent, and she’s been tasked with house hunting for them with his former sweetheart, who Sophie can’t help but suspect wishes Sophie would return to her Yankee roots!

Fortunately, Sophie has a good friend in Faith Fairchild. With teenage Amy being bullied by mean girls and husband Tom contemplating a major life change that will affect all the Fairchilds, Faith is eager for distraction in the form of some sleuthing. In between discussions of newlywed agita, surprising Savannah customs and, of course, fabulous low country food, Faith and Sophie will pair up to unmask a killer! (Goodreads)

Review:

The Body in the Wardrobe is the twenty-third (yes! 23rd!) book in the long running Faith Fairchild mystery series. This installment takes us out of the usual settings of small town Massachusetts and coastal Maine to the hauntingly beautiful and historic Savannah, Georgia. Sophie, who has become a friend of Faith, has married the love of her life Will after a whirl wind courtship and moved to his home in Savannah. As a Yankee, Sophie is a fish out of water but enjoys getting to know her new family and adopted city. That is, until her spiteful step-sister-in-law Patty Sue tricks her into making a fool of herself at her big coming out party. Sophie is quickly left to fend for herself while Will, a private investigator, spends the majority of his weeks in Atlanta working on a case. She has her new job as a partner at her father-in-law’s law firm and house hunting to fill her time. One evening, she finds a body in her wardrobe and rushes out of the house and calls the authorities. However, when the police arrive to investigate, there is no body to be found. When her coworker at the firm dies and Will goes missing, Sophie calls on Faith to help her figure out what is going on in person.

The Faith Fairchild mysteries are among the first books that I read “back in the day” that were classified as cozies, and I loved them from the start. I have fond feelings for Faith, her parishioner husband Tom, their children, and all of the supporting characters that make up this charming New England series. However, in my opinion this installment is not among the best of the bunch. With so much attention focused on Sophie and her acclimation's to married life in a new city, I feel that Faith and all of the things I look forward to when reading are missing. A great deal of the book feels like a gothic short story with family secrets, a mysterious location, and societal undercurrents that an outsider such as Sophie does not understand. The bits with Faith focus on the everyday occurrences of a minister’s wife and mother of two teens. Faith’s daughter has changed schools and is having trouble dealing with being away from her friends and with a bully, and Tom is contemplating a big move that will have big ramifications for Faith.

The two story lines do not necessarily go well together and thus, it felt uneven. As expected, Faith’s portions shine. However, some of her thinking and actions do not feel like her usual M.O. Sophie, on the other hand, comes across as a weak personality, almost like she is a throwback to another time, not a twenty-first century intelligent professional. Why couldn’t she just ask her husband Will the questions she wanted answers to? Why did she just sort of dismiss finding a body and its disappearance? Why did she need Faith to travel thousands of miles to help her? I know, it would not be much of a Faith Fairchild mystery without Faith. I feel like the plot as a whole has potential, but it is not fully developed and realized. Sophie’s “story” could have been really intense and compelling, but in the end it feels rushed and falls a bit flat.

Where Page excels here is the Savannah setting. The book reads like a love letter to the Southern city, and I loved it. I enjoyed traveling the city as Sophie learned her way around. I have visited the same restaurants and sites that Sophie mentions. That was fun and brought back memories of a great vacation.

The Body in the Wardrobe is an entertaining enough read, but I think some long time fans of the series may be disappointed. It can be read pretty easily as a standalone book, but please do not judge the whole series on this one installment.

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the new character, Sophie, and I’d like to visit Savannah!

[Lelia Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a departure from other books in the series, Faith Fairchild was not the primary protagonist in the most recent book, The Body in the Birches nor is she in The Body in the Wardrobe; rather, the storyline follows Faith's friend, Sophie Maxwell, as she marries and moves to her new husband's home in Savannah. It's Sophie who's confronted with disappearing bodies, family secrets, a hostile stepsister-in-law and a new husband who seems to be a bit too close to an old girlfriend, all while learning to live in and love a city radically different from her native Long Island. While all that's going on, Faith is dealing with family issues including her husband, Tom's, interest in possibly leaving Aleford for a new parish and her teen daughter, Amy's, unhappiness in a new school. Her connection to all that's going on in Savannah is limited to phone calls with Sophie until the last pages.

Savannah, a city I've visited several times, is itself a character with all its history, architecture, ghosts and unique culture. Ms. Page brings this quintessential Southern town to vivid life and makes me want to go back as soon as I can.

Truthfully, there are multiple threads in the story, some of which turn out to be mysteries while others are focused on family and town issues in both Savannah and Aleford. Sophie's husband, Will, is a private investigator working on a case in Atlanta so he's in and out as Sophie navigates her adopted town and family but he still manages to make enormous mistakes with his new wife and is remarkably uncommunicative. It's a good thing he's usually quite likeable but I still had moments of thinking Sophie should make a run for it. She sticks it out, though, even when no one believes she saw a dead man tumble out of her wardrobe and she excuses a lot of Will's shortcomings. . .until he vanishes and that's when Faith comes to the rescue.

In a few short hours, the women solve the immediate problem which leads to a denouement that's little short of implausible and pretty much totally unexpected. In short, this is not the greatest crime story but Ms. Page's series is so charming overall that a lot can be forgiven and I'll think of this as a pleasant entry featuring a young woman I've come to like very much. I'm looking forward to seeing whether future books will concentrate on Faith again or periodically focus on Sophie.

Note: one thing plucked my last nerve more than once. The word "y'all" is the subject of an ongoing argument as to whether it's always intended to be second person plural or can sometimes be addressed to a single person, the latter usage being almost entirely in areas not part of the South. I've been a Southerner all my life and cannot imagine a native of Savannah addressing one person with this word as happens several times in this story.

Second Note: the foods described are so mouthwatering they can make you feel weak with hunger.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie has just married Will and they have moved to Savannah Georgia, Will's hometown. As Sophie tries to settle into a new town and a new job she finds a body in a wardrobe. The only problem is, no one really believes her since the body vanished before the time the police arrive. Over phone calls with Faith Fairchild back in Maine, Sophie reveals all the strange things that have been happening since her arrival in Savannah. Eventually, Faith feels compelled to travel to Savannah to help Sophie solve the puzzle of the body in the wardrobe.

This was my first Faith Fairchild mystery and I must admit it seemed at first a bit disjointed to me. I think it might have been helpful if the Author's Note that appears at the end of the book had been placed at the beginning. Because it is only at the end of the book that there is an explanation as to how Sophie became the main character in this book, rather than Faith. I also felt that there could have been more suspense in the book and it seemed like the mystery was wrapped up too quickly. Another thing that bugged me was the incorrect use of the southern term, y'all. Y'all is basically a shortened version of you all, and one only uses it when one is referring to a group of people. In this book it was often used by characters when they were addressing only one person. Either there was a lack of understanding of the term or poor editing. Either way it was an annoying feature in an otherwise fairly well written novel.

Thanks to Goodreads Giveaway for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

More reviews at: www.susannesbooklist.blogspot.com

[Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Southern traditions take on a nasty role through the actions of a spiteful character in author Katherine Hall Page’s tantalizing new cozy mystery. Page has created her characters with flaws readers can relate to, as well as loathe. She’s made the characters genuine, realistic and well-rounded.
The charming Savannah setting quickly draws you in as the suspense builds and the tension of Southern customs mingles with Northern ways. Through vivacious descriptions, the author makes the city come alive on the pages as you’re wrapped in the rich historic ambience. The suspense is blended with notable delicious tidbits of the area’s cuisine.
Moving at a steady pace, the story takes readers on a journey of suspense, friendship, traditions, jealousy, and love. With twists and turns to keep you guessing, the story brings unlikely characters together to create a unique and strong friendship.
This is a story rich in history and traditions, loaded with insecurities and memorable settings, topped off with generous helpings of tasty dishes, hours of enjoyable entertainment and characters you’ll want to revisit again and again.
THE BODY IN THE WARDROBE can be read as a standalone. A nice combination of characters, setting and mystery will keep hold you captive until the very end.
FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faith Fairchild and Sophia Maxwell lives are intermingled in this books. It is skillfully done and I was not lost and able to follow the story. Newly married Sophia to will has moved to Savannah, Georgia to live. She meets Will's family for the first time. Things go wrong almost at once. Will is gone on a case and Sophia opens the wardrobe in their room. A man falls out and has a knife in his back. The police arrive and can find nobody. So no one believes Sophia. Meanwhile, Faith has problems as Amy is being bullied in her school and Tom is thinking about taking on a new parish. Phone calls between Faith and Sophia help solve the mystery of disappearing body. I read this in one sitting as it held my interest completely. The descriptions of Savannah are marvelous and you can visualize the area. Amy's problems bring to light the bullying of students.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from William Morrow through Edelweiss. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions are my own.

April 26 reviews on Amazon, Google+, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Goodreads, and WordPress.

[Andrew Langert · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
This book is Katherine Hall Page's 23rd Faith Fairchild mystery, so this series has an audience. This was the first that I have read.
I didn't know it before I picked this up, but the author is definitely writing for a female audience. The principal characters are all females, though males do appear and play roles in the plot. The male characters are only superficially developed. The author spends lots of time describing high society in Savannah, GA and other historic features of the city. Every social event in the book includes detailed descriptions of the food offerings, with several recipes even included!
So maybe this book is better than I am giving it credit for because I am not part of the author's target audience. But the plot is very meandering and thin. The number of characters coming in and out of the plot is overwhelming.
So - I struggled my way through this. Not for me.

[Ellen Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book partially because it occurred in and mentioned several locations I have visited and especially liked--Savannah, Tybee Island Beach, and Charleston. Specific places in Savannah that I remember were referenced. The mystery of the body in the wardrobe did not seem a major part of most of the book, which surprised me. This was the first book in this series I read, so I am not familiar with any background or the techniques generally used by the author. Overall, I really liked the story and the southern atmosphere, however. I hope to read more by this author. This was a firstreads 8book my daughter won from Goodreads and loaned to me.

[Daniele · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This is definitely not my favorite of the Faith Fairchild mysteries. In fact, this installment features very little of Faith. In what feels more like a gothic short story about Sophie, a little bit of Faith and the mundane matters of a midle-aged woman are woven in. It does not feel fully developed. I will keep reading the series out of longstanding devotion to Faith and the earlier books, but it may have run its course.

*I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Dottie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished Katerine Hall Page's latest The Body in the Wardrobe which in addition to being her usual excellent mystery is a love song to the beauty and flavors of Savannah. You are going to want to pack your bags. Action moves between Faith in Massachusetts dealing with family issues and her newly married friend Sophie in Savannah dealing with being the outsider in a not always welcoming community and - by the way - there is a body. Most enjoyable and - as always - recipes to let you try and replicate some of that delicious food.

[Arlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read all the Faith Fairchild mysteries and I must say that I am not enjoying those set in places other than Aleford. My husband was born and raised in Savannah so I thought I might like this one. While Ms Page states at the back of the book that she has visited and fell in love with Savannah, this book reads like a tourist wrote it and not a Savannahian. I felt the mystery was also lacking. If the author is setting up mysteries featuring Sophie, I will pass on them. Bring back Faith and the denizens of Aleford.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read all the Faith Fairchild mysteries. Regrettably, I think this might be the one-too-many. The Sophie parts and the Faith parts almost seem as if they are written by different people. Faith's voice is clear but I was appalled and amazed that a sentient woman with a going small business, let alone two kids in school, would not have had more of a reaction to a unilateral decision by a spouse to move. Similarly, why the heck couldn't Sophie ask her husband questions? It's interesting to read about the ingredients in various dishes but...Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a long running cozy series with Faith and her friends solving a murder. For this story we are Down south in Savannah with newlyweds Will and Sophia. This is a good read with just the right mix of crime, family life and church and business. Every book can be read as a stand alone but I always enjoy re-meeting folks from previous books and catching up with local gossip. As always some wonderful recipes from Having Faith Catering.

[J. Ewbank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book by Page was very enjoyable. I have not read her before but will read more of her now. The mystery is well done with chracters that you grow to know. The plot is well handled and enjoyable. Received it from Goodreads giveaway and am happy to know a different author.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" "To Whom It May Concern" and "Tell Me About the United Methodist Church"

[Eileen]

Loved the book and all the mystery. This was a real page turner and lots of new characters besides the older ones. This is such a excellent author and I am so glad the two
new books were written lately. Enjoyed all the earlier books she wrote and was so happy she had
continued to keep writing. Can hardly wait for her next book. Thanks Katherine Hall Page......

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, by far one of my favorites in this series! Enjoyed the inclusion of Sophie Maxwell, introduced in the previous book in the series. Sophie is a younger version of Faith, the main character and very much like her. Her inclusion in this story takes us to Savannah part time and a Faith-like mystery to be solved. We also spend time with Faith in Aleford Mass. I loved this read!

[Susan Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming. A bit lite on the mystery, but Sophie Maxwell and the city of Savannah shine. Faith and Amy's growing-up issues add to the interest.

[Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie Maxwell, Faith Fairchild’s friend, trades her Connecticut roots for Savannah’s sultry charm in The Body in the Wardrobe, the 23rd Faith Fairchild mystery by Katherine Hall Page. Now married to Will, a private investigator, Sophie sharpens her legal skills at a small Savannah law firm. But southern culture proves a tough adjustment for this Yankee. Will’s half-sister, a meddling southerner, stirs early drama by suggesting a party outfit that horrifies Will—it’s the same one his grandmother wore at her funeral.

Tensions rise when Will’s Atlanta-based PI work pulls him away for long stretches, leaving Sophie to fend off domineering local women eager to mold her into their vision of a proper Savannah lady. Sophie, to her credit, resists their overbearing guidance. Then, one shocking day, she opens a closet, and a greasy-haired man’s body tumbles out. Panicked, she calls the police, only to find the body vanished when they arrive. No evidence of a crime, no trace of an intruder—just a skeptical police force dismissing her as a hysterical Yankee. Even Will doubts her story, leaving Sophie rattled and alone.

Meanwhile, Faith Fairchild grapples with her own troubles in Massachusetts. School officials reassign her daughter, Amy, to a new school where bullies relentlessly target her. Faith’s husband, Tom, considers a job at a different congregation, adding strain to their family. When Christmas and New Year’s pass, grim news arrives from Savannah: a colleague of Sophie’s allegedly dies by suicide, and Will vanishes. Faith jets to Savannah to help Sophie unravel the mystery of Will’s disappearance and the elusive closet corpse.

I’m starting to feel the weight of this series’ quirks. Elements I once overlooked now grate. Sophie’s casual order of high-end Manhattan clothes for overnight delivery to a Christmas Eve soiree feels like elitist fluff, padding a story that could use more focus. I’m likely not Hall Page’s core audience, but the excess detracts from the mystery’s pull. Still, the core plot—disappearing bodies, suspicious deaths, and personal crises—keeps you turning pages, even if it doesn’t fully satisfy.

Kristin Allison, a Denver-based narrator for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, elevates the audiobook with her vibrant delivery. Her knack for injecting tension and spark in all the right places lifts this from a two-star to a solid three-star experience.

In short, the book delivers cozy mystery charm but stumbles with extraneous details. It’s a decent escape for Faith Fairchild fans, but I’m craving tighter storytelling as the series wears on.

[Kissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I saw the title of this book, I expected it to be a typical cozy mystery, especially after seeing it's the 23rd book in a series. While there were elements of mystery (rather than one major event, it was a bunch of minor ones), it ended up being more of a story about Southern family culture, history, and food. The author did a good job of portraying the Southern environment but I feel it was taken a little too far at times to the point of feeling like we were getting the equivalent to the biblical "so-and-so begot so-and-so". Also, some of the family/friend interactions felt weird timing wise (i.e. why would you do a "Go back where you came from" threat when she's already married?). Food was a major focus in this book to the point of drowning out what it really should have been - the mystery/mysteries, especially the book's namesake. While I don't mind books like this having associated recipes included, I did find myself constantly pulled out of the story when I got to the "See recipe, page ___." There's no need for it; either surprise the reader at the end of reading when they come to it or just have a introduction blurb stating you've included them. By the end, everything was quickly wrapped up after a majority had been forgotten for a big portion of the book; almost like the author was going "Oh, yeah, about that." Overall, while I did enjoy seeing the characters try to sort out their lives in their worlds, I was disappointed by this book because of the issues mentioned earlier. It felt like so many different ideas (family, murder mystery, supernatural events, etc.) were introduced but there was no clear concise connection to them. As a result, many elements ended up not having as much of an impact for me as the author may have intended.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Newlyweds Sophie Maxwell and Will Maxwell are settling into married life in Savannah, where his family lives. Yankee Sophie has adjustments to make, as well as new friends. For the time being they are living in a house Will's stepmother is preparing to "flip", while looking for a house of their own. Sophie joins her father-in-law's law firm, while Will is a private detective. When business takes him to Atlanta, Sophie is left alone — only to discover not Narnia, but a dead body when she opens the door of a wardrobe in their bedroom. But when the police arrive, they find nothing. Sophie's sister-in-law suggests it was a ghost, since Savannah is famous for them, but Sophie is sure she saw a body.

Meanwhile, back in Aleford, Faith Fairchild has her own issues to deal with — though nothing quite as drastic as a dead body! Her husband, Tom is considering accepting a call to a new parish; their daughter Amy, in a new school for eighth grade has become a target for bullying; and an elderly neighbor is acting oddly. And on top of all this Sophie needs her help and advice! Just what Faith wants as the holiday season approaches.

Perhaps not a traditional mystery, with the two alternating stories, but both thoroughly kept my interest, making this a fascinating book that was hard to put down. I really enjoyed learning more about the history of Savannah, and would love to visit it someday. Highly recommended.

[Colleen Sehy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intrepid amateur detective Faith Fairchild is normally the star of this series, and she still plays an important role in the story from her home in Massachusetts. However, much of the action takes place in Savannah, Georgia, where newlyweds Sophie and Will Maxwell are setting up house. Sophie and Will appeared in The Body in the Birches and I strongly recommend reading it before reading The Body in the Wardrobe, which is something of a sequel.

Sophie is gamely adjusting to her husband’s large and gregarious Southern family, a new job at her father-in-law’s firm, house hunting with a realtor who just happens to be her husband’s ex-girlfriend, and Will’s hush-hush attitude about his work as a private investigator. Needless to say, she’s not amused when a dead body falls out of a wardrobe then disappears before the police arrive, setting off a series of mysterious events that she has to deal with on top of everything else. Luckily, Faith faced many similar issues in the early years of her marriage, including a disappearing body, and she’s only a phone call away to provide support.

The story places just as much emphasis on Sophie’s adjustment to married life as it does on the mystery, and she's such an engaging character that she and Will just might deserve their own series.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone can be a critic but can anyone be a writer? Personally, I love Page's Faith Fairchild series. I have read them in any kind of order as I find them and have had no problem keeping the sequence of her life straight. This time I did read "The Body in the Birches", the book that precedes this one, first, so I knew who Sophie and Will Maxwell were.

Maybe my one complaint with this story is that Sophie's story and Faith's are mixed together in this book- Sophie in Savannah, Georgia and Faith in Aleford, Massachusetts. Sophie is the one who sees the body in the wardrobe but at the very end of the book, when I thought said body had been forgotten, Faith solves the mystery. A lot goes on in this book and perhaps I feel that it should have been two different books with the plots not as hurried. Regardless, I still enjoyed the book immensely. And was super surprised at who the perpetrators were. I would never have guessed...

I loved reading about the architecture, customs, and foods of Savannah. On Faith's end, I enjoyed her everyday problems with her daughter's tribulations with "the mean girls" in middle school, although seldom in real life do things turn out great like they did in the book. Mean girls stay mean girls- usually through the 35th high school reunion and beyond.

[JoAnna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not have been more disappointed in this "mystery". The mystery is lightly touched on about 1/3 of the way in and I thought it would carry on but through the rest of the book it was just mentioned here and there and then hurriedly wrapped up about 2 pages from the end.

I knew this was going to be super high quality reading and I enjoy beach reads and mildly intriguing thrillers and mysteries but this author has a very annoying trait: she apparently feels the need to let the reader know that she is a font of trivia. Throughout the book, she manages to touch on slavery, the Underground Railroad, all sorts of history, symptoms of various health issues, cooking, song lyrics, terrorism, and the list goes bizarrely on. Each new revelation was out of place in the context and just bothered me.

If this is typical of Page, then I'll refrain from indulging in any more of her "mysteries".

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Maxwell has moved to Savannah with her new husband Will. Unfortunately, though her father-in-law welcomes her into the family and a new job, some of the other relatives and acquaintances are not so friendly. Things are complicated by the fact that Will's job takes him out of town and while he is gone she finds a dead body in the wardrobe of their bedroom. Before the police can investigate the body disappears. Sophie does make friends with a woman across the street, the new office manager, and an elderly gent who is a wealth of knowledge about local history. Meanwhile Faith's husband Tom is contemplating taking a new job at a different parish, daughter Amy is being bullied at school, son Ben is trying to save money for a trip to France, and neighbor Millicent is acting very strangely. The two friends make multiple phone calls to keep each other informed about their lives. All will be revealed in the end.