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Passport to Peril #11
Say No Moor
"The eleventh book in the Passport to Peril Mystery series is solid proof that this series just keeps getting better and better."-RT Book Reviews
Tour escort Emily Andrew-Miceli's plan to boost her business with social media threatens to backfire in merry old England
Hoping to reach an expanded clientele of senior travelers, Emily Andrew-Miceli invites a handful of bloggers to join her group's tour of England's Cornwall region. But when the quarrelsome host of a historic inn dies under suspicious circumstances, Emily worries that the bloggers' online reviews will torpedo her travel agency.
To make matters worse, Emily is roped into running the inn, and not even a team effort from her friends can prevent impending disaster. As one guest goes missing and another turns up dead, Emily discovers that well-kept secrets can provide more than enough motive for murder.
Praise for the Passport to Peril
"A bit of humor, a bit of travel information and a bit of mystery add up to some pleasant light reading."-Kirkus Reviews
"The cast of characters is highly entertaining and the murder mystery mixed with good humor!"-Suspense Magazine
"Maddy Hunter's Passport to Peril series is a first-class ticket to entertainment."-Carrie Bebris, award-winning author of the Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery series
Tour escort Emily Andrew-Miceli's plan to boost her business with social media threatens to backfire in merry old England
Hoping to reach an expanded clientele of senior travelers, Emily Andrew-Miceli invites a handful of bloggers to join her group's tour of England's Cornwall region. But when the quarrelsome host of a historic inn dies under suspicious circumstances, Emily worries that the bloggers' online reviews will torpedo her travel agency.
To make matters worse, Emily is roped into running the inn, and not even a team effort from her friends can prevent impending disaster. As one guest goes missing and another turns up dead, Emily discovers that well-kept secrets can provide more than enough motive for murder.
Praise for the Passport to Peril
"A bit of humor, a bit of travel information and a bit of mystery add up to some pleasant light reading."-Kirkus Reviews
"The cast of characters is highly entertaining and the murder mystery mixed with good humor!"-Suspense Magazine
"Maddy Hunter's Passport to Peril series is a first-class ticket to entertainment."-Carrie Bebris, award-winning author of the Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery series
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 8, 2018
19 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
March 24, 2019
“I’ve been on your tours before, Emily. There’s always a killer.”
I love traveling with Emily and the gang. How they get into the messes they do I’ll never know. There was lots going on and I never guessed any of it before the reveal. I really like the characters in this series, they are so funny. This is not the calm English countryside that you dream about visiting but it was an entertaining trip just the same.
I love traveling with Emily and the gang. How they get into the messes they do I’ll never know. There was lots going on and I never guessed any of it before the reveal. I really like the characters in this series, they are so funny. This is not the calm English countryside that you dream about visiting but it was an entertaining trip just the same.
December 28, 2017
Hail! Hail! The gang's all here! Let the fun begin! Emily has her hands full, again with her usual oddball bunch of senior Iowans plus six bloggers (added because Emily wants to increase her advertising base) and, last but never least, her ex-husband Jack, now Jackie. Their latest tour has brought them to Cornwall...in the middle of a bit of a storm, both outside and inside. Before Emily can blink the first corpse makes its appearance and, without the help from her ex-policeman husband - who is in Rome with the Pope - she is on her own. Not like this is Emily's first rodeo. She finds a corpse or two (at least) on every tour and her Nana and the Gang of Seniors are always willing and able (sort of) to help her find the killer. Can Emily find the killer while trying to keep the Inn from going under? Can Nana keep everyone happily fed in her new role as Chef? And will she and her husband still have a business to run after those bloggers finish posting?
Be warned, this is the 11th in this comical mystery series and, while they do not need to be read in order, not one of them should be given a miss. If this is to be your first meeting with Emily and The Gang, enjoy your time together and, when you are finished with Say No Moor, run, do not walk, to acquire the remaining ten books.
My thanks to the publisher Midnight Ink and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Be warned, this is the 11th in this comical mystery series and, while they do not need to be read in order, not one of them should be given a miss. If this is to be your first meeting with Emily and The Gang, enjoy your time together and, when you are finished with Say No Moor, run, do not walk, to acquire the remaining ten books.
My thanks to the publisher Midnight Ink and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 26, 2018
In an attempt to expand the client list for their travel agency, Emily and her husband offer big discounts to the bloggers who travel with them to Cornwall, England. The only thing the bloggers have to do is cover their travels on their respective blogs. Emily hopes this will be the trip that will go off without a hitch, but things quickly go awry when two of the bloggers bump heads, a pipe bursts at the inn, and someone gets murdered all on the first day of the trip. Stressed about the blogger’s coverage of their trip, Emily strives to make everything right when she’s suddenly expected to run the inn and one of the travelers go missing.
While Emily and the gang are in England, they spend most of their time at the inn with some exploring and touring thrown in. I promise you that it is the furthest thing from boring. I found myself laughing so hard that I had to put my book down and dab my eyes with tissue. Hunter did it again and busted out yet another hilarious installment. The entertaining cast of characters worked well with the new characters that popped in and out throughout the story. I loved the interactions we got between the bloggers, although we seemed to only see a couple of them most of the time. It was a fun new addition to the cast of usual characters.
Speaking of the bloggers, I wish that we saw a little more of them than we did. Only three of the bloggers were distinctive and had their roles in the story expanded. The others popped their heads in every so often and that was that. I know that it’s likely these aren’t characters we’ll see again in the future, but I wish we saw a little more of the ones who were barely there because they didn’t make much of an impression on me. However, I think I’ll be okay with it because Jackie was featured a lot more than usual and I loved it. She’s one of my favorite characters, so I’m always excited when she appears.
I will say that the murder mystery is a secondary storyline, but that doesn’t bother me. I was having so much fun reading the series of hilarious events unfold that it doesn’t seem farfetched for the mystery to be secondary. We have the bloggers and the shenanigans going on between two of them, a theft, natural disasters, Emily and Wally having to man the inn, and nana showing off her cooking skills. Plus, one of the regulars goes missing, which adds yet another crisis to the mix.
All in all, Hunter does not disappoint. This is yet another sidesplitting installment that did not fail to entertain. It’s action packed, fun, and heartwarming. I’m looking forward to the next book!
While Emily and the gang are in England, they spend most of their time at the inn with some exploring and touring thrown in. I promise you that it is the furthest thing from boring. I found myself laughing so hard that I had to put my book down and dab my eyes with tissue. Hunter did it again and busted out yet another hilarious installment. The entertaining cast of characters worked well with the new characters that popped in and out throughout the story. I loved the interactions we got between the bloggers, although we seemed to only see a couple of them most of the time. It was a fun new addition to the cast of usual characters.
Speaking of the bloggers, I wish that we saw a little more of them than we did. Only three of the bloggers were distinctive and had their roles in the story expanded. The others popped their heads in every so often and that was that. I know that it’s likely these aren’t characters we’ll see again in the future, but I wish we saw a little more of the ones who were barely there because they didn’t make much of an impression on me. However, I think I’ll be okay with it because Jackie was featured a lot more than usual and I loved it. She’s one of my favorite characters, so I’m always excited when she appears.
I will say that the murder mystery is a secondary storyline, but that doesn’t bother me. I was having so much fun reading the series of hilarious events unfold that it doesn’t seem farfetched for the mystery to be secondary. We have the bloggers and the shenanigans going on between two of them, a theft, natural disasters, Emily and Wally having to man the inn, and nana showing off her cooking skills. Plus, one of the regulars goes missing, which adds yet another crisis to the mix.
All in all, Hunter does not disappoint. This is yet another sidesplitting installment that did not fail to entertain. It’s action packed, fun, and heartwarming. I’m looking forward to the next book!
December 28, 2017
A fast funny cozy read set in one of my favorite locales- Cornwall! I'd not read the first 10 books in this long running series but that didn't make a difference. One thing was clear to me: I might think twice about joining one of Emily's tours given the murders and problems that seem to hound her. That said, she handles all the problems, including running an inn, with aplomb. The seniors from Iowa are a hoot, the mystery not too complicated, and all in all, it's a jolly one. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
November 12, 2017
I’ve been waiting ages for the eleventh entry in the wonderful Passport to Peril series and I wasn’t disappointed at all. Maddy Hunter’s Say No Moor is hilarious, filled with memorable hijinks, features the usual unforgettable characters and has an interestingly twisty mystery.
Our narrator is Emily Andrew Miceli, tour escort and travel agency owner, who takes her band of Iowan seniors and some bloggers on a tour of Cornwall. While staying at an historic inn, things go from bad to worse when Lance, the quarrelsome chef and co-owner dies mysteriously. Emily is left in charge of running the inn, the cantankerous Bernice goes missing, there’s a thief stealing from the guests, another guest dies and, of course, there’s a mystery to solve.
Say No Moor is set in Cornwall and we spend most of our time at the Stand and Deliver Inn. I thought that being in one location would be boring but there are adventures aplenty. There are still some excursions to touristy locations and I love the realistic and relatable way that Hunter describes everything.
The plot progresses at a decent pace and there is never a dull moment. I’m grateful because it makes up for the tediousness of the previous entry in the series. The end of the book is especially jampacked with over-the-top moments which include natural disasters, the gang being held hostage and outlandish reveals. However, Hunter absolutely makes it work. She blends cackle out loud moments with a mystery that actually makes sense. Although I figured out the killer’s identity halfway through the book, I did not guess their surprising motive and I certainly didn’t know the number of twists the plot would take after that.
However, I wish that the mystery plot was more developed because the deaths and disappearance play second fiddle to the numerous other things happening. I would have liked the revelations as well as the bloggers to be more fleshed out because while the pieces do fall into place at the end, I would have preferred to see a greater sense of continuity. Furthermore, when Emily finds out that Lance’s death isn’t an accident, she barely does any sleuthing. I sorely miss her terrible plans and farfetched theories.
There are also too many characters and even Hunter herself can’t keep track of them in the narrative. While the bloggers aren’t a bad addition, there could have been less of them. I sometimes found myself mixing up the men because they don’t have much presence. However, the female bloggers are distinctive and some have an ongoing juicy Jane Austen drama. The usual Iowan gang are pitch perfectly hilarious and have distinct personalities even though there are so many of them.
I especially love that this book has a lot of Jackie. Emily’s former ex-husband but now female best friend, Jackie is so much fun and brings some much-needed diversity to the series. I cannot imagine a Passport to Peril book without her. She’s dramatic but always funny and willing to help out. I am also happy that Etienne, Emily’s husband isn’t in this book. He’s fine in small doses but he doesn’t really add much charm and humour to the series.
Say No Moor is a fun and hilarious cozy read with the usual memorable characters and a great mystery. While I do think the book would have benefitted with trimming a few characters and developing the mystery more, it’s still a great and entertaining read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Midnight Ink for this book in exchange for an honest review.
Our narrator is Emily Andrew Miceli, tour escort and travel agency owner, who takes her band of Iowan seniors and some bloggers on a tour of Cornwall. While staying at an historic inn, things go from bad to worse when Lance, the quarrelsome chef and co-owner dies mysteriously. Emily is left in charge of running the inn, the cantankerous Bernice goes missing, there’s a thief stealing from the guests, another guest dies and, of course, there’s a mystery to solve.
Say No Moor is set in Cornwall and we spend most of our time at the Stand and Deliver Inn. I thought that being in one location would be boring but there are adventures aplenty. There are still some excursions to touristy locations and I love the realistic and relatable way that Hunter describes everything.
The plot progresses at a decent pace and there is never a dull moment. I’m grateful because it makes up for the tediousness of the previous entry in the series. The end of the book is especially jampacked with over-the-top moments which include natural disasters, the gang being held hostage and outlandish reveals. However, Hunter absolutely makes it work. She blends cackle out loud moments with a mystery that actually makes sense. Although I figured out the killer’s identity halfway through the book, I did not guess their surprising motive and I certainly didn’t know the number of twists the plot would take after that.
However, I wish that the mystery plot was more developed because the deaths and disappearance play second fiddle to the numerous other things happening. I would have liked the revelations as well as the bloggers to be more fleshed out because while the pieces do fall into place at the end, I would have preferred to see a greater sense of continuity. Furthermore, when Emily finds out that Lance’s death isn’t an accident, she barely does any sleuthing. I sorely miss her terrible plans and farfetched theories.
There are also too many characters and even Hunter herself can’t keep track of them in the narrative. While the bloggers aren’t a bad addition, there could have been less of them. I sometimes found myself mixing up the men because they don’t have much presence. However, the female bloggers are distinctive and some have an ongoing juicy Jane Austen drama. The usual Iowan gang are pitch perfectly hilarious and have distinct personalities even though there are so many of them.
I especially love that this book has a lot of Jackie. Emily’s former ex-husband but now female best friend, Jackie is so much fun and brings some much-needed diversity to the series. I cannot imagine a Passport to Peril book without her. She’s dramatic but always funny and willing to help out. I am also happy that Etienne, Emily’s husband isn’t in this book. He’s fine in small doses but he doesn’t really add much charm and humour to the series.
Say No Moor is a fun and hilarious cozy read with the usual memorable characters and a great mystery. While I do think the book would have benefitted with trimming a few characters and developing the mystery more, it’s still a great and entertaining read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Midnight Ink for this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2017
Emily Andrews Miceli's senior tour group is at it again, this time in 'Merry Olde England', on the Cornwall coast. Trying to get more business for her tours, Emily has invited along five (very strange) travel bloggers - at a deeply discounted rate that only incenses her regulars - to give daily updates on the pleasures of touring with their agency.
But no sooner do they arrive at their destination than disaster befalls (did we expect anything else?). The abrasive chef dies shortly after serving tea, and when it's discovered it wasn't an accident, the group is informed they must stay where they are. But it gets worse when the co-owner of the inn (and life partner of the chef) is arrested and there's no one to cook or clean. But then they discover there's a thief among them: not only is money being stolen, but things like...wigs...and shoes. Who would want to do such a thing? It only escalates when one of Emily's seniors disappears, and no one seems to know where.
With a missing tourist and personal items, the body count mounting, suspicious bloggers, and Emily unwillingly running an inn that's apparently crumbling around them, nothing more can happen to them now...or can it?
As always, Ms. Hunter has given us another chapter in the topsy-turvy life of Emily Andrews Miceli and her (practically) insane seniors, who are more concerned with getting the best seat at the breakfast table than finding another dead body among them.
She brings you into their world so beautifully that you begin to wonder if you could survive a trip with them without needing medication yourself. The story is fast-moving and event filled, helped along by plenty of humor and more than one mystery to be solved. Emily's frustration is almost palpable, along with her fondness for each and every one of these irascible golden-agers who are having the time of their lives while finding reasons to argue with and attempt to one-up each other.
When the many mysteries are solved, they are woven together tautly and delightfully, giving us a conclusion not only believable but rewarding in itself; the pieces come together nicely and everything is just as it should be. I eagerly await the next tour and spending time with Emily's seniors (as I have come to know them). While this is part of a series, each book is written in a way that it can be read as a stand-alone; however, I will tell you that after reading the first in the series, Alpine for You, I was so enamored that I wanted to read each and every one, and I have no doubt that you will too. Highly recommended.
But no sooner do they arrive at their destination than disaster befalls (did we expect anything else?). The abrasive chef dies shortly after serving tea, and when it's discovered it wasn't an accident, the group is informed they must stay where they are. But it gets worse when the co-owner of the inn (and life partner of the chef) is arrested and there's no one to cook or clean. But then they discover there's a thief among them: not only is money being stolen, but things like...wigs...and shoes. Who would want to do such a thing? It only escalates when one of Emily's seniors disappears, and no one seems to know where.
With a missing tourist and personal items, the body count mounting, suspicious bloggers, and Emily unwillingly running an inn that's apparently crumbling around them, nothing more can happen to them now...or can it?
As always, Ms. Hunter has given us another chapter in the topsy-turvy life of Emily Andrews Miceli and her (practically) insane seniors, who are more concerned with getting the best seat at the breakfast table than finding another dead body among them.
She brings you into their world so beautifully that you begin to wonder if you could survive a trip with them without needing medication yourself. The story is fast-moving and event filled, helped along by plenty of humor and more than one mystery to be solved. Emily's frustration is almost palpable, along with her fondness for each and every one of these irascible golden-agers who are having the time of their lives while finding reasons to argue with and attempt to one-up each other.
When the many mysteries are solved, they are woven together tautly and delightfully, giving us a conclusion not only believable but rewarding in itself; the pieces come together nicely and everything is just as it should be. I eagerly await the next tour and spending time with Emily's seniors (as I have come to know them). While this is part of a series, each book is written in a way that it can be read as a stand-alone; however, I will tell you that after reading the first in the series, Alpine for You, I was so enamored that I wanted to read each and every one, and I have no doubt that you will too. Highly recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2018
Love fun mystery books and this is the first I've read in this series. Totally enjoyed it.
August 7, 2018
For some reason when I requested this I thought it was the first in the series so I was surprised later to see that it was actually the eleventh. Normally this isn't that big of a deal in a mystery series but with the large number of regular characters and the addition of the bloggers and Cornwall residents it got a little confusing. I think it would have been a little easier to keep track of all the Iowans if I had gotten to know them in the earlier books.
However, this wasn't my real issue with the book. The main problem is that with the exception of Emily I disliked all the other characters - especially the bloggers. If we were going with the Agatha Christie method of the most unpleasant person meeting their untimely end the entire Inn would have fallen off the cliff. I had a hard time believing that not only would the remaining Innkeeper have thrust the running of the Inn into Emily's hands but that she would have accepted it. It got a little eye roll-y at times.
With all my complaints how did I enjoy the book? Partly because Hunter's writing style and pacing drew me in right from the beginning and kept me reading even as I was trying to figure out which character I disliked the most. I wanted to pick this book back up and I wanted to find out just who the killer was and what was going on in Cornwall.
While this wasn't my favorite read I did find it page turning and I love Hunter's writing as well as the concept of a cozy mystery series set around a tour company and being set all over the world. From the reviews I gather this was a weaker book and despite the flaws I'm looking forward to reading more from the series and starting with (the actual) first book.
From I Wish I Lived in a Library (http://iwishilivedinalibrary.blogspot...)
However, this wasn't my real issue with the book. The main problem is that with the exception of Emily I disliked all the other characters - especially the bloggers. If we were going with the Agatha Christie method of the most unpleasant person meeting their untimely end the entire Inn would have fallen off the cliff. I had a hard time believing that not only would the remaining Innkeeper have thrust the running of the Inn into Emily's hands but that she would have accepted it. It got a little eye roll-y at times.
With all my complaints how did I enjoy the book? Partly because Hunter's writing style and pacing drew me in right from the beginning and kept me reading even as I was trying to figure out which character I disliked the most. I wanted to pick this book back up and I wanted to find out just who the killer was and what was going on in Cornwall.
While this wasn't my favorite read I did find it page turning and I love Hunter's writing as well as the concept of a cozy mystery series set around a tour company and being set all over the world. From the reviews I gather this was a weaker book and despite the flaws I'm looking forward to reading more from the series and starting with (the actual) first book.
From I Wish I Lived in a Library (http://iwishilivedinalibrary.blogspot...)
January 12, 2018
I think I may have "Squeeed" when I saw this latest installment available on Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I had enjoyed the first 10 books and have a background with a group tour company and could relate to the settings/situations. Well, you can see from my OK rating that Moor did not hit the same spot for me as the others.
I was not engaged by the story and it seemed to be stuck on low speed, maybe because this story is set in the same place and they aren't traveling around. The activities they do are quite mundane as well. The story needed to be developed more, some things were dropped, rushed or not completely explored. Someone disappears and a group manhunt isn't done? Can't you envision the Iowan's doing multiple votes on how to organize the hunt? The family of one of the victims appears and the situation seemed to dissolve at the end.
The usual group of travelers were more low key which I liked as they could some times be over the top (which is intentional, but too over the top for me at times). There was also very little setting up of the situation which I appreciate after 10 books, yet I needed to be reminded myself of Jackie and Emily's former relationship. So, while I think the book stands alone fine, some new readers may have a couple of questions.
If I hadn't already been invested in the characters, I might have not finished the book. I'm still willing to give #12 a chance though.
I was not engaged by the story and it seemed to be stuck on low speed, maybe because this story is set in the same place and they aren't traveling around. The activities they do are quite mundane as well. The story needed to be developed more, some things were dropped, rushed or not completely explored. Someone disappears and a group manhunt isn't done? Can't you envision the Iowan's doing multiple votes on how to organize the hunt? The family of one of the victims appears and the situation seemed to dissolve at the end.
The usual group of travelers were more low key which I liked as they could some times be over the top (which is intentional, but too over the top for me at times). There was also very little setting up of the situation which I appreciate after 10 books, yet I needed to be reminded myself of Jackie and Emily's former relationship. So, while I think the book stands alone fine, some new readers may have a couple of questions.
If I hadn't already been invested in the characters, I might have not finished the book. I'm still willing to give #12 a chance though.
June 4, 2018
A tour filled with American seniors busy enjoying their retirement is joined by six determined bloggers, who are invited to publicise the trip. Someone is bound to end up dead. How will Emily the tour operator cope, especially when the cook is absent from the B&B and some of the bloggers have artistic disputes?
This is fun with cantankerous seniors crowding the page, each trying to lead the group and some wanting more activities than others. The message I took from it is to go and see the sights of Cornwall, go out and enjoy your retirement or your holiday time. Ideally avoid getting mixed up in murders.
I thought introducing a New Jersey B&B staff member was a mistake, if only because we'd be better to meet local people and learn about their views on tourism. Also Americans do not generally get work permits for UK. However, the author is entitled to pursue her artistic vision. The mystery is suitable for anyone from teens to adults.
I downloaded an e-ARC from Net Galley and Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
This is fun with cantankerous seniors crowding the page, each trying to lead the group and some wanting more activities than others. The message I took from it is to go and see the sights of Cornwall, go out and enjoy your retirement or your holiday time. Ideally avoid getting mixed up in murders.
I thought introducing a New Jersey B&B staff member was a mistake, if only because we'd be better to meet local people and learn about their views on tourism. Also Americans do not generally get work permits for UK. However, the author is entitled to pursue her artistic vision. The mystery is suitable for anyone from teens to adults.
I downloaded an e-ARC from Net Galley and Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
September 16, 2017
Got this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review
This book is funny but is not my cup of tea.
I enjoyed the book, really appreciated the Iowan seniors because they are really funny.
It seems to me that the book is more a humorous one than a mystery as the mystery takes the back seat and it seems to be something that is not so important, just problems that cause problems to the tour.
I suppose this was caused by the settings, really static and not much happening.
Curious to see if the other book in the series are more on the mystery side.
This book is funny but is not my cup of tea.
I enjoyed the book, really appreciated the Iowan seniors because they are really funny.
It seems to me that the book is more a humorous one than a mystery as the mystery takes the back seat and it seems to be something that is not so important, just problems that cause problems to the tour.
I suppose this was caused by the settings, really static and not much happening.
Curious to see if the other book in the series are more on the mystery side.
January 24, 2018
Emily is guiding her usual group of clueless elderly Iowans through the beautiful Cornwall area, with their first stop being a bucolic inn. Emily has given cut prices to some travel bloggers, whom she hopes will provide good publicity for her company. Unfortunately, the abrasive chef is found dead shortly after they arrive. Even worse, two of the bloggers turn out to be feuding, and the inn's owner is taken for questioning when the police decide the chef's death is suspicious. Then things get really improbable, if amusing.
September 19, 2017
Quirky cozy mystery
Maddy Hunter added another fun story to the Passport to Peril series. With Emily at the helm of another tour group of mostly seniors Jane Austen's England may never be the same.
If you enjoy humor, outrageous characters and a little dose of social media commentary with your mysteries you will love this story.
I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
Maddy Hunter added another fun story to the Passport to Peril series. With Emily at the helm of another tour group of mostly seniors Jane Austen's England may never be the same.
If you enjoy humor, outrageous characters and a little dose of social media commentary with your mysteries you will love this story.
I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
January 16, 2018
Maddy Hunter's "Passport to Peril" series is everything you want in a cozy mystery series--good whodunits filled with eccentric characters, exotic locales, and a put-upon sleuth who somehow happens to be around when bodies show up. Her newest outing, SAY NO MOOR, is no exception.
"Passport to Peril" centers around a group of octogenarian Iowans who tour the world with the much younger Emily Andrew-Miceli leading the way as organizer of the tours. No matter where they go, someone always turns up dead and Emily reluctantly puts the threads together to find the murder. How she does it with a gaggle of elderly loons dogging her the whole way is beyond me. This adventure finds them ranging all over the beautiful coast of Cornwall, England.
The best part of any Passport book is the strange group of seniors that tag along on Emily's sleuthing. And the seniors are where Maddy's ability to really write shines. When an author slaps you in the face with a pile of characters, they run the risk of losing you. Your brain has to "create" these characters in your head, and without suitable source material, they can become a jumble of nobodies fast. Maddy doesn't have this issue. Each character is distinct. They quickly fall into archetypes of people that you actually know or have met before, and they become crystallized quickly in your brain. After the first two or three chapters, they become like old friends. And by the end of the book, they're family. And she some somehow manages to replicate this feat with each book.
As typical with Maddy's books, the humor in SAY NO MOOR is spot-on, fast, and fitting. It ranges from subtle one-liners to slapstick, to character-based humor that comes out of Iowans being...well, American...in foreign countries. Not to mention the pleasant humor that comes from the juxtaposition that technology has brought into the lives of these intrepid adventurers.
"Passport to Peril"--come for the mystery, stay for the jokes. As always, Maddy knocks another book out of the park, and I will be looking forward to the next adventure, CATCH ME IF YUKON, which should be out late in 2018, and will send the folks to Alaska. Poor, poor Emily...
"Passport to Peril" centers around a group of octogenarian Iowans who tour the world with the much younger Emily Andrew-Miceli leading the way as organizer of the tours. No matter where they go, someone always turns up dead and Emily reluctantly puts the threads together to find the murder. How she does it with a gaggle of elderly loons dogging her the whole way is beyond me. This adventure finds them ranging all over the beautiful coast of Cornwall, England.
The best part of any Passport book is the strange group of seniors that tag along on Emily's sleuthing. And the seniors are where Maddy's ability to really write shines. When an author slaps you in the face with a pile of characters, they run the risk of losing you. Your brain has to "create" these characters in your head, and without suitable source material, they can become a jumble of nobodies fast. Maddy doesn't have this issue. Each character is distinct. They quickly fall into archetypes of people that you actually know or have met before, and they become crystallized quickly in your brain. After the first two or three chapters, they become like old friends. And by the end of the book, they're family. And she some somehow manages to replicate this feat with each book.
As typical with Maddy's books, the humor in SAY NO MOOR is spot-on, fast, and fitting. It ranges from subtle one-liners to slapstick, to character-based humor that comes out of Iowans being...well, American...in foreign countries. Not to mention the pleasant humor that comes from the juxtaposition that technology has brought into the lives of these intrepid adventurers.
"Passport to Peril"--come for the mystery, stay for the jokes. As always, Maddy knocks another book out of the park, and I will be looking forward to the next adventure, CATCH ME IF YUKON, which should be out late in 2018, and will send the folks to Alaska. Poor, poor Emily...
March 20, 2019
This is installment 11 with our Iowa seniors and their tours - this one to Cornwall. Emily has decided to invite 4 bloggers to join on this trip, 4 different bloggers to document this trip, and as a result, possibly bring more travelers to Destination Travel Agency.
But things start to go wrong from the very beginning, when the chef of the B&B the group is staying at dies - probably murdered. Then there's a disappearance of one of the tour group, and another death. Are they all connected? Emily has to figure this out for her own sanity!
I really enjoy this series, and this one continued the enjoyment. There are laugh out loud moments with the antics of the seniors and I would have never guessed who the murderer was. There are a few far fetched moments, but that only adds to the charm of the book. If you have read others in the series, then add this one to the list as a must read.
But things start to go wrong from the very beginning, when the chef of the B&B the group is staying at dies - probably murdered. Then there's a disappearance of one of the tour group, and another death. Are they all connected? Emily has to figure this out for her own sanity!
I really enjoy this series, and this one continued the enjoyment. There are laugh out loud moments with the antics of the seniors and I would have never guessed who the murderer was. There are a few far fetched moments, but that only adds to the charm of the book. If you have read others in the series, then add this one to the list as a must read.
August 3, 2018
This book is the newest in the Passport to Peril Mystery series featuring Emily Andrew-Miceli as the main character. This time Emily and her usual group from Iowa are visiting the Cornwall region of England. Besides the usual group , Emily has invited a group of bloggers along on the trip in hopes of getting good reviews and thus more business. Naturally things don't go smoothly beginning with the murder of the inn's chef. A couple of robberies plus another murder has Emily trying to figure everything out. The book was a quick easy read.
May 12, 2025
This is my favorite of the series so far! While I have loved all of them, this one just came at the right time and had me laughing along at all the antics as I was trying to solve the mystery along with Emily. The setting was fantastic and I enjoyed the addition of the various bloggers to round out the tour participants. There were several mysteries involved in this one and they were each as perplexing as the others. I’m sad knowing the next one will be the last in the series but I highly recommend the whole thing, starting at the beginning to get all the laughs.
April 2, 2019
Emily is at it again. She and her feisty group of seniors are headed for Cornwall, England this time and Emily is hoping for at one body free vacation. Unfortunately for Emily, her hopes are dashed when one of the Innkeepers is found dead. Emily has expanded her guest list to a group of bloggers in hopes for good publicity, but those bloggers become the top suspects in the murder. Emily and her troop are not deterred, however and keep exploring the English countryside despite disaster after disaster that occurs. I love this series and this one didn't disappoint! The quirky characters and their antics always make me laugh.
November 28, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley.com for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I’ve loved the Passport to Peril series for a while and am always excited to read the latest edition.
What I loved: Nana’s my favorite with Jackie being a fast second. I don’t remember Nana’s grammar being as poor in this edition versus prior novels but it has been a while… Hopefully Jackie will find her calling as a chef and sit out the next tour.
What I didn’t love: Why be married if your husband has an excuse to miss almost every tour since you two tied the knot? I get it…but why not have him back at home in Iowa doing something else instead of having him with the Pope in Europe with no cell service? Would it also be possible to have the Seniors head somewhere in Asia or Africa? Eleven books into the series and no trip to Japan yet?
What I learned: Cobblestones require flat shoes.
Overall Grade: B
www.FluffSmutandMurder.com
February 16, 2018
One of my most extremely favorite series!
I was saving the book until I couldn't wait any longer. And I finished it too soon.
This time the Iowa team is touring England’s Cornwall region, staying at a very scenic inn right on a cliff. The chef is very temperamental. However, nana is the one who has to cook all the food and everything is very delicious. Jackie also tries to find her true self. She is a descendant of royal baker. So she can bake great dessert!
Bernice doesn’t have much to say in this book. Not because she doesn’t want to but she doesn’t have a chance.
Love love love this series! There is a teaser for the next book…. Catch Me if Yukon….. but it doesn’t come out until December 2018!
It takes such a long long time for an author to create a book but it doesn’t take much time at all for a reader to finish it. I wish Maddy Hunter would hurry up and get more work done so I don’t have to wait this long for the next book!
In the meantime, since the gang are reminiscing about their first trip to Switzerland (in “Alpine for You” https://www.amazon.com/Alpine-You-Pas...) while they are touring the moor, I decided to go back and read the book again. I think I’ll go through all the books in the series (very very slowly) while waiting for Catch Me if Yukon.
I was saving the book until I couldn't wait any longer. And I finished it too soon.
This time the Iowa team is touring England’s Cornwall region, staying at a very scenic inn right on a cliff. The chef is very temperamental. However, nana is the one who has to cook all the food and everything is very delicious. Jackie also tries to find her true self. She is a descendant of royal baker. So she can bake great dessert!
Bernice doesn’t have much to say in this book. Not because she doesn’t want to but she doesn’t have a chance.
Love love love this series! There is a teaser for the next book…. Catch Me if Yukon….. but it doesn’t come out until December 2018!
It takes such a long long time for an author to create a book but it doesn’t take much time at all for a reader to finish it. I wish Maddy Hunter would hurry up and get more work done so I don’t have to wait this long for the next book!
In the meantime, since the gang are reminiscing about their first trip to Switzerland (in “Alpine for You” https://www.amazon.com/Alpine-You-Pas...) while they are touring the moor, I decided to go back and read the book again. I think I’ll go through all the books in the series (very very slowly) while waiting for Catch Me if Yukon.
October 17, 2017
This was a fun cozy mystery that I finished in a day. The characters are fun, the locale is interesting and the plot moves along swiftly. This is the 11th book in the Passport to Peril series, and they've taken the reader all over the world.
Emily Miceli runs a travel agency and takes a group of senior citizens from Iowa all over the world on exciting tours. The group includes her grandmother, and her husband, a former police detective she met on one of her adventures, helps her with the group although not on this adventure. On this trip, Emily has added a group of travel bloggers that will blog from the trip.
The group goes to Cornwall where they stay in a seaside hotel that sounded lovely on the website, but has a few problems in reality. They're the first guests ever, the chef is temperamental, and the roof might be a little unstable. When someone is murdered, Emily has to investigate to protect her group and her reputation.
This is a fun series, and I definitely recommend this book. Thanks to Midnight Ink and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Emily Miceli runs a travel agency and takes a group of senior citizens from Iowa all over the world on exciting tours. The group includes her grandmother, and her husband, a former police detective she met on one of her adventures, helps her with the group although not on this adventure. On this trip, Emily has added a group of travel bloggers that will blog from the trip.
The group goes to Cornwall where they stay in a seaside hotel that sounded lovely on the website, but has a few problems in reality. They're the first guests ever, the chef is temperamental, and the roof might be a little unstable. When someone is murdered, Emily has to investigate to protect her group and her reputation.
This is a fun series, and I definitely recommend this book. Thanks to Midnight Ink and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2017
Say No Moor is the 11th installment in the Passport to Peril series by author Maddy Hunter. It's the first that I've read, but even though I didn't have any of the character background it was very easy to pick up and dive into. Travel agency owner Emily Miceli is escorting a group of seniors, as well as travel bloggers, on a tour of Cornwall, England, when on their first night the chef is murdered! The chef's business partner is in police custody as a suspect and there is no other staff at the inn so Emily and the gang must fend for themselves in this laugh-out-loud cozy while trying to solve the murder and still conduct their tour. The competition and bickering amongst her senior citizen travelers is hilarious, and Emily must keep them in line while ensuring that the bloggers don't leave her any negative reviews. Coupled with the fact that her husband and business partner is away on a retreat, and her transsexual ex-husband is her current roommate, Emily really has her hands full! I highly recommend this cozy, and I'll be reading the rest of the series asap! A+
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December 24, 2018I loved the setting, but was disappointed that there were not enough clues for me to discover the killer. The resolution came out of nowhere. Liked the banter and frustrations of Emily.
June 12, 2018
Note: this is the 11th book in the Passport to Peril series. Emily Miceli and her husband Etienne have a travel agency that caters to the senior crowd. On the latest trip to England's Cornwall region, Emily has invited along a group of internet bloggers, hoping that additional exposure will boost her agency's clientele. The core of her group, as always, is the senior citizens from Iowa who have gone on every one of her trips. One has to wonder why; Emily's trips always end in disaster. But the intrepid Iowans are gung-ho as always, although a bit miffed to discover the bloggers in their group have been given steep discounts as an incentive to write about the group's travels. Their first stop is at an inn called Stand and Deliver on the crumbling North Coast of Cornwall. (Take careful note of the "crumbling" part for later.) Unknown to Emily, they are the first guests ever to stay at the new B&B; after redecorating what used to be a farmhouse, Enyon and Lance are just starting their new business. Enyon is the decorator and manager, Lance is the chef. Unfortunately, they have no other staff. When Lance meets an unfortunate fate on the back stairs, Enyon promptly falls apart with grief and takes to his bed to mourn his partner, leaving Emily to cope with 23 guests, no cook, and no maids. Good start to their vacation. I wish I could say it all gets better, but I'm afraid that's the best part of their trip. They have yet to deal with thieves, murderers, highwaymen, smugglers, and the odd mobster from New Jersey. (Um, actually, all 3 of the mobsters are pretty odd.)
I love this series for its laugh-out-loud humor. Those Iowans are a crazy bunch. The discussions between them are hilarious, as are Emily's efforts to control, contain, and protect them. Here's a sample that tickled me with a nod toward politicians:
One of the bloggers used the word 'encomium' --
"What's an encomium?" asked Nana.
"Praise," said Tilly. "It's like the positive spin political hacks spew about their candidate after he's revealed his lack of insight, knowledge, and intelligence in an electoral debate."
"Oh, I get it," said Nana. "Bull."
If you are intrigued enough to want to take a trip with Emily, you can start with any of the series. But if you want to really get to know those seniors, start at the beginning! But fasten your seatbelt, because the ride is always bumpy!
I love this series for its laugh-out-loud humor. Those Iowans are a crazy bunch. The discussions between them are hilarious, as are Emily's efforts to control, contain, and protect them. Here's a sample that tickled me with a nod toward politicians:
One of the bloggers used the word 'encomium' --
"What's an encomium?" asked Nana.
"Praise," said Tilly. "It's like the positive spin political hacks spew about their candidate after he's revealed his lack of insight, knowledge, and intelligence in an electoral debate."
"Oh, I get it," said Nana. "Bull."
If you are intrigued enough to want to take a trip with Emily, you can start with any of the series. But if you want to really get to know those seniors, start at the beginning! But fasten your seatbelt, because the ride is always bumpy!
September 20, 2021
Again..... how can I say anything new about the books of Maddy Hunter. I love them and they are always good with loads of humor. The only thing I dislike is... that I now only have 1 more book left in this series!! But let’s not go there yet.
In this installment Emily and her Iowans (and Jackie) are in good old England. The Cotswold to be exact. Their travel companions this time? Bloggers! Emily figures they will give good reviews and boost the travel company she and husband Etienne run together. However when the cook in the Inn they are staying at dies how will that effect the reviews? And let’s not forget the fact that not all bloggers seems to get along perfectly......
So with the cook dead and his partner under suspicion, Emily and Wally, the tour director, need to figure out how to run the Inn during their stay as there is no other staff members. But to the rescue the one and only Nan comes as she, together with Jackie, take over the food section and they are a blast!
To make matters worse, Bernice, one of Emily’s Iowans disappears! What is going on? And what do the bloggers have to do with any of it?
I loved the bigger story that was revealed at the end which tied all the incidents and murder(s) together. I had no clue who had done it or why and I would have never guessed! I really loved this one a lot!
In this installment Emily and her Iowans (and Jackie) are in good old England. The Cotswold to be exact. Their travel companions this time? Bloggers! Emily figures they will give good reviews and boost the travel company she and husband Etienne run together. However when the cook in the Inn they are staying at dies how will that effect the reviews? And let’s not forget the fact that not all bloggers seems to get along perfectly......
So with the cook dead and his partner under suspicion, Emily and Wally, the tour director, need to figure out how to run the Inn during their stay as there is no other staff members. But to the rescue the one and only Nan comes as she, together with Jackie, take over the food section and they are a blast!
To make matters worse, Bernice, one of Emily’s Iowans disappears! What is going on? And what do the bloggers have to do with any of it?
I loved the bigger story that was revealed at the end which tied all the incidents and murder(s) together. I had no clue who had done it or why and I would have never guessed! I really loved this one a lot!
January 12, 2018
I loved this book so, so much. It started off on a nice, cozy note and continued in the same spirit all the way through (with a sprinkling of nefarious activities here and there). In short, a pure delight. Everything about this book felt right: the atmosphere, the characters, the humor, the writing style...
Also, the murder side of things was completely unpredictable, which was fantastic. As for the pacing, it was very well done: there was just about the right amount of tension interlaid with the goofy camaraderie between the members of Emily's senior tour group. There were also countless description of food and breathtakingly beautiful sceneries of the Cornwall coast.
I felt all warm and fuzzy inside after I finished this book, and I will definitely be reading more books by this author. She clearly knows what she's doing when it comes to cozy mysteries!
On a side note, this was the first book in the series I picked up and I became immersed in the story straight away, so don't worry if you purchased it by accident. It's OK to start here.
Also, the murder side of things was completely unpredictable, which was fantastic. As for the pacing, it was very well done: there was just about the right amount of tension interlaid with the goofy camaraderie between the members of Emily's senior tour group. There were also countless description of food and breathtakingly beautiful sceneries of the Cornwall coast.
I felt all warm and fuzzy inside after I finished this book, and I will definitely be reading more books by this author. She clearly knows what she's doing when it comes to cozy mysteries!
On a side note, this was the first book in the series I picked up and I became immersed in the story straight away, so don't worry if you purchased it by accident. It's OK to start here.
January 19, 2018
This book is one of the ones I tend to hold onto until that time I need a good laugh. Well, I did and so out came this book that thoroughly met my expectations.
What has cobblers, mousse cake, Cacciatore, bursting pipes, missing person, and two deaths have to do with a tour comprised of geriatrics from Iowa and Bloggers? Well, I'm not going to tell you. Other than all the above takes place in Cornwall, U.K. and this book will keep you entertained from page one until the finish.
Tour guide and travel company owner, Emily Miceli is happy to visit Cornwall with her usual seniors and a group of bloggers which will get the word out about her travel company. All the usual characters are present, minus Etienne (Emily's spouse) who is visiting with the Pope. The bloggers are an assorted bunch. Each having a different focus for their blogs. Food, hotels, genealogy and Jane Austin (from two perspectives...traditional and Zombies. Seriously, no kidding!
I truly enjoyed this book and will be awaiting the next Passport To Peril #12! Enjoy!
What has cobblers, mousse cake, Cacciatore, bursting pipes, missing person, and two deaths have to do with a tour comprised of geriatrics from Iowa and Bloggers? Well, I'm not going to tell you. Other than all the above takes place in Cornwall, U.K. and this book will keep you entertained from page one until the finish.
Tour guide and travel company owner, Emily Miceli is happy to visit Cornwall with her usual seniors and a group of bloggers which will get the word out about her travel company. All the usual characters are present, minus Etienne (Emily's spouse) who is visiting with the Pope. The bloggers are an assorted bunch. Each having a different focus for their blogs. Food, hotels, genealogy and Jane Austin (from two perspectives...traditional and Zombies. Seriously, no kidding!
I truly enjoyed this book and will be awaiting the next Passport To Peril #12! Enjoy!
January 17, 2018
I do like these stories and have read the series from the beginning. This now being #11, the same old schtick from the quirky characters is wearing a little thin. And, I would have given this one 4 stars if it had just included more than one phone call from Etienne! I would like to see more interactions between Emily and her adorable husband. Their romance was a big part of the appeal in the early books. I must say that I do appreciate the addition of other guests along on the tour so that we have some characters to read about other than the Iowa contingent. They can only get into so much trouble that hasn't already been covered in earlier books, and someone besides them has to be the victim and the killer. Overall, a nice cozy mystery with great descriptions of the locales and tour sites. It makes you want to pack your bag and travel!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2021
Say No Moor by Maddy Hunter is the 11th book in the Passport to Peril Mystery series. Emily and her group of Iowan travellers are joined by a group of bloggers on their tour of Cornwall in England, when unfortunately the cook of the historic inn where they are staying is killed. It is always fun joining the group on their adventures and this book was no exception. Very entertaining with plenty of laughs along the way. I would have liked hearing more about the bloggers but they seemed to be squirrelled away with their laptops most of the time.
February 7, 2018
I love this series. I always want to travel after reading one of these, although maybe not with this group: There's always a murder or two during every excursion. Still, I love the characters, even the really annoying ones. Emily's tour always consists of a group of senior citizens from her home town in Iowa, including her grandma. They go to interesting places on their trips. This one takes place in Cornwall. It was a good read.
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