Blythe Baker is a thirty-something bottle redhead from the South Central part of the country. When she’s not slinging words and creating new worlds and characters, she’s acting as chauffeur to her children and head groomer to her household of beloved pets.
Blythe enjoys long walks with her dog on sweaty days, grubbing in her flower garden, cooking, and ruthlessly de-cluttering her overcrowded home. She also likes binge-watching mystery shows on TV and burying herself in books about murder.
Of the three Blythe Baker / Maddie Morgan mysteries (#s 1-3) that I have read, this is the best one because it actually (lo and behold!) includes a mystery. Now, however snarky that may seem, I $#!+ you not, the other novelettes are not mysteries. (Sorry, sometimes I get lost in my own editorializing. I am a teacher after all, in love with the sound of my own voice, and you came for a review.) To Tangle with Trouble is a short story that can be read in one sitting. The main character, Maddie, has visited the museum and is locked in with several other patrons due to the theft of a porcelain relic causing an automatic lockdown. Because the story is so short, the author tips her hand very early as to who is the guilty party. The story is humorous, but brevity works against the entire genre (no red herrings, no real investigation with narrative exposition). I like the writer and her writing style; unfortunately, the narrative is so pedantic that it gives you very little time to get “cozy.” This is not a complete waste of time, although a re-write is in order. The story works, but it needs about a hundred more pages, and it would still be considered within the cozy range.
Mini mysteries are a fun read in a single sitting or during a lunch hour and Baker's latest Maddie Morgan centered around a missing Japanese tea set from the museum did not disappoint.
It was supposed to be a day to get her mind clear. When Maddie took a stroll and ended up in the San Antonio Museum, she was only looking to get out of the rain and get her mind in a different frame. A missing ancient porcelain tea pot and a storm coming in heavy leave Maddie and other patrons locked in the museum waiting for the authorities. When she strikes out in catching the eye of the handsome guard on duty, Maddie decides to do a little detective work on her own. This day sure turned in a different direction.
The story was cute and I had a few laughs. It especially caught my attention because I live in San Antonio and the weather here is yucky thanks to Hurricane Florence. It seems like a good read for a middle grade student and I caught a few editing issues. I like Blythe Baker, I just have to say that this wasn't my type of read.
My first impression was the senior citizen with the bag, Suspicious, cautious and fidgety. Never in a million years it would be someone wasn’t asking the victors if they needed something to drink? Not helping to solve the case. Maddie was a wonderful detective but could did a little bit more of questioning the others.
The perfect tipe of read for on the go or over a break. This pocket book mystery is filled with charm, intreage and humor as well as fabulous mystery with an array of caracters finding themselves locked in a museum do to someone having sticky fingers. Aquier a copy of "To Tangle with Trouble "so you yourself can enjoy reading it as much as I have. 🙄Kat
Maddie is the main character in this short story that is full of fun, maddie mayhem and spunk, and mystery. It all takes place in less than a day and is a wonderful fun read.
What a short, sweet mystery! The short story can be read in less than an hour. Handsome guards, little old ladies with HUGE bags, pregnant woman and a stolen Japanese tea set!
This was a fun quick mystery. Maddie Morgan is, as always, an entertaining character. While, I don't always like her, she's still an fun heroine to follow and her mysteries are always good.