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A Deadly Homecoming: A Toni Day Mystery
Pathologist Toni Day knows her mother like the back of her hand. When her mother calls and asks her to investigate the disappearance of her best friend's husband, Dick, she knows better than to argue. Soon, Toni and her husband, Hal, are on their way back to her hometown of Long Beach, California, where another mystery awaits. Dick's wife, Doris, is convinced that the historic house she shares with Dick is haunted. To make things even more complicated, Doris is also suffering from a mysterious illness. When Toni and Hal arrive, Doris takes a sudden turn for the worse and ends up in a coma. While doctors struggle to diagnose and treat, Toni explores the historic house looking for clues. After she unearths evidence suggesting that Dick may not be who he seems, as well as a malfunctioning dumbwaiter, a laird's lug, a secret staircase, and a half-empty bottle of white arsenic, she also finds Dick's body. As a whirlwind investigation ensues that exposes a decades-old scheme and serial murders, Toni herself nearly becomes the final victim. A Deadly Homecoming is the gripping tale of a pathologist's journey back to her hometown to solve a complex murder case that leaves her own life precariously hanging in the balance.
222 pages, Paperback
First published October 27, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 30, 2019
Pretty good mystery. Lots of twists.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the first story that I’ve read by this author who happens to truly be a doctor of pathology. It’s self published author who has garnered a nice following with her series of mystery novels.
The author struck a chord with me as her main character apparently seems to get overly involved in the solving of a crime.
In this case she was called home to assist with her mothers best friend and a case where the husband had disappeared. Haunted houses, missing persons, violent acts and attacks surrounded the unique plot.
There was never a dull moment in this story.
The author kept us highly involved in the story with many twists and turns, it was sometimes hard to keep track. In fact at one point there were so many names and relationships to other people floating around I did completely lose track of who’s who and what’s what. That was a bit frustrating and confusing.
While the story read as a standalone, to a degree, I think it would probably be a little behooving to read other books in the series so as to familiarize ourselves with other characters involved. There were many relationships that we were trying to keep track of in the story.
The story however is written with humor and lightness and the mystery of the day truly had interesting twists all the way up to the ending. Who knew a lady could pack a punch like that?
I love the concept of this mystery series. It sounds like the other books would be just as good a read.
If you love true crime and mystery with a bit of medical twists, I invite you to check out a Toni McCall series and this upcoming release. Entertaining and even a bit crazy at some points. That’s my kind of heroine.
* copy received for review consideration
ful review - https://amidlifewife.com/a-deadly-hom...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the first story that I’ve read by this author who happens to truly be a doctor of pathology. It’s self published author who has garnered a nice following with her series of mystery novels.
The author struck a chord with me as her main character apparently seems to get overly involved in the solving of a crime.
In this case she was called home to assist with her mothers best friend and a case where the husband had disappeared. Haunted houses, missing persons, violent acts and attacks surrounded the unique plot.
There was never a dull moment in this story.
The author kept us highly involved in the story with many twists and turns, it was sometimes hard to keep track. In fact at one point there were so many names and relationships to other people floating around I did completely lose track of who’s who and what’s what. That was a bit frustrating and confusing.
While the story read as a standalone, to a degree, I think it would probably be a little behooving to read other books in the series so as to familiarize ourselves with other characters involved. There were many relationships that we were trying to keep track of in the story.
The story however is written with humor and lightness and the mystery of the day truly had interesting twists all the way up to the ending. Who knew a lady could pack a punch like that?
I love the concept of this mystery series. It sounds like the other books would be just as good a read.
If you love true crime and mystery with a bit of medical twists, I invite you to check out a Toni McCall series and this upcoming release. Entertaining and even a bit crazy at some points. That’s my kind of heroine.
* copy received for review consideration
ful review - https://amidlifewife.com/a-deadly-hom...
October 14, 2019
This is pure easy read and what I would consider prime cozy whodunit.
It's plot is far fetched to say the least. But somehow it very much reminds me of the last seasons of Midsummer Murders when the propensities for murder got pushed beyond quirky. And bizarre to the max. This one holds murder multiples but one treacherous homicide act is accomplished by dumbwaiter.
It's way, way too full of redundant information and smart cookie moves by the prime. Oodles and oodles of both. Toni reminds me of Nancy Drew- also like Nancy she is the sleuth in the right spot endlessly. Always perfect situation placed so she can tool or monkey with a secret passage. In solitary stance too. It seems like her kind of natural daily fate reality.
But it was nice to read such simple, simple in between others depths, and some excellent non-fiction.
Yet I know I will not be returning to this author. Not my style of telling, nor can I undertake a 70 plus year old woman calling her daughter who is less than a year from 50 by the title "kitten" every other page. And what pathologist in full career mode can take 2 weeks off with a phone call at the last minute? Not believable.
It's plot is far fetched to say the least. But somehow it very much reminds me of the last seasons of Midsummer Murders when the propensities for murder got pushed beyond quirky. And bizarre to the max. This one holds murder multiples but one treacherous homicide act is accomplished by dumbwaiter.
It's way, way too full of redundant information and smart cookie moves by the prime. Oodles and oodles of both. Toni reminds me of Nancy Drew- also like Nancy she is the sleuth in the right spot endlessly. Always perfect situation placed so she can tool or monkey with a secret passage. In solitary stance too. It seems like her kind of natural daily fate reality.
But it was nice to read such simple, simple in between others depths, and some excellent non-fiction.
Yet I know I will not be returning to this author. Not my style of telling, nor can I undertake a 70 plus year old woman calling her daughter who is less than a year from 50 by the title "kitten" every other page. And what pathologist in full career mode can take 2 weeks off with a phone call at the last minute? Not believable.
March 10, 2019
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I knew I would like it just based on the synopsis, but it exceeded my expectations. The main characters were pretty likable which is always nice. Very vivid[ felt like I was watching one of my shows on netflix ha]. I haven't read any of the other books in the Toni Day Mysteries, but I would in a heartbeat. I really enjoyed the banter between Toni and her mother Fiona; it reminded me of my mom. They have a cute relationship. I thought it was funny that before I even knew Hal was a Jewish doctor, I pictured him as Cooper from Private Practice, which I thought was kind of funny. I loved all the Oy gevalts!
***SPOILER***
I was in a play when i was younger called arsenic and old lace, it was nice hearing a story where this was used as the murder weapon. I also heard a podcast last year on Lady Bluebeard, after reading about the arsenic in the basement?cellar? I instantly thought back to that awful story, so I enjoyed the reference. I am wondering if in past books have Hal and Toni ever got into bad arguments over him constantly doubting her. After one book it's clear as day that he shouldn't doubt her awesome crime solving abilities. Toni is a very smart and independent character, a perfect heroine. Another question I had(I could have missed this somehow) how did Sonia know toni would be in the secret room, did she ever realize dick was the man who killed her mother, Or did Sonia just know that Toni was there because she was spying on her? I feel like sonia wouldn't just happen to be connected to "dick" so I am just a little unsure. is there any reference to bernie or sonia in past books? Great book overall.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I knew I would like it just based on the synopsis, but it exceeded my expectations. The main characters were pretty likable which is always nice. Very vivid[ felt like I was watching one of my shows on netflix ha]. I haven't read any of the other books in the Toni Day Mysteries, but I would in a heartbeat. I really enjoyed the banter between Toni and her mother Fiona; it reminded me of my mom. They have a cute relationship. I thought it was funny that before I even knew Hal was a Jewish doctor, I pictured him as Cooper from Private Practice, which I thought was kind of funny. I loved all the Oy gevalts!
***SPOILER***
I was in a play when i was younger called arsenic and old lace, it was nice hearing a story where this was used as the murder weapon. I also heard a podcast last year on Lady Bluebeard, after reading about the arsenic in the basement?cellar? I instantly thought back to that awful story, so I enjoyed the reference. I am wondering if in past books have Hal and Toni ever got into bad arguments over him constantly doubting her. After one book it's clear as day that he shouldn't doubt her awesome crime solving abilities. Toni is a very smart and independent character, a perfect heroine. Another question I had(I could have missed this somehow) how did Sonia know toni would be in the secret room, did she ever realize dick was the man who killed her mother, Or did Sonia just know that Toni was there because she was spying on her? I feel like sonia wouldn't just happen to be connected to "dick" so I am just a little unsure. is there any reference to bernie or sonia in past books? Great book overall.
February 11, 2019
I love Toni Day. She's so kick @ss.
The story was interesting enough to keep me reading. It was a bit repetitive in places.
Likable characters and a good plot. Boy was I wrong when I thought this book was about a haunted house! It was everything but.
The story was interesting enough to keep me reading. It was a bit repetitive in places.
Likable characters and a good plot. Boy was I wrong when I thought this book was about a haunted house! It was everything but.
April 16, 2019
I enjoyed this mystery very much, and it was my introduction to Toni Day, a clever pathologist, who has encountered and solved several previous mysteries. At the urging of her mother, Toni returns to her hometown and becomes involved in the solving of a puzzle that includes a missing husband, a spooky haunted mansion, and an old friend whose illness eventually lands her in hospital in a coma. The investigation quickly turns into a murder inquiry when Toni discovers a body in the historic house, as well as a hidden staircase, a dumbwaiter, and a half bottle of white powder that is revealed to be arsenic. There are many twists and turns as Toni presses on with her search for clues and explanations in spite of the growing danger to herself, and she calls upon family, friends, and former colleagues for assistance. Her quirky mother provides help and hindrance and nonstop criticism of the manners and behavior of her grown, professional daughter, who accepts her mother’s rudeness with good grace. I will certainly search out and read the other Toni Day mysteries with great pleasure.
June 27, 2019
If you are looking for an exciting cozy with a complicated scheme at its heart, you came to the right book. Toni Day and her husband got called back to LA because her mother's friend Doris had a missing husband and a haunted house. Then Doris ended up in the hospital and Toni suspected poisoned Metamucil. When a bloody dumbwaiter was found in Doris' house, the police were called in. Toni just can't leave a crime scene alone, so she ended up trapped in a secret passageway with a dead body. Add in a Toni look-a-like that is out to get her, plenty of accidents, and sleuthing and you end up with a decent, quick read of a mystery.
January 10, 2020
This is the 2nd book with Toni Day that I’ve read and I have to say that Toni is quite the character. She cracks me up sometimes. She’s stubborn to a fault when she knows she’s right about something and it turns out that no matter how many people doubt her she’s still right and sticks to her guns. I like that about her.
In this one it talked about insurance scams and murdering people off just to get their insurance money. Talk about messed up people. If only people like that could use their powers for good imagine what they could accomplish.
In this one it talked about insurance scams and murdering people off just to get their insurance money. Talk about messed up people. If only people like that could use their powers for good imagine what they could accomplish.
July 20, 2019
Dr. Toni Day returns home to California and gets involved investigating a missing person, arsenic poisoning and a murder. All in a day’s work for a pathologist. A fun trip back home
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews