Eat, Drink, and Be Buried

Pennyfoot Hotel #4

by Kate Kingsbury

The Pennyfoot hides many secrets and its downstairs staff keeps a tight lip, even when the Edwardian aristocrats are spotted dallying with damsels in the boudoirs, or gambling in the forbidden card rooms hidden below the floorboards. Should now and then one of the hotel guests fall prey to a dastardly murderer, however, it is up to Cecily Sinclair to restore order before Scotland Yard steps in and shuts down her infamous seaside hotel.

EAT DRINK AND BE BURIED

May Day heralds the opening of the summer season at the Pennyfoot, and the downstairs staff is busy getting the hotel ready for their aristocratic guests. Festivities to celebrate are in full swing, when one of the guests is found hanging from the Maypole with a ribbon around her neck. Cecily puts herself in danger as she hunts for the mysterious killer.

The final Pennyfoot Mystery, also a Christmas edition, Mulled Murder, was published in November 2013 by Berkley Books.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Historical Fiction, Mystery Thriller

208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 1994

About the author

Kate Kingsbury grew up in London, England, and at a very early age began telling stories to her school friends during the London Blitz of WW II while huddling in bomb shelters. Kate moved to the U.S. in the early sixties, and had passed her 50th birthday when she published her first book. Writing as Doreen Roberts, (her real name at the time) she published 26 romance novels for Harlequin/Silhouette. In 1991 her first Pennyfoot Hotel book was published and since then Kate has written 35 mysteries, including the Manor House mysteries, the Bellehaven House mysteries(written as Rebecca Kent) and the Raven's Nest mysteries, (written as Allison Kingsley.) Her new series, The Merry Ghost Inn Mysteries debuted in January, 2017 with Dead and Breakfast, featuring a B & B on the Oregon coast. She has one son, Regan, and lives with her husband, Bill, in the beautiful state of Oregon.

Reviews

[Jammin Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this cozy mystery set in historic England at the turn of the 19th century. They were talking about the suffragette movement, and how women might one day be treated equal to men (able to ride a horse astride rather than side saddle). A member of the aristocracy gets murdered and the owner of the Pennyfoot Hotel sets out to find out who did it before it ruins the Season.

[C. (Don't blank click my reviews, comment please! · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tired of ‘cozy mysteries’ and prefer modern periods. However, some series sneak under those fences and thrill me, like Kate Kingsbury’s. These first four novels have given me four and five star pleasure. They are hard to procure! I waited five years, until orchestrating the third as a prize. After volume 4, I must pause until I obtain a good copy of “Grounds For Murder”. Anticipation is fun in our amply full house of books. Doreen Roberts Hight is English herself and creates strong, sweet, memorable characters and places. It is a treat to revisit the Pennyfoot Hotel every time the next paperback lands at our door.

The effort of locating physical books generates excitement that does not exist with e-books. In place of “ARC thank-you’s”, I hope to read the stories of how folks fulfill book collections.

Cecily Sinclair has an understanding with her manager, Hugh Baxter, that they are not wilting lilies as perceived by the society that is fazing out in 1908. Of especial interest to me is how her young but long time housemaid, Gertie, would handle a pregnancy without a husband, who was found to be dishonest in some matters. It is nice to acquaint a staff who is professional but like family when you need them. The formidable Cecily, having two best friends, demonstrates the need to have an ear or a shoulder like we all do. These are all full personages with work and personal sides and the hotel needs to be careful with its finances.

I deemed this a four star mystery for liking no visiting characters and finding the reason for murder petty. The personal aspects furnished the joy in this story. Madeline was away, whose ethereal nature I love. I relished unexpected humour from Phoebe, teaching tittering Maypole dancers.

[Nola Arganbright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following the leads

A delightful mystery and a pleasurable read. Strong characters and a strong plot in this turn of the century story.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying the series, but definitely not because of Cecily Sinclair. Her interaction with Baxter, her manager, is farcical, repetitive and quite frankly, annoying. Their entire interaction is this: Cecily shocking Baxter by smoking cigars, loving modern progress, and investigating murders because "Oh my, this will reflect badly on the hotel" and Baxter disapproving but humouring her until they somehow solve the mystery. The end.
The reason I'm enjoying the series boils down to the mysteries themselves often being interesting, if a little predictable, and mainly because of the rest of the characters in the books. I'm enjoying the stories of Gertie, Ethel, Mrs. Chubbs, Michel and the rest of them. I will continue to read the series as long as these characters continue to entertain!

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Pennyfoot Hotel series continues with it's 4th book in the series.

Cecily Sinclair is the owner of a seaside resort in Victorian England.
Her staff is readying itself for a May Day celebration when a body ends tied up on a maypole.

Gertie, one of the kitchen staff, absolutely ruined this book for me. I've been following the series out of order for a while and this book really just made me dislike her. How many times does a character need to say "bleeding and bloody" to be of a certain lower class? It was just laid on so thick that it made her character absolutely annoying. I wanted to skim over it all after a while. TOO much Gertie made me want to just give up on it halfway through.

It was more 2 1/2 stars than 2.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out really slow so I had a hard time getting into it. It did eventually pick up but it was just ok. There was a lot going on and everyone was acting suspiciously so it was definitely hard to figure out who the guilty person was. Overall, it was an ok book.

[M. White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting series.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eat, Drink, and Be Buried by Kate Kingsbury is the fourth book of the Pennyfoot Hotel historical cozy mystery series set in Edwardian England. May Day is the traditional opening of the summer season for the seaside resort for the aristocracy. But this year (1908) the hotel's season may be ruined, due to the murder of a guest, assumed to be the work of gypsies. Cecily Sinclair owns and operates her dear departed husband James' family business with great diligence. If police inspectors will not investigate and solve the crime in time for the May Day festivities, then she will, by golly. Despite (her hotel manager) Baxter's disapproval. Cecily's typical response to his objections: "Oh, piffle." Of course, he'll help wherever she needs it. Even grudgingly provide her with her favorite small cigars, when she asks.

Cecily is quite a pest with her questions, but she gets the inside knowledge she needs, and triggers the guilty reactions that validate her theory of the crime and its motivation.

Busy managing the Pennyfoot and crime-solving, Cecily nevertheless finds the time for a cream tea in town with her friend Phoebe, who's organizing the Maypole dance. Phoebe reached for a scone and delicately slit it in half with a pearl-handled knife. She then lavishly spread one half with the Devonshire cream and the other half with strawberry jam. After fitting the two pieces together again, she sliced off a piece and popped it into her mouth. "Wonderful," she declared, a look of rapture creeping over her face. Envious, Cecily marvels: How that woman kept her wasp waist squeezed into that impossible corset when she consumed pastries the way a furnace consumed coal was beyond her understanding.

Downstairs at the Pennyfoot, all is not well among the servants. Newlywed Gertie (housemaid) is pregnant, but husband Ian (stable manager) is not happy at the news. Gertie's trying to learn to knit (baby booties) from a knitting pattern that Mrs. Chub (the cook) had given her. "Purl two, knit two, b-w-f...what the bleeding hell is b-w-f"? Glaring at the knitting needles as if it were their fault, she said crossly, "Bloody well futile, that's what it means." Turns out Ian's been keeping a very big secret. Gertie, seeing his white face: "You look as if you swallowed a winkle and found out it was a slug."

Whenever Michel (the chef) was in a mood, "Michel would take out his anger by slamming pots and pans around, deafening everyone within earshot. This had to be the only hotel in England with lumps and bumps in all the saucepans." And yet - Michel is unexpectedly sympathetic to Gertie's plight.

It's a delightful treat to revisit the Pennyfoot and familiar characters: Cecily, Baxter, Mrs. Chubb, Michel, Gertie, Phoebe. Cecily and Baxter grow ever closer. Perhaps he feels more than the duty to protect her from harm that he promised at James' deathbed? How will they bridge the class barrier that he so strongly observes? I look forward to finding out in later episodes.

[Valorie Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even the aristocrats has big problems!

I loved this story, I am amazed at how Cecily Sinclair puts things together to solve the problems that are mysteries to others.
With the help of Braxter, her hotel manager, they can get into very sticky situations, so far they have managed to get out as they solve the mystery.
With a aristocratic family in the Hotel for May Day festival, the problems mounted for awhile, but one by one Cecily had put out the fire until the last was very dangerous which she needed help from the least you would ask.
You have to read for details. You will love it.
This series is great, you have to like British cozy mysteries.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 4th book in the series. Everyone is getting ready for the May Day celebrations, but when a guest at the hotel is found hanged on the Maypole, Cecily knows she has to help find the killer to protect her hotel’s reputation. As she checks the whereabouts of her guests, she finds that there are some unsavory activities and secrets that are being kept. A key clue comes from an unlikely source and Cecily and Baxter set up a trap to catch a killer. Housemaid Gertie finds herself in a pickle when her family situation has two major changes. But Cecily and the rest of the staff work to find a way to get her out of trouble.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perfectly fine mystery ruined by racism

I’m not sure when this book was originally published but the degrading and bigoted allusions to Roma people (consistently called “gypsies”) throughout the book was disturbing and completely unnecessary. It really detracted from my enjoyment of the book as a whole. While I understand the tone and words were representative of the time, as they could of easily been replaced as a plot device, the book would of done better with a different (and less ineffective) red herring.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Headless horsemen, worthless husband, drama, mystery! Egads, old chap, what?

It is with utter and complete delight that I give my best Victorian/Edwardian review of this quite charming and exhilarating little mystery! So great is my appreciation of the wonderful Mrs. Kingsbury’s talent, that I have purchased at quite good cost, the entire 21-book set of her Pennyfoot Hotel mysteries for my Kindle, and anticipate hours of reading pleasure in the very near future! Zounds! Hounds of the Baskervilles! Red-headed leagues...oh, that is another author!....

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always I really enjoyed this addition to the Pennyfoot Hotel mystery series. The mystery was well thought out and while I kind of knew who the killer was about halfway through, the way took awhile to get to. I enjoyed the character building and interaction as well. The author did a good job building up the established characters a bit more, which is always nice. With each book they become more relatable and you come to care for them more as well, which is important in a series where you have a regular cast of characters.

All-in-all a great sequel and a great series.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy the Pennyfoot mysteries. Cecily Sinclair is ahead of her time as far as Edwardian standards go. She is for women's suffrage, tries to break Edwardian customs, and is sharp as a tack. She loves to fluster the Pennyfoot Hotel manager, Baxter, by smoking cigars and solving murders. One of my favorite characters is the maid, Gertie. She has no edit button and tells it like it is.
The outcome of the story fit the tale, but I would have loved to see true justice done. Fun read. I'd recommend it.

[Michell Karnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great mystery at the Pennyfoot Hotel. This series is endearing the way Cecily with the reluctant help of her hotel manager are able to solve the murders that come to their hotel. I also enjoy the back stories of the hotel's employees especially the one slowing evolving between Cecily and Baxter.

[Seff Liddell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic fun who done it. I love reading these. The characters are interesting, their banter is witty, heartfelt, and surprising at times. The more of the series you read the more you become apart of the hotel. You don't just want to see Cecily succeed in catching the murderer, you also want to see the hotel and it's staff thrive.

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Pennyfoot mystery

This book was a fun read. There never seems to be a dull moment at the hotel. Mrs. Sinclair is very astute and her interactions with her stiff and proper manager, Baxter, are delightful.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great characters and great mystery!

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love this series. Great setting and characters.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun series.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cecily is a widow who owns a hotel on the coast of England. She has a staff who are not only her employees but also her friends. She and her manager, Baxter, are very good at handling everything so that the guests see a very smoothly run hotel.

There is a lot going on in the village as well as at the hotel. May Day is nearing and the planned celebration will be a wonderful one. Cecily's son may be home soon. One of the guests tells everyone he saw a headless horseman. And of course, one of the hotel's guests is found at the May pole, and she is very dead.

The story takes place during the Edwardian Era and the customs are much different than what is accepted today. The expectations for women are limited so Cecily is a rare success.

This is a short read with an interesting plot. Ms Kingsbury writes stories which seem to take the reader to a different time. Her story development is well done. This book is part of a series, but is easily read as a stand alone.

Cecily and all the characters are interesting as well as very human. The ups and downs experienced by all the characters are situations which would be difficult for anyone who faced them. The emotions are just what would be expected of people.

There are a few smaller mysteries here. But, the largest one is finding the person who killed a woman and tied her to the May pole. I was pretty sure I knew who the murderer was, but that did not interfere with my enjoyment of the story.

If a reader is looking for a story which takes them to a different era this is a book you will enjoy.

[D.w. · Rating 1 out of 5]

When an author does not have a lot to make a book rich, it is evident. Evidence being a primary part of solving mysteries. Here with the lack of evidence hanging over the murder, our heroine has lots of time on her hands.

Now how is that? I am four books into this series, and we have a struggling hotel proprietor who has a lot of time on her hands. Not only that there are two failing subplots in this book that eat up entire pages of the small 200 page story. Well it is 200 pages less the blank pages in between chapters, what, What! That double what is how one of the characters that is becoming very one dimensiional speaks. Those two subplots, one dealing with a character we have thought of as permanent just rings false.

Early Edwardian england must have had a lot of bigamy, it being so cavalierly dismissed so quickly. The other a guest who won't leave his room and days go by thinking of using the pass key to enter the room. Just something to get around to, or couldn't find the member of the hotel staff that has the key? There are not that many staff members.

So enough with all the excess to the mystery. Was that good? No. Where are a believable red herring, where is some back story so we have some idea that there are things obscuring our view. There aren't. The circumstances surrounding the murder are not so strong that the conclusion does not rush at you. The devices the author indulges in to keep you interested are non existent. The ambiance of Edwardian England are thin.

If you have a choice, this series is something that you should pass on.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice cozy mystery. The mystery was okay, but pretty obvious that the Lord killed his wife. He didn't notice her missing for almost a whole day even though she missed all her meals and never came home to sleep? That seemed way too obvious and it quickly became clear that his priorities lie with protecting the family name and not loving his wife (though many character remark how much they loved each other). It was interested to see all the secrets kept within a noble family, but it was strange that all the men in the family were involved with this one lady. Is that really realistic? I did like the drama that involved Gertie and her cheating husband Ian. I was not at all surprised that he was a liar and I am glad he's gone. I think it will be fun to read about Gertie raising her child in the hotel. Cecily seemed extra nosy in this investigation with a very vague reason for getting herself involved. I hope the next book has a more interesting mystery.

[Nancy Bennett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoy this series, but in this book I found the plot to be lacking -- which says a lot because cozy mysteries don't usually have tight plots to begin with, and I am fine with that as long as the story is enjoyable. But this one just felt "off" somehow; too many random pieces that never ended up fitting into the puzzle. Also, this time Cecily just came off as being a busy-body instead of someone who was thrown into the circumstances and forced to investigate to protect herself and those she loves.

I am definitely continuing the series, but I hope the next book is as enjoyable as the previous ones.

[Bettye McKee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death visits the Pennyfoot Hotel

Colonel Fortescue leaves the local pub one night and stumblingly veers off the path. He is horrified to be confronted with a headless horseman mounted on a fire-breathing black stallion. He further discovers a dead woman strapped to the maypole.

The police are only too ready to blame an encampment of gypsies, but Cecily is not so sure. She has noticed that several of the guests, family members of the deceased, are contradicting each other.

With Baxter's able, albeit unwilling, assistance, Cecily sets a trap for the murderer.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

It all takes place in the year 1908 at Pennnyfoot, a hotel in the English countryside. The heroine who runs the hotel gets involved with a murder that takes place near her hotel. An aristocratic family , three brothers and their wives, are the main suspects.
The story is very well written and flows smoothly as we meet new characters and their problems. i particularly like Gertie, the housemaid. She was a young woman not afraid to speak her mind.
A fast paced story that will intrigue you up until the very last page.

[Teddi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. Very short and the murderer was very easy to guess. As well, Cecily essentially caused his death and didn't react at all to it. The Captain subplot went nowhere and didn't really tie into anything else.
I actually preferred Gertie's subplot to the rest of the story, truth be told!
I'll try another in the series and hope its more fleshed out.

[Donna Zigmont · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this installment of the series quite a bit. my only disappointment was that I figured out the killer fairly early in the book. I enjoy Cecily's relationship with Baxter and hope it continues to develop. I didn't care for Ian so I wasn't surprised how he turned out. Phoebe gets on my nerves really bad. I rather like Madeline she is honest and open.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Remeniscent of my Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys days the series by Kate Kingsbury satisfies the thirst for a good mystery for the adult. The setting in Edwardian England at the Pennyfoot Hotel makes for very intersting characters and landscapes.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

For this series--which is compulsively readable if pretty silly--this wasn't too bad from a mystery perspective. The main protagonist actually does enough investigating and questions enough suspects that the solution doesn't come out of nowhere.