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The Rev and Rye Series #1
Death at Fair Havens
Wanda Duff is an unconventional New England clergywoman, addicted to chicken wings, high-octane ice cream, and saying yes to anyone in need of a prayer, even the folks her town might think don’t deserve one.
When parishioner Niels Pond dies unexpectedly at the Fair Havens assisted living facility, Wanda’s duty to minister to his family is beset by her suspicions about the circumstances of his abrupt passing. Wanda finds an unexpected co-detective in high school vice principal Prudence Rye, who fled town on graduation night a decade ago and returned only recently.
Rye puts her job on the line to investigate the mourning Ponds with the surprisingly edgy Wanda. As they expose difficult family truths and uncover a dangerous operation operating out of Fair Havens, Rye and Wanda discover curiosity has an unanticipated cost.
Comfortably gossipy, with a fresh take on the characters and ethos cozy mystery fans will love, Maria Mankin and Maren C. Tirabassi’s Death at Fair Havens launches a series that celebrates intergenerational women’s friendship and the power of inclusion, curiosity, and love.
When parishioner Niels Pond dies unexpectedly at the Fair Havens assisted living facility, Wanda’s duty to minister to his family is beset by her suspicions about the circumstances of his abrupt passing. Wanda finds an unexpected co-detective in high school vice principal Prudence Rye, who fled town on graduation night a decade ago and returned only recently.
Rye puts her job on the line to investigate the mourning Ponds with the surprisingly edgy Wanda. As they expose difficult family truths and uncover a dangerous operation operating out of Fair Havens, Rye and Wanda discover curiosity has an unanticipated cost.
Comfortably gossipy, with a fresh take on the characters and ethos cozy mystery fans will love, Maria Mankin and Maren C. Tirabassi’s Death at Fair Havens launches a series that celebrates intergenerational women’s friendship and the power of inclusion, curiosity, and love.
318 pages, Paperback
Published April 26, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 23, 2023
Mother-daughter co-authors Maren Tirabassi and Maria Mankin present a page-turning cozy mystery with layered characters and a well-developed plot. Wanda and Rye will not be contained by those close to them or by stereotypical pastor and vice principal roles. Their personalities have depth allowing them both to bristle and comfort as they try to solve the mystery of an unexplained death at Fair Havens, the local nursing home. Friendship is a result of their under-the-radar search, along with rekindled romances, as they dodge danger and try to protect Leslie, the grieving teen whose father just died. A satisfying read!
January 3, 2024
Some of my friends will know the name Maren Tirabassi as a writer and editor of liturgical resources--prayers, etc. She is one of the writers of this new (2022) mystery series.
The main characters are a progressive pastor, Wanda, and a young vice-principal at the local high school, Rye, who grew up in the town, left for a while, and is currently also acting guidance counselor. A parishioner with dementia has died at the local nursing home, and Wanda and Rye sense all is not right about the death. As they follow up--Rye as school counselor for the youngest of the dead man's children, Wanda as pastor--they run into anonymous threats and minor dangers. The grieving family has plenty of secrets but so do some of the nursing home staff. In addition to the dementia unit, hearing challenges and ASL play a part in the storylines.
Delightful main characters who spring directly from the authors' experiences and who encounter many realistic experiences. I look forward to reading the second in the series, "Death in the Woods."
The main characters are a progressive pastor, Wanda, and a young vice-principal at the local high school, Rye, who grew up in the town, left for a while, and is currently also acting guidance counselor. A parishioner with dementia has died at the local nursing home, and Wanda and Rye sense all is not right about the death. As they follow up--Rye as school counselor for the youngest of the dead man's children, Wanda as pastor--they run into anonymous threats and minor dangers. The grieving family has plenty of secrets but so do some of the nursing home staff. In addition to the dementia unit, hearing challenges and ASL play a part in the storylines.
Delightful main characters who spring directly from the authors' experiences and who encounter many realistic experiences. I look forward to reading the second in the series, "Death in the Woods."
April 14, 2023
Blurbs for "Death at Fair Havens" characterize it as a "cozy mystery". Not sure what that is but did find this a delightfully comfortable late-night "cozy read"—light on action and long on character. It features a pair of less-than-enthusiastic yet dogged "detectives"—a middle-aged twice-divorced church pastor and a younger high school vice-principal—who meet in the fallout from a possibly suspicious death and team up to solve a mystery or two. The first mystery is whether or not there is a mystery. Did the deceased kill himself, get killed, or die of natural causes? If he was killed, who might want him dead? At some risk to careers, life, and limb, the sleuths sleuth, and things come to a more or less tidy end. As alluded to above, the best things in this novel are the characters, all well-written and as interesting as juicy small-town gossip. The pastor and prime mover, Wanda, is a hoot, especially in her inner monologues and dialog.
November 16, 2022
A very fun read! The protagonist, a contemporary clergywomen, might surprise some readers and encourage some too! The writing is crisp and the story moves briskly introducing the varied characters and their complicated lives in a small town setting.
Many clergy will be familiar with author Maren Tirabassi as a trusted writer of inclusive, sometimes thought provoking liturgy, prayers, and poetry. Here she brings her pastoral perspective and experience to the mystery genre.
I found it just right for an in flight read, engaging, enjoyable, and rather unique.
Many clergy will be familiar with author Maren Tirabassi as a trusted writer of inclusive, sometimes thought provoking liturgy, prayers, and poetry. Here she brings her pastoral perspective and experience to the mystery genre.
I found it just right for an in flight read, engaging, enjoyable, and rather unique.
May 18, 2022
Such an engaging read - right from the start. I can't wait for the story to continue. Very relatable language and context.
June 4, 2022
The story moves along nicely, the characters are well developed and I hope to see both Rye and Wanda again in a future book!
June 30, 2022
Loved this engaging and delightful read, full of clever writing! It features well-developed characters and themes of friendship and community and is by turns, both tender and humorous. Looking forward to the further adventures of this dynamic duo, Wanda and Rye!
November 22, 2022
I am looking forward to the second book. I like the main characters and the town. A minister and a teacher who know each other and want their town to be a safe place.
July 4, 2023
A cute wholesome little mystery novel set in a small town. If your in the mood for a cute and cozy mystery I recommend trying this one out
June 17, 2024
More romance elements than mystery.
May 12, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
July 25, 2022
"Death At Fair Havens" by Maria Mankin and Marent C. Tirabassi is a fiction mystery. The main characters, Wanda Duff, a New England clergywoman and Prudence Rye (Rye) a vice principal at the local high school, decide to co-detective. They both feel that the recent death of Niels Pond, who died unexpectedly at the Fair Havens assisted living facility appears suspicious. The novel follows their trials and tribulations in uncovering the truth behind Mr. Pond's untimely demise.
Both Ms. Mankin and Ms. Tirabassi do a decent job of developing the plot, characters, and setting of "Death At Fair Havens".
I would recommend this novel if you are looking for a light, fiction, mystery. If this novel is followed by additional books based on these characters, I would read them.
Both Ms. Mankin and Ms. Tirabassi do a decent job of developing the plot, characters, and setting of "Death At Fair Havens".
I would recommend this novel if you are looking for a light, fiction, mystery. If this novel is followed by additional books based on these characters, I would read them.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews