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The narrative and scenes are very funny and vivid. If the mystery is well-written and developed, this will be a great novel overall.

I am rejoining Canada's wonderful Lyn Hamilton again at last.

Nowhere near the mysteriousness and whimsical, ostentatious wonderment of "The House With A Clock In Its Walls". Although professor gives us happy eccentricity and Grampa joviality. Grama is portrayed as a prude but loving and stable. Metaphysical elements might emerge but that atmosphere hasn't been built, as if we're doubting it until too late to relish it. We'll see how it proceeds. It is said to be exciting.

In the hands of a sensitive original.

In the hands of a sensitive original.

I rejoin the wonderful John Bellairs for the second time. Here we come, 1983! It is depicting 1951 instead of an era I could have recalled but it will be fun anyway. Books fully finished by John are special. However I hold out hope that those continued for him in these treasured series are well done too. I can't know until I collect and reach those reaches of these series.

We are slowly plodding along.

I'll give this inaugural series starter volume a break for taking a painstaking time to gear up but it is page 100 and there has been no whiff of a mystery. I do not believe a mystery requires a crime but I think this is that type of series. Whatever the component is that brings a mystery to this story, it ought to arrive soon. Otherwise what we have is Welsh society, scenery. and politically-greedy English prior.

Very wordy, paired with setting-up a new series, in 1977. Like getting through molasses although the characters are building and likeable. No mystery yet. All authors overuse an adjective that editors don't catch. Edith needed to stop saying "gentle" and "into the bargain"! I hope the progress of her other novels became far swifter and lighter to go through, as she grew experienced and warmed-up her mystery ear.

Here is another story of small pieces threading together. Because the covers look neat, I bought some Ellis Peters 10+ years ago. They sat. I didn't know standard mysteries came in series. I had read standalone gothic ones thus far. After finding that out, sorting out these prolific volumes seemed daunting until now. FantasticFiction makes it easy and I found the early series starters I need! Here I go: 1977!

A shame that Dorothy Foster closes this with epitaphs! Although cats are loved and missed well enough for commemoration as any human relative, it is a dreary, off-putting note for a conclusion! I'd rather end with chapters on how cats are smart, adored, and funny. It does seem this anthology entails any cat poem she could find, the more ancient the better. I wish she had highlighted positive and uplifting poetry.

Made it to one-hundred. I guess it is going to get more interesting. I'm amused at the eruptive historical society because Annie's "Will you get a load of them?" reaction does succeed at being funny. I especially like the description of houses and property features. The turnoff of these novels is Annie & Max's interaction. I would enjoy these more if they cut that out, changed the couple, or if this one grew up.

I am finding this more interesting. What a pickle. I need a break from heavy, profound novels even if they were 5 stars. But more and more, I lose taste for the superficiality of the "cozy type" of mystery novel. The attempt at comedy, focus on physical gestures/attributes instead of emotions is grating, because mysteries need to move ahead their plots. I don't need to know Annie stretched or scrunched her eyes.

Good, we have burst out of Annie's detailed admiration of her bookstore. We surprisingly leave the island too and I enjoy thoroughness where it belongs: on descriptions of trees, flowers, and homes. It think it's a neat premise, to write a party murder. What is stupid is that she & Max are engaged but drama hangs over Max's parents providing something lavish. She proved her independence. Why not accept a treat?

I am unsure I'm going to like this. I enjoyed the series debut and was only unable to reach higher marks because it integrated a subject I abhor more than any other, euthanasia. I've long collected Carolyn Hart books and was sure I'd love any other. This introduction is tedious and even irritating; Max yelling at Annie while she rambles famous titles for a mystery project. Quit the banter and get to the story!