Amanda FlowerKirja-arvosteluja

Well this was a disappointment. It sounded so much better than it turned out to be. After reading 180 pages (out of 272 – including the epilogue) and dreading picking it up again, I gave myself permission to stop reading. But let me tell you why.

First, the writing style and word choice was contrived and cliché-ridden. For instance, Orville Wright (an adult male character) says, “I have half a mind to march down to the newspaper office right now and give them a piece of my mind.” What man says this? This is a cliché that maybe a grandmother from the early 1900s, or someone in a shallow cozy mystery would say. And using the word “mind” twice in one sentence? An author should know better. Then on the next page main character Katharine Wright describes a character: “He swore like a sailor and smoked like a chimney. His crude manner rubbed me the wrong way.” Clichés like this demonstrate lazy writing.

I kept thinking I was reading a Young Adult book, as it seemed to be written for a younger reader. I enjoy YA novels, but somehow this was almost insulting in its dialogue, lack of character development, and slow-moving plot.

And adding a fictional murder mystery to the story was just silly. It’s historical fiction about actual inventors Wilbur and Orville Wright and their younger sister Katharine. The facts of the Wright brothers and their invention of the first airplane are fascinating enough, but to create a murder for Katharine to solve as the basis of the novel is farfetched. Putting the brothers on the back burner (ooh, another cliché) was such a waste, and the novel just didn’t hold my interest. If the writing had been of higher quality….

I also couldn’t feel any connection to Katharine, which contributed to my disappointment.

This could have been so much better. I can’t recommend it.

This novel revolves around Katharine Wright, the lesser known sister of the famous brothers. Orville and Wilbur had just recently achieved their goal with the historic flight of 57 seconds. Now home for Christmas, Wilbur attends a Christmas party with Katharine, taking with him important drawings and figures of the flying machine. While there, the plans are stolen, and Wilbur is shattered by their loss. He conceals this upsetting fact from his brother and implores Katharine to help him find the missing documents. Secondary in his mind is the murder of a guest at the party, stabbed to death. A suspect is arrested, but Katharine is sure that person is innocent. Now she has two mysteries to solve. This work of historical fiction is gripping and intriguing. Katharine is a complex character, and her intellect and caring nature are evident as the story unfolds. The mysteries are well plotted, and setting will take you back in time. Readers will get an understanding of what society was really like back then. Amanda Flower is an amazing author whose books never fail to please her readers.

Bailey works as a chocolatier in New York and is a rising star in her field, but she travels to rural Ohio to visit her Amish grandparents because her grandfather is seriously ill. She plans to return to New York soon, but that does not work because the body of a businessman is found in the kitchen of her grandparents' candy shop.

I enjoyed this book much more than I expected: The story, the characters, the atmosphere. I only have basic knowledge of the Amish, but I liked how little bits of information were included in an organic way that did not hinder the flow.
The story drags a bit in the second quarter and the murderer lacks a motive - at least it isn't explained - , but otherwise it was a good cosy read and I am looking forward to the next one.½

Crime and Cherry Pits by Amanda Flower is the fourth book in the Farm to Table Mysteries. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. Crime and Cherry Pits did not feel like it was written by Amanda Flower. The main character, Shiloh was okay along with her friend and farm worker, Chesney. Hazel is a sweet girl who prefers to spend time with Shiloh versus her grandparents (who dislike Shiloh). There seemed to be a few people in the town who disliked Shiloh. Shiloh’s cousin, Stacey, is an unlikeable character. I wish the author had not included Stacey in the series. Stacey feels she is entitled to a portion of the treasure that Shiloh’s grandmother left for Shiloh to find. Since Stacey sold her part of the farm, I do not know why she feels deserves part of it or why Shiloh feels she should share it with her. I was not a fan of this particular storyline. We follow Shiloh while she is working at the festival as well as doing her chores on the farm. The mystery was simple. I did like the method of murder which was unique. Shiloh asked questions in between her other activities. It was an easy to solve whodunit despite the lack of clues. The pacing was off in the story and the same details were repeated (over and over). Crime and Cherry Pits lacked the humor that is normally present in Amanda Flower’s cozy mysteries. The characters have evolved little since the beginning of the series. My favorite character is Shiloh’s pug, Huckleberry. He is a cutie. While I enjoy the author's other cozy mysteries, I will eschew the Farm to Table Mysteries.

Standard Cozy Mystery through Audible. Rarely find anything special in cozy mystery books, but I do love to listen when I want something light and fun to pass the time during chores.

This is the third book in the cozy mystery series Magical Bookshop; it is recommended that one read the earlier books first. This mystery was challenging for me. I had trouble deciding who had done the deed, and I kept guessing the wrong person.

Recommended for fans of cozy mysteries.

In December 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright were in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, making history by flying an airplane they had built. Back at home in Dayton, Ohio, their sister, Katharine, teaches introductory languages at Steele High School. She hopes to achieve her goal by requesting to teach Greek III to upper-level students. Not to mention that her teaching is just one aspect of Katharine’s life. She also cares for her father at their family home and ensures her brothers’ bicycle shop runs smoothly, ordering supplies, checking accounts, and balancing the books. It’s almost Christmas, her brothers are coming home, and Katharine never suspected another role, a high-stakes role, will soon take priority.

I was not aware of the Wright brothers' sister. I was fascinated to learn of Katharine Wright. To learn of the reliance by her father and brothers for her care of the family home since the loss of her mother at 15 and the brothers for their business when out of town, her intelligence, independence, and strong work ethic, her interest in moving beyond gender inequality, is inspirational and revealing of a woman moving the benchmark of men's thinking and habits forward in her quiet way.

I loved the combination of unveiling a woman in history who deserves as much respect and recognition as her brothers and a fictional mystery woven by a master storyteller, which is a delight to read. Although I had read from the start that the mystery was fictional, the author’s meticulous research of history made the mystery seem entirely plausible.

Don’t miss meeting Katharine Wright! Highly recommended.

The Author Note and Discussion Questions are available at the end of the novel.

Thank you to Amanda Flower, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.

More of a three and a half.
Will definitely give the next one a try.
Appreciated that at least some attempt was made to illustrate just how bizarre
The situation of a maid of the time solving a crime with her mistress would be.
Some of the other mores of the time are at least mentioned, though immediately discarded ( everyone seems ready to use first names, freely be seen walking with the opposite sex, etc
However, Emily Dickinson is a wise choice, as you could always argue that her eccentric character
Leaves more possibilities open.



Anyway, a fun book, with a somewhat anti-climactic ending

Academics from Concord descend on Amherst, MA in the second novel in this series. Emily's new sister-in-law, Susan, hosts Ralph Waldo Emerson and his secretary, Luther Howard, in town for a lecture series at the college, hoping that their new home will become a literary hub. Susan and Austin's staff is small, and Willa is loaned out to help ready the home for the prestigious guest. Howard, too handsome for his own good, turns many heads in the short time they are in town and is found dead in the garden at Evergreen during their welcome dinner. Emily flouts convention, because she is able to, and with her maid Willa, entertain questioning suspects in their search for the killer. 1850's Amherst is keenly drawn, with abolitionism and class distinctions at the forefront of much of their investigation.

Millie, an older Amish woman, and her English friend Lois are excited about the county fair, Millie because she is entering a quilt in the show and Lois because she is meeting a new man. As Millie is arranging her quilt in the Needlework tent, she is startled by an argument between Ruth Yoder and Tara Barron, the head judge. Apparently Ruth missed the entry deadline but doesn't think that that should really matter for her the bishop's wife. Tara is firm, Ruth's quilt cannot be entered.

The next morning Tara is found dead and she is surrounded by pieces of Ruth's quilt. Because it appears that Ruth is a strong suspect, Millie and Lois set out to find the real killer,

I love the characters in this series because they play so well together. It's also great to see them in cameo roles in the Amish Candy Shop Mysteries. The mystery was entertaining especially with the insertion of mischievous goats and a pig with a following.

A terrific tale mingling real history with a mystery!
Katherine Wright was an amazing woman in real life. Her intelligence and tenacity for truth made her a dynamic sleuth. She was also a loyal friend and caring sister. I liked how the author used her as an amateur sleuth to solve the crime and added historical facts to make it feel authentic. It made me want to learn more about her real life after reading this and the notes at the end.
Fans of Jen Turano's books, Enola Holmes and Murdoch mysteries may enjoy this one also. It was fast paced, well written and an overall entertaining read. Clean, with just a hint of romance for a side character, it would be fine for teenagers and up who enjoy a good mystery. It would make a good series!
Recommend!

(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)

This is a read about the famous Wright brother's sister Katharine, and it involves the people living in 1903 Dayton, Ohio. Yes, Orville and Wilbur were off at Kitty Hawk when Katharine is busy at home teaching Latin, and she ruffles a prominent citizens son.
We are there when her friend begs her to go, and she does to the son's parent's Christmas party, along with her brother Wilbur. Would you expect a murder? Well, there is one, and now we are on a journey for answers, and they do come!
It is an interesting page turner! A secret club, deception, theft, and then murder, but whom is the guilty party, and will things ever be the same, including the development of the air industry?
Now I'm look forward to the next book in this series!

Bailey King works in Harvest OH with her grandmother running the candy store Swissmen Sweets. Bailey has achieved some notoriety with her cable TV so business is booming. To increase production, Bailey has decided it's time to build a factory. Her grandmother is Amish and though not happy about the construction understands that when shew is gone, this will be totally Bailey's business.

Problems arise when the contractor and Bailey have a major argument, he is fired, and then later found murdered at the construction site. Bailey's efforts to keep construction on target while clearing her name lead the reader on aa merry trail.

Characaters are as wonderful as ever and the story entertaining.½

I really enjoyed this book! Amanda has such a great way of writing! The story is engaging and interesting! The characters are fabulous! The ending was a complete surprise! A definite must read!!

A fantastic book! A mystery, murder and comedy rolled into one! Millie, the main character is a rambunctious Amish woman who quilts, is a matchmaker and solves crimes on the side! A definite must read!

Another great book by Amanda Flower! I love the characters! I couldn't put the book down. I had to find out what happened next!
Millie is the town matchmaker. She's pretty sure Ben should give up on trying to court Tess because Tess's father doesn't approve of him. Ben tragically dies and Millie is dead set on finding out the truth. She and her friend Lois ride around the town looking for clues. The ending really surprised me. I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I did.

A great book with a surprise ending!

Millie, AKA Amish Marple, and her English friend Lois are enthralled with the county fair. Millie has entered the quilt competition, and Lois is searching her new dating app for a boyfriend. Millie’s frisky goats are also entered in a competition, being shown by her grand-nephew. Millie can’t help getting involved with a young Amish friend of her grand-nephew’s when the boy’s cruel father abandons him at the fair. And to complicate matters, the head of the fair is found dead in the quilt barn with the shredded quilt that the bishop’s wife made. Millie and Lois are on the case, but they have a lot on their plate, so to speak, and staying safe seems to be falling off the edge. This well written cozy is just another example of the fine storytelling abilities of author Amanda Flower. Intriguing, entertaining, and delightful, it’s a wonderful way to while away a few hours.

Ralph Waldo Emerson pays a visit to Amherst and stays at the home of Austin and Susan Dickinson. The year is 1856, and Emerson is giving a series of lectures. Emily is delighted, and her sister Lavinia is much taken with Emerson’s secretary, Luther Howard. Luther, however, is not a man to be trusted, and it’s not long before his true nature comes to light. Unfortunately for the young man, he is no longer able to defend himself, having been poisoned and found dead in the Dickinson’s garden. Now Emily’s quest is to prove that her family is innocent of any wrong-doing, keeping their reputation intact. Assisted by her caring maid Willa, Emily shows no fear in pursuing the miscreant who murdered Luther. Who they catch is likely to surprise even them, as more than one person has black thoughts. This well-written and delightful mystery flowers on the page (no pun intended) and blossoms into an intriguing and entertaining tale. The characters are well drawn and developed and quite likable and believable. Amanda Flower just keeps getting better with each book she writes. This series may turn out be one of her best, which is really saying something, since her other series are quite wonderful, too.

amateur-sleuth, historical-novel, historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, history-of-flight, cozy-mystery, family, family-dynamics, famous-persons, first-in-series, gender-inequality, murder-investigation, local-law-enforcement, siblings, suffragette, teacher, theft*****

At the dawn of the twentieth century teacher Katherine Wright (a graduate of Oberlin College) became entangled in local politics, a theft, and a murder. Katie is the youngest of the siblings who include Orville and Wilbur Wright. The theft was of a pre-patent schematic for the flying machine they had just tested out in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and then there's the murder. She is the logical member of the family to investigate, so she does! As a history geek and more, I was impressed with the tidbits of knowledge included (evidence of deep investigation). Loved it!
I requested and received an EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

I Heard A Fly Buzz When I Died is the second book in An Emily Dickinson Mystery series by Amanda Flower.

Emily Dickinson and Dickinson’s maid, Willa, are back and solving a mystery again.

Emily’s brother, Austin, and his new bride, Susan, have returned from their honeymoon and have set up residency in Evergreen, the home Mr. Dickinson had built for them. They will host Ralph Waldo Emerson, who is in town to deliver a literary symposium at the local college. Also traveling with Emerson is secretary, Luther. One afternoon, Willa overhears an argument between Emerson and Luther. Emerson accused Luther of stealing some of his works, telling him he was fired when their current visit ended. That evening, everyone is gathered for the evening meal when suddenly Luther excuses himself, saying he’s not feeling well and needs some fresh air. Shortly after that, a gardener asks to speak with Willa and informs her that Luther is lying dead in the garden. No one can believe this, as Luther had made it known when he first arrived how allergic he was to pollen. The police will discover that Luther was poisoned. Emily asks Willa to help her find the killer, as the murder could damage the Dickinson family’s reputation. Emily and Willa had worked together a year before to find the killer of Willa’s brother. Emily remembers that maids seem invisible to their employers, so Willa should be able to overhear conversations and gather backstairs gossip from other maids and workers.
They soon learn that Luther was a “lady's man” and have several suspects to pursue. Some suspects could include family, close friends, and an immigrant peddler.

This series is an astounding addition to my favorite historical cozy mysteries. I love how well Emily and Willa work together. I feel sorry for the family cook as Emily is constantly removing her from her kitchen duties. I found the book to be well-written, charming, and historically accurate. The characters are interesting, believable, and well-developed.

I’m looking forward to the next book in this engaging series. Mainly to see if any romantic interest will develop between Willa and Matthew, a local policeman.

Another murder in the small Amish town in Ohio, and again, Bailey the Chocolatier finds herself in the thick of it. This one involves her chocolate shop employee, Emily, since it’s the woman who adopted Emily’s secret Amish love child (I swear I’m not making this up) who’s turned up very murdered in the next-door pretzel shop.

Yeah, I’m done with this series after this one. The writing is getting bad and I just don’t care enough about the characters to overlook the lack of quality.½

Dating Can Be Deadly by Amanda Flower takes us back to Harvest, Ohio for the Holmes County Fair. I just love Millie Fisher and Lois Henry. Those two are quite a pair. Lois and Millie are opposites, but they have been best friends since they were children. Lois’s handbag must weigh a ton. I am just amazed at what Lois has in that bag (and I thought I carried a big bag). Millie’s mischievous goats are entered into the competition at the county fair (thanks to Millie’s nephew Micah) and you know those two are itching to explore the fairgrounds. When a murder occurs at the fair in the quilt barn, Lois and Millie are on the case. There are a handful of suspects. Millie and Lois ask questions plus nose around for clues. Some readers may be surprised when the killer’s identity is revealed (it means you missed a vital clue or two). I like how Lois’s purse played into the reveal. I laughed often while reading Dating Can Be Deadly. You never know what Lois will say or do next (and her outfits are something else especially her ensemble for the square dance). I do wonder how much gel and hairspray Lois uses to get her hair to stay in place (I bet Lois could get picked up by a twister and her hair would remain intact). I love that the story includes characters from An Amish Candy Shop Mysteries including a certain polka dotted pig. Cupid is in town, and he is knocking at Millie’s door. The question is, though, Millie ready to open her heart. Dating Can Be Dating is the fifth An Amish Matchmaker Mystery. It can be read as a standalone, but I encourage you to read this delightful series in order. Dating Can Be Deadly is an entertaining tale with fighting fair officials, roguish goats, quality quilts, dating dilemmas, helmet hair, a heartless relative, and fair food.

Dating Can Be Deadly is the fifth book in the An Amish Matchmaker Mystery series.

Millie and Lois have been friends since childhood. Even though their lives are worlds apart, Millie is Amish, and Lois is an Englischer, they accept each other's beliefs without question.

The Holmes County Fair is about to open, and Millie plans to exhibit a quilt she has made. Lois takes her to the fairgrounds to hang the quilt in the judging area. Shortly after arriving, they see Ruth Yoder, wife of a local Amish Bishop, arguing with Tara Barron, the head judge and president of the fair board. Ruth wanted to enter a quilt but was late getting her application in, and Tara refused to make any exceptions.

One night, Millie learns that her goats, Peter and Phillip, whom her grand-nephew was showing, had escaped their pen, and she needed to come and catch them. Lois drives them to the fairgrounds, and their search for the goats leads to the pole barn where the quilts are exhibited. They find more than the goats. Tara's dead body is lying on the shredded quilt that Ruth Yoder wanted to display.

Millie and Lois begin to investigate, as the police will probably suspect that Ruth might have had reason to kill Tara, but they know that Ruth would never kill anyone. Millie and Lois realize that Tara’s quilt shop burned down. Her ex-husband becomes a suspect when it’s learned he was her partner in the shop. There will also be a few more suspects. Before it’s all over, Millie will again be reminded why Lois carries a brick in her HUGE purse. Millie will also help a young Amish lad and his pygmy goat find a caring home. A very touching story. Once again, I enjoyed reading about the antics of Peter and Phillip.

The book is well-written and plotted. It reads at a good pace and provides a few chuckles, too. I love reading how Millie and Lois interact with their different lifestyles.

I’m looking forward to the next book in this delightful series.

Emily Dickinson is excited when Ralph Waldo Emerson comes to stay with her newlywed brother in order to give a series of lectures at Amherst. However, when his private secretary is killed, Emily is drawn into the murder investigation along with her maid Willa Noble.

Willa tells the story from her viewpoint as a servant to the high-class Dickinson family. She's a keen observer who reluctantly trails Emily into dangerous situations. She is also in position to hear things that she brings to Emily's attention.

Mr. Luther Howard is a sort of shady character. He's been Emerson's secretary for a while as he hones his own skills as an author. Unfortunately, he chooses theft to hone his skills. When he finds a writer he admires, he offers to show Emerson their work and then claims it as his own. Howard is also a social climber who romances a variety of women and drops each one as the next, higher status woman comes along. At the time of his death, he is just starting to romance Emily's younger sister.

There are a variety of suspects for the killing. An itinerant Italian peddler has reason to hate Howard because his false romance caused the peddler's niece to commit suicide. Even Emerson is a suspect since he's just discovered that Howard was trying to sell one of Emerson's earlier unfinished works as his own.

This story is packed with literary figures of the day beyond Emerson and Dickinson herself. Louisa Alcott makes an appearance as a woman unabashedly writing to make money which is so very different than Emily's own purpose for writing.

I enjoyed this story and think that I would have caught more of the brief snippets of Emily's thoughts as parts of her later poems had I been more familiar with Dickinson's work. One that I did catch was the idea that hope is a thing with feathers which Emily mentions when a young workman talks about sending his sweetheart in Ireland a carved wooden bird to keep her hopes for their future alive. I'm sure there were more that I missed.

This was an engaging story firmly set in the 1850s with its social rules. The abolition movement was there as a background to the story as was the way immigrants were treated and the way the social class distinctions were so fixed.

Fans of historical mysteries will enjoy this story.