Elisabeth Grace Foley

In the second Mrs. Meade mystery by Elisabeth Grace Foley I’ve read, Mrs. Mead has temporarily moved to the Colonial Hotel in Sour Springs. Mrs. Henny has shut down the boarding house where Mrs. Meade normally stays while she travels to see her ill sister. This is a lucky break for shy but steady young cattleman Clyde Renfrew.

Middle-aged widow Mrs. Meade, never one to shy away from helping someone in need, isn’t quite satisfied that Clyde getting liquored up brought about the ruckus at the Colonial. Arrested for unwanted advances toward Dorene Leighton, whose overbearing Aunt Miss Asher insists on restitution from the locked up Clyde, his guilt seems certain. Clyde can’t even remember enough to defend his actions, and because he’s in love with Dorene, figures they must be true.

But Mrs. Meade is bothered by three taps she heard on the wall before the ruckus started. And she can’t understand how a polite young man like Clyde suddenly became so bold. Sheriff Andrew Royal comically accuses Mrs. Meade of “thinking again” because the case against Clyde is open and shut, as far as he’s concerned. Plus he has no desire to tangle with the abrasive Miss Asher! But Mrs. Meade is not so sure, and before it’s all over, she’s helped more than just Clyde.

The Parting Glass is a nice cozy mystery which has a likable protagonist in Mrs. Meade, and an enjoyable setting during western days at the turn of the century. Due to the novelette length of this cozy mystery series, they are just the ticket for bedtime or between bigger books. Perhaps a tick less involving than The Silver Shawl, the first in the series I read, but a warm ending made up for that. Those who enjoy short cozy reads peopled with characters you’ll like, and an unusual setting for a cozy, will definitely want to check out Mrs. Meade. Very enjoyable!… (lisätietoja)

Set during the Great Depression, this warm and kind Christmas offering is a lovely short story for any time of the year. The author understands the meaning of Christmas, and has the ability to show us the tender moments in life. The narrative is engaging without being cloying, giving this snowy Christmas bauble a great deal of heart.

Philip is the outsider at Edenton College, keeping to himself while he studies to become a doctor. His nerdy appearance and lack of socializing prompt a group of his peers, led by Wesley Rodgers, to create a fantasy life for him behind his back. But Wesley nor the others are truly unkind, and when he clandestinely follows Philip Brown home one snowy eve, he sees something which makes him feel ashamed.

To reveal much more wouldn’t be fair, but there is tenderness and warmth here that the reader can feel. A professor, a store window, and the spirit of giving — perhaps guided from above — turn this into a small and wonderful Christmas classic. Highly recommended for anyone who is the least bit sentimental, and every person who enjoys a story which captures the warmth of Christmastime between its pages. A wonderful read.… (lisätietoja)

This wonderful little cozy mystery has a likable protagonist, and boasts a refreshing setting in the latter days of the old west. The protagonist is Mrs. Meade, a middle aged widow with warm memories of the past who is also very sharp when it comes to mysteries.

The Silver Shawl is the inaugural entry in this cozy novelette series (longer than a short story, not as long as a novella). When Randall Morris arrives to see his bride-to-be Charity Bradford at the boarding house where Mrs. Meade lives, it soon becomes apparent something is wrong. No one has seen Charity since she left the previous evening to have supper with seamstress Diana Lewis. Sheriff Andrew Royal, loathe to believe anything bad could happen in sleepy Sour Springs, Colorado, then discovers she never made it to Diane’s. Soon a city detective — possibly a Pinkerton, though it’s not stated — named Edgerton arrives and the hunt for Charity takes on a new dimension.

This is surprisingly engaging and well-plotted, and Mrs. Meade doesn’t come off as your standard busybody, just a nice middle-aged woman trying to do a good turn. Her help in solving a mystery that involves kidnapping, a dead jewel thief, a silver shawl and young love, is deftly handled. Mrs. Meade, thanks to the way she is written, endears herself to the reader. It’s to the author’s credit that we don’t get that all too familiar problem of cozies, that she is simply a necessary device. Nor do we get the feeling that the setting is a gimmick. The Silver Shawl is warm and entertaining, and the mystery — something lacking in far too many cozies — is nicely written and plotted by the author.

I really enjoyed this and plan on reading some other entries from time to time. It’s novelette length makes this cozy mystery series perfect for lighter fare between bigger books, or reading while taking a break. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys friendly cozy mysteries with likable characters. Warm, fun, with a nice setting, and an actual little mystery to boot, this one receives high marks because it entertains as it set out to do. Nothing heavy here, just a nice little treat when for fans when you’re in the mood.… (lisätietoja)