Publication Date: 01/07/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 288
ISBN-10: 0425252299
ISBN-13: 978-0425252291
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound
Christy Fifield (aka. Christy Evans) on the WEB: website, twitter, facebook, goodreads
Books in the series:
Murder Buys a T-Shirt (2012), Murder Hooks a Mermaid (2012), Murder Sends a Postcard (2014)
Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from, Murder Sends a Postcard, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.
Synopsis:
It’s the height of summer tourist season and Glory Martine is busier than ever running her souvenir shop, Southern Treasures. The shop’s parrot, Bluebeard, is becoming quite the celebrity among tourists—little do they realize he’s the bird-host to a ghost…
Residents of Keyhole Bay, Florida, are dismayed when Bridget McKenna, an auditor in chic attire, arrives to assess the local bank’s shady dealings. Curious about the new arrival, Glory brings dinner to Bridget at her temporary residence—the notorious Bayvue Estates, a halted development complex with no view and no estates – just a couple of hastily-completed model homes .
Thoughts:
Christy Fifield's third book in the Haunted Souvenir Shop series, Murder Sends a Postcard will have readers biting their nails as Glory tries to solve the murder of a bank auditor that no one seemed to like. Fifield's trademark wit and humor stand out in this cozy which features a haunted parrot named Bluebeard. Readers will enjoy Fifield's characters and fall in love with the Southern Treasures souvenir shop. A great addition to the series!
What I liked:
Fifield has a real way with humor in this series. A lot of it comes from the parrot host of Uncle Louie, affectionately named Bluebeard. Bluebeard is a great character who adds plenty of comic relief to a story that centers around murder. That bit of lightness gives Murder Sends a Postcard a much needed boost. Bluebeard also helps to solve the crime in this one by giving Glory a clue to the killer. I liked the fact that Fifield created a really interesting way to include a paranormal element by making the bird the host of a ghost. Very original.
I also really enjoy Glory's relationships with the other characters in the book. She and Jake are taking their relationship slowly and becoming friends before taking the plunge into something more intense. I'm glad Fifield chose to write it that way because it allows the reader to get to know them better in the beginning and it will be very satisfying when they do get together. Glory has some old friends and new friends in this book and I thought each character added something different to the mix. I liked how the interacted with each other, especially their Southern dinners which sound fun and full of surprises.
The mystery aspects of this one were well written and executed. The bank auditor comes across as perhaps a nice person that Glory wanted to get to know, which is interesting because usually we don't know that much about the victim in most cozies until after the murder. I liked the fact that the victims brother was the one that asked Glory to help figure out what happened to his sister and the fact that there were plenty of suspects from the lot owner to the bank manager.
What I didn't like:
Glory's cousin who has an interest in the souvenir shop provides the story a second source of conflict in the fact that he wants to run things around the shop though he has no idea what he's doing. But I think he is basically an unnecessary character. I think the story works well without this plot device but perhaps he will become more important as the series progresses.
This was pretty straight forward mystery and I had it figured out a little bit before I needed to. Once I knew who it was it took a little something out of the book. I liked the personal aspects more than the mystery in this case, which wouldn't be a bad thing if it were not a mystery novel.
Bottom Line:
This was a good addition to the series, even though I think there are a few flaws with it. Don't let those stand in your way of reading this one. It was good, but perhaps not the best in the series so far.
Murder Sends a Postcard is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Murder Sends a Postcard by Christy Fifield.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, February 6th.
1. Please leave a comment describing some of the crazy souvenir's you have bought over the years.
2. Please fill out the FORM.
27 comments:
Lots of t-shirts and magnets. I have a Kentucky potholder with a horse on it that I bought in a Cincinnati souvenir shop. I collect postcards so I've bought tons of those.
catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com
I used to collect salt & Pepper shakers, for a while it was silver charms. Now I like postcards and pictures. Postcards are nice if for any reason the pictures get lost or arn't any good. I have a little bronze dish from Pakastan. Lots of little things from Thailand, we were stationed there for 2 years. One thing we brought back was a new spirit house. That was different.
a few years ago, I went to the UK for an unofficial fan convention of a British tv show.....I won an action-figure of the main character of the show!!! to this day, I still have it in the original box!!!!
thank you for the giveaway!!!
I don't recall buying any crazy souvenirs-- did get a bracelet that turned my wrist green one time. Didn't wear it too much after that.
I have bought some great postcards over the years, and I remember someone giving me a large souvenir pencil when I was younger ( I think it was from Washington State )
This sounds like a great cozy!
I collect postcards and bookmarks so I tend to pick those up as souvenirs. But I have bought books, a starfish, and old confederate money as souvenirs as well.
Probably my favorite souvenir is a large stuffed walrus that I bought on my trip to LosVegas many years ago.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I can't think of any crazy souvenirs. I have bought spoons, postcards and a spoon rest for my stove.
We're not into outrageous types of souvenirs. I but shot glasses, coffee mugs (Don't Mess With Dixie)and silver jewelry.
I don't travel but from others I've gotten the normal souvenirs. I can't think of anything crazy. My favorites are the mugs I've received.
I brought back honey which I love from each place and I love hoodies,sweat pants and shirts so after my trips I can have tea with honey and wear clothing that gives me happy memories. I also bring back a necklace from each place and books of the area.
Almost bought Mt. Rushmore figurine because I saw it in a charity shop in England. Made me laugh at someone else's regrettable souvenir.
I visited a big train museum with lots of old trains and bought a wooden train whistle that I can toot anything that I want. It really does sound like a train whistle.
Also bought a Nantucket basket that was made in Japan because I couldn't afford the genuine article. I still love it!
Since I was a Hop-A-Long Cassidy fun when I was four and five years old, I bought a porcelain child's drinking cup at a garage sale.
I used to collect spoons but my collection got too large to continue, thanks to so many that were gifts! T-shirts were also picked up, as were dolls (when a kid traveling with parents) and cat figurines.
I buy charms for my bracelet.
lag110 at mchsi dot com
When I was a child, each year at an annual crafts fair, one particular book sold beautifully crafted "turd birds." They were named for a particular area or state so might be a "Belmont Turd Bird," for instance. The bird itself was made out of horse manure, formed into the shape of a bird (two different pieces), then the manure was shellacked. It was decorated to look like various types of birds. They were quite the "folk art" item. My parents had to explain they did not want manure art in the house, after I saved and saved to purchase one (and they were actually pricey). It was interesting to think of all the people who displayed this souvenir prominently in their folk art collections.
Well crazy ones I don't know about. But have a habit of picking up a lot of little souvenirs I have found at yard sales and really don't need. I started to buy a necklace made of Elk droppings when I lived in Wyo. It was strung together and shellacked and did look sort of neat until you found out what it was. I so wanted to give it to a sister of mine and not tell her what it was until she wore it. But, decided I couldn't do that to her. But still think it would have been fun. Mostly I have collected dolls and books. Would like to win this book. Can share it with my older granddaughters. Thanks!
Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
As a child of the 70s, I was a fan of "Happy Days". While visiting the Cincinnati Zoo, I found a Fonzie ring in the gift shop in the monkey house. Not only did I return to school that fall proudly wearing my ring, but I kept it for years.
I collect owls. I have them in all sizes.
I collect magnets, so I'll search for unique ones wherever I travel. When I was in grade school, my family and I were at the mercado in Juarez. For some reason, I talked my parents into buying me a bowling ball bag.
I'm not big on buying souvenirs but I did get this little thing that you put on your keyring that you can look into and it has a picture of my son and me. It's kinda cute but a little odd.
Oh, the winner is a nail clipper I bought my boyfriend back home from a visit to Sea World (complete with logo). What was I thinking?!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
Bought shot glass when I visited college campus... Maybe 4 or 5 year. Then a friend brought me one from Colorado...the state - not a college. And, it spread like wildfire. Every time a friend or family member went somewhere... I got a shot glass (usually no liquor to go in it). Worst example of souvenir buying seashells at Texas coast. Shells were usually crushed by the time we got home. Now I live within an hour drive of Galveston & never go to the beach!
Don't have any crazy ones
I used to collect miniature decks of cards as souvenirs - cute, but totally worthless!
jcsites2002@hotmail.com
I have bought t-shirts, glasses, bells, magnets, sea shells, post cards, and wooden boxes.
ayancey1974(at)gmail(dot)com
I can't remember any crazy souvenirs that I've purchased. I tend to purchase practical ones, like cups, magnets, pens or tshirts.
Post a Comment