Review and Giveaway: Mayhem at the Orient Express

Mayhem at the Orient Express (League of Literary Ladies - Book 1) by Kylie Logan

Publication Date: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 04205257754
ISBN-13: 978-04205257753

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Kylie Logan AKA Casey Daniels on the WEB: Webpage, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Synopsis:

At a local Chinese restaurant, it's the owner who gets taken out...

Most folks aren't forced by court order to attend a library-book discussion group, but that's just what happens to B and B proprietor and ex-Manhattanite Bea Cartwright, hippy cat lover Chandra Morrisey, and winery owner Kate Wilder after a small-town magistrate has had enough of their squabbling. South Bass, an island on Lake Erie, is home to an idyllic summer resort, but these three ladies keep disturbing the peace.

The initial book choice is Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, and that sets their mouths to watering. The Orient Express is the island's newest Chinese restaurant. They might not agree about much, but the ladies all love the orange chicken on the menu. But their meal is spoiled when the restaurant's owner, Peter Chan, has the bad fortune of getting murdered. Now, with Christie as their inspiration, the League of Literary Ladies has a real mystery to solve…if they can somehow catch a killer without killing each other first.

Thoughts:

Kylie Logan, a popular cozy mystery writer with many pseudonyms, scores once again with the first in a new series, called the League of Literary Ladies. Mayhem at the Orient Express is the first book in the new series and introduces readers to three amateur sleuths who aren't brought together by friendship, but by adversity. Logan's strong characters and great sense of place and setting makes this a must read for cozy fans.

The first mysteries that I ever read as a teenager were  Agatha Christie classics, including Murder on the Orient Express. I loved the fact that Kylie Logan pays homage to Christie in her latest book. The League of Literary Ladies is such a good concept. I really liked the idea of putting three not so good friends together. The fact that it was court appointed made it even better. When the ladies choose one of Agatha's books as a starter, was just good writing by Logan. I loved the idea.

I also was very intrigued with the setting for this one. An island off Lake Erie, sounded like an exotic type setting but not too eccentric. I liked the atmosphere that Logan created. She gave her characters a lot to work with, with the townspeople and the touristy feel she sets up in the first book. It may be off the beaten path, but South Bass is still a small town. The idea of the magistrate making the ladies form a book club in order to keep the peace was ingenious. 

Arguably the best part of this book though, would have to be the characters. The three main heroines are very different from each other and their differences are causing some problems in this small community. I thought each lady brought something different to the team, when they finally got past their obstacles and started working together to solve the crime. 

The mystery aspect of the book was well written as any book by this author usually is. I loved her Pepper Martin series written as Casey Daniels. Her other series under the Kylie Logan name, the Button Box mysteries was not my favorite, but I can definitely see potential with this one. It has a good premise, promising characters and a lot of things going for it. 

Mayhem at the Orient Express is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag

About the Author:

Casey Daniels has a degree in English, experience as a journalist and writing teacher, and lots of ideas for more Pepper Martin mysteries. When she's not writing, she's usually with her family and two dogs, Ernie, an adorable Airedale pup, and Oscar, a rescued Jack Russell who spends far too much time watching TV. Daniels enjoys knitting, gardening and of course, stomping through cemeteries in search of history, stories and inspiration.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Mayhem at the Orient Express.

~You must be a GFC follower or an Email Subscriber to participate.
~US addresses only (publisher request)
~The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, 
June 19th.

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