Review and Giveaway: Monument to the Dead

Monument to the Dead (Museum Mystery - Book 4) by Sheila Connolly

Publication Date: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 0425257126
ISBN-13: 978-04205257128

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

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

Sheila Connolly on the WEB: Webpage, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, LibraryThing, Fantastic Fiction

Books in the Series:

Fundraising the Dead (2010), Let's Play Dead (2011), Fire Engine Dead (2012), Monument to the Dead (2013)

Coverart: Click on the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from Monument to the Dead, courtesy of Amazon Look Inside

Synopsis:

As president of the Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society in Philadelphia, Nell Pratt relies on the generosity of philanthropists. But when someone starts killing benefactors, it's Nell's turn to come to their aid...

When Nell reads the obituary of a former board member, Adeline Harrison, she makes a mental note to send flowers and doesn't think twice about it - until FBI agent James Morrison shares his suspicions about the nature of Adeline's death. It turns out that a number of other members of the local cultural community have died in the last few months, under similar circumstances.

Soon Nell uncovers what seems to be a plot to rid Philadelphia of harmless, elderly philanthropists - but why? If she can figure out the killer's motive, she has a chance of stopping the misanthropic murderer before another do-gooder is done in...

Thoughts:

Back again with a fourth book in the Museum Mystery series, author Sheila Connolly blends mystery with history. Monument to Murder is a combination of these two genres and Connolly does an excellent job of bringing it all together. She is no beginner when it comes to writing mysteries. Connolly writes the popular Orchard Mystery series and is just coming out with a new County Cork Mystery series. Fans who enjoy books with good back ground stories and attention to detail will love Sheila Connolly's writing. 

I am a big fan of museum's to begin with. I think it is important to look back and remember the decisive events in our history. Museums help to bring items to the people that they might not otherwise be able to see or experience them and I think that's what this series does as well. Sheila Connolly brings history to life. She not only entertains with her books, but educates as well. She always has the best backgrounds on whatever the premise of each book is about. With this series, she delves into history with a passion and brings her readers right along with her.

Nell is one of my favorite heroines that Connolly writes. She is intelligent and observant and has a way of looking at the world that is keen and sharp. I like her wit, her strength and her heart. She has a love for what she does that is evident in Connolly's characterization of her. In Monument to the Dead, she becomes increasing concerned about Philadelphia's philanthropic enthusiasts. Elderly members of the cultural community are dying and it's up to Nell and her FBI buddy, James to figure out why it's happening. Nell's character is compassionate, yet driven in this book and I think readers will find her irresistible. 

In this book, it's all about the motive. Why would someone want to kill elderly museum benefactors? What would it accomplish? Who stands to gain from these murders? To me this one is more about the motive than the actual clues. Though, the clues are necessary of course to figure out who is committing the crimes, I found it much more interesting wondering why in the world they would do it to begin with. Crime is something that never makes sense to me no matter what form it takes, I suppose that's why I like reading and trying to figure it all out. This was certainly a great book for that.

Connolly has a knack for picking interesting aspects to history to interject into her books and Monument to the Dead is no exception. She takes the life of the first real American-born stage star, Edwin Forrest and turns it into a compelling mystery. Forrest will ever be remembered for his contribution to the stage and to the city of Philadelphia and now he finds a new audience with readers who might never have known of his legacy in the world of theater. 

Monument to the Dead is available NOW from your favorite bookseller. 

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

About the Author:

Sheila Connolly is married,has one daughter, three cats.They live in a Victorian home in Massachusetts, not far from Cape Cod. She has more degrees than she knows what to do with. Over the course of her life, shes lived in seven states, nineteen towns, and two foreign countries.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Monument to the Dead by Sheila Connolly.

~ You must be a GFC follower or Email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only (publisher request)
~The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight, EST June 26th.

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