Death at Thorburn Hall

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DEERING, JULIANNA
DEATH AT THORBURN HALL

Investigating a suspicious accident leads Drew on a path that points to international intrigue and ever-growing danger.

Drew Farthering arrives in idyllic Scotland for the 1935 British Open at Muirfield, hoping for a relaxing holiday with his wife, Madeline, and friend Nick. But death meets him once again when Lord Rainsby, their host at Thorburn Hall, is killed in a suspicious riding accident -- only days after confiding in Drew his fears that his business partner was embezzling funds.

Thorburn Hall is filled with guests, and as Drew continues to dig, he realizes that each appears tohave dark motives for wanting Rainsby out of the way. Together with Madeline and Nick, he must sort through shady business dealings, international intrigue, and family tensions to find a killer who always seems to be one step ahead.

My Review:

A note to those who aren't period cozy mystery fans -- you'll be relieved to know that this is last book in the Drew Farthering series (to date) so I'm all caught up -- finally! So thankful for a public library that purchased the series and for the oodles of readers putting holds on them. That"s why I had to read them in quick succession -- I got them all on the same day and you can't renew a book that has holds on it. So,without further ado, here's my last Drew Farthering review for awhile.

Just when I thought the Drew Farthering Mystery series couldn't get any better -- it does! Drew and Madeline are in fine form as they battle an intrepid killer and some surprising political intrigue -- this is Britain just years before World War II after all. As always the romance between Drew and Madeline makes me giddy and loyal friend Nick finally gets his chance in a secondary love story. Nothing like giving this reader exactly what she wants! The mystery is twisty, turny with plenty of unexpected bumps along the way and just the right dose of humour to lighten even the most tense scenes. Fans of BBC period mystery series will adore Drew Farthering and I think we all need to start up a petition to get them to turn these books (six to date) into their next blockbuster success.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Death at Thornburn Hall, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadAT yahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title int he subject line so it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday January 28 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

Murder at the Mikado

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DEERING, JULIANNA
MURDER AT THE MIKADO

When a celebrated actor is found murdered in his dressing room, all signs point to Drew's old flame. But behind the curtains nothing is what it seems and this quickly becomes his most puzzling case yet.

Just as Drew Farthering thinks his life has calmed down some, Fleur Lanids, a former girlfriends, reappears, in dire need of his help. She's married now, no longer an actress -- but the lead actor in her former troupe's production of The Mikado has been murdered, and Fleur is the police's number one suspect.

Drew would rather focus on his fiancee, Madeline Parker, and their upcoming wedding, but he can't leave Fleur and her family in the lurch -- even if she did break his heart once. As Drew, Nick, and Madeline begin investigating, they discover more going on behind the scenes of the theater troupe than could ever have been imagined. It seems nearly everyone had a motive, and alibis are few and far between.

Both the murder case and the presence of the beautiful, exotic Fleur put a heave strain on Drew and Madeline's relationship. Will their still young romance survive the pressure?

My Review:

published in 2014
My thanks to my public library for keeping me well stocked in retro reads!

If you love British period mysteries you will adore this series. I'm waiting with bated breath for the Drew Farthering Mystery series to become the next BBC runaway hit! It's bound to happen sooner or later and I'm hopping for sooner!

A beguiling mystery with so many interesting players I formulated a dozen scenarios before discovering the whodunnit. So love a mystery that challenges my armchair sleuthing skills. Clearly I need a make-up course on spotting the villain since I tend to suspect everyone in a Drew Farthering mystery. That's because of the multi-layered secondary characters with slowly emerging back stories -- it just seems everyone could be driven to murder with the right incentive!

And I think this might just be the most romantical book in the series. Drew and Madeline in a pre-wedding flurry. He cuts a dashing hero -- she knows how to keep him in line. The banter is priceless -- all the dialogue is so Dowton Abbeyish it thrills me to my toes.

Droll humour, a puzzling mystery and the thrill of romance -- what more can you want in a cozy mystery?

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Murder at the Mikado, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday January 14 2018. Offer opent o International Readers. Good luck.

Death by the Book

GIVEAWAY

DEERING, JULIANNA
DEATH BY THE BOOK

Drew Farthering wanted nothing more than to end the summer of 1932 with the announcement of his engagement. Instead, he finds himself caught up in another mysterious case when the family solicitor is found murdered, an antique hatpin with a cryptic message, Advice to Jack, piercing his chest.

Evidence of secret meetings and a young girl's tearful confession point to the victim's double life, but what does the solicitor's murder have to do with the murder of a physician on the local golf course? Nothing, it would seem -- except for another puzzling note, affixed with a similar-looking bloodied hatpin.

Soon the police make an arrest in connection with the murders, but Drew isn't at all certain they have the right suspect in custody. And why does his investigation seems to be drawing him closer and closer to home?

My Review:

My thanks to my public library for providing me with an excellent collection of retro reads to choose from.

Downton Abbey meets Miss Marple in this tantalizing mystery. This is the second book in the Drew Farthering Mystery series and it's just as much fun as the first. No worries if you haven't read book one -- the only over arcing plot line is Drew's pursuit of his lady love and can I just say that he portrays the besotted suitor to gentlemanly perfection. But a series of murders draws Drew into the middle of a perplexing puzzle that kept me guessing until the gobsmacking conclusion! Endless banter, witty flirtations and a resigned but exasperated Chief Inspector bring the perfect balance of humour to this historical mystery. Definitely one for the discerning armchair sleuth.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Death by the Book, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you leave your email in a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on December 31 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

Murder on the Moor

GIVEAWAY

DEERING, JULIANNA
MURDER ON THE MOOR

The rolling, frigid mists that creep in over the Yorkshire moors hide a mystery as challenging as Drew as ever faced.

At the urgent request of an old school friend, Drew and Madeline Farthering come to Bloodworth Park Lodge in the midst of the Yorkshire moors, a place as moody and mysterious as a Bronte hero. There have been several worrisome incidents around those lonesome rolling hills -- poetry desecrated, fires started, sheep and cattle scattered. Worst of all, the vicar has been found dead on the steps of the church, a crime for which Drew can discern no motive at all.

Few in the town of Bunting's Nest seem like suspects, and Drew can't keep his suspicions from falling on his friend's new bride. Do her affections lie more with her husband's money and estate, while her romantic interests stray to their fiery Welsh gamekeeper? As the danger grows ever closer, it's up to Drew to look past his own prejudices, determined what's really going on, and find the killer before it's too late.

My Review:

Fans of BBC crime shows like Father Brown and Miss Marple will absolutely adore Julianna Deering's Drew Farthering Mysteries. It's a mesh of Downtown Abbey meets Agatha Christie with a healthy dose of droll humour rolled in. Each book reads well as a standalone so feel free to dive right in with this book even if you haven't read any of the others.

Wealthy aristocrat, Drew Farthering is an amateur sleuth in 1930s England. Madeline, his plain-speaking, Yankee-born wife, makes a great Watson to his Sherlock. Cue the playful banter and witty dialogue. Makes me grin just thinking about these two.

They are up against something sinister this time round. Nothing like a spooky English moor shrouded in fog to spike your heart rate! And there are no end of mysterious suspects to choose from. Clever plotting kept me guessing right to the end.

I really appreciate the way the author seamlessly weaves a faith thread throughout the story. Drew and Madeline are Christians -- in deed as well as word, which is somewhat unusual for their social circle. But Drew doesn't hesitate to share his faith when he feels prompted. Not in a preachy way, mind you. In a gentle, genuine delivery that even the most crotchety atheist can't take offence with. Refreshing and uplifting and brings so much depth to his character.

I honestly think the BBC needs to pick up this series as their next runaway period drama hit! These stories are that good! And Murder on the Moor might just be the best one yet.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Murder on the Moor, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 16 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

Dressed for Death

GIVEAWAY

DEERING, JULIANNA
DRESSED FOR DEATH

Drew and Madeline Farthering arrive at a Regency-era house party Winteroak House, excited to be reunited with old friends, including Drew's former Oxford classmate Talbot Cummins. Tal is there with his fiancée, Alice Henley, and though many present seem worried about the couple, nobody is prepared when Alice dies from an apparent overdose. Tal refuses to believe she had taken the drug intentionally, and the dark question arises of whether the death is an accident or a murder.

The police have their own information, though, and Drew is shocked when they arrest someone he has trusted since his childhood -- someone who has been smuggling drugs into the country for years. Stunned by what has happened, Tal begs Drew to get to the bottom of everything, but Drew has never felt more unsettled. Questioning his own ability to see people as they really are, Drew doesn't know whom to trust, and he's not ready for the secrets he's about to uncover -- or the danger he'll bring down on everyone he holds dear.

My Review:

I've been binge watching BBC period dramas and I can totally see Drew Farthering as the next heartthrob in his own mini-series. Sort of an Agatha Christie meets Downton Abbey. It would be a runaway hit.

Drew has a flare for solving murders and he's long thought of his talent as God given but his confidence is shaken in Dressed for Death and he finds himself struggling to come to terms with some hard truths.

This is the fourth Drew Farthering mystery and while it is still filled with witty dialogue and droll humour, it isn't as lighthearted as the first three books. There's  a more serious tone to this novel as Drew turns introspective, second guessing his life's purpose. He must learn not to lean on his own understanding, choosing instead to follow where God leads.

Drew and Madeline are now newlyweds. I love the dynamics between this very proper English Aristocrat and his Yankee wife. He's completely besotted -- always ready with the most cliché lines which are actually endearing since he means every outrageous declaration. Madeline has him wrapped around her little finger and he doesn't mind at all.

An intense mystery with plenty of twists and turns and a number of surprises kept me guessing right to the very end. And most of my guesses were wrong! No armchair sleuthing award for me this round. I didn't even make the finals! I found Dressed for Death to be witty and intriguing and delightfully captivating.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Dressed for Death please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September 4 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Rules of Murder

GIVEAWAY

DEERING, JULIANNA
RULES OF MURDER

Introducing Drew Farthering From The Tip of his black Homburg to the crease in his stylish cheviot trousers, he's the epitome of a stylish 1930s English gentleman. His only problem? The body he just discovered.

Drew Farthering loves a good mystery, although he generally expects to find it in the pages of a novel, not on the grounds of his country estate.

With the help of beautiful and whip-smart Madeline Parker, a guest from America, Drew proposes to use the lessons he's learned reading his mysteries to solve the crime. Before long, he realizes this is no lark, and no one at Farthering Place is who he or she appears to be--not the butler nor blackmailer, the chauffeur nor embezzler. Trying hard to remain one step ahead of the killer--and trying harder to impress Madeline--Drew must decide how far to take this dangerous game.

My Review:

This book has so many winning elements I don't know where to start. It's campy and quirky and mysterious and poignant and funny. Oh, and definitely page-turning.

From the cover art to the author's word choice, Rules of Murder plunks the reader into a captivating time period in the English countryside. Loved Drew's blasé attitude regarding1930's aristocracy. He's definitely willing to ignore protocol and enjoys stirring things up among the upper class. His self-deprecating attitude and droll humour suit the time period to a T. On the other hand, the way he falls for Madeline -- talk about love at first sight -- softens his edges and brings a depth of vulnerability to the character that I loved.

Madeline is bold and sweet and totally captivating -- a woman with a head on her shoulders and more than equal to standing up to Drew when he starts to become overbearing. Her Yank is a great foil to his Brit and they have some of the snappiest, tongue-in-cheek dialogue I've read in a long time.

And then there's the mystery -- a murder with a complicated list of possible suspects, all with convoluted pasts and a number of sinister motives. Enough to leave this armchair sleuth swooning. BUT -- I did figure out part of the mystery though I will admit to latching on to a few red herrings along the way.  :-)

Think Murder She Wrote with a debonair hero and lots of romance. This is a definite must read for mystery lovers.

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Rules of Murder, please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday August 11 2013. Offer open to international readers. Good luck! 

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".