Rating: Just Okay
Source: NetGalley
Description: Hoping to reach an expanded clientele of senior travellers, Emily Miceli, travel agency owner and tour escort, offers discounted fares to a handful of bloggers in exchange for highlighting her group’s tour of Cornwall, England. But when the quarrelsome host of their historic inn dies under suspicious circumstances, Emily worries that the bloggers’ coverage of the situation will torpedo her travel agency.
Genre: Mystery - Cozy
Why I Picked This Book: Ever since I read Rosamunde Pilcher's The Shell Seekers I've been fascinated by Cornwall so there was no way I could resist a mystery set there!
My Impression: For some reason when I requested this I thought it was the first in the series so I was surprised later to see that it was actually the eleventh. Normally this isn't that big of a deal in a mystery series but with the large number of regular characters and the addition of the bloggers and Cornwall residents it got a little confusing. I think it would have been a little easier to keep track of all the Iowans if I had gotten to know them in the earlier books.
However, this wasn't my real issue with the book. The main problem is that with the exception of Emily I disliked all the other characters - especially the bloggers. If we were going with the Agatha Christie method of the most unpleasant person meeting their untimely end the entire Inn would have fallen off the cliff. I had a hard time believing that not only would the remaining Innkeeper have thrust the running of the Inn into Emily's hands but that she would have accepted it. It got a little eye roll-y at times.
With all my complaints how did I enjoy the book? Partly because Hunter's writing style and pacing drew me in right from the beginning and kept me reading even as I was trying to figure out which character I disliked the most. I wanted to pick this book back up and I wanted to find out just who the killer was and what was going on in Cornwall.
While this wasn't my favorite read I did find it page turning and I love Hunter's writing as well as the concept of a cozy mystery series set around a tour company and being set all over the world. From the reviews I gather this was a weaker book and despite the flaws I'm looking forward to reading more from the series and starting with (the actual) first book.
Would I Read More of this Series/Author? I would. While I didn't love this I think there's a lot of promise and I definitely want to read more of this series.
Would I Recommend this Book? Probably not. This series looks really great but this wouldn't be the book I'd start with.
Oh man, I would struggle with not liking any of the characters except the main character. Liking the characters is so important to me. But I am still glad you liked this, even if it wasn't love. When my aunt read The Shell Seekers, she also became so interested in Cornwall. She eventually went there
ReplyDeleteI totally loved the premise and it got me pumped up, especially since I am going on a vacation in a bit. I hope nothing similar happens during the week to us. ooops.
ReplyDeleteGayathri @ Elgee Writes
Hmmm...I think I'll skip this series. I read Pilcher's book long ago but I faintly remember I had liked it.
ReplyDeleteThis one looks fun, and Cornwall would be a fablous setting. Nice moody cover too. Sorry to hear it wasn't quite awesome, but hopefully the next one you try will be a little better.
ReplyDeleteI had noticed that there was another book in this series. I have read the first book and maybe the second and third. Can't remember where I left off. Anyway, it's a nice series that I liked, but it somehow fell off my rotation. Probably because there were too many others. It is a nice concept for a series. Maybe one day I'll go back to it.
ReplyDeleteThat stinks this was book 11 when you thought it was the first. Sorry this wasn't great for you but I hope others int he series work better!
ReplyDeleteDespite your lukewarm review, I think it sounds fun! I'd like to read about those unlikeable bloggers (obviously not book bloggers!) and I love the Cornwall setting.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Cornwall has been a place I've wanted to go since Pilcher's book. I love that book too. Did you read September by Rosamude Pilcher? It's not quite a followup but her son Noel Keeting is in the book and some of the characters you know from the previous book.
ReplyDeleteIt is too bad that you didn't care for most of the characters. That makes it hard to really enjoy a book. I am glad that you did enjoy the writing though.
ReplyDeleteYou don't get to see books about bloggers often. This is very interesting! Great review, I love the tone you have when you write them.
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ReplyDeleteI wanted to read this series, but I'd have to start with the first book.
ReplyDeleteI like a Cornwall setting. Sorry this one didn't meet your hopes but I guess an author can't hit it out of the park every time. Here's hoping the next one is great!
ReplyDeleteA Cornwall setting draws me in too. It’s one of the reasons why I started reading Jenny Colgan’s books. The Little Beach Street Bakery was set in Cornwall and I kept dreaming about it while I was reading it.
ReplyDeleteI’m not sure if this cozy would work for me because I get frustrated when there’s too many characters. I have trouble keeping all of them straight in my head. Thx for reviewing.
No 1 and no 11, a difference of a 1! Well they can't all be great I guess and it seems like this had enough redeeming features to keep you reading on. I love the idea of Cornwall too and I so want to do a reread of many of Pilcher's books.
ReplyDeleteI've wandered into a few series the same way you did with this one and boy was it confusing. It's unfortunate that this one was so far along in the series but I'm glad you did find some things to enjoy about it. Maybe if you start from the beginning you'll enjoy the series more :)
ReplyDeleteOosh. That would be hard with so many unlikable characters and dang on falling into book 11 accidentally.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you were able to get something out of this book despite its flaws.
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