While visiting the land of Miss Marple and Sherlock Holmes, bookstore owner and amateur sleuth Samantha Washington finds herself on a tragical mystery tour . . . Sam joins Nana Jo and her Shady Acres Retirement Village friends Irma, Dorothy, and Ruby Mae on a weeklong trip to London, England, to experience the Peabody Mystery Lovers Tour. The chance to see the sights and walk the streets that … the sights and walk the streets that inspired Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle is a dream come true for Sam—and a perfect way to celebrate her new publishing contract as a mystery author.
But between visits to Jack the Ripper’s Whitechapel district and 221B Baker Street, Major Horace Peabody is found dead, supposedly of natural causes. Despite his employer’s unfortunate demise, the tour guide insists on keeping calm and carrying on—until another tourist on their trip also dies under mysterious circumstances. Now it’s up to Sam and the Shady Acres ladies to mix and mingle among their fellow mystery lovers, find a motive, and turn up a murderer . . .
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A Tourist’s Guide to Murder was the great adventure I expect from V.M. Burns, Sam and the crew. I can sooo relate to the challenge of the beginning of Sam’s trip to England. While it is usually her grandmother and the other seniors who provide most of the laughs, I was almost in tears both for Sam and at her terrible luck.
The Mystery Lovers Tour should be perfect for the whole group and even with all the unexpected events, they get even more than they expect. Talk about twists! Not only do we get to read Sam’s newest historical cozy as she writes it, there is another mystery within the murder mystery that befalls the groups planned tour. When a new friend is identified as the prime suspect in a murder, the group, always ready to investigate any mystery, jumps in with all 10 feet.
I missed Snickers, Oreo, and all my two-footed friends from back home but had a delightful journey with Sam and the ladies from Shady Acres.
I was excited to be approved for an ARC of A Tourist’s Guide to Murder because I love every book I have read from V.M. Burns and I knew that a trip to England would hold tons of excitement. As always, I share my enjoyment of this book because that is what I do.
#NetGalley #ATourist’sGuidetoMurder
Ready for a trip to England? You don’t have to leave home to travel. Follow along with Samantha, her grandmother Nana Jo, and the spirited group of senior ladies. They are off to England for a mystery tour of many historical sites connected to famous mysteries, both real and fictional. True to form, the energetic group becomes involved in solving a murder, or two, during their visit. One of the highlights of this series is the story within the story. Samantha is a soon to be published author of historical English cozies. While touring England and solving some very suspicious deaths, she finds time to work on her next cozy mystery. Sam’s English cozy takes place in 1939, at the Estate of Lord William and Lady Elizabeth Marsh. As Sam’s fictional characters work through the clues to solve their latest mystery, they cleverly mirror some of the aspects of the unexplained deaths that occur during the ladies’ mystery tour. Can Samantha, Nana Jo and the ladies solve the murders before the end of their tour? Will the Marsh family solve the unexplained death of one of their house guests? Enjoy a “cuppa” while you follow along on the tour and enjoy the next episode of Sam’s historical cozy.
Samantha Washington (Sam) joins Nana Jo and her friends from the Shady Acres Retirement Village on a weeklong trip to London to take the Murder Mysteries Tour in Major Peabody’s group. It is a dream come true for Sam, an aspiring mystery writer, who has just found out that her 1st book is to be published. That is until Major Peabody turns up dead and then another person also dies in the tour group. Two murders in the same group, both supposedly natural causes, make Sam and the ladies decide to do their own investigation. The book was really an enjoyable read and the antics of the ladies are fabulous. Thank you Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC e-book in exchange for an honest review. #A Tourist Guide to Murder #Net Galley
The most recent installment in the Mystery Bookshop series takes Sam, Nana Jo, and her friends, to London, England. Sam is going to do research for her next book and they are all taking the Peabody Mystery Lovers Tour visiting many areas, such as Torquay, where Agatha Christie lived. I wished that I was on the tour with them! Of course, it wouldn’t be a mystery without a dead body being discovered and Sam, Nana Jo and friends get involved to try to solve the mystery. They were at a little disadvantage this time, not being on their home turf, but it didn’t stop them from doing a great job helping the detectives from New Scotland Yard! I really enjoy this series and look forward to the next book.
I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Coffee lovers, come on a journey with Sam, owner of the mystery bookstore she and her late husband always hoped to have and author of the next bestselling series of British historical cozy mysteries. She, her grandmother, Nana Jo, and Jo’s friends from the active senior living community are a real kick to travel with. That includes the kicks that might result from the two ladies with martial arts black belts, or even the octogenarian with the 6-inch stiletto heels. I would want to travel with them at least once, as it is far too funny to miss. These ladies simply get more out of a day than most of us do.
Sam works on her cozy mystery whenever she has spare moments and has been known to fall asleep on her keyboard more than once. One of the reasons she is joining her grandmother and friends on a Mystery Lover’s Tour in England is to do research for the cozy mystery she is writing. I enjoyed reading it as Sam worked on it, first because it is written in the months before WWII began, and second, because the characters and mystery were captivating.
Before the official Mystery Lover’s Tour technically began, the owner of the tour company died. There seemed to be a couple good suspects that Sam and friends saw at the welcome reception for the group of tourists who were a bit outspoken with the arrogant Horace Peabody. His partner claims, however, that the man died of natural causes, and kept to the schedule of the tour. At least until the second death occurred, this time of one of the tourists who had been one of my suspects.
Sam, her grandmother, and friends Dorothy, Ruby Mae, and Irma worked together in their Michigan town to solve murders in the past. Much to the chagrin of the local detective, they were successful! They knew people there, however, and Sam decided that they have no contacts there and she is on vacation, so she will leave this to the locals.
It was not to be, however, as their new friend, a recent widow, quickly became the primary suspect in the murder of the fellow tourist. Detective Inspector Nelson was about as competent as the detective back home, though. His assistant, Detective Sergeant Templeton, who he treats as a secretary, appears more than competent. They couldn’t leave Hannah in the less than capable hands of DI Nelson.
I very much enjoyed watching both mysteries unfold, as I am a fan of both historical and modern cozy mysteries. I also appreciated the tour of parts of England, the incredible historic places the country. Moira Templeton may not be Sam’s biggest fan, but she is brilliant enough to take the help the ladies can give her. Jo, Sam, and their friends are a great bunch of women to spend time with, and I look forward to their next adventure.
Both mysteries were fascinating, and I enjoyed watching them progress. There were twists that I didn’t see coming, one of which was a first time I’ve seen in a mystery. Sam and friends did a great job of sifting through the suspects! The ending was perfect, with all loose ends tied up. I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy laugh out loud mysteries, British cozies and England, mature sleuths, and the combination of granddaughter and grandmother working together.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.
The girls are back and as feisty as ever! England definitely isn’t the same after these girls visit. For the first time in a long time I had no idea who the killer was in either story and I am very happy about it. I love this series and this author.
V.M Burns and the Mystery Bookshop series are among my favorite cozies. Having Sam, an author, as the main character and a cast of retired busybodies who stick their nose into everything is always a joy and makes some interesting storylines. The newest addition, A Tourist’s Guide To Murder is a good read. But… I found that it wasn’t as exciting as the others in the series. There were too many things that were predictable and far too many that were unbelievable. This is a quick, easy to read book which contains enough intrigue and a fun plot to keep readers happy. It just wasn’t as entertaining as I thought it should or could have been.
Sam and company head across the pond to London. It’s a great idea to place them in the world of Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle, and it would have been great if the two authors could have played a more significant role in the investigation or at least one that wasn’t just lip service. Even though a few incidents lead readers to think of a Christie book, it just wasn’t enough for me. Sam’s book, which is a book within this book, was a bit more interesting to me than the actual cozy. Unfortunately, the mystery in the book-within-a-book was as easy to figure out as the actual murder mystery in a Tourist’s Guide To Murder. I love cozies that do a book-within-a-book, and V.M. Burns does this better than most. From the author’s perspective, the two plots worked together, but they didn’t from my perspective as a reader.
The killer, unfortunately, is easy to spot, and the motive equally so. Most readers will know who the culprit is from the beginning. Most of the suspects are easy to like. The evidence is clear and easy to follow. And, of course, the Shady Acres crew are lovable and irritating all at the same time, just as they should be. Ms. Burns writes cozies that always leaves readers wanting more, and this one was no exception. Having the main character as an author who is finally after six books about to be published may be too realistic. The chances of having a successful cozy series where readers will love every single book are impossible yet this author and series continue to make readers smile and come back again and again. All of the above said, especially the parts of the book that I didn’t care for, I would still read this book and any other books in this series, and I look forward to the next installment.
Mystery within a mystery and even though I figured out both killers pretty quickly, it didn’t take away from the pleasure of finding out how the sleuths figure it out. Lovely travels through England’s mystery sites. Loved the clever twists along the way. The seniors always provide for lots of entertainment. I did miss the hometown folks though.
This series just gets better and better. I love these characters so much. I wish I could have gone to England with them.
4.5 stars
“What could possibly go wrong?”
A Tourist’s Guide to Murder is full of humor and heart, with a clever mystery in the coziest of cozy settings – a mystery lovers’ tour of England.
There is much that I love about this series by V.M. Burns, and all of these elements shine in A Tourist’s Guide to Murder. Sam is a wonderful & relatable heroine who is following her dreams, with a great wit and a sharp mind ideal for solving mysteries. But while Sam may be the star of the series, Nana Jo & her Shady Acres gang steal the spotlight often (sorta like the Golden Girls, if the Golden Girls were diverse & knew martial arts lol). This group, along with Sam’s witty narrative, kept me giggling throughout the story.
The mystery was well-done and full of several misdirections and classic red herrings, made all the more cozy by the fact that it’s set on this tour of England, covering authorly locations related to Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, etc. There’s one particular nod to classic mysteries that totally made my day, but I don’t want to say more for fear of ruining your discovery of it when you read this book for yourself. My first suspicions of whodunit proved true but Burns nearly had me convinced of a couple of other suspects before all was said and done.
Bottom Line: I really enjoy this Mystery Bookshop series by V. M. Burns, and A Tourist’s Guide To Murder is my favorite installment so far! The writing voice (also Sam’s 1st person narrative) is witty and engaging, and readers will easily love the characters and the setting. The case is full of twists and turns to keep you guessing, ideal since it’s set on a mystery lovers’ tour of England. I also appreciated that it was free from bad language, which is sadly becoming rarer in the cozy mystery genre. Loved this book & can’t wait for more adventures with this group of ladies!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Samantha, Nana-Jo and the Shady Acre gang are headed to England to take part in the Peabody Mystery Lovers Tour where some of the greats such as Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle walked, lived and wrote.
While on the tour, it seems murder wants to take the forefront of their fun as Horace Peabody is found dead. Now, far from home and their vacation on hold, it’s up to Samantha and the girls to do what they do best…get nosy and get to solving the crime.
Man I missed this series!! I just love the characters, the banter between them and the fun they have. The cozy-within-a-cozy is great too as you can see Samantha’s mind at work solving the real mystery while she writes. So the question now is…how long is the wait for the next one
I loved A Tourist’s Guide to Murder. Like the author, I too am living vicariously through books (and television) through this travel ban. I’ve dreamed of visiting Great Britain for many years and am still dreaming. And, as I’m sure you fellow cozy mystery lovers will agree, a mystery lovers tour of England would be so much fun! So, I’m very jealous of Samantha, Nana Jo, and the ladies from Shady Acres….just not the murder part!
Though this is only the 2nd Mystery Bookshop Mystery book I’ve read, I feel a deep connection with Sam. I am a young(ish) widow, and I love mystery books. I used to dream about owning a bookshop close to the ocean, but now, I just dream of visiting bookshops by the ocean (okay, everywhere!). Sadly, small, independent bookshops seem to be going the way of the dinosaurs. I do love reading cozy mystery books that involve bookshops though. They allow me to escape and step into the shoes of the main character.
I adore the characters in this series. They are so much fun, and they’re definitely my dream tour companions. These ladies have no issues flitting about with the other tour members….some more than others…If you’ve read any of this series, you know who I’m talking about! Their personable personalities give them the advantage when it comes to solving murder(s)! The “suspects” open up to them so easily because they’re easy to talk to; therefore, it’s easy(ish) for them to gather clues and snoop around.
The mystery in A Tourist’s Guide to Murder isn’t easy to solve. You’ll find lots of clues, but, beware! Lots of red herrings lurk within its pages. I obviously loved the setting in this cozy, and I’m still dreaming of my dream trip there. Now, if I could only find these ladies in real life to accompany me! I am so looking forward to reading more books in this delightful cozy mystery series.
A Tourist Guide To Murder is the sixth book in the Mystery Bookstore Mystery series by V. M. Burns.
Samantha, Nana Jo, and ladies from Shady Acres Retirement Village are jetting off to England for a mystery tour. After settling into their rooms, the ladies head for the ballroom to get Peabody’s Mystery Tours itinerary, and on their way there, they hear a heated argument between Mr. Peabody and tour guide, Clive Green. As they enter the ballroom, Peabody’s approached by his niece, demanding money so she and her boyfriend can marry, and he is also accosted by another woman who claims that he is the father of her daughter.
When Peabody is found dead in his room, Sam vows not to get involved in the police’s investigation but instead enjoy visiting 221B Baker Street and Agatha Christie’s home. But Nana Jo and her “posse” have other plans and soon convince her that the police need her help. Sam will find help from an unlikely source, that being a young female constable.
I love this series; it’s well written and plotted. The characters are well-developed and very believable. I particularly like the “posse,” they are exciting and funny. Irma is a total hoot, what with her chasing all the men and Sam having to stop her from saying something colorful. I also enjoy Ms. Burns incorporating Sam’s writing of her next novel into the current story, and It’s an interesting way for Sam to work through the present mystery they are working to solve. There were enough twists and turns that I was kept guessing until the end.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Sam, Nana Jo, Irma, Dorothy, and Ruby Mae are off to England for a Mystery Lovers Tour, what could go wrong? Well before they even leave the country, Sam oversleeps and they miss their shuttle and have to drive all the way to the airport in Chicago. When they arrive Sam realizes she forgot the pack something very important but Ruby Mae, who reminds me a lot of my dad because no matter where they go they know someone, finds a member of her extended family at the airport to help. But then Irma’s flirtations get them unwanted special attention. They finally make it onto the plane where Sam has a major breakdown but it pays off in the end. They fly across the pond where soon after landing Dorothy creates a little chaos of her own.
Happy to arrive at the hotel it soon becomes apparent that the drama will continue when the namesake of the Mystery Tours, Major Horace Peabody is found dead. The death is ruled to be from natural causes and the tour continues, but when another member of their tour group dies of suspicious means, the ladies from Michigan believe there is a murderer afoot. Channeling the great characters of Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle they are going to do what they do best and uncover a killer.
___________
I love these characters! This time they all seem to get equal time as they tour some fabulous places and meet some interesting people. They had me snickering and laughing out loud several times. I am happy to say London survived their visit even though a couple of the new characters did not. I did miss Oreo and Snickers but I am sure they had plenty of love and care while the ladies traveled hither and yon.
I really enjoy that there are two separate mysteries in each book. The main one set in the present time and the historical one aspiring author Sam is writing that features the occupants of Wickfield Lodge, the English country home of Lord William March. Lady Elizabeth and her niece Lady Penelope are worthy amateur sleuths themselves. Both mysteries are very well-plotted. While Sam’s creative juices flow in her writing it helps settle and order her thoughts regarding the current mystery she is trying to solve. Both mysteries have substantial twists and turns that really kept me on my toes. At first, it was a little hard to read the mystery within the mystery but now I crave it and can’t wait to have the parallel mystery start. It is a clever way to write a book and I find it very entertaining.
The setting this time brought me so much joy. I will never be able to travel the streets of London or the English countryside to walk in the footsteps of the classic mystery authors I have come to love. It was a pleasure to tag along with Sam and the Shady Acres ladies on their journey. Solving a mystery or two and the trip to Scotland Yard were just added delights.
A Tourist’s Guide to Murder was just that. I escaped right into this book and was captivated from beginning to end. Each book in this series can be read as a stand-alone but for maximum enjoyment and to get to really know these wonderful characters you should read them all.
Sam and the gang are off to Jolly Olde England to spend a week in London soaking up the atmosphere of Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This was a great revisit for me, to mentally go back to 221B Baker Street. I didn’t want the book to end, I was enjoying it so much. Samantha, Nana Jo, Irma, Dorothy, Ruby Mae and the rest of the ladies from the retirement village are looking forward to a week of mystery but hadn’t envisioned a couple of murders to be included in the tour. As they are no strangers to murder and investigating same, they dive in to track down the killer.
If one mystery is good, having two going at once is even better. Sam is also a cozy mystery writer and her work in progress runs in tandem with their real life investigating. Double the fun. Full of red herrings and lots of twists and turns, this is a very well written and entertaining mystery – as is the entire series.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
A Tourist’s Guide to Murder was another amazing installment in the Mystery Bookshop series that sees our characters head to England.
Samantha Washington, Nana Jo, and the ladies from Shady Acres Retirement Village are headed to London for a weeklong mystery tour. For Sam, it’s a dream come true to walk the streets of some of her favorite mystery writers. But after the head of the tour is found dead under mysterious circumstances and another member of the tour dies shortly after, Sam knows something is up. With the help of her friends, Sam sets out to uncover the murderer before the tour takes an even darker turn.
The mystery in this book was very well done and I loved the addition of the mystery tour as it added a very unique element to the story. The different setting was also a nice change of pace. From the start, it’s clear that a number of characters have it out for the man who heads the tour company. The author does a great job making you believe any of them could have been the killer. The second murder only made things more interesting and I enjoyed watching Sam try to connect the two crimes. Overall I was happy with the way the case wrapped up. The characters in this series are fantastic and this book was no exception. The Sleuthing Seniors in particular are amazing and I love how each woman brings her own skills to the table allowing the group to cover more ground.
Sam’s writing career has taken the next step in this installment as Sam has received an offer to publish her books from a mystery book publishing company. I’ve enjoyed watching Sam’s journey with her writing throughout the series. While on her trip Sam uses any spare moment she can find to write the next novel in her British cozy mystery series. One thing I really enjoy about these books is how Sam uses her writing to work out any theories she has about the real-life case she’s trying to solve as the parallels between the cases are always interesting.
Overall A Tourist’s Guide to Murder was just as fantastic as the rest of the series and I’m looking forward to future installments.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
A Tourist’s Guide to Murder is the sixth book in the Mystery Bookshop Mystery series and continues to entertain me as a reader. I love the characters in this series. They are all diverse and play their own part in each story. This time around, Sam, Nana Jo, and the rest of the ladies from the retirement village are off on an adventure to England. Sadly, murder does not give Sam a holiday, and she finds herself confronted with two murders on her murder mystery tour. We also get a glimpse of Sam’s new novel as she takes a break occasionally from solving the murders and sightseeing to write. I love how she wove what was going on in real life into her own cozy mystery. I do have to say that I did miss Dawson, the twins, and the rest of the residents in North Harbor that usually make an appearance in these books. However, the ladies do what they do best and each one takes a role in gathering information to assist Scotland Yard to wrap up the murders. I enjoyed the nod to the classic board game Clue that was included in the plot. There are some nice twists in one of the murders that I didn’t see coming and there are a few suspects for the reader to focus on.
I enjoy this series and look forward to seeing what the author has in store next for her readers.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley. The opinions and thoughts expressed are my own.
Wow! This book is so good! It is entertaining, witty, cozy-mysterious, full of unexpected twists and turns, and so-well written! Whenever I picked up “A Tourist’s Guide to Murder”, I was whisked away on a sleuthing adventure in England, and found myself guessing up until the very end.
This is the sixth book in V. M. Burn’s “Mystery Bookshop”, but the first I have read, and I definitely think the book can work as as stand-alone novel as well (however, after reading this one, I definitely want to read the others from before too, and hope this series will continue!). Her storytelling is spectacular, and she truly knows how to bring her characters to life right from the start. All of their personalities are distinctly clear, and I could envision each and every one. It is so clear the Ms. Burn’s is extremely passionate about what she is writing.
Samantha, her grandmother Nana Jo, and some of Nana Jo’s friends travel to England to go on a tour specifically designed for lovers of mystery novels. When they arrive, things very quickly start to go wrong, and not everything is at it appears to be. Little could they have expected what occurs, or that they will decide to become involved and try to help solve the case.
I really enjoyed getting to read the snippets of one of the novels that Sam is writing, and felt that is really mirrored what is going on in the story quite well. I think it added to the story, and as the tension begins to build on the tour, it does in her story as well. I found this really interesting!
I do feel that the plot took a little too long to get in to in terms of the characters arriving in England, and to really start moving with the mysteries. I also wish that the author would have delved further into each location, and the history and connection to various authors’ mystery works. While it is mentioned and spoken off, sometimes this felt a bit rushed, and I wish we would have seen more of it. I also wish that the two adorable puppies on the cover had more to do with the story in some way. However, even with these things said, none of this took away from my enjoyment of the novel in any way.
If you enjoy cozy-mysteries, I highly recommend this book! I found myself reading into the early hours of the morning to see whodunit, and what and how everything worked out. My mouth dropped quite a few times, and there are clues brilliantly placed throughout that are brought together brilliantly (no spoilers here!).
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC of this book, I so enjoyed it! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
A Tourist’s Guide to Murder is book#6 in V. M. Burns’ Mystery Bookshop series.
Sam and the group have a rough start, getting off on a trip to England for a mystery tour. They are ready for visits to Whitechapel, #221 Bakers Street, and to see where Agatha Christie plotted her masterpieces. Sam is also plotting her own mystery, throughout the visit as she hopes to be published soon. I found myself as invested in this mystery, set in the past, as in the present mystery. The ladies are embroiled in solving the murder mystery in no time. Humor, fairness, and the ability to be kind are what makes the characters so wonderful! I love these characters! I enjoyed this book so much!
Thank you to Kensington Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this terrific book. The opinions expressed are my own– and freely given
#ATouristsGuidetoMurder #NetGalley
amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths, law-enforcement, cozy-mystery, situational-humor, verbal-humor, England, retirees
There’s actually two cozy mysteries here. One tells the story about Michigan bookshop owner/soon-to-be-published-author Samantha and her madcap senior sleuths in England on a mystery tour, and interspersed in the opposite chapters is the 1939 British cozy that she works on when stressed. Each is a good cozy, but the current day one is filled with humor as well as the expected interesting characters, plot twists, and red herrings. I enjoyed the read and laughed out loud at some of the fun!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!