It’s Eat Pray Love meets murder mystery in Lise McClendon’s deliciously cozy chronicles of sisterhood, international travel … and a soupçon of danger.5 ★ “This is a charming series of the adventures of 5 sisters. Merle the middle sister is the predominant focus of the books and one falls in love with her! Then we meet the rest of the clan. It is impossible to put the books down (my kind of … kind of books)! Merle’s adventures alone and with her sisters are simply wonderful. There is just enough intrigue to keep one interested and to move on to the next book. I hope you find the books to be as grand as I did.”
“Enjoyed getting to know the Bennet sisters and their relationships. It was nice reading about some women who have a variety of life experiences. These characters are beyond the age of 30. I think any woman would enjoy reading this but the narrator is in her 50’s and I enjoyed her perspective.”
A sprawling, exuberant, generous-spirited cozy mystery series with a yummy side of international adventure.
A little bit chick lit, a touch of cozy mystery, a whole lot of humor, romance, suspense—all in one box set!
BLACKBIRD FLY – Book One
A dead husband might be sadder except that once Harry dies, his widow, Merle Bennett realizes almost immediately it was no wonder she didn’t know anything about him. They’d pretty much been leading separate lives—several of them, as it turns out. Still, the will’s quite a shock. And so is an intriguing surprise—Harry left her a family home in a tiny French village. Or maybe a family home. Because who was Harry’s family? Finding out is half the fun.
Merle sets out to claim her inheritance, adolescent son in tow, and thus begins a sojourn reminiscent of A Year in Provence mixed up with something by Carolyn Hart, maybe, or M.C. Beaton. Because Malcouziac, Merle’s tiny Dordogne town, is the quintessential village—just perfect for a murder. And a rollicking good time.
THE GIRL IN THE EMPTY DRESS – Book Two
Law practice is in the Bennett sisters’ blood—along with designer suits and stilettos. But they’ve decided to ditch the more predictable Caribbean cruise or spa weekend at a five star hotel to celebrate Merle Bennett’s 50th birthday hiking the French countryside of Dordogne. There’s just one catch: Merle’s little sister Francie has decided to bring along a sixth wheel: a work colleague named Gillian Sargent, whose utter aloofness wouldn’t be so bad. Except she seems to be hiding something…
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I found the interactions between the characters very interesting. I loved the development of the story, and appreciated the strong female lead character.
Great sister characters and a page turner. I want more!
Wonderful story of starting over and finding new joy in unexpected places. A very entertaining mystery amid the challenges faced when forced to take risks and journey beyond time zones and comfort zones.
The whole series is wonderful!
If you have been to France and miss that lovely countryside, reading these fabulous mysteries will take you back and involve you in a crazy, action-packed ride with these sisters!
Loved these two books and am about to start the third of the series. Plot not predictable so I don’t want to talk about what happens. Better you discover on your own. Well written books.
The whole series very interesting.
While there is a surface level mystery or two going on, this is really more about family, the ties that bind us, and the idea that life as we know it may not be what we think it is.
How delightful and an interesting view of the French law system and small town politics – the same the world over!
When I grow up I want to have the wits, skills, sisters, pied a terre, humor and men of Merle Bennett!!!
I read Blackbird Fly& Girl I. The Empty dress. Both very entertaining. Those were the first books I read by Lise McClendon. I would definately read more, really enjoyed both.
It kept me interested. Quite a story. Well done. This was a page turner with amazing plot and settings. New York to a small French village where drama really keeps the reader involved. I will be reading the rest of the Bennet Sisters stories.
Took me right out of reality! And that’s a good thing!!
Lise Transports Us To France With Her Storytelling That is So Visual and The Characters So complex,It was a Joy To read Both Books..I Believe I Have Another One Of Lise’s Books…I Must Check.I Escaped Into “The World Of The Bennett Sisters“ It was Almost Like A Fairytale /But In Real Time…
These 2 books were really good…couldn’t put them down…my sister had read them and said she loved them…she was right…very well written!
GREAT READ(S)!!! Left me wanting to purchase the rest of the series, which is unusual…
Hope for more of these books by the writer.
I LOVED this introduction to the Bennett sisters and bought the other 3 volumes as soon as I completed the 2nd book! Great Cozy-type story, but completely believable story arc. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characterization was excellent.
The sisters became real people and so did the people with whom they interacted. Their adventures were sometimes exciting, sometimes funny. The books made the reader feel their anger, worry, love and happiness. I cold not put the book down!!! I highly recommend it!!!