Murder at St. George’s Church: a 1920s cozy historical mystery (A Ginger Gold Mystery Book 7)

Murder at St. George’s Church by Lee Strauss continues Lady Ginger Gold’s life in London. She is helping her friend Reverend Oliver Hill to ready the church for his wedding. Since Basil Reed left, she has kept herself busy and begun to date again. Then a suspicious death at the church during choir practice brings in Scotland Yard and Basil has returned. The quickly paced plot with complex relationships within the congregation as well as Ginger’s life kept me turning the pages. I’m on to the next one. I truly enjoy this series and I’m so glad that I found Ms. Strauss and her historical cozy series.

This is another wonderful historical cozy mystery from the Ginger Gold Mystery series. The characters are quirky and engaging with strong personalities complete with strengths and weaknesses. The storyline flows smoothly and quickly with lots of twists and turns and surprises. The story is told from the heroine’s point of view giving insight into her trouts, motivations and actions. The dialogue is witty and engaging. The mystery has lots of viable suspects, subtle clues, danger and suspense. I enjoyed this cozy mystery and the entire series so far.

Ginger Gold’s friend Rev. Oliver Hill, is getting married in a couple of days to the quiet Mary Blythe. Ginger has talked Hailey and Felicia into joining the choir and they, and all the other choir members are at St. George’s Church for rehearsal. Before rehearsal has a chance to get fully underway, Mr. Theodore Edwards, the choir director, falls to his death. It was no secret that Mr. and Mrs Edwards, the church organist, had a rocky marriage and fought constantly, so it wasn’t surprising when she’s arrested for his murder. Mrs. Edwards proclaims her innocence and promptly hires Ginger to find the real guilty party. Ginger is completely taken by surprise when Chief Inspector Basil Reed shows up at St. George’s Church to investigate. She didn’t know he was back in London.

Previously, Basil Reed had left town (actually the country) and Ginger started dating Canadian naval captain William Beale. She claims she’s over Basil (she isn’t) and her heart isn’t giving him another chance, that they’re only working together to solve this case. There were many suspects as not only was Mr. Edwards not a very good husband, he wasn’t a faithful one either, and you know what they say about a woman scorned.

I didn’t care for the naval captain, William Beale. If he would’ve stuck around I don’t think he and Ginger would’ve dated much longer. He didn’t want her to work because “she didn’t have to”, and he seemed to have a jealous streak and a temper. Not a good fit for our happy, caring Ginger. I’m saddened that Ginger’s best friend, Hailey had to leave England and go back to the U.S. (sigh), which means no more snappy banter between these best friends. Who’s going to complain about Ginger’s driving now? I was happy that Ginger’s half-sister Louisa has decided to go back to Boston, as she got on my nerves more than Felicia and the dowager Lady Gold.

I’m glad Basil is back but think it should’ve taken him longer to win Ginger back. That part of the book felt a little rushed, especially since she was so upset with him for not contacting her the entire time he was gone. I’m really going to miss Hailey. Ginger’s going to have to find someone else to help her with the medical side of her investigations from now on.

I own the ebook, but listen to the audiobook through the Hoopla app from my library. The narrator does a great job with the British and American accents.

I loved it! This is a must read series!