Mona Moon is not your typical young lady. She is a cartographer by trade, explorer by nature, and adventurer by heart.But there’s a problem. Miss Mona is broke. It’s during the Depression, and her application has just been turned down to join an expedition to the Amazon.What’s she to do? Perhaps get a job as a department store salesgirl. Anything to tide her over until the next assignment.There’s … until the next assignment.
There’s a knock on the door. Who could this be in the middle of the night?
Holding a revolver, Mona reluctantly opens her door to a man wearing a Homburg hat and holding a briefcase.
“I bring glad tidings. Your Uncle Manfred Moon has died and left you as his heir to the Moon fortune. You are now one of the richest women in the country!” he says.
Mona’s response is to point her revolver in his face. If the stranger is telling the truth, she will apologize. If he is a fraud, she will shoot him.
That’s how Mona does things in 1933.
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A rags-to-riches mystery set during the Great Depression. Mona is a fish out of water, as well, moving from cosmopolitan NYC to Kentucky–same country but a world away. Readers who enjoy witty historical mysteries will love this brand new series!
Abigail Keam has a delightful new mystery series. Murder and a Poodle–this is my kind of book!
Murder Under A Blue Moon
A 1930s Mona Moon Mystery Book 1
Abigail Keam
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Mona Moon is not your typical young lady. She is a cartographer by trade, explorer by nature, and adventurer by heart. But there’s a problem.
Miss Mona is broke. It’s during the Depression, and National Geographic has just turned down her application to join an expedition to the Amazon.
What’s she to do? Perhaps get a job as a department store salesgirl. Anything to tide her over until a next assignment.
There’s a knock on the door. Who could this be in the middle of the night? Holding a revolver, Mona reluctantly opens her door to a man wearing a Homburg hat and holding a briefcase.
“I bring glad tidings. Your Uncle Manfred Moon has died and left you as his heir to the Moon fortune. You are now one of the richest women in the country!” he says.
Mona’s response is to point her revolver in his face. If the stranger is telling the truth, she will apologize. If he is a fraud, she will shoot him.
That’s how Mona does things in 1933. (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Mona is a feisty, smart and independent woman. These descriptions were not readily applied to women in the 1930’s, although I am sure there were a lot of women like that back then. I really enjoyed getting to know this no-nonse woman and all of the other characters that I met. The cast of characters was great.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author seems very knowledgeable about this time period and that lent an authenticity to this book and kept me fully engaged. And it helped that there was an intriguing mystery as well.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted mystery. If you enjoy reading about past eras, grab this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book and provided my honest review.
A definite “can’t put it down” book set in the 1930s with a strong female character. Never gets slow, never goes so fast as to miss anything. Pacing is perfect. Characters are well developed and breathe. Absolutely wonderful story. I was engrossed from the first page.
Great main character.
Loved all the “Death by….” series with Josiah Reynolds. This series is also great. Love the 1930s atmosphere.
Love this new series. Great characters. Already have the third installment on pre order
Always enjoy this author!!!
Set during the Great Depression of the 30s, Mona Moon is nothing, if not determined in surviving a time that finds her in New York City, broke, and jobless.
In the middle of the night, Mona is visited by a man who says her uncle has died…and she’s now one of the richest women in the country.
Redeeming her estate in Kentucky, she finds that not everyone is happy with her appearance. There was a split in the family some years back and she’s going to have to prove that she has what it takes to take over the reins.
Who are her enemies and who are her allies in this world of privilege she knows nothing about? Was her Uncle’s death really from natural causes?
This is my first go-around with this author who has done a bang up job in describing life in the 30s. She’s certainly done due diligence in researching the times and places. Mona is a distinctly unique character who tackles anything and everything that she faces. This is a highly entertaining mystery, with a fast-paced plot. This is first of a series, and I’m definitely looking forward to reading her following adventures.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Murder Under a Blue Moon earn 5+/5 Mint Juleps…Totally Engaging Fun!
I couldn’t put it down, even well into the night! It’s 1933, and Madeline Mona Moon is the epitome of a liberated woman, but also unemployed since the expedition she hoped to join declined her participation stating it “would be too taxing for one of the fairer sex.” But “glad tidings” from a stranger drastically changes her plight. Her uncle passed away naming her heir to the considerable Moon fortune, but the catch is she must relocate to Lexington, Kentucky, in the middle of male-dominated horse country, putting her up against the Bluegrass aristocracy, uninvited houseguests, and a contested will. But her challenges become much more dangerous. Her first night is met with an intruder, notes on the death certificate are disturbing casting suspicions surrounding the uncle’s death, and several are reluctant to answer her questions. But it’s what she discovers when investigating…
“What does it mean, Miss Mona?”
“It means murder, Violet. Murder most foul!”
Downton Abbey with southern charm! Abigail Keam had me totally engrossed in Miss Mona‘s upstairs/downstairs drama. Like most first books in a series, authors spend several chapters introducing characters and setting up conflicts before presenting the crime, but with Keam’s book, I wasn’t impatient for the drama to ramp up, relishing the vivid descriptions and dialogue that tickled my senses and filled me with lots of emotions…I literally cheered reading the first confrontation with Aunt Melanie…you go, girl! The story is well-written, and although the third-person narrative isn’t my favorite perspective, Abigail did it well putting several characters at the center of this page-turner. I like Violet and her budding confidence, cringed over her aunt and those entitled brats, and what a delightful love/hate relationship between “bossy wench” and the “very smug” Lord Bob! Of course, everything revolves around Mona, and I love her spunky manner, snarky retort, ability to read a situation and act accordingly, and her being able to identify with the working class, creating a well-grounded, admirable figure. The end was unexpected. I still had too many on my suspect list by the time Mona was ready to “use it [the final puzzle piece] as a cudgel and hit someone over the head with it.” It is a different era, so a woman’s place in society, even in post 19th Amendment, is dismissive at least, oppressive at most. Even if you’ve reached a level of experience, education, or financial independence, “men” often do not take you seriously. Warning to all southern gentlemen…watch out for Mona!