To die, or not to die? Georgia B&B proprietor Nina Fleet turns amateur thespian to bring the curtain down on a Shakespearean actor’s killer.It’s nothing short of inevitable that Cymbeline, GA, hosts an annual Shakespeare festival. But stage-struck Nina Fleet is about to learn that putting on an amateur theatrical production can be murder. Nina’s anticipating showbiz glamour and glitz when a … and glitz when a community Shakespearean troupe arrives for a two-week stay at her B&B. But the lights dim when she learns the company’s director is her nemesis, struggling actor Harry Westcott–who still claims to be the rightful heir to Nina’s elegant Queen Anne home.
Meanwhile, the troupe members are not content to leave the drama upon the stage. Accusations of infidelity and financial malfeasance make a shambles of rehearsals. And then, two days into the troupe’s stay, the lead actor is found dead in Nina’s formal Shakespeare garden. Natural causes…or murder most foul?
Nina uncovers evidence that something is indeed rotten in the town of Cymbeline. Too bad Harry is the only one who believes that she’s not going completely off script. And exposing the truth isn’t easy when the remaining troupe members say the show must go on…particularly when all of them seemingly had a motive for wanting their fellow actor to permanently exit stage right. Determined to keep the killer from making a curtain call, Nina and her trusty Australian Shepherd, Matilda, join forces with Harry to sleuth out the murder plot. Will they succeed before someone else shuffles off this mortal coil? Find out in Anna Gerard’s delightful second Georgia B&B mystery.
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A well-crafted a captivating whodunit that will have you turning pages until you reach the very satisfying ending.
Peachy Scream by Anna Gerard has Nina Fleet who owns Fleet House Bed-and-Breakfast in Cymbeline, Georgia hosting Georgia Amateur Shakespeare Players (GASP). It is the town’s seventh annual Shakespeare on Cymbeline Square which includes nightly performances of Hamlet by the amateur acting troupe. Nina does not learn until the actors arrive that their director is Harry Westcott. The group is rehearsing at the B&B while they adjust to the hot temperatures for their outdoor performances. When Len Marsh fails to return from a smoke break, Nina goes searching and finds the thespian dead in the hawthorn hedge. There were tensions between Len and several of the member of GASP. Nina with her trusty Australian shepherd sidekick, Mattie reluctantly team up with Harry to unmask the killer. Peachy Scream is the 2nd A Georgia B&B Mystery. It can be read as a standalone. Nina Fleet cannot believe her luck in obtaining the actors performing at Shakespeare on Cymbeline Square for her fledgling bed and breakfast. But then the bus arrives with Harry Westcott behind the wheel. Nina was hoping she had seen the last of the actor who believes he should be the rightful owner of her Queen Anne Victorian. You can always count on laughs when Harry is around. There is plenty of fun to be had in Peachy Scream. The death of Len Marsh has Nina donning her sleuthing cap once again. The killer does not seem happy to stop with Len because attempts are made another one of the thespians. Someone is also playing pranks that are getting everyone riled up. There is a red herring as well as a variety of clues. I wish this whodunit had been more of a challenge to solve. I did feel that the killer was rather obvious. Also, there was a repetition of key details regarding the investigation. This character driven story will delight those who enjoy easygoing, humorous cozy mysteries. Peachy Scream is a blithe tale with a hawthorn hedge, amateur actors, number nine Nina, a play within a play, the Secret Squirrel Society, madcap mayhem, and playful pranks.
Cymbeline, Georgia is about to hold the
town’s seventh annual Shakespeare Festival.
The festival will have authentic musicians,
craftspeople and an abridged performance
of a Shakespeare play to represent the
sixteenth century.
Nina Fleet owner of the Fleet House Bed and
Breakfast will house the troupe of the Georgia
Amateur Shakespeare players.
The director is Harry Westcott. He is an actor
and Nina’s nemesis. Harry is the grandnephew
of the home’s former owner who died without
updating her will. Shortly after the former
owner passed the house went up for sale
with Nina buying it. But Harry still insists that
the home really belongs to him .
The troupe will be staying there for two weeks.
The readers will take play in the working of
putting together a production by participating
in the rehearsals at the B&B then the final
actual performance on the twin stage. The
reader will also come acquainted with Yorick.
This is a fast paced adventure full of antics
with a cast of multifaceted, well created,
quirky characters with interesting backstories.
Plus Matilda (Mattie), the fur baby appears
thorough out the story. Mattie is a black, gray
and white Australian Shepherd that has one
blue and one brown eye. I enjoyed the role she
played especially when Mattie helped to keep
one of the characters alive.
Keeping up a streaming intrigue flow plus
keeping the story light and fun presents an
interesting twist and turn on who murdered a
man in the garden.
I loved the Shakespeare garden which consisted
of a series of herbs and flower beds that were
mentioned in the Bard’s works.
Also mentioned in the story was the a Halloween
charity event called a Peachy Scream.
I enjoyed the well presented murder mystery
mixed with the Shakespeare theme.
This is book # 2 in the Georgia B&B Mystery
series. It can be read as a stand alone. This is
the first book in the series I have read.
I volunteered to read Peachey Scream. Thanks
to Crooked Lane Books via Net Gallery for the
opportunity. My opinion is voluntary and my own.
Stop by Cymbeline, Georgia and help solve the
murder mystery.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Harry Westcott is back and he has brought a troupe of Shakespearean actors with him. They are booked into Nina Fleet’s Georgia B&B for the next two weeks to take part in Cymbeline’s annual Shakespeare festival. Nina is sure this is just part of Harry’s scheme to take her home away from her but with no other lodging available she can’t send the group away and be responsible for ruining the festival. The trouble with actors though is they always bring the drama. This crowd seems to snipe at each other constantly and are not beyond playing a prank or two. But did someone’s prank go too far? Just two days into their stay lead actor Len Marsh is found dead in Nina’s Shakespeare garden. Foul play? or natural causes?
Nina definitely believes there is murder afoot and shares her thinking with Harry. Soon Nina and her nemesis are teaming up with a little assistance from a certain Australian Shepherd to catch the killer before the curtain comes down on another B&B guest.
Nina (Nine-A) Fleet is a great protagonist and is learning the ropes of being a great innkeeper. She does her best to keep her guests happy and to tend to their needs. Even Harry Westcott. Harry does put his career first and agrees to put his feud with Nina on the backburner if she allows everyone to stay. Having them work together on the murder investigation really shows how much these characters have grown.
Readers are introduced to quite a group of thespians. They include lead actor, playing Hamlet, and victim Les Marsh and his trophy wife Susie, who will be playing Ophelia. Earth Mother, Professor Tessa Benedict, and her hippy husband Bill, who will be playing Queen Gertrude and King Claudius. Bill will also be playing the ghost of Hamlet’s father. Radley Heller, a research and development bigwig, will be playing Laertes. Marvin Lasky who just sold his small electronics development company for a few million dollars, playing Polonius and Horatio. And Chris Boyd, the youngest and newest member of the group. He is quiet with his nose in his phone and earbuds in his ears. He will be playing a variety of minor roles, but really wants the major role of Hamlet. The author does a fine job of fleshing out these characters quickly. It seems they all had reasons to kill Marsh and with everyone staying together at the B&B they all had the opportunity too.
The mystery is well-plotted and I did like Harry and Nina working together but I did pick the culprit out early in the story. That being said I loved the way all was revealed on opening night. A little rewrite of the script and a few background images changed and the show must go on. And go on it does, allowing the killer to reveal themselves. It was entertaining to read and I bet it would have been delightful to watch.
Peachy Scream is a peachy keen addition to this series. I enjoy the realistic characters and the way Ms. Gerard injects humor in all the right places. The Shakespeare theme was fun too.
The next book in this series, Peaches and Schemes will be released on May 11.
A fun cozy mystery! The town of Cymbeline is holding a Shakespeare Festival and Nina is hosting a Shakespeare troupe at her B & B. Nina is surprised to see Harry Westcott III back and discovers he is directing the troupe in the play they are performing at the festival. Nina is sure Harry is up to no good and just trying to find a way to claim the house belongs to him still. On the group’s first full day and the start of rehearsal, they all meet at the B & B’s Shakespeare garden for a lesson followed by rehearsals. One of the guests, Len, is missing and Nina’s dog, Mattie, finds him in a hedge dead. It is suspected that the death was from natural causes, but Nina later discovers something that makes her think Len’s death may have been murder. Len didn’t seem to be well-liked by most of the group. Nina does some investigating into the troupe actors and finds out some interesting facts. However, when the youngest member of the troupe, Chris, is possibly poisoned and later someone attempts to poison his food again, it seems like maybe Chris was the intended victim. Everything comes to a head on opening night. Can Harry and Nina flush out the killer and still have the play be a success? Intriguing storyline and characters. I liked seeing Nina and Harry actually working together and look forward to seeing what’s next for Nina’s B & B!
I have to say I like the way the author introduces an engagingly different group of visitors from the first book. I also like the that she is not rushing into a relationship with Nina and Harry. Actually, despite Nina’s appreciation for Harry’s attractiveness, I could see them remaining good friends and would actually like to see that for once.
The author does her best to provide lots of potential suspects, but it’s pretty evident whodunnit though the why is actually surprising.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest revie
A fun cozy mystery with an insiders look into behind-the-scenes of a Shakespearean play.
Peachy Scream by Anna Gerard is a fabulous mystery, set in this quaint small town in Georgia, with these wonderfully dynamic characters.
Is Len’s death an accident, or is it murder?
Nina Fleet
Nina is our sleuth, innkeeper, and now an actress. Ok, that last one is a stretch, but she gives it ago. One of the things that I like about Nina is that she sees things differently than others, which can be good or bad. Nina is also curious but keeps her ethics strong. She makes a good sleuth. Oh, and isn’t her dog Mattie cute.
Harry Westcott
Harry is an actor, and his aunt was the previous owner of Nina’s house, now the Fleet House Bed and Breakfast. He once said he was going to sue Nina for the house. However, I think the two of them may also have a bit of a flirtation going on. They seem to be getting along better. Harry seems lost to me. His aunt was that one person that he felt unconditional love from, and now that she is gone, he doesn’t have a home.
I like Harry, he listens to Nina and goes along with her schemes. They make good partners. Although, with Harry, I can’t tell if he is scheming. Yet, I like the attraction between the two of them.
The Mystery
The mystery is the death of a businessman, one of the actors staying at the B&B for the Shakespeare Festival in town. Most of the others in the troupe don’t like Len, and he has a way of picking on people. Yet, Len does have money and a trophy wife. Let’s say there are lots of suspects with motive. The reasoning caught me off guard; that is for sure.
Five Stars
I love a good mystery, especially those with a hint of romance. This small town in Georgia is pretty lovely; I look forward to the next book in this series. My rating for Peachy Scream by Anna Gerard is five stars. I recommend this book to all cozy readers out there.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Peachy Scream by Anna Gerard.
This Guest Review is for Baroness’ Book Trove.
Until the next time,
~Jen
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
I loved Peachy Scream! Though this is the second book in the series, it’s very easy to jump right in and enjoy it. You’ll find out what happened in the first book in Peachy Scream, so if you don’t want any spoilers, you’ll have to start with book one.
When I was in high school and college, I had a lot of fun acting in plays, and I would have gladly gone on to star on Broadway, but you know….you kind of have to live in NYC and have some money and a place to live and be better than the competition….oh well. Pretending works. You should see my Angelica Schuyler! But I digress…
In Peachy Scream, a Shakespeare troupe descends upon Nina’s B&B for the days leading up to the Shakespeare festival in Cymbeline. This is great for Nina because it means guaranteed money. But lo and behold, her frenemy Harry Westcott is the director of this troupe. If Peachy Scream were to become a movie, I’ve already cast Harry’s role in my head…Jensen Ackles is going to play Harry. Harry’s got a snarky side; he’s got a sweet side; he’s got a helpful side; and he’s got an annoying side. You’ll love him, and I hope Nina eventually will too. They’d make the perfect couple!
Hamlet. Oh that Danish prince. If you’ve never read Hamlet (or any Shakespeare for that matter), you should. Or at least watch it! I loved all of the scenes where the actors are rehearsing, but my favorite is the sword fight in the front yard. In Hamlet, there’s a play within the play, and in Peachy Scream, the play within the play is very important! It’s not at all what the actors rehearsed, but it helps to solve the crime by getting the guilty party to confess.
The characters, setting, humor, and mystery make Peachy Scream such an enjoyable read. I know all of you cozy mystery readers will love it!
“Finding a dead body in your formal garden has got to rate in the top ten Bad Things that can happen to a person. To be fair, war and plague and famine do have a lock on the first three spots.”
Once again, Anna Gerard has me caught up in a book by the first few lines. I really enjoyed Peach Clobbered, the first in this Georgia B&B Mystery series, so I was very much looking forward to Peachy Scream – I’m happy to report that I really enjoyed this new installment as well.
Nina’s first person narrative voice is delightfully conversational and a little bit snarky (which I love), and the characters she encounters at her B&B and the small town of Cymbeline are as quirky and suspicious as you might expect for a cozy mystery. Instead of nuns, in Peachy Scream, Nina’s inn is descended upon by a troupe of Shakespearean actors with none other than Harry Westcott (Nina’s part nemesis, part potential love interest) at the helm. These Hamlet players bring a new level of layers (and dry humor) to the mix, making you simultaneously entertained by their drama & feeling sorry for Nina for having to put up with them. (And can I just say that I’m typing this from Georgia. In the summer. In the hot hot hot summer. And I can’t imagine being all dressed up in Shakespearean garb to rehearse and perform a play outside. Nope. Nope. Nope. lol)
I also really love the eccentricities of Cymbeline – the author has done a great job of capturing a small southern town with its offbeat way of doing things. Particularly the ‘one stop shop’ appeal (?) of the coroner who also happens to be a pastor and the funeral home director! (LOL) The police chief is refreshingly portrayed as a competent law enforcement officer and is a great supporting character – and, for her part, Nina is more responsible (sometimes) in her sleuthing than a lot of cozy mystery heroines. And, of course, Mattie the sweet & faithful dog – gotta love her!
Bottom Line: Engaging to read & smartly written, Peachy Scream is a fabulous followup to its predecessor in the Georgia B&B mystery series by Anna Gerard. The plot, with its infusion of entertaining & intriguing characters, will more than hold your attention from beginning to end, and you’ll turn the last page already eager for the next trip to Cymbeline. While my initial guess of the culprit was ultimately right, I was never 100% sure until just before the creative reveal – and I certainly didn’t guess the WHY behind the WHO. Fun series to add to your TBR list!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
PEACHY SCREAM by Anna Gerard
The Second Georgia B&B Mystery
Cymbeline, Georgia is gearing up for its annual Shakespeare festival. While Nina Fleet is too late to become an official sponsor of the event, she’s happy to host the Georgia Amateur Shakespeare Players at her B&B. That is until she discovers the director is none other than Harry Westcott, the actor who previously lay claim to her Queen Anne home. Although worried about Harry’s machinations, Nina allows the group in only to find the Shakespearean troupe plagued by pranks. When their Hamlet is found dead in Nina’s garden the first thought is that he died of natural causes. But did he? One thing is certain, something’s rotten in the Fleet House B&B and it’s up to Nina to find out what!
I’m delighted to be back at Fleet House Bed and Breakfast and even more delighted to be thrust back into the world of theatre, especially Shakespearean theatre. Shakespeare and his themes are timeless, as are motives for murder and the two are intertwined beautifully in this second Georgia B&B Mystery. In addition to loving the nod to the bard I also appreciated the way in which the book acknowledges certain modern societal issues.
The characters come to life in the pages of PEACHY SCREAM and drive the story while keeping the readers invested. The characters are vibrant and unique from the young emo thespian to the trophy wife and the pastor/county coroner/funeral director Reverend Doctor Bishop. Everybody, from the actors in the troupe to the townsfolk, have intriguing symbiotic relationships. I especially love the dynamic between Nina and Harry.
PEACHY SCREAM is a delightful mystery infused with Georgian hospitality and Shakespearean dramatics. I wish I could imbibe a peach mimosa while giving Mattie a pat as I relax under the magnolia tree ready to see what happens next!
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
Peachy Scream by Ann Gerad is the second in the Georgia B&B Mystery series. This is an quick, easy to read Cozy. It can be read alone but I suggest reading book one in order to meet all the main characters.
This time Nina is hosting a Shakespearean troupe in town for the yearly Shakespeare festival. The troupe is an electic mixture of actors. The biggest surprise is Harry is part of the group.
When one of the actors is murdered in Nina’s garden, Nina is once again drawn into the investigation. She doesn’t want the B&B to get the wrong reputation.
This story has plenty of suspects, a lovely setting, relatable characters, some humor and life in a small town.
I was given an ARC by Cooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an honest review.
Nina Fleet has finally gotten her B&B up and running and now she has a full house – the actors who will be part of the Shakespeare Festival. They are known as the Georgia Amateur Shakespeare Players or GASP. Too bad one of the troupe is her nemesis, Harry Wescott. He cried foul when she bought the house that he was convinced he was going to inherit. It’s a tense situation but things get really bad when one of the actors goes off for a smoke and turns up dead. The suspected heart attack turns out to be death by poison and Nina is on the track of a killer.
In order to uncover the motive and the killer, Nina asks Harry to help. If that wasn’t enough, she ends up becoming part of the troupe in order to investigate the other members. Everyone appears to have had a motive but which one was bullied enough by the victim to snuff him out?
The puzzle is well plotted and the characters are well developed making for a very satisfying read. The setting makes me want to stay awhile at Nina’s B&B and the humor is great. I have enjoyed both books in the series and I’m looking forward to the next entry and seeing how Nina and Harry’s relationship is progressing.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Peachy Scream is the second book in the Georgia B&B Mystery series.
After a successful trial run, Nina Fleet’s B&B is officially open. She is excited as her first guests are arriving. Her first guests are a troupe of Shakesperian actors, Georgia Amateur Shakespeare Players(GASP) who will be appearing at the local Shakespeare Festival. She begins to have second thoughts after seeing the troupes bus. The bus is that of her nemesis, Harry Westcott. Westcott has, in the past, claimed that he owns the house. Nina is somewhat relieved that Westcott seems willing to put their differences aside.
Once the guests have settled in their rooms, they come downstairs for drinks and to discuss the upcoming rehearsal schedule. Before long there are accusations of infidelity and financial misdoing. Nina soon notices that Len, who has the lead in the play, is a first-class bully. Two days later, everyone is sitting outside having drinks when Len leaves to go to the designated smoking area for a cigarette. When he fails to return after a reasonable time, everyone heads off to search for him. He is soon found dead next to some bushes. He has had a heart condition and it is first thought he had a heart attack. When Nina returns to where the body was found to search for his drink glass, she will find it near where he died hidden in some shrubs. Nina notices some residue remaining in the glass. She secures the glass, intending to take it to the coroner/funeral director/preacher for analysis. The analysis will show that he was killed. With a killer probably stay at her B&B, Nina will ask Harry, somewhat reluctantly, to help her to find the killer.
The book is well-written and plotted, with an interesting cast of believable characters. There were enough red herrings and twists and turns that kept me guessing till the end.
I will be watching for the next book in this young series.
Fun and well-written cozy mystery. I enjoyed it. This is a new author for me. I’m excited to check out more of her books.
Thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
Nina and Mattie have their hands full with their GASP folks staying at their B&B. What an interesting group! They certainly made for a great story. Cymbeline may never see a Shakespeare play quite like the one performed for them at this festival. I enjoyed these characters and the storyline. I can’t wait to make another trip to Fleet House Bed and Breakfast. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
Georgia B&B owner Nina Fleet has her hands full when a theater troupe descends upon her guest house. The group is staying there to rehearse for a Shakespearean play they’ll perform at a local festival. But when Len, the actor portraying Hamlet, ends up dead in the garden, what will they do for a lead performer? The director decides he’ll play the role to the consternation of his colleagues who might have wanted the part. Meanwhile, Nina means to solve Len’s murder and erase any stain on her business’s reputation. Interpersonal conflicts and resentments among the players rival the tragic play as she digs deeper. Can she avenge Hamlet by exposing Len’s killer before the curtain falls on the next victim? Peachy Scream is a charming bed-and-breakfast murder mystery that will make you eager to attend the next play in the park with this book in hand. I enjoyed the setting, the characters, the twisty plot, and in particular, the food descriptions at the B&B. Disclaimer – I received an advance reading copy from the author. This review is freely given as my honest opinion.
Revisiting Nina Fleet’s Georgia B&B in Cymbeline was another wonderful escape for me.
In addition, of course in walks Harry with the Shakespearean cast for the annual Shakespeare Festival. Once again, Nina stumbles upon another body.
I thoroughly enjoyed Peachy Scream as much as I did Peach Clobbered by Anna Gerard, and I cannot wait for the next Georgia B&B Mystery.
I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Peachy Scream by Anna Gerard is the second book in her Georgia B&B and was great fun and kept me completely engaged throughout the book. I really enjoy visiting Cymbeline and Nina and was thrilled to be able to read this book. Ms. Gerard’s writing is so comfortable and draws me in every time.
Nina Fleet takes a last minute booking for her B&B for the Atlanta based amateur Shakespeare acting troupe that is performing in Cymbeline’s annual Shakespeare Festival. Turns out that Harry Westcott is the director of the troupe for this performance and Nina has no choice but to welcome him back. A well crafted story with a diverse cast of characters (pun intended) that came alive with Ms. Gerard’s descriptive writing, several twists as the troupe members pasts come to light and a dramatic reveal that Nina and Harry planned together (shocking)for the entire festival goers to witness.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
amateur-sleuth, friendship, bed-and-breakfast, pet, dog, actors
Great fun and really diverse characters! Nina left the rat race and (with her rescue Aussie Shepherd) runs a B&B in a grand home she bought at auction, Harry is not only a known actor but the house had belonged to his aunt and he wants it back (covered in detail in Peach Clobbered). Instead he books all the rooms for his troupe of travelling Shakespearean actors during the local Shakespeare festival (Nina had no idea that it was him behind the reservation!). The characters certainly are and it’s a safe bet as to who would be the victim, but whodunit is a different story. The sleuthing begins with the coroner who is not only a popular and colorful minister but is a forensic buff with his own lab in the basement of the Funeral Home that he runs! Lots of misdirection, plot twists, red herrings, and humor that kept me turning pages! Loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!