A local costuming guild has arrived in Astoria for a long weekend of recreating their favorite time period–the Regency. Think Jane Austen, sailing ships, high tea, a costume ball, and…a dead body. When the guild’s nastiest member winds up dead in the drink, Viola is convinced it’s no accident. And after the husband of the deceased gets into a brawl on the front lawn of the town’s most well-known … most well-known landmark, she knows something’s up. Armed with nothing more than a folding fan and her wits, she sets out to unveil the killer before somebody else winds up in Davy Jones’s locker.
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This is a really entertaining cosy murder, mystery in the Viola Roberts series. The characters, humour and intrigue are great. Viola once again finds herself embroiled in a murder but this time it’s at a Regency re-enactment party she has been coerced into going to. Some of the description and situations Viola finds herself in are hilarious, I love her sense of humour too. The narration fits the book perfectly, giving the characters individual voices and bringing out the humour in the story well. Great cast of characters and a plot that keeps the killer concealed until the end makes this a fun, enjoyable story to listen to.
THE DEATH IN THE DRINK is the seventh book in the Viola Roberts Cozy Mystery series. Though each will stand alone, it is far better to read them all and in the order of release.
The best of the three I have heard and I really want the rest of the series now. This was a fun, cozy mystery. The established characters continue to charm my heart while the new characters delighted my funny bone.
The story was well choreographed with plenty of interesting research into a new topic to keep it interesting and fun.
The final word: the final chapter is nicely set up for the next adventure as Viola, Lucas, Cheryl, and Bat will be taking a couples’ vacation to wine country. Now what do you think the chances are that they won’t be involved in the discovery of a body?
Narration: Yvette Keller is absolutely marvelous as a narrator. She does dramatic pauses better than anyone I have heard in a long time – perfectly timed. She gives her voices the right amount of giggle, suspense, tears, or whatever the scene needs. I could listen to her anytime!
Note: While I received this book as a gifted audiobook copy, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
Title: THE DEATH IN THE DRINK
Series: Viola Roberts Cozy Mystery #7
Category /Genre: Cozy Mystery
Recommended for: 14+ due to language
Listenability: OK for most ears
Received from: Shéa MacLeod (as an Audible gifted copy)
This review is for the audio book.
I really enjoyed this book. This book (and in fact the whole series) has everything you want in a cozy mystery a great main character that gets into all sorts of trouble but means well, the trusted sidekicks in the form of the best friend who is reluctantly by her side and the resigned boy friend who know he can’t change her but loved her anyway, the grumpy policeman that doesn’t need help, the interfering mother. As well as packed full of humour, romance, suspects, dead bodies and most importantly an interesting mystery. A great series backed up by a brilliant narrator. I can’t wait for the next book.
Cheryl talks Viola into joining her and a group of strangers as they turn back time and recreate the regency area by dressing up, enjoying a high tea, experiencing life on a sailing ship and visiting local attractions from that time. Viola can just about handle the low cut dress and frilly skirts of the time but when one member of the group falls into the drink she finds her re-enactment going off in an entirely different direction. The lady who died wasn’t liked much because of her sharp tongue and bullying tactic but was she really murdered? When an important piece of evidence comes to light Viola sets out to get to know the rest of the group a lot better, even if it means wearing another costume. When a second group member drops dead in his Victoria sponge Viola must come up with the motive behind both killings because surely there can’t be two killers in the group? and with the police having locked up the husband of the first victim Viola will have to rethink the motive.
As I said the narrator is very good. She gives each character there own voice and then even gives them accents as the character get into there Recency rolls.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review