Murder at the Mikado Book Review

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About the Book

Just as Drew Farthering thinks his life has found smooth waters, Fleur Landis, an old flame, reappears in his life. She's married now, no longer an actress, and he expects she'll soon disappear--until she comes to him in dire need. The lead actor in her old troupe's production of The Mikado has been murdered, and Fleur is the police's number one suspect.

Drew would love nothing more than to just focus on his fiance, Madeline, and their upcoming wedding, but he can't leave Fleur in the lurch--even if she did break his heart once. As Drew, Nick, and Madeline dive into the murder, they discover more going on behind the scenes of the theater troupe than could ever have been imagined. Nearly everyone had a motive, and alibis are few and far between. It's Drew's most complicated case yet. (Goodreads)

My Review

I have read the previous two books in this series and I still think that the first is the best. This book has a good twist and goes more into Drew and Madeline's relationship. Deering reminds me a bit of Anne Perry's writing but these books are unique in their own way. The mystery is surrounding Fleur and acting along with some candy that's been poisoned. The mystery part did not hold my attention as much as I had hoped. I was more interested in the relationship part in this book but thought the opposite while reading the second book. I still enjoy these characters but I'm ready for something new from Deering.

Four stars.

I highly recommend reading the first two books before picking this one up.

"I received this book from Bethany House for free in exchange for an honest review."

Rules of Murder Book Review

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Downton Abbey Meets Agatha Christie in This Sparkling Mystery

Drew Farthering loves a good mystery, although he generally expects to find it in the pages of a novel, not on the grounds of his country estate. When a weekend party at Farthering Place is ruined by murder and the police seem flummoxed, Drew decides to look into the crime himself. With the help of his best friend, Nick Dennison, an avid mystery reader, and Madeline Parker, a beautiful and whip-smart American debutante staying as a guest, the three try to solve the mystery as a lark, using the methods from their favorite novels.

Soon, financial irregularities at Drew's stepfather's company come to light and it's clear that all who remain at Farthering Place could be in danger. Trying hard to remain one step ahead of the killer--and trying harder to impress Madeline--Drew must decide how far to take this game.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Rules of Murder, go HERE.

My Review

Rules of Murder by Julianna Deering is the first book in the Drew Farthering Mystery Series.

The first few chapters of this book were super slow and I was disappointed. I didn't think the story line would ever pick up, and then it did! I loved this book! The characters are likable, and the romance is there but I was not too interested in that part of the story. I love mysteries and this was a fun murder mystery to figure out. The author throws in so many loop holes that my mind was running all over the place trying to solve the case. The setting is beautifully done, 1930s England, in a mansion where mystery hides behind every corner. I couldn't put this book down, I felt like I was right there with the characters. The ending is good, not disappointing, not too predictable. 

I will be looking for more books by Julianna Deering in the future!

"I received this book from CFBA for free in exchange for an honest review"

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Rules of Murder Bethany House Publishers (August 1, 2013) by Julianna Deering

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

JULIANNA DEERING has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her new series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuts with Rules of Murder (Bethany House, 2013) and will be followed by Death by the Book (Bethany House, 2014).