Cathy Ace cooks up another intriguing mystery
The Case of the Curious Cook
Cathy Ace
Severn House
Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 01 March 2017
Review
The women of WISE enquiries return with another unusual case. As always, Cathy Ace’s cozy mysteries are a delightful departure from the formulaic murder mysteries frequently served to readers. These are character driven stories, with unexpected but completely believable plots. In this case, the puzzle of books being left at a bookstore leads to the discovery of miniatures drawn by an artist supposedly murdered by her brother. The drawings could be worth a fortune if only their provenance (and ownership) can be proven. The investigation leads to a luxury assisted living where the Dowager Duchess Althea goes undercover…
Cathy Ace’s mysteries are refreshingly different, and always a joy to read. Her central characters - Christine, Mavis, Carol and Annie are real people with their own unique quirks and personalities. Together with Althea they make an amazing investigative team. There is normally little to no violence in Cathy Ace’s stories, and while there is emotional tension, there is little danger. There is a small dash of romance, but nothing graphic. All in all, Cathy Ace’s mysteries can be enjoyed by teens as well as adult readers. (Though the slow pacing might not appeal as much to younger readers)
4 / 5
I received a copy of The Case of the Curious Cook from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
Description
A new case for the ladies of the WISE enquiries agency . . . Henry Devereaux Twyst, eighteenth Duke of Chellingworth, is terribly worried about some water damage to the priceless books in his lower library, so retains the services of a local book restorer to tackle much-needed repairs. The antiquarian also runs the Crooks and Cooks bookshop with his daughter – local TV celebrity chef, The Curious Cook. When the book restorer mentions some strange shenanigans going on at the book shop, Dowager Duchess Althea brings the case to her colleagues at the WISE Enquiries Agency. As the WISE women try to unravel one puzzle from their base at stately Chellingworth Hall, they then get embroiled in another when they come across a valuable book of miniatures which seems to be the work of a local famous artist, murdered by her own brother. Are the cases linked and why do both mysteries lead to a nearby old folks’ home? The WISE women are on the case – and nothing will get in their way . . . Or will it?
