Drew Farthering wanted nothing more than to end the summer of 1932 with the announcement of his engagement. Instead, he finds himself caught up in another mysterious case when the family solicitor is found murdered, an antique hatpin with a cryptic message, Advice to Jack, piercing his chest.
Evidence of secret meetings and a young girl's tearful confession point to the victim's double life, but what does the solicitor's murder have to do with the murder of a physician on the local golf course? Nothing, it would seem--except for another puzzling note, affixed with a similar-looking bloodied hatpin.
Soon the police make an arrest in connection with the murders, but Drew isn't at all certain they have the right suspect in custody. And why does his investigation seem to be drawing him closer and closer to home?
My review:
I typically enjoy books set in modern times, but I am really enjoying this series. It is set in the early 1930's, and revolves around a wealthy young man with a penchant for becoming involved in solving crimes. It is rare to find books on the Christian market, especially written by women, that have a male for the main character, but these books do, and maybe that is one reason I enjoy them so.
In the first book, there was more character development as we learned what kind of man Drew was, and everything was more confined to his home. In this book, the crimes are more widespread, and I thought it was more suspenseful and mysterious. And the book definitely falls into my "read in one sitting" rating. I fully intended to read some of it on different days, but got so much into it that I kept at it until I finished it, even though I was getting close to my bed time.
This wasn't a strong Christian book. The main character is a Christian and it is reflected some, but not a lot, but it is still enough to be classified Christian fiction, and it is clean in addition to being entertaining, suspenseful, clean, and fun.
I like it when I can figure out who the guilty party is in a book, though I don't like it to be too easy, but it is also fun when I can't figure it out, and this was such a case with this book. I thought I knew who the guilty party was, and was wrong.
People who enjoy mysteries like Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple will enjoy this series. I highly recommend it, and they should be read in order.
About the author:
Julianna Deering has always loved British history and literature and is particularly a fan of the classic mysteries written by Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie. She graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas and now works for an attorney specializing in wills and estate planning. She lives outside Dallas, Texas, where she loves to quilt, cross-stitch, and watch hockey. Learn more at www.juliannadeering.com.
Death by the Book is available from Revell Publishing, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Thanks to Revell for the review copy.
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