Pros: Emma in another compelling mystery
Cons: Not in season, and missed those characters
The Bottom Line:
Murder on retreat
Set during the off season
With good mystery
Murder Makes a Retreat Rough
I may have not be too far into Alyssa Maxwell’s Gilded Newport Mysteries yet, but I can tell I’m hooked. How can I tell? When I put number four, Murder at Rough Point, onto my nightstand under another couple of books, I couldn’t wait to get to it. And I enjoyed this trip back in time.
The series is set in the late 1890’s, and the main character is Emma Cross. A distant relative of the Vanderbilts, she’s from a poor branch and supports herself reporting on fashion for one of the local papers. But she’s trying to get taken seriously as a real reporter, something that’s been helped by the murders she’s had a hand in solving.
This book opens in September of 1896. Emma’s been asked to cover an artist retreat happening at Rough Point, a mansion owned by Frederick Vanderbilt. When she arrives, Emma is surprised by some of the people included in the retreat. But even more surprising is the death of one of the artists at the base of the cliffs. It looks like it could be an accident, or even suicide. But something about the incident doesn’t sit right with Emma. Could it be murder?
This is the first time in the series that the book takes place outside of the summer season, when the wealthy are visiting. Yes, we still get a couple of real people in the story, but I missed seeing those we’ve already met. We did get some updates on them, but it wasn’t the same as watching their lives unfold.
Because a storm comes up not too much after the first death, everyone is trapped at the house. That doesn’t allow much room for subplots period, and I found I missed them as well. I like the mental rest that comes from a break in mystery plot.
But we do have a good mystery here. Emma’s efforts made sense as she tried to figure out what was going on, and the clues and red herrings were good. The solution works as well.
The one subplot we do get involves those mystery guests I teased. I liked that it allowed for some growth in Emma and I liked how open ended it left things. Also, one ongoing storyline got a little more complicated here.
My critiques of the book are minor, overall. While I missed the elements I mentioned, I did enjoy this book. It looks like the next in the series will be a summer book, and I can’t wait.
While Murder at Rough Point might not be best place to jump into the series, fans will still enjoy watching Emma solve this case. I’m already looking forward to my next trip to visit her.
Pick up the rest of the Gilded Newport Mysteries.
I may have not be too far into Alyssa Maxwell’s Gilded Newport Mysteries yet, but I can tell I’m hooked. How can I tell? When I put number four, Murder at Rough Point, onto my nightstand under another couple of books, I couldn’t wait to get to it. And I enjoyed this trip back in time.
The series is set in the late 1890’s, and the main character is Emma Cross. A distant relative of the Vanderbilts, she’s from a poor branch and supports herself reporting on fashion for one of the local papers. But she’s trying to get taken seriously as a real reporter, something that’s been helped by the murders she’s had a hand in solving.
This book opens in September of 1896. Emma’s been asked to cover an artist retreat happening at Rough Point, a mansion owned by Frederick Vanderbilt. When she arrives, Emma is surprised by some of the people included in the retreat. But even more surprising is the death of one of the artists at the base of the cliffs. It looks like it could be an accident, or even suicide. But something about the incident doesn’t sit right with Emma. Could it be murder?
This is the first time in the series that the book takes place outside of the summer season, when the wealthy are visiting. Yes, we still get a couple of real people in the story, but I missed seeing those we’ve already met. We did get some updates on them, but it wasn’t the same as watching their lives unfold.
Because a storm comes up not too much after the first death, everyone is trapped at the house. That doesn’t allow much room for subplots period, and I found I missed them as well. I like the mental rest that comes from a break in mystery plot.
But we do have a good mystery here. Emma’s efforts made sense as she tried to figure out what was going on, and the clues and red herrings were good. The solution works as well.
The one subplot we do get involves those mystery guests I teased. I liked that it allowed for some growth in Emma and I liked how open ended it left things. Also, one ongoing storyline got a little more complicated here.
My critiques of the book are minor, overall. While I missed the elements I mentioned, I did enjoy this book. It looks like the next in the series will be a summer book, and I can’t wait.
While Murder at Rough Point might not be best place to jump into the series, fans will still enjoy watching Emma solve this case. I’m already looking forward to my next trip to visit her.
Pick up the rest of the Gilded Newport Mysteries.
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