Thursday, June 8, 2017

ARC Review: Bad Housekeeping by Maia Chance

Bad Housekeeping
Author: Maia Chance
Series: An Agnes & Effie Mystery (Book 1)
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (June 13, 2017)

Description: When 28-year-old Agnes Blythe, the contented bifocals-wearing half of an academic power couple, is jilted by her professor boyfriend for the town Pilates instructor, her future is suddenly less than certain. So when her glamorous, eccentric Great Aunt Effie arrives in town and offers a job helping to salvage the condemned Stagecoach Inn, what does Agnes have to lose? But work at the inn has barely begun when the unlikely duo find the body of manipulative Kathleen Todd, with whom Agnes and Effie both have recently had words. Words strong enough to land them at the top of the suspect list.

The pair have clearly been framed, but no one else seems interested in finding the real murderer and Agnes and Effie's sleuthing expertise is not exactly slick. Nevertheless, they're soon investigating a suspect list with laundry dirtier than a middle school soccer team's and navigating threats, car chases, shotgun blasts, and awkward strolls down memory lane.

In Bad Housekeeping, the first novel in the Agnes & Effie cozy mystery series by Maia Chance, danger mounts, deadlines loom, ancient knob-and-tube wiring is explored, and the ladies learn a thing or two about the awful, wonderful mistake that is going back home.

My Thoughts: Agnes Blythe is newly dumped by her boyfriend and back home living with her father. Her Great-aunt Effie comes to town and drafts her to be her assistant in the renovation of the condemned inn that Effie has inherited. They didn't expect the first thing they'd find was the body of Kathleen Todd who is the president of the local historical society. Both Effie and Agnes had had recent run-ins with the abrasive Kathleen and the police are convinced that they are persons of interest in the case.

Agnes and Effie need to clear their names and renovate the wiring at the inn in order to stop it from being demolished. As they investigate, they run into loads of suspicious characters including the victim's two daughters, her best friend, a local author, a nightclub owner, and a man doing renovations on a local mansion. Agnes and Effie find themselves dodging the police and threats from some of the suspects as they investigate.

This story had quite a bit of humor because Effie is a real character and Agnes has a wonderful, self-deprecating way of telling the story. It also has a romance as Agnes reconnects with the boy she loved in high school who is now a local business owner.

This was a fun mystery with interesting characters and a fast moving plot.

Favorite Quote:
"Thank you so much for agreeing to see me on such short notice. I need help, you see."

Solomon shrank into his leather chair, but he stared at Effie like she had a halo.

I didn't know if I was old enough to watch this.
I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

1 comment:

  1. I am hoping to get this book soon...thanks for sharing. It sounds like a fun read.

    ReplyDelete

I love getting comments. Let me know what you think.

This blog is now officially declared an Award Free zone! I do appreciate your kindness in thinking of me and I am humbled by your generosity.

Your comments are award enough for me. Comment away!