Friday, August 28, 2020

Friday Memes: Murder at Hotel 1911 by Audrey Keown

Happy Friday everybody!
Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City ReaderThe Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:
Amelia Swain's diamond-bedecked fingers gripped the high marble ledge between us, which seemed to be all that kept her from strangling me.
Friday 56:
I followed them down the fork of the drive that led to the garage at a safe distance, and Gabby followed me at an unsafe one.

Outside the garage, an ambulance was parked with its back door hanging open.
This week I am spotlighting Murder at Hotel 1911 by Audrey Keown which is from my review stack. Here is the description from Amazon:
A hotel clerk prone to panic attacks turns amateur detective in this elegant and atmospheric murder mystery.

If you want to spend a night amid the luxury and charm of the early 20th century, book a room at Hotel 1911. You'll find 28-year-old Ivy Nichols behind the reception desk. The hotel is Ivy's only link to the family that abandoned her when she was a small child. Now, plagued by panic attacks, she pedals her sea-green Schwinn bicycle to work every evening, hoping desperately to hold on to her job.

When wealthy, imperious Ms. Swain arrives at the hotel and belittles Ivy, the young woman seeks consolation in the welcoming kitchen of George, the hotel's chef. Despite her tormentor's barbs, she dutifully informs George that Ms. Swain has a deadly allergy to shellfish. So when Ms. Swain collapses at dinner and dies, the police suspect that the chef made a tragic, inexcusable error. Desperate to save George's career, Ivy sets out sleuthing. She learns that numerous people in and around the hotel had motives to contaminate Ms. Swain's plate. Among them are Jeffrey Swain, the victim's son and heir; painter Rose Jewett; and British expat Hemal Sandeep.

Even after the police find traces of shellfish in George's kitchen, Ivy is determined to clear her friend's name. But the stress of the investigation, in a hotel filled with suspects, threatens to precipitate another terrifying panic attack...or something more deadly.

6 comments:

  1. This sounds like a fun mystery. I think the setting has a lot to do with it. My book LEAVING TIME

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  2. This sounds like an exciting story. Enjoy your current read!

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  3. Sounds like a good one! Happy weekend!

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  4. Have to admit that Ivy intrigues me. Obviously she has more in her past than we know about. Hope you enjoy it.

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  5. Sounds like a fun story (for everyone except Mrs Swain! LOL). Thanks for sharing and enjoy your week :)

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  6. I might have to give this one a try. Thanks for sharing!

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