Murder in Mink (The Clara Fitzgerald Mysteries #3) by Evelyn James

Murder in Mink (The Clara Fitzgerald Mysteries #3) Reviews

• 
  Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)

  I'm done here. I can't read any more of this.
  Please, cosy writers, if you are going to write a "period" cosy, PLEASE acquire a nodding acquaintance with the idiom of the period you set your book in! I have read most of the 1920s great mystery writers, you'll enjoy it, and it's not even hard. Please don't write third-millenium characters and dress them up in period clothing and call it enough. Give us a flavour of the time, or don't bother me. Just one example: the phrase "having kittens" to mean "extremely upset" did not become current slang until the 1950s.
  
  Not only that--even if you're selling your stuff via direct download on some website, please, PLEASE find a proofreader with a decent knowledge of English usage, spelling and punctuation! This book is full of misused homonyms such as "passed" and "past" (that one occurs repeatedly) and weird prepositions as well as flat-down strange language. One character doesn't want the others "barging your noses in", another requires "a defense to the tension in the room" (instead of "defense OF". At one point "Eustace gave a rumbling gruff." What does that mean in English? At another the MC refers to another woman as "the third pin at a party." Third pin? I looked all over the Web and didn't find a single reference to that one. If I meant "third wheel" I would say so.
  
  And this is the third book in a series. I shudder to think what the others are like. The writing is so bad in all the above mentioned ways that I no longer care a rap what happens to the characters.
• 
  Isabella

  I've read a few of this series and they're a pleasant read. The plots are well-constructed and no more far-fetched than the average mystery. There are a few anomalies, particularly in the casual informality between characters who, even in my youth (the fifties and sixties), would not have used first names in public.
  For some reason, this particular book has some odd mistakes. Twice, a widow refers to herself as a "widower", and at one point Clara asks someone to "Amuse me," where she clearly means "Humour me". I've given up all hope of anyone getting tenses right ("sunk" for "sank" etc) but I'm pleased to see that "shall" and "will" are used perfectly - not that most people this side of the Atlantic seem to know the distinction!
  Not a bad way to pass an hour or so when you don't want anything too highbrow but still not glib or gratuitously nasty.
• 
  Amanda Jane

  Good read but a few typos
  
  Clara and Tommy attend a family wedding; as the poor relations they're treated with a bit of disdain by their Uncle Hogarth, Step-Aunt Glorianna, and cousins Andrew, Pip and Susan, but set themselves to make the best of it while staying with them; after all it's only for a couple of days, isn't it?
  
  When their other uncle, Eustace, turns up early and creates a kerfuffle with his rudeness to everyone things only become more perplexing. Especially when Clara then rescues Susan following a suicide attempt.
  
  When Laura, the groom-to-be's fiancée, arrives to join them for a meal, they're surprised by her youthful vivacious nature; what on earth does she see in staid, sullen and snobby Andrew?
  
  During the ceremony a rather overblown and common woman wearing an expensive mink coat over a cheap and tarty outfit, Shirley, halts the proceedings by declaring that she's Andrew's wife.. the shock sets off a chain of events that includes two deaths, one being the unfortunate wife.
  
  What made Susan try to kill herself? Did Andrew commit the crime in order to be free to marry Laura? Who killed Uncle Eustace found dead in his bed by a maid? With three mysteries to solve and everyone with motives Clara is asked by Inspector Jennings to stay on and help solve this decidedly tricky case.
  
  Shame about the typos, poor editing which wasn't the case in the two preceding books in the series.. entertaining and enjoyable novel all the same.
• 
  JJ

  The third of the Clara Fitzgerald books. And I have to say I do enjoy them
  Clara and Tommy are invited to a family wedding, they stay at the country pile of the parents of the groom being related to them.
  Here we find Uncle Horace, who took over the family business and said country pile as the older brother was not deemed bright enough, his second wife and stepmother to his children the pushy and rather bossy Gloriana. Then there are the children, Andrew the groom who when he isn’t being sullenly silent is rather rude to Clara, his sister Peg with unfashionably cropped hair and a preference for wearing trousers (the horror of it all) and younger sister Susan bullied by her stepmother and always appearing shy and nervous. Horace’s older brother Uncle Eustace also turns up. He is a the black sheep of the family. He says things others wouldn’t dare and loves to provoke.
  So far, so fairly on edge.
  The wedding turns into a disaster followed by a suspicious death. Clara, with Tommy’s help and encouragement from Inspector helps uncover the sordid secrets hidden by the Campbell family, her own relations.
  The story fairly zips along and covers some interesting ground, back street abortions, attempted suicide, murder, prostitution and poisoning. It’s not as heavy as all that sounds.
  Clara is a likeable character who knows how to handle most people in any given situation. I liked her interaction with Inspector and hoped, maybe...but maybe not.
  I look forward to more of her adventures.
• 
  Simone

  3.5 stars
• 
  Jean

  Gave it up because while the characters were interesting they just couldn't hold my attention. Like wandering into a family feud where you really don't care.
• 
  Ruth

  Rather a sweet cozy mystery no tension or suspense but a nice little twist in the tail.
• 
  Voirrey

  Just noticed I forgot to add this when I read it - I remember it was a good read :)
• 
  Damaskcat

  Clara and Tommy are invited to stay with some distant cousins to attend a wedding. They do not know their cousins very well and the invitation is a bit of a surprise but as Clara has no urgent cases needing her attention they decide to go. It is soon clear that the family do not get on together with an outspoken Uncle, a stepmother who seems to be very unpopular except with her husband and a silent bridegroom. When murder follows a disruption at the wedding Clara finds herself involved in another investigation.
  
  I thought this was the best book in the series that I've read so far and I really enjoyed reading it and trying to work out who was responsible for the murder. I didn't work it out until very close to the end. Clara is an interesting character and Tommy is taking a bigger part in her investigations too which I think adds interest to the stories.
  
  If you're looking for a new historical mystery series then you could do worse than read this one. It is well written with believable characters and situations.
• 
  Paula

  Rarely do I give five stars but these books by Evelyn James literally make my day!!
  
  Well written, good plot with a few red herrings and twists to keep you thoroughly puzzled throughout. Anyone who likes Agatha Christie will love this series of (currently) 23 books!
  
  Onto book four and I’m going through the series like a dose of salts as I cannot put them down!
  
  Evelyn James, well done for keeping me gripped and wanting more, more, more!
  
  Does Tommy walk again? Does Clara get together with Oliver? Does Tommy get together with Annie? Does Clara EVER find a paying Client? All these need to be answered and I am more than willing to keep reading to find out!
• 
  Monisha

  It was very interesting I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the characters and the storyline . 3.5 stars