Lori C. (dollycas) reviewed Better Homes and Corpses (Hamptons Home & Garden, Bk 1) on + 705 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
Dollycas's Thoughts
I am really taken with this new protagonist. Meg Barrett has inherited a investigative gene from her dad, a retired police officer. And he may be retired but doesn't mind using his connections to help her with her queries. She has left her job in Manhattan and is starting her own home decorating business in Montauk with the help of her friend Elle. A part of her past is in Montauk though. Her old college roommate, Jillian Spenser. It was only for one semester so when Jillian's mother, the Queen Mother of the Hamptons, invites her to stop by their huge mansion she is quite surprised. When she arrives for her appointment she walks in to find Jillian on the floor cradling the Queen Mum's very dead body. Jillian is a mess and making no sense. The police are called and an investigation is launched. At the same time the insurance company for the family hires Elle to inventory the home's property to be sure nothing has been stolen. She asks Meg to help her and puts Meg in the perfect position to do a little investigating on her own.
This was a fun debut. The Spensers, their staff, and those that live on the property are quite an interesting bunch. Most are keeping something secret or hiding something. Just when I thought I figured out who had means, motive and opportunity there would be a twist that would knock my theory all out of whack. The ending turned out to be quite a surprise. I would say my speculations were about 10% right.
The Spenser home is quite a spectacular place. Four floors including an attic full of junk, a few treasures and a stuffed beast that would be gone so fast if I lived there. The living areas are beautifully furnished with the exception of Jillian's room who had a rebellious streak and removed her antique furniture for things that were probably purchased at a discount store.
The author has a writing style that feel very familiar, a bit Christie ish. She draws us in and holds us tight with a mystery that is ideally paced. She gives us detailed descriptions to set the time and the place and then she drops a clue here and a clue there as the reader follows along with Meg still trying to solve the mystery first.
This is a great start for the series. I am hoping to get to know Meg, her family and friends better in future installments. Meg is starting a new adventure and I can't wait to see how it all turns out.
I am really taken with this new protagonist. Meg Barrett has inherited a investigative gene from her dad, a retired police officer. And he may be retired but doesn't mind using his connections to help her with her queries. She has left her job in Manhattan and is starting her own home decorating business in Montauk with the help of her friend Elle. A part of her past is in Montauk though. Her old college roommate, Jillian Spenser. It was only for one semester so when Jillian's mother, the Queen Mother of the Hamptons, invites her to stop by their huge mansion she is quite surprised. When she arrives for her appointment she walks in to find Jillian on the floor cradling the Queen Mum's very dead body. Jillian is a mess and making no sense. The police are called and an investigation is launched. At the same time the insurance company for the family hires Elle to inventory the home's property to be sure nothing has been stolen. She asks Meg to help her and puts Meg in the perfect position to do a little investigating on her own.
This was a fun debut. The Spensers, their staff, and those that live on the property are quite an interesting bunch. Most are keeping something secret or hiding something. Just when I thought I figured out who had means, motive and opportunity there would be a twist that would knock my theory all out of whack. The ending turned out to be quite a surprise. I would say my speculations were about 10% right.
The Spenser home is quite a spectacular place. Four floors including an attic full of junk, a few treasures and a stuffed beast that would be gone so fast if I lived there. The living areas are beautifully furnished with the exception of Jillian's room who had a rebellious streak and removed her antique furniture for things that were probably purchased at a discount store.
The author has a writing style that feel very familiar, a bit Christie ish. She draws us in and holds us tight with a mystery that is ideally paced. She gives us detailed descriptions to set the time and the place and then she drops a clue here and a clue there as the reader follows along with Meg still trying to solve the mystery first.
This is a great start for the series. I am hoping to get to know Meg, her family and friends better in future installments. Meg is starting a new adventure and I can't wait to see how it all turns out.
Susie F. (chefdetective) reviewed Better Homes and Corpses (Hamptons Home & Garden, Bk 1) on + 75 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Well I immediately went to see if this author had written any other books. It was great! Characters so likeable and the story kept moving, I didn't want to put it down. Highly recommended. I just sent mine off to a friend and told her to post it when she's done.
Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Helpful Score: 1
Better Homes and Corpses is the first in the Hamptons Home and Garden Mystery series. The series centers around Meg Barrett, home decorator in Montauk, a small seaside community in the Hamptons of Long Island, New York.
Having left the publishing world of Manhattan and her job with American Home and Garden magazine, when she finds her fiancée cheating on her with his ex wife, Meg has started her own interior design business, Cottages by the Sea. Meg reconnects with college roommate Jillian Spenser whose mother Caroline, an avid collector of antiquities and arts has the reputation as the Queen Mother of the Hamptons. Excited for the opportunity to visit "Seacliff" the Spenser's sprawling estate, Meg arrives to find Caroline dead in Jillian's arms.
Elle Warner is Meg's best friend from the magazine world, who also has quit the publishing industry to open an antiques shop, in nearby Sag Harbor. When Elle is hired to inventory the Spenser estate for the First Fidelity Insurance Company she invites Meg along to assist.
It turns out there is a lot more hidden behind the walls of Seacliff than just priceless artifacts. It appears that Jillian is suffering from PTSD brought about by a boating accident suffered as a teenager and now the recent attack on her and her mother has left her with amnesia, plus someone is still making attempts on her life. A helpless, fragile shell of her former self Meg feels the need to protect her friend and discover who killed Caroline.
Plenty of suspects reside behind the hedges of Seacliff including Jillian's brother Cole who has been estranged from the family for over 17 years. DR. Greene, Jillian's personal physician, Butler and Housekeeper Mr. & Mrs. Arnold, eccentric Salvatore the painter turned sculptor and his son Van, Caroline's art assistant Adam Prescott and his mother Frances. Everyone seems to have had a motive to murder Caroline, but why is the killer still after Jillian?
This was a great first with lots of twists and turns that left me guessing until the very end. I was completely wrong in thinking I knew whodunit. Meg suffers from hearing loss and the authors delicate handling of Meg's disability along with the inclusion into the story of Tripod, the three legged dog adds just the right touch of heartwarming realism.
As is the common thread in most cozies, romantic tensions run high between Meg and one of her suspects. Ultimately he is cleared of any wrongdoing and it will be interesting to see if their relationship evolves in future books. Meg has a very loving relationship with her ex-detective Father and I'm curious to see if he and his new wife will appear to help Meg in her future investigations. Most of all I'm eager to see how Meg tackles her next big project of renovating and restoring her new home.
A great debut!
Having left the publishing world of Manhattan and her job with American Home and Garden magazine, when she finds her fiancée cheating on her with his ex wife, Meg has started her own interior design business, Cottages by the Sea. Meg reconnects with college roommate Jillian Spenser whose mother Caroline, an avid collector of antiquities and arts has the reputation as the Queen Mother of the Hamptons. Excited for the opportunity to visit "Seacliff" the Spenser's sprawling estate, Meg arrives to find Caroline dead in Jillian's arms.
Elle Warner is Meg's best friend from the magazine world, who also has quit the publishing industry to open an antiques shop, in nearby Sag Harbor. When Elle is hired to inventory the Spenser estate for the First Fidelity Insurance Company she invites Meg along to assist.
It turns out there is a lot more hidden behind the walls of Seacliff than just priceless artifacts. It appears that Jillian is suffering from PTSD brought about by a boating accident suffered as a teenager and now the recent attack on her and her mother has left her with amnesia, plus someone is still making attempts on her life. A helpless, fragile shell of her former self Meg feels the need to protect her friend and discover who killed Caroline.
Plenty of suspects reside behind the hedges of Seacliff including Jillian's brother Cole who has been estranged from the family for over 17 years. DR. Greene, Jillian's personal physician, Butler and Housekeeper Mr. & Mrs. Arnold, eccentric Salvatore the painter turned sculptor and his son Van, Caroline's art assistant Adam Prescott and his mother Frances. Everyone seems to have had a motive to murder Caroline, but why is the killer still after Jillian?
This was a great first with lots of twists and turns that left me guessing until the very end. I was completely wrong in thinking I knew whodunit. Meg suffers from hearing loss and the authors delicate handling of Meg's disability along with the inclusion into the story of Tripod, the three legged dog adds just the right touch of heartwarming realism.
As is the common thread in most cozies, romantic tensions run high between Meg and one of her suspects. Ultimately he is cleared of any wrongdoing and it will be interesting to see if their relationship evolves in future books. Meg has a very loving relationship with her ex-detective Father and I'm curious to see if he and his new wife will appear to help Meg in her future investigations. Most of all I'm eager to see how Meg tackles her next big project of renovating and restoring her new home.
A great debut!
