Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Helpful Score: 2
The first part of Mayhem at the Orient Express had me dying to slap Bea, Chandra and Kate silly. Any group of people who bicker amongst themselves constantly makes me head for the hills. Alvin Littlejohn should be given an award, not only for hanging onto the shreds of his sanity, but for devising a way to save the library funding. Fortunately, once the dead man is discovered and the blizzard hits, the three characters calm down and stumble through their investigation.
The author has assembled a cast of primary characters that could have a lot of staying power. There's Chandra Morrisey the New Age flake, Kate Wilder the Type A business woman, Luella Zak the practical older owner of a charter fishing company, and Bea Cartwright with her mysterious New York City past. Parts of Bea's past are revealed throughout the book, but there are still plenty of secrets that have yet to see the light of day. It's the set-up for a good cast, all right, but Bea is the only one who really comes to life.
Investigating a mystery crammed in a big old house filled with refugees from a blizzard works quite well, adding just the right touch of comedy, claustrophobia, and a hint of romance. It will be interesting to see if Logan develops her characters more as the series progresses. I certainly hope so.
The author has assembled a cast of primary characters that could have a lot of staying power. There's Chandra Morrisey the New Age flake, Kate Wilder the Type A business woman, Luella Zak the practical older owner of a charter fishing company, and Bea Cartwright with her mysterious New York City past. Parts of Bea's past are revealed throughout the book, but there are still plenty of secrets that have yet to see the light of day. It's the set-up for a good cast, all right, but Bea is the only one who really comes to life.
Investigating a mystery crammed in a big old house filled with refugees from a blizzard works quite well, adding just the right touch of comedy, claustrophobia, and a hint of romance. It will be interesting to see if Logan develops her characters more as the series progresses. I certainly hope so.
Deborah T. (nysbikergirl) reviewed Mayhem at the Orient Express (League of Literary Ladies, Bk 1) on + 97 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this first in a series as a well paced cozy. A bit out of the ordinary for a cozy, and lots of great characters. Very easy to read, track who was who, and keeps the reader entertained. I would read further in the series if they are written.
Tim H. (Timbuktu126) reviewed Mayhem at the Orient Express (League of Literary Ladies, Bk 1) on + 481 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I liked this book a lot. In the first scene, where the 3 main characters are arguing in court, I thought they might annoy me, but actually it was a good way to give some background info on all of them. I thought the plot was great- I wanted to keep on reading! The way that the ladies are brought into the mystery seemed plausible and the many connections to Murder on the Orient Express were fun. There were so many potential suspects and motives that by the end I just had no clue who was the culprit...and was quite surprised. I definitely will read the next in this series!
Elizabeth R. (esjro) -
This was an enjoyable start to a promising new series. The characters are fun and quirky. The resolution of the mystery was less than satisfying though. Cozies require a certain amount of suspension of disbelief (okay, make that a ton), but the ending to this one was an "Oh, puh-leeze." Fortunately the journey to find out whodunnit is entertaining enough.
Cheryl C. (moondance120) reviewed Mayhem at the Orient Express (League of Literary Ladies, Bk 1) on + 422 more book reviews
If it weren't for Jerry Garcia peeing on my pansies, I never would have joined the League of Literary Ladies.
Bea, Kate and Chandra find themselves in front of the local magistrate because of petty fighting between them. His sentence is for them to join the local library book club to keep the library's funding .A number of people become snowbound in Bea's bed and breakfast following a murder and a freak spring snowstorm. The ladies use their current book assignment of Murder on the Orient Express as a guideline to solve the murder.
Although this was a quick easy read, I never quite felt that I clicked with the characters. I'm not sure if I will read the next book in the series or not.
Bea, Kate and Chandra find themselves in front of the local magistrate because of petty fighting between them. His sentence is for them to join the local library book club to keep the library's funding .A number of people become snowbound in Bea's bed and breakfast following a murder and a freak spring snowstorm. The ladies use their current book assignment of Murder on the Orient Express as a guideline to solve the murder.
Although this was a quick easy read, I never quite felt that I clicked with the characters. I'm not sure if I will read the next book in the series or not.
Kimberly N. (kimberlyrav) -
I love the cover of this book. A cover will sell me on a book before I even know what it is about. This one is a huge winner!!!
I loved it. The author did a great job and I am now a fan! I loved the characters, all likable and relate-able. I laughed out loud several times throughout the story.
Loved the humor, the descriptions of the town, the Bed and Breakfast that the main character owns and runs. I loved re-visiting the old Agatha Christie, "Murder on the Orient Express", in this book.
Take a few women, who get on each others nerves for various reasons, throw them together in a reading discussion group, not only that but push them even closer together when they have to stay at the bed and breakfast because of a snowstorm and they have no choice but to try and get along. Add a bit of murder, shut off the power, light a warm fire in the hearth and you've got an awesome recipe in what I call, "A Great Cozy"!
One of my favorite types of read.
I loved it. The author did a great job and I am now a fan! I loved the characters, all likable and relate-able. I laughed out loud several times throughout the story.
Loved the humor, the descriptions of the town, the Bed and Breakfast that the main character owns and runs. I loved re-visiting the old Agatha Christie, "Murder on the Orient Express", in this book.
Take a few women, who get on each others nerves for various reasons, throw them together in a reading discussion group, not only that but push them even closer together when they have to stay at the bed and breakfast because of a snowstorm and they have no choice but to try and get along. Add a bit of murder, shut off the power, light a warm fire in the hearth and you've got an awesome recipe in what I call, "A Great Cozy"!
One of my favorite types of read.
Susan D. (leecat2) -
I loved this book. Ah, the characters are not the greatest I do not understand why cozy authors feel that they have to create these quirky characters. the book would be stronger without Chandra.
However, the great thing is that it is a cozy MYSTERY that actually has a mystery and an investigation and an interesting plot.
Yes, the final solution is lacking and ultimately does not quite make sense.
So, to reiterate, if you are looking for a cozy, with a dash of mystery, there are plenty to choose from. Cozies that have mystery plots that are puzzles to be solved are much rarer. I prefer the rare bird, so this is my cup of tea, to mix metaphors.
However, the great thing is that it is a cozy MYSTERY that actually has a mystery and an investigation and an interesting plot.
Yes, the final solution is lacking and ultimately does not quite make sense.
So, to reiterate, if you are looking for a cozy, with a dash of mystery, there are plenty to choose from. Cozies that have mystery plots that are puzzles to be solved are much rarer. I prefer the rare bird, so this is my cup of tea, to mix metaphors.
