Kristina A. reviewed on 11/4/2019 + 1528 more book reviews

A Legacy of Murder by Connie Berry is the second A Kate Hamilton Mystery. Kate Hamilton is visiting her daughter, Christine who obtained a position as an intern at Finchley Hall in Long Barston, Suffolk, England. Kate is enjoying a tour with the docent's spiel on the four murders that have occurred on the Elizabethan estate as well the infamous Hoard. As they approach the lake, a young boy screams, and Kate sees the body of a woman. Kate calls her beau, Detective Inspector Tom Mallory with the Suffolk Constabulary who rushes to the scene. The victim is Tabitha King who is an intern on the estate working on the upcoming display of the Finchley Hoard. When Lady Barbara Finchley-fforde learns of Kate's background, she asks if Kate would take over Tabitha's work for the upcoming exhibit. Kate also agrees to help Tom by keeping her eyes and ears open for intel that would help the investigation. Kate's pleasant Christmas vacation takes a turn when she gets caught up in mysterious happenings at Finchley Hall. Connie Berry is a descriptive writer whose details brings the scenes and characters alive. The setting was lovely, and I felt like I was in Suffolk. The antiques store in town sounded wondrous along with its quirky owner. If you have not read A Dream of Death, you will not be lost. Everything a new reader needs to know is included in A Legacy of murder. I thought the story contained good writing, but it does moves along at a slower pace. Things do pick up later in the story. Kate is a strong female protagonist. She is a widow with two grown children and runs an antique shop in Ohio. I can tell the author is familiar with antiques and this knowledge is beautifully incorporated into the story. The mystery is multifaceted which I enjoyed. Kate also gets to spend time with Tom, and I like that he finds her observations helpful. Kate's daughter, Christine has some growing up to do. She needs to learn that work and hunky boyfriends do not mix. A Legacy of Murder is an intriguing cozy mystery with multiple murders, extraordinary exhibition, boyfriend brouhaha, and a stately estate.

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