Review

The Pennyfoot Hotel is now a country club licensed for card games and owner Cecily Sinclair Baxter is looking forward to a busy holiday season with a hotel full of guests. However, it seems there is a serial killer on the loose in Badger’s End, causing fear among the staff as well as canceled reservations. Cecily has investigated several murders in the past, without the blessing of the local police force. This time, Police Constable Northcott is begging for Cecily’s help so the murders will be solved before Christmas and now Cecily is torn. Her husband Hugh gave up a desirable position abroad so she could stay in England and run the hotel, but she had to promise not to get involved in any more investigations. Hugh eventually relents and gives his reluctant blessing for Cecily to help identify the murderer, as long as she keeps coachman Samuel nearby. However, none of the clues are coming together and the murderer nicknamed “The Christmas Angel” strikes again. Will Cecily regain her touch at investigating before the murderer claims another victim?

The Pennyfoot Hotel series is charming and the special holiday stories are especially enjoyable. However, Herald of Death is disappointing and not on par with some of the prior books in the series. The plot of the mystery is interesting, but the investigation is slow to get going at the beginning and the story slows down several times in later portions of the book.

Distinct, memorable characters are the best part of paying a visit to the Pennyfoot Hotel, and they are still present in this book. Readers who have read other books in the series will enjoy catching up with the characters and while new readers may not understand all of the backstories of each character, they are given enough information to enjoy the story. However, even some of the characters are lacking this time. The usually endearing Cecily seems to have lost her sparkle as she laments over the lack of progress she is making with the case. One of her best friends, Phoebe Fortescue, comes into her home and runs the annual Christmas pageant with an iron fist, and seems especially overbearing this go-round. Even Cecily’s husband Hugh comes off selfish and self-centered during much of the book, although there are a few nice scenes between him and Cecily that help make up for his earlier complaints over turning down the position abroad. Madeline Prestwick, Cecily’s other good friend, is as sweet and caring as ever, but her psychic contributions to the investigation seem out of place with the rest of the book.

The supporting characters of Herald of Death steal the show from the main characters. Pansy, one of the Pennyfoot maids, is not sure what’s going to happen next in her relationship with Samuel. She becomes even more insecure when his ex-girlfriend, the beautiful Doris, comes back to the Pennyfoot after appearing on stage in London. One of the other maids, Gertie, is outspoken, independent, and unlucky in love, and becomes scared when she finds herself experiencing deeper feelings than friendship towards her frequent companion Clive. These two subplots made the entire book for me. These storylines were such a joy to read, I sometimes found myself wanting to race through the descriptions of the murder investigation to get back to the beautifully written story of love and friendship related to Pansy, Samuel, Doris, Gertie, and Clive.

While the exact year isn’t mentioned, this story seems to take place somewhere between 1902 and 1905 and the book contains wonderful period details, such as Cecily traveling by horse and carriage to visit the suspects in the murder. It’s a simpler time of sleigh rides and Christmas pantomime’s for the upper classes, but much hard work and rules for conduct for the servants. The book illustrates both ways of life very well through a variety of vivid, interesting characters.  Those who enjoy books set in England during this time period will love the atmosphere in the latest Pennyfoot Hotel holiday mystery.

Reviewed by Christine