TO THE MANOR DEAD
The Queensville Heritage Society is restoring the once-grand Dumpe Manor. While Dumpe relatives and society members use the occasion to dust off old grudges, Jaymie Leighton prefers to adorn the kitchen with authentic Depression Era furnishings. A collection of vintage wooden mallets found in the house is a perfect addition to her display, but one also offers a late-night intruder the perfect weapon to knock Jaymie unconscious before escaping.
Though the attack has everyone on edge, nothing is missing from the house. Perhaps it was merely a vagrant who thought the place was still abandoned. But when Dumpe Manor’s resident historian is murdered with a mallet from the same collection, it’s time for Jaymie to turn up the heat on the investigation before someone else becomes history.
Includes recipes!
Jaymie Leighton is excited to be a part of the Queensville Heritage Society’s latest project. They are restoring one of the town’s historic homes and Jaymie is looking forward to decorating the kitchen using vintage furnishings and utensils from the Depression Era. She begins searching at auctions and her own extensive collection of antique kitchen gadgets, but the fun ends when Jaymie is attacked one evening while is alone at the house. She tries to dismiss the attack until there is a murder in the town and the killing seems to be tied to her own assault. Many people would be scared off, but Jaymie is determined to continue with her decorating as well as solving the murder before the killer strikes again.
I have enjoyed this series from the very beginning, and No Mallets Intended has many positive things going for it. Although the main storyline of this installment drags on a bit too long, the main characters are once again pleasant. Jaymie is intelligent and kind and her relationship with her older sister, as well as with her best friend Valletta, are warm and realistic. The vintage kitchen theme of this series is unique and I always pick up some new tidbit of culinary history.
In spite of all the good things, I have to say this is the least favorite installment of the series. The plot is somewhat convoluted and my attention began to wander early on in the book. In addition, I’ve always found Jaymie’s friendship with her ex’s airheaded younger girlfriend Heidi to be strange, but it’s really awkward this time. Jaymie is giving relationship advice to both parties and Heidi, who is supposed to be Jaymie’s friend, regularly makes thoughtless comments about Jaymie’s age. Jaymie and her new boyfriend, Daniel, are at odds through much of the book and someone she meets in a surprising way suddenly becomes a potential love interest, which seems contrived. I’m not against Jaymie moving on from Daniel if that’s what she chooses, especially since he seems especially bossy in this book, ordering Jaymie not to investigate, not to go to the historic mansion alone, but then leaving town. However, the introduction of the new character just seems a bit too pat to be believable.
I really like the character of Jaymie and this series, so I’m hoping that whatever is in store for her in the next installment, that’s as enjoyable to read about as the earlier books in this charming series. Although it’s not the best in the series, this book is still a good read that fans of Joanne Fluke or Virginia Lowell will appreciate. If you’ve followed the series, you will want to read this book to keep up with how things are progressing in Jaymie’s personal life, even if the sleuthing portion is a letdown.
Reviewed by Christine
