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Back Porchervations also hosts a stop today so be sure to stop there for her review too!
Deadly Scandal
by Kate Parker
Deadly Scandal
Deadly Series
New Series
Genre – Cozy Historical Mystery
Setting – London
JDP Press (January 14, 2016)
Paperback: 338 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0996483124
E-Book ASIN: B01AU0KC8E
An exciting new series from the author of The Victorian Bookshop Mysteries
Synopsis:
Olivia Denis is a contented young wife with a carefree life in late 1930’s London. Then her world is shattered with the violent death of her husband, Reggie. The police want to call it a suicide and close the case, but Olivia knows Reggie couldn’t possibly have fired the fatal shot.
Further mysteries surface surrounding her husband’s death. Did the trustworthy Foreign Office employee betray government secrets? Was his murder linked to the death of a German embassy clerk the same night? And who searched their flat?
Her desire for answers and her need to support herself cause her to break away from the pampered life she’s known and take a job. But with the much-needed paycheck as a society reporter for a newspaper comes a secret secondary assignment—one that involves her in the increasingly dangerous world of European politics as the continent slides toward war.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This is a fantastic debut for this new series! Olivia Denis is one strong woman and I really admire the way she sticks to something when she starts it. She knew her husband could not have taken his own life but the path she takes to find out who really killed him opens doors and reveals more secrets than she ever could have imagined.
I loved Kate Parker’s Victorian Mystery Series. She has a great writing style and her stories feature strong women. I knew I would enjoy this book before I even started reading, but she exceeded all of my expectations.
She takes us back to the 1930’s in London. Olivia’s husband, Reggie, works in the Foreign Office and handles documents and diplomatic credentials. They had traveled to Germany a few times for his work. Could he have seen something to get him killed? As she tries to determine why he was killed we meet his boss and co-workers. We also meet a friend of Olivia’s who helps her get a job at a newspaper covering the society page. She is also doing some work on the side for the owner of the paper. This story takes place at the cusp before World War 2, where everyone seems to be spying on someone. Everyone is scared about what Hitler has planned. Many Jewish people are leaving Germany and others are holding firm. Parker really gives us a human side to these situations by introducing to some interesting characters and even takes our protagonist on a quick trip to Berlin. All of the characters we meet are richly detailed.
This author really knows how to set the scene. It is so easy to “see” all the places this story takes us. The details just form perfect pictures from the streets to the homes with their opulent parties and Olivia’s flat. Olivia quickly sketches what the ladies are wearing so she can describe them in her articles so those take vivid form as well.
She also knows how to plot a story that pulls us in and doesn’t let go. There are so many clues but they all have to come together in the right way to solve the mystery. I really enjoyed following in Olivia’s footsteps and having that “AHA” Moment almost simultaneously.
Parker has penned an excellent story that all historical mystery lovers will absolutely love. In addition to this fine story, the next best thing is that this is a series so we are going to be meeting some of these characters again and I am really excited about that.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kate Parker has wanted to travel to 1930s England since she read her mother’s Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers mysteries when she was a schoolgirl. After many years of studying science, she decided a time travel machine was out of the question so she found herself limited to reading about the period and visiting historic sites. Her love of this fascinating and challenging period led her to the research from which the Deadly series grew. Eventually, she found it necessary to spend several days in the British Library reading old newspapers, which meant another trip to England. Near Christmas. A sacrifice she’d gladly make every year.
The first story in the series is Deadly Scandal
Author Links:
Website Facebook Twittter Goodreads
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Be sure to check out the rest of the tour!
Tour Participants
February 29 – Deal Sharing Aunt – Review, Interview
March 1 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
March 2 – Queen of All She Reads – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
March 3 – Back Porchervations – Review, Giveaway
March 4 – Booklady’s Booknotes – Review
March 5 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – Review, Giveaway
March 6 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Review, Interview
March 7 – Student of Opinions – Review
March 8 – Girl Lost In a Book – Review, Giveaway
March 9 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Sounds like another great series by this wonderful author. Thanks for the chance to win.
What a wonderful beginning to a new series. I’m anxious to get a copy. robeader53@yahoo.com
Sounds like a good read.
Love the write up about the book as love strong woman also thank you Escape with Dollycas for all the great authors especially cozy that you have at your site!
Love it when I get to meet a new author. And I adore period pieces. This looks like a great read. Books are on my TBR. But am hoping for an early start. Thanks for the intro to a new author and series. And for the chance at this book.