My turn today on this tour!
The Corpse With The Garnet Face
by Cathy Ace
The Corpse with the Garnet Face
(A Cait Morgan Mystery)
7th in Series
Genre – Cozy Mystery
Setting – Amsterdam
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: TouchWood Editions (April 12, 2016)
ISBN-13: 978-1771511650
ASIN: B019O1BNX8
Synopsis
The seventh book in the Cait Morgan series, the eccentric Welsh criminologist–sleuth travels to Amsterdam to track down the murderer of her husband’s long-lost uncle.
Cait’s husband, Bud, is just as surprised to find out he has an uncle as he is to find out that Uncle Jonas is now dead. Bud’s mother insists that Uncle Jonas was a bad child—a disposition made apparent, she believes, by the large purple birthmark covering most of his face. But in a letter he left for Bud, Uncle Jonas insists that he was driven away by hatred, and entreats his nephew to clear his name.
With an old iron key as their only clue, Cait and Bud travel to Amsterdam to solve the cryptic message left by Jonas, and honor the dying wish of a long-lost relative.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This was a little bit different than the previous stories in this series. Bud and Cait do not go to Amsterdam in search of a murderer. They go there because of a letter Bud receives from his uncle, a man he never even knew existed. While there he wants to find out about the man so he can tell his mother about the brother that she hasn’t seen or heard from in years. Uncle Jonas has laid out a complex journey that takes Cait and Bud about the town and countryside meeting his “friends”. Cait’s curiosity is peaked early on, she believes there is much more to Jonas’ story and she starts to think the man may have murdered. Bud thinks her imagination is running away with her after solving so many murder cases.
Uncle Jonas’ complex requests mean the Cathy Ace has written a complex mystery in a way that only she can. While the entire area in and around Amsterdam is the setting for this story, the suspects become limited to a certain group of people setting up a variation of the locked room mystery that this author does so well. I will admit I was a good way into the book before I realized murder had not really been mentioned. I was so caught up in all the places Bud and Cait were going, the people they were meeting and the unique house where Jonas lived, that when foul play started to be discussed I was thinking like Bud. Cait, using her photographic memory realized things both Bud and I had missed. With just a little more investigating more was revealed. When she confronted the group with her findings the complex became crystal clear.
Cathy Ace has a unique writing style. and the characters she creates have depth. Uncle Jonas had a large birthmark on his face. I grew up knowing someone that had a similar birthmark. While Bud’s mother thought this made Jonas “bad”, we do know our outside appearance can affect us in immeasurable ways. The man I knew personally wasn’t a “bad” man, but he grew up with a great group of friends that could see beyond the mark on his face. Jonas wasn’t fortunate to have the same. Starting with his father and on through life, people could not look at him, shied away, and even thought him to be “bad”. The basic question of nature vs. nurture plays out in this story. Jonas was a very interesting man with a great talent.
This author always takes us on an adventure. She always make us think. She always brings the setting to life. For those reasons this is one of my favorite series.
About The Author
Originally from Wales, now-Canadian Cathy Ace writes the Cait Morgan Mysteries. Her series has found her criminal psychologist, foodie sleuth stumbling upon Corpses with a Silver Tongue , a Golden Nose, an Emerald Thumb, Platinum Hair, Sapphire Eyes, Diamond Hand and, now Garnet Face, a during her globetrotting. The winner of The Bony Blithe Award for Best Light Mystery in 2015, when not helping Cait solve traditional, closed-circle mysteries, Cathy’s a keen gardener, ably assisted by her green-pawed chocolate Labradors.
Author Links:
And Coming in April 2016 – Pre-order today!
Also by Cathy Ace
Tour Participants
March 30 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, INTERVIEW
March 31 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 31 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
April 1 – Island Confidential – GUEST POST (Review)
April 2 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW
April 2 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too ! – SPOTLIGHT
April 3– Read Your Writes Book Reviews – INTERVIEW
April 4 – Varietats – REVIEW
April 4 – Queen of All She Reads – GUEST POST
April 5 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW, GUEST POST
April 6 – The Bookwyrm’s Hoard – REVIEW
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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.”
Cathy Ace does fantastic writing and I love her work. This was a really interesting and intriguing review.
This story has a great setting.
Thanks for the review and chance to win…I enjoy settings in places I’ve never visited..
Thanks for the chance to win. This sounds like a good read.
I’m a big fan of Cathy’s books and own the first four in this series. I’d love to add this one to my home library.
Cathy Ace is a new author to me and I like the review of her book. Definitely adding to my TBR list. Great giveaway, thanks.
This would be a great book to add to my cozy challenge list. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
Love the title.
I always enjoy a good mystery. Thanks for this opportunity.