Gavels, Tinsel and Murder: A British Cozy Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth
(A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery)
by Victoria Tait
About Gavels, Tinsel and Murder
Gavels, Tinsel and Murder: A British Cozy Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Kanga Press (November 4, 2022)
Number of Pages c. 240
Digital ASIN : B0B6Y4H13L
A charity ball. A dead guest. Can an amateur sleuth solve the case or will it ruin Christmas forever?
Aspiring antiques expert, Dotty Sayers, is excited about organising a ball in a Cotswold country house. When a lecture on modern art leads to a kiss under the mistletoe she thinks all her Christmases have come at once. But her festive cheer turns sour when a partygoer is found dead on the dance floor.
The police ask Dotty to help wrap up the case of a stolen painting, but as the search continues she becomes entangled in the murder investigation. When this amateur detective realises the culprit could be a close friend, will she face the Yuletide music?
Can Dotty put aside her personal feelings and herald a murderer?
Gavels, Tinsel, and Murder is the fourth book in the charming Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series. If you like to eat, drink and be merry with a group of entertaining characters, then you’ll be entertained by Victoria Tait’s festive tale.
Christmas comes but once a year so buy Gavels, Tinsel and Murder today!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Aging rockstar Jay Newton returns and again he is opening his home to the public for a charity Christmas gala that includes dinner, dancing, and both a public auction and a silent auction. Dotty and her friend local police sergeant Keya Varma are organizing the event. Dotty is also busy with her work at Akemans Auction House and she just started an Appreciation of Modern Art Short Course that is mostly online but features a weekly in-person lecture by experts. At home, she is helping Aunt Beanie with Uncle Cliff but soon Beanie is going to have to make a huge decision.
The night of the ball arrives and everything is shining bright including Dotty who receives a very special kiss under the mistletoe. But then, just as the silent auction is about to start one of the guests is found dead and later a painting goes missing. The police actually ask for Dotty’s help to find the painting but she quickly realizes that case is coupled with the murder investigation and may involve a friend. Can she remain impartial and find the killer or will these cases ruin everyone’s Christmas?
I love the way Dotty has grown since this series began. She is getting more independent every day and has turned into a strong amateur sleuth. She is also out meeting more people. Taking an art class on her own is a huge step. She is even starting to open up to having a new man in her life.
Dotty is surrounded by a wonderful group of friends but they have struggles of their own. We have watched Uncle Cliff’s dementia change him and it has been hard on Beanie, Norman, and Dotty. In this story, Beanie is under a lot of pressure. Ms. Tait has handled this subplot in a very real way and may make readers get emotional as Beanie works through her decision. I was a little angry with one character but was touched by Beanie the whole time. Another is questioning the strength of her marriage and opens up to Dotty. She has such a compassionate soul, all she wants to do is help.
The author penned a very complex mystery. The victim made his share of enemies so there were plenty of suspects. Murder, money, fidelity, stolen paintings, and forgeries all twist together to set up an incredibly surprising ending, and it’s a bit of a wild ride to get there. I enjoyed every second but am still in shock.
Ms. Tait is a marvelous storyteller. Her characters are diverse and multi-generational. Their interaction and dialogue are true to life. The settings are brought to life with her descriptive writing style. I treasure the feeling of being right there in the room. She includes real everyday issues that we all could face in our own lives. And she always delivers a top-notch mystery that makes me think.
Gavels, Tinsel and Murder is an excellent addition to this series. As soon as I finished it I was wishing I had the next book in my hands. Thankfully, my wait won’t be long. Antique Tragedy will be released on December 26. Merry Christmas to me!
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
About Victoria Tait
I was born and raised in Yorkshire, UK, and never expected to travel the world. But I fell for an Army Officer, and I’ve followed him from Northern Ireland, up to the Scottish Highlands, across to Africa and the Kenyan Savannah, back to the British Cotswolds, and we are now living in Sarajevo, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Southern Europe.
I never expected to be an author, but all this moving is not ideal for holding down a job. Instead, I’ve taken the experiences of the places I’ve lived to write vivid and evocative cozy mystery books with determined female sleuths.
I have two fast-growing teenage boys, and together we’ve learnt to ski on the Bosnian mountains. I also enjoy horse riding, mountain biking and I’ve started running as a way to improve my physical fitness, mental well-being and shed some excess pounds.
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The Rest of the Series
Coming December 26, 2022
Great Escapes Praise for Gavels, Tinsel and Murder: A British Cozy Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth
(A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery)
by Victoria Tait
I highly recommend Gavels, Tinsel and Murder for its fascinating characters, enjoyable setting, and exciting mystery.
~Christy’s Cozy Corners
Makes for a fabulously fun cozy mystery that you will be unable to put down until the very last page.
~Books A Plenty Book Reviews
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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.”
Too soon for Christmas for me…