Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am happy to share my thoughts about
The Case of the Beguiling Brooch by Terry Ambrose today!
The Case of the Beguiling Brooch (Beachtown Detective Agency)
Private Investigator Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – California
Publisher : Satori (November 21, 2024)
Paperback : 328 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8990045712
Kindle ASIN : B0DJ8MDHCM
Private Eye Jade Cavendish thought she was just attending another somber funeral, paying respects to the late Benji Thompson. But when an elegant woman named Hilda Bauer urgently pulls her aside, Jade’s day takes an unexpected turn. Hilda’s mother’s brooch, a family heirloom, was lost during World War II. Her only lead is a cryptogram left by the deceased along with a message that Jade could solve it..
A cryptic message from the dead.
Jade’s curiosity is piqued as she tries to decipher the cryptogram, only to realize she first needs a key. Her quest spirals her into a labyrinth of secrets, where nothing is as it seems. Just as she begins to untangle the mystery, Jade learns that Benji’s death was no accident—it was murder.
An art world full of shadows.
Determined to solve both Benji’s murder and the cryptogram, Jade dives into the enigmatic art world and unearths Benji’s link to an international art theft ring. Each clue brings her closer to the truth but also deeper into danger. With every step forward, the shadowy figure known as Valkyrie looms larger, marking Jade as the next target.
Two mysteries intertwine.
With time running out, Jade must crack the cryptogram to recover the brooch and unmask Benji’s killer. But time is running out, and the stakes are higher than ever as Valkyrie springs into action.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
By attending the funeral of Benji Thompson Private Eye Jade Cavendish gets a new case trying to find a brooch lost during World War II. It’s not your typical case as it starts with a “cryptic message” from the newly deceased. To solve it Jade needs to find the key and in her quest to find it, she learns Benji Thompson’s death was murder and not an accident. To solve his murder and find the key Jade finds herself enmeshed in the art world and discovers Benji was part of an international art theft ring. This knowledge puts a target on her back so she needs to hurry because the stakes are higher than she ever imagined.
The author has created an interesting cast of characters for this series. Jade Cavendish is a spunky woman currently running the family business, Beachtown Detective Agency but her father and his friend are never afraid to share their opinions, and they may have pertinent information in this “game of secrets” she finds herself tangled up in. Her mother worries so she and her dad try to let her know everything that is going on. Her assistant Zoe has become a real asset. Her friend Gina had been working with Benji on a kid’s art program so she took his death hard but Gina can be a bit of a drama queen. To the core cast Mr Ambrose adds a very eclectic group of new characters to set this mystery in motion.
Jade was part of Benji Thompson’s network and he was a great resource with his contacts all over the world. Benji trusted her, setting up a real puzzle for her to solve the mystery of his death, the missing brooch, and other missing pieces of art. Mr. Ambrose plotted out this puzzle filled mystery with twists that not only tested Jade but also tested his readers. There was a large cast to keep straight and multiple secrets and connections. I admit I was taking notes.
I liked that Jade teamed up and worked with another woman to sort out clues, follow leads, and solve the puzzles in their path. Jade had to ask tough questions and earn some trust to find information about everything Benji had his fingers in. I appreciated the author’s detailed description of each situation and interaction as the investigation continued. It wasn’t until the stirring showdown that all the clues fell into place and all the details were explained. Jade gets a little help with the takedown and it made me smile. Mr. Ambrose knows just when to insert humorous moments and he did it perfectly right up until the very end.
The Case of the Beguiling Brooch was plotted with fascinating puzzles. Benji left puzzles to solve, but then it was a matter of putting all the pieces together in a way that made sense to help catch a killer, and it was a complicated process. It was confounding at times but totally enjoyable. I also learned quite a bit about art theft and all the machinations to pull it off and was reminded about cryptography which I learned about in high school.
This was a great read and a Perfect Escape.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC.
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
About the Author
Terry Ambrose started out skip tracing and collecting money from deadbeats and quickly learned that liars come from all walks of life. He never actually stole a car, but sometimes hired big guys with tow trucks and a penchant for working in the dark to “help” when negotiations failed.
A resident of Southern California, he loves spending time in Hawaii, especially on the Garden Island of Kauai, where he invents lies for others to read. His years of chasing deadbeats taught him many valuable life lessons such as—always keep your car in the garage.
Author links:
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Also written by Terry Ambrose
Find all of Terry’s books HERE.
I am giving away 1 Kindle Copy of either
Book 1 – The Case of the Amorous Assailant or
Book 2 – The Case of the Beguiling Brooch
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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.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.”