Monday, September 17, 2018

Great Escapes Book Tours Book Review: A Stewed Observation


A Stewed Observation (A Dinner Club Murder Mysteries)

by Karen C. Whalen

About the Book 

Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
The Wild Rose Press, Inc (August 6, 2018)
Print Length: 214 pages
Digital ASIN: B07DYVWHFY

The Gourmet Dinner Club travels to Ireland to enjoy Irish cuisine while staying at a medieval, ivy-covered castle. Jane Marsh hopes Dale Capricorn will ask her to marry him at this romantic dream destination. But her plans are put on hold when the elderly castle owner becomes violent, a club member restrains him, and he collapses and dies.

The police believe the mysterious death is murder and begin to suspect one of the club’s members. Dale leaves for home on a business emergency, and as the lone single gal in the club full of couples, Jane is thrown into the company of Griffin O’Doherty, the handsome Irishman who stands to inherit the castle.

Jane must prove her friend’s innocence by solving the crime. Which of the sweet-tempered Irish could be a callous killer?


Review:  A Stewed Observation is the first book by Karen Whalen that I've read.. So this is my introduction to the Dinner Club Mysteries. This is the fourth book in the series. Its a stand alone, but for me, I would have liked to have read the other three because I would have liked to have a better grasp on Jane and Dale's relationship.

The murder was really interesting, with an elderly man becoming belligerent and when he's restrained he dies. This is definitely a type of murder you don't usually see. The cause of death was definitely something I hadn't heard off before.

Things are complicated because one club member is a suspect and they are in Ireland.

I loved the pacing of this novel and Jane especially. She was expecting her boyfriend to propose on this trip, but his ex calls him back to the states, which somehow allows her to flirt with Griffin who may or may not inherit the castle where they are staying.

I grew a bit frustrated with Jane a bit, with her investigating and not really enjoying her vacation, especially when most of the dinner club leaves for Scotland.

The killer really surprised and in a way disappointed me. I definitely didn't want it to be who it was, because I had kind of grown to like that character.

This was a fabulous read with characters that were well developed. I definitely want to read more of this series, because I'm really interested in seeing what happens with Jane and Dale.

Rating: 4 flowers

About the Author

Karen C. Whalen is the author of a culinary cozy series, the “dinner club murder mysteries.” The first four in the series are: Everything Bundt the Truth, Not According to Flan, No Grater Evil, and A Stewed Observation. The first book in the series tied for First Place in the Suspense Novel category of the 2017 IDA Contest sponsored by Oklahoma Romance Writers of America. Her books are similar to those written by cozy authors Jessica Beck and Joanne Fluke. She worked for many years as a paralegal at a law firm in Denver, Colorado and has been a columnist and regular contributor to The National Paralegal Reporter magazine. She believes that it's never too late to try something new. She loves to host dinner clubs, entertain friends, ride bicycles, hike in the mountains, and read cozy murder mysteries.
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2 comments:

ptclayton said...

I didn';t realize it was an ebook i hope you sub in a print book for me as disabled and crippled fingers I have a nerve disease call RSD. You are a new author for me and i read over 180 books a year my resolution was read one or more new authors a month and so far this year i have done! Peggy Clayton

diannekc said...

This is a new author and series to me. Sounds like a great series. Looking forward to reading the series.

 
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