Rating: 
Summary: No Clue at the Inn
Review: Cecily and Hugh Baxter are called upon by Uncle Edward to return to the Pennyfoot Hotel, now the Pennyfoot Country Club, to run things over the holidays. Cecily owned it and Hugh ran it before they were married. It seems Edward's current manager has fallen down a well and Edward is out of the country on business. The authorities believe Barry Wortham's death is an accident. Cecily wonders otherwise, especially once they arrive at the Pennyfoot. All the staff is talking about how they don't believe it was an accident. Then Mrs. Wrotham asks Cecily to look into Barry's death. Cecily invites her friends and former employees, Mrs. Chubb and Gertie as well as their families, to come and join them for the holidays. She also sets out to have a pantomime prepared for the holidays by her friend Phoebe and her dance troupe. This usually spells disaster. Her friend, Madeline, will help decorate the Pennyfoot for the Christmas holidays. Many things happen to Cecily while she is investigating. Hugh is quite perturbed, because he explicitly asked her not to do anything without consulting him first. She keeps forgetting. Then there's a definite murder. Cecily steps up her investigating and ends up putting herself in danger as well. The four barristers and their wives staying at the Pennyfoot are real characters and really add to this story. I like books set in Inns and find it makes it easier to keep everyone together and accounted for. This was the first book I've read in this series, and I can truly say I am looking forward to the next. Rarely do I like books set back in time, but this series is truly enchanting. The staff, current and former, are enjoyable characters and really add character. I highly recommend you read this book.
Rating:
Summary: A great mystery set in a London Inn
Review: Cecily and Hugh Baxter are called upon by Uncle Edward to return to the Pennyfoot Hotel, now the Pennyfoot Country Club, to run things over the holidays. Cecily owned it and Hugh ran it before they were married. It seems Edward's current manager has fallen down a well and Edward is out of the country on business. The authorities believe Barry Wortham's death is an accident. Cecily wonders otherwise, especially once they arrive at the Pennyfoot. All the staff is talking about how they don't believe it was an accident. Then Mrs. Wrotham asks Cecily to look into Barry's death. Cecily invites her friends and former employees, Mrs. Chubb and Gertie as well as their families, to come and join them for the holidays. She also sets out to have a pantomime prepared for the holidays by her friend Phoebe and her dance troupe. This usually spells disaster. Her friend, Madeline, will help decorate the Pennyfoot for the Christmas holidays. Many things happen to Cecily while she is investigating. Hugh is quite perturbed, because he explicitly asked her not to do anything without consulting him first. She keeps forgetting. Then there's a definite murder. Cecily steps up her investigating and ends up putting herself in danger as well. The four barristers and their wives staying at the Pennyfoot are real characters and really add to this story. I like books set in Inns and find it makes it easier to keep everyone together and accounted for. This was the first book I've read in this series, and I can truly say I am looking forward to the next. Rarely do I like books set back in time, but this series is truly enchanting. The staff, current and former, are enjoyable characters and really add character. I highly recommend you read this book.
Rating:
Summary: A satisying read
Review: Having read all of the Pennyfoot mysteries, I was happy to discover this addition to the series. The series, much like the "Mrs. Jefferies" books, is both a series of stand alone murder mysteries and an elongated novel, featuring characters whose lives and times provide a background for the mysteries. The growth of the characters and their relationships is almost as entertaining as the mysteries. This book is a fitting addition to an excellent series. Thank you Ms. Kingsbury.
Rating:
Summary: In Defense
Review: I don't usually comment on reviews of my books. I consider it everyone's right to form an opinion. Indeed, I am always most grateful that someone has taken the time to write a review... even if it's vitriolic, such as the one by "Bess from Lebanon, NH." I'm sorry she didn't enjoy the book, but then I can't please everyone. I must however, correct one glaring error in her statements. The lady states that I mentioned King George VI in my Edwardian novel. The page she was referring to is #61. At the bottom of the page it states quites clearly that it was George Fifth who was a barrister. Since it is plainly spelled out, I would suggest that Bess from Lebanon acquire spectacles.
Rating:
Summary: In Defense
Review: I don't usually comment on reviews of my books. I consider it everyone's right to form an opinion. Indeed, I am always most grateful that someone has taken the time to write a review... even if it's vitriolic, such as the one by "Bess from Lebanon, NH." I'm sorry she didn't enjoy the book, but then I can't please everyone. I must however, correct one glaring error in her statements. The lady states that I mentioned King George VI in my Edwardian novel. The page she was referring to is #61. At the bottom of the page it states quites clearly that it was George Fifth who was a barrister. Since it is plainly spelled out, I would suggest that Bess from Lebanon acquire spectacles.
Rating:
Summary: Thanks to Kingsbury...
Review: I enjoyed this book, as I have all of Kingsbury's works. The reviewers who condemn Ms. Kingsbury, are inaccurate at best. This book is not sloppily written, or poorly researched. I wouild suggest that before they pick up their poison pen to write a review, that they do a little "research" on their own, and print the facts. Bravo, to Ms. Kingsbury, for her delicious rebuttal!
Rating:
Summary: Thanks to Kingsbury...
Review: I enjoyed this book, as I have all of Kingsbury's works. The reviewers who condemn Ms. Kingsbury, are inaccurate at best. This book is not sloppily written, or poorly researched. I wouild suggest that before they pick up their poison pen to write a review, that they do a little "research" on their own, and print the facts. Bravo, to Ms. Kingsbury, for her delicious rebuttal!
Rating:
Summary: No Clue at the Inn
Review: I totally disagree with Disappointed from the East Coast. I found the book entirely enjoyable. I did not find any problem with the characters, I thought they were quite charming. And the story was very well executed. This is a very good book from a very good author. I wonder how many books the other person reviewing this has written where he/she seems to know everything about everybody but Ms Kingsbury has a large following of satisfied readers and one person who does not know what he/she is talking about, will not change Ms. Kingsbury's credibility. Go out and buy the book, don't critique it, read it and enjoy and be happy.
Rating: 
Summary: Quite Dreadful-No Stars however I had to choose 1-5
Review: I was terribly disappointed in this mystery. I had enjoyed Kingbury's Manor House mysteries, and so looked forward to this era, setting in a resort on the seacoast in England and the time of year. The characters are shallow, one-dimensional, the main character is a nosey-parker, with nothing to do but fawn over servants and come to conclusions that the author doesn't let the reader in on.There's no Christmas presence in this book, and lots of bickering between the main character and her husband.
Early in the book, she describes the barrister club, and informs us that King George VI was a member--this a novel of Edwardian England! I'm an Anglophile albeit an American but I picked up on this error and tut tut to the editors at Penguin who did not. Terribly disppointing-I'll leave the other mysteries by this author at the bookshop.
Rating:
Summary: Quite Dreadful-No Stars however I had to choose 1-5
Review: I was terribly disappointed in this mystery. I had enjoyed Kingbury's Manor House mysteries, and so looked forward to this era, setting in a resort on the seacoast in England and the time of year. The characters are shallow, one-dimensional, the main character is a nosey-parker, with nothing to do but fawn over servants and come to conclusions that the author doesn't let the reader in on.There's no Christmas presence in this book, and lots of bickering between the main character and her husband.
Early in the book, she describes the barrister club, and informs us that King George VI was a member--this a novel of Edwardian England! I'm an Anglophile albeit an American but I picked up on this error and tut tut to the editors at Penguin who did not. Terribly disppointing-I'll leave the other mysteries by this author at the bookshop.
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