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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2474 KP) rated Dead and Gondola in Books

Jan 5, 2024

Dead and Gondola

Ann Claire | 2022 | Mystery

5.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Dead Stranger in a Gondola

Ellie Christie (no relation to the famous author) has returned to help run the family's bookstore in a Colorado resort town. One day, a stranger comes into the store, hangs out for several hours, then takes off, leaving behind some belongings. The next time Ellie and her sister see the stranger, he is getting on the gondola that separates the two parts of town. But when they reach the bottom, he is dead. What happened to him? Who was he?

The premise of the setting and the mystery itself both intrigued me, so I was hoping to like this one. While the mystery started out strongly, it became uneven as the book went along. There are some good surprises along the way, and I was happy with the solution. It took a while for me to get to truly know the characters and setting. By the end, I felt at home, however. The result was a mixed debut. I'm not sorry I read the book, but I felt like I had to work at it a little more than I should have.

Kudos

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2474 KP) rated In the Event of Murder in Books

Aug 22, 2024

More Event Than Murder

It’s the final week of the year, which means it is time for the annual fundraiser for the library in Silvercrest, Colorado. Like the rest of the town, Emma Starrs is thrilled that the cast of Chasers, the popular mystery TV show, is coming to town to headline the events. However, when murder threatens the event, Emma is asked to step in and help make sure the gala on New Year’s Eve goes off without a hitch. Can she do that?

It's been a couple of years since the first book in this series came out, so I wasn’t sure how much I’d remember about the characters. Fortunately, I was able to slip back into their world without too much effort. Sadly, the mystery was disappointing. The emphasis was more on the planning for the event, and those scenes grew repetitive. We did reach a solution, but parts of it felt forced to me. On the other hand, the characters were charming. I really did enjoy seeing Emma and her family and friends again. I wanted to like this more than I did, but it was mixed for me.