Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Call number
F DEE
Publication
Bethany House Publishers
Description
"Set in 1930s England, Drew and his fiancée, Madeline, answer a plea for help from an old flame of Drew's, discovering murder--and more--behind the scenes of a theater production"--
User reviews
LibraryThing member Robin661
Murder at the Mikado
Julianna Deering
Book Summary: British High Style Meets Old-Fashioned Detective Work in This Witty Series. Just as Drew Farthering thinks his life has found smooth waters, Fleur Landis, an old flame, reappears in his life. She's married now, no longer an actress, and he expects
Review: I really liked the third book in the Drew Farthing series. I found Madeline more human and less standoffish. She was exactly what a heroine should be. The mystery was great and realistic. I found Drew to be the main constant who was fun to read and a strong character along with Nick. The secondary characters were realistic and brought out the solid storyline that I heard Ms. Deering wrote. I enjoyed the mystery and went back and forth in my mind as to who did it and concluded who I thought it was, although many things were thrown into the pot to keep me questioning my conclusions. This made the ending quite suspenseful. I found Fleur to be well written with her wishy-washy ways toward men and other! I am hopeful for a book four to tie up some loose ends!
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bethany House Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.
Julianna Deering
Book Summary: British High Style Meets Old-Fashioned Detective Work in This Witty Series. Just as Drew Farthering thinks his life has found smooth waters, Fleur Landis, an old flame, reappears in his life. She's married now, no longer an actress, and he expects
Show More
she'll soon disappear--until she comes to him in dire need. The lead actor in her old troupe's production of The Mikado has been murdered, and Fleur is the police's number one suspect. Drew would love nothing more than to just focus on his fiancé, Madeline, and their upcoming wedding, but he can't leave Fleur in the lurch--even if she did break his heart once. As Drew, Nick, and Madeline dive into the murder, they discover more going on behind the scenes of the theater troupe than could ever have been imagined. Nearly everyone had a motive, and alibis are few and far between. It's Drew's most complicated case yet.Review: I really liked the third book in the Drew Farthing series. I found Madeline more human and less standoffish. She was exactly what a heroine should be. The mystery was great and realistic. I found Drew to be the main constant who was fun to read and a strong character along with Nick. The secondary characters were realistic and brought out the solid storyline that I heard Ms. Deering wrote. I enjoyed the mystery and went back and forth in my mind as to who did it and concluded who I thought it was, although many things were thrown into the pot to keep me questioning my conclusions. This made the ending quite suspenseful. I found Fleur to be well written with her wishy-washy ways toward men and other! I am hopeful for a book four to tie up some loose ends!
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bethany House Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Amy_Webb
Drew Fathering is at it again! Just as he thinks his life is slowing down, an old girlfriend, Fleur Landis, re-enters his life and in desperate needs of his crime solving help. The lead actor of Fleur’s old troupe’s production of “The Mikado” has been murdered and she turns up the number
Drew tries to stay out of this one and his past feelings for Fleur, so he can concentrate on his fiancee and upcoming wedding. But he can’t let down his business partner, even it puts quite the strain on his relationship with Madeline.
This book started out pretty slow for me. However, I have not read the first two books before this one which I feel might of helped a great deal. But after I got all the characters straight and got to the plot, it picked up a lot. There are enough characters to keep it interesting, guessing who could be the suspect, but not too many where you get confused on who is who.
I overall enjoyed the book. However, it has the feel like she is trying too hard to be Sir Conan Doyle and write a Sherlock novel. She lacks the in depth detail, jumping in to the good parts without the proper suspense in the climax, without boring the reader.
Still worth reading if you are looking for a quick and easy murder mystery, great for a beach day.
Disclaimer: I was given this book from Bethany House Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
Show More
one suspect.Drew tries to stay out of this one and his past feelings for Fleur, so he can concentrate on his fiancee and upcoming wedding. But he can’t let down his business partner, even it puts quite the strain on his relationship with Madeline.
This book started out pretty slow for me. However, I have not read the first two books before this one which I feel might of helped a great deal. But after I got all the characters straight and got to the plot, it picked up a lot. There are enough characters to keep it interesting, guessing who could be the suspect, but not too many where you get confused on who is who.
I overall enjoyed the book. However, it has the feel like she is trying too hard to be Sir Conan Doyle and write a Sherlock novel. She lacks the in depth detail, jumping in to the good parts without the proper suspense in the climax, without boring the reader.
Still worth reading if you are looking for a quick and easy murder mystery, great for a beach day.
Disclaimer: I was given this book from Bethany House Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
Show Less
LibraryThing member SarahSS
Author Julianna Deering stepped it up with Murder at the Mikado!
This is the third book of the The Drew Farthering Mystery series. I would recommend starting with the first one, Rules of Murder. However, in all honesty, I had been a little lukewarm about this series. There are many positives…
So… Is there going to be another one, Deering?
Drew and his financee Madeline are looking forward to their wedding. However, Fleur, an old flame of Drew’s steps into the picture and stirs up some buried wounds in Madeline. When Fleur becomes the prime suspect in some murders, her husband asks for Drew’s help while Madeline is hoping just once he would say no! …Will they make it to the alter or will their relationship die a tragic death of it’s own.
I loved that she pulled the original detective trio — Drew, Madeline (though not as excited this time), and Nick, Drew’s best friend — back together! Madeline’s aunt Ruth is still a wonderful addition to the story. Also Chief Inspector Birdsong has become a favorite for me — gruff and serious, but his willingness to allow these amateurs to get involved has grown through the series. :)
Deering kept me guessing to the end. I would think I had it figured out and then a kink would be thrown in!! Who is involved? … Fleur? Her husband? The nanny? One of the maids? One of the actors? The missing reporter?
I received this book for free from Bethany House in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion.
This is the third book of the The Drew Farthering Mystery series. I would recommend starting with the first one, Rules of Murder. However, in all honesty, I had been a little lukewarm about this series. There are many positives…
Show More
These books are set in a fun time period and location filled with quirky characters. They are clean, as in I don’t have to wade through vulgar language or embarrassing bedroom situations, AND I would be willing to let my daughters read them. Also, there a sweet love story developing between the solving of mysteries! But I have been won over with Murder at the Mikado! :) So… Is there going to be another one, Deering?
Drew and his financee Madeline are looking forward to their wedding. However, Fleur, an old flame of Drew’s steps into the picture and stirs up some buried wounds in Madeline. When Fleur becomes the prime suspect in some murders, her husband asks for Drew’s help while Madeline is hoping just once he would say no! …Will they make it to the alter or will their relationship die a tragic death of it’s own.
I loved that she pulled the original detective trio — Drew, Madeline (though not as excited this time), and Nick, Drew’s best friend — back together! Madeline’s aunt Ruth is still a wonderful addition to the story. Also Chief Inspector Birdsong has become a favorite for me — gruff and serious, but his willingness to allow these amateurs to get involved has grown through the series. :)
Deering kept me guessing to the end. I would think I had it figured out and then a kink would be thrown in!! Who is involved? … Fleur? Her husband? The nanny? One of the maids? One of the actors? The missing reporter?
I received this book for free from Bethany House in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion.
Show Less
LibraryThing member vintagebeckie
I’m hooked! I am a fan of all types of mysteries, but Julianna Deering’s Drew Farthering Mystery series has a lot of what I am looking for — puzzling clues, a classic time period and setting, and characters who try to live their faith, but have struggles like the rest of us. The third book in
Drew and Madeline are getting married. After a whirlwind courtship that included not just one, but two, murder investigations, the two are ready to settle down. But of course murders seem to find them, so the two, along with steward-in-training, Nick, are drawn into the world of the theater in order to find out just who killed the leading actor in the light opera company. But while the previous murders have put the two in physical danger, this one may prove fatal to their relationship.
I love everything about this series. With the feel of a classic Christie or Sayers novel, the setting of a small village in England in the 1920s is perfect. Deering’s witty dialog, puzzling plot, and endearing characters are spot on. I especially like that Drew and Madeline seem so real, and definitely relatable. They draw on their faith to keep themselves and their engagement steady, even as they struggle with unforgiveness, insecurity and jealousy.
Murder at The Mikado can be read as a standalone, but I recommend you begin at the beginning. The series is just that good — you won’t want to miss a thing. And I hope this one won’t be the end of the detecting team of Drew, Madeline and Nick. Sure hope there are many more mysteries for them to solve.
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Bethany House for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Show More
the series, Murder at The Mikado, does not disappoint. Another winner that a mystery aficionado will love!Drew and Madeline are getting married. After a whirlwind courtship that included not just one, but two, murder investigations, the two are ready to settle down. But of course murders seem to find them, so the two, along with steward-in-training, Nick, are drawn into the world of the theater in order to find out just who killed the leading actor in the light opera company. But while the previous murders have put the two in physical danger, this one may prove fatal to their relationship.
I love everything about this series. With the feel of a classic Christie or Sayers novel, the setting of a small village in England in the 1920s is perfect. Deering’s witty dialog, puzzling plot, and endearing characters are spot on. I especially like that Drew and Madeline seem so real, and definitely relatable. They draw on their faith to keep themselves and their engagement steady, even as they struggle with unforgiveness, insecurity and jealousy.
Murder at The Mikado can be read as a standalone, but I recommend you begin at the beginning. The series is just that good — you won’t want to miss a thing. And I hope this one won’t be the end of the detecting team of Drew, Madeline and Nick. Sure hope there are many more mysteries for them to solve.
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Bethany House for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Show Less
LibraryThing member Medievalgirl
Since I requested the newly released fourth title in this series from Netgalley a while back, I decided it was high time to read this, the third one, first.
I had rather mixed feelings about the previous two titles when I read them a couple of years back, and I think I can say the same for this. As
Yet, sadly I just didn't. It wasn't a terrible book, but I just didn't much care for it. Other reviewers have mentioned how they found the story rather hardgoing, and not very engaging, and I have to agree. I also found the plot rather choppy, and some events predictable or convenient.
The protaganists seemed more concerned with their relationship then actual detective work- which is fine if this is well written. In this case however, I just did not really find I could connect with the characters, or thier feelings, decisions and actions.
Also, this one just did not have the 'feel' of the classic mysteries. Oh, it had the details right, but it seemed slightly lacking in authenticity and credibilty. Perhaps it was the Americanisms used by the British characters, or the sometimes awkward, clumsy-sounding dialog like 'she never much let anyone have any'.
Good mysteries don't have to be very complicated, but by the end, one could almost be forgiven for thinking that the police could have solved the whole thing themselves before long, and the characters really weren't needed. Like they just went around in a lot of circles until the final clue was found, and then all of a sudden everything fell into place and the gulty parties very oblingly confessed.
Nor was the conclusion entirely satisfying- at least not for me. Motives and reasons for the crimes did not seem entirely clear, or rather unconvincing.
As said above, the book wasn't terrible. There were some humourous and cute moments (like Drew with little Peter). It just wasn't my cup of tea.
I had rather mixed feelings about the previous two titles when I read them a couple of years back, and I think I can say the same for this. As
Show More
a mystery buff and a fan of the classical authors like Agatha Christie, I should love a mystery set during thier the time of thier stories, right? Yet, sadly I just didn't. It wasn't a terrible book, but I just didn't much care for it. Other reviewers have mentioned how they found the story rather hardgoing, and not very engaging, and I have to agree. I also found the plot rather choppy, and some events predictable or convenient.
The protaganists seemed more concerned with their relationship then actual detective work- which is fine if this is well written. In this case however, I just did not really find I could connect with the characters, or thier feelings, decisions and actions.
Also, this one just did not have the 'feel' of the classic mysteries. Oh, it had the details right, but it seemed slightly lacking in authenticity and credibilty. Perhaps it was the Americanisms used by the British characters, or the sometimes awkward, clumsy-sounding dialog like 'she never much let anyone have any'.
Good mysteries don't have to be very complicated, but by the end, one could almost be forgiven for thinking that the police could have solved the whole thing themselves before long, and the characters really weren't needed. Like they just went around in a lot of circles until the final clue was found, and then all of a sudden everything fell into place and the gulty parties very oblingly confessed.
Nor was the conclusion entirely satisfying- at least not for me. Motives and reasons for the crimes did not seem entirely clear, or rather unconvincing.
As said above, the book wasn't terrible. There were some humourous and cute moments (like Drew with little Peter). It just wasn't my cup of tea.
Show Less
ISBN
9780764210976
Series
Drew Farthering Mystery 3