Review & #Giveaway – A Deceptive Homecoming by Anna Loan-Wilsey @annaloanwilsey #historicalcozy
A Deceptive Homecoming (A Hattie Davish Mystery)
Series: A Hattie Davish Mystery (Book 4)
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Kensington (July 28, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1617737268
E-Book ASIN: B00P53E0L2
Synopsis
Traveling secretary Hattie Davish is returning to her once-quiet hometown, where a deluge of deadly secrets leaves her feeling anything but welcome…
When her good friend Virginia Hayward’s father passes away, Hattie Davish rushes to her hometown of St. Joseph, Missouri. She’s looking forward to visiting the place where she grew up, even if the circumstances bringing her there are bleak. But upon her arrival, she learns that all is not well in St. Joe. Virginia is cold and distant, Frank Hayward’s death is shrouded in mystery, and a string of troubling incidents have descended on Hattie’s alma mater, Mrs. Chaplin’s School for Women. Frank was the school’s bookkeeper, and as Hattie begins investigating the bizarre goings-on, she becomes convinced that someone other than Frank was in the casket—but who? Her search for the truth takes her from the town cemetery, to the home of an infamous outlaw, to the dungeon-like tunnels beneath the State Lunatic Asylum—and brings her face-to-face with a killer bent on the deadliest lesson of all…
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Review
This is a great series and this installment is just as intriguing as the other ones. This time, Hattie travels back to her hometown for the funeral of her best friend’s father. However, once she gets there she questions if that is really him in the casket. This puts her friend, Virginia, into a tailspin and she lashes out at Hattie. Top this with strange happenings at Mrs. Chapin’s School for Women and Hattie is thrown head first into another mystery.
Had you asked me 15 years ago to read a historical mystery I would have said no way, but thank goodness my reading preferences have changed over the years! The author weaves a tale of late 1800 history into her stories along with crimes like arson, burglary, murder and embezzlement. There isn’t just one crime but many to solve! Plus we get a more in depth look into Hattie’s past and the relationship with her father.
I had a hard time trying to figure out who the killer was and I have to say I didn’t suspect the right person…sign of a good mystery! There were some interesting twists with a few characters and I can’t wait for the next book. The only person missing was her beau.
We give this book 5 paws up
About the Author
Hardin-Baylor, Texas A&M University-Commerce and most recently, Iowa State University, publishing in several scientific peer-reviewed journals. A Lack of Temperance, her first novel and first in the Hattie Davish Mysteries series, was the #1 bestselling historical mystery on Amazon.com. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. A Sense of Entitlement, the third in the series, is due out in June. Anna lives in a Victorian farmhouse near Ames, Iowa with her inquisitive four year old, her old yellow dog and her very funny, very patient husband, where she is happily working on Hattie’s next adventure.
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Giveaway
Tour Participants
August 1 – Girl Lost In a Book – Review
August 1 – Mallory Heart Reviews – Review
August 2 – Brooke Blogs – Interview
August 3 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review
August 3 – The Reading Room – Review
August 4 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview
August 4 – Girl with Book Lungs – Spotlight
August 5 – Babs Book Bistro – Review
August 6 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review
August 7 – readalot – Review
August 7 – Queen of All She Reads – Review
August 8 – Book Splurge – Review
August 9 – Book Babble – Review
August 10 – LibriAmoriMiei – Review
August 10 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review
holdenj
I haven’t read many historical mysteries, but this one, set in the US in the 1800’s sounds good! Thanks for the info!
Anna Loan-Wilsey
Thank you for being a stop on my blog tour! I’m so glad you enjoyed the book!