| Title | : | One Hot Murder (Victoria Square, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 042525190X |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780425251904 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Mass Market Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 304 |
| Publication | : | First published February 5, 2013 |
One Hot Murder (Victoria Square, #3) Reviews
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I really enjoyed the other books in this series but for some reason I was disappointed in this one. I still don't like Katie and feel no connection between she and Andy. The character of Det. Davenport is unbelievable. There are too many rabbit trails that lead no where or seem contrived to fill in a plot line. I'll read the next one to see where the story goes.
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I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway.
I didn't realize this was book 3 in a series when I entered the giveaway - that didn't matter. Lorraine Bartlett has a wonderful way of bringing a reader up to date on the happenings in her world without it feeling like exposition. I got enough background of the goings on in the first two books to understand the relationships, but not so much that I don't want to go back and read the first two. I know who was murdered in the first two books, but not the who or why. As a reader, I really appreciate that.
The characters are well defined and I got a good sense of place. I admit to having a severe weakness for cozy mysteries and this one did not disappoint. Katie Bonner did not go willingly into her role as manager of Artisan's Alley - an indoor arts/crafts mall. Her struggles in dealing with vendors and employees rings true - I worked retail once upon a time. I'd like to get to know some of the characters better and hope I will when I go back to A Crafty Killing and The Walled Flower, as well as in the books to come. Add this series to my list - I am looking forward to further adventures with Katie. -
This series just gets better and better for me.. Detective Davenport is on the verge of retirement when a fire destroys one of the booth's at Victoria Square. Once the crime scene settles, the police find a dead body whose remains are almost unidentifiable and the mystery really takes off from there. When Katie discovers that the booth had been sold to a secret buyer prior to the fire, the suspect pool deepens.
Katie's character continues to develop as she forges a new working relationship with the soon-to-be retired Davenport, who now wants her to call him by his first name, Ray. I would have liked to see her romantic relationship with pizza owner Andy progress more; it is stagnant because of their conflicting work hours and that doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon. Perhaps that will change in the future? I look forward to more adventures and mystery in this series... -
This is a series that I really enjoyed reading. It is a cozy mystery set an a small town where the main character is the owner of an artists building. In this book Katie teams up with Officer Davenport to solve the mysterious death of a man found in a fire ridden shop. I really enjoy the cast of characters in the town and the different artists that Katie employees. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
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The author’s writing has improved by this book.
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Summer is hitting with the full force of a heat wave as Katie Bonner, owner and manager of Artisan Alley in the quaint shopping district of Victoria Square, finds herself being drawn into investigating another murder. It all starts as a fire hits Wood U, another shop on the square. Unfortunately, the fire is not the only crime that took place that evening. As the police and fire crews are investigating, they find the body of a man in the building's remnants. It may or may not be the owner of the shop as the body cannot be identified because the victim was killed by a messy gunshot to the head.
The heat is setting many of the residents on edge, which leads to a number of personal confrontations with Katie. Things are only made more difficult when she learns that someone has decided to buy a local derelict mansion on Victoria Square in order to turn it into a bed and breakfast. While that will help improve the view on the square, doing so was a dream that Katie has had for some time.
Will Katie be able to overcome all the negativity and balance town gossip and bickering in order to settle all the arguments and solve the mystery. Katie has been up to that task in the past.
This series is certainly a lot of fun. I have really come to enjoy the various townspeople who work and live in the community. This is definitely a cozy series worth giving a go! I can't wait until the next volume. -
Based on Advance Reading Copy (ARC)
Third in the Victoria Square Mystery Series, this book does not disappoint, in fact if anything, it surpasses with a mysterious fire and death in Artisans Alley. As Katie's mind races between one suspect and another, one victim and another, the reader is hard put to try and outguess the protagonist. With her keen sense of intuition, she needs to talk her ideas out with someone. What a time for Detective Davenport to retire! So many loose threads, but who is holding the winning one, the one with the right answers? Why did two men disappear at the same time, with one body left behind at Artisans Alley? Katie has two many suspects and too many victims. But Detective Davenport does not go lightly into the sunset but is actively hoping to solve this last case before his official retirement date and time. Who died in the Wood U fire?
Another thorn in Katie's side, she has once again seen her dreams of owning the Webster Mansion to a new buyer. Turning to Seth, her lawyer friend, she finds no answers but more questions, but on meeting the new owners, she finds that they have a lot of ideas similar to her own, and even better, she really likes them. But can she part with all her stored treasures she bought in anticipation of turning the house into the English Ivy Inn?
In this sizzling early summer heat, tempers flare, strange things are happening at the Alley, and the air conditioner is ill-equipped for both the extreme temperatures and the size of the building. Going home at the end of the day to her room over the pizza parlor is no better. Emotions run high, and dealing with Ida's frustrating personality has driven her to remove her from the Alley. A decision that will come back to haunt her.
Once more Lorraine Bartlett has given us a very hot mystery to keep us guessing. A large part of the charm of the Victoria Square Mystery Series is the camaraderie shared by so many mainstays in the series, and that charm continues. Well-written as always, introducing new characters and perhaps a new direction, this book will certainly keep our brain cells cooking! With Katie's mind going in so many directions, there are twists and turns galore. -
Widow Katie Bonner’s dream of running a Bed and Breakfast is shattered when she learns her late husband used all their savings to purchase a struggling craft mall. Katie is now the reluctant manager of Artisan’s Alley and also the president of Victoria Square’s merchant association. Both roles require Katie to deal with quirky characters and strong personalities, but she still finds time for a little romance with pizzeria owner Andy Rust as well as help the local police force solve a few murders.
“One Hot Murder” is the third installment in the Victoria Square mystery series, but it is not the strongest entry in this series. Katie is still getting over the betrayal by her husband and what that has done to her finances, but she complains about it from the beginning to the end. Even one of the book’s characters comments they’ve heard this story over and over. I don’t blame her for being upset, but she is becoming bitter, draining the fun from the series. I love the parts of the book which focus on Katie’s management of the mall. This unique set-up with all the various characters is the strong point of the series, but unfortunately takes a back-seat to Katie’s complaints. I like the sub-plot of Detective Davenport’s retirement and it helps make the book more interesting.
Katie seems very happy with her new boyfriend Andy, but I don’t care for them as a couple. She has more chemistry with her gay best friend Seth than with Andy. However, while Seth is a fun, kind, dependable guy, Andy is a workaholic who rarely has time to spend with Katie and won’t even fix the a/c in the small apartment she rents from him. I see affection and friendship between Katie and Andy, but no romance or passion.
The mystery itself has many twists and turns and kept my interest throughout the book. The ending was a bit confusing and rushed, but the book is fast-paced and a quick, cozy read. I hope Katie can find more happiness in her life so future books can focus on the mystery and not Katie’s unhappiness and yearning over a Bed and Breakfast she can’t afford to buy. (Rating: 3.5 stars) -
This is the third installment in the Victoria Square Mysteries, and it’s just as cool as books one and two.
Katie Bonner is roasting to death in her apartment located over a pizza parlor. She has always dreamed of owning a B&B, but she found out - when her husband passed away - that he had used all of their savings to buy a mall that handled local crafts. This mall is already going down the tubes and Katie now finds herself the manager of a business she never even wanted.
Her job is to deal with a lot of weird characters that have set up booths in her mall - some with very strong personalities and others that are just plain crazy. On the upside, Katie has a little romance going with the owner of the pizza parlor who’s also her landlord. Her only drawback seems to be the fact that she’s the local ‘Jessica Fletcher,’ and every time there’s a crime she finds herself right in the middle of it.
Katie is trying to get over her husband’s mistake of buying the white elephant that hangs like an albatross around her neck, but can’t seem to stop whining. Even some of the mall characters are complaining that they’ve heard the story over and over again and Katie should just get over herself.
One very hot morning, Katie looks out her window and sees smoke billowing from one of the stores that sells wooden artifacts and furniture. Although not completely destroyed, a dead body is found inside, and the victim did not die from smoke inhalation.
Ray Davenport, the trusted detective in charge arrives and is much nicer to Katie than he usually is, but there’s a reason for this new attitude.
The plot, yet again, is a whole lot of fun. Katie may whine but she’s a strong character that wants nothing more than to find the answers - and get a better air conditioner. Once again, the recipes in the back are scrumptious! -
One Hot Murder is the third book in the Victorian Square Mystery series. And a very welcomed and enjoyable book, too.
It seems to be a hot time in the square this July. The annual Christmas In July pot-luck is coming up and everyone is excited to be able to get together and party. Putting a damper on the festivities for Katie, begins when she looks out of her apartment, over her boyfriends pizza parlor, and that the shop Wood U is on fire. The fire is quickly extinguished, but a body is found inside the store. But the body is cannot be identified due to the gun shot to the head. But, Dennis Wheeler's, the owner, vehicle is still parked behind the store. Then it is learned that Wheeler has sold the business and has withdrawn the money from the sale from his bank account. Detective Davenport is anxious to get the case solved, as his retirement is just a few days away.
Then Katie notices and vendors have been complaining about food and drinks going missing from the refrigerator in the employee lounge. Then one evening while working late learns that someone has been sleeping upstairs in a storage room. She thinks that it may be Wheeler, but then who was killed? Detective Davenport would like to see a quick resolution to the case, as his retirement is just days away.
Finally, Katie and Davenport are able to put their heads together and tie up the loose ends of the mystery at Victorian Square.
Looking forward to the next book as there were a couple things that came out at the end of the book, that I am most anxious to see how they play out in future books.
As before a great read. -
Katie Bonner, the reluctant manager of Artisans Alley, is hot, literally hot from a heat wave. It doesn't help that she moved into the apartment over her boyfriend, Andy's pizza parlor without air conditioning, however, it's hot everywhere. Artisans Alley doesn't have air conditioning either. When a fire strikes a small woodworking store Wood U in Victoria Square, the store is destroyed, but there is a dead body inside. It seems that the victim was not killed by the fire, he was shot. Katie is determined to find the murderer, even if Detective Davenport gets hot under the collar.
I really like this series. Katie keeps busy with Artisans Alley, and its sometimes difficult crafters, she's President of the Merchant's Association, and shes investigating a murder. In this book the old Webster Mansion sells again, this time to a couple of people who aren't likely to back out, and even worse their plans for the bed and breakfast are almost the same as Katie's. These characters get more depth as the series goes on. -
I've always pretty much considered mystery books are somewhat like a puzzle, this one left me wondering how some of the puzzle piece clues did not explain away the mystery.
First of all the title, "one"? Secondly the vehicles; one left ourside the back of the store, the other, the vintage chevy found in the canal under water. The person who shot the man in the store did not know the identity of the man, and assumed it was the shop's owner. But if the owner's body was decomposing in his own house, why was his vehicle still in the store's lot? And why and who tried to hide the '57 chevy... it certainly could not have been the killer. And who emailed the missing man's company telling them he was retiring. Or did I miss those clues. Lots of puzzle pieces in this mystery did not complete the picture. -
The romance subplot has to go or the author needs to actually give the couple some chemistry or reason to be together as at the moment, they have neither.
Ida needs to go as do half the vendors. Instead of it making Katie look kind or compassionate, her repeatedly, for several books now, accepted their rudeness, disrespect and often illegal behaviour just makes her look pathetic. as does her continued whining about the house she never owned, could never afford and could have never afforded to renovate. We get it, it was a dream. but it isn't going to happen, stop calling someone else's property yours and whining about being broke while paying for storage and buying thousands of dollars of stuff for a house you don't own -
Lorraine Bartlett wrote more twists and turns than a cobra being chased by a mongoose this time. Just when you think you know who the killer is, oops maybe not!! It's hot and sticky the middle of July and Katie and her friends for Artisian Alley are planning a Christmas in July party, but it sure won't feel like Christmas if she can't get the air conditioning fixed. Not only that but one of the memebers of the Merchants association is murdered, the big brown delivery guy is missing and what is that horrid smell coming from Chad's pad? So many mysteries, so little time to figure them out. I think this was my favorite of the series so far.
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Number 3 in the series. I like the series, it has cute moments and pretty good dialog. In this installment, there's a murder, someone goes missing, and Katie actually teams up with Detective Davenport. And it appears that someone is buying the Inn Katie has coveted.
I only wish that the author didn't always talk about Ida's mole/wart on her face. It is so not germane to the story line. -
This newest entry in the Victoria Square series features a good mystery as well as some dramatic developments for several characters.
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Couldn't wait to read the 3rd novel in the Victoria Square series by Lorraine Bartlett (one of the pen names of Lorna Barnett who also writes as L.L. Bartlett).
As delightful as anticipated. -
2.5 stars.
The story was interesting, but Katie’s refusal to give up on her dream and give up her treasures was starting to drive me nuts. -
Way better than the last one!! A compelling mystery from the get go especially as some very important questions don’t get answered! I also like this ‘new’ Ray Davenport!
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Dollycas’s Thoughts
As the temperatures around here were dropping the temperatures at the Artisans Alley were heating up. It’s summertime at the Victoria Square and the air conditioning at the Artisans Alley can’t cool off the entire building. Katie also doesn’t have air conditioning in her apartment above the pizza place either. With only open windows and a fan to help her cool off she is shocked to notice a fire out her window at Victoria Square. She calls 911 and rushes over there to find Wood U totally engulfed and when the fire in extinguished the firefighters find a dead body. Everyone is distraught that the owner of the shop has died but then they find out, the person was killed before not during the fire. Because of the status of the body they know he was murdered by they can’t make conclusive identification. Detective Ray Davenport is on the case but that doesn’t mean Katie isn’t hotfooting it all over town to find the killer.
This is a hot, Hot, HOT! murder mystery. I sat down on Sunday afternoon to read and read it all in one sitting.
This is the 3rd book in the series and it has been awhile since I had read book 2, The Walled Flower, but Ms. Bartlett creates very memorable characters so I was all caught up by the end of Chapter 1. Katie Bonner inherited ownership of the Alley and she has been working hard to make it work for all her crafters and turn a profit for herself so she can invest in some upgrades like a new air conditioning system. Her tenants are an eclectic bunch, some pitch in to help all the time, some need to be reminded and one is there all the time and is getting on Katie’s last nerve. Detective Ray Davenport is retiring from the force and this murder investigation is his last. Andy and Katie are still working opposite hours but are trying so hard to spend more time together.
These wonderful characters are surrounded by quite a mystery. Until the body is properly identified Katie and Ray are assuming they know who it is and proceeding in their investigations accordingly, but the clues they uncover twists things in a way that just don’t fit together. Plus there are a few subplots that tie in to the main mystery in several ways.
One of the subplots deals with Katie’s dream of purchasing a big Victorian home to turn it into a B&B. Her money is all tied up in the Alley and the inventory she has been stashing away for when her dream becomes a reality. Her dream goes up in smoke when she learns someone else has purchased the home. It was how she handled this situation that I as a reader could see how much this character has evolved from the first book in this series. I found it very refreshing to read. I am still unsure about her relationship with Andy so I am looking forward to seeing how this is addressed in the next book. Yes, the next book! It has been awhile but Dead, Bath, and Beyond is being released next month.
To me this author is one of the best a writing cozies mysteries. You can’t go wrong with anything she writes! -
This is the 3rd book in the Victoria Square series written by Lorraine Bartlett.
I love these books. The only real issue I have with the series is Andy, Katie's boyfriend. He is controlling and selfish, but he is slowing changing and he's growing on me. He is so realistically written. I have a feeling he has more baggage than Katie is aware of at this point.
I cannot believe how mean-spirited some of the people in and around Victoria square are and the way they treat Katie. Especially those that rent from her at her flea market cooperative - Artisan Alley. They have no idea how much she has improved the Alley and, in turn, their lives. She works so hard and eats a ton of crap, but I see her slowly developing a spine of steel and she is coming into her own. I love how she handled Ida and Nona.
I am so happy she finally sold her storage room full of victorian era finds. I think it was sort of cleansing for the her character. She has come full circle since her husband died.
This book was so well written and so difficult to determine WHODUNNIT early on. It had lots of twists and turns. I loved it and recommend this book and the series. -
I didn't read the first 2 books, so some of the references were lost on me, but I was still able to follow the story. Katie is a Nancy Drew type character. Ray Davenport was a detective she has dealt with many times in the past but now he is retiring. I guessed he was the one who bought Wood U before it was revealed. Apparently, he has mellowed and is more open to Katie helping. I also realized the delivery driver was most likely dead too before it was revealed. The mystery was good but not great since I figured it out before the reveal. I would still be interested to read more from the series.
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This next book involved multiple crimes and possible criminals. In fact this one even had a mystery as to the identity of the victim. Katie finds herself working cooperatively with Det Davenport after having an adversarial relationship previously. She finds this a bit unnerving. The mystery is well written and the solution a bit shocking. The subplot of Katie’s dilemma about her stored possessions and her dream to open a B&B vs doing improvements on her Artisan Alley business was believable and a logical one. It was easy to see how torn she was in her decisions. It will be interesting to see how the story evolves in the future books
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The vendor of Wood U in the square outside of Artisan's Alley appears to have been killed by a fire that breaks out in his store. Katie can't help but find herself involved in what may be a crime given her curious nature. In addition to getting involved, there are additional personnel problems going on with her business and the fact that it looks like she may have to give up on her dream of ever owning the bed and breakfast she had her heart set on. I didn't agree with the resolution of one of the issues but overall a cute series.
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I am thoroughly enjoying these mysteries, set in a crafter's mall on Victoria Square. I enjoy the characters, the romance, all the food mentioned, and the large mansion that is the B & B wannabe that no one can seem to make happen. I'm really anxious to read the next (and last?) of the series, as the overall story that continues book to book is just as enticing as the individual mystery that is solved in each book.
