| Title | : | Dead, Bath, and Beyond (Victoria Square, #4) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0425265994 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780425265994 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Mass Market Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 304 |
| Publication | : | First published December 6, 2016 |
Katie Bonner feels like nothing can spoil her perfect day off, sailing Lake Ontario with her good friend and lawyer Seth Landers. Then she runs into her ex-boss Josh on the dock. It was never smooth sailing with Josh, and Katie is only too happy to get away from him as he makes a scene.
Unfortunately, the next day her unpleasant former employer is found drowned in a bathtub at a bed-and-breakfast in Victoria Square. Who would pull the plug on Josh? When an autopsy reveals lake water—not bath water—in his lungs, Katie quickly finds herself in over her head. She’ll need to race to find the killer before her business and her freedom both go down the drain…
Dead, Bath, and Beyond (Victoria Square, #4) Reviews
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I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
I was excited to see the return of this series after a three hiatus, but, unfortunately, this book did not hold my interest at all. I found Katie to be annoying, her relationship with Andy uninspiring, and the mystery itself boring. -
Another fun installment of Victoria Square.. I'll write a more detailed review at a later time!
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I love the cover of Lorraine Bartlett's new book Dead, Bath and Beyond. This is the December 6th upcoming release of the latest Victorian Square Mystery, book number 4. I very much enjoyed this story and I think you will too! Katie Bonner, main character is very likable and admirable. One of the things I like about this series and story is how Katie really has started her life over, found some solid footing after fate had dealt her a terrible hand and even gets a moment of revenge! Unfortunately shortly after that small victory an untimely death throws another mystery in her lap, one that could have the most dire of consequences! I enjoyed the way this story was written and researched, I found I was caught up in the circumstances of the big reveal and relieved that Katie was safe, with a good cozy feel good ending not to miss.
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Wow this story is so unbelievable it's laughable! How is the MC Katie not in jail from previous books where she no doubt interfered with other murder investigations. Or a better question how has she solved anything and there are other books? She couldn't even find her way out of a locked room if she had the keys and the window was open! She suspects everyone with no logical reason other than rumors and gossip! And she keeps changing her mind as to who the killer is to whoever she is thinking about at the moment! It's one thing for a series MC to get tangled in murder and have stuff happen around her to solve the case but another where they actively stick their nose into and run their own investigation...and the cops know...and they aren't PI's. Also the MC jumps to conclusions over everything she see's and hears with anything to back up her theories and she acts on them...how does she ever solve anything?
So I haven't read any others in this series so I have no idea which character is dating who but off the bat it seems Katie and her close friend Seth have something going on or could. Right off the bat on the first few pages Katie runs into her ex-boss Josh aka Josh the jerk (a misogynistic a**hole) and gives him the big what for piece of her mind (good for you). However the next morning she has to identify his dead body in the bathtub of her friend's, Don and Nick's not yet complete inn. She meets up with older (no ages given but he doesn't sound much older than her) friend and ex-detective Ray. (it sounds like there could be a love connection there too). They go over the death and Katie decides to keep an eye on what's happening.
Edit: She is dating her landlord Andy...and she is widowed at age 30. Moving on! Katie and Andy talk Josh's death and she admits that she is a little nosy busy body who likes to poke her nose into other people's business (hallelujah an honest person!) Katie goes to see Josh's widow and finds out that she isn't sad at all and had planned on divorcing Josh. Katie is immediately suspicious of the widow (even though she doesn't know Josh was murdered yet!). When the widow's lawyer comes over she spies on them (again for no reason then to be nosy) and sees them kissing and copies the lawyer's car's license plate number for the police later if she descides she needs to tell them about the possible killer. Back at her shop (apparently Katie is a jack of all trades and has been helping her friends move into the little tourist square she works in and helping them set up shop and renovate ext.) she talks with her fellow artists about daily gossip. She gossips and finds out people in town were trying to buy a boat but the deal always fell through but she misses the part where the broker was Josh. She learns from her friends that they tried to buy the same boat too.
Later she learns that Josh was murdered and her friends tell her all the details...which I am sure the police wouldn't have told them and if they did would ask them not to blab them to everyone. They tell her they have a solid alibi for when Josh was killed so the police won't bother them but Katie worries anyway. Katie then blabs all this to Ray and tells him, (an EX-DETECTIVE!!!!!!) that she intends to butt into and interfere with the case (on her friend's behalf because the police will try to blame them even though they told her not to) even when they aren't suspects. Then she asks him to snoop around and ask his old coworkers for info and give it to her! (Is this woman serious?) Katie has to straighten out a new tenant (a nail salon) at her shop area but it goes well. Katie then goes to Josh's old office and finds the new manager is heartbroken over Josh's death and had only good things to say about Katie. She suspects Josh of trying to manipulate the new manager and that they might be having an affair like his wife and her lawyer (without any proof of affair it's already a fact in her mind.) Later when she is at work she keeps getting interrupted and finds out that the nail salon has several different smelling candles burning to cover its bad smell. Katie freaks out because....her 100 year old WOOD building has NO/NADA/ZIP/ZILCH FIRE PROTECTION!!!!! No sprinkler system!! How is her business even open or passed inspection with absolutely NO fire safety or protection?
She blabs more details to Ray and they talk motive and Ray tells her it's ALWAYS all about the money...yeah right...Katie then finds out that Josh's business and house are up for sale. She now accuses the real estate agent of cheating on his wife and having an affair with Josh's widow! (It seems that everyone who isn't single must be having an affair to Katie). She is trying to find out Josh's financial situation. Visiting Don and Nick she talks to them what she thinks is fact and finds out that one of them is still disturbed by the thought of a dead/murdered man not quite 2 weeks ago and she just knows that he has PTSD...she then gossips about how scandalous it is that his widow didn't wait at least 6 months to a year before trying to see his business and the house. She then talks about the very young, very pretty new manager the office and then jumps to everyone having an affair. They tell her that she needs to keep out of the investigation after they tear apart her supposed motives and remind her they have an alibi. She tells them that according to movies, tv and books the police are always short handed and need help...Don then gossips about rumors that Josh bought more business when he didn't seem to have much money. They ask her to call about to see if it's true, she agrees.
Katie has a meeting with her tenants and they all freak out over the murder and it's rumors. She finds out that almost all of them had some kind of insurance with Josh. She tells them to look into it and then tells them details of the murder before telling them Josh was a jerk, not to tell she said that and to talk to the police in the future. The next morning every other tenant tells Katie about someone who has a boat. Katie has dinner with Seth (the lawyer) and he tells her that Josh's business was one of the biggest in the area and Katie had thought that his business would fail after she left because she was the big cheese there not him. She also leans that half the town has boasts and is surprised....this about a town that is next to the lake... Katie talks Don who had a deal with Josh for a boat that fell through. She also learns that the local contractor has been cropping up in all the rumors.
Back at work the problem tenant has set up electric air fresheners that are all separate scents and the cords are a fire hazards. Another tenant complains about the smell and the lack of safety and Katie gets mad and lists everything 'safe' even the fact that she has both men and women's bathrooms (what do they have to do with safety?) but can't really argue because he has NO sprinklers and the concern is fire. He claims allergies and threatens to sue if he gets sick from the bad chemical smells. She talks to another tenant about getting help for her boyfriend's pizza shop and then asks him about a boat he owns via rumor. He gets upset that she listens to rumors and spreads gossip and walks away mad and she is immediately suspicious of him and the murder... (who the hell wants to be friends with a woman like her? She's judgmental and suspicious of everyone and ambush interrogates them over rumors and gossip.)
Katie returns to Josh's office and finds the manager fighting with her biker boyfriend and that the business is being sold. She gets into the rumors of Josh buying other business and learns that Josh stopped boat insurance and referred them to 3 new businesses in other towns that he was supposed to have bought. Boat insurance makes money so something is going on. (I call scam)
(This book is the epitome of repetitive!) Another round of Katie blabing to everyone, assuming things, taking gossip as gospel, naming the killer as the widow (who is having an affair not yet a fact), a tenant who clams up instead of spilling their guts to her (and own a boat on a lake town) and problems at her shop. Also Ray has changed his tune and tells Katie to investigate away...because he's curious too now that he can't have all the facts. Also Ray's daughters, who are end of high school age but act like they are 10 are trying to set Katie and their dad up as an item...(I assume that they do know Katie is dating Andy? So it's just plain awkward but that's okay because Katie is clueless about their obvious attempts at match making).
Katie learns that Don lied and doesn't have a complete alibi. So one night she follows him and sees him hug another man and thinks he is having an affair (really woman?!). She then confronts another tenant because, hey he has a boat and doesn't want to talk with her or be friends! She then runs into Josh's lawyer and she thinks he did it (and was having an affair with the widow) when he tells her that he loved the widow and that she has moved (but nothing happened between them). Then she talks it all over with Ray who tears all her theories to shreds, tries to talk sense into her that theories mean nothing and she can't prove any of it. Also she has way too many suspects. He tells her to let the police handle it and to stop snooping (this guy just can't make up his mind like Katie). During this Andy swings by and learning that she's in with Ray leaves and Katie is worried that she is losing her relationship with him. (At this point they aren't seeing much of each other and Katie is an abrasive, nosy airhead. I'd put the breaks on the relationship.)
When she gets back to work Josh's new manager rushes in wet with a torn sleeve and faints. When she comes to she tells Katie she's out of a job and her boyfriend kicked her out and she hasn't eaten, which is why she fainted. Katie had thought her boyfriend beat her up because she was having an affair with Josh and he found out. Katie then offers to try and get her a job at Andy's pizza place and does. After that another tenant has an allergies attack from the bad smell by the problem tenant. She then evicts the smelly tenant. Next she is set up for a romantic dinner with Ray by his daughters and Andy isn't happy. The next day she travels out of town to see the man Don was hugging and starts interrogating and bullying him because he was hugging her friend and ruining his relationship with his partner. She uses the excuse of Josh being found in their tub...but it isn't relevant to anything of their relationship and she isn't the police, which this guy knows and tries to shut her down. She persists and he spills his guts to her (why does everyone feel they have to tell her anything? I kick her butt out the door). Turns out Don wanted a present for his partner that he is making for them. The guy she's bulling introduces her to his wife and Katies tells the guy she won't talk to Don about his talking to her and she promises, but as soon as she leaves she calls Don to confront him about the gift and not telling her about it! (Who the hell wants to be friends with this idiot again?) He chides her about her following him and that she gets into everyone's business and can't keep a secret because she blabs to everyone. She promises him not to tell anyone about what she knows then hopes she'll be able to keep the promise after she hangs up!
More of Katie asking her tenants about their boats trying to find out which one of them killed Josh.
They apologize to her for getting mad at her for being nosy and getting into their business! She keeps worrying that Don and Nick will be locked up any day for murder (when they have alibi's and the police aren't even investigating them!) and how she want's to go back to the day she saw Josh so she could stop everything. She worries about her relationship with Andy some more but has lunch with Ray to talk instead of Andy. Ray tells Katie that Josh's widow and one of her supposed lovers has an alibi (where did he get this info and why the hell is he telling her?! I am sure the police wouldn't be happy to know he's telling her probably confidential information. He can't make up his mind if he wants her to be a nosy busy body or butt out of the police investigation.) Katie worries about being attracted to Ray when she has Andy and that Ray is old enough to be her dad and Andy is her age. She asks for more police info and Ray tells her Don is now a real suspect. She gets mad that Don is stupid and not telling about the birthday present alibi and that is will ruin his inn and thinks about blabbing to the police.
Back at work she's ambushed by tenants and thinks that they are going to turn her in for interfering in the investigation or do away with her for finding out who killed Josh....really?! Katie couldn't find her way out of a wet paper bag if her life depended on it. They tell her it's an intervention to get her hair cut.....and talk about her ex-smelly tenant. (Oh and they talk about the fact that ALL women have self-confidence issues and lack the trait!!!!!! WTF!!!!!) More reflection on her relationship, her bad self-habits, and shape of her body, her friend's stupidity, her investigation. Then she sees Don being taken away by the police (sans handcuffs) and reflects again on all her suspects before remembering that Josh stopped writing boat insurance and referred them to 3 new business she had never heard of. Katie looks into the new business that Josh referred and finds out they were all opened at the same time by Josh.
Katie finally figures something out! She rushes back to work to talk to Ray about it. Josh created 3 new companies that have almost the same name as other companies, just a little misspelled. He then referred all the boaters to get their insurance with them. It's a scam! Ray tells her that is probably part of the murderers motive but that it can wait a day to tell the police (seriously?!?!). Don is back home because he was only questioned so Katie rushes over to tell Don what a stupid idiot he was repeatedly. Don will tell the police his alibi by playing the 'gay card'...and all will be forgiven.
Katie comes up with an idea to try and find evidence of Josh's scams. She dresses in dark clothes and goes to snoop around Josh's boat. She finds someone messing with the hull and sees it's the contractor and he is changing the boast serial number. She finally decides to tell the police all that she knows. But she gets knocked out instead. She wakes up tied up and in a small space. It's a boat and she berates herself for going out without telling anyone where she was going. Katie wiggles around in the cabin to find something to free herself and finds a spring and gets her feet lose. When she gets her hands free the boat has stopped and she finds out the contractor's partner is the ex-boyfriend of Josh's new manager. And the boat she is on is about to sink as part of a scam. She decides that they are sinking boats to claim the insurance then raise them, fix them and resell them. She gets to the outside of the boat and seeing nothing to use to call for help and decides to set the boat on fire to get help/someone to notice. She didn't think about no one coming and the boat sinking faster because it's on fire or that her would be killers would come back. Finally someone comes but she is too numb to cry out at first but they rescue her.
Back on shore the bad guys are arrested and spill about their scams. She finds out that Don and Nick play high stakes poker and that is where they get their money. Andy then shows up and tells her he loves her. Also Ray's daughters are there and are shocked that Katie is dating Andy...and she thinks about being attracted to Ray...Her tenant who has allergies is back and her other tenants tell her that he was faking his allergy attack! So she unevicts the previous tenant and goes to evict him. Another tenant shows up and apologizes to her about getting on her case and being rude when she was snooping around and almost accusing him of murder!?!? (What is wrong with all these people?) She is happy with her tnants/friends and everything is all right in the world now. The End.
There is a lot of inner monologue in this story... There is also a lot of repetition of sentences, the author repeats them word for word often with only a few other sentences in between. Very annoying. Also the timeline is nonexistent or the author just didn't care. Josh was killed over Labor day weekend and the time jumps to weeks later to a week after the holiday to almost Halloween to not long after Labor day again. -
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Last week I read and reviewed the previous book in this series, One Hot Murder, that had been on my To-Be-Read shelf since 2013 when it was released. Because of this the delay between books 3 and 4 was not a problem for me. I have to say it is unusual to have a break like this between books especially when it is the same publisher. This book picks up close to where the last one left off so for me the flow was still there.
Things are going well at Artisans Alley. Former detective Ray Davenport has leased a booth as he waits for his shop Wood U to be rebuilt after the fire. A beauty shop has also opened at the Alley. Her new friends, owners of the B & B, are getting ready to open but they have taken in an early guest. A guest that Katie knows quite well, her former boss, Jake. Katie worked so hard for him and he always took the credit. She wasn’t unhappy at all to leave that job and him behind when she inherited the Alley. She was not happy to see him in her neighborhood, but she didn’t even have time to find out why he was staying at the B&B because his dead body was found in a bathtub soon after he checked in. Of course, she is a suspect, they have a past and she did have a bit of a scene with him the day before, in front of plenty of witnesses.
I really enjoyed this story. I love the characters and the setting. Ms. Bartlett always delivers a top-notch mystery. She is joined this time by another wonderful storyteller in Laurie Cass, author the fun Bookmobile Cat Mysteries.
It was nice to see Ray on the outside of this police investigation and him actually being a sounding board and helping Katie with her sleuthing. They have become friends and Ray’s daughters and I are even hoping for maybe more. That was my only sticky point to this story. Katie and Andy’s romance is going nowhere. They work opposite shifts, they can’t even seem to get together for lunches because something always comes up. She lives above his pizza place so they see each other every day and she steps in to help him when he is understaffed. But they seem to just be staying together just because it is comfortable but not really any fun. I know change would probably impact her living arrangement, but a romantic triangle would sure add some spark to the story. Maybe Andy would step up and make more of an effort in the relationship. Katie does have friends but she needs a man in her life who has time for a life. Maybe in the next book we will see these relationships evolve more.
Beyond Katie’s personal life the story is pretty exciting. She does get in as usual over her head and this time almost literally. The suspense builds so that the pages start to flip pretty rapidly as we see how she is going to get herself out of the mess she got herself into.
I hope we don’t have to wait too long for the next installment of this series. I am so glad it is back! -
In Dead, Bath, and Beyond by Lorraine Bartlett with Laurie Cass, Katie Bonner gets off a boat belonging to her close friend and lawyer Seth Landers and runs into Josh Kimper, her former boss, who was incredibly abrasive, almost verbally abusive, when she worked for Josh, and he has gotten no better in the year since she quit working for him. The next night Katie, owner of Artisans Alley, wakes up to the flashing lights of emergency vehicles and rushes to Sassy Sally's Inn, the B&B Katie has long dreamed of opening but which two delightful men, Don and Nick, have instead purchased together to undergo as a venture. With two months to go until their grand opening, the partners have found a dead body in their bathtub. It is Josh, and he has drowned. But not in the bathtub. Instead, he has been drowned in Lake Ontario and transported to be left in Sassy Sally's bathtub. Talk about strange!
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FangirlNation -
I think this is my favorite of the author's many series, and I was happy to see it return. They're always a light cozy read. I love the quaint upstate NY location and I really like Katie, she's endlessly patient (I am not, so I envy this quality in others) and I love the down to earth realism attitude that retired detective Ray Davenport brings to balance out all the wild theories Katie comes up with. The pace on this is relaxed, and that's what I love about this series, it's sets just the right pace for the story, allowing the reader to really get to know the different characters while still keeping the mystery suspenseful. I loved the plot, who killed Katie's ex-boss Josh the Jerk and why? Lots of suspects and lots of motives, Katie has her hands full investigating, leading up to the exciting conclusion.
All in all, a great addition to the Victoria Square series and an enjoyable read. -
From the book jacket: Katie Bonner feels like nothing can spoil her perfect day off, sailing Lake Ontario with her good friend Seth Landers. Then she runs into her ex-boss Josh on the dock. It was never smooth sailing with Josh, and Katie is onlytoo happy to get away from him as he makes a scene. Unfortunately, the next day Josh is found drowned in a bathtub at a bed-and-breakfast across Victoria Square from Katie’s business. When an autopsy reveals lake water – not bath water – in his lungs, Katie quickly finds herself in over her head. She’ll need to race to find the killer before her business and her freedom both go down the drain.
My reactions
This is book # 4 in the Victoria Square series, though I haven’t read previous installments. It has all the hallmarks of a cozy mystery – an amateur sleuth who cannot keep her nose out of police business, a colorful cast of supporting characters, a fun business venture that keeps our heroine busy, and some love interest.
I found the writing somewhat repetitive – how often did I have to be told that Katie is extremely busy and doesn’t have time to eat or exercise? The subplot involving the beauty salon quickly grew tiresome. However, I did like her relationship with retired detective Ray Davenport; their friendship is a great foundation for the continuing series. I also liked the fact that when in dire circumstances, Katie shows great resourcefulness, tenacity and courage in getting herself out of the situation.
It’s not the best book I’ve ever read, or even the best-written mystery, but it held my attention and I was entertained. -
The writing in this installment of the series was poor.
It was incredibly... Juvenile. The dialogue was also really awful. I finished, but I did not enjoy this installment in the series. It's a shame, they had been so good! Katie was annoying in this book. I barely tolerated her "investigation". It was written as if the author is tired of writing this series but needed to churn out another one quickly to meet a deadline. 1.5 stars... Maybe even just 1.
The mystery this time was poorly done, and I felt like the characters behaved out of character- Don especially.
And then her relationship with Andy... she's tepid about it anyway, but yet gets weak kneed and moony over him- and then wonders why he's a bit perturbed about her dinner set up. It doesn't add up. Katie should not be this emotionally dense-- and then we have paragraphs were she admits she feels a certain spark with Ray. "There was no possible way she was attracted to him. No possible way. Besides, she had Andy, who was young and extremely good looking and smart and busy, or course, but wasn't everyone?" (direct quote from Lorraine Bartelett's Dead, Bath, and Beyond). One, Katie is terribly immature and self-centered... who cares if Andy is great looking and young? Are those his only good qualities? And, two, wow that's some terrible writing. Then we have this paragraph where Katie says she lacks self-confidence and then Britney replies "I'd guess all women do, right?"-- I get the sentiment. I lack some myself. But, this feels completely out of place in this exchange and this series. Then, she proceeds to beg Katie if Crystal (who has made countless blunders and almost burned her business down) and Katie says oh sure, think of something. You complete idiot. I don't believe you could solve a murder, let alone make your way out of a wet paper sack. (Which, by the way, sounds hard actually, but it's always said like oh man, that's so easy, but think about rolling around in wet paper. It would stick to you. I can see how it might take a few minutes. But, I digress. As often I do.)
I love this series, but I was disappointed. It just... wasn't good and I am reminded now of how disappointing the last Booktown mystery was and I'm wondering what's going on with a normally solid author. -
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it was just compelling enough in some fashion to keep me picking it up. On the other hand, the most attractive thing to me about this book is the title, which is a play on the retail store Bed, Bath & Beyond. I have retail experience in bed & bath, even if not at that particular store, so I was naturally curious.
Unfortunately, I found the writing to be lazy, the characters unsympathetic and unrelatable, and the ending to be completely unbelievable (even in a cozy mystery, whose genre pretty much requires a reader to suspend belief). I have read at least one of the previous books in this series and liked it, but what have you done for me lately? Not a heck of a lot, as far as this installment of the series. Katie did a lot of inner talking about Andy, but I felt nothing for either of them or for their relationship. The hinting of something with the older Ray is interesting, but needs more development and care. Again, lazy writing.
I'm not sure I'll read any more books in this series. This one had enough of a hook to keep me reading, but that doesn't make me want to invest any more money or time in characters I can't care about. -
Katie Bonner quit a job working for a horrible boss, Josh, to run her own business, Artist's Mall. She has become very good and is earning a good living. She spends time with her friend and lawyer, Seth, floating on his boat in Lake Ontario. Josh from everything we learn, is not a good person and is living for free in her friend's B&B, that is still being worked on. She goes to their place and when she learns that they are considered suspects in the murder of Josh, found dead in a bathtub in the B&B and has a knot on his head and lake water in his lungs. She feels the need to snoop and help find out who really murdered Josh and left him. Along the way, she learns about others who have a boat and their issues with boats and wants to help them all out, becoming their friends.
The story was okay, but I like the Booksellers stories more and may or may not try another in this series. -
Katie Bonner has just enjoyed a delightful day out sailing with Seth Landers when who does she run into? Her former arrogant and rude ex boss Josh Kimper.
The next day Katie is awaken by the sound of sirens pulling up to Sassy Sally's Inn where the body of... you guessed it Josh Kimper has been discovered!
Welcome back to Victoria Square in the fall where you will find a bakery, Artisans Alley and other shops.
The police start their investigation and so does Katie as she has to get involved as well.
A wonderfully written cozy in a place that I would love to be able to go to and explore.
So great to be back with Katie, Andy, Rose and everyone else in Victoria Square.
Don't miss out on this one!! -
I co-wrote it, I like it.
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I was looking forward to reading this novel for two (2) reasons:
(1) The title is quite a fun twist to see it on a cozy mystery cover for all those that shop at the retail chain as"Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. is an American chain of domestic merchandise retail stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico. Founded in 1971, the stores sell home goods primarily for the bedroom and bathroom, as well as kitchen and dining room." ~Wikipedia
(2) Viewing on the cover that the novel was written with Laurie Cass, cozy author of a series I adore introducing librarian Minnie Hamilton and her rescue cat Eddie in the Bookmobile Cat Mystery series.
After reading the novel, I'm a little disappointed. The definitive pleasure is that the title does indeed capture the mystery element perfectly. But there are other elements that are not as pleasing. In some moments I enjoy the thoughts and expressions of the main character, Katie Bonner. But, at times, I'm frustrated with reading again and again and again that "she'd been so looking forward to working with a year's worth of data for Artisans Alley." Really? And Katie's "boyfriend" relationship with Andy, the pizzeria owner across Victoria Square is beyond my comprehension. It simply does not ring true to me and particularly for a young widow.
Additionally, although the novel is a typical cozy mystery to enjoy, I perhaps had an unfair higher expectation of a series in progress that was now receiving the imaginative contributions from a 2nd cozy author, Laurie Cass, who brings fun to each of her stories. I can't say I had fun this time.
Overall, there are so many exquisite cozy series available, I do not think I will continue reading this series. I'd rather use my limited reading time to experience the writing of other authors that I have not yet experienced and meet their character creations. -
3.5 stars. Story was good and I loved the title. Truly the title of this one is what first hooked my interest in the series. Good mystery elements.
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In this long awaited installment of a great series, we are not disappointed at all. The story read as though you had just put down reading the last installment. Characters quickly returned to your memory and the dialog sounded familiar.
Labor Day and the season for boating is coming to an end, at least for some, and for others, it is coming even quicker than the approaching winter demands.
In McKinley Mill, New York, Artisan's Alley owner, Katie Bonner jumps off her friends sailboat and encounters the person she wishes she had never seen again, in her lifetime, former boss, Josh Kimper of Kimper Insurance. In gentle words, Josh was a Jerk of the highest order. He hadn't changed in the year plus since Katie quit her manager position with his firm.
Then, the shock hits...police cars at her friends Don and Nick's Bed and Breakfast, Sassy Sally's...someone is hurt or ill...Katie rushes over filled with worry, and is overwhelmed when the police ask her to visually identify the 'body.' The remains are of John Kimper. Later it is found he didn't die in the bathtub but in the Great Lake, why is his body returned to the B&B?
As you read this novel you will find yourself asking 'Why?' a lot. As in prior novel in this series, Katie bakes constantly to share with friends, and crafters. As a bonus several recipes are included at the ending of the tale...Oh Yum!
This was a great continuation of this cozy series and I hope to read more in the future. One note, this novel was written in collaboration with another author...you truly can't tell. Excellent writing.
Give this series a read if you haven't and even one novel will stand alone if you desire. Enjoy! -
Dead, Bath, And Beyond is the fourth book in the A Victoria Square Mystery series.
It’s been a while since the last book in this series has come out, but it was well worth the wait.
Katie Bonner has gotten Artisan Alley headed in the right in a profitable direction, but still wonders what it would have been like to purchase the Victorian house at Victorian Square and turned it into a B&B like Nick Farrell and Don Parsons are doing. Those feelings are somewhat put aside when the dead body of Josh Kimper is found in the hot tub in his room at the soon-to-be opening B&B.
Katie has become friends with Farrell and Parsons and doesn’t believe that they are the murderers and sets off to learn who might have wanted him dead. She soon finds out that Kimper was separated from his wife, Marcie, and it appears they were headed for a divorce. When Katie visits with widow, she finds her without remorse over the death of her husband. Then Marcie seems to be overly anxious to sell the family home and Kimper’s insurance company so that Marcie goes to the top of possible suspects. But then she learns that he has a classic yacht and wonders how he was able to get it, as he wasn’t that flush with cash when she worked for him. When she learns that he has been buying up local agency’s, she wonders if his business dealing got someone irate enough to take his life.
Another exciting and interesting story from Ms. Bartlett.
Will be watching for the book in this enjoyable series. -
I was a First Read Winner of this book, and I was eager to get started. Now usually I don't like jumping into a series out of order, but I took a chance and was happy to note that the Author made sure the reader is not lost in the ongoing storyline. Despite the fact that it contained likable characters, I never really got into the book as much I liked. When I have to force myself to read its never good, I like to get lost in the pages and having a hard time putting it down, instead I found the book just a little bit slow and not a lot of action or mystery until the end, also I found the relationship between Katie and Andy not very interesting and a bit of a letdown. Overall nice, but I won't be following the series any further.
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Not entertaining to me. It didn’t take that long to finish the book once I got into reading it. It was so slow in the beginning and it was hard to keep reading. Picked it back up this week and it got a little more interesting as the story went along. So much talk with Katie and the vendors at Artisan’s Alley about various issues. Too much gossip. The ending to the mystery was disappointing, her relationship with Andy seemed more childish than earlier books, and she went about working to solve the mystery with no police involvement other than the ex-detective, Ray.
I will continue the series, though, as it does have the ‘cozy’ feel to it, at times. And I want to see what happens with the relationship with Andy. -
I was really looking forward to this installment, but ended the book feeling a little cheated. This was not the caliber of the first two books by any means. Katie has become so annoying in this book. Everyone is a suspect for the most ridiculous reasons. The story was so-so. And I don't love the main relationship, if feels like such an after thought. I hope Lorraine gets her mojo back for the next book.
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I was highly unimpressed with this book which is why I gave it a rating of only one star. There isn’t much character development, there doesn’t seem to be much substance in any of the main characters relationships, especially her relationship with her boyfriend. The main character got on my nerves. She seemed boring, nosy and drew elaborate conclusions based on mere conversations and observations. It was a disappointing read.
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enjoyed this book as I have the rest of the series! I wish I could have a booth and hang out with the gang at Artisians Alley!
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http://openbooksociety.com/article/de...
Dead, Bath and Beyond
Victoria Square #4
By Lorraine Bartlett & Laurie Cass
ISBN 9780425265994
lorrainebartlett.com
catmystery.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
The New York Times bestselling series is back, as Katie Bonner—owner of Artisans Alley in the quaint shopping district of Victoria Square—attempts to solve a murder at a nearby B & B.
Katie Bonner feels like nothing can spoil her perfect day off, sailing Lake Ontario with her good friend, lawyer Seth Lander. Then she runs into her ex-boss Jake on the dock. It was never smooth sailing with Jake, and Katie is only too happy to get away from him as he makes a scene.
Unfortunately, the next day her unpleasant former employer is found drowned in a bathtub at a bed and breakfast in Victoria Square. Who would pull the plug on Jake? When an autopsy reveals lake water—not bath water—in his lungs, Katie quickly finds herself in over her head. She’ll need to race to find the killer before her business and her freedom both go down the drain…(from Goodreads)
Review:
‘Dead, Bath and Beyond’ is a great read! A bizarre twist brings Katie’s former boss, Josh, into her life again, particularly in the gorgeous home she and her late husband had hoped to purchase and turn into a B & B. The authors captivated this reader in the latest Victoria Square mystery, fourth in an incredibly well-written series.
Katie is owner and manager of Artisans Alley, a renovated apple warehouse home to many vendor booths rented by local artisans and craftspeople. She inherited her husband’s part ownership when he died, and the balance when the other partner was murdered. She was working at Josh’s insurance agency, Josh being a misogynist with a huge ego. Katie quit to bring Artisans from near bankruptcy to a profitable business. Artisans Alley neighbors Victoria Square, an eclectic set of shops for which each other’s success is dependent on the other.
After a delightful outing on the lake with her friend and attorney Seth, Katie ran into Josh at the marina, where he goaded her into yet another heated discussion of her prior employment. Several bystanders hear her deliver an invective that could be taken as a threat. The next morning, sirens and police activity at the B & B where two of her close friends lived led Katie to see if Don and Nick were okay. She learned they had a guest, not a customer as the lovingly renovated home was not yet ready to open. The guest died upstairs. Don and Nick knew Katie knew this guest so she was shocked to ID the body of her former boss, Josh.
The autopsy showed that Josh had drowned. He didn’t drown in the bathtub, as the water in his lungs was from the nearby lake. Whatever happened, accident or murder, someone had to haul his body to the B & B and set him to look like a death in the bathtub. Katie’s questions led her to find that there was something rotten in Josh’s former insurance office, and it began to smell like another reason she was happy to no longer work for him..
The characters are great; the primary ones are well-rounded and others are defined as befits their role. I love both Katie and Rose. When reading that Rose reminded her of the aunt who raised her after her parents died, it melted my heart and showed the great capacity the author has for nurturing family relationships among co-workers and friendships throughout this series. Katie and Andy, the man who owns and manages the pizzeria on the Square, make a delightful couple and balance each other out. Ray Davenport, former detective for McKinlay Mill, is so much more personable now that he is retired from the PD and bought out a woodworking shop on the Square. I like who he is when he is not in ‘cop mode’.
The plot and writing style of the two authors is awesome! I can’t say enough positives about this series. There are intriguing twists and turns that change the perception of the murder, and demonstrates Katie’s intuitive and logic skills. Her pets with their very own cat-sonalities make her apartment over the pizzeria a warm. whimsical happy-place. The layers of mystery surrounding Josh are challenging, something that only someone such as Katie, with her insurance experience, could work their way through. But was his murder a result of his business or his family troubles? Suspense gives way to teeth-clenching fear before the stunning resolution occurs. ‘Dead, Bath and Beyond’ is a not-to-be missed cozy mystery; I highly recommend it. -
3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Wendy
Sexual Content: None
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content: None
Violent Content: Minimal
Katie Bonner, owner of Artisans Alley enjoys a day out on Lake Ontario with her friend Seth Landers. Too bad things take a turn for the worse when Katie runs into Josh Kimper, her obnoxious ex-boss. Determined not to let Josh get to her, Katie ends up having words with Josh on the dock that leave a bad taste in her mouth.
The next day, Katie is awakened by sirens nearby. She discovers that the police and ambulance are going to a local inn, where Josh’s body has just been discovered. Katie soon feels the need to investigate (and chat with former detective Ray about his thoughts) Josh’s death because close friend and co-owner of Sassy Sally’s Inn, Don, becomes a suspect in the man’s death. Questions abound when the dead man is found inside Sassy Sally’s where he was staying temporarily. Although it appears that Don is a suspect, and his alibi is not what it seems, Don is hesitant to tell Katie or anyone what he is hiding.
This mystery is well plotted, and there are many possible suspects, including Josh’s current employee, his wife, his wife’s boyfriend and Don. Dead, Bath and Beyond is a respectable read with many likeable characters and a heroine who is very loyal to those close to her. However, there are so many characters in the story that it can become confusing at times. The action starts out right away, slows and then picks up again towards the end of the book. There is a hint of romance between Katie and boyfriend Andy, but that seems stagnant. Katie has some chemistry with older, former detective Ray which might be worth pursuing. Dead, Bath and Beyond is the fourth book in the Victoria Square Mystery Series and is a worthwhile read.
-- WENDY -
I'm not quite sure how this got good reviews, but it must be from readers of "cozy" mysteries....
The main character ( I'll call her M.C. ?), was about to get divorced, but her scummy-ex died, leaving her in possession of a Crafts Mall, which she is slowly making a go of. She was working for an arrogant jerk (A.J.) of an Insurance agent, but M.C. finally had enough verbal abuse and quit.
M.C. meets up w/ A.J. on the dock as she & her attorney are coming back from a day out on his boat.... M.C. calls A.J. an arrogant jerk & people hear her, but she does Not threaten him.
So here we are, M.C. lives upstairs of her boyfriends Pizza Place, across the street is a B&B her good (gay--because I have to mention this, right) friends are renovating and where she has a view of the entire Victoria Square (her business is there too). The A.J. was staying at the B&B for FREE, as his wife kicked him out (she's kissing on her attorney), until he's found dead in the bathtub. He drowned, but not in the tub, in Lake Ontario, and was moved to the B&B's bathtub.
So the crux is: A.J. has a 330 ft. Yacht he's attempting to sell to almost every male M.C. is friendly with, and there is an insurance scam involved, which gets A.J. killed, so there is no lack of suspects. M.C. is so hyper-sensitive (and this is what ruined the book for me) that all she does is worry about if she is the main suspect, and her worry is stated over & over and made for "Enough Already, Get Over It"...
So, I skipped to the end, which was inventive for a cozy and for this earned a 2nd ★. -
I'm just imagining anyone in town even mentioning the word "boat" and suddenly the conversation is interrupted by the distant pounding of Katie's feet.
This series is getting so good, both for the murder mysteries and (especially) for the town shenanigans.
The murder investigation in this one was particularly good and some of the series' secondary characters get time to shine. One example being the Sassy Sally's partnership, especially Nick. And of course Ray. Davenport's literally taking ownership of this series and I love it. He's honestly such an adorable character. He's such a classic, dorky, girl-dad. I'm excited to read more about the Davenport girls too.
Not to be picking sides here (even though I totally am), but I'm honestly getting so many red flags from Andy. There was one scene in particular where Andy makes a harsh slight against Katie's personality, Katie gets offended, Katie feels the need to apologise for feeling offended, and then Andy accepts her apology and says that she's probably just hungry. Excuse me? Never suggest a woman's hunger has anything to do with her mood.
It usually does, but God smite you if you ever suggest it. -
This is the 4th book in the Victorial Square cozy mysteries series. I've enjoyed the first three, but this one drug on a little for me. And I just couldn't really get into the story.
Katie Bonner is our main character in this series. In this book she encounters her ex-boss at a boat launch, where she is out with a friend, and they have a heated conversation. He ends up dead in a bathtub at the new Bed & Breakfast owned by Katie's friends. The story goes on with Katie trying to solve the murder of her ex-boss and clear her friends of this crime.
Pretty typical cozy mystery, but like I said, I just wasn't into the story. There were a few other small story lines in the book that I did like. Although this one didn't do it for me, I will continue with the series. I do love the characters and I'd like to see how this series progresses. It is set in Fall, so it was perfect for right now. -
This is the 4th book in the Dead, Bath, and Beyond mystery series by Lorraine Bartlett.
Lorraine Bartlett is a very entertaining author of the cozy mystery genre. I absolutely love her books.
They are extremely riveting, but also realistic; before you know it, you have finished reading the book and it is 4 am. I am currently reading the 5th book in this series. I love everything about the series, especially watching the characters develop. Katie is finally coming into her own. What is very interesting is the foreshadowing of a love triangle to come (between Katie, Andy and Ray?!).....I can't wait! Ray's daughters are something else....I look foreword to the scenes they are in. They are so conveying, but innocent too, it's awesome!
I can' wait to see what they get up to in the next book. Y'all should definitely read this series if you love mysteries that won't give you nightmares (love those too but not before bed).
