| Title | : | A Murder on 34th Street (Penelope Banks Murder Mystery, #8) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 258 |
| Publication | : | Published November 30, 2022 |
New York 1925
The holidays are here and spirits are bright. Penelope “Pen” Banks and Cousin Cordelia have decided to go to Herald Square to watch the second annual “Macy’s Christmas Parade” ending at 34th Street.
But an even bigger event awaits her the next day. Pen is finally meeting Detective Richard Prescott’s family, and is hosting them all for Thanksgiving dinner. As such, she has decided to get a present for Richard’s young nephew.
After the parade, the quaint toy store across the street from the city’s largest department store catches her eye. While there, she manages to get her hands on what she’s been told is the most desired toy of the season for young boys.
Unfortunately, a body is found in the back room of the toy store soon after she makes her purchase. While the police are satisfied they’ve caught their suspect, Pen isn’t so sure. Still, she wisely follows Richard’s advice to let it go…until she realizes the crime has followed her home.
Nothing brings a family together during the holidays like a good mystery. Now, much to both Richard’s and Penelope’s surprise, both sides of the family have decided the holiday dinner is the perfect time to join in on playing detective with the couple.
At least until the festivities become potentially fatal…
A Murder on 34th Street is the eighth book in the Penelope Banks Mystery series set in 1920s New York. The very merry holiday enjoyment of a cozy historical mystery combined with the excitement and daring of New York during Prohibition and the Jazz Age.
A Murder on 34th Street (Penelope Banks Murder Mystery, #8) Reviews
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Ah yes, Christmas time. I mean, I read this in September, but it's cool, it's whatever. Anyway, there's no doubt that all the coziness that comes with this time of year makes for the perfect setting for a cozy mystery! Cozy fireplace, cozy foods, cozy... music? What I'm trying to get at is that the holiday season is home to many iconic pastimes! And what tradition more practiced and more relatable than the dreaded Awkward Family Dinner. I got chills just saying that! This installment should be labeled "horror" because literally half of this book is Penelope at a holiday dinner party with Richard’s (we call him Richard now) family, as they all converse about the usual topics that almost always turn into a heated debate and rip families apart (politics). There's actually an inherent humor in the dinner because the conversation pivoting to a recent murder case that Pen just happened to stumble upon (as she’s prone to do) is actually what salvages the evening. Also, a lot of the tension comes from the fact that Richard’s brother’s wife just happens to be... Richard’s ex-girlfriend! Drama alert! It's a great set-up and I was highly entertained, to say the least. Though, I did think it was a little weird how Richard’s ex (her name is Sophie) is described as looking a lot like Penelope, as if Sophie were some kind of mirror version of her, like how they used to do in Star Trek. Like the Wario to Penelope's Mario, if you will. I think what this series does best is that it’s always trying something new and interesting within the confines of the mystery genre. You never know what wonderful surprises you'll get when starting a book in this series! Moving on though, I think that I tend to (subconsciously) avoid holiday stories if I can help it because they can get a little too preachy for my taste. And while there's is still some of that “here’s-the-moral-of the-story” type of messaging in this book that’s noticeable if you're really looking, the core cast of characters remains incredibly strong and I had the same amount of fun reading this one as all the rest! Oh also, for some reason I thought that this was the final book in the series, but I just saw that there were like, five more after this. Yay!
“So, stepping away from politics and back to the topic of murder…” -
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Enter the holiday cheer (sort of, as the story starts off at Thanksgiving, not Christmas--although a Santa parade is going on, so...yeah), and another murder to solve!
Penelope finds herself in a toy shop at the beginning of this story, just minding her own business and trying to buy a toy for Richards nephew, because, yeah, we're on to the meeting the parents stage!!!!
Ahem, but anyway, a murder happens in the store and of course this derails Pen as she tries to solve it herself. You know, the usual Penelope Banks stuff.
What makes it fun is that Richard's parents, the delightful David and Lorraine Prescott, both want in on the solving process (especially David), and of course we've also got cousin Cordelia, Jane, and Alfie in on the goods as well. The most surprising addition is Penelope's father also getting involved this time, which I've got to admit was a nice touch. I really like seeing how they're patching up their relationship more and more as the series progresses!
Anyway, while I wasn't too interested in the mystery aspect of this murder, I still am rating it five stars because I just loved the family dynamic of everyone, and the Thanksgiving dinner chapters--of which there were many--were very interesting to me and had me flipping page over page over page to see what happened next. Sometimes a story just hits you right, you know, and this one gave me all the feels.
So, yes, a definite warm and cozy holiday read--even though I'm reading it in March.
On to the next Penelope Banks book--which I get the chance! -
Murder in the toy shop
Pen and cousin Cordelia have just finished watching the second annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. They decide to avoid some of the crowds and the cold and duck into a charming old world toy store to do some shopping. Penelope finds a perfect gift for Richard’s nephew to give as a gesture of good will when the families meet for the first time for Thanksgiving dinner. Things go a bit sideways when a murder in the shop and the spoils of a robbery are discovered in the present for the lad. After her attempt at a sweet gesture goes awry Pen is determined to figure out the truth behind both crimes.
A sweet holiday mystery, a warming read on a cold winters day or night. I loved Richards’s family! He father is completely without filter in the best possible way. Friendly and open, teasing and tender. His wife is quite similar of a bit more reserved, she feels him in from time to time. It was wonderful to finally meet the family that Richard has been so tight lipped about. I love the books in this series for many reason. Set in my most favorite city, in a fabulous era which is portrayed fabulously by the author, colorful characters that come alive and twisty mysteries that keep you engaged for start to finish. If you like mysteries especially cozies you cannot miss with a Penelope Banks book! -
A Murder and a Burglary
It was a murder and the theft of several thousand dollars that got Penelope interested in the case. She went through several suspects before she solved the case. An even bigger event awaits her the next day. Pen is finally meeting Detective Richard Prescott’s family, and is hosting them all for Thanksgiving dinner. As such, she has decided to get a present for Richard’s young nephew
I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. This in no way affects my opinion of this book. -
A Parade, A Toy Fire truck and Murder
Very interesting. Learned a bit about the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and a bit more about speakeasies. Only Penelope would be in a toy store when a body is found. She, of course, decides to solve the murder. And, she meets Richard's family! -
Finally meeting the "in laws"
Pen is hosting her first Thanksgiving dinner and guess who is coming to dinner. Add in the 2nd annual Macy's Thanksgiving parade and a little Christmas shopping. What could go wrong? -
Macy's
This mystery had a personal touch for me because I worked for Macy's at the end of my retail career . We all know about the parade and the bag with the star so it was interesting to have it tied historically into this Penelope Banks mystery.
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4.5 ✨ loved seeing more of the main characters life and family!
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Cozy Thanksgiving Treat
A fun and family affair. Penelope and Richard spend their first holidays with each others families and a murder or two!
