A Very Merry Murder (A Professor Prather Mystery)
by Mary Angela
About the Book
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Camel Press (October 1, 2018)
Paperback: 258 pages
ISBN-10: 1603816550
ISBN-13: 978-1603816557
Digital ASIN: B07G2VLLCV
It’s December in Copper Bluff, and from hillside to hallowed hall, everyone is merry—or will be as soon as semester break arrives. Students are studying, professors are grading, and Emmeline Prather is anticipating the university-sponsored holiday concert. Friend and colleague Lenny Jenkins will be accompanying the visiting quartet, Jazz Underground, and Em can’t think of a better way to kick-start the holiday season.
But before she can say “Jingle Bell Rock,” trouble arrives at Candlelight Inn, the bed and breakfast where the quartet is staying. One of the band members dies unexpectedly, and suspicion falls on Em, whose altercation with the man ends with him on the floor. He never recovers, and now she’s worried her reputation might not either. When Emmeline starts to see parallels between an Agatha Christie novel she’s teaching and the victim, Lenny claims she’s read one too many mysteries.
As the clues unravel, so does the murderer’s patience. Em is close to finding the truth, but will the truth—or the murderer—push her over the edge? It will take a Christmas miracle to solve this case, but if there’s one thing in surplus this time of year, it’s faith.
About the Author
Mary Angela is the author of the Professor Prather academic mystery series, which has been called “enjoyable” and “clever” by Publishers Weekly. She is also an educator and has taught English and humanities at South Dakota’s public and private universities for over ten years. When Mary isn’t writing or teaching, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Author Links
My Thoughts
A Very Merry Murder by Mary Angela is the third installment in A Professor Prather Mystery series. Professor Emmeline Prather lives in Copper Bluff, South Dakota where she is an English professor at the local university. She is looking forward to an upcoming concert of Jazz Underground. Her friend and colleague, Lenny Jenkins will be sitting in with the quartet. Emmeline and Lenny attend a gathering at the Candlelight Inn where the members of Jazz Underground are staying while in town. Miles Jamison, the bass player, seems to have many admirers and encourages their attention. The following morning, Emmeline returns to the Candlelight Inn with Lenny for brunch. Miles makes a pass at Emmeline in the library, she shoves him away and he collapses on the floor. Miles is dead and Emmeline, of course, is the prime suspect. It does not help that no one was in the room at the time of the altercation. Emmeline must now prove her innocence, or she will be teaching English at the local penitentiary.
A Very Merry Murder is the third book and I recommend reading the series in order. I had not read the other books and I was lacking the background information Emmeline. We get to find out what life is like for a professor at a university at the end of the semester. There are classes to teach, papers to grade, office hours for students who want extensions, department Christmas parties and research (publish or perish especially when you do not have tenure). Emmeline also spends time decorating her home for Christmas, attempting to bake cookies, reading books, listening to music, buying gifts, and debating whether a relationship with Lenny is a good idea. Lenny and Emmeline shared a kiss, but they have been too busy to get together, and Emmeline is not sure where they are headed romantically speaking. I did find the writing to be overly detailed. An example would be each step Emmeline takes to make coffee or get ready for an evening out. The mystery is straightforward with Emmeline asking questions to find out more about Miles and those in his circle. When Miles collapsed on the floor, I knew the identity of the killer and how he was killed (maybe I have read too many mysteries). There are good clues to aid readers in solving the whodunit before the reveal. There are some charming cozy moments as Christmas comes to Copper Bluff. A Very Merry Murder is an appealing cozy mystery that will have you feeling merry and bright.
The first two books in A Professor Prather Mystery series are An Act of Murder and Passport to Murder. In honor of the tour, the author is hosting a giveaway. You can click here to enter or enter using the Rafflecopter form below. I hope you take the time to visit the other stops on the tour (schedule below) to see what other readers thought about A Very Merry Murder. There are also character guest posts and author interviews. I will be sharing my review of The Factory Girls of Lark Lane by Pam Howes tomorrow. I hope you have a day with minimal stress (my favorite type of days). Take care and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
The first two books in A Professor Prather Mystery series are An Act of Murder and Passport to Murder. In honor of the tour, the author is hosting a giveaway. You can click here to enter or enter using the Rafflecopter form below. I hope you take the time to visit the other stops on the tour (schedule below) to see what other readers thought about A Very Merry Murder. There are also character guest posts and author interviews. I will be sharing my review of The Factory Girls of Lark Lane by Pam Howes tomorrow. I hope you have a day with minimal stress (my favorite type of days). Take care and Happy Reading!Kris
The Avid Reader
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 1 – A Cozy Experience – REVIEW
October 1 – A Holland Reads - SPOTLIGHT
October 2 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW
October 2 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
October 3 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW
October 3 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 4 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 4 – Babs Book Bistro -SPOTLIGHT
October 5 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW
October 5 – Cozy Up With Kathy - CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 5 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
October 6 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
October 6 – Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT
October 7 – Island Confidential – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 8 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW
October 8 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
October 9 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW
October 9 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT
October 10 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW
October 11 – The Cozy Pages – REVIEW
October 11 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST
October 11 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
October 12 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 12 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT
October 13 – Varietats – REVIEW
October 13 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 14 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW
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