Leave It To Cleaver: A Vintage Kitchen Mystery

Welcome!  Rose Pressey has If the Haunting Fits, Wear It coming out on June 27.  It is the fifth book in A Haunted Vintage Mystery series.  This time Cookie Chanel is heading to the Kentucky Derby.  There are some lovely descriptions of vintage fashions in the story.

Leave It To Cleaver by Victoria Hamilton is the sixth book in A Vintage Kitchen Mystery series.  Jaymie Leighton is thrilled when Jakob Muller proposes to her on Valentine’s Day.  Jaymie loves Jakob and adores his little girl, Jocie.  Jaymie and her sister, Becca have agreed to clear out the Paget house for Lesley Mackenzie.  The perk is getting first pick of the items.  They go to the basement where they come across an old truck.  Upon opening it, they discover a body clad in a red sweater with a cleaver in the skull (can you imagine what the yarn must be made of to not disintegrate).  Back in 1984, Becca knew Delores Paget who owned an identical sweater.  Delores supposedly left town that year and was never heard from again (now we know why).  A few days later, Jaymie watches while divers pull up old Ford Falcon with a body inside wearing a red sweater identical to the other victim (that is some yarn).  The victims are identified as Delores Paget and Rhonda Welch.  Becca knew both victims in high school and they disappeared from town at the same time.  The common link between the two girls is Brock Nibley.  Chief Ledbetter asks Jaymie to listen for any details that will help him with this case.  Jaymie considers this the green light to start nosing around and asking questions.  The killer is less than thrilled with Jaymie’s inquiries and will not hesitate to strike again. Will Jaymie make it to her own wedding?

Leave It To Cleaver contains good writing and the story has a nice flow/pace.  Jaymie Leighton is a great character with her big heart and love of vintage items.  The mystery was complicated (thank you Victoria Hamilton) and fun to solve.  The best part of a cozy mystery is following the clues and see if I correctly guessed the killer’s identity.  I liked finding out more about Becca and what happened after Jaymie was born.  The story goes from present day back to 1984 (and then back again).  I am not a fan of this technique, but the author pulled it off (it was not confusing or overdone).  I give Leave It To Cleaver 4.5 out of 5 stars.  The only part of the story I did not like was Heidi.  She is planning the wedding, and I found her maddening.  Leave It To Cleaver is the sixth book in the series, but it can be read alone. The ending will leave readers with smiles on their faces. There is a excerpt from Muffin to Fear at the end of the book.  Leave It To Cleaver will be available on June 23.  Good News:  Victoria Hamilton has signed to write three more books for A Vintage Kitchen Mystery series.  The seventh book will be No Great Danger and will be published in Spring of 2018!

Thank you for visiting today and reading my latest review.  I am currently reading The Confusion of Languages by Siobhan Fallon. I will see you again soon.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader