Welcome! Broken Bones by Angela Marsons will be out on November 3. It is the seventh book in the D.I. Kim Stone series. Each book in this fast paced series is better than the previous (and must be read in order).
Murder on the Toy Town Express by Barbara Early is the second novel in A Vintage Toyshop Mystery series. Liz McCall and her father, Hank are heading
to the East Aurora Train and Toy Show with items from their vintage toyshop,
Well Played. They arrive to discover
that their booth is next to Craig’s Comics owned by Craig McFadden (who
tormented Liz all through childhood).
Craig is running around is a caped crusader outfit excited about an
announcement he will be making and soon appears up on the catwalk. Unfortunately, Craig plunges to his death and
it is believed he was injured in a publicity stunt that went awry. Later that night, Craig dies in the local
hospital and the police discover that Craig’s death was not so innocent. Hank and Liz are on the case helping local
Police Chief Ken Young. Can they
uncover the killer before the train and toy show departs town?
Murder on the Toy Town Express is
nicely written and has a good pace. I
found it easy to read and I liked the descriptions of the vintage toys (and
treats). I would suggest starting with
Death of a Toy Soldier before embarking on Murder on the Toy Town Express. Otherwise, you might be a little lost in the
beginning. There are some humorous puns
in the story that will cause readers to giggle.
I wish, though, the author had not put a love triangle into the story, and
I thought too much time was devoted to romance.
Though, it does look like one of the love interests may have a
secret. The mystery was not complicated
and the killer can be identified early in the story (insert disappointed
sigh). I kept hoping for a good,
unexpected twist. My rating for Murder on the Toy Town Express is 4 out of 5 stars.
I like the characters (especially Hank), the toy store, the town, and
the great toys. There is one revelation
that provided a laugh out loud moment (involves My Little Pony). I do find that some details are overlooked or
not provided (like Maxine’s last name). I appreciate that Hank and Liz work
with the police on the investigation. I
will be continuing with A Vintage Toyshop Mystery series.
I appreciate you visiting and reading my latest review. By the way--What do you get when you cross a turkey and a banjo? A turkey that can pluck itself! Have a delightful day and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
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