False Conclusion by Veronica Heley

Welcome!  South of the Buttonwood Tree by Heather Webber is out on July 21 as well as Handbook for Homicide by Lorna Barrett.  The Squawking Dead by Erin Johnson releases on July 14.  It is the 7th novel in Magic Market Mysteries.  The Last of the Moon Girls by Barbara Davis publishes on August 1.  We may not be able to enjoy restaurants or the movie theater, but there are plenty of new books to read. 

False Conclusion by Veronica Heley has Bea Abbot ready to welcome Bernice, her ward, home for the summer holidays.  They have a variety of plans for the summer.  Things get off to a bumpy start when Mrs. Trescott drives Bernice home along with her niece, Evelina.  Mrs. Trescott invites Bernice to attend Evelina’s sixteenth birthday celebration as well as spend the weekend which Bernice does not want to do.  The next day, Evelina arrives in a catatonic state sent by Mrs. Trescott who wishes the girl out of the house while the police do their thing.  Evidently, Evelina found her Uncle Constant dead in his bed distressing her.  According to Bernice, Evelina is an epileptic and the medication makes the girl sleepy.  Bea questions Evelina when she rouses, and she is not happy with what she hears.  Bea decides to learn more about the Trescott family.  She suspects foul play is afoot, but she is not sure which Trescott is responsible.  

False Conclusion by Veronica Heley is the 14^th A Bea Abbot Mystery (which I wish I had known before picking up this book).  I began reading False Conclusion and it felt like I was plopped down in the middle of a British dramedy.  I would not recommend False Conclusion as a standalone.  I felt like a fish out of water in the beginning, though, it did become easier as the story progressed.  There are a variety of quirky characters from Bea Abbott to Piers, her first ex-husband.  I was not a fan of any of the characters in this story.  Bernice can be kind at times, but, for the most part, she comes across as a spoiled brat.  The mystery had a variety of suspects all from the Trescott family.  If I was Evelina, I would change my last name.  Bea and her sidekicks are clever and resourceful which is handy when investigating.  I was not surprised by the identity of the guilty party.   False Conclusion was not my type of story.  I found the details to be repetitious (the same things over and over) and Bernice’s attitude was appalling (she needed a good smack).  I really did not need to know the details of each of Bernice’s fashion choices (down the shoes).  While False Conclusion was not my cup of tea, I suggest you read a sample to see if it appeals to you.  False Conclusion is a British mystery with a terrible tragedy, a portrait painter, a troubled teen, and a shrewd schemer.

False Conclusion is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other novels in A Bea Abbott Mystery series here.  You can find other novels by Veronica Heley here.  Thank you for reading my review today.  I am featuring A Heartwarming Romance Collection by Wanda E. Brunstetter tomorrow.  I hope you have a fanciful day.  Take care, stay safe, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

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