The Secret Staircase by Sheila Connolly

 The Secret Staircase

Book Summary

From New York Times bestselling author Sheila Connolly, The Secret Staircase is the third Victorian Village Mystery, which finds Kate Hamilton discovering a long-dead body in a hidden staircase.

Kate Hamilton is feeling good about her plans to recreate Asheboro, Maryland as the Victorian village it once was. The town is finally on her side, and the finances are coming together.

Kate's first goal is to renovate the Barton Mansion on the outskirts of town. Luckily, it's been well maintained in the century since the wealthy Henry Barton lived and died there. The only substantial change she's planning is to update the original kitchen so that it can be used to cater events in the building. But when the contractor gets started, he discovers a hidden staircase that had been walled in years earlier. And as Kate's luck would have it, in the stairwell is a body.

After her initial shock wears off, Kate is relieved when the autopsy reveals that the man had died around 1880. Unfortunately, it also reveals that his was not a natural death—he was murdered. And serious questions remain: who was he and what was he doing there?

Kate begins a hunt to identify the man and figure out what he was doing at the Barton Mansion. But when a second body is found—this time from the present day—Kate realizes that real dangers lie in digging up the past...

My Thoughts

The Secret Staircase by Sheila Connolly has Kate Hamilton working on her plans for the Barton Mansion in Asheboro, Maryland.  Her first order of business is to find a contractor.  The third one on the list seems like the best fit for the project.  He discovers a hidden staircase in the kitchen with a body laying at the bottom.  It turns out that the man has been there since the late 1800s and someone murdered him.  This is not the type of history Kate wanted to uncover on the Victorian home nor the family that occupied it.  Not long after the kitchen work begins, a second man is found dead inside the mansion.  Kate wonders if there is a connection between the two deaths and sets out to get answers.  

The Secret Staircase is the third book in A Victorian Village Mystery series.  I like the premise for this series which is why I have kept coming back to it.  I grew up in German Village in Columbus, Ohio and nearby there is a Victorian Village.  I find myself, though, unable to get into the story.  It is told in the first person, so we are subject to Kate’s thoughts (she has so many of them).  Kate seems to have an endless list of questions and list of items to accomplish (but she does not write them down).  If she is going to get this project completed, Kate needs to get organized (and be more professional). She also needs to get over her self-doubts (she goes on endlessly about them).  Kate needed a contractor for the project who does reconstruction not renovation.  Most people would have used a search engine, but Kate kept asking people if they knew a contractor.  I wondered if Kate owned a computer (or any office supplies).  There are quite a few characters in the story.  We are given basic information on them, but they are not fully fleshed out.  I like Carroll, Lisbeth, and Bethany.  Josh seems like a nice man, but how many times do we have to hear about his looks.  The author’s descriptions of the mansion allowed me to visualize the beautiful Victorian home.  However, the details about the renovations were dry and repetitive.  The story moved at a slow pace and many details were repeated at least three times (sometimes more).  The research into the Barton family is interesting (some parts were more fascinating than others).  It just became dreary at times (the research part).  I found this series different from Sheila Connolly’s A Museum Mystery series.  I wanted this series to be more like the one featuring Nell Pratt.  The mystery was fascinating.  I was curious to see how everything would tie together.  I was beginning to wonder if any progress would be made on the Barton Mansion.   As you can tell, I did not enjoy my experience with The Secret Staircase.  There are good bones, but it did not come together into a pleasing whole.  The Secret Staircase is small town cozy with staircase surprises, a kitchen conundrum, fine food, congeries of research, and a pair of murders.  

The Secret Staircase publishes Tuesday, August 24 and can be pre-ordered from Amazon*.  The first two novels in A Victorian Village Mystery series are Murder at the Mansion and Killer in the Carriage House.  You can find Sheila Connolly's other novels here.  Thank you for reading my review today.  Tomorrow I am featuring An Unexpected Amish Harvest by Carrie Lighte.  It is the 2nd novel in  The Amish of New Hope series.  I hope you have a joyful day.  Take care of yourself, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Tied Up with a Bow by Sheila Connolly

Happy Sunday!  Did you know that you can find handmade gifts on Amazon?  I had no clue.  There are some lovely items.  As you can tell, I have yet to finish my shopping.  I do not know what to get my mother.  There is still time to order a gift and have it arrive on time.  On Sunday's, I feature a book that I was unable to when it was released.  Today's I am sharing my review of  Tied Up with a Bow by Sheila Connolly.  

Book Blurb

Pub owner Maura Donovan is still learning the local customs of the Irish village she now calls home.  With the holidays approaching, Maura is unsure how much or how to little to decorate.  She is also puzzled by the small construction project going on across the street which is shrouded in secrecy.  The whole of WEst Cork is guessing at what it might be.  Most troubling of all, though, is the secretive young boy who shows up at the pub's door who hints that he and his mother had to leave Dublin in a rush.  Maura becomes alarmed when an unknown man show up and begins lurking around the pub.  Maura has many questions, but few answers.  She turns to her village friends for help to sort out all the mysterious happenings and maybe deliver an unexpected gift to someone in need.

Christmas decorations in Dublin, Ireland

My Thoughts

Tied Up with a Bow by Sheila Connolly is A County Cork Mystery Novella (#6.5).  Maura Donovan has been Leap for over a year (maybe two) now since she inherited Sullivan’s.  Christmas is approaching and a mysterious holiday project is going on across the street from the pub.  A raffle is started so people can guess on the secretive holiday undertaking.  Considering the amount of time Maura has been in this village, she should know more about the running of the pub.  The first thing Maura should have done was learn all there is to know about running the pub.  Maura seems to have other priorities (does anyone know what they are).  She also does not seem to know where anything is in the village (the school for instance).  Maura makes contradictory statements as well (in the same book and information from previous books).  I have tried to like Maura, but it seems to be a lost cause.  I wonder if she has any common sense at all.  I am tired of hearing that she cannot cook (or make a sandwich) plus seems oblivious on where the local market is located. There is a lack of consistency in the series which is unusual for this author.  Tied Up with a Bow is not a standalone story.  It is a series that is best read in order.  I wish the pacing had been livelier and repetitive information had been eliminated.  I also would have liked more holiday spirit.  I did like young Danny.  The poor kid and his mother are having a rough time.  I do like that Maura is trying to help them (in her way).  Tied Up with a Bow was just not the right book for me.  I suggest you obtain a sample of Buried in the Bog (first book in series) to see if this story suits you.  Tied Up with a Bow transports readers to Ireland for wacky wagers, a puzzling project, a dangerous due, a concerned child and Celtic Christmas customs.  

Tied Up with a Bow is available here* (Amazon UK).  I suggest you read a sample of the book to see if it entices you.  The first book in A County Cork Mystery series is Buried in a Bog.  You can find a complete list of the books in A County Cork Mystery series here on Amazon.  The next novel in A County Cork Mystery series is Fatal Roots which comes out January 7.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return on Monday to feature Christmas with the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell.  It is the seventh tale in The Shipyard Girls series.    I hope that you have a day filled with happiness.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.

Killer in the Carriage House by Sheila Connolly

Good Day!  Peach Clobbered by Anna Gerard, The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt by Andrea Bobotis and Killer in the Carriage House by Sheila Connolly are out today.  Shamed by Linda Castillo releases on July 16 along with Window on the Bay by Debbie Macomber.  There is no shortage of new books coming out this summer.  

Killer in the Carriage House by Sheila Connolly returns readers to Asheboro, Maryland.  Kate Hamilton was asked by her best friend, Lisbeth Scott to help revitalize the town.  After viewing the Henry Barton mansion, Kate came up with the idea to turn Asheboro into a turn-of-the-century village.  There are two big obstacles standing in the way of transforming the town:  money and citizen approval.  Kate feels they need to finish going through Henry Barton’s papers and contacts her friend, Nell Pratt for a referral.  Carroll Peterson is eager to dig through the Barton papers and see the Victorian mansion.  To sort through the papers properly, Kate gets permission to use the town library which is closed since the librarian is in jail awaiting her trial.  The next day, Kate is showing Carroll the space and they find a broken window, a knocked over bookcase and a dead body.  Detective Reynolds arrives quickly (he cannot believe Kate found another body) to take charge of the scene.  Kate is curious if the victim was trying to access the Barton papers not knowing they had yet to be moved into the library.  While the police begin investigating the murder, Kate and Carroll roll up their sleeves to begin sorting the papers in the Barton attic and get them ready to transport.  One thing Kate has been unable to learn is how Henry Barton earned his massive fortune.  She finds it hard to believe that it came from the now defunct shovel factory.  When they fail to find business papers in the house, the group troops over to the factory.  The information they uncover could be life changing if they keep the papers from falling into the wrong hands. 

Killer in the Carriage House is the second book in A Victorian Village Mystery series.  It can be read alone for those who are new to this series.  Kate Hamilton lost her job when a big conglomerate took over the hotel where she worked.  Her friend, Lisbeth Scott asks her to return to Asheboro and come up with a plan to save the dying town.  Kate’s idea is to turn the town into a Victorian village after seeing the Henry Barton mansion.  However, it will take a massive amount of planning, money and help to pull it off.  Money is something that is in short supply after the banker embezzled the town funds.  Kate is hoping Henry Barton’s papers will be a help and gets assistance from Josh Wainwright and Carroll Peterson.  I like that we are introduced to some of the townspeople like Mayor Skip Bentley, Frances who owns the newspaper, Ted the diner owner, and Mr. MacDonald with his hardware store.  Killer in the Carriage House is a slow starter with a sluggish pace.  I thought the mystery was light.  The dead body is found after I was a quarter of the way through the book and is barely addressed after that point.  Identifying the killer is a piece of cake and the resolution was lacking.  Kate has great ideas for the town with no idea on how to execute them.  She is also a procrastinator.  Kate keeps putting off things she needs to accomplish (even going to the grocery store).  She should be looking into funding, building codes, talking to towns people and doing research.  Instead, Kate devotes her time to the Barton papers.  Henry Barton does sound like a fascinating man and I am sure there is more to discover about him.  I like the inclusion of Nell Pratt in the story from A Museum Mystery series.  A Victorian Village Mystery series is a concept that I think is charming and I enjoyed Murder at the Mansion.  Killer in the Carriage House, though, was lacking which is unusual for Sheila Connolly.  I am curious to see what Kate and her friends uncover in the next A Victorian Village Mystery.  

Thank you for joining me today and reading my review.  If you are on the fence about Killer in the Carriage House, I suggest that you download a sample to see if this cozy mystery is the right fit for you.  I will be back tomorrow to share my review of Murder's No Votive Confidence by Christin Brecher.  I hope you have a magical day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Nipped in the Bud by Sheila Connolly

Welcome!  The Amish Candymaker by Laura V. Hilton comes out on February 5 along with A Faithful Gathering by Leslie Gould.  Past Due for Murder by Victoria Gilbert releases on February 12 along with Murders and Metaphors by Amanda Flower (my mother loved this one).  There are numerous new books coming out in February (I need more time to read)!

Nipped in the Bud by Sheila Connolly is the twelfth An Orchard Mystery.  Meg Chapin is adjusting to married life with her new husband, Seth.  Winter is their down time which allows them to take care of miscellaneous chores around the apple orchard.  Larry Bennett is their new orchard manager who is living in Sean’s old home along with other renters.  He is going to build a tiny home on the site of the old chicken coop.  While out walking on the property, they hear a gunshot. Seth takes off running and finds a woman dead on the ground with no identification.  They later learn she is freelance reporter, Jenn Chambers who is researching the drug problem in Pioneer Valley for an article she hoped to write.  Meg is shocked to learn that illegal drugs have become a problem in Granford.  The police are chalking Jenn’s death up to a hunting accident, but Meg has her doubts.  Meg is not one to sit idly by when a killing occurred on her land especially when it she is warned not to by the State Police.  She starts asking questions which leads to someone taking a pot shot.  What did Jenn uncover that led to her death?  Someone knows the truth and Meg just needs to get that person to talk to her.  Join Meg on her latest case in Nipped in the Bud. 

 

Nipped in the Bud is part of the delightful An Orchard Mystery series.  I was happy to see the series find a new publisher (Beyond the Page) so it could continue.  However, Nipped in the Bud is not on the same level as the other books in An Orchard Mystery (lots of fluff). Granford is a charming small town with a variety of residents (many of whom were not in the book).  I am happy to see Seth and Meg settling into married life (plenty of internal dialogue from Meg on this point).  But I did not like how Meg came across in Nipped in the Bud.  She is bored and whiney.  Their new orchard manager is introduced, and I like that he will be building a tiny home.  It is great that they are using the old chicken coop foundation for his new abode (though, their estimate on how long it will take to build seemed off).  I must admit that I miss Bree, the old orchard manager, with her friendly demeanor.  There are some cozy moments with chatting, eating, having coffee, talking about pruning and the building of the tiny home.  The mystery was straightforward, but it was light.  There was more discussion than sleuthing (lack of action too).  The case details are rehashed along with oodles of speculation.  The resolution was incomplete.  When a crime is solved, I want to know the facts instead of supposition.  Detective Marcus comes across as the cliché nasty detective and warns Meg to not investigate (of course).  I did not like that Meg kept putting him down (seemed unlike her).  I was surprised that Seth rented rooms out of his house without getting references or doing background checks.  There were also inconsistencies in character details especially with Meg’s friend, Lauren.  The characters seem to be behind the times when it comes to using modern technology (cell phones, tablets) which was puzzling (there were some odd comments).  While Nipped in the Bud can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the series in order.  I have enjoyed An Orchard Mystery series until Nipped in the Bud.  I am giving Nipped in the Bud 3 out of 5 stars.  I hope the author is back on her game with the next An Orchard Mystery.  

Thank you for visiting today.  I plan on showcasing The Bride of Ivy Green by Julie Klassen tomorrow.  It is the third book in Tales from Ivy Hill series.  I hope you have wondrous day.  Stay warm and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Murder at the Mansion: A Victorian Village Mystery

How are you doing?  In the Dog House by V.M. Burns will be released on August 21 along with As the Tide Comes In by Cindy Woodsmall.  Goodbye Cruller World by Ginger Bolton comes out on August 28 along with Halloween Murder by Leslie Meier.  

Murder at the Mansion by Sheila Connolly is the beginning of A Victorian Village Mystery series.  Katherine “Kate” Hamilton left her home of Asheboro, Maryland after high school.  Katie currently works at Oriole Suites Hotel in Baltimore and is surprised when she gets a call from Lisbeth Scott, her best friend in high school.  A storm went through Asheboro a few weeks ago causing severe damage and many of the residents do not have insurance to cover repairs.  The town is on the verge of going under and they want Kate’s assistance.  The town council had been convinced to buy the Old Barton home (a beautiful Victorian mansion) by Cordelia Walker.  It turns out she had personal motivations for the venture and her plan would not benefit Asheboro.  They are hoping Kate can use her skills to come up with a viable and inexpensive plan for to resurrect the town.  Kate tours the Barton mansion and meets the caretaker, Josh Wainwright.  She is surprised to see it in such beautiful condition.  It is like stepping back in time to the Victorian era, and Kate begins to formulate a plan.  As Kate exits the mansion with Josh, she finds her high school nemesis, Cordelia Walker dead on the front steps.  Detective Reynolds of the Maryland State Police Criminal Division is in charge of the case, but he could use someone local to be his eyes and ears.  Since the Oriole was bought out, Kate has the time to aid the town and Detective Reynolds.  While in Asheboro working on her plan for the town and researching the Barton family, Kate delves into Cordelia’s life looking for clues.  What had Cordelia uncovered that got her killed?  Join Kate on her inaugural mystery in Murder at the Mansion.

Murder at the Mansion contains good writing and with varying pacing.  The story starts out strong as we are introduced to Kate.  I like the main character as she is smart, likeable, hardworking, and willing to help her hometown.  Kate does need to work on her self-confidence (don’t we all).  I like the books concept of a struggling small town with a beautiful Victorian home.  If something is not done to draw in tourists, Asheboro will die quickly.  The Barton mansion sounds gorgeous.  I just loved the descriptions of the Victorian masterpiece (I would love to own this home).  I like the vision Kate came up with for the town and I am looking forward to seeing it come to fruition in future books in this series.  The mystery has layers to it which are revealed as Kate searches for clues and I like that the mystery ties into the Barton mansion.  I wish, though, that it had been harder to pinpoint the guilty party.  I found the pace to vary throughout the story and it was especially slow in the middle.  There was too much repetition and speculation.  I feel that the book needed further editing.  If Murder at the Mansion had been tightened up, it would have been a much better cozy mystery.  I was curious as to why Kate did not look up information online.  She kept wanting details on the original owner of the Barton home, but she did not do the obvious.  There is mild foul language in the book (and it is not needed).  Overall, I thought Murder at the Mansion was an intriguing first novel in A Victorian Village Mystery series.  I am giving Murder at the Mansion 3 out of 5 stars.  I am curious to see what happens next as Kate works to save Asheboro.

Sheila Connolly's next novel is The Lost Traveller in A County Cork Mystery series.  It will be out on January 8, 2019.  Thank you for visiting today.  I will be sharing my thoughts on Through the Autumn Air by Kelly Irvin next time.  I hope that you have a spectacular summer day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Revealing the Dead: Relatively Dead Mysteries

Greetings!  Heart of the Witch by Deanna Chase will be out on May 25.  It is the second book in Witches of Keating Hollow series.  A Passion for Haunted Fashion by Rose Pressey releases on May 29.  It is the sixth book in A Haunted Vintage Mystery series.  I really need more time to read.

Revealing the Dead by Sheila Connolly is the sixth installment in Relatively Dead Mysteries.  Abby Kimball is still contemplating what she wants to do career wise.  In the meantime, she is going to work on renovating the Victorian home she shares with New Newhall.  Abby decides to start with the tiny half bath on the first floor and contacts Maguire Plumbing.  After agreeing to do away with the unusable little room, Jack Maguire starts dismantling it.  Inside the back wall he finds an old wrench that belonged to his father.  Abby can tell that Jack got a psychic shock when he touched the tool, but he takes off before Abby can talk to him.  She wonders how the tool got left inside the wall and wonders if Jack Maguire has similar special abilities.  Through Ellie Walker, Abby is introduced to her new classmate, Danny Allen.  Ellie believes that the young autistic boy has abilities similar to her own and they can communicate in a special way.  When Abby gets an opportunity to meet Danny, she is surprised by the colorful visions she receives from him.  Abby begins by researching the Maguire family tree and then learns more about autism.   Abby soon learns that an incident from the past has startling implications for those in the present day.  Join Abby on her journey in Revealing the Dead.

Revealing the Dead is not a standalone novel.  Each book in the Relatively Dead Mysteries builds upon the previous one as Abby and Ned learn more about their special abilities.  It was nice to catch up with Abby and Ned in Lexington.  However, I am not thrilled with the direction the series has taken (too much science).  I find myself frustrated with Abby.  She has such a wonderful gift and she has failed to fully explore it.  Abby spent a significant amount of time researching in this story which slowed down the pace of the book plus there was a lack of action.  I thought the writing was stilted which is unusual for this author and there was too much repetition.  I felt that Revealing the Dead could have used polishing.  My favorite character is Ellie Walker.  She is a smart young lady who is open and accepting of her gift.  I like her inquisitive nature and her acceptance of others.  It was wonderful the way she stood up for Danny against bullies (it was handled very well).  I believe it is past time for her mother, Leslie to step up.  She needs to work on her relationship with Ned and Abby for Ellie’s sake.  The ending felt incomplete.  We are not told what decision Abby made regarding the Birch School.  I am hoping to see Abby’s character grow in the next book.  She has yet to complete anything since the beginning of the series.  It would be nice if there was less science and more paranormal.   I am rating Revealing the Dead 3 out of 5 stars.  I find the cover for Revealing the Dead to be delightfully spooky.  The other novels in Relatively Dead Mysteries are Relatively Dead, Seeing the Dead, Defending the Dead, Watch for the Dead, and Search for the Dead.

Thank you for visiting today.  I will be featuring Hair of the Dog by Carlene O'Neil next time.  It is the third installment in A Cypress Cove Mystery series.  May you have a blissful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader