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MY REVIEW
Eureka! Eureka! I did it!! I guessed the killer right at the moment the character appeared in the book. And you would think that it were my Detective skills that zinged and zanged to lead me to the killer. Nopes, it was just pure instincts.
Kate, the nurse and amateur sleuth was back. She was called to one of the flats of the Seaview Grange to check on a patient with a broken ankle, and she found a friend in Edina Martinelli, who was sure someone was trying to kill her. She checked up on the opera singer frequently and on one occasion, she found her to be quite unwell. Later the same day, the grande dame died. She was poisoned. The pages of the book turned faster when I got an inkling of what could have happened.
Then came an attempted suicide followed by another murder, and it was Kate ramping up her investigation even when everyone warned he against it. She could get to the killer but at great peril to her own life. A couple of chapters described how far the killer would go to silence her.
All the residents and visitors were on the suspect list. After every few chapters, Kate would get a new suspect with whom the motives were the highest. Opposition from the local cop, support from the retired cop along with the residents in the building wanting to g wet to the truth made Kate speed up. Few characters in her life returned in this book, they gave me a glimpse of her personal life.
A fact niggled me while reading. Kate was a dedicated nurse, yet when the patient’s pulse was thready and low, and the patient looked to be at death’s bed, dehydrated, she didn’t call for the amulance. A cardiac patient on digitalis with the pulse low and barely palpable, every medical professional would know that it is an emergency. The fact Kate allowed herself to be swayed by the patient and asking a cleaner to check on her irritated the doctor in me, especially when the patient died. I didn’t like her much then. But this would not hurt anyone else’s sensibilities.
The rest of the book was quite fun and felt to be a perfectly cozy murder mystery.
MY RATING
BOOK LINKS
AMAZON USA: https://amzn.to/3f2Rjkt
AMAZON UK: https://amzn.to/2IFokqQ
AUDIBLE USA: https://amzn.to/3f16Z7R
AUDIBLE UK: https://amzn.to/3ptOJJe
BOOK BLURB
Practice nurse Kate Palmer is ready for some peace and quiet in her little Cornish village, but there’s soon to be a murder on her doorstep…Kate’s retirement in Cornwall hasn’t quite gone as planned – Lavender Cottage is in need of substantial repairs and her sister Angie’s fondness for gin does rather stretch the purse-strings.So when Kate is asked to do some nursing at the luxury retirement flats in Seaview Grange, she jumps at the chance. The old Victorian house has stunning views of the sea and the retirees are a peaceful bunch. That is, until Edina Martinelli, a glamorous ex-opera singer, is found poisoned in her home.Edina’s death is ruled an overdose by Digoxin, the same medication she had been on for years. But Kate is sure the woman she met was not suicidal, and with the reputation of her practice on the line, she decides to do some digging. Luckily she’s got the newly retired Detective Inspector Woody Forrest to help her…It’s not long before Kate discovers evidence of foul play, and there’s no shortage of suspects. Was it the besotted vicar? The ill-tempered stepson? Or perhaps Edina’s neighbour finally had enough of her constant warbling. It seems everyone had a motive, but who amongst them had the stomach for murder? And will they kill again?
BOOK DETAILS
Publication Date:
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, and this is my journey down its pages, straight from the heart. STRICTLY HONEST and UNBIASED.
All my reviews can be found here.
5 Responses
Lovely review. Same here Shalini, I’ve also guessed it when that person first appeared. Loved Kate puppy’s inner thoughts when it came across another dog during their walking.
It is so satisfying to be able to guess the murderer straightaway. Sounds like Kate is a better detective than nurse.
Yay – I am glad to see you liked it, I have it on my cloud and am working my way towards it. I need your super reader skills, I am so behind!
Congrats for working it out, Shalini! Great review 🙂
yeah, i think i’d have a problem with Kate too. was the grande dame WANTING to die? her wishes? a thready and low pulse would signal an immediate need–get thee to the doc. great review, Shalini.