7Barbara’s rating: 4.3 of 5 Stars
Series: Mydworth Mysteries #11
Publication Date: 5/27/22
Period: Interwar – 1930 – England
Number of Pages: 140

Thank goodness Kat and Harry have returned from New York and are now happily ensconced in their quiet village of Mydworth. Of course, nothing stays quiet too long with Kat and Harry, and that proves to be the case as they are attending a children’s charity function. A distraught villager approaches them about his missing son, Ewan, who is presumed dead. Ewan’s small boat was found capsized after a particularly nasty storm had rolled through. But Ewan was an excellent sailor – and no body has been found. All Ewan’s father wants is answers; Is Ewan Dead? Why would he have gone out in his boat during such a storm?

Kat and Harry go from nobody having any information to share to having half the village share various somewhat conflicting bits of information. The one thing that everybody agrees upon though – Ewan is a really good person, intelligent, and level-headed. Kat and Harry end up with lots of suspects, lots of motives, and no proof of anything. How will they narrow it down to the real culprit? Well, it comes with some very unexpected revelations that change the course of their investigation.

I absolutely love Kat and Harry with their wit and humor that is reminiscent of Nick and Nora Charles from the Thin Man movies. They differ from Nick and Nora in that Harry isn’t constantly trying to keep Kat out of the investigations – Kat is a full and equal partner. Of course, being newlywed adds to the fun as well.

I am totally addicted to this series and can hardly wait from one book to the next. They are always quick and enjoyable reads.

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Barbara’s rating: 3.7 of 5 Stars
Series: Mydworth Mysteries #10
Publication Date: 12/23/21
Period: Interwar – 1930
Number of Pages: 145

I always love the quick reads in this series. Kat and Harry are always fun and their witty banter during the tense moments of an investigation is very entertaining. For some reason, this time, the book just didn’t resonate with me. It almost seemed as if Kat and Harry were cartoon versions of themselves or something. I think maybe the circumstances and the plot just seemed ‘off’ somehow. I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but it just doesn’t come up to the caliber of the other books in the series.

Kat and Harry, Lord and Lady Mortimer, have long wanted to make a trip from England to New York so Harry can meet Kat’s family. Harry is so excited about their arrival, and he can hardly wait to begin seeing New York through Kat’s eyes. Of course, the best-laid plans often go astray and theirs certainly did. As soon as they check into their hotel, Kat receives an urgent message from her old mentor. Groan! Should they go see why they are needed – especially since the message said it was a matter of life and death.

There has been a kidnapping involving the grandson of one of New York’s richest moguls and Kat and Harry are needed to assure he is safely returned – and to recover the money if possible. With betrayals, mobsters, and dysfunctional families, the poor young man who was kidnapped may not make it home alive.

I liked Kat’s family and would have liked to spend more page time with them. It would have been much more interesting to have them more involved in the mystery – or maybe even to have the mystery revolve around them somehow. Bringing the strangers into it just cut out time we could have spent getting to know the Reilly family.

I enjoyed this book, but it definitely isn’t my favorite of the series.

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