Tag: @AnneCleeland

Murder in Protocol by Anne Cleeland

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Contemporary, Mystery, Part of a SeriesLeave a comment

Murder in Protocol

Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: A Doyle & Acton Mystery #17
Publication Date: 9/24/23
Period: Contemporary – Dublin
Number of Pages: 218

I am totally bewitched by this quirky series with such flawed, yet endearing characters. The strait-laced, fey, Irish Roman Catholic, Doyle is tasked with keeping her brilliant, scorched-earth, vigilante husband, Acton, under control by tempering his edges and keeping him on the straight-and-narrow. You’ll never meet a more mismatched pair, yet they work perfectly together.

Acton, Doyle, the children, their security, and staff are all in Dublin for the groundbreaking ceremony of a science lab they are donating to the school Doyle attended when growing up – St. Brigid’s School for Girls. This was all Acton’s idea and Doyle knows he’s up to something – she just has to figure out what that is – and put a stop to it. Whatever it is surely won’t be good – donating the science lab is good, but the ulterior motive won’t be.

At first, Doyle is sure Acton’s plot must have something to do with Sir Stephen, Acton’s distant cousin. Acton knows Sir Stephen plotted the death of a priest in order to gain control of the man’s family money – but – Acton is steering well away from all of that and allowing justice to take its course properly. That is so unlike him! Yet, while she’s sure there is a plot, she absolutely cannot find any evidence of one. She even employs her fey powers of being able to tell when someone is lying – and he’s not lying. So – what can he be up to?

When they discover a body beneath a tree where Doyle is giving her speech during the groundbreaking ceremony, Doyle wonders if this relates to whatever Acton is up to. No, he’s as surprised as everyone else is – and the body turns out to have been in the ground for a really long time.

If not Sir Stephen, and not the dead body, then what is Acton up to? Perhaps he really isn’t up to anything at all other than trying to give back to a place that means a lot to his wife. Perhaps it relates to their last ill-fated trip to Dublin. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. You’ll just have to read this very entertaining fast-paced story to find out if Acton is up to something – and if he is, can Doyle put a wrench in the works?

I can recommend this book, this series, and this author, and I hope you’ll enjoy this book as much as I did should you choose to read it. Happy Reading!

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Murder in Spite by Anne Cleeland

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Contemporary, MysteryLeave a comment

Murder in Spite (New Scotland Yard/Doyle and Acton, #8)Murder in Spite by Anne Cleeland

Barbara’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: New Scotland Yard/Doyle and Acton #8
Publication Date: 9/16/18

Anne Cleeland writes marvelously quirky characters in very intelligent and well-crafted books. Acton and Doyle’s relationship is highly improbable while also being delightfully entertaining and intriguing. Acton is absolutely obsessed with the fey Doyle and the ensuing story is always delightful. Lessons learned from reading this series: (1) Ghosts immediately lose their ability to speak in straightforward, linear language as soon as they cross over. They speak in hints, riddles, and ambiguity. (2) Acton will always be up to something he shouldn’t be and will always try to keep it hidden from Doyle. (3) Doyle will always find out what Acton is up to and will get herself into trouble trying to stop it.

Just as an FYI, this series is best read in order from the beginning because each story builds upon the last. You can certainly read this book as a stand-alone and still enjoy the mystery, but you’ll miss out on who the people are and their relationships.

In the last book, Murder in Misdirection, Acton, Doyle, and crew brought down a huge sex-trafficking ring that reached into some of the highest levels of London’s Metropolitan Police Force. The aftermath has left the Met very shorthanded and the remaining crooks trying to cover their tracks. Also, at the end of the last book, Doyle gave birth to Edward.

This book begins with Acton taking Doyle and Edward (and their entourage) to Dublin to visit Doyle’s childhood haunts. He wants her away from London and all that is going on there. He wants her to rest and enjoy being a mother after her narrow escape from a rooftop. Doyle is sure that Acton has an ulterior motive for getting her out of London, but if it gets him away too, then that is good with her. Then, Edward and his nanny are almost pushed from the train. Doyle takes it as an accident, but Acton is on high alert from that point on. He immediately changes all of their pre-booked travel plans and assures that Doyle and Edward are always accompanied wherever they go.

As soon as they arrive, Acton is summoned to the local Garda (police) station. They had a dead body turn up right on the Garda’s entry steps and the victim had come to the station the day before wanting to get in contact with Acton. The Irish Garda is immediately suspicious of Acton. Acton is immediately up to something – covering up what has happened, but Doyle doesn’t have a clue why. Then, they learn of a bishop’s murder in London. Are the two murders related?

Poor Doyle has to figure out what is going on with the murders, figure out what Acton is up to and deal with two ghosts who are haunting her dreams and leaving her with very ambiguous clues to what is going on.

Cleeland’s stories always have a lot going on and this one is no exception. The personal lives of their entourage also keep Doyle and Acton busy, so that relaxing and happy vacation just never quite materializes. We also meet someone new that I think will be a continuing character. She is a young Pakistani intern, Nazy, at the local Garda station. I liked her and it will be interesting to see how she fits into future stories.

I certainly recommend this entire series and I can’t wait for the next adventure.

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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”