Reviewed By Liz

Rhys Bowen is today’s featured author. With seventeen books under her belt, she isn’t a new author, but she was new to me until recently. I very much enjoyed both her Constable Evans and Molly Murphy characters. And a lot of others have, too, because Rhys has been nominated for every major mystery award and won seven.

Rhys is starting a new series with the book HER ROYAL SPYNESS, which is described as a humorous, historical cozy.

If you liked Bridget Jones…
If you adore royal scandals…
If you loved Charade and a touch of danger…
A sexy hero who is not quite trustworthy…
And you love to laugh…
Then you’ll want to read Rhys’s new venture:

HER ROYAL SPYNESS

Georgie, aka Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, cousin of King George V of England, is penniless and trying to survive on her own as an ordinary person in London in 1932.

So far she has managed to light a fire and boil an egg…
She’s gate-crashed a wedding…
She’s making money by secretly cleaning houses…
And she’s been asked to spy for Her Majesty the Queen.

Everything seems to be going swimmingly until she finds a body in her bathtub and someone is definitely trying to kill her.

IN DUBLIN’S FAIR CITY is the most recent Molly Murphy book. Molly risks traveling back to Ireland on what seems to be a simple assignment to find the long lost sister of a theater impresario. But things start to go wrong when Molly is persuaded to change cabins with a famous actress and the actress’s maid is found murdered. And the actress’s luggage is full of guns. Once in Ireland Molly finds herself caught up in the freedom movement and a dangerous mission of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.

EVANLY BODIES is the most recent Constable Evans book. Evan’s wife Bronwen befriends Pakistani teenager Jamila. When Jamila comes to them, distraught because she has found out about an arranged marriage for her in Pakistan, Bronwen tries to intervene. Then Jamila vanishes.

At work Evan is facing three baffling murders—three very different men, each shot through an open window. In his hunt for a serial killer, Evan stumbles upon a link with Jamila bringing disastrous consequences for all involved.

Rhys Bowen can be found on the internet at www.rhysbowen.com and at The Lady Killers, a blog she shares with Lyn Hamilton, Mary Anna Evans, Cara Black and Jane Finnis. Be sure to check out her appearance schedule at her web site as she is hosting a series of Royal Teas at various bookstores.

You can read my reviews of DEATH OF RILEY and EVANLY BODIES.

If you haven’t signed up for the Summer Mystery Reading Challenge yet, click here for directions. You are welcome to read along on your own, of course, but only registered participants are eligible for the prizes.

If you would like to comment on a book by a featured author or ask them a question, please leave the comment on their daily page so they can find it easily. Comments about what you are reading, books you have finished, requests for readalikes or recommendations, or mystery related links can be made on the SMRC post for that day so we can all see them. Thanks!

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2007

ISBN 0-312-28211-7

Death of Riley is set in New York City in 1901, where Molly Murphy has settled after emigrating to the United States from Ireland. Molly is a plucky young woman who decides to become a private investigator of sorts and specialize in locating immigrants whose distant loved ones can’t find them. But Molly has a few problems – she has no training, little money, and few connections in this new world. So it is quite fortuitous when she meets Paddy Riley.

Riley is a private investigator specializing in divorce work. He is a loner who can’t imagine a female detective, but is bowled over by the determined Molly. When Riley is murdered, Molly decides that this is her opportunity to do some real investigating, and her journey into some of the more interesting and unusual cultures of New York begins.

I really enjoyed Death of Riley. Molly is a fantastic character who makes some interesting choices during the course of the book. Bowen takes some chances here, but manages to avoid making Molly an unsympathetic character. Instead, Bowen draws the reader into the world of 1901 and shows us that tough choices had to be made if you wanted to survive in that time and place.

Bowen also adds a lot of interesting color, some historical characters, and lots of activity to the story – Molly is a woman of action and this book is packed with details, characters, and plot. I was, in fact, so absorbed by the story that I didn’t see the solution when I should have. Which made me feel a little silly, but also made for a more enjoyable read.

Favorite character? Molly. You just have to admire her. Did I guess it? No, and I am still kicking myself. Will I read another? Yes. This is the second book in the series and I am definitely going back for the first one.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2007

Available at Amazon!

Rhys Bowen has a new book out in hardcover this month.

In Dublin’s Fair City
By Rhys Bowen
A Molly Murphy Mystery

Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Minotaur (March 6, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0312328192

Available at Amazon

Rhys Bowen’s Oh Danny Boy was also released in paperback in March.

Oh Danny Boy
By Rhys Bowen
A Molly Murphy Mystery

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks; Reprint edition (March 6, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0312997019

Available at Amazon

ISBN 0-312-34942-4

Evanly Bodies is set in a small town in Wales, where Detective Constable Evan Evans and his new wife Bronwen live in a small and somewhat eccentric house. Change comes to their little town when a Pakistani family moves in and reopens the defunct grocery store. While the townspeople are glad of a place to shop locally, a few culture clashes ensue. And while Bronwen finds herself embroiled in the issues with the new residents, Evan is trying to solve a series of seemingly related, unusual murders.

Three men, who are apparently unknown to each other, are shot on different days by the same weapon while eating in their homes, all seated by a window. Evans must solve these improbable crimes while dealing with a new boss and a position on a special, centralized crime squad – a position which might be either a reward or a punishment, depending upon interpretation.

I found this book particularly interesting because of the contrasts in it. The quaint Welsh village is a backdrop for the heinous acts people commit against each other and serves to highlight some of the harsh truths of our modern world. And just when you think you have the situations and characters sussed out, Bowen slips in some surprises that both keep you on your toes and are ultimately rewarding.

The settings in the book are good and well described, as are the characters. The townspeople, in particular, are a hoot. The plot is reminiscent of old locked room mysteries and, true to that genre, Bowen tries out some sleight of hand to keep the reader from asking the right questions.

Favorite character? Evan Evans, who sees his duties through to the end, no matter how they end up. Did I guess it? Most of it. Will I read another? Yes.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2007

Buy it from Amazon!