Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781101619094 |
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| Publisher: | Penguin Publishing Group |
| Publication date: | 02/05/2013 |
| Series: | Victoria Square Series , #3 |
| Sold by: | Penguin Group |
| Format: | NOOK Book |
| Pages: | 304 |
| Sales rank: | 62,955 |
| File size: | 982 KB |
| Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
One Hot Murder
4.5 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
17 reviews.
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I like the story alright but the "fillers" the author uses make the story arduous to read. Every little thing is explained for no apparent reason. I love Bartlett's Jeff Resnick books: they are well written and very interesting. This particular book is okay but it is redundant in many many places and, as I mentioned before, there is way too much detail that seems to be filling up the pages instead of lending something to the story.
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Is Victoria Square getting too hot to handle for Katie Bonner?
Third in the Victoria Square Mystery Series, this book does not disappoint, in fact if anything, it surpasses with a mysterious fire and death in Artisans Alley. As Katie's mind races between one suspect and another, one victim and another, the reader is hard put to try and outguess the protagonist. With her keen sense of intuition, she needs to talk her ideas out with someone. What a time for Detective Davenport to retire! So many loose threads, but who is holding the winning one, the one with the right answers? Why did two men disappear at the same time, with one body left behind at Artisans Alley? Katie has two many suspects and too many victims. But Detective Davenport does not go lightly into the sunset but is actively hoping to solve this last case before his official retirement date and time. Who died in the Wood U fire?
Another thorn in Katie's side, she has once again seen her dreams of owning the Webster Mansion lost to a new buyer. Turning to Seth, her lawyer friend, she finds no answers but more questions, but on meeting the new owners, she finds that they have a lot of ideas similar to her own, and even better, she really likes them. But can she part with all her stored treasures she bought in anticipation of turning the house into the English Ivy Inn?
In this sizzling early summer heat, tempers flare, strange things are happening at the Alley, and the air conditioner is ill-equipped for both the extreme temperatures and the size of the building. Going home at the end of the day to her room over the pizza parlor is no better. Emotions run high, and dealing with Ida's frustrating personality has driven her to remove her from the Alley. A decision that will come back to haunt her.
Once more Lorraine Bartlett has given us a very hot mystery to keep us guessing. A large part of the charm of the Victoria Square Mystery Series is the camaraderie shared by so many mainstays in the series, and that charm continues. Well-written as always, introducing new characters and perhaps a new direction, this book will certainly keep our brain cells cooking! With Katie's mind going in so many directions, there are twists and turns galore. Recipes included.
Disclaimer: I received an advance reading copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. The words and rating are mine alone.
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A heat wave has Katie Bonner on edge. Not only is her non air conditioned apartment above a pizza parlor, her office in Artisan's Alley is steamy. A fire at one of the stores in Victoria's Square brings Detective Davenport to talk to Katie about the body found inside the burned store. Katie and Davenport form an unusual pair to solve this case quickly, before Davenport retires at the end of the week.
The murder story as well as all of the many business and personal issues combine together to create a warm, past paced story.
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Dollycas’s Thoughts
As the temperatures around here were dropping the temperatures at the Artisans Alley were heating up. It’s summertime at the Victoria Square and the air conditioning at the Artisans Alley can’t cool off the entire building. Katie also doesn’t have air conditioning in her apartment above the pizza place either. With only open windows and a fan to help her cool off she is shocked to notice a fire out her window at Victoria Square. She calls 911 and rushes over there to find Wood U totally engulfed and when the fire in extinguished the firefighters find a dead body. Everyone is distraught that the owner of the shop has died but then they find out, the person was killed before not during the fire. Because of the status of the body they know he was murdered by they can’t make conclusive identification. Detective Ray Davenport is on the case but that doesn’t mean Katie isn’t hotfooting it all over town to find the killer.
This is a hot, Hot, HOT! murder mystery. I sat down on Sunday afternoon to read and read it all in one sitting.
This is the 3rd book in the series and it has been awhile since I had read book 2, The Walled Flower, but Ms. Bartlett creates very memorable characters so I was all caught up by the end of Chapter 1. Katie Bonner inherited ownership of the Alley and she has been working hard to make it work for all her crafters and turn a profit for herself so she can invest in some upgrades like a new air conditioning system. Her tenants are an eclectic bunch, some pitch in to help all the time, some need to be reminded and one is there all the time and is getting on Katie’s last nerve. Detective Ray Davenport is retiring from the force and this murder investigation is his last. Andy and Katie are still working opposite hours but are trying so hard to spend more time together.
These wonderful characters are surrounded by quite a mystery. Until the body is properly identified Katie and Ray are assuming they know who it is and proceeding in their investigations accordingly, but the clues they uncover twists things in a way that just don’t fit together. Plus there are a few subplots that tie in to the main mystery in several ways.
One of the subplots deals with Katie’s dream of purchasing a big Victorian home to turn it into a B&B. Her money is all tied up in the Alley and the inventory she has been stashing away for when her dream becomes a reality. Her dream goes up in smoke when she learns someone else has purchased the home. It was how she handled this situation that I as a reader could see how much this character has evolved from the first book in this series. I found it very refreshing to read. I am still unsure about her relationship with Andy so I am looking forward to seeing how this is addressed in the next book. Yes, the next book! It has been awhile but Dead, Bath, and Beyond is being released next month.
To me this author is one of the best a writing cozies mysteries. You can’t go wrong with anything she writes!
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Katie Bonner hasn't had it easy. She's a young widow who always has dreamt of running a bed and breakfast. Instead she manages Artisan's Alley and is president of Victoria Square. When she sees a fire at Wood U, one of the shops, she runs out to investigate. Outside of the shop is Dennis Wheeler's car. And inside, a badly burned body with a bullet in the head. Is it Dennis? And why was he killed? Even though the other books have nicely crafted characters, I think this one shines for offering a little insight into the normally grumpy Detective Davenport. Why is he suddenly so interested in Katie's ideas on who the killer might be? I enjoyed the sudden change of the normally grumpy detective. I like Katie. She's really likable and she's had her share of disappointments. I think losing a husband at her young age had to be devastating. Yet, she trudges on. I think she grew a lot in this book - letting go of some of her disappointments in life. The book was a good read and the mystery kept you guessing. Lorraine Bartlett is an excellent author. If you like this series you should also read her other ones: The Booktown Mystery series, Jeff Resnick series, and her fantasy series Tales of Telenia.
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In Bartlett’s mystery novel, Katie Bonner, the manager of Artisans Alley in Victoria Square, and her boyfriend Andy Rust are heating things up. But now the summer heat wave is sweltering and with it comes both a murder and a fire caused by arson. Feeling responsible for the merchants of Victoria Square, Katie dons the hat of detective and sets out determined to smoke out a killer before he strikes again.
Fun plot, likable characters—Bartlett has done another great addition to the A Victoria Square Mystery series.
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Lorraine Bartlett comes through again with another highly entertaining read! One Hot Murder is the 3rd book in this series of cozy mysteries with Katie who owns Artisans Alley craft fair.
In this book, the wood shop in Victoria Square has a fire and a body in found inside. But it wasn't the fire that killed him and was he the owner or ?? Once again, we meet the detective, Ray and Katie's boyfriend, Andy who owns the pizza shop. I am beginning to really like Ray and think it's time to dump Andy. :)
This is a quick read because it's one of those engrossing "don't want to put down" books! If you like a well written cozy, try one in this series. You will find well developed characters and intriguing plots. The author definitely does not disappoint!
Looking forward to reading more about Victoria Square.
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The third book in the Victoria Square series. Of course I got addicted when I read the first one. Katie, the main character has become one of my favorite cozy heroines. and this one left my hungry for the next one.
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The best of this series so far. I enjoyed the other titles but not as much as this one. The characters are taking shape and now feel familiar. Can't wait to see what happens at Sassy Sally's Inn! We have not heard the end of Katie's involvement I feel sure!
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I love this series. It's entertaining and relaxing. The characters are enjoyable and the setting is charming.
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I truly enjoy this series by Lorraine Bartlett. Katie Bonner wasn't the most likable person in the beginning (and still has her moments) but she's dealt with a lot so I guess she's entitled to have a snippy moment now and then. She's softened in many ways...maybe a certain pizzeria owner has something to do with that!
Summer has arrived with a vengeance, keeping Katie hot at work and at home. Then, a fire in a shop on Victoria Square, a body found inside, then the house she's coveted for ages with an eye to turning it into an inn is sold again...that's just for starters. The big surprise is that the detective who didn't appreciate her input before is now acting all buddy-buddy and even asking her opinion. No wonder Katie's doubting reality!
All the characters and "characters" (pun intended) are back, keeping Katie on her toes as she puts on her sleuthing cap to find out just what's going on and how it will affect Artisans Alley.
I look forward to book 4!
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One Hot Murder is the third book in the Victorian Square Mystery series. And a very welcomed and enjoyable book, too.
It seems to be a hot time in the square this July. The annual Christmas In July pot-luck is coming up and everyone is excited to be able to get together and party. Putting a damper on the festivities for Katie, begins when she looks out of her apartment, over her boyfriends pizza parlor, and that the shop Wood U is on fire. The fire is quickly extinguished, but a body is found inside the store. But the body is cannot be identified due to the gun shot to the head. But, Dennis Wheeler's, the owner, vehicle is still parked behind the store. Then it is learned that Wheeler has sold the business and has withdrawn the money from the sale from his bank account. Detective Davenport is anxious to get the case solved, as his retirement is just a few days away.
Then Katie notices and vendors have been complaining about food and drinks going missing from the refrigerator in the employee lounge. Then one evening while working late learns that someone has been sleeping upstairs in a storage room. She thinks that it may be Wheeler, but then who was killed? Detective Davenport would like to see a quick resolution to the case, as his retirement is just days away.
Finally, Katie and Davenport are able to put their heads together and tie up the loose ends of the mystery at Victorian Square.
Looking forward to the next book as there were a couple things that came out at the end of the book, that I am most anxious to see how they play out in future books.
As before a great read.
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A fire sparks our sleuth’s investigation when a dead body is found inside a burned store. Who is the dead body? Who started the fire? Who is behind this dastardly deed? All these questions and more will be answered in this pleasantly appealing whodunit.
I know whenever I read a book written by Lorraine Bartlett, she is going to take me on a fabulous journey that transcend time and place and draws me into the goings on in Victoria Square, right alongside Katie. I loved the way this drama flows from one chapter to the next as the mystery kept me guessing with some surprising twists I didn’t see coming until it happened and I do love that in a mystery. The more I learn about Katie, the more I like her and the relationships she has with her vendors and friends. Boasting a diverse cast of characters, a warm comfortable atmosphere and enjoyable dialogue, this is by far, the best book in this wonderfully crafted series and I look forward to the next adventures with Katie and her friends.
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