Death at Thorburn Hall by Julianna Deering (Review)

• Series: A Drew Farthering Mystery
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (November 7, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764218298
• ISBN-13: 978-0764218293

The Fartherings' Scottish Holiday Takes a Dark Turn

Drew Farthering arrives in idyllic Scotland for the 1935 British Open at Muirfield hoping for a relaxing holiday, but he soon finds a mystery on his hands. Lord Rainsby, his host at Thorburn Hall, fears his business partner may be embezzling and asks Drew to quietly investigate. Before Drew can uncover anything, Rainsby is killed in a suspicious riding accident.

Thorburn Hall is filled with guests, and as Drew continues to dig, he realizes that each might have had a motive to put Rainsby out of the way. Together with Madeline and Nick, he must sort through shady business dealings, international intrigue, and family tensions to find a killer who always seems to be one step ahead.

My Review:

This was a good Christian British cozy mystery set in Scotland. It is book six in the Drew Farthering Mystery series. The main characters are Drew and his wife Madeline along with their friends Nick and Carrie. It can be read alone but I enjoyed the whole series. This mystery starts with Lord Rainsby asking Drew to investigate his business partner for embezzling. Then, Lord Rainsby dies in a suspicious riding accident. Drew, Madeline, Nick, and Carrie have their hands full investigating all the leads. The book was interesting and I did not guess the who done it before the end. There was also development in the relationship between Nick and Carrie. Recommended to fans of Christian British cozy mysteries. 

JULIANNA DEERING (also writing as DeAnna Julie Dodson) has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness, and triumph over adversity.

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

Dressed for Death by Julianna Deering (Review)

Series: A Drew Farthering Mystery

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (March 1, 2016)

ISBN-13: 978-0764214110

Drew and Madeline Farthering celebrate their six-month anniversary by attending a fancy Regency era costume party. Drew is glad to see Talbot Cummins, an Oxford classmate, and his fiancée, Alice Henley, though many present seem worried about the couple. Everyone's concerns are realized when, at the concluding grand ball, Alice dies of an overdose of cocaine. Tal refuses to believe she took the stuff intentionally, and Drew is determined to find out if her death was an accident or murder.

Drew is shocked and disillusioned when the police arrest Tal's father and reveal that the man has been smuggling drugs into the country for the past twenty years. Reeling from the death of his fiancée and the revelation about his father, Tal begs Drew to find out what's going on. Drew, now questioning his own ability to see people as they really are, does so reluctantly, not ready for the secrets he's about to uncover--or the danger he'll bring down on everyone he holds dear.


My Review:

This is book four in the Drew Farthering mystery series. They are cozy mysteries set in 1920s England. It was my least favorite book of the series. The murder aspect is more intense than previous books. It is more serious and gritty. They mystery part was good and the ending great. I did not see it coming. The characters and plot were well developed. Hopefully Drew and Madeline will have another book. I recommend starting with the first book in the series though. 




JULIANNA DEERING (also writing as DeAnna Julie Dodson) has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuted with Rules of Murder (Bethany House, 2013) and is followed by Death by the Book and Murder at the Mikado (Bethany House, 2014). Dressed for Death, the fourth book in the series, is scheduled for release in March, 2016, followed by Murder on the Moor (Fall, 2016) and Death with Two Faces (Summer, 2017)

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Murder at the Mikado by Julianna Deering (Review)

• Series: A Drew Farthering Mystery
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (July 1, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-0764210976

When a celebrated ACTOR IS FOUND MURDERED IN HIS DRESSING ROOM, all signs point to Drew's old flame. But behind the curtains nothing is what it seems and this quickly becomes his MOST puzzling case YET.
Just as Drew Farthering thinks his life has calmed down some, Fleur Landis, a former girlfriend, reappears, in dire need of his help. She's married now, no longer an actress--but the lead actor in her former troupe's production of The Mikado has been murdered, and Fleur is the police's number one suspect.

Drew would rather focus on his fiancée, Madeline Parker, and their upcoming wedding, but he can't leave Fleur and her family in the lurch--even if she did break his heart once. As Drew, Nick, and Madeline begin investigating, they discover more going on behind the scenes of the theater troupe than could ever have been imagined. It seems nearly everyone had a motive, and alibis are few and far between.

Both the murder case and the presence of the beautiful, exotic Fleur put a heavy strain on Drew and Madeline's relationship. Will their still-young romance survive the pressure?


 My Review:

I did not enjoy this book as much as the previous books in the series. This book can stand alone but reading the first two adds background history to the characters. The pace for this book was really slow. The plot definitely meandered along. There was more dialogue than mystery/suspense. The ending was explosive though. The author did a good job creating the feel of England. The faith element was a little awkward and seemed like it was an afterthought. Overall it was nice to revisit Drew, Madeline, and Nick. I hope there is another book in the series.




Julianna Deering is the creator of the acclaimed Drew Farthering Mystery series. She has always loved British history and is a particular fan of the writings of Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie. She graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in business administration and spent several years as a certified public accountant. She lives outside Dallas, Texas. Learn more at www.juliannadeering.com

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Death by the Book by Julianna Deering (Review)

• Series: A Drew Farthering Mystery
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (March 4, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-0764210969

Drew Farthering wanted nothing more than to end the summer of 1932 with the announcement of his engagement. Instead, he finds himself caught up in another mysterious case when the family solicitor is found murdered, an antique hatpin with a cryptic message, Advice to Jack, piercing his chest.

Evidence of secret meetings and a young girl's tearful confession point to the victim's double life, but what does the solicitor's murder have to do with the murder of a physician on the local golf course? Nothing, it would seem--except for another puzzling note, affixed with a similar-looking bloodied hatpin.

Soon the police make an arrest in connection with the murders, but Drew isn't at all certain they have the right suspect in custody. And why does his investigation seem to be drawing him closer and closer to home?


 My Review:

I thought this was a good second Drew Fartherling mystery book. It is a series so I recommend reading the first book too for background on the characters as they are the same. The mystery plots are not connected. I really enjoyed the English aspect of the book. It is set in England in the early 1930s. Drew Fartherling is the main character and has a habit of stumbling upon murder cases. He does not really have a full time job since he comes from money so he has extra time on his hands. The local police chief is not always happy to have his help although he is good at it. There are other great characters too including his best friend Nick, girlfriend Madeline, and her aunt Ruth from the USA. The author does a good job developing characters and the mystery plot. It kept my attention from beginning to end. The plot and characters are interesting and unique. Drew's Christian faith is woven into the book perfectly. This was a good cozy Christian mystery book. I can't wait for the next book in the series. Recommended.






Julianna Deering is the creator of the acclaimed Drew Farthering Mystery series. She has always loved British history and is a particular fan of the writings of Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie. She graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in Business Administration and spent several years as a Certified Public Accountant. She lives outside Dallas, Texas. Learn more at www.juliannadeering.com.  

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Rules of Murder by Julianna Deering (Review)

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Rules of Murder Bethany House Publishers (August 1, 2013) by Julianna Deering

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

JULIANNA DEERING has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her new series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuts with Rules of Murder (Bethany House, 2013) and will be followed by Death by the Book (Bethany House, 2014).



ABOUT THE BOOK

Downton Abbey Meets Agatha Christie in This Sparkling Mystery

Drew Farthering loves a good mystery, although he generally expects to find it in the pages of a novel, not on the grounds of his country estate. When a weekend party at Farthering Place is ruined by murder and the police seem flummoxed, Drew decides to look into the crime himself. With the help of his best friend, Nick Dennison, an avid mystery reader, and Madeline Parker, a beautiful and whip-smart American debutante staying as a guest, the three try to solve the mystery as a lark, using the methods from their favorite novels.

Soon, financial irregularities at Drew's stepfather's company come to light and it's clear that all who remain at Farthering Place could be in danger. Trying hard to remain one step ahead of the killer--and trying harder to impress Madeline--Drew must decide how far to take this game.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Rules of Murder, go HERE.

My Review:

I thought this was an okay English Christian mystery book. It was light on the spiritual side. The characters and plot were interesting but not very deep. It was a light easy read. It was set in the 1930s England and the author did set the atmosphere right. I look forward to the next book in the series. I hope it is deeper and more developed plot wise. Recommended especially to fans of cozy English mysteries.