Description (from cover):'Drawing from the classic Sense and Sensibility, Tracy Kiely continues the adventures of Elizabeth Parker, the likeable Austen-quoting sleuth, in this witty and charming series.
Elizabeth Parker suspected that fulfilling her duties as maid-of-honor for her best friend, Bridget, was going to be murder. And no sooner is the last grain of rice thrown than she finds herself staring into the dead eyes of Bridget's Aunt Roni, a woman whose death is almost as universally celebrated as Bridget's nuptials.
The horror only increases when Harry, Bridget's cousin, becomes the chief suspect. The idea is ludicrous to the family, because Harry is one of the kindest, most compassionate people imaginable. To complicate matters, Elizabeth's boyfriend, Peter, appears to be falling for an old flame, a gorgeous wedding planner. Determined to clear Harry of the crime, reign in Bridget's impulsive brand of sleuthing, and figure out where Peter's heart lies, Elizabeth sets her mind to work.
Tracy Kiely has again brilliantly combined the wit and spunk of Austen's protagonists with a contemporary, traditional mystery. With a vibrant cast of characters, the lust setting of a Virginia estate, and irresistible humor, she delivers on all counts.'
My thoughts:
I made the mistake of reading other reader's reviews of this book before reading this one. Sometimes I like to do this and other times I don't. I really shouldn't have with this one because the general consensus was that this book wasn't as good as the first in the series and shouldn't be read. I have to disagree. I enjoyed this one just as much as I did the first one. Maybe it's the characters, maybe it's the Jane Austen undertones, or maybe it's just a book that I enjoyed. Whatever the reason, I enjoyed this one while others did not. I am not ashamed of this fact, because that is the beauty of reading. What works for one, doesn't necessary fit every reader and their tastes.
There is a bevy of suspects and clues in this book that simply had me on my toes. I had not a clue who the killer was and the ending was a little surprising. Every time that I thought I had the solution, another twist was thrown in and added to the mix. I love mysteries that keep me guessing until the very end. This book did that satisfactorily and I am glad that I had the chance to read this one. I am also glad that I trusted my gut and read something that I found to be very appealing. Elizabeth is a character that reminds me a lot of myself. At times she is insecure, she is very smart and bookish, and loves all things Jane Austen related. That sounds like my kind of character.
I enjoyed this one and the first one in this series, so much that I threw caution to the wind and picked up the next book in this series. So far, so good. I am hoping that this new read will keep me interested like this one did. I enjoy this author and her writing and I love the blend of different types of characters and storylines. While I will admit that this book might not appeal to every reader, this reader was well pleased with this book and I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy Austen but enjoy reading something a little different at the same time. All I can say is give this book a try and see if you like it for yourself.
Overall Rating: 4.5
Title: Murder on the Bride's Side
Author: Tracy Kiely
Series: Elizabeth Parker Mystery #2
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: August 31, 2010
Pages: 304
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Get It: Amazon; Barnes & Noble
Disclaimer: This book was purchased by myself and I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.
