323. & 324. Irish Chain & Too Soon For Flowers
Irish Chain by Earlene Fowler - this is the second book in this particular series, following on from Fool's Puzzle, which I reviewed last month.
Once again, our protagonist is Benni Harper, recently widowed and now running a small folk art museum and artist's cooperative. In Irish Chain, Benni becomes involved in the history of her small town, when two senior citizens are murdered in a local nursing home and there's apparently more to the past than meets the eye.
Interestingly enough, there seems to be a link with the treatment of Japanese immigrants during the War and Benni is also writing a book on the subject, so she has lots of opportunity to investigate, whether that's wise or not. Her boyfriend, the local Chief of Police, understandably is less than impressed by Benni and her activities.
Like in Fool's Puzzle, the author is working on both a romance sub-plot and a mystery sub-plot at the same time, though for me the romance angle is significantly less interesting. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that some of the behaviour between Benni and her boyfriend would strike me as being a likely deal-breaker in terms of a long-term relationship succeeding. Anyway, the series continues in Kansas Troubles.
Too Soon For Flowers by Margaret Miles - like the previous book, this is also book 2 in a series, following on from A Wicked Way to Burn, which I reviewed in January.
Like the previous book, Too Soon For Flowers is set in 18th century New England, still under the rule of the English but very much a place of its own in terms of culture. The local area has been swept by a smallpox epidemic and the small town of Bracebridge reluctantly agrees to allow a trial of the controversial new practice of vaccination.
Since this is a mystery novel, naturally there are more things going on here than meet the eye, and when one of the trial's participants is found dead, suspicion immediately lands on the doctor whose treatment she was recently given. Is the answer as simple as that, or is there something more sinister afoot?
As with the previous book, Too Soon For Flowers is enjoyable enough, although it's not the most exciting of reads - there seems to be something lacking in terms of the characterisation, perhaps in this case because there doesn't seem to be any peril for the main protagonists but only for supporting characters who are much less empathetic? The series continues in No Rest for the Dove.
Once again, our protagonist is Benni Harper, recently widowed and now running a small folk art museum and artist's cooperative. In Irish Chain, Benni becomes involved in the history of her small town, when two senior citizens are murdered in a local nursing home and there's apparently more to the past than meets the eye.
Interestingly enough, there seems to be a link with the treatment of Japanese immigrants during the War and Benni is also writing a book on the subject, so she has lots of opportunity to investigate, whether that's wise or not. Her boyfriend, the local Chief of Police, understandably is less than impressed by Benni and her activities.
Like in Fool's Puzzle, the author is working on both a romance sub-plot and a mystery sub-plot at the same time, though for me the romance angle is significantly less interesting. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that some of the behaviour between Benni and her boyfriend would strike me as being a likely deal-breaker in terms of a long-term relationship succeeding. Anyway, the series continues in Kansas Troubles.
Like the previous book, Too Soon For Flowers is set in 18th century New England, still under the rule of the English but very much a place of its own in terms of culture. The local area has been swept by a smallpox epidemic and the small town of Bracebridge reluctantly agrees to allow a trial of the controversial new practice of vaccination.
Since this is a mystery novel, naturally there are more things going on here than meet the eye, and when one of the trial's participants is found dead, suspicion immediately lands on the doctor whose treatment she was recently given. Is the answer as simple as that, or is there something more sinister afoot?
As with the previous book, Too Soon For Flowers is enjoyable enough, although it's not the most exciting of reads - there seems to be something lacking in terms of the characterisation, perhaps in this case because there doesn't seem to be any peril for the main protagonists but only for supporting characters who are much less empathetic? The series continues in No Rest for the Dove.
