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I made a snap decision to accept this humorous cozy (or cosy, since it's British!) mystery for review, and I'm enjoying it so far, about a quarter of the way in. The narrative is witty and moves quickly!
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CHAPTER ONE
In which timing is everything, all hope is lost for the next generation, a burglary is announced, and Teddy Quillfeather prepares for what promises to be a challenging away derby.
The key to a successful heist, almost anyone who's ever heisted successfully will tell you, is timing.
~From the beginning of Hardy Haul at Hardy Hall (Teddy Quillfeather Mysteries Book 1) by PJ Fitzsimmons
The theft of an immensely valuable, immensely ugly necklace is only the beginning of the intrigues and idiosyncrasies of a country weekend at Hardy Hall where Teddy Quillfeather's mother has sent her with strict instructions to select an eligible bachelor from a shortlist of aristocrats, plutocrats, and copycats.
But when Teddy sets out to discourage the suitors and discover the looters with her natural knack for applied shenanigans she instead uncovers countless conspiracies, complicated by country house courtesies. It's a comedy of manners and caper of manors and the only solution, if you're Teddy Quillfeather, is obviously another heist . . .
This series starter is a clean, clever cosy that will appeal, obviously, to readers of Anty Boisjoly but also PG Wodehouse, Agatha Christie, and Dorothy L Sayers, and above all to those who like a little or, ideally, a lot of comedy in their cosies.
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First Line Fridays is hosted at Reading is My SuperPower
*Share the first line or two of the book closest to you, then visit other FLF participants.
*Please keep posts family friendly or clean reads.
*Link back to Reading is My SuperPower within your post or grab a button.
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Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader.
*It's Book Beginnings on Fridays! Time to gather with our fellow book lovers and share the opening sentence (or so) of the books we are reading this week. Or share from a book that is on your mind right now -- whatever catches your fancy.
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"So you can see why Mama wants to marry me off as soon as possible," Teddy examined her fingernails casually, "before the family curse kicks in."
~at 56% in Hardy Haul at Hardy Hall by PJ Fitzsimmons
The Friday 56 was started and hosted at Freda's Voice. She is taking a break from hosting, but Anne at My Head Full of Books has volunteered to host for now, so I'll be linking up there.
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your e-reader.
*Find a snippet, short and sweet.
*Post it, and share in the Linky.
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And here is the weekly bookish question in the Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.
This Week's Question: What's your favorite outdoor reading spot, and do you have any advice for creating the perfect outdoor reading experience?
My Answer: I seldom read outside, in general. I'm usually doing something when I'm outside rather than just sitting and reading, although there have been many times when I've stood at the grill "watching" something cook while reading a few paragraphs of a good book. It's the light that is my problem. I use reading glasses so if my reading spot is too sunny, it's just too bright for my comfort. (I'm planning to get new glasses soon, and I'm thinking I may get bifocal sunglasses too, which might help.)
So for me, the perfect outdoor reading experience would be somewhere on a comfortably warm day, but I'd get myself into a hammock or lounge chair in a lightly shaded spot. Very little breeze, and hopefully very few bugs to distract me!
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Well, that is a surprise "marry me off before the family curse sets in." I am teased right into wanting to read the book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for you comment about being grateful that Friday56 is still around. I too like this weekly meme, in fact that is why I stepped in to sub for Freda because I missed it when it went dark last September.