Book ~ "The Marsh Murders" (2016) Victoria Abbott

From Goodreads ~ Jordan works hard to improve Vera Van Alst’s collection of classic detective stories. So when Chadwick Kauffman - heir to the Kauffman fortune - offers a very good price on a fine collection of Ngaio Marsh first editions owned by his recently deceased stepfather, she is thrilled to meet with him at his fabled summer estate, Summerlea.

The next day, Jordan and Vera are shocked to read that Chadwick has died in a fall from the grand staircase at Summerlea. But when the picture in the paper is of a different man, it becomes clear that the ladies are victims of a scam. And they’ll have to unmask the imposter fast, because someone is trying to frame them for murder.

Vera Van Alst, an older crusty recluse, gets an invitation to purchase a Ngaio Marsh first edition collection from Chadwick Kauffman, who had recently inherited it.   Jordan's job is buying and reselling books for Vera ... she enjoys her job and the cute apartment in Vera's house that comes with it. Vera, along with Jordan and Kev (Vera's handyman and Jordan's not-so-smart uncle) are invited to lunch for the transaction.  All goes well and they are surprised to learn the next day that Chadwick had been murdered and Vera, Jordan and Uncle Kev are the suspects. They discover they have been set up and the man they transacted with wasn't Chadwick.  Not surprisingly the police don't believe them so it's up to Jordan to prove their innocence.

I thought this one was okay (it's better than the last one) and I found the story interesting.  There was a lot talk about characters from what I'm assuming are Ngaio Marsh's books ... I didn't know who they were so that was dead space for me and I skipped over these references.  The whodunnit came out of nowhere but I was okay with it even though it seems too unbelievable to be able to pull off.  

Though this is the fourth in the Book Collector Mystery series, it works as a stand alone. It is written in first person perspective in Jordan's voice. As it's a cozy mystery (so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity), it was a quick easy read.  Jordan met Tyler, a police officer, in book 1, they started dating in book 2, he was off on a mysteries job training in book 3 and in this book (book 4) he breaks up with her.  I know it's a cozy mystery but there's zero romantic interaction between them.  Jordan has a best friend named Tiff who is conveniently never around ... she's off working in faraway places.  She never add any value so what's the point in having her in the stories?  There are recipes at the end.

Book ~ "The Wolfe Widow" (2014) Victoria Abbott

From Goodreads ~ As Thanksgiving approaches, Jordan Bingham is grateful for her job researching rare books for Vera Van Alst, the infamous curmudgeon of Harrison Falls, New York. But when an uninvited guest makes an appearance, much more than dinner is disrupted - and Jordan is thankful just to be alive.

Vera Van Alst doesn’t normally receive visitors without appointment but she agrees to see the imperious Muriel Delgado upon arrival. Shortly thereafter, Jordan is told that her position is being terminated. Evicted from the Van Alst House, Jordan is determined to find out what hold Muriel has over her erstwhile employer.

It seems Muriel has designs on Vera’s money and property - not to mention a particular interest in her collection of Nero Wolfe first editions. When Jordan discovers a deadly connection between Muriel and the Van Alst family, it’s up to her to put the house in order and stop a killer from going back to press.

Jordan has a job buying and reselling books for an older crusty recluse, Vera Van Alst ... she enjoys her job and the cute apartment in Vera's house that comes with it.  One night a stranger named Muriel Delgado shows up at the door and the next day Jordan is abruptly fired.  She wants to know why and starts investigating who Muriel is and how she has such a hold on Vera.  When Jordan is involved in a hit and run, she is even more determined to find out what's going on.

I wasn't crazy about this one.  Jordan doesn't have a lot of friends and it was weird and unbelievable that she wasn't able to reach the few that she has so had to depend on her not-so-smart Uncle Kevin (who works for Vera) and acquaintances.  There was a lot talk about characters from what I'm assuming are Nero Wolfe's books ... I didn't know who they were so that was dead space for me and I skipped over these references.  The ending was convoluted and must tie into a plot from a Nero Wolfe book.

Though this is the third in the Book Collector Mystery series, it works as a stand alone.  It is written in first person perspective in Jordan's voice.  As it's a cozy mystery (so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity), it was a quick easy read.  There are recipes at the end.  

Book ~ "The Sayers Swindle" (2013) Victoria Abbott

From Goodreads ~ Jordan Kelly is delighted to make money tracking down rare and valuable mystery novels for her employer, Vera Van Alst, an avid collector and the most difficult woman in Harrison Falls, New York. But now her boss’s complete set of Dorothy Sayers is missing and finding them may lead Jordan to a murder suitable for Sayers’s esteemed sleuth, Lord Peter Wimsey.

When Jordan manages to locate her boss’s missing books, they are in the possession of Randolph Adams, an elderly man in a nearby town. Offering a valuable Hemingway first edition as an incentive, Jordan thinks she’s about to seal the deal - but some of Randolph’s relatives think he should hold out for more.

Then the entire family disappears - and a dead body shows up. It’s up to Jordan to collect the clues - and make sure a killer gets booked.

Jordan has a job buying and reselling books for an older crusty recluse, Vera Van Alst.  Vera's mint Dorothy Sayer books were stolen and sold to Karen, a bookseller, who in turn sold them not knowing they were stolen.  Karen wants to make things right but because of a head injury she recently had, her memory comes and goes.  She remembers she sold the collection to an elderly man in another town in a specific style of house.  Vera is depending on Jordan to get the books back, even though they were stolen before Jordan came to work for her.  

Jordan tracks down the house and the man but his wife and grandson put up resistance when Karen offers to swap the collection for a more valuable book.  Jordan is determined to make this happen ... but then the family disappears and a man is found dead nearby.  Fearing the unidentified man is either her Uncle Kevin, who is hiding out from from bad guys, or a Officer Smiley, an officer she's recently gotten to know, she befriends Officer Candy so she can find out information while she is still on the hunt for the missing books.

Though this is the second in the Book Collector Mystery series, it works as a stand alone.    I liked the writing style and the characters.  It is written in first person perspective in Jordan's voice.  As it's a cozy mystery (so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity), it was a quick easy read.  There are recipes at the end.  There was a lot talk about characters from I'm assuming Dorothy Sayer's books ... I didn't know who they were so that was dead space for me and I skipped over these references.

Book ~ "The Christie Curse" (2013) Victoria Abbott

From Goodreads ~ In 1926, Agatha Christie disappeared - making headlines across the world - only to show up eleven days later at a spa under an assumed name. During those eleven days, did she have time to write a play?

Jordan Bingham needs a new job and a new place to live. She’s back in Harrison Falls, New York, living with her not so law-abiding uncles, in debt thanks to a credit card–stealing ex and pending grad school loans.

Enter the perfect job, a research position that includes room and board, which will allow her to spend her days hunting down rare mysteries for an avid book collector. There’s just one problem: her employer, Vera Van Alst - the most hated citizen of Harrison Falls.

Jordan’s first assignment is to track down a rumored Agatha Christie play. It seems easy enough, but Jordan soon finds out that her predecessor was killed while looking for it, and there is still someone out there willing to murder to keep the play out of Vera’s hands. Jordan’s new job is good ... but is it worth her life? 

Jordan has just finished school and needs a place to live.  She gets a research job working for an older crusty recluse, Vera Van Alst.  Vera had heard there is a long lost play written by Agatha Christie during the couple weeks she had mysteriously disappeared in 1926 and she wanted Jordan to find out if it exists and if it does, she wants it.  When Jordan finds out her predecessor, Alex, died when he was pushed in front of a subway by a homeless man, she wonders what happens to his notes and how much progress he made.  She starts investigating whether the play actually exists and starts speaking with sellers of old books.  One of the booksellers is badly beaten and a police officer happens to turn up every time Jordan turns around puts her on guard.  Vera doesn't care about anything but getting her hands on that play.

This is the first in the Book Collector Mystery series.  I liked the writing style and the characters ... and how can you not like a book that has a dog and a couple of cats in it?  It is written in person perspective in Jordan's voice.  As it's a cozy mystery (so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity), it was a quick easy read.  I liked it enough to continue on with the series.  There are recipes at the end.