Debra E. MarvinReseñas

The Case of the Beleaguered Bride the third book in the Nosy Parkers Mysteries by Debra E Martin is an enjoyable fun cozy mystery I couldn't put down. It is a mixture of family, faith, friends with an intriguing mystery of murder wrapped around the past and politics of County Cork Ireland. It is the perfect setting for a cozy mystery and a great puzzle to figure out. I give it 5 stars.

Heather Munro has gone to County Cork for the wedding of friends Kat and Dan but with the murder of her Kath's ex-boyfriend things begin to fall apart at the seams. Heather is once again caught in the middle trying to help her friend figure out who is behind the murder and get things back on track but family secrets, politics and intrigue is making it unusually hard. Can Heather put all the pieces together before the threats she is getting puts her in danger too?

I love how this book sort of reminds me of classic mysteries. It has a kind, intelligent, nosy and relatable main character in Heather. She reminds me of a grown up Nancy Drew. She has a good mind and a kind heart which adds to the story. There is one person that from the start I knew she was not to be trusted and that was Trish. I didn't like her flippant flirty way and just knew she was trouble but she was full of surprises.

This book keeps you guessing from the start to the surprising end. It is written with great description of Cork and the surroundings where you can just picture journeying through it with Heather as she snoops around. I highly recommend this book. If you were a fan of Nancy Drew or Agatha Christie you will like this book. I highly recommend it.

The Case of the Beleaguered Bride, which is part of the Nosy Parkers Mystery series by Debra Marvin, stars nosy amateur sleuth Heather Munro as she travels to Ireland for the wedding of two of her friends. When the wedding is cancelled by the appearance and then death of the bride-to-be’s ex-fiance, Heather feels drawn to try to solve the mystery. I loved visiting Ireland vicariously through this book and feeling the atmosphere, language, and vibes from that area. It was also fun to read about Heather’s newest adventure in sleuthing and to catch up with some of her friends from the first book in the series. Heather’s friend Tom is a favorite of mine, and he’s such a great character. I did get a little confused with all the new characters in the book, so it was nice to have a few I was familiar with.

Lots of twists and turns kept me guessing as to the outcome of the mystery and kept me turning pages. I’m looking forward to more adventures from this author and also seeing the outcome of the relationship between Heather and Tom.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own.

It's 1933 during Hollywood's Golden Age. Thea Knight, who works in RKO Studio's costume department, uses her holiday break to go back and help out at her family's Arizona ranch. There she meets Eugene Tanner, a lyricist seeking inspiration to help create what he hopes will be an award-winning song for a Western film. But Thea and Eugene soon find themselves caught up in a ghost town mystery near the ranch in Desert Duet by author Debra E. Marvin.

Well! I believe this is the first inspirational historical Western romantic mystery Christmas novella I've ever read. A mouthful, if I'm even saying it right, but whatever the case, I enjoyed this read.

I immediately appreciated the voice carrying the story, with a clever and upbeat but unpretentious and down-home kind of wit. The main characters come off as real and likable, and the romance is natural, without sappiness or melodrama. Hints of big-city glamour, Hollywood ambitions, 1930s popular culture, and the sting of the Great Depression are woven into the grit of country life and the danger lurking in the Arizona hills and desert.

And without snowmen, sleigh rides, or fragrant evergreens twinkling with lights, this tale pulls out its own country Christmas. Worth the read for sweet and inspirational historical Western romantic mystery/suspense fans—or some combination of what I just said!

“Starlight Serenade” is a delightfully involving historical romance with elements of mystery and suspense. Author Debra E. Marvin sets the story in Arizona of the 1930’s, and she wonderfully captures the atmosphere and energy of the time and place. After the death of her mother, Clara Longworth heads for Hollywood and hopes for stardom and a successful life for herself and her younger brother, Henry. Their journey takes a detour, however, when their bus breaks down outside Flagstaff, Arizona. They are given a lift to the hotel by none other than famed author Zane Grey, and that is just the beginning of their adventure along the new (and forever famous) Route 66. Clara is a talented dancer and singer, and Henry, while enormously gifted, doesn’t quite see life as others do—he is somewhat in a world of his own. Events occur quite quickly to make it seem as though Clara’s dreams for the future may be rerouted, just like she and Henry were diverted on their way to Hollywood. However, Fate has much in store for the Longworths, including a sweet surprise romance and a renewal of faith for Clara. Many obstacles have to be overcome on the road to happiness, and compromise may be the only answer. Danger lurks, though, and courage will be needed to in order to solve the mystery—and survive. The author does a terrific job of story building, and once I started reading, I had to keep on reading it to learn the outcome. This is a short work of fiction—a novella—but it is fully-realized. Readers are in for a real treat when they travel back to a time when the famed Route 66, also known as “The Mother Road”, was a newly-minted pathway which would link the Midwest to the West Coast.

Book Copy Gratis Author

Reading “The Case of the Clobbered Cad”, from author Debra E. Marvin, is a fun trip back to the 1950’s, and it includes all of the elements of those great black & white mystery movies from that era. With its appealing heroine, quick pace, beautifully detailed story line, and of course, the “Whodunnit” at the heart of the tale, this is a real treat for mystery lovers. Settle in for a while with a pot of tea and some “biscuits”—you’ll enjoy the story so much that you will read it all the way through in one setting. Young American Heather Munro is residing in Edinburgh, Scotland to pursue her Master’s Degree in Celtic Studies. Her part-time job at the university begins and ends in one fell swoop with the murder of Jack Winter, author and celebrity professor. Movie-star handsome with charisma to spare, Jack is also a womanizer. Heather met Jack, and his wife, on the ship which brought her to Scotland. After realizing that Jack was married, his appeal began to fade, and Heather was more than surprised to find him on staff at her university. On her first night monitoring the Archives room at the university, Jack is murdered, and Heather is the one who finds his body. Fascinated by detective work and historical research from a young age, Heather now finds herself at the center of a crime case where suspicions swirl around and about, and she must find the real killer in order to be free from implications of guilt. Her landlady, Mrs. Kintyre, is a policeman’s widow with a lively mind of her own. She offers friendship and advice, and Heather is grateful for her support. Then there’s Tom Brown, a university historian who seems most interested in Heather—but is he someone she can trust? As a history lover myself, I enjoy Debra E. Marvin’s way of making the past come alive while telling an entertaining story with rich detail and captivating characters.

Book Copy Gratis Author

I absolutely loved the Title of this book and it fit so perfectly!

This is a delightful extension of the members of the "Olentangy Heights Girls' Detective Society" series.

This has a lot of adventure and a touch of romance.

Fast-paced, but slightly predictable, there were enough twists to keep the reader unsure of the outcome of this cozy mystery.

The characters were portrayed well and the background scenes were easily visualized,
The only thing I felt lacking was a stronger ending. For this reason I give it Four and a Half Stars½

For fans of Nancy Drew, Agatha Christie, or cozy mysteries in general, The Case of The Clobbered Cad is a treat! Main character, Heather Munro is on the case of the murder of the much hated celebrity archaeologist/author/professor Jack Winters. There is no lack of suspects; everyone seems to have a motive and opportunity. And the police, though completely in control of the investigation, seem to have preconceived notions of just whodunit! It takes Heather, with a little help from her landlady, to get to the bottom of things.

I really enjoyed this historical cozy mystery. The setting of Edinburg in the 1950s gave it a classic mystery vibe, while the sweet, and somewhat naive Heather is the perfect girl detective. Heather has some history with the murder victim which puts her on the short list of suspects. I liked how the author allows Heather to come to grips with her small indiscretion as she searches for the killer. Heather’s landlady assists Heather in the investigation and in Heather’s ultimate forgiveness of herself. Other characters are all a bit shifty, and it is difficult for Heather to know whom to trust. The clues and close calls keep Heather and the reader on their toes. I didn’t see the ending coming, which is a big plus in my book. There is a bit of romance for Heather that I would love to see explored should there be another book (yes, please!). Heather Munro is an endearing character, and I’d love to join her on more mysterious adventures in Scotland.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Singing Librarian Blog Tours for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

The Case of the Clobbered Cad A Nosy Parkers Mystery by Debra E Marvin is a wonderful, fun, exciting, mystery that keeps you guessing to the end. I really enjoyed reading this book and could not put it down.

Heather Munro finds herself in Scotland going to the University for her degree in Celtic History. She thinks she has gotten the ideal job when she lands the position in the Archives room of the University oh boy if only she knew. Her first night on the job is not what she expected. When she steps out of the room and comes back to find a body things get dangerous and interesting. Heather finds herself one of the suspects and has to find who really is the murderer and clear her name. Can she, like Nancy Drew, find the answers she seeks in the murder case with the help of her friends Mrs Kintyre and Tom Brown?

Heather is smart but tends to put herself in danger without thinking about it. She has good instincts and gumption but also a soft somewhat naive side that can lead her into trouble at times. I love her land lady Mrs Kintyre. She has spunk and is up to a good challenge. She reminds me a little of Miss Marple. I found myself liking several of the people but others sent my radar up while still others I just plain did not care for which included DI Payne. He was mean, ARROGANT and intimidating. I loved how Mrs Kintrye did not let him bully her or Heather and stood up to him. This book just had the right mix of unique and interesting characters.

If you like a good mystery which has all the right ingredients starting with a great setting, strong characters, a good plot with many turns and enough suspects to keep you guessing then this is the book for you. Right from the first page this book grabs you and takes you on a ride to the very end. If you like Nancy Drew or Agatha Christie mysteries you will enjoy this one too.
I highly recommend this book. 5 stars

I received this book from the author for my honest opinion and review.

While Valentine’s Day is not here, the nine stories in this book like the spirit of the holiday can easily warm the cockles of your heart at any time of the year.

Being a child of the 1950’s I can easily remember, like some if not most of most of you are reading this, those small red square boxes with the heart-shaped window, loaded with those sweet multi-colored heart-shaped candy with sayings only a young girl would understand; candy which the boys would frown about eating.

Each of these nine stories, like shaking of one those candies into your hand, don’t have to read in any particular order. So, write the nine titles on pieces of paper, put them in a small paper bag, and pick out one at a time just like you did with those candies. However, before you begin reading the story you’ve selected; close your eyes, and envision an imagine of what the message on the paper means to you today as an adult; because each of those pieces of paper is a major underlining component for the storyline.

While some of you might not have had any difficulty in finding your one and only, the rest of you did, and became desperate enough like in “Fiddler on the Roof” when Tevye and Golde's daughters sing about a matchmaker choosing a partner for them.

With stories from contemporary and historical romances, set in different time periods and locations you’ll find yourselves having a hard time not feeling the emotions felt by the two main characters as you fantasize being in the shoes of the female protagonists in these stories, the way I did. I could have easily downloaded this collection via KINDLE Unlimited, but I chose to buy a copy instead; I’m glad I did and it’s why I’ve decided to give this collection and its authors 5 STARS.