Dead in the Water
3 Stars

While visiting family and participating in the annual Henley-Upon-Thames regatta, Daisy again finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation when one of the college rowers dies.

The murder investigation is very predictable as there is only one possible suspect other than the obvious red herring. Nevertheless, the descriptions of the rowing and the regatta are fun as I have actually been to Henley-Upon-Thames during the races, so it brought back fond memories.

The narrator, Mia Chariamonte, is too awful for words, and I switched to the ebook halfway through. Chariamonte is incapable of producing a British accent and mangles the pronunciation of even the most simple of words, such as "path" (short vowel pAHth instead of long vowel pAAth), invalid (noun) /ˈɪnvəlɪd/ is read as "in valid" /ɪnˈvælɪd/(adjective), and worst of all, mispronouncing Gloucester as "Glowster" instead of "Gloster". It is easy these days to look up the correct pronunciation of a word before recording in the studio, and it is insulting that a narrator would not even bother to do so.

She narrates one more installment, so I will be reading that one rather than listening. ( )

1920s, law-enforcement, historical-research, historical-novel, family-dynamics, family, pride, verbal-humor, situational-humor, murder, murder-investigation, England, boat-races*****

Daisy is invited to stay with extended family while she pens an article on the synchronized rowing races at Henley. Of course there is a murder, of course Alec arrives to stay nearby, of course he calls for his trusted minions. And, of course, there are plot twists, red herrings, farcical episodes, comedic activities, and crazy relatives. Loved it!
Narrator is unskilled. ( )

This was the second book I read in this series and I think it will be the last, at least for a while. ( )

A group of oarsmen descend upon Fairacres, once Daisy's home, to compete for a Prized Cup the acrimony between them leads to murder with Daisy, of course, caught up in the midst.

Not very likable characters, got what was coming to them... ( )

As are all of the Daisy Dalrympole mysteries, this was enjoyable. I had thought I had read all of the books but as I re-read the older ones, I find that I don't remember them. It's not too surprising because I likely read them a long time ago. This one took place at a rowing event and it was a very quick read for me. Alec came into it about midway through and He is still getting to Daisy's assistance in this work. ( )