Cozy Monday

The Marsh Madness (Book Collector Mystery #4) by Victoria Abbott (Berkley Prime Crime mass market paperback, 1 September 2015).


Jordan Bingham's job is to augment her employer Vera Van Alst's detective fiction collection.  So when she and Vera are invited to the grand estate of Summerlea for luncheon and to inspect a collection of Ngaio Marsh first editions, Jordan eagerly accepts for both of them.

Accompanied by Vera's sometime chauffeur (and Vera's all-the-time uncle) Kevin Kelly, they arrive at the famous home and are wined and dined by Chadwick Kauffman, the last of the family who owned the estate, and his assistant Lisa Troy.

Over lunch, a price is agreed upon.  After Jordan and Vera have assessed each book in the collection, the amount is paid in cash, and the three take their leave.

But the next day, Jordan's friend Lance the librarian calls her and informs her that Chadwick Kauffman is deceased, having apparently fallen down the elegant staircase.  Jordan is upset, and a little concerned about the way people around her seem to die in unusual circumstances.

She's even more upset when the police turn up at Van Alst House virtually accusing Jordan and her companions of causing the death.  Jordan is at her wit's end.  How does she prove her innocence, and that of her employer?  Her Uncle Kevin hasn't  helped matters by disappearing the moment the police appeared.

Jordan jumps in headfirst with both feet, investigating in her own special way.

Victoria Abbott's breezy, humorous style is a joy to read.  Jordan is a charming and sympathetic protagonist, and I really want her job!

There is a preview chapter of the fifth book in the series, The Hammett Hex, is at the end of the book.


The publisher has generously offered a copy of The  Marsh Madness to one of my readers.  Please comment below by 12:01 a.m. on Monday, September 21st, and don't forget to include an email address where I can contact you if you win.  Entries from the US only, please.   



FTC Full Disclosure:  Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy of the book.