Herald of Death
A Special Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery, No 7
Kate Kingsbury

Berkley Trade
11/ 2012/ ISBN 978-0425251669
Historical Mystery / British / Holiday – Christmas
Amazon

Reviewed by Brenda Weeaks

It’s Christmas time at the Pennyfoot Hotel. Cecily and friends are planning; the staff is decorating and preparing; and husband Baxter, as always, is bothered by it all.

Just when it looks like it’s a celebration of children singing, friends agreeing and no one fleeing (this year anyway) rumors reach Pennyfoot of a murder and the killer has been dubbed -- of all things -- “the Christmas Angel.” This is not the holiday spirit Cecily was hoping for…

Surprisingly, the local authorities ask Cecily for her assistance. Baxter is not happy and makes a veiled ultimatum that could put Cecily’s future at Pennyfoot in jeopardy -- again. And if that isn’t enough, Cancelation requests begin due the rumors of murder. Just Pennyfoot’s luck – the season may be over before it starts. For once why can’t Cecily and Pennyfoot have a cheery, uneventful holiday?! Well, if Cecily with the help of her friends and staff can solve this mystery they just might!

I enjoyed this holiday trek back to PennyFoot and Badger’s End. Kingsbury went all out with this one. The mystery is primary and detailed. With a little help and added protection, Cecily follows multiple clues down various paths in pursuit of a killer and a way to give Badger’s Drift a peaceful Christmas.

Of course, where would Cecily be without the Pennyfoot staff, and her long-time friends? In this storyline, the characters’ lives continue to develop -- maid Pansy tries her hand at matchmaking, a former employee returns to entertain, and I don’t recall the sound of pans or French expletives flying about, so the kitchen is faring well this season. It’s nice to know life continues at the Pennyfoot.

“Kate Kingsbury is a pseudonym for a full-time writer who has authored nineteen books in the Pennyfoot Hotel series.”

Special Pennyfoot Hotel Christmas titles