| Victoria
Trumbull has agreed to let her young cousin, Penny Arbuthnot,
use her Martha’s Vineyard property for her upcoming wedding
reception. Given that Victoria is 92 years of age, and Penny
is in her 20’s, they have some different ideas of what
a reception should entail.
What they agree on, however, is that having
a body hanging in Victoria’s cellar is not conducive
to a happy event. Indeed, it puts a damper on things, but
it is only the first volley in a series of unfortunate events.
Penny believes she is marrying into money and that it is the
only way she can get out of debt. Her husband-to-be, Rocco
Bufano, also thinks he is marrying into wealth. Alas, his
rich father has disowned him, and he is seriously in debt
just like Penny. This cannot end well.
As usual, author Cynthia Riggs has penned
a perfectly plotted murder mystery. There are the regular
characters who appear in this series, but also a cast of new
folks to liven things up. My favorite new character is Lily,
an adult with the mind of a 10-year-old, and a vast knowledge
of murder weapons and how to use them. There are a lot of
characters in this story, but Riggs did an admirable job of
keeping it clear enough that it was easy for me, the reader,
to keep up with who is who and why they do what they do.
If
you are a fan of this long-running series, you won’t
want to miss this latest installment. If you haven’t
read any of the other Martha’s Vineyard Mystery books
it is fine to start with this one, and I can almost guarantee
you’ll want to go back and read all of the previous
mysteries. A fine and charming mystery that should appeal
to just about any cozy lover.
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