Miranda Atchley

As Christmas 1922 approaches, Fiona and her roommate Rose are gussying up their apartment for the holiday. But it isn't all holiday cheer around the building as some of Fiona's neighbors' possessions begin disappearing from their apartments in Theft of the Magi by author Miranda Atchley.

I was excited to hear that a Christmas novella was coming to the Fiona Clery Mysteries series. And as a fan of historical mysteries in general, I was also glad to see that this one would be about something other than murder. Nothing against murder mysteries (I read those too, of course), but it's a nice change of pace whenever a sleuth gets to take on a different kind of case.

Like the previous two books in the series, this story not only deals with Fiona's investigation but also with themes of immigration, prejudice, friendship, family, and a little romance. (I'm hoping the main romantic couple that isn't exactly a couple can reach a definite breakthrough in the next book, even though I'm glad they didn't rush their relationship in Book One.)

While I guessed one part of the mystery early, it was interesting to watch Fiona figure out the rest. Some clichés and repetitive information in the read were only minor issues for me.

And it's all wonderfully Christmassy! Given this book's great and telling title and an opening quote inside, I think the story's connection to a classic would have been sufficiently clear without the characters making literal references to it. Nevertheless, the plot is still touching, and it adds its own cherry on top.

All in all, the novella is an enjoyable installment for fans of this ChristFic series. (Yes, you'll want to read Fiona's first two mysteries first!)
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I received an advance reading copy of this book for an honest review.… (altro)

It's premiere night with the stars of a silent movie in New York City, and Fiona, an amateur sleuth, goes to see the picture with her friend and partner, Max. But the night of glamour takes a shocking turn when the movie's leading lady stands up to thank her audience—and dies before their eyes in Murder at the Picture Show by author Miranda Atchley.

This is the second in a series of ChristFic historical mysteries, and I'd recommend reading Book One first to get to know the characters and to better appreciate their current situations. As with the first book, the author again does a great job of capturing the glitz of Jazz Age New York along with the complex social climate of the period, including some of its tragedies and injustices.

Now, the read has its share of repetitive phrasing and details. Given that there's so much to the characters' family lives (which isn't a bad thing), it took some time before I got into the actual mystery.

However, I found a key aspect of the mystery unconvincing, as I doubt most people's journals read like novels (with paragraphs of dialogue, dialogue tags, action beats, etc. written out and organized in novel-like fashion). And it seems that if someone handed a sleuth what could be a treasure trove of intimate clues to help solve a murder case, the sleuth would treat it as urgent by digging clear through that potential evidence as immediately as possible, likely in one sitting or night, rather than at a gradual pace like a leisure activity.

Even so, there's plenty of room for the main characters to experience more as the series continues, and I especially liked a relevant point this story highlights: that there's more than one way to be a modern woman. Many other fans of historical ChristFic and mysteries would do well to check this series out.
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I received an advance reading copy of this book for an honest review.… (altro)

Fiona had big dreams when she left her native Ireland, but her experience so far in Jazz Age New York isn't what she imagined life in America would be like. Max has been living as unadventurous a life as possible since he fought in the Great War and lost so many of his comrades. Neither Fiona nor Max would have foreseen they'd one day have a shared mission to solve a murder case in Deadly Pearls by author Miranda Atchley.

I was drawn to this ChristFic historical mystery novel as soon as I heard about it. The essence of the big-city, Roaring Twenties setting is clear throughout the story, and I liked the heroine most during her sleuthing scenes. Themes of prejudice and classism are important to the plot, and I appreciate how a key romantic thread here isn't rushed or forced.

Now, I would've liked if there'd been more originality to the (sometimes repetitive) phrasing and descriptions rather than several of the clichés, it seems the story is pretty preoccupied with a lot of blue and green eyes, and some of the supporting cast would have needed a little more dimension to go beyond being expected "character types" to me. Also, I prefer when sleuths or detectives figure out a little more in a mystery rather than the villian doing much of the explaining with a long monologue in the end.

Even so, I found this to be an entertaining and worthwhile opening to an upcoming series, and plenty of other ChristFic mystery fans should enjoy this one.
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I received an advance review copy of this book for an honest review.… (altro)