Murder At The Mena House
Egypt, 1926. Fiercely independent American Jane Wunderly has made up her mind: she won’t be swept off her feet on a trip abroad. Despite her Aunt Millie’s best efforts at meddling with her love life, the young widow would rather gaze at the Great Pyramids of Giza than into the eyes of a dashing stranger. Yet Jane’s plans to remain aloof and indifferent become ancient history in the company of Mr. Redvers, a roguish banker she can’t quite figure out.
While the Mena House has its share of charming guests, Anna Stainton isn’t one of them. The beautiful socialite makes it clear that she won’t share the spotlight with anyone—especially Jane. But Jane soon becomes the center of attention when she’s the one standing over her unintentional rival’s dead body.
Now, with her innocence at stake in a foreign country, Jane must determine who can be trusted, and who had the motive to commit a brutal murder. Between Aunt Millie’s unusual new acquaintances, a smarmy playboy with an off-putting smile, and the enigmatic Mr. Redvers, someone has too many secrets. Can Jane excavate the horrible truth before her future falls to ruin in Cairo . . . and the body count rises like the desert heat?
Series: A Jane Wunderly Mystery – Book #1
Author: Erica Ruth Neubauer
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Historical/Exotic Locations
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 288
Rating: 
A new historical cozy series, “A Jane Wunderly Mystery,” published by Kensington Books from Erica Ruth Neubauer, Murder At The Mena House, will have readers begging for more, falling in love with traveling through the past, and Egypt.
I love Egypt and anything to do with Egypt. A historical cozy series set in this beautiful country makes me happy. Placing this mystery within view of the pyramids and visiting the Cairo museum makes this book very special. Add in excellent storytelling, and you have the makings of a hit series readers will crave for years to come.
The characters in this new historical cozy series are very memorable. Jane is someone most modern women can empathize with, while older women recognize the insecurities and cruelties from their own life or that of their mothers. This story is set in a time when women were still considered possessions when they were treated as stupid, incapable of understanding anything more than cooking, cleaning, raising children, and doing what men told them to do. I like aunt, Millie, and understand why she is always acting tough; it isn’t an act, she has to be hard on those she loves. Redvers is a character that makes the reader’s heart flutter and long for the days of foreign travel and romantic adventures.
The victim(s) in Murder At The Mena House are not surprising; may even have deserved to be murdered. A young woman who is selfish and conceited may not deserve to be killed, or so you might think, but there are secrets to be revealed. Not everyone is who they seem to be, even when they are dead. When the killer is revealed, readers may be more than a bit surprised. Suspects are plentiful, the action subtle but towards the end more upfront. The description of the location, namely Mena House and the surrounding famous sites, make this historical cozy worth the read. Readers will get a real sense of being back in the ’20s in Egypt.
Readers of historical cozy books will enjoy this new series, and I am thrilled to have read it and happy to recommend it to all readers. Ms. Neubauer brings the characters and the era to life. This book is an adventure into the past and land that even today holds its mysteries close.
Readers of historical cozy books will enjoy Edward Marston’s riveting series “The Railway Detective Series” or even Kate Kingsbury’s spectacular “A Special Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery”.
About the Author:
Erica Ruth Neubauer spent eleven years in the military, two years as a cop, and one year as a high school English teacher before finding her way as a writer. She has reviewed mysteries and crime fiction for several years at publications such as Publisher’s Weekly, the Los Angeles Review of Books and Mystery Scene Magazine, and is a member of both Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. When she’s not writing her next novel or curled up with a book, she enjoys traveling, yoga, and craft beer. She lives in Milwaukee, WI, with her husband.
Contact Erica: https://www.ericaruthneubauer.com/contact
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