Rubies in the Roses
Guinevere Evans has a dream job cataloging books at Cornish Castle on the tidal island of Cornisea. With her fur BF, Dolly, by her side, she gets to know the people and history of the beautiful island. And from time to time, comes across a body.
When an old friend of her employer arrives unexpectedly, claiming that a rare bejeweled wedding goblet is hidden in the castle gardens, strange things start happening. Several people turn up, claiming they have the right to the elusive goblet, and the body of a local resident is found on the beach.
Was his death an accident, or does it have anything to do with the ownership of the goblet? For that matter, is the goblet even real or just a local legend? Guinevere and Dolly start digging into the mystery and discover motives for all of those involved to lie, steal, and kill. A goblet is found, but the jewels are missing. Can she prove what happened to the victim? What became of the precious jewels from the goblet that were removed, and when were they removed and by whom?
Series: Cornish Castle Mystery – Book #2
Author: Vivian Conroy
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Rating:
Rubies in the Roses is the second book in the Cornish Castle Mystery series by Vivian Conroy. It is filled with wonderful characters who will have the reader smiling and worrying at the same time. All the characters, especially Guinevere and Oliver, are well-rounded and at the center of all the action. The writing is smooth and fluid, moving the plot along at a nice easy-to-read pace.
The victim is someone the reader will like and be upset when he is killed. The death is unexpected. When Guinevere finds his body, the reader gets the sense that the victim will be missed by many of the island’s residents and Guinevere in particular. The newest character, Max, becomes a romantic interest for Guinevere but one that will leave her and the reader questioning many aspects of her future.
The reader doesn’t need to have read the first book in the series, but it would help to understand the character dynamics. There are quite a few references to the first book that are not explained, but it is not so much as to distract from the current story.
The setting of Rubies in the Roses is unmistakably exotic and exciting as well as romantic. What woman has not dreamed of living in a faraway castle surrounded by the ocean and attractive men, and an exciting myth and mystery to fall into?
This book is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys far away locations, castles, and furry friends as main attractions in their mystery. If a reader likes a straightforward who-done-it, they will love this story.
About the Author
Having read her first Agatha Christie at thirteen, Vivian Conroy soon devoured all the Poirot and Miss Marple stories. Over time Lord Peter Wimsey and Brother Cadfael joined her favorite sleuths. Even more fun than reading was thinking up her own fog-filled alleys and priceless artifacts, so she created the Lady Alkmene Callender 1920s’ Mysteries, published by an imprint of HarperCollins. When not writing or plotting, Vivian enjoys hiking, growing her own windowsill herbs, and experimenting with felt and clay.
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