Book 1, 2025

[chez_jae]

Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


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Since I had New Year's Day off, I spent a good chunk of it reading Madrigals and Mayhem, which is the fourth book in author Elizabeth Penney's "Cambridge Bookshop" cozy mystery series. The main character is Molly Kimball.

Molly is excited to experience Christmas in England for the first time. She's especially pleased when she learns the toyshop not far from her family's bookshop is reopening. Molly is even more delighted to find out the new owner, Charlotte Pemberly, is around her age. When Charlotte offers to give Molly and her friend, Daisy, a quick tour, they come across Charlotte's cousin, Barnaby, who is deathly ill. Later, it's determined that Barnaby was poisoned by fairy cakes, and Molly can't help but wonder if Charlotte was the intended victim. After all, the family of her recently-deceased grandfather's widow are angry that Charlotte inherited everything, including the toyshop, Arthur's house, and a very valuable doll. Not even Charlotte knows where the doll is. After a series of break-ins, it becomes apparent that someone besides Charlotte is searching for the doll. Molly soon finds herself in the thick of things as she strives to clear Charlotte of any wrong doing and help her find the doll.

The story was delightful. I enjoyed the setting, both the physical location and the season. Characters are superb, even the odious ones. Once again, we get a book-within-a-book, as Molly spends some time reading a children's book that may hold clues to the doll's whereabouts. However, like previous books in the series, the narrative is almost fully taken up with Molly's investigation. Even when she's out having fun, she often pauses to eavesdrop on a pertinent conversation or ask some questions. Let the girl enjoy some down time! I was somewhat disappointed that a few items were never resolved. For instance, it was never explained why the poisoned cakes were made to look like they'd come from Daisy's tea shop.

Favorite lines:
♦ No one could resist a toy shop, not even a hardened police officer.
♦ When it came to favorite childhood toys, it wasn't about the actual toy. It was all the memories it invoked.
♦ These old colleges had quite a high level of security, instituted to preserve the sanctity of studying scholars--or to protect them from impromptu attacks by barbarians.
♦ The things we ended up cherishing the most were not always the most valuable.

Lovely book, solid four. Best of all, I'm now on track to read 365 books this year. LOL!