Dying Room Only

In 1910 England, there is plenty of excitement in the air as the Pennyfoot Hotel hosts the annual Spring Ball. This year, the ball's visiting celebrity and entertainer is the Great Denmarric who is going to perform his renowned magic show. The Great Denmarric's performance is top rate, but when he performs "a death defying feat" and opens the magic box that is supposed to contain his stage assistant, Desiree, the woman is gone. Denmarric is stunned that his performance failed to go smoothly like it always does. Not too long after that debacle, Desiree, who is actually former waitress Ivy Glumm, is found murdered. Cecily Sinclair, the manager of the hotel, begins to investigate before the murderer kills again and does irreversible damage to the reputation of her establishment. Though DYING ROOM ONLY is the eleventh Pennyfoot Hotel mystery, the story remains a refreshing historical who-done-it. Kate Kingsbury, who demonstrates she is one of the sub-genre's most talented authors(and one of my favorites), brilliantly brings the English seaside during the reign of Edward to life. The story line is crisp, and the detail to characters and setting add an authentic touch that will leave readers wanting to check into the Pennyfoot Hotel for this novel and the previous ten.Harriet Klausner

In 1910 England, there is plenty of excitement in the air as the Pennyfoot Hotel hosts the annual Spring Ball. This year, the ball's visiting celebrity and entertainer is the Great Denmarric who is going to perform his renowned magic show. The Great Denmarric's performance is top rate, but when he performs "a death defying feat" and opens the magic box that is supposed to contain his stage assistant, Desiree, the woman is gone. Denmarric is stunned that his performance failed to go smoothly like it always does. Not too long after that debacle, Desiree, who is actually former waitress Ivy Glumm, is found murdered. Cecily Sinclair, the manager of the hotel, begins to investigate before the murderer kills again and does irreversible damage to the reputation of her establishment. Though DYING ROOM ONLY is the eleventh Pennyfoot Hotel mystery, the story remains a refreshing historical who-done-it. Kate Kingsbury, who demonstrates she is one of the sub-genre's most talented authors(and one of my favorites), brilliantly brings the English seaside during the reign of Edward to life. The story line is crisp, and the detail to characters and setting add an authentic touch that will leave readers wanting to check into the Pennyfoot Hotel for this novel and the previous ten.Harriet Klausner