Irregardless of Murder: A Miss Prentice Cozy Mystery

This charming and original first novel by Ellen Edwards Kennedy is an ideal companion for a bubble bath or a secret dash away to a favorite chair. Each page offers a natural, easy escape into the pleasant and very real world of Miss Prentice, whose gentle character, poignant insights and constant (and mysterious!) challenges will draw you into the story from the first line forward, and will keep you guessing until the very end. Ms. Kennedy's talent with dialogue and character description are especially striking. Also particularly moving is the deftness with which she draws the reader into the very fabric of each scene, weaving careful, creative and very realistic detail throughout the text, blending plot, character, and setting into a living, breathing, and very believable literary tapestry. Irregardless of Murder is a pleasure to read, and I look forward to seeing more from this up-and-coming author!

A masterfully-drawn amateur sleuth, Amelia Prentice is the kind of woman we all want to grow up to be--strong, independent, and respected for her mind. She is also charming and vulnerable, characteristics that make her equally appealing. A younger version of Miss Marple, she is decidely more open to life's possibilities, and the rekindling of a former love just adds icing to this delicious confection of a mystery.Miss Prentice's keen mind and flawless instincts are put to work when one of her former students is found murdered near the library copying machine.Her ensuing journey of discovery introduces Miss Prentice to a host of interesting characters, and Edwards Kennedy's sure hand with characterization keeps the reader enthralled. In the end, we are not only shocked to discover the identity of the murderer, but reluctant to say goodbye to Amelia Prentice.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. The main character, Miss Prentice, feels like an old friend. The author does a great job of keeping the reader guessing until the very end. "Irregardless of Murder" is the perfect blend of an Agatha Christie mystery in a Jan Karon small town. I have recommended this book to all my friends and family, and even to kind strangers in bookstores. I hope this is the first of many exciting works from Mrs. Kennedy.

Miss Amelia Prentice is a high school English teacher with a passion for grammar. One of her pet peeves is the use of the word "irregardless," a misuse of the word "regardless." But if you think that this is her only passion, you would be mistaken. Miss Prentice is also passionate about the children in her classroom, and perhaps, there is another fire burning somewhere inside her for a long-lost love.When she stumbles over the body of one of her students, Miss Prentice is determined to find out what happened. When her investigation points toward the possibility of drugs, she begins to look carefully at those around her. Could there be something sinister brewing underneath the surface of the seemingly peaceful town? To make things even a little more confusing, Gil Dickensen, a man that Amelia almost married when she was young, shows up unexpectedly. As her search for the truth heats up, so also does her relationship with Gil.IRREGARDLESS OF MURDER is filled with fun, fascinating characters, a persnickety old cat, and believe it or not, an illusive monster who makes an appearance from his home in Lake Champlain.This is an absolutely delightful mystery. It is captivating from front cover to last. Ms. Kennedy will have to keep `em coming. I'm absolutely stuck on Miss Amelia Prentice!Highly Recommended

Ellen Edwards Kennedy sets her cozy mystery in the New York Adirondack area where she grew up. [....]Amelia Prentice is a high school English teacher in her forties. She figures she will always be a spinster, until she trips over the body of her former student, Marguerite LeBow, in the public library. Her head wound brings out the worst of the town gossips, who start in on poor Marguerite. However, it also reacquaints her with her former beau, Gil Dickensen, and the old sparks fly:"He kissed me. It was apparent from his technique that Gil had put in some practice since we had last done this. As for me, I had to rely on memory and trust that, just like riding a bicycle, it would all come back to me. I gave it my best."Gil enlists the aid of his nephew Vern to both watch over Amelia and help her, which turns out for the best as Amelia herself is at the heart of the mystery. Ms. Kennedy does a great job of totally confusing the reader with all of the town's characters. It makes for great reading and an interesting labyrinth. Kennedy teases the reader with the initials UDJ, floating them in and out of the action. Every great cozy should have a cat, and Amelia's Sam is lazy and languorous, providing a kitty Falstaff to the cast of characters. Amelia's old house provides a great backdrop for the action, as well as a source of strength and sanctuary for her, as her dead parents provide warm memories.Ellen Edwards Kennedy has produced a signature mystery in the old cozy, read in a wingback chair on a rainy day, tradition. She has added to the Old Grand Dame herself, Agatha Christie. Her characters are recognizable; the action keeps the reader fascinated and entertained, and the ending is very satisfactory after a great denouement. When the book ended, I heaved a great sigh of contentment as I hoped that Ms. Kennedy would soon crank out another.