Pay the Piper

This Pennyfoot Hotel series is enjoyable. The mysteries are a bit simplistic, but the characters are wonderful. It gives us a good look at life below and above stairs. Sometimes I think the servants are the best in these books. Gertie is a treasure and now that she is a mother of twin babies, it makes for very entertaining reading. In this book the Pennyfoot is helping Badger's End celebrate Robbie Burns day with a bagpipe competition. Things really heat up when the body of one of the contestants is found in the basement of the local butcher. But these books are about the characters, and lots is going on with them in this one. Cecily and Baxter's relationship appears to be advancing, and Gertie finds someone. Great stuff!

The eighth of the series, this one focuses on Scotish pipers who arrive to stir up trouble. Besides the brutal murder of one of the pipers, the staff has to deal with ghosts and romance. Gertie is now a mother and asks Cicely and Baxter to be godparents. Meanwhile Cicely and Baxter's relationship begins to advance creating anticipation for both and the reader. Fine mystery.