REVIEWS

My Musing ~ Cancelled by Murder by Jean Flowers

Cassie Miller returned to her sleepy hometown in the Berkshires to start over as the new postmistress. But she soon finds that dead letters are nothing compared to murder victims. . .

With a massive storm about to hit North Ashcot, Massachusetts, threatening floods and widespread wind damage, Cassie is forced to close up the post office along with the rest of the local business owners and residents, who are battening down the hatches and bracing themselves for the worst.

Although the storm proves not to be as bad as predicted, fabric shop owner Daisy Harmon is found dead, seemingly killed by a fallen branch. But the police quickly determine that her death had nothing to do with foul weather and everything to do with foul play. After Daisy’s widowed husband approaches her to help solve his wife’s murder, Cassie vows to find the killer before another innocent victim is taken by storm.

This was an exciting and fun read that I enjoyed. Once again, Cassie is involved in looking for clues into the murder in this fast-paced and well-written drama. The plot was nicely divided with details that included plenty of suspects and some surprising twists and turns that ratcheted the telling of this tale up a notch. Cassie proves to be one determined amateur sleuth, all for the betterment of her small town. The author does a terrific job with setting up this mystery with great narrative, engaging dialogue with a small-town feel. The characters are lovable and friendly and I can’t wait to read the next book in this pleasantly appealing series.

Dru's book musings

Cancelled by Murder: A Postmistress Mystery by Jean Flowers

Although a native New Englander, it’s only been one year since Cassie Miller left Boston and returned to her hometown of North Ashcott, Massachusetts. Living in her late aunt’s house and working as the sole postmistress of the North Ashcott Post Office, Cassie is in a position to know more than one would think about her sparsely populated town. Wedding announcements, overdue bills, stopped-mail for vacations, change of addresses, and specialized periodicals all provide Cassie with insight into her neighbors’ lives. That has helped her once to help solve several murders, and now it looks like it may once again.

An August storm has North Ashcott preparing for the worst and expecting the least, so locals are shocked to hear the news that the rain and wind did result in one death. Cassie is devastated to learn that her friend Daisy Harmon of Daisy Fabrics was brought down by a fallen branch, and more so that it wasn’t an accident. Everyone, especially Cassie’s best friend and Police Chief Sunni Smargon, warns Cassie against investigating, and normally she would be happy to comply. It’s not until Daisy’s husband Cliff begs Cassie into assisting that she finds herself questioning those who had recently come into combat with the surprisingly aggressive Daisy.

Not only was Daisy strongly opposing the introduction of a new farmer’s market that could infringe on local businesses, she had also riled up a fellow quilter and specialty card shop owner when Daisy’s Fabrics began selling her own selection of greeting cards. Even Cliff is not off of the suspect list, although a bigger concern arises when Cassie begins to receive menacing postcards herself. With boyfriend Quinn Martindale off traveling on a search for antiques, Cassie is reluctant to bring up the threats and risk jeopardizing her friendship with the Police Chief.

This second in the Postmistress Mystery series delivers a thoroughly enjoyable and twisty mystery inundated with genuinely likable characters. The prolific author of numerous mystery series under her name Camille Minichino, she continues to deftly craft compelling novels that continue to surprise. Cassie’s investigations keep pace with the readers’, and the final reveal is as exciting as it is surprising. Cassie may not be an actual Postal Inspector, but as a Federal Postal Worker she is experienced at being observant, detecting mislabeled items, and following evidence toward logical conclusions. Readers searching for a mystery with original plotting, smart writing, and loads of dry humor will find it all in this unique and entertaining series.

Cynthia Chow

http://kingsriverlife.com/09/24/september-penguins-for-your-fall-reading/

Cancelled by Murder - Jean Flowers

Last Monday I read Cancelled by Murder by Jean Flowers. I selected this September 6th Release because of the cover first and the series name second. I love the idea of the main character Cassie who is Postmistress of her tiny town. I have always loved getting mail. I always wished I had something just for me in the mail box growing up and of all the job Sesame Street taught me that there were in my neighborhood I always thought that the Mailman or Mail-person job was the the best! I settled into read last night and was very quickly pulled into the storm that was brewing and the mystery that unfolded in North Ashcot, Massachusetts! I loved the relationship between Cassie and Sunni the chief of police. Having two strong women in such prominent rolls in the community really appeals to me and this series is one I hope will continue for a long time. This is book two so I simply must go back and read book one! The cover is great and I loved the little postage stamp boarder around the chapter numbers. Lots to love int his book!

Cassie Miller returned to her sleepy hometown in the Berkshires to start over as the new postmistress. But she soon finds that dead letters are nothing compared to murder victims...

With a massive storm about to hit North shcot, Massachusetts, threatening floods and widespread wind damage, Cassie is forced to close up the post office along with the rest of the local business owners and residents, who are battening down the hatches and bracing themselves for the worst.

Karen Owen

Cancelled by Murder: A Postmistress Mystery by Jean Flowers

Who knew that reading about a postmistress working in the small post office in North Ashcot, Massachusetts, could be so exciting?
There is a brutal storm heading directly toward the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts. It is August, which is the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, and warnings are posted everywhere. What seems strange is that Daisy’s Fabrics is still open even though all the other stores are boarded up against the storm.

Daisy Harmon is the owner of Daisy’s Fabrics where Postmistress Cassie Miller has purchased her many fabrics to use for quilting. It seems that keeping the business open has caused Daisy to meet her demise. At first it seems that Daisy was killed by the branches of a tree, but…perhaps the culprit was something or someone a little more disturbing. You see, Daisy was a vibrant young woman, a gifted teacher, and a generous businesswoman, but she tended to get under the skin of a great many people.

Daisy’s husband has asked Cassie to help him in the murder investigation; Cassie just happens to be friends with Police Chief Sunni Smargon. In addition, it seems Cassie is far more interested in solving crimes than making the mail go through on time.

As the imminent storm turns out to be more “talk” than actual “action,” its winds cannot be blamed for Daisy’s death. Police learn that her death has nothing to do with bad weather, and Cassie soon receives sinister letters at the post office telling her to watch her back before she becomes the next victim of a so far invisible killer. Unfortunately, Cassie hasn’t changed since the first book and, with determination galore, she still moves forward to uncover the murderer.

If books one and two are any inclination of the fun, action, suspense and great characters that North Ashcot has to provide for all mystery lovers out there, then we’ll all be waiting impatiently for book number three to arrive!

Reviewed by Mary Lignor, Professional Librarian and Co-Owner of The Write Companion for Suspense Magazine

http://suspensemagazine.com/blog2/2017/01/03/cancelled-by-murder-by-jean-flowers/