Review - Baked To Death (#4) by Dean James

Baked To Death by Dean James
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read - 3 days

Blurb From Goodreads

With the help of some dandy little pills, Simon can get through his first summer in Snupperton-Mumsley with only a mild aversion to the sun. On the other hand, his assistant, Giles Blitherington, is bemoaning the beginning of the season. A medieval faire is coming to town--and setting up tent practically in Blitherington Hall's backyard. It doesn't take Simon long to don tunic and tights and gambol straight into controversy. The group putting on the faire is in the midst of a power struggle. Their "king" is about to be dethroned by a charismatic and popular duke. But when the usurper is poisoned by way of a fig pastry, Simon is confronted with enough suspects to fill a royal court. Now Simon must infiltrate the players to uncover a murderer most medieval.

My Review

If you haven't read the previous 3 books you don't really have to but as this one focuses a lot on the Simon and Giles side I would suggest you do to get a proper understanding on it (but the story itself is easy to read as a stand alone). We are back in the little town of Snupperton-Mumsley (got to love that name), where everybody knows or is in everyones business. This time there is a medieval fair coming in Giles back yard (much to his mothers annoyance), and once again we have an untimely murder. Simon sets about investigating, finding plenty of suspects and trying to solve the crime.

I do enjoy the humor of these books, it is all very murder she wrote with all the gossiping and skulduggery going on, Simon being the gay male version of Jessica. Did I mention Simon is also a vampire? These books are very tongue in cheek and they keep you guessing as each chapter comes along we have yet another suspect in the picture of who could have done it and why.

This book focused I felt a lot more on the Giles/Simon aspect, although there is plenty of of focus on the killing and all that follows but normally in the books the relationship between the two is a background side story, this time is more upfront and key to the story. A great wee series and I will be sad to see it go, a 3/5 for me this time.

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Review - Decorated To Death by Dean James

Decorated To Death by Dean James

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Time Taken To Read - 1 day

Blurb From Goodreads

Hardly one to become star-struck, Simon nevertheless deigns to attend a tea at Blitherington Hall in honor of celebrity interior designer Zeke Harwood, star of the popular television show, "Tres Zeke." The self-acclaimed King of Home Decorating makes it immediately obvious that he's there to give the drawing room a makeover--not make friends. So, it's little shock to Simon when the drama-queen decorator meets his demise; he's only surprised it hasn't happened sooner. Now, in a locked-room puzzle worthy of Agatha Christie, Simon must peel away layers of lies to reveal who killed the decorator in the drawing room with a blunt instrument.

My Review

Simon's village is about to be shaken up by the visit of a tv "celebrity" interior designer. Zeke is aggressive, self obsessed, has an over inflated sense of self worth and everyone is below him. He comes to Snupperton Mumsley to makeover one of the residents home and starts ruffling feathers and making some enemies. Before long our "Tres Zeke" is found dead and Simon soon gets in the thick of it to find out who amongst them is the killer.

As always the book is a great light hearted, silly adventure and gossip fest. The continuing flirting between Simon and Giles steps up a notch as more pretty people come into their life and their try to figure out who done it.

These books always remind me of murder she wrote although instead of a little old lady as the investigator we have a well bred, camp intelligent man who happens to be gay and a vampire. The book is filled with humor, flirting and has a few wee twists. This is an easy fun read and also part of a series but you could easily get away with picking this up and reading as a stand alone, 3/5 for me this time.

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Review - Faked To Death by Dean James

Faked To Death by Dean James

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Blurb from Amazon

It's Simon's esteemed reputation as an auteur that brings him to the attention of Lady Hermione Kinsale. She needs another speaker for her week-long writers' workshop. But much to Simon's surprise-and chagrin - best selling mystery author Dorinda Darlington appears on the list of attendees. Simon knows first-hand how the reclusive author values her privacy...because Simon is Dorinda. The blatant impersonation has raised his hackles - and Simon's fit to kill. But someone beats him to the punch. "Dorinda" is found dead, flattened by a stone urn pushed from the terrace. Now, cloistered with a killer, Simon tunes his heightened senses to the movements of his fellow authors. And as the workshop develops into a tension convention, Simon grows more determined to take a bite out of crime - before bloody murder claims another victim.

My review

Simon is back and as usual surrounded by the small towns dramas, this time he is invited to a writers workshop at Lady Hermiones abode. Simon finds himself riled as he spots on the guest list none other than Dorinda Darlington (one of his secret author identities) as someone is posing as her. Ignoring his agents advice Simon confronts her and before long her body is found. Will Simon be the prime suspect as this isn't his first dead body? Why was she pretending to be the author of Simons books?

I loved this almost as much as the first one. Simon is his usual funny and witty self and caught up in more small town scandal on a bigger scale this time. What I also liked is Giles is a much better character this time round having grown since our first meeting in Posted To Death.

Wether you have read the first book or not isn't particularly relevant, you could pick this one up as a stand alone however if you can I would read the first book purely because it is a good story, 4/5 for me and I will be pursuing the next book in this series.



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Review - Posted to death by Dean James

Posted To Death by Dean James

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Posted to death is, in this case a book being posted to death :D. It is making its way around some of my friends on Risi and started out in the USA. So far it has travelled 6230 miles (unpon getting to me) and will be heading to England I believe next.

It is a fabulous non challenging wee read and for me I was sold with "it has a gay vampire in it", I do love vampire books and this is a first for me. Simon Kirby-Jones is our star and author himself, he moves to a wee village in England. Filled with busy bodies and all the other antics of a small close knit town Simon finds himself surrounded by drama of all kinds.

With the threat of an expose play based on the village peoples secrets a murder occurs and the book is basically about finding out who done it and revealing the characters of the village (and the secrets they would rather keep quiet).

It is a funny, naughty, intriguing and for me, quick, fun read. The first two lines had me hooked 'The vicar doesn't know I'm a vampire. Nor does he know I'm gay'. That was it for me. The book also has a different take on vampires in that they can do things normal vampires can't and this is due to medication. It gives a brief explanation on it, certainly enough for you to follow it and I would hope in the series follow ups it gives a bit more detail on that. 4/5 for me and I will certainly be looking out for the follow up.



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