Murder in Miniature by Margaret Grace
(Hardcover - Large Prin)
- Publisher: Gale Cengage Learning
- Pub. Date: July 2008
- ISBN-13: 9781597227780
- Age Range: Young Adult
- 352pp
- Series: A Miniature Mystery Ser.
- Edition Description: Large Prin
- Other Formats:
- Mass Market Paperback
Synopsis
A MINIATURE MYSTERY. First in a big new series.
Geraldine Porter thought that being the chairwoman of the local Dollhouse and Miniatures Fair would give her leisure time to spend on her favorite craft. That was before a fellow miniatures afficionado is suspected of murder, leaving Gerry to prove the woman's innocence-or die trying.
Publishers Weekly
Having lost her husband to cancer, good-natured Geraldine "Gerry" Porter, 58, endures being the chair of the Lincoln Point, Calif., dollhouse committee. Her prickly perfectionist friend, Linda Reed, makes tiny houses that are unassailably historically accurate, but Linda's delinquent adopted teenage son, Jason, and two troublesome ex-husbands have her real house out of order. When Linda disappears from the annual miniatures fair only to turn up in the middle of the night stranded and disheveled off a highway access road-the same site where the dead body of an unknown woman is subsequently found-Gerry, with the help of her visiting 10-year-old tomboy granddaughter Maddie, begin to second-guess Linda's odd behavior. They rely on the quirky expertise of Gerry's roll-with-the-punches bachelor nephew, Skip, a local cop who's thrilled to get his first homicide call. Further roiling Lincoln Point tempers are a recent robbery at Crane's Jewelry Store pointing to Jason's handiwork and the angry factions battling over an upcoming election hinging on proposed development. Gerry proves a resilient, enterprising detective and Maddie a delightful sidekick in this tightly honed mystery, where smalltown personalities get a gentle poke. (Feb.)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business InformationCustomer Reviews
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Murder in Miniatureby Anonymous
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August 17, 2008: Geraldine (Gerry) Porter is a retired school teacher who now loves to create miniatures. She sees miniature furniture in many small discarded items. Unfortunately Maddie, her visiting granddaughter, doesn't share her love. She prefers sports. Linda Reed's teenage son Jason is thought to be involved in the robbery of Crane's Jewelry store. He's been rebellious and in trouble. Gerry is the chairperson of the local Dollhouse and Miniatures Fair. She and Linda share a table. Gerry notices a spot of blood on a small desk of Linda's. Not long after, Linda and the desk disappear. Gerry is very worried. That night Gerry gets a late night plea from Linda to pick her up from a deserted area. Gerry bundles Maddie in the car and picks up Linda. Linda refuses to tell Gerry anything. Then a dead stranger is found near where Gerry picked Linda up and on the same night. Who killed the stranger, and what connection does she have to the area? Is Jason really involved in the robbery? How and why? This is the first in this great new cozy series. I can't wait to read the next book! I've always been fascinated with all the small furniture and details in dollhouses, so I really enjoyed the descriptions of creating the various furniture and scenes. The author has provided plenty of twists in the plot to keep the reader guessing to the end. I highly recommend this book!
Murder in Miniatureby Anonymous
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February 08, 2008: A delightful read with special appeal to hobbyists. Full disclosure: I?m one of the mystery authors involved in the Killer Hobbies blog at blogspot. We joined forces because we all write mysteries involving hobbies. 'Pretty obvious, eh?' But?we?ve only met each other virtually, and I?d never read anything by Margaret Grace 'Camille Minichino'. So when I received the ARC 'Advance Reading Copy' of Murder in Miniature, I opened the book with excitement and trepidation. What if I didn?t like her work? Whew. Very quickly, my fears were allayed. Murder in Miniature is a delightful read with special appeal to hobbyists. The protagonist, Geraldine Porter, is a complex woman, recovering from the loss of her husband, unsure sometimes how to do the ?right thing,? and devoted to her granddaughter and friends. She defines herself as ?a pushover for difficult personalities,? but Gerry is no victim. She?s simply a woman who accepts imperfection?in her miniatures, in her life and in her friends. Gerry?s involvement as an amateur sleuth makes sense, which is always a challenge in a book of this ilk. The underlying complexities of Gerry?s life round her out as a character, and provide realistic stumbling blocks to crime solving. Unlike many cozies, Gerry evolves over the course of the book, and we, as readers, relish seeing her review her life and come to new conclusions. All in all, a most satisfying read. Here?s the lagniappe: I love miniatures. The author gave me just enough about the hobby to make me eager to work on my own dollhouse and room boxes. Any book that not only entertains me but also helps me rediscover a lifelong passion is a winner! And that?s exactly what Margaret Grace has here: A winning series.
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