Friday, December 5, 2014

Review: Murder The Tey Way by: Marilyn Levinson

Title: Murder The Tey Way
Author: Marilyn Levinson
Publisher: Marilyn Levinson
Series: The Golden Age of Mystery Book Club
Pages: 300
Format: ebook
Source: Great Escapes Book Tours

Description:

Professor Lexie Driscoll is leading a Golden Age of Mystery book club discussion of Josephine Tey’s novels, when her sister arrives in a state of agitation. The sisters aren’t close, and Lexie wonders why Gayle has driven from Utah to Long Island to stay with her. The following morning, Gayle awakens Lexie to say there’s a dead man lying in her backyard. Gayle confesses she’s on the run because she witnessed a murder and the murderer is out to get her. Gayle takes off after begging Lexie not to tell the police she’s been there. This presents a problem because Lexie’s boyfriend, homicide detective Brian Donovan, is initially put in charge of the investigation. The murder victim turns out to be a minor criminal suspected of having burgled several homes in the area. Lexie wonders if her sister killed the man, believing he was sent to kill her.

Lexie and her friend Joy Lincoln, a former FBI agent and now a stay-at-home mom, soon discover that all of the book club members either have secrets or are in situations involving the wrong side of the law. An older couple, Marge and Evan Billings, are at the mercy of the criminals they’ve hired to extricate their young granddaughter from Peru. Tim Draigon has lost his attorney’s license for illegal activities. He and Sadie Lu, a guidance counselor, owe money and have borrowed large sums from money lenders connected to the murdered man. Lexie’s neighbors, the Roberts sisters, are strange birds. Corinne dominates her slow sister, Felicity, and berates Lexie whenever she comes to Felicity’s aid. And who is this Johnny Scarvino Felicity fears? Another club member is murdered, one is knocked unconscious, and old and new secrets impact the lives of the members of the book club. Lexie must find the murderer before more lives are destroyed.

My Thoughts:

This was a new series to me anyway it follows Lexie who starts out setting up her book club when she gets a frantic phone call from her sister whose on her way to Lexie's house.  Something about the phone call makes Lexie wonder what is going on with her sister Gayle.

Lexie has her book club and the members quickly discover that someone is spying on them and Joy former FBI agent gives the mysterious spy a good chase before she looses him.  Not long after that Gayle shows up is nervous about the fact that Lexie is having a book club after Lexie reassures her sister that she is safe, her sister goes to sleep being tired after driving two days straight.

The next morning Lexie and Gayle discover the spy from the previous night dead in the backyard and Gayle explains why she is on the run.  Lexie quick to help her sister slips her some money and lets her leave before phoning the police. 

Of course Brian Donovan is sent to investigate the murder it doesn't take long for him to figure out there is something Lexie isn't telling him.  He tries to convince her that whatever it is he can handle it.  Lexie is more determined than ever to find out what is going on and whether it involves Gayle.

This was a great mystery with all sorts of secrets with book club members.  There is no shortage of possibilities with this book.  I enjoyed reading and found I couldn't put it down I was pulled in wanting to find out who killed one of their own along with the body in the backyard, and how it connected to Gayle.

Definitely an author I will be looking into more read her next book.  I loved the idea of a book club reading classic mysteries which is different than many book clubs you hear about now.  I found myself enjoying this book very much and encourage others who enjoy cozy mysteries to definitely take the time to read this one you won't be disappointed!
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3 shout outs:

Palmaltas said...

I always love Marilyn's books and I especially like the idea of a book club that reads only books from the Golden Age of Mystery. That's the only kind of book club I would want to join.

Marilyn Levinson said...

Thanks so much, Pat. Like you, I love the Golden Age of Mystery authors. So many of our fellow mystery writers do, too.

Paula said...

Thank you both for stopping by for this great tour. Can't wait to see what Marilyn cooks up next!