Play Book Tag discussion

Murder at the Breakers - A. Maxwell
3 stars

This book has such a promising setting, August 1895, Newport, Rhode Island. The Breakers is the recently rebuilt summer ‘cottage’ of the wealthy and powerful Vanderbilts. High society to say the least. Except for a pair of more lowly relations, Emma Cross and her half brother, Brady.

I wish I could say that the book lived up to its setting. I was expecting the predictable tropes; the murder that occurs in the middle of a lavish party, the spunky feminist protagonist, controlling multimillionaire, the convenient though innocent suspect. I don’t think any of those predictable elements would have spoiled the story for me.

I think the book suffers from the introduction of too many characters and the need to introduce the young Emma Cross as the lead amature detective of a continuing series. There are many likable characters and a fun setting so the series might improve. Unfortunately, my first impression was that Emma was so busy flitting from one place to another she couldn’t see the evil doer standing right in front of her.