Saturday, November 22, 2014

Book Review: The Silver Shawl: A Mrs. Meade Mystery

The Silver Shawl (Mrs. Meade Mysteries #1)
Buy it Here
Age Appropriate For: 12 and up for mild romance and violence
Best for Ages: 12 and up

Description: In a small town in turn-of-the-century Colorado, a young woman has disappeared from the boarding-house where she lives. Her distraught fiancĂ© is certain that she must have been kidnapped. But the case takes a new turn when a city detective appears on the scene, looking for a woman who matches the description of the missing girl. Was Charity really kidnapped, or did she have a reason to flee? Mrs. Meade, a gentle but shrewd widow lady who lives across the hall in the boarding-house, feels that there is something wrong with the story of Charity’s disappearance…but can she unravel the mystery before it is too late?

Are you like me and enjoy a good mystery, but dislike murder? You like a crime to solve, but don’t have all day to devote to a case? Well, here is the story for you.

Meet Mrs. Meade. A very Mrs. Marple type character (from the little I know of Agatha Christie’s heroine), meaning middle aged and endearing. She has an eye for details and takes the time to look and listen to things most people don’t and therefore, ends up solving the crime.

There is a bit romance in the book, but nothing in excess, two of the characters are in love and share a kiss once or twice, but it wasn’t a hugely passionate scene. Even younger readers and those who shy away from romance will be happy I think.

The violence is also kept to a minimum. There is no gory murder or horrendous violence discussed in detail. There is mention of people being rough and mean, but nothing that would make you blush, gage, or make you lose your lunch. Again, even young children can enjoy this.

The mystery itself was surprisingly good. For such a short little book, it never felt rushed. Elisabeth Grace Foley has written yet another wonderful story and I cannot wait to read more in the series.
I highly recommend this book to those the like classic feeling mysteries, low violence, and high quality writing.


2 comments:

  1. I must say I was a disappointed when I got this book and read it to not have been warned that the Lord's name was used wrongly and there was euphemism. If I had known, I wouldn't have bothered to get the book.

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    Replies
    1. Really? I missed that and I am very sensitive to those things. Thank you for letting others know.

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