Genre: Cozy
Mystery/Woman Sleuth
Description:
“Emma Madison loves junkin’ for old baubles to turn into dazzling new
creations, and launching her new career as a jewelry designer in the small town
of Roseland, Georgia, is a dream come true. After making out like a bandit at a
garage sale one morning, Emma goes to the Silver Squirrel antiques shop to
share her fabulous finds with a fellow jewelry lover. She’s shocked to learn
that a salesclerk friend, Tina, has just been found murdered.
When the police can’t get any firm leads, Emma decides to use her
newspaper reporting experience to assist them. According to the local gossip
mill, not everyone in town liked Tina, including her two siblings. Soon, the
list of suspects is longer than a strand of opera pearls.
Someone is trying to stop Emma from helping, even going so far as to
threaten her new business. While eager to get back to making jewelry, Emma is
determined to find the person responsible for Tina’s death, even if that means
coming face-to-face with the killer.”
Author:
“Angela McRae is a former newspaper and magazine editor who started
her own freelance writing and editing business so she could play on the
internet even more. She currently writes social media posts for local
businesses and reviews and edits books. Her dream job would be to edit all
those clever Facebook postings for proper spelling and punctuation. She enjoys
gardening and pursuing her passion for teatime, frequently blogging about tea
with friends around the world.”
Learn more about Ms. McRae on her website or follow her on Facebook.
Appraisal:
Emma Madison was a newspaper journalist a few years ago. When the
paper started downsizing she knew she needed to change career goals. Her love
of costume jewelry and rhinestones leads her to discover she has a talent for
designing new pieces of jewelry from old costume jewelry and beads. Her
creations are designed by watching trends for color, style, and size. Finding
old pieces at bargain prices at garage sales and thrift stores excite her. Every
now and again she will find a real treasure to sell on eBay. Her creations sell
well at the art market in the small tourist town of Roseland, Georgia.
Being an ex-journalist she has an inquisitive nature. To tell the
truth she is up in everyone’s business. A real Nosy Nellie. When there is a
murder at an upscale antique jewelry and bobbles shop, The Silver Squirrel,
Emma vows to catch the murderer. Of course the police are on it, and Detective
Shelton is perfectly capable. He’s smart, intuitive, and trying to keep Emma
from becoming the next victim. He warns her time and time again to let him
handle it. However, Emma thinks her unique perspective will help them solve the
murder, and catch the killer. There are egos galore in Roseland. It is your
typical stereotype of a small town.
The characters were well written, diverse, and unique. From tea
sippers, pretentious artisans, talented weavers, painters, and talented jewelry
designers. All with their own brand of sanity.
Much of this story read more like Woman’s Fiction than a Cozy Mystery.
There were lots of descriptive prose that didn’t move the story forward. The
middle of the book dragged for me. Since this is the first book of a series it
is necessary that we meet the other shop owners. For one reason or another I
didn’t feel a kinship with Emma. She is very talented and has a heart of gold,
but she thinks a little too highly of herself.
FYI:
Emeralds
and Envy is book 1 of Angela McRae’s, Junkin' Jewelry Mysteries. There are
also a couple of recipes at the end to try at your next tea party.
Format/Typo
Issues:
No significant issues with proofing or formatting.
Rating:
*** Three Stars
Reviewed
by: ?wazithinkin
Approximate
word count: 75-80,000 words
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