Smart, tightly-plotted mystery with a unique cast of characters and rich setting.
I discovered Edwin’s Hill’s books a few months ago, and was immediately sucked in—I read the first two books of the Hester Thursby series one after the other, and was happy to find there would be a third. This a smart, tightly-plotted mystery with a unique cast of characters and rich setting.
In this installment, we get to know the Matson family, the rich owners of Prescott University in Boston. Hester and her friend (and detective) Angela White are called in to check up on Jennifer Matson as she suspects someone has broken into the mansion, and the story unfolds from there.
I loved the dance between rich and poor, each with their own secrets to keep. Hill clearly thought through how all these characters would work together—including Hester, our amateur sleuth, who is learning to let go of her own secrets she’s keeping from her partner Morgan.
The student characters are what really sets this book apart: they’re such a true representation of young people today, the challenges and struggles that come with growing up and leaving home when you’re not considered the 'normal' average teen.
The mystery was fairly easy to solve, but the character entanglements were so intriguing, I stuck around to the very end. Maxine, the family problem solver and fixer, was so unique a person she practically jumped off the page.
The characters truly shine; if you’ve not picked up the first in the series, do yourself a favor and start there. This series is excellent in every way a mystery should be, and I expect Edwin Hill will soon be counted as one of the top crime writers out there (if he isn’t already). Highly recommend.
**Review copy provided by publisher through BookishFirst**
In this installment, we get to know the Matson family, the rich owners of Prescott University in Boston. Hester and her friend (and detective) Angela White are called in to check up on Jennifer Matson as she suspects someone has broken into the mansion, and the story unfolds from there.
I loved the dance between rich and poor, each with their own secrets to keep. Hill clearly thought through how all these characters would work together—including Hester, our amateur sleuth, who is learning to let go of her own secrets she’s keeping from her partner Morgan.
The student characters are what really sets this book apart: they’re such a true representation of young people today, the challenges and struggles that come with growing up and leaving home when you’re not considered the 'normal' average teen.
The mystery was fairly easy to solve, but the character entanglements were so intriguing, I stuck around to the very end. Maxine, the family problem solver and fixer, was so unique a person she practically jumped off the page.
The characters truly shine; if you’ve not picked up the first in the series, do yourself a favor and start there. This series is excellent in every way a mystery should be, and I expect Edwin Hill will soon be counted as one of the top crime writers out there (if he isn’t already). Highly recommend.
**Review copy provided by publisher through BookishFirst**