Review: A Fatal Folly Is “Engaging Entertainment”

A Fatal Folly earns 5/5 Sunken Ships...Engaging Entertainment!

It‘s November, it’s cold, and it’s “Ma” on the phone complaining that Sydney Riley won’t come home for the holidays. Feigning a busy schedule, which isn’t entirely true since it is the winter season, but there is her work at the Inn and the gallery she’ll not give up. Besides the upcoming annual Holly Folly encompasses the entire town. She should have just said...sorry, can’t come, but “Why don’t you come here?” popped out of her mouth. Things get worse when her “Little Green Car” is hit requiring immediate attention and introducing her to a “Guy.” Things perk up when one friend shows her an extraordinary beach find and another presents her with a mystery to take her mind off her boyfriend’s undercover danger and the impending arrival of her mother.

This page-turning drama accompanies stories about centuries-old pirate lore, sunken ships, Christmas festivities, and a cold case surrounding a long ago murder and missing family...mystery is once again afoot! Jeannette de Beauvoir has penned an entertaining fifth book with a plethora of references to connections and previous felonies to keep me engaged as a newbie (no spoilers, just teasers).

The mystery was complex seemingly going one direction than another with greed, violence, and betrayal from centuries ago to the present. The actual crime and subsequent investigation took more time to get to than I prefer, but the drama incorporated so much from legends of pirates to a fascinating cold case, from family angst to Christmas excitement. Characters are realistic and varied with well-defined personalities, but I was taken aback by some of Sydney’s snippy sarcasm. I enjoyed “A Fatal Folly” tremendously and recommend it!