Review: The Honeymoon Homicides Is “an Excellent Entry into the Series”
The Honeymoon Homicides by Jeannette de Beauvoir is the 10th book in the Provincetown mystery series featuring Sydney Riley, part owner of a Provincetown hotel. The book jumps right into the mystery when a dead body drops from the upper floor of the hotel right into the middle of Sydney’s wedding reception to her new husband Ali. Many guests run screaming from the scene, but not Sydney, who is also known as Provincetown’s own Miss Marple.
Sydney can only snoop for a little bit because she and Ali are due to leave for their honeymoon. The pair has been gifted a week in a historical shack in the dunes of Cape Cod’s National Seashore. There is no internet, cell service or air conditioning, and hence, no way for Sydney to investigate. The details of this area and history of the shacks are fascinating and make the setting come to life. (Side note: be sure to read the author’s note at the end – it includes so many interesting details that added to my reading experience.) On walks through the dunes during their honeymoon week, Sydney and Ali meet a loner named Cyril who lives permanently on the dunes, as well as Park Ranger O’Connell.
The Honeymoon Homicides by Jeannette de Beauvoir is the 10th book in the Provincetown mystery series featuring Sydney Riley, part owner of a Provincetown hotel. The book jumps right into the mystery when a dead body drops from the upper floor of the hotel right into the middle of Sydney’s wedding reception to her new husband Ali. Many guests run screaming from the scene, but not Sydney, who is also known as Provincetown’s own Miss Marple.
Once back from their trip, Ali is called away on undercover police work, leaving Sydney the time and opportunity to investigate the body from her wedding reception. She uncovers many clues and even spends time with the victim’s widow to learn more. The more she learns the more she begins to suspect that the victim had (possibly illegal) business on the dunes, and her new connections from her honeymoon might know more than they are letting on.
What follows is a fast-paced mystery with such a suspenseful end! The book addresses themes of conservation and the environment pitted against themes of greed and development. I couldn’t figure out how Jeannette was going to tie the honeymoon back to the victim in the opening of the mystery, but she did skillfully. I flew through the last chapters of the book, not stopping until I knew the ending. An excellent entry into the series.
Source: Sarah Erwin for MysteryRat Maze at King’s River Life