Monday, September 4, 2023

Book Review: A Little Tumble in Tintagel

 


Book 5 in Christina Hamlett's cozy mystery series has just been released. A Little Tumble in Tintagel whisks the reader off to the cliffs of Cornwall in England to a village called Tintagel. 

Rochelle Reid, also known as Rocky, leaves London for a few days to visit her friend, Clive, on a movie set. Clive, also a former M15 agent, has a small part in the movie about King Arthur and the legends surrounding him. Clive will be Merlin, with few lines, merely a scowl which he can do quite well. 

Clive's son, Harry, drives Rochelle to Tintagel where they find many of the hotels and other buildings are fashioned after parts of the Arthurian legend. They are looking forward to watching Clive's part being filmed outdoors, even though it is February and cold.

Death seems to follow Rochelle wherever she goes, and this trip proves no different. The director of the film is found dead at the bottom of a long stairway leading from the cliffs to the beach below. An accidental fall? Or murder? Rochelle had promised her steady boyfriend, Jon, that she wouldn't get involved in anything on this trip other than watching a movie being made. 

But being the woman she is, Rocky feels compelled to watch the cast and crew, as her suspicions grow. Getting more deeply involved almost costs her life before the murder is solved. 

Once again, Ms. Hamlett gives a true sense of place, fills her story with intriguing characters, some we've met in the previous books in this series, and keeps the reader engaged while trying to figure out the mystery. In addition, she highlights many of the meals Rocky and her friends have in the hotels and restaurants, so if you're a foodie, this is one more reason to read the book.

Cozy mysteries like this do not deal in violence, or cursing, or explicit sex. The reader never witnesses the actual death in the story. 

With each of the books in this series, I feel as though I've been on an overseas trip myself, so they are perfect for the armchair traveler. Each book can stand alone, but you can check out the earlier books in the series at Amazon or Barnes & Noble, as well.

Book 1:  A Little Larceny in Lynmouth

Book 2:  A Little Scandal in St. Andrews

Book 3:  A Little Drama in Dunster

'Book 4:  A Little Poison in Paisley

Book 5:  A Little Tumble in Tintagel


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