4.4 Stars Out Of 5
4.4 out of 5
(21)
(16)
(0)
(2)
(0)
Quality:
4.6 out Of 5
(4.6 out of 5)
Value:
4.5 out Of 5
(4.5 out of 5)
Meets Expectations:
4.5 out Of 5
(4.5 out of 5)
100%
of customers would recommend this product to a friend.
SORT BY:
SEE:
Displaying items 11-15 of 39
  1. Heart2Heart
    Victorville, CA
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    All the perfect elements for a murder mystery!
    August 8, 2013
    Heart2Heart
    Victorville, CA
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    For those mystery fans of such notable authors like Agatha Christie or even the famed Sherlock Holmes, you will absolutely adore Julianna Deering's latest Drew Farthering Series, beginning with Rules of Murder. In this enchanting novel we take a look back at Farthering Place, a well-to-do estate set in the early 1930's. Drew Farthering and his friend Nick have arrived home in the late evening only to find out that their rooms have been given to guests staying with the family over the long weekend.

    When Drew learns that the guest residing in his room is none other than David Lincoln, the same man who reportedly rumors in town have speculated that his mother, Constance was having an affair with. He rushes to the bedroom and drags the poor man out of bed, much to the shock of not only Mr. Lincoln but also to his mother and his step father, Mason Parker, who reminds Drew that he doesn't believe those rumors are even true. Fortunately for Drew, Mr. Lincoln agrees to follow the butler, Dennison to another guest room for the remainder of his stay.

    Drew spends the weekend getting more than he ever bargained for when he finds himself attracted to a group of three American girls who are also staying at the family home. Madeline Parker is the niece of his step father Mason and soon it is apparent that both of them are attracted to one another. When he arrives to save Madeline from the not so gentlemanly advances from Mr. Lincoln, he offers to take her for a stroll in the garden to wait for the firework display to begin. A sudden rainstorm catches them of guard and they find shelter in the greenhouse, where the search for something to keep them warm til the rain lets up. It is there that the body count begins when they uncover Mr. Lincoln's body under some coats.

    It sets the stage for an investigation into the cause and effects of why someone is apparently murdered the guests staying at the Farthering estate and it will also reveal that everyone seems to have a motive for the bodies that keep showing up in the most unexpected places. Even Drew and Madeline apparently also suspects while the investigation begins into not only who the murderer or murderers are but also for what reason. The twists and turns lead on a simply wild goose chase and just when you think you have this one figured out, you wind up in a dead end. That to me, makes the perfect novel for a great murder mystery along with a bit of suspense and a touch of romance for good measure. Fans of historical murder mysteries will definitely love this one that takes place in London!

    I received Rules of Murder by Julianna Deering compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I did not received any monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is the first novel in the Drew Farthering Mystery series and I think that Julianna Deering did an exceptional job at both keeping the setting of the book and it's characters in perfect sync so much that you simply forgot you were reading a book and not really living it. For me, that is the hallmark of an exceptional murder mystery and thus the reason for a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. I can't wait to see where this series will be headed next and I was completely caught off guard with my own investigation into this series of murders.
  2. KavR
    Canada
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    August 6, 2013
    KavR
    Canada
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This book has so many winning elements I don't know where to start. It's campy and quirky and mysterious and poignant and funny. Oh, and definitely page-turning.

    From the cover art to the author's word choice, Rules of Murder plunks the reader into a captivating time period in the English countryside. Loved Drew's blasé attitude regarding1930's aristocracy. He's definitely willing to ignore protocol and enjoys stirring things up among the upper class. His self-deprecating attitude and droll humour suit the time period to a T. On the other hand, the way he falls for Madeline -- talk about love at first sight -- softens his edges and brings a depth of vulnerability to the character that I loved.

    Madeline is bold and sweet and totally captivating -- a woman with a head on her shoulders and more than equal to standing up to Drew when he starts to become overbearing. Her Yank is a great foil to his Brit and they have some of the snappiest, tongue-in-cheek dialogue I've read in a long time.

    And then there's the mystery -- a murder with a complicated list of possible suspects, all with convoluted pasts and a number of sinister motives. Enough to leave this armchair sleuth swooning. BUT -- I did figure out part of the mystery though I will admit to latching on to a few red herrings along the way. :-)

    Think Murder She Wrote with a debonair hero and lots of romance. This is a definite must read for mystery lovers.

    "Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".
  3. Mixed Nutts
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    I have a new hero.
    August 4, 2013
    Mixed Nutts
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Wealthy, bored, mystery-reading aristocrat Drew Farthering is the hero of Julianna Deering's novel, Rules of Murder, published by Bethany House Publishers. Drew has everything a girl could want - good looks, charming personality, intelligence, a lukewarm understanding of God, dead bodies all over his property - oh, wait. I guess those last two are a little off-putting. But not to worry. Before too long, the inquisitive Drew puts his armchair detective skills to work, joins forces with Madeline, the lovely, devout American niece of his step-father, and get to not only the bottom of the murders, but also the center of Madeline's heart and his own faith in Christ.

    Julianna Deering has crafted an incredibly mystery novel. I am usually very critical of cozy mysteries. Too often, the solution to the mystery is so far afield, the reader has no chance to solve it herself. On the other hand, some are simply romance novels with a crime involved. Ms. Deering falls into neither of these traps. Not only is there the romance between the dashing Drew and magnificent Madline, but the mystery unwraps perfectly. When the responsible party(ies) (wouldn't want to give anything away!) are finally revealed, the reader slaps her head and says, "Yes! It was so obvious!" But it really wasn't until the reveal - the clues were there, but not blatant. This is the perfect response to a well-written mystery.

    I definitely give 5 full stars to Rules of Murder by Julianna Deering, as well as my {ahem} coveted Enraptured Award. That's right. I read the book straight-through, without even one peek in the back.

    Oh, did I mention the proposal scene? {Swoon}

    Disclaimer: I received Rules of Murder from Bethany House Publishers, via Net Galley, in return for an honest review. My thoughts are my own.
  4. Cara Putman
    Indiana
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Fantastic Classic Mystery with a British Accent
    July 27, 2013
    Cara Putman
    Indiana
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    The first Drew Farthering book has me longing for the next...immediately. I am a huge fan of classic black & white murder mysteries like the Thin Man series of movies. This book made me think of those, only with the British accent of a Maisie Dobbs mystery. I ADORED it. And I don't state that lightly.

    Drew Farthering is a British playboy in search of a purpose. The purpose flops in his lap as two people are murdered at his country estate on one night. As he investigates he gets help from his sidekick Nick and an American gal who has come to visit her uncle, his stepfather. There's corporate espionage, murder, mayhem, and an attempt to break all ten of the rules for not solving a murder. I loved the romance -- the interplay between Drew and Madeline was wonderful if occasionally over the top as the last murder unfolds.

    This book gets five solid stars from me. Bring on the next Drew Farthering mystery. The sooner the better!
  5. Kittymom
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A delightful mystery!
    July 27, 2013
    Kittymom
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    I enjoy the occasional Agatha Christie book, and Dorothy Sayers ranks among my favorite authors, so Ms. Deering faced a tough task in winning my approval with her new period mystery series.

    Opening the novel, one skeptical brow raised, I read the opening page . . . and was utterly delighted to read a well written description in omniscient POV, a beautiful paragraph that took me straight into 1930's England!

    This is the author's first attempt at the mystery genre, and I think she handled it rather well. I still had one or two questions when I closed the book, but I have an inkling these will be cleared up in subsequent novels. Drew Fathering is not Sir Peter Wimsey--he is a character in his own right, a much younger man, and quite appealing. Neither he nor Madeline, the American heroine, are deeply drawn characters, yet they fill their roles admirably, as do the secondary characters (victims and survivors). Drew Farthering's questions about religion and purpose are lightly handled, suiting the style of the novel. I look forward to following these characters and watching them deepen and mature as the series progresses.

    I was given a copy of this book by the publisher, but I was in no way obliged to write a positive review.
Displaying items 11-15 of 39