I’m so pleased to be part of the blog tour for Death Comes to Santa Fe by Amanda McCabe. Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and the author for my gifted ebook to write my honest review.
Former New York darling turned amateur sleuth Madeline Vaughn-Alwin is once again thrown into a colourful yet deadly web of secrets, lies and soirees to die for!
It’s the week of Fiesta in Santa Fe and Maddie is looking forward to enjoying the celebrations. But as ‘Old Man Gloom’ Zozobra goes up in flames, so too do Maddie’s hopes for a carefree life . . . Human remains are found in the dying embers of Zozobra, and then Maddie and her dashing beau Dr David Cole find a body washed up in the arroyo at the edge of town.
Soon identified as Ricardo Montoya, a wealthy businessman and head of one of the most affluent families in Santa Fe . . . the plot starts to thicken. While his beautiful wife Catalina and her complicated children seem less than heartbroken at his untimely demise, and with many disgruntled locals crawling out of the woodwork, Maddie is surrounded by suspects.
With the celebrations of Fiesta continuing around them, Maddie and her ‘Detection Posse’ get busy infiltrating the best parties and hobnobbing with old and new faces – but can they bring the murderer to justice before they strike again?
The third book in a series, and the first I have had the pleasure of reading. Luckily, it reads well as a standalone. What I missed was not knowing the characters as much as I would if I had read the previous two. It didn’t take much away from the story. it’s just my personal preference. I still enjoyed this mystery.
Set in the 1920s in Santa Fe, Amanda Allen creates a vivid and strong sense of place in her descriptions of the setting. The richness of the culture and history added so much without detracting from the mystery. If I hadn’t already been transported to the 1920s, the vibrancy of the artist community would have made sure I did.
I warmed to Maddie straight away. She is a character who made me want to go back and read the two other books. I wanted to know how she ended up in Santa Fe. This is where I have to say that reading a series in order is always the best way! She seems happy in Santa Fe now with her beau, David. She is a woman who is determined, and when a murder is discovered, she is at the centre of the investigation. I loved her circle of friends and the community around her. Gunther, her neighbour, certainly brought a smile to my face.
It was a historical cosy mystery that swept me back to the 1920s. I found it a captivating read and read it far too quickly for my own liking. I am quite glad I have two books to read in this series still!
Purchase Links
Amazon.co.uk
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Comes-Santa-Revival-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BXPZ9C8P
Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Death-Comes-Santa-Revival-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BXPZ9C8P
Author Bio
Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen–a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject…)
She’s never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in Santa Fe with two rescue dogs, a wonderful husband, and a very and far too many books and royal memorabilia collections.
When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network–even though she doesn’t cook.
Social Media Links
https://ammandamccabe.kmcb.site/index.htm
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/amandamccabeauthor/
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