No Clue at the Inn (Pennyfoot Hotel Mysteries Book 13)

Let's go back a few years in time. It's 2003. Mother Teresa is beatified, Europe has a heat wave, the United States goes to war, and Kate Kingsbury decides to put the band back together. I mean, the cast. Specifically, the cast of her charming and well-received Pennyfoot Hotel books, a series of mysteries set in Edwardian England and furnished like a much-loved house with interesting and lively characters.Now let's go further back. It's 1912. Cecily Sinclair Baxter and her husband Hugh sold the Pennyfoot to a cousin three years ago, but Cecily's hankering to go home. A letter from said cousin provides the perfect excuse: he asks her to manage the Pennyfoot during the Christmas season while he's away. Naturally, once Cecily and Baxter arrive back in the sleepy little village of Badgers End, they find themselves dealing with a murder at the Pennyfoot. The last one, of course, happened right before they left three years ago. Poor Cecily. One wants to tell her that correlation does not equal causation, but it'd be a hard sell.No matter. The game's afoot. Our heroine is once more in pursuit of a killer, putting herself in danger while she cleverly pieces together some very unlikely clues. It's been three years since the last murder, but for Cecily, sleuthing is like riding a bicycle: you never forget, once you've learned how. And everything builds up to a roaring climax.Obviously I enjoyed the original series tremendously. I have a few reservations about the first sequel (which has been followed by a new Pennyfoot Christmas book every year). Other reviewers have accurately pointed out how obnoxious Baxter's character became; he was one of my favorite characters in the original series, but unfortunately he is my least favorite of them all during the sequel, and makes some passages downright painful to read. It seems to take Cecily's character a while to find her footing as well, but once she does, she's back in fine form, and it's good fun to follow along with her. And longtime fans can greet with unalloyed pleasure the return of secondary characters like Colonel Fortescue, his wife Phoebe, Mrs. Chubb, Dr. Prestwick, and, of course Gertie Brown McBride, who has always been Cecily's best and cleverest foil (playing the "Downstairs" to Cecily's "Upstairs").The strength of the Pennyfoot series has always lain in its characters, and that shows. In fact, the novel contorts in some unlikely ways in an effort to get everyone to reunite nice and tidy, clearly setting the stage for the next Christmas book. The ending strains the reader's credulity, but who cares? Tickets to reunion tours always cost a mint. Welcome back to the Pennyfoot.

I read this series a long time ago and recently started to reread them I always hated how this story ended- it sets up the situation for the subsequent books, but it’s very painful to watch Cecily push Baxter into a situation that strains their marriage , and ends badly. If like me you were put off by this story, I’ll say that the later Christmas specials are some of my favorite in the series.

5 stars on the Christmas tree. I was joyyfully taken to old England for too short a time. A trip to the Pennyfoot is is an escape I always treasure and being with old friends a joy.

I had to admit, I wasn't excited starting this mystery but she developed her story quite nicely and now will continue to read her series. It is not placed in current time period but is fun to reminisce . Like the location for the stories.

Having read all of the Pennyfoot mysteries, I was happy to discover this addition to the series. The series, much like the "Mrs. Jefferies" books, is both a series of stand alone murder mysteries and an elongated novel, featuring characters whose lives and times provide a background for the mysteries. The growth of the characters and their relationships is almost as entertaining as the mysteries. This book is a fitting addition to an excellent series. Thank you Ms. Kingsbury.

The book arrived promptly and in good condition. The story in the series is very enjoyable. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.

I liked the authors' writing style. Conclusion surprised me.

Loved the characters.

I really do enjoy Kate's Pennyfoot Hotel mysteries..However this one nearly put me off. Reason, I thought we were going to lose the wonderful characters, Mrs.Chubb, Gertie, even the old colonel Fortescue. Not to be, they are all back. Five star material and recommended to all Kindle readers.

very good book as all Pennyfoot books are, l cannot get enough of them

i like this author

A marvlous mystery to read full of intrigues a great book for all lovers of very good mysteries highly recommended to everyone.

relaxing read. A good addition to the rest of the series.