Mr Donaghue Investigates

by Anna Shone | Mystery & Thrillers |
ISBN: 0373262388 Global Overview for this book
Registered by dancing-dog of Cordova, Tennessee USA on 10/27/2010
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5 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by dancing-dog from Cordova, Tennessee USA on Wednesday, October 27, 2010
from amazon.com:
What do you get when you throw an American movie mogul, his pop-star wife, an Olympic judo champ, a bunch of nuns and an idiosyncratic PI named Ulysses Finnegan Donaghue into a restored 12th-century monastery in Provence? In this case: the colorful cast of this lively debut, set during a spiritual retreat at a monastery restored by the mogul, Thelonius Kapp, and his young wife, the singer Salome. The patrons' needs are tended to by a cadre of nuns who have taken vows of silence. Tranquillity, however, is shattered when Kapp collapses in agony in the chapel. Salome's young beautician is the next to die, and, after a beautiful novice is crushed beneath an ancient wine press, Donaghue joins with a local chief inspector to solve what might be murder, a double suicide or a conspiracy. An intriguing series of interviews sets off a provocative (and sometimes confusing) avalanche of information. Shone's manipulations are sometimes obtrusive, and much of the dialogue is cumbersome, but there's an undeniably charming tone to it all, and the intuitive, Shakespeare-spouting Donaghue is a kick.

Journal Entry 2 by dancing-dog at Cordova, Tennessee USA on Sunday, July 24, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (7/24/2011 UTC) at Cordova, Tennessee USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

sending this in a surprise box of books to another bookcrosser :)

Journal Entry 3 by bookpatch at Lakewood, California USA on Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wow-after reading that synopsis, I'm sure this book will be a hoot! Thanks for sharing.

Journal Entry 4 by bookpatch at Lakewood, California USA on Friday, April 20, 2012
it's hinted in the dedication that author Anna Shone patterned Shakespeare-quoting Ulysses Donaghue after her own father, which I thought was kind of sweet. Shakespearan quotes are not only left to Mr. Donaghue, however. One of the murder victims, with his dying words, leaves a clue with a reference from the Bard—how exceedingly convenient to have Mr. Donaghue around to grasp its significance-! Donaghue also has the advantage, not only of knowing Shakespeare, but of receiving some mystery-solving assistance from two journalists who are portrayed as eager to get the scoop on the death of a celebrity. While useful to Mr. Donaghue, I couldn’t help but think that they seemed far too patient in allowing their front-page story to develop, (rather than calling the editor to Stop the Presses!) given the aggressive reputation of British journalists-! No matter, it's all good fun; they and the rest of the characters were varied and interesting. Some thoughtful detecting is required along the way, and it all culminates in the traditional cozy mystery All-Gather-in-the-Library-Reveal.

In addition, I loved the cloistered setting in France (and was inspired to make my next read Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence because of it). A word about the map in the front of the book--kudos to the publisher for including it, but the Geography major in me says don't take it too literally--it's oddly out of scale and some of the action described doesn't quite match its landscape.

Journal Entry 5 by bookpatch at -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Friday, December 14, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (12/14/2012 UTC) at -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Off to see a little more of the world in Affinity4books' cozy mystery bookbox. Happy Reading!

Journal Entry 6 by affinity4books at Bryan, Texas USA on Tuesday, September 10, 2013
came home in my bookbox
sorry to take so long to journal
thanks for sharing!
will read or pass along to another bookcrosser soon

Journal Entry 7 by wingeponine38wing at Winchester, Massachusetts USA on Friday, November 15, 2013
Taking from affinity4books cozy mystery bookbox (round 3, slightly shrinking :-). Thanks!

Journal Entry 8 by wingeponine38wing at Winchester, Massachusetts USA on Monday, October 5, 2015
I enjoyed this somewhat traditionally-structured mystery, and especially the south of France setting. An interesting assortment of characters as well.
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Reserved for bookstogive's Mystery/Thriller/Suspense bookbox.

Journal Entry 9 by wingeponine38wing at Winchester, Massachusetts USA on Friday, December 4, 2015

Released 8 yrs ago (12/4/2015 UTC) at Winchester, Massachusetts USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to ReallyBookish via bookstogive's Mystery/Thriller/Suspense VBB. I'm so sorry for the delay due to my forgetfulness. :-(

Hope you like it! You've certainly waited long enough to receive it.

Journal Entry 10 by ReallyBookish at Horsham, Pennsylvania USA on Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Received today from eponine38. Thank you very much! :)

Journal Entry 11 by ReallyBookish at Horsham, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, September 12, 2016
A good, solid cozy with a few slight oddities along the way. Most notably, just how many references to vomiting did Shone feel she needed to include? I lost count of them.

Other than that, I thought the writing was quite solid, especially for a debut mystery. The plot is tight and the prose was fairly strong. Around the halfway point, the pace started to bog down a bit for me, but then it picked up again fairly quickly.

All in all, a good read for those in the mood for a traditional English cozy mystery novel.

Journal Entry 12 by ReallyBookish at Horsham, Pennsylvania USA on Saturday, February 11, 2017
Reserving for the Mystery / Thriller VBB.

Description from Amazon:

"Private investigator Ulysses Donaghue's vacation is interrupted by the apparent suicide of a notorious Hollywood film director, followed by the murder of his wife's hairdresser, and Donaghue discovers that a guest at the abbey has a deadly past."

Journal Entry 13 by ReallyBookish at Horsham, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, January 29, 2018
Removing from the Mystery / Thriller VBB and making available.

Journal Entry 14 by ReallyBookish at Giant Food in Horsham, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, February 12, 2018

Released 6 yrs ago (2/12/2018 UTC) at Giant Food in Horsham, Pennsylvania USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

I hope the finder enjoys the book!

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