A trio of lively sleuths, a delightfully cozy tea parlor, and enough suspects to keep the reader guessing to the end.
--Kate Collins, New York Times bestselling author of the Flower Shop mysteries
"The beauty of In Hot Water by Kate Kingsbury is that readers get to enjoy the multi-generational friendship, problems, and perspectives of three unrelated women as they go about solving this mystery set in touristy Misty Bay, Oregon. Finding a body tossed off a balcony is always fun in a mystery, but I gravitated even more to the in-depth exploration of what it means to be a true friend. The personal problems of these sleuthing women are intriguing and touched this reader’s heart. The surprising overtures the women also made to their enemies won me over, too, and brought depth to the scenes and plot. The author’s obvious compassion for her well-drawn characters hooked me and made this a stellar cozy-mystery novel. Highly recommended author and series."
--Christine DeSmet, author, Fudge Shop Mystery Series, and Distinguished Faculty Associate of writing at University of Wisconsin-Madison
It is Christmastime at the Pennyfoot, a hotel in the English countryside not far from London. Its owner, Cecily Baxter, is enjoying making preparations for a warm and memorable Christmas vacation for her elite guests in this carefree, pre-World War One season. Cecily cares for both her guests and her staff, so when a young and innocent new maid is arrested for murdering one of the guests, she feels compelled to intervene. This is not Cecily’s first foray into the world of detective in the cozy mystery world of rural England. However, it brings her to great personal danger, as her guests are uncooperative, and one of them might even threaten her welfare.
The novel is filled with memorable characters, from the faux French chef to the gambler, the would-be suffragettes, the half-asleep retiree manning the reception desk, and the unconventional wife of the doctor. Most notable is Phoebe Fortescue, whose annual ballet pageant can be expected to result in catastrophe. The lives of both servants and hotel guests are intertwined in this richly evocative presentation of lush Christmas displays against a background of murder, misunderstanding and cold snowy weather.
It’s a cozy mystery wrapped in the warm glow of Christmas at a time when the telephone is still a surprisingly convenient novelty and horse-drawn carriages are preferred to the noise and smell of motor cars. It is a world where elegant gowns are worn to dinner, retired colonels are reliably cantankerous, and your trusty coachman awaits you no matter the time or the temperature. Kingsbury is experienced in evoking a world beloved by mystery writers since Agatha Christie, and in this novel, she presents it vividly for readers of the genre. Christmas and the Phoebe Fortescue pageant are a bonus. --- Historical Novel Society
“The author draws as much from Fawlty Towers as she does from Agatha Christie, crafting a charming…cozy delicately flavored with period details of pre-World War 1 rural England."-- Publisher’s Weekly
"Kingsbury’s books are lighthearted and serious, amusing and well plotted."-- The Salem (OR) Statesmen Journal
“Combines the feel of an Agatha Christie whodunit with a taste of Upstairs, Downstairs...Readers who’ve not read these wonderful mysteries are in for a sweet treat.”—Cozy Library
“Well-drawn characters.”—Publishers Weekly
“Likable characters, period details, and a puzzle that kept me guessing until the end…Very enjoyable.”—Mystery News
"Kingsbury's characters are strongly drawn, and she knows the tensions that underline the calm and soothing surface of an English village." ---The Salem (OR) Statesman Journal
"Sitting Marsh and its array of small-town citizens are realistically and humorously depicted." ---The Mystery Reader
"Clever and cunning...Delightfully unique and entertaining. A most delicious tea-time mystery with just the right atmosphere and a charming cast of characters."---The Literary Times