Helena Halme Author

Nordic Fiction with a hint of Noir and Romance

  • Books
  • Blog
  • Join My Launch Crew
  • New Novel Sneak Peek
  • Contact me
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Google+

Book Beginnings on Fridays – Murder at the Maples by Joanne Phillips

November 22, 2013 by Helena Halme 1 Comment

It’s that time again, a Friday beginnings post!

Today I’m starting to read Murder at the Maples by Joanne Phillips. This a sort of a homage to the end of the highly successful cozy crime TV series Poirot, with the screening of an episode based on Agatha Christie’s last Hercule Poirot novel ‘Curtain’.

I have loved Christie’s books ever since I read them as a teenager, and am totally hooked on the Poirot and Miss Marple TV series and movies. I’ve been known to watch them several times over, to the absolutely exasperation of my family. These days I have to actually be ill in order to be allowed to watch them! They are a cruel lot, my family.

‘Cozy Mysteries’ is also a highly popular genre in fiction, so this week I thought I’d try a book written by a fellow indy writer, Joanne Phillips. Her two previous romance novels have been huge successes, so I know this woman can write.

Murder at the Maples (Flora Lively Mysteries) by Joanne Phillips


Chapter 1


‘Are you sure it’s safe?’ Flora looked out of the window and up the cliff face. The other carriage seemed suspended above them. How on earth had she let Joy talk her into this?

‘Oh, Flora, you’re such a wimp.’ Joy sat back with a smile and patted the bench by her side. ‘Come on, it only lasts a minute.’

So does plummeting to your certain death, thought Flora, but she tucked herself in next to Joy anyway and began a head count of the other passengers.

Visiting the cliff railway at Bridgnorth was a special treat for her friend’s eightieth birthday – Flora’s idea of a fun day out was shopping for vintage clothes or taking to the hills with a backpack. Not risking life and limb for a trip down memory lane. Flora stowed her tote bag between her sandaled feet and began to read the guidebook with determined interest.

‘It was right here,’ Joy said dreamily, ‘where Eddie proposed to me. The fourth of May, nineteen fifty-one. The happiest day of my life.’

I get a definite whiff of Mrs Marple or Poirot from the beginning of this novel. There’s the same kind of gentleness to the story – an eighty-year-old, a memory of a proposal – contrasted with such words as ‘death’ ‘risking life and limb’ and ‘cliff face’ and ‘safe’.  You also get a sense that Flora is both physically fit (possibly younger than her friend?) and an observant kind of woman – she hikes and she’s already taking a headcount of the passengers on the dangerous looking cliff railway.

These first paragraphs of Murder at the Maples have definitely whetted my appetite, and I look forward to seeing what adventures Flora faces in this first of what I firmly believe will become a very successful series of books.

   

You may also like:

Five Best Beach Reads 2020 Default ThumbnailThe Best New Books of 2011 Top Five Books for Easter Holidays Default ThumbnailBook Beginnings on Fridays: House of Silence by Linda Gillard

Comments

  1. Joanne Phillips says

    November 22, 2013 at 1:50 pm

    Thanks so much for featuring Flora Lively – I hope you enjoy it 🙂 Jo x

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Free Story for my Readers Group only!

Read an Exclusive First Chapter

NEW

Find out more

new

View Book

Alliance of Independent Authors /

Free Exclusive Bonus Chapter

looking for the self publishing coach?

Follow me on Instagram

Have you read my military romance, The English Hea Have you read my military romance, The English Heart, which is based on a true story of how I met & fell head over heels with my Englishman? 
🇬🇧⚓️🥰
Finland 1980. A newly qualified navy officer looking for adventure. A student with her life planned out. When they meet sparks fly, but how can they plan a future together when their countries are on the opposing sides of the Cold War?
😰💔📘
The English Heart is now free to download from all the usual ebook stores, but hurry this offer ends 15th of this month. 
Go here to read this “exceptional” novel today 
👉 books2read.com/TheEnglishHeart
(Link also in bio)
Lovely lunch @eat17restaurant with this lot. 
❤️🥰🥗
#familytime #bankholidaymonday #walthamstow #northeastlondon #eastlondon #londonlife
Best oat latte in town. ☕️❤️ #coffeetime Best oat latte in town. ☕️❤️

#coffeetime #coffeeshop #writersofinstagram #sundayvibes #londonlife #takingiteasy
London is in bloom! These are just the roses I spo London is in bloom! These are just the roses I spotted on my way to the shops this morning. 🌹🌺❤️
Load More Follow on Instagram

Follow Me On Facebook

Facebook Pagelike Widget
Alliance of Independent Authors /

writing and publishing tips

Read Exclusive First Chapter

free exclusive bonus chapters

Copyright © 2023 · Author Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in