Reviews

The Clue is in the Pudding by Kate Kingsbury

nabenn67's review against another edition

3.0

Enjoyment of story a 3, but character development is a 1. Okay, not all characters, but let me rant about Gertie's twins. Don't they age? Are they like Benjamin Button (aging in reverse)? If you have a series that only gets told once a year, then you have to keep your timelines straight. You know the saying "they grow up so fast" -- except for Gertie's twins. Once you hit adulthood changes occur more gradually, but kids change a lot year to year, so it is very noticeable that after 19 books (in the entire Pennyfoot storyline, not just the Christmas ones), that the kids would no longer need a nanny, would be at least teenagers, and would start developing their own relationships instead of clinging to Mr. Clive like a 5 year-old.

Okay; rant over. Ignoring my obvious displeasure about the twins age, as usual I enjoyed following the continuation of life for the people we have grown to love. I guess that's why I just can't get past the twins never developing. Sorry. Rant really is over now.

cj_mo_2222's review against another edition

4.0

Another nice holiday tale set at the Pennyfoot Hotel. The main mystery being looked into by Cecily Baxter is okay, but the sub-plots about the maids Pansy and Gertie and the things going on in their lives that could make this a very special Christmas for each of them is what makes this story. Gertie provides several clues to Cecily and I hope she plays an even larger role in future books in this charming series.

nonna7's review against another edition

3.0

As I was leaving the library a couple of weeks ago, I saw this book with a display of Christmas themed books. I had just read Mulled Murder and really liked it. I've read a few others in the series, but missed this one from last year. They are a quick read with a predictable ending, but with a few surprises. The Pennyfoot's housekeeper, Mrs. Chubb, is called away when her daughter becomes ill. Cecily hires a temporary worker who is very disagreeable. Then one of the guests, an actor, is found dead in his room. It is, of course, murder. Then the fun begins..... This is a pre-WWI series with an interesting cast of characters. The author ended the series with Mulled Murder. I haven't read them all, but will probably get around to reading some of the older ones next year. For me, this is a series that doesn't disappoint.

beckmank's review

2.0

I don't know, the mystery on these keeps going downhill. There wasn't much to this book. Cecily didn't do much sleuthing, in my opinion. It was more about what Gertie and Pansy (the Pennyfoot maids) are up to. Which was fine, I do enjoy the character development. It felt to me by the end that Ms. Kingsbury is possibly close to ending the series for good, the character stories seem to be coming together for a nice happily ever after. My bet is that she'll publish one more next Christmas and that will be it. So read this book for a continuation of the characters, if you're looking for a good mystery, look elsewhere.