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theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
3.0
Maggie Dove’s Detective Agency by Susan Breen is the second book in the Maggie Dove series. Maggie Dove is a Sunday school teacher turned detective in Darby, New York. Maggie is learning to be a detective by watching Detective Grudge videos with Helen Blake’s son, Edgar. Helen is the third partner in the detective agency along with Agnes (the financial backer). One day Racine Stern (from the wealthiest family in town) comes into the agency and asks Maggie to convince her sister, Domino (and her rock star husband, Lucifer) to not come home for a visit. Racine will give Maggie $1,000 to complete the task. Maggie turns down the offer much to Agnes’ dismay. Domino arrives in town and Racine is not seen for two weeks. Maggie goes to check on her, and Racine admits that Domino tried to killer her. Racine fears for her life as well as that of her mother, Madame Simone. Domino wants money (of course) and she refuses to leave until she gets it. Racine wants Maggie to convince Domino to leave town (and is willing to pay a large sum of money). Soon Racine starts acting strangely, and Maggie does not know what Domino has done to her. Then Maggie hears that a big Halloween party is being thrown at the Stern mansion (the home no one else in town has ever been allowed in). During the party Domino calls everyone’s attention to her at the top of the tower. Then the guests see Domino plunging to her death. Racine was near Domino before she fell (Domino pulled her up there). Was it an accident or did Racine push her? Maggie has her first real case. She needs to find out what happened to Domino (because the town has decided that Racine is guilty). Did a person push Domino to her death or was it something far more sinister?
Maggie Dove’s Detective Agency is a Christian cozy mystery. The story is basically about good versus evil. I found the book to have a slow pace, unoriginal mystery and uninteresting (and unlikeable) characters. Racine and her mother are rude (I would not want to help either of them) and Agnes comes across as bipolar with her mood swings. Maggie is not a warm main character. The loss of her daughter has kept her from enjoying life for the last twenty years. I had a hard time finishing this story. Maggie Dove’s Detective Agency is a book of normal length, but it felt like it went on forever (and I just wanted it to end). While Maggie Dove’s Detective Agency is the second book in the series, it can be read alone (we are given the needed information from the first novel and on the main characters). I did find information repeated in the book especially about Maggie’s deceased daughter, Juliet (who died twenty years prior), Maggie’s profession as a Sunday school teacher and her age. I give Maggie Dove’s Detective Agency 2.5 out of 5 stars (just not for me). I think Maggie became a detective just to play with all the spy toys she finds in catalogs and online (purchasing with Agnes’ money). The first book in the series is Maggie Dove: A Mystery.
Maggie Dove’s Detective Agency is a Christian cozy mystery. The story is basically about good versus evil. I found the book to have a slow pace, unoriginal mystery and uninteresting (and unlikeable) characters. Racine and her mother are rude (I would not want to help either of them) and Agnes comes across as bipolar with her mood swings. Maggie is not a warm main character. The loss of her daughter has kept her from enjoying life for the last twenty years. I had a hard time finishing this story. Maggie Dove’s Detective Agency is a book of normal length, but it felt like it went on forever (and I just wanted it to end). While Maggie Dove’s Detective Agency is the second book in the series, it can be read alone (we are given the needed information from the first novel and on the main characters). I did find information repeated in the book especially about Maggie’s deceased daughter, Juliet (who died twenty years prior), Maggie’s profession as a Sunday school teacher and her age. I give Maggie Dove’s Detective Agency 2.5 out of 5 stars (just not for me). I think Maggie became a detective just to play with all the spy toys she finds in catalogs and online (purchasing with Agnes’ money). The first book in the series is Maggie Dove: A Mystery.
lunaeclipse's review
1.0
*I did not finish* I couldn't quite get into any of the characters in this book. I disliked all of them and found the premise of the story to be unbelievable. A detective being hired to call someone and tell them not to come home? Still I persisted on, making it to 16%, when I started to feel that this was going to be more about Christianity then I wanted to read.
hugbandit7's review
4.0
This is the second book in the series and I thought there was a great bit of improvement over the first book. The first book was good but seemed to drag on for me, but this book rolled right along and kept me interested in the story and trying to figure out was Domino murdered, did she commit suicide or was it an accident. While I wasn't surprised at the ending, I did not expect the end result.
There are some interesting characters and I'm not sure about Agnes who is bankrolling the new detective agency. She is all over the board with her emotions and it can be very tiring at times. Hopefully she will settle down in future books.
I liked that we learned more about Helen's past since Maggie just wants to help her where she can when it comes to Helen's son, Edgar. He is 6 and a bit rambunctious and I'm surprised there hasn't been any move to try and get him to be more calm or at least not head butt Maggie in the stomach. Maggie sure does put up with a lot from him but since she is alone, I imagine she loves being looked on as a grandmotherly type for Edgar.
Overall a good book and I'll be interested to see how this detective agency continues in the future.
There are some interesting characters and I'm not sure about Agnes who is bankrolling the new detective agency. She is all over the board with her emotions and it can be very tiring at times. Hopefully she will settle down in future books.
I liked that we learned more about Helen's past since Maggie just wants to help her where she can when it comes to Helen's son, Edgar. He is 6 and a bit rambunctious and I'm surprised there hasn't been any move to try and get him to be more calm or at least not head butt Maggie in the stomach. Maggie sure does put up with a lot from him but since she is alone, I imagine she loves being looked on as a grandmotherly type for Edgar.
Overall a good book and I'll be interested to see how this detective agency continues in the future.
mommamel11's review
3.0
I received a free galley copy of this book from netgalley.
I did not realize this was the second book in a series but I had no trouble understanding the characters and the plot. Maggie Dove is an older lady who has started a detective agency with two friends. The famous daughter of one of the town's leading families dies under mysterious circumstances and Maggie investigates. Part of the plot involves witchcraft, which is very new to Maggie, who is one of the town's Sunday School teachers.
I have read some reviews commenting on Maggie's religiousness. I do not think it is overpowering. It is just another part of her personality like her sweet tooth, her open mindedness and her the way she pushes herself to do things not in her comfort zone.
I enjoyed this book. It is indeed cozy and light and I look forward to reading more about Maggie and her community.
I did not realize this was the second book in a series but I had no trouble understanding the characters and the plot. Maggie Dove is an older lady who has started a detective agency with two friends. The famous daughter of one of the town's leading families dies under mysterious circumstances and Maggie investigates. Part of the plot involves witchcraft, which is very new to Maggie, who is one of the town's Sunday School teachers.
I have read some reviews commenting on Maggie's religiousness. I do not think it is overpowering. It is just another part of her personality like her sweet tooth, her open mindedness and her the way she pushes herself to do things not in her comfort zone.
I enjoyed this book. It is indeed cozy and light and I look forward to reading more about Maggie and her community.
mpr2000's review
3.0
With humour and maybe too much religion, Susan Breen has created Maggie Dove, a curious detective that has the most outlandish cases you could find!
This is the second book of the Maggie Dove cases, where she has to investigate a woman who jumped through the window that had a tarantula as a pet, scary don't you think?
It was quite curious how the main character, who is Christian, learns about the Wiccan religion and explains to the reader some of their traditions and ceremonies. I have to say that the Wiccan religion has always been a mystery to me, I don't know anyone who practices it and I've learn it about it just in movies and books; it always makes a book more interesting and appealing if you learn something new!
The case is quite curious, so if you are searching for a mystery full of witches and spells, this is your book!
This is the second book of the Maggie Dove cases, where she has to investigate a woman who jumped through the window that had a tarantula as a pet, scary don't you think?
It was quite curious how the main character, who is Christian, learns about the Wiccan religion and explains to the reader some of their traditions and ceremonies. I have to say that the Wiccan religion has always been a mystery to me, I don't know anyone who practices it and I've learn it about it just in movies and books; it always makes a book more interesting and appealing if you learn something new!
The case is quite curious, so if you are searching for a mystery full of witches and spells, this is your book!
judyward's review
3.0
When a Sunday School teacher becomes a partner in a new all-female detective agency in a small town outside New York City things are bound to be interesting.
mcbeezie's review
3.0
This was a quick read and the 2nd in the Maggie Dove series. I struggled with Maggie's struggle with witches. It seemed a bit forced in spots. I loved how she was getting more independent and really taking ownership of being a detective. Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review.
shai3d's review
As Susan Breen’s compelling cozy mystery series continues, Maggie Dove’s budding detective agency has given her a new lease on life. Only one thing stands in the way of success: her clients—or lack of them.
After catching the killer who shook her small Hudson River town, former Sunday School teacher Maggie Dove stumbled onto an exciting new career and found a way to take her mind off her own tragic past. Now, despite her best efforts to promote the agency, Maggie can’t seem to land any new cases—until Racine Stern, one of the village’s wealthiest residents, offers her a thousand dollars to convince her “evil” sister, Domino, to stay out of town.
While Maggie’s business partner thinks she’s crazy for turning down a potential client, she doesn’t want her agency to get a reputation for accommodating bizarre requests. However, Maggie is soon caught up in the family drama anyway. Racine may fear for her life—and her inheritance—but it’s Domino who takes the fall when she plunges to her death from a tower at Stern Manor. Was it an accident or something more sinister? Maggie’s investigation will test her faith—and her ability to survive.
* * * * *
I have never been a huge fan of cozy mysteries but I do have to say that Maggie Dove has gone a long way towards me changing my tune. I really enjoy the character and the escapades that she manages to get herself into.
Maggie is a Sunday School teacher and her faith definitely supports her in all that she does but what really impressed me was the fact that she didn't immediately jump to the conclusion that everyone that practices Wicca is evil. She is also taking her new job as an investigator seriously even though her client can't seem to make up her mind as to whether Maggie is hired or fired.
We also get to revisit the town characters that we met in Maggie Dove. I found that MAGGIE DOVE'S DETECTIVE AGENCY was a great way to while away a rainy afternoon and I do recommend it to my readers. It doesn't seem to lean as heavily on the Christian Mythos as the first book which is another plus in my eyes.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
After catching the killer who shook her small Hudson River town, former Sunday School teacher Maggie Dove stumbled onto an exciting new career and found a way to take her mind off her own tragic past. Now, despite her best efforts to promote the agency, Maggie can’t seem to land any new cases—until Racine Stern, one of the village’s wealthiest residents, offers her a thousand dollars to convince her “evil” sister, Domino, to stay out of town.
While Maggie’s business partner thinks she’s crazy for turning down a potential client, she doesn’t want her agency to get a reputation for accommodating bizarre requests. However, Maggie is soon caught up in the family drama anyway. Racine may fear for her life—and her inheritance—but it’s Domino who takes the fall when she plunges to her death from a tower at Stern Manor. Was it an accident or something more sinister? Maggie’s investigation will test her faith—and her ability to survive.
* * * * *
I have never been a huge fan of cozy mysteries but I do have to say that Maggie Dove has gone a long way towards me changing my tune. I really enjoy the character and the escapades that she manages to get herself into.
Maggie is a Sunday School teacher and her faith definitely supports her in all that she does but what really impressed me was the fact that she didn't immediately jump to the conclusion that everyone that practices Wicca is evil. She is also taking her new job as an investigator seriously even though her client can't seem to make up her mind as to whether Maggie is hired or fired.
We also get to revisit the town characters that we met in Maggie Dove. I found that MAGGIE DOVE'S DETECTIVE AGENCY was a great way to while away a rainy afternoon and I do recommend it to my readers. It doesn't seem to lean as heavily on the Christian Mythos as the first book which is another plus in my eyes.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
longtimereader's review
5.0
YEAH! Book #2 in this series! I'm a happy camper. Maggie has opened an agency. Awesome! After all, her life had some major upheaval in the last book. Things would have been easier, had the very wealthy Racine Stern not decided she wants her sister gone. She is sure her sister is out to cause her harm. From there the "race" is on. Is Domino really this evil? How does Racine have such an evil sister?
My copy came from Net Galley. My review is here because I wanted it to be here. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
My copy came from Net Galley. My review is here because I wanted it to be here. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
kc1005us's review
2.0
I received a digital copy of "Maggie Dove's Detective Agency" from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Not having read the first book in the series, I believe that this can hold it's own as a stand-alone. Maggie Dove is a widow, who has opened a Detective Agency. There are hints as to what happened in book one leading up to this.
The book has twists & turns as Maggie & her partner's try to solve the crime. Witches/wicchan references are made(for those that it may offend). I wasn't as captivated by the characters, & her partner is obnoxious (in my opinion). The murderer was found & the story ended well.
Not a gripping "must read/can't put down", but an okay story.
Not having read the first book in the series, I believe that this can hold it's own as a stand-alone. Maggie Dove is a widow, who has opened a Detective Agency. There are hints as to what happened in book one leading up to this.
The book has twists & turns as Maggie & her partner's try to solve the crime. Witches/wicchan references are made(for those that it may offend). I wasn't as captivated by the characters, & her partner is obnoxious (in my opinion). The murderer was found & the story ended well.
Not a gripping "must read/can't put down", but an okay story.
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