Estate of Mind

Rating:
Summary: Ouch! Abby's sarcasm has a bite!
Review: This is one of the "Den of Antiquity" series featuring the hilarious Abigail Timberlake as the tiny but powerful owner of an antiques store. It's set in modern-day North Carolina where some of the characters -- and I do mean characters -- are still hoping the South will win the Civil War. Abigail's sarcasm is the real joy here -- sometimes it's pretty acidic. But where Tamar Myers's constant humorous touches abound in this book as in her Pennsylvania Dutch series, some of the funnies here are in-jokes about other mystery series, and if you don't know about them, they fall flat. But who cares, what with the bitingly sarcastic Abby running all over North Carolina doing admittedly stupid things and yet ending up solving a crime. Or did she? Anyway, it got solved. And she and Mama came out OK! I believe the first in the series is "Larceny and Old Lace," but you don't need to read them in order. I never miss one of these! And here's a fun touch: This edition has a little taste of several other mystery writers at the end of the book. It's like a little appetizer for the mystery lover. .

Rating:
Summary: Ouch! Abby's sarcasm has a bite!
Review: This is one of the "Den of Antiquity" series featuring the hilarious Abigail Timberlake as the tiny but powerful owner of an antiques store. It's set in modern-day North Carolina where some of the characters -- and I do mean characters -- are still hoping the South will win the Civil War. Abigail's sarcasm is the real joy here -- sometimes it's pretty acidic. But where Tamar Myers's constant humorous touches abound in this book as in her Pennsylvania Dutch series, some of the funnies here are in-jokes about other mystery series, and if you don't know about them, they fall flat. But who cares, what with the bitingly sarcastic Abby running all over North Carolina doing admittedly stupid things and yet ending up solving a crime. Or did she? Anyway, it got solved. And she and Mama came out OK! I believe the first in the series is "Larceny and Old Lace," but you don't need to read them in order. I never miss one of these! And here's a fun touch: This edition has a little taste of several other mystery writers at the end of the book. It's like a little appetizer for the mystery lover. .

Rating:
Summary: "Estate" is Excellent
Review: When Abby buys a bad painting for the frame at a church auction, she discovers a Van Gogh underneath. Life isn't the same after that in this page-turner. Ms. Myers is in top form, with many new characters thrown into the plot pot, as well as the usual gang of family and friends. Lovable goof C.J. is matched up with a cop by Abby and Greg. As for Abby and Greg themselves - it's hard to tell where they're headed. I feel like shaking Abby and saying, "Wake up! He's a hunk - he loves you! What are you waiting for??" (I get involved.) Congratulations to Ms. Myers for another winner.

Rating:
Summary: "Estate" is Excellent
Review: When Abby buys a bad painting for the frame at a church auction, she discovers a Van Gogh underneath. Life isn't the same after that in this page-turner. Ms. Myers is in top form, with many new characters thrown into the plot pot, as well as the usual gang of family and friends. Lovable goof C.J. is matched up with a cop by Abby and Greg. As for Abby and Greg themselves - it's hard to tell where they're headed. I feel like shaking Abby and saying, "Wake up! He's a hunk - he loves you! What are you waiting for??" (I get involved.) Congratulations to Ms. Myers for another winner.

Rating:
Summary: Wailing and more wailing....
Review: Why do Tamar Myers' characters have to wail? What a whiny, annoying thing to keep writing. It's very distracting, since I have to roll my eyes every time I see it, which is often! Abby lets everyone walk all over her and stands around and wails. I'd have told Mama where to get off a long time ago. Yes, Magdalena Yoder from Myers' other series is mentioned here; a police officer is also named Yoder. Can't she find another name to use? Both Abby and Magdalena are the same character, or should I say caricature? One is huge and Mennonite, the other tiny and Southern Christian. Otherwise, indistiguishable from each other.
All that said, these are easy, quick reads and the stories are pretty fun. They'd get 5 stars if not for the irritating main characters!

Rating:
Summary: Wailing and more wailing....
Review: Why do Tamar Myers' characters have to wail? What a whiny, annoying thing to keep writing. It's very distracting, since I have to roll my eyes every time I see it, which is often! Abby lets everyone walk all over her and stands around and wails. I'd have told Mama where to get off a long time ago. Yes, Magdalena Yoder from Myers' other series is mentioned here; a police officer is also named Yoder. Can't she find another name to use? Both Abby and Magdalena are the same character, or should I say caricature? One is huge and Mennonite, the other tiny and Southern Christian. Otherwise, indistiguishable from each other.
All that said, these are easy, quick reads and the stories are pretty fun. They'd get 5 stars if not for the irritating main characters!