The Angel and the Jabberwocky Murders: An Augusta Goodnight Mystery (with Heavenly Recipes) (Augusta Goodnight Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Mignon F. Ballard (Author)

Book Description

Series: Augusta Goodnight Mysteries | Publication Date: November 28, 2006

Augusta Goodnight, heavenly sleuth and guardian angel, is a welcome boarder with longtime resident Lucy Nan Pilgrim in the seemingly tranquil town of Stone's Throw, South Carolina. And Augusta's divine intervention is needed now more than ever. The local college is the kind of safe place where students don't even lock their doors. At least it used to be, until girls started mysteriously disappearing.



            When the body of another student, D. C. Hunter, is found in a shed by the lake, Lucy and Augusta must race to figure out if her murder is connected to the deaths of two other girls. Should Augusta focus on the English professor who was having an affair with D.C.? Or on the seemingly cheerful caretaker who happened to discover two of the bodies? And what is the meaning of the "Jabberwocky" clues that keep turning up around campus?



            It will take some heavenly help---and a little home cooking---to restore the peace of the town. 

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At the start of Ballard's delightful sixth cozy (after 2005's Too Late for Angels), Lucy Nan Pilgrim is teaching a "living history" course at the local women's college in Stone's Throw, S.C., when one of the coeds disappears. While on an outing with her students, Lucy Nan finds the corpse of the missing girl. She later learns that over the past decade, other students have died under strange circumstances, each victim the recipient of a letter quoting Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass. The murder of the school's handyman, Londus Clack, complicates the case even further, but Lucy Nan, with the help of Augusta Goodnight, her guardian angel, roots out the snake in the garden. As always, Ballard writes with warmth and sincerity, infusing her characters and setting with considerable charm. (Dec.)
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Review

"Mignon Ballard creates an entrancing world suffused with cozy Southern charm, female friendships, and intrigue. . . . But the best is the strawberry-scented guardian angel Augusta, who adds a touch of wisdom and wit---not to mention killer desserts---to this absolutely delightful story."
--- Sarah Strohmeyer, author of The Cinderella Pact
 
"Ballard's warmth and compassion for her characters makes this series a must for readers who like their mysteries on the cozy side."
---Publishers Weekly
 
"Ballard's inspiring series . . . deserves a golden halo."
---Carolyn Hart, author of the Death on Demand Mysteries
 
"The graceful language and endearing characters in this series are both delicate and sturdy, like old cotton lace."
---Booklist
 
"Augusta has got to be one of the cleverest and wittiest angels ever to grace a cozy mystery."
---Baldwin City Ledger

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (November 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312354193
• ISBN-13: 978-0312354190
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,107,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best so far, August 6, 2008

By 

W. Skidmore (Charlotte, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Angel and the Jabberwocky Murders: An Augusta Goodnight Mystery (with Heavenly Recipes) (Augusta Goodnight Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I've been a reader of Mignon Ballard's books since the beginning. I don't throw out 5 Stars to anything, easily. But in my opinion this is absolutely her best book. It's certainly right up there with my other favorites of hers, 'Raven Rock' and 'Angel at Troublesome Creek'. Those two novels (to me) absolutely captured the atmosphere of a small town caught up in mysterious events, and the characters were so well drawn that I could've been watching them in a movie. This book captures the same things, only the mystery plot is even better, a real puzzler. I was absolutely spellbound and amazed as I watched the plot unfold, and slowly the answers to the mystery became clear. I've read a LOT of mysteries in my day, and this one had one of the best plots I've ever encountered. I like the Angel in the series, and thankfully, she is not portrayed with any silliness (as would be the case in many cozies). She seems to exude a calmness and confidence that envelopes her charge, and the reader. This novel had more of an edge, and a feeling of real fear, than some of the other Ballard novels, and I liked that...it itensified the mystery. The identification of the culprit at the very end, though not a complete surprise to me, was nonetheless, an exciting and fun climax. The next Angel mystery is coming in November, and I'm looking forward to it...the title alone is enough to make you want to read it !

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Angel and the Jabberwocky Murders, November 12, 2007

By 

Gayle Surrette "omnivorous reader" (Brandywine, Maryland) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Angel and the Jabberwocky Murders: An Augusta Goodnight Mystery (with Heavenly Recipes) (Augusta Goodnight Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Even living in a small town like Stone's Throw, South Carolina, Lucy Nan Pilgrim can manage to get involved in mayhem and murder. But, luckily she has an angel on her side, Augusta Goodnight. But even Augusta might not be able to keep her from harm as she looks into the death of young woman at Sarah Bedford College.

The Angel and the Jabberwocky Murders starts out quietly. Lucy Nan is going to be teaching a hands-on history class on the skills of the pioneers. The history professor who got assigned is not happy, but Lucy Nan hopes to win her over. At her first class, Lucy Nan learns that one of the girls has disappeared but no one was too worried at the time. When she later turns up dead there are many suspects and no real leads. Lucy Nan is just worried for the girls she knows at the college and the other people she's come to know there.

This is truly a small town community. There's plenty of detail such as the longest running book club, The Thursday Morning Literary Society, called the Thursdays for short, although they actually meet on Monday afternoon now. Everyone is into everyone else's business. Lucy Nan doesn't start off to find a killer. She just wants to make sure the people she knows and cares about are safe, and to do that she checks on them and listens to their talk. A side effect of that is that she learns lots of interesting facts that finally start to come together and she does tell the police and other authority figures -- it's just that they don't seem to listen.

You'd think having an angel living with you would give you a definite advantage in the sleuthing area but while Augusta cooks meals, does crafts, and exercises daily -- she's not the type to step in and solve things for Lucy Nan. Angels are for moral support and company, not solving your problems.

There's a large cast of characters, but you don't have to have read all the other books in the series to enjoy this one. Also, there are some recipes included in the book. I actually made the Orange Cranberry Scones for Thanksgiving brunch and they were easy to make and came out light and tasty -- so if you don't care for the book you'll at least have some great recipes to try out -- there is just no down side to this book.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good - Not her best!, December 2, 2006

By 

Sandy Rhoad "Insatiable reader" (Branchville, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Angel and the Jabberwocky Murders: An Augusta Goodnight Mystery (with Heavenly Recipes) (Augusta Goodnight Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I live in South Carolina and like to read stories regarding the area from writers who live here. I've been reading Mignon Ballard for years and like the concept of her Augusta Goodnight mysteries. There are six books in this series. The first three heavily involve the angel (Augusta) and are so enjoyable. Her last three don't rely on the angel as much and I have been disappointed. I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading this series because her writing is easy and fun but I think you will agree that Augusta Goodnight IS the story and you miss her in the last of the books.