The Angel Whispered Danger : An Augusta Goodnight Mystery [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Mignon Franklin Ballard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2003

When Kate McBride returns to her hometown of Bishop's Bridge, North Carolina, for a family reunion, she expects questions about her husband's conspicuous absence. What she doesn't expect is murder.

Soon after arriving, Kate finds her great uncle's housekeeper, Ella Stegall, badly injured and incoherent, at the bottom of a wooded ravine after an apparent fall from a ledge. But moments before losing consciousness, Ella whispers she was pushed--not surprising, considering that Bramblewood, Uncle Ernest's woodsy estate, is no stranger to murder and intrigue.

Could Ella's accident be connected to Bramblewood's mysterious past, or was her claim just the rambling of a delirious old woman? Poor Ella slips away before leaving more clues to her death.

Now Kate must come to terms with disturbing doubts about close family members while coping with her troubled young daughter. Luckily for Kate, guardian angel Augusta Goodnight has dropped by to help, this time with a bumbling young apprentice in tow. With fresh baked goods and sound, heavenly advice, Augusta helps Kate investigate Ella's untimely demise--and a few other unsolved mysteries along the way.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Augusta Goodnight, that heaven-sent assistant to earthbound amateur sleuths, is back for her fourth appearance in Ballard's heartwarming tale (after 2002's Shadow of an Angel). Kate McBride and her young daughter are headed for a family reunion in Bishop's Bridge, N.C., while her estranged husband is in California for a professional conference. Nearing despair over the state of her marriage, and uncertain how to handle her daughter's truculent behavior, Kate frets over what to tell her inquisitive family members. The family is soon distracted from asking pointed questions about the absent husband when the housekeeper of Kate's great-uncle Ernest falls off a ledge and claims she was pushed. Kate doesn't want to think that someone in the family is a murderer, but aided by guardian angel Augusta and her clumsy trainee angel, Penelope, she looks for the answers to several questions. What really happened to Ernest's runaway wife, Rose? Or to the two hippies who disappeared many years ago? Can the current troubles be connected to those long-buried secrets? Ballard's warmth and compassion for her characters make this series a must for readers who like their mysteries on the cozy side.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Augusta Goodnight is an amazing character: she floats about in iridescent raiment, wafting through with peppermint tea and scones, trailing the scent of strawberries and happiness. She is, after all, an angel. She is also a kind of sleuth; although she doesn't foretell the future or keep people from specific danger, she is deeply sensitive to emotional clues and past history. In this latest in the series, Kate McBride goes home to North Carolina with her 10-year-old daughter and bruising memories of her estrangement from her husband. Great-uncle Ernest is hosting the family reunion, and Kate arrives to find the usual familial tensions abraded by memories of a long-ago murder and disappearance. Augusta appears at key moments to propel Kate in the right direction or provide both solace and chocolate. Murders are solved and relationships mended, of course, and Augusta even has a young angelic assistant in training to watch over. Not quite so seamless or beguiling as last year's Shadow of an Angel, but with the same southern artlessness and warmth. GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 234 pages
• Publisher: Thomas T Beeler (August 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574905066
• ISBN-13: 978-1574905069
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,143,851 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute cozy, July 2, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Angel Whispered Danger: An Augusta Goodnight Mystery (Hardcover)

Every year Ned and Kate McBride and their daughter Josie attended the family reunion held at Uncle Ernest's home Bramblewood in Bishop's Bridge, North Carolina. Neither Kate nor Josie are looking forward to this year's reunion because Ned has asked for and gotten a separation and is living on the other side of the country. When Kate and Josie arrive at the home of Kate's parents, she is greeted by her temporary guardian angel Augusta Goodnight and her young apprentice Penelope.

Augusta thinks Kate might be in danger and events at Bramblewood seem to indicate something is very wrong. Ernest's housekeeper Ella is found injured in a ravine and just before she falls into a coma, she tells Kate someone pushed her. The police discover that the girlfriend of Kate's cousin Grady was deliberately murdered when somebody cut the brake lines on her car. Skeletal remains of a murder victim are found in the local cemetery when the church group are cleaning up the place. Kate's Aunt Violet thinks all of these events are related so the intrepid females bait a trap to catch a murderer.

The latest Augusta Goodnight mystery is a charming, often times whimsical small town angelic cozy starring characters that are so delightful and amusing that readers will want to finish the book in one sitting to see if there is a happily ever after ending for the McBrides. Mignon F. Ballard knows how to write a captivating who-done-it that doesn't depend on blood and gore to keep reader interest. THE ANGEL WHISPERED DANGER is a good wholesome mystery.

Harriet Klausner

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, January 30, 2004

By 

Jennifer Terry (Columbus, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Angel Whispered Danger: An Augusta Goodnight Mystery (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed this book. The Augusta character reminds me of the Aunt Dimity mystery series, which I love. I liked the apprentice angel, too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Light mystery, September 15, 2005

By 

C. Taylor "Addicted to Reading" (Wingate, NC, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Angel Whispered Danger: An Augusta Goodnight Mystery (Hardcover)

This was my first Augusta Goodnight mystery and I enjoyed it. Very light and easy to read. I will read more.