Customer Reviews

Deadly Vintage: A Molly Doyle Mystery

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are quite a few mystery sleuth series that center on careers: Catering, hairdressing, bounty hunting, etc. In my opinion, no one does it better than Elaine Flinn with her Molly Doyle mysteries, which focus on the world of antiques.

After waiting almost 2 years for the next Molly Doyle sequel, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Elaine Flinn had changed publishers. Avon Publishing may be one of the largest, but her new publishing company: Perserverance Press - does it better. Gorgeous book and glossy cover; very high quality. Definitely a step up!

"Deadly Vintage" focuses on Molly's continuing relationship with her niece, Emma, and the very important person who enters their life, as well as her close friendships with Daria, Loomis, Lucero - and of course Police Chief Randall. (Except what is up with this Annie bit?! Totally did not approve!)

With each book, I doubt that Flinn can surpass herself as to theme and each time, she exceeds my expectations. In "Deadly Vintage," Molly wades in with Randall and friends to solve the murder of a member of an esteemed vineyard family and captures yet another side of the beautiful city of Carmel.

The only "drawback" to this terrific mystery was that the ending is so suspenseful that it will be difficult to wait another year until the next book! PLEASE don't make us wait longer than a year, Ms. Flinn! Hide yourself away in that new home in Oregon and start writing!! Your fans are waiting.....patiently.

Elaine Flinn, queen of the cozy mystery, returns with the latest book in her award-winning series about Carmel, Calif., antiques dealer Molly Doyle. "Deadly Vintage" marks Doyle's fourth appearance, and her most enjoyable yet.

Doyle is hired to renovate the tasting room of a local winery, but the job has scarcely begun when the client's abusive husband is murdered only shortly after engaging in a heated, public argument with Molly. The police begin looking at her as a suspect, prompting her to do a little investigating of her own.

The charms of "Deadly Vintage" are many, including the picturesque setting of California's Central Coast, the realistic nature of the plot (a rarity in many mysteries of this type) and the author's simple, evocative prose. But it is the book's characters, and their warm, lushly rendered relationships, that make this work a standout. Among today's authors of traditional mysteries, Flinn ranks at the top.

I have enjoyed all 4 of Elaine Flinn's Molly Doyle Mysteries.

I just learned from a cosy mystery list that Elaine died recently and there will be no more Molly Doyle stories ... Please pray for Elaine's family and friends and let's show our gratitude for a wonderful set of stories that have ended too soon.

I wonder if she left a partial manuscript that someone like Nancy Pickard could finish for her??

Sincerely,
barbara y

Elaine Flinn's Doyle series is outstanding, and far, far better on every level than the Jane Cleland series that ripped off almost everything from this great series.

Read the original and the best!

"Antiques Roadshow" has nothing on this charming mystery starring Molly Doyle. It is well written, charming, funny, and suspenseful. I loved it!! I also happen to be a character in it! What fun!

I've been following Elaine Flinn's cozy mystery adventures of Molly Doyle, an antique store owner in Carmel, California, since the first novel. I like Molly and the cast of characters around her, and I like the way that everyone is growing and changing.

In this story, Molly has decided to expand the antique business into interior decoration -- a reasonable sideline given her awareness of how furniture and decoration work together. (It also gives the author an excuse to get Molly out of the shop more often.) At the start of the mystery, Molly has arranged to re-do the wine tasting rooms for a nearby family-owned winery... and she does not exactly hit it off with one of the family members. When a dead body is found, guess who is under suspicion....

The book holds together largely because of the strong characterization -- you've probably grown as fond of Molly's niece Emma and her friend Daria as I have -- and a very good sense of setting. As a mystery, it was... okay. I'm always disappointed when I figure out whodunnit before All Answers Are Revealed.

I liked Deadly Vintage, but it lacked some sparkle from the earlier books in the series. I enjoyed reading it, and I'm sure to pick up the next one in the series. But it never made me say, "Wow, this is awesome!"

Molly Doyle's life is going fairly smoothly for this ten minutes. How can expanding her antique business into some high quality interior design be a bad thing? Her first major job is a commission to refurbish the tasting rooms at a prestigious local family-owned winery. Sure, the husband of the woman who gave her the commission, Todd Jessup, is very vocal in his opinions of her talents and abilities; as Molly says, she's working for Carla Jessup and Todd can be as rude as he likes. Which he is.

Then there is the mysterious man who keeps turning up in the shop, looking at ship models and the like. Why is he so interested in Emma, Molly's niece? And who's been calling and not leaving messages?

Then Todd Jessup is killed at the winery, at a big party, and (for reasons having much more to do with political infighting than any real clues) Molly becomes a suspect. Her personal relationship with Kenneth Randall, Carmel's chief of police, complicates the investigation in many ways.

The mysterious man claims to be Emma's biological father, which really throws Molly for a loop. How much of Emma's life is he entitled to, and how much of a difference will his money (he is, of course, quite wealthy) make to everyone concerned?

Flinn has done another wonderful job with her characters, her setting, and her plot. Molly may not be the most politically correct character one is liable to encounter (she's religious, she swears, she smokes, and she struggles with her choices where Emma is concerned) but she is a woman one might very much like to have for a good friend. The decisions she makes are consistent with the character Flinn has set up in previous books. The series continues to grow, which is always a pleasure to watch.

Caveat Emptor: On page 81 there is a character, extremely unimportant, who bears my name. I won this treat in a contest; I'm not completely sure I've ever met Elaine Flinn in person, although I might have had dinner with her and about 15 other people at a Chinese restaurant in Chicago at a Bouchercon several years ago.

This is the first Molly Doyle mystery I have read and I will be reading more. If you enjoy the lighter mysteries this is one to read.

I've read all of the Molly Doyle mysteries by Elaine Flinn and have enjoyed them all. I was sad to think Emma might be departing from the series. But all in all it was great to be back at the antique store in Carmel and all the characters who have become friends.
My only criticism of the writing is my conviction not to read books that use God's name in vain. I have made an exception because of the stories, but it always is a jolt to me when I see it on the written page. I just think that kind of language does not do anything to enhance the book or even make it more life like to read. However, I do enjoy her writing and this particular setting and all the characters involved.
I gave it 5 stars because she's a great storyteller. I'll be anxiously looking for the next one. Please hurry!