Hocus Croakus: A Bed-And-Breakfast Mystery [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Mary Daheim (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 16, 2003

A fire has left Judith McMonigle Flynn in need of a place to stay while the workers complete their extensive renovation. Luckily, cousin Renie has the solution: the Stillasnowamish Casino on Native American land, where Judith can forget her woes amidst dazzle, and spend some quality time with ex-cop husband Joe. But all their fun comes to an abrupt halt when someone causes murderous confusion that is no illusion.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Leaving their beloved Seattle B&B, which is being renovated, Judith McMonigle Flynn and husband Joe take their two squabbling mothers and Judith's cousin Renie to Lake Stillasnowamish Resort Casino in this winning addition to Daheim's long-running cozy series (after 2002's Silver Scream). Soon after arriving at the resort, the cousins find Salome, the gorgeous magician's assistant, stabbed to death after an evening show. Ever curious, Judith begins searching for clues to Salome's murder. Joe, an ex-police officer and friend of the casino's manager, takes charge of the investigation, leaving Judith and Renie-when Judith can draw her cousin away from the slot machines and gaming tables-to continue their own inquiries into the growing list of suspects and yet another murder. The usually feisty Renie becomes even feistier as her gambling obsession grows. The mothers, always humorous, appear to particular comic advantage when left to their own devices in this new and exciting world for them. While some Daheim devotees might feel the surprise twist ending isn't fair to Judith, most fans should welcome the change of pace.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Mary Daheim is one of the brightest stars."
-- Seattle Times (UNKNOWN )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 465 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press; 1 edition (December 16, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078626036X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786260362
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,661,943 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste time or money, August 20, 2004

By 

A Reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hocus Croakus: A Bed-and-Breakfast Mystery (Bed-And-Breakfast Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

This series has been going downhill for awhile now, but this book just may be the end of the road for me.

As the series has progressed, Judith has become irritating and unlikeable, but the supporting cast made the books tolerable. However, not even Renie and Gertrude could save this one.

The "surprise twist" at the end was lame. But worse was the story itself, with Judith continuing to stick her nose into things that don't concern her and get people to yap her ear off just because "she likes people." It's been a lame premise for getting her involved in the mysteries through entire series, but it just came across as completely ridiculous this time.

The dialogue is painful to read, the writing has become amateur. Ms. Daheim should put this series to bed and concentrate on the Alpine series, which is still enjoyable.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Felt Cheated, February 5, 2004

By 

C. Kotlas "caryNCreader" (Cary, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hocus Croakus: A Bed-and-Breakfast Mystery (Hardcover)

I've read all of Mary Daheim's B&B mysteries, and until this one, generally enjoyed them for what they are, entertaining cozies that chart the lives of Judith Flynn and her family as Judith solves various murders. So I was all set to expect more of the same entertainment from this latest in the series. I don't want to spoil the plot, but suffice it to say I felt disappointed with the trick that the author played on this reader. By the end of the book, I also grew to dislike pretty much all the characters. The gambling casino location seemed to bring out the worst traits in most of Judith's family members. I agree with the reviewer who said this is not one of Daheim's better efforts. I hated this book so much that I revealed the surprise ending to the members of my monthly mystery book club so that none of them would be tempted to read the book and suffer the same irritation and disappointment that I experienced.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nothing is as it seems, September 8, 2003

By 

Karen Potts (Lake Jackson, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hocus Croakus: A Bed-and-Breakfast Mystery (Hardcover)

Judith McMonigle Flynn, her husband Joe, her favorite cousin Renie and husband Bill have all decided to take a vacation. The Flynn's bed-and-breakfast is being redone, and it seems like the perfect time for them to get out of town. Renie is scheduled to attend a conference at the Stillasnowamish Casino, so she invites the others to come along. The Flynns are building another B & B on family property near the casino, so this seems like the perfect solution to all of these situations.
Judith, Renie, and their husbands attend a magic show put on by the Great Madolini and they are amazed by the illusions in the show. Unfortunately, Judith soon discovers the dead body of the magician's assistant. Things go from bad to worse when her contractor at home keeps calling her about things that are going wrong, and the contractors on the new B & B seem to be digging the foundation in the wrong place. Of course, Judith cannot resist a good murder mystery and she and Joe make a wager about whether she can solve it by a deadline that Joe gives her. This is a good addition to the Bed-and-Breakfast Mystery series and it has some twists at the end that add a lot of interest to the story.