Mayhem in Miniature: A Miniature Mystery [Mass Market Paperback]

Margaret Grace (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 5, 2008 | Series: A Miniature Mystery (Book 2)

Gerry?s crafts are small-scale, but her to-do list is anything but. Add murder to that?with one of her students as a suspect?and you have one hectic holiday. Time to shrink this mystery down to size.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (August 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425223051
• ISBN-13: 978-0425223055
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #993,787 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

As CAMILLE MINICHINO I've published eight novels in the Periodic Table Mystery series and five in the Miniature Mystery series (writing as MARGARET GRACE). As Ada Madison, I've launched a new series: the Professor Sophie Knowles Mysteries. "The Square Root of Murder" was released in July 2011.

One of my favorite things is to chat with readers. I hope to connect with many of you.

BACKGROUND: I received my Ph.D. in physics from Fordham University, New York City. I've had a long career in research, teaching, and writing. I'm currently on the faculty of Golden Gate University in San Francisco, and on the staff of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. I'm also on the boards of the California Writers Club and NorCal Sisters in Crime, and a past president and member of NorCal Mystery Writers of America.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, September 5, 2008

By 

Betty Hechtman (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mayhem in Miniature: A Miniature Mystery (Mass Market Paperback)

Who wouldn't want to spend time with Geraldine Porter? She's a wonderful grandmother to Maddie and not above ice cream for dinner. Not only does she impart all kinds of neat hints about miniature making - like using salt to fill a tiny pillow, but tracks down the real murderer when of one her craft students is accused of the crime.

The small town setting with the Lincoln theme is fun and a nice place to escape into during this warm and intriguing story.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mayhem in Miniature, August 29, 2008

By 

Mary Trullender-Zurla "Mama Mary" (Martinez, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mayhem in Miniature: A Miniature Mystery (Mass Market Paperback)

I love Mayhem in Miniature! What a treat to have a clean, well written book to read when I am going to sleep. I have to admit, it did keep me up a little too long!

4.0 out of 5 stars Gerry Has More Not So Small Problems, June 18, 2009

By 

Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mayhem in Miniature: A Miniature Mystery (Mass Market Paperback)

It's a few weeks before Christmas, and the only things on Geraldine "Gerry" Porter's mind are pleasant things like the upcoming Mary Todd ball and her granddaughter's visit. But all that changes one morning with a phone call from a friend. Dolores is in a panic because her grandmother, Sofia, has vanished from her retirement home. Since Sofia is a member of Gerry's crafting class, she immediately agrees to help find her.

But things take a turn for a worse when Sofia is found covered in blood over the corps of the nursing home's gardener. While dazed, Sofia claims she is innocent. Can Gerry clear Sofia of the crime?

As with the first book in the series, there was good and bad in this one. Among the good are the characters. Gerry is surrounded by a cast of loving family. Her granddaughter and nephew are two of my favorites, in fact. Her friend Linda was much less annoying here than she was in the first book. The mystery had some nice twists that made the book difficult to put down.

On the other hand, the pacing of the mystery was way off. It started pretty slowly, and the ending was rushed. Gerry had all she needed to solve the case; in fact, she knew that. And yet she doesn't actually put those pieces together, which is one of my biggest pet peeves in any mystery. The time Gerry spent agonizing over leaving her granddaughter with various people so Gerry could investigate also got old.

My issues with the book were tiny. I like the supporting cast enough that I think I hear the third book calling me. I wouldn't rush out and get these books, but if the miniatures theme interests you, you'll find lovable characters to entertain you.