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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful Read, February 8, 2008
A delightful read with special appeal to hobbyists.
Full disclosure: I'm one of the mystery authors involved in the http://killerhobbies.blogspot.com We joined forces because we all write mysteries involving hobbies. (Pretty obvious, eh?) But...we've only met each other virtually, and I'd never read anything by Margaret Grace (Camille Minichino). So when I received the ARC (Advance Reading Copy) of Murder in Miniature, I opened the book with excitement and trepidation. What if I didn't like her work?
Whew. Very quickly, my fears were allayed.
Murder in Miniature is a delightful read with special appeal to hobbyists. The protagonist, Geraldine Porter, is a complex woman, recovering from the loss of her husband, unsure sometimes how to do the "right thing," and devoted to her granddaughter and friends. She defines herself as "a pushover for difficult personalities," but Gerry is no victim. She's simply a woman who accepts imperfection--in her miniatures, in her life and in her friends.
Gerry's involvement as an amateur sleuth makes sense, which is always a challenge in a book of this ilk. The underlying complexities of Gerry's life round her out as a character, and provide realistic stumbling blocks to crime solving. Unlike many cozies, Gerry evolves over the course of the book, and we, as readers, relish seeing her review her life and come to new conclusions.
All in all, a most satisfying read. Here's the lagniappe: I love miniatures. The author gave me just enough about the hobby to make me eager to work on my own dollhouse and room boxes. Any book that not only entertains me but also helps me rediscover a lifelong passion is a winner! And that's exactly what Margaret Grace has here: A winning series.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Can Gerry Find the Small Clues?, January 27, 2009
Geraldine "Gerry" Porter got talked into serving as the chair of the summer craft fair. Granted, she was going to be there anyway selling what she could from her many dollhouses and miniatures. She even took advantage of her position to place herself next to Linda Reed, a friend and follow miniaturist.
But the fair hasn't been open long when Linda disappears only to call Gerry in the middle of the night from a pay phone in the middle of nowhere. When Gerry picks her up, Linda refuses to answer any questions. But the questions get even bigger when the body of an unidentified woman is discovered in the same location. What is going on? How is Linda connected? Can Gerry clear her friend or will her digging just create more problems?
This isn't a bad series debut at all. The plot starts a little slowly, but it builds quite nicely until I was quite hooked. Gerry is an endearing main character. And I loved her sidekicks, especially her granddaughter Maddie and nephew Skip. The small town was also charming, and I couldn't help but smile at all the references to Lincoln the book managed to work in.
But the book does have a couple problems as well. The biggest is Linda and her family. We are supposed to care for them and root for them to be cleared of the crimes. However, they aren't at all likable. Furthermore, the book occasionally gives way to asides. I don't mind a few, especially if they are humorous, but a few times they were clumped together and irritated me.
This is one of those books that I would enjoy while reading but really didn't want to sit down and read when I wasn't. I think I would give this book 3.5 stars if I could. I'm sure hobby enthusiasts will enjoy it much more then I did.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
So you don't like miniatures. So What?, February 11, 2009
I didn't think I'd like this book by "Margaret Grace," but I loved her previous table of elements mysteries written by Camille Minichino, so I decided to give the book a try. I'm glad I did. She has created an interesting geographical setting and cast of characters. Not all are great, but the chemistry between the retired teacher heroine and her 11-year-old grand-daughter is real and affecting. The technical details on miniature-creation are interesting even to someone who has no intention of ever trying it. And, oh yes, it IS a mystery -- that keeps you guessing. I recommend it.
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