Customer Reviews

Tagged for Murder: A Molly Doyle Mystery

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Elaine Flinn's second book in her antique mystery series is even better than the first! "Tagged for Murder" (love the title) again features antique dealer, Molly Doyle, as she continues to rebuild her reputation in the posh community of affluent Carmel, CA.

Mayhem erupts when local antique dealer, Trudy Collins, abruptly dies from an apparent heart attack at the Carmel Antiques Show. When Molly's sister, Carrie, suddenly arrives that day with her daughter after a 15-year estrangement, Molly once again fears her sister is being deceitful. Carrie swiftly and unceremoniously leaves her daughter, Emma, with Molly and takes off to pursue a "legal career" overseas.

As fake antiques and additional murders begin to surface, Molly attempts to piece together who is behind these acts - against her better judgment and certainly against the wishes of Police Chief Randall. The result is a great mystery and terrific development of wonderful characters.

Flinn has a wonderful series going! The dialogue is written in a realistic manner as to the verbiage that individuals actually use. Any "dangling participles" are included to make the conversations realistic and engrossing as, let's face it, most speech patterns and dialogues are not always in complete grammatical sentences. To change this would change the whole rhythm of the characters.

The addition of Emma was absolutely brilliant! This kid brings such a new dimension to Molly and others. I thought that Flinn VERY ACCURATELY AND REALISTICALLY did not have Emma enrolled in school. Only about 2-3 weeks have elapsed (not months!) and Molly has started the legal process to have Em remain with her. She has arranged for a tutor, but for Molly to enroll Em in school, only days after being abandoned by her mother and before any decisions were made by the State, WOULD have been unrealistic.

Likewise, Molly's relationship with Chief Randall is currently being defined. Randall cares greatly for Molly, but sternly masks his fear as he is trying to rein Molly in when she insists on putting her life in jeopardy. From the first book, "Dealing With Murder," we have learned that Randall is often jaded and rather acerbic in nature- as is Molly at times. Randall gives Molly a difficult time as she KNOWINGLY hides evidence that she wants to look over. Good grief - the argument that she gives Randall about "forgetting about certain evidence" is an excuse that they both realize is fabricated. However, she can't very well say, "Randall, here is the evidence that I deliberately withheld from you while I attempted to discern how involved my sister is in this matter!"

And finally, Molly's sister has not been arrested because she is out of the country. They have just that night discovered the extent of her involvement. Although the next book may indicate that she may be extradited back to the States for trial, law and customs officials may "have bigger fish to fry" and not pursue it.

"Tagged for Murder" is a wonderful new series and I greatly anticipate the next book by Elaine Flinn!

Fans of Elaine Flinn's Molly Doyle mystery series rejoice: her latest antique-store mystery, "Tagged For Murder" was as engrossing, absorbing and enjoyable as her first book, "Dealing in Murder."

Molly Doyle, a New York transplant is beginning to feel completely at home in Carmel, Ca -- she's picked up the pieces of her life, adapted completely to the more low key pace here, found some good friends, and has completely recovered from her the murder investigation she had gotten entangled with, when (wouldn't you know it) she finds herself coming face to face with another unexpected death, this time that of friend and fellow antique's dealer, Trudy Collins. Found face down on her desk at the Carmel Antiques Show, everyone initially assumes that Trudy had suffered from a heart attack at the show. But Carmel's chief of police's, Kenneth Randall, behaviour makes Molly believe that there is something more to Trudy's death. However, the unexpected appearance of her deceitful long-estranged younger sister, Carrie, soon distracts Molly from the mystery of Trudy's death. Especially when Carrie saddles Molly (permanently) with her 12 year old daughter, Emma, and disappears. Struggling to absorb the latest change in her life, and to ensure that no lasting damage has been done to her clever and sweet natured niece, Molly's composure takes a further knock when she makes the discovery that Carrie knew Trudy and that they were both involved in something shady. Should Molly share her fears with good friend police chief Randall? Or should she try to figure out exactly what Carrie and Trudy were involved in and to try cover Carrie's tracks for Emma's sake? Torn between protecting her sister and doing the right thing, Molly soon finds herself neck deep in murder once again, and dodging yet another determined killer...

Once I started "Tagged For Murder" I simply had to finish it in one go -- it was that engaging and absorbing. Tautly paced and with quite a few interesting plot twists, I was happily engrossed from beginning to end. The storyline was a very intriguing and interesting one, and Ms Flinn's brilliant and believable character portrayals added to the overall excellence of the novel. And adding to the overall enjoyment to the book, was the wonderful manner in which the authour painted in the quiet charms of Carmel. My advice, if you enjoy absorbing and quiet cozies, that is, is to unplug the 'phone and settle into your favourite chair, "Tagged For Murder" is a read to be savoured and enjoyed without interruption.

I enjoyed this book, although I also thought it awkward in places. But will definitely look for more.
Problems:
(1) grammar: there were a lot of jolting dangling participles. Please have a good editor eliminate these next time! I do not consider this trivial, because the flow of the narrative is badly interrupted by these things.
(2)awkwardness: In places, there is a failure to deal with details that harms the "genuineness" of the atmosphere. It nagged at me that Emma was not in school. You don't just keep kids out of school for months on end. Was it summer? I couldn't find a season reference anywhere.
(3) the so-called "teasing" between the heroine and randall. These exchanges "read" to me as hostile and dismissive. If I were a dealer and someone constantly called me a rip-off artist, I don't think I would view it as teasing. How could anyone like this guy?
(4) Heroine's waiting to give evidence to police. COME ON!! Her excuse was not believable.
(5) Sister Carrie: cannot understand why she is not in jail

Good Things:
continuously entertaining
for the most part, engaging characters (see above), and interesting family background.
antiques lore
california ambiance

I wondered how Elaine Flinn could possibly top her first book, the multi-award nominated, Dealing in Murder, but she's done it. I just flew through Tagged for Murder. The characters are rich (you'll hate her sister!) and so well textured that they jump off the pages. The book flows so fast that you can't put it down. The writing is first rate, and the story is another home run. Elaine has really established herself as one of the leading authors in the mystery field. You'll love this book.

Her husband ruined her sterling reputation by selling fake antiquities before leaving for parts unknown with his young bimbo leaving Molly Doyle financially ruined, She now runs her friend's antique shop in Carmel, California. She is recovering financially and making new friends when her sister Carrie whom she has not seen in fifteen years arrives with her twelve year old daughter Emma. Carrie is job hunting and asks Molly to watch Emma. Not long afterward, a letter given to Molly from Emma informs her that Carier is leaving the country and wants Molly to raise Emma.

While Molly reels from her sibling's callousness, she learns that her friend Trudy Collins did not die from a heart attack; instead was murdered by someone who knew she was allergic to aspirin and hid a tablet in her soda at an antiques gala. While going through her pal's belongings, Molly realizes Trudy was selling fakes and Carrie was part of the operation. The more she digs, the more Molly comprehends her sister broke several laws and leaving the country was the only way to avoid arrest. Molly's snooping frightens the killer so much that he or she tries to murder her and her niece on a fog shrouded road.

Molly is a likable and intelligent heroine who falls in love with Emma from the moment they first meet and takes her home with her without a second thought. She accepts that her sister is a felon and the best thing Carrie can do is stay away from her family. Emma steals the hearts of readers as a precocious child (they always seem that way in fiction) who has more common sense than most of the adults she knows. Elaine Flinn provides a beguiling amateur sleuth tale that readers will love.

Harriet Klausner

Some of the things that bothered me about the first book were gone (less snobbishness, and Molly, the main character, is at least TRYING to quit smoking!). The addition of some new characters livened up the book, and the writing seems more polished.

The plot involves series "detective" Molly Doyle, an antiques dealer fallen on bad times through no fault of her own (but let's face it, how bad can running an antique store in Carmel, CA be?). Molly has some problem relations in general, and this book involves a long estranged Sister Carrie (a good title for a book?) who arrives on Molly's doorstep unexpectedly, bringing with her a 12 year old child, Emma. It's not a great time, because a friend of Molly's has just died -- apparently a heart attack at an antiques fair. Needless to say, the friend turns out to have been murdered -- but by whom? And why? Then Sister Carrie takes off, leaving Emma with Molly -- ostensibly for a day, and then as it turns out, for a lot longer. Emma is a delightful child (perhaps too delightful to be credible, but c'est la vie!) and Molly quickly develops a fondness for her, although she pretty much has to take Emma with her wherever she goes. When it's garage sales, that's fun, but when it's solving murders, my eyebrows shoot up. Poor Emma!

Flinn creates a great sense of place (I could picture everything) and if you have any interest in antiques, this book will probably get you even more interested. I thought the plotting was good, but in the end, so complicated that I had trouble sorting it all out.

I look forward to the next book by this author.

This is the second book in the Molly Doyle series. An antique dealer at a show dies from an apparent heart attack. There are many suspects in this story. Which puts an even greater tension between Randall and Molly. This book is a joy to read. The description of the stores, the resturant and Bitsy's home are well done. Emma and Tiger are a great addition to the series. This book is a great way to end a day.

In the 2nd installment of the Molly Doyle Antique Mystery series, family once again becomes a large part of Molly's life. Things have been looking up for Molly. She has moved away from the forgery scandal that caused her to flee to Carmel, California and has been able to save a good bit of money from managing the small antiques store, Treasures. She has made some good friends in town, including police chief Randall, restaurant owner, Daria, and District Attorney, Lucero. She is able to fill the store with good quality "merch" and has pleased long time friend and store owner, Max. What could possibly go wrong?

For starters, Molly discovers a friend from the antiques world dead at an antiques show. Everyone thinks it was a heart attack at first, and Molly is saddened by the death of her friend. Still reeling from the death, Molly gets another shock. Her long-lost sister, Carrie, shows up on Molly's doorstep, with daughter in tow. The relationship between sisters is precarious at best, but Molly struggles to be civil to her sister for her niece's sake. Getting to know the 12-year-old, Emma, that Molly never knew existed; she soon discovers her sister is lacking a mothering instinct. And when Carrie drops Emma off with Molly and flees town, Molly becomes an instant parent. Learning to raise a child is one thing, but when Molly starts snooping in the world of forgery and drug smuggling, both of their lives are put in danger. Is Molly over her head this time trying to solve a mystery with Emma in tow?

I enjoyed this second installment in the series. I would suggest reading the first book prior to reading this one, as there are many characters in the book, which can become confusing without some background.

I was a bit surprised by the addition of the new character, Emma. She is extremely bright, and has a great ability to adapt to a tough situation. It is a bit unrealistic how quickly she settles in to life with Molly, but I am willing to put that aside for the sake of the story. I look forward to future books by this author!

The first book in the series is called "Dealing in Murder". Enjoy!

Antiques dealer Molly Doyle, the heroine of the delightful, award-winning debut Dealing in Murder, published last year, returns for another go-around in the shady and surprisingly dangerous world of objets d'art.

As Elaine Flinn's Tagged for Murder opens, Molly is rocked by the murder of Trudy Collins, a friend and fellow dealer. The more she learns about Trudy's life and death, the more Molly fears her friend wasn't the woman she thought she was.

Adding to her frustrations is the unexpected arrival of her 12-year-old niece, dumped on Molly by her irresponsible sister, who quickly disappears from the scene. Faced with trying to solve a murder, make her business a success, and muddle through as a surrogate mom, the resilient heroine has her hands more than full just trying to survive.

As with her first book, Flinn again demonstrates herself to be an author with a strong sense of story and a deliciously sly wit. Deftly avoiding the potential pitfalls of the cozy mystery, Tagged for Murder is another first-rate, entertaining tale.

Elaine Flinn has done it again. Another winner!

Molly Doyle is an antiques dealer in Carmel. Trudy Collins dies from an apparent heart attack at a local show.

One night Molly's sister Carrie, whom she hasn't seen or heard from in years, shows up at her place with her twelve-year-old daughter, Emma. A couple days later Carrie leaves Em with her. Soon it is discovered that she isn't coming back. At first Molly is shocked, but as she gets to know Em, she is delighted. She still finds it hard to always remember she has a child to keep an eye on, but overall she is enjoying it.

Kenneth Randall, chief of police, tells Molly that Trudy was murdered, but that he doesn't want very many people to know. They meet with Daria and Lucero, the D.A., at Daria's restaurant. She has a back room they can talk in. Daria has Emma taken to the kitchen to see how it works while they talk. Randall tells Molly to not do any investigating.

But, Molly can't help herself. Unbeknownst to Randall, she has Trudy's office paperwork and plans to look through it. Once she finds Carrie in some of the pictures, she has a real quandary. How can she turn this over to Randall, as she knows she must? She doesn't want him to know Carrie is involved until she can determine what exactly she is involved in.

Molly soon discovers that Trudy's antiques business was not all on the up and up. She worries Carrie may have been involved in that side of her business.

She must investigate but keep Emma safe. Not always easy to do.

This is a fantastic cozy series. Molly is such a likeable character. And now the addition of Emma is wonderful! I really like how they work together. Of course the tension is still there between Molly and Randall. Emma thinks they should get together. Not sure what Molly and Randall think yet.

Bitsy's role in this mystery is not as big, but she's still very much a part of the story. I really like her character a lot.

I highly recommend this book. It is the second in the series. You don't have to read the first to understand this one, but I do highly recommend you read it. They're both great.