Customer Reviews

Theft on Thursday -Lib -Op/065 (Lois Meade Mysteries (Hardcover))

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

 

 

I had preordered this book after reading all the other books in the series, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Couldn't wait for "Theft on Thursday" - but I was disappointed. It just didn't hold my interest like the other three. Too disconnected with people jumping from satanism, the KKK, taking old medications and getting sick or dying.

Gran was the best of the lot. Not too many redeeming qualities in most of the other charaters. It's hold no interest to me that the author is trying to somehow romantically connect Inspector Cowgill with Mrs. Meade - it would be just as interesting without that. I like to see young people respecting one another (at least some of them) and not jumping in to bed as if that is the thing to do. I know it's the norm in this world - but in my opinion that doesn't make it right and I don't care to read about it.

I'd much prefer a good "old fashioned" cozy and clean mystery. One I can get lost in reading and feel like I haven't wasted my time waiting for it to get better. Sorry, I hope if there's a next one it's a 5 star. Bascially I like Mrs. Meade and her "New Brooms" brood. Also, this book let too many years go by between events in the village. I was surprised that all the main characters had changed so much.

Lois Meade, the main character, is the supervisor and founder of her cleaning company. This book takes place in England. People die - will the mysteries be solved?

This book is the 4th book in this series. This book did not have the charm that the first 3 had. In the first 3 - which I gave 5 stars to each - I felt like I was in a charming English village, with purple freesias, birds singing, and childrens' laughter. I actually felt I was there, and felt comfort in the warmth and coziness of it all.

This book, however, was dry and boring; the first 100 pages could have been condensed into 20; nothing really exciting happened until into the second half of the book. I got so sick of hearing about choir practice. Only so much can be said about choir practice. This book did not hold my attention; I will probably not read anymore of this series.

Nonetheless, this was a good story idea with clever pieces and ideas that all fit together in the end. The presentation of these ideas were boring and not charming. I really got bored while reading this book. It did have potential, however.

This is actually the first Lois Meade mystery that I read, and why I decided to read others. The plot was very complex, but as with the other two I've read, just what I would have expected.

On the whole, I found that the plot was not quite as believable as the other two, but it is definitely intriguing. Like the others, the characters, especially those of Lois's staff at New Brooms, are marvelously well crafted. The relationships among them and among Lois's family are so engaging that one can hardly fail to find them satisfying. Certainly the on going semi-romance with Inspector Cowgill is, as always, titillating even if neither acts upon the impulse. Lois's husband, Derek Meade, while he's a little jealous and irritable lately, is definitely a dear. In general I find it as satisfying reading about the people as trying to figure out who killed whom and why.

As usual the motives abound, and the things people decide to say or not say, do or not do delightfully confuse the issue. I doubt that I've read anyone short of Collin Dexter who could so thoroughly baffle me by the end of the story.

Delightful story, however improbable.

Although I have enjoyed this series, this book left a little to be desired. The ending did not tie up all the loose ends and, in my opinion, veered off a bit from the cozy genre. There was a bit of Barbara Vine emulation going on, with forays into the dark side of human behavior and passions. In general, I didn't mind that as much as I did the fact that certain story lines were left to dangle a bit. For example, what happend to Jamie's girlfriend, given her involvement? And why the ending regarding the local store? I suppose that question will be answered in future books. Despite these shortcomings, I still enjoy the series and will continue to read the books.

Ann Purser is a great storyteller. Her characters are believable and you care about them and can identify with them. Her stories could happen anywhere. She spends more time on character and story development than blood spills, carnage, and gore.

My husband and I are really enjoy reading the Lois Meade books together and trying to solve the mystery before it is revealed.
We would highly recommend the daily mysteries to anyone that is interested in a bit of sleuthing fun in a decidedly English village.

enjoyed this book. recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries

I love this series. I look forward to each new book and eagerly devour it when it arrives. I do have a penchant for English murder mysteries, and I suppose these remind me of when I first discovered the genre.