Customer Reviews

Trick or Treat: a Corinna Chapman Mystery

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

 

 

Fun and funky characters, witches, food porn, a stolen Nazi treasure horde surfacing unexpectedly - who wouldn't want to be Corinna Chapman? Surrounded by the luscious, adoring Daniel and a coterie of fascinating, interesting and loving friends and neighbors (and cats, lots of cats!), Corinna's back in her fourth outing - this time facing a competing bakery down the lane, a gorgeous, leggy Sloane Ranger possibly moving in on her man, and some wicked new drugs sending people right over the edge (literally). . .The plot summary above touches on the relevant points, and Greenwood rambles a bit here and there, but I read and look forward to new installments in this quirky series for the returning and ever-expanding cast of regulars, their delightful and frequent interactions with lots of good food and each other, and of course, Corinna herself. Delicious! I can't wait for the next installment, I believe set at Christmas time . . .

Corinna seems to have everything she could want in life: her own bakery with steady clients and a handsome, devoted boyfriend, Daniel. However, frightening forces are converging which threaten to take it all away. The frightening forces take the form of a cheap bakery moving in down the street, which although it's baked goods are inferior to Corinna's, cuts into her business and an ex-girlfriend of Daniel's who is staying with him until she can find her own apartment. To make matters worse, someone seems to be passing around baked goods with some kind of drug or poison in them which make people go mad. Even Corinna's bakery becomes suspect and is investigated by the health inspectors. Meanwhile, a group of witches has come to celebrate the pagan festival of Samhain, and one of them has come up with treasures which turn out to be treasures stolen by a Nazi during WWII. Somehow, all of these events are connected, but it's up to Corinna to learn what the connection is.

I found the book a bit disjointed. It jumps around a lot between all the different problems that Corinna has to deal with. There is an explanation that connects all the different parts of the story, but it doesn't become clear until the very end. I admit that the solution is pretty original, and the story contains some interesting historical facts. However, I found parts of the story a bit hard to follow, partly because Daniel has some knowledge that he doesn't share until almost the end.

Rate: five stars

If you have not read Kerry Greenwood's mysteries, do so today, treat yourself well. Wonderful fun -- she will have you reading happily/greedily through all her mysteries -- both Corinna and Phryne Fisher (Greenwood's utterly delightful 1928 heroine) will entrance you. The next Phryne Fisher book will release Nov. 1. Keep writing Ms. Greenwood.

As expected from Kerry Greenwood, good reading, lots of twists and turns. Always a challenge to see if I can figure it out before the last 3 pages.