Customer Reviews

Uncle Si's Secret

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

 

 

This is a very good read. The plot moves at a good pace and keeps you on your toes trying to fathom the ending. It is hard to believe that this is a first novel. I am anxiously awaiting the next book by this author as I am sure a talent of the caliber will have a lengthy history of novels. Thanks for an engrossing read.

Uncle Si's Secret is set in a beautiful section of the Pacific Northwest with characters that we care enough about that we want to know more about their lives; we eagerly await a sequel. Belinda is deciding if she really wants to be a detective while Bernard and Martha are cooking up such scrumptuous food, it makes you hungry to read about it. It's an engrossing murder mystery that doesn't give away the villain until the very end, and I had it wrong! M. M. Gornell has written an ambitious first book with all the right elements, and it's fun to read!

My review:
I liked this book! It was well paced and good mystery story. I enjoyed the characters, especially the supportive characters. The author has put a lot of emphasis on even the smallest and less important characters in the book, so there were lots of sweet back stories in Uncle Si's Secret.
Regarding the plot:
Belinda Jones is owner of the Cedar Valley Residence. Belinda is drawn into the murder story of Lana Norris, because besides working in the Cedar Valley Residence, she has also done some modest crime investigations and mother-in-law of Lana Norris is asking Belinda to investigate and prove that Kirby Norris is not guilty of the murder. Kirby Norris is husband of the murdered woman and son of Olive Norris. Olive is the one who contacts Belinda for help. Kirby is already in jail waiting for the court.
As the murder investigation goes on, the lives of many characters are rolling out for reader. You find out secrets of Lana, Kirby, and Olive. Suddenly another murder is taking place and Belinda realizes that she is getting out of time to solve the case.
Next to the murder investigation, the author has done a wonderful work with describing the life in Cedar Valley Residence. There are many sweet stories about the residents, which I really enjoyed reading. It's a good balance to the murder investigation.

Regarding the characters:
I love reading books where even the smallest characters have a story to tell. The main character Belinda was very loveable and nice. Besides her there were a lot of other characters I enjoyed: Belinda's Brother Bernard, Belinda's Uncle John, residents of Cedar Valley - Mrs. Shirley, Kaitlin etc. The list would be long.
One common thing for all characters were that they were believable, interesting and they had their place in the book!

Generally:
It was a good mystery story which was supported strongly by the life of residents of Cedar Valley Residence! I liked it!
4 stars.

I loved the twists and turns and the surprise ending of Gornell's mystery, and I also fell in love with the characters and feel of Cedar Valley Residence. I'd actually want to visit there!

Creating Cedar Valley Residence was a dream come true for Belinda Jones and her brother Bernard. They had spent five years making sure each room and suite was perfectly decorated to create a feeling of comfort and welcome. Now it was time to add a new addition, which would create space for more residents and allow Belinda and Bernard to start turning a profit in the near future.

Cedar Valley residents were a hodgepodge of ages and personalities that had all become family to Belinda and Bernard. One special resident was Miss Shirley, who had appeared a year before with a bewildered look on her face, broken glasses perched on her nose, no identification and a pile of cash in her purse. Even after putting ads in the newspaper, talking to the police and tacking fliers on telephone poles, no one knew who she was nor where she had come from. The doctors assured Belinda that Miss Shirley had temporary amnesia and that she would probably come out of it at some point in time. So when Miss Shirley asked for a meeting with Belinda to inform her that her money had run out and she would be moving, Belinda was rightfully concerned. Miss Shirley also told Belinda that she was missing her favorite Chinese print scarf, which Belinda felt had probably been misplaced and would turn up later. But as more residents informed Belinda that they too have missing items, her concern started to grows. Does she really know her residents? Could one of them be a thief? She had to get to the bottom of this thief mystery before it really started hurting business.

Belinda had always thought she would enjoy becoming a detective and had actually helped solve a few minor crimes in the past. So to add to her task of catching the person responsible for items missing from Cedar Valley, she's approached by Olive Norris. Mrs. Norris comes in hope that Belinda will find enough evidence to free her son Kirby who was arrested for the murder of his wife. The case against Kirby appeared to be an open and shut case. Items of clothing and the gun used to kill Lana Norris were found in Kirby's car. After meeting with Kirby and hearing his story, Belinda believes in his innocence and decides to take the case. But after another murder is committed, plus an attempt on the life of someone dear to Kirby, Belinda begins to wonder if she has taken on more than she can handle and can she solve this case before anyone else has to die.

Uncle Si's Secret is full of secrets. M. M. Gornell kept me guessing throughout the whole book. Every time I thought I knew the identity of the thief and the murder, Gornell would surprise me with a new twist proving my theory to be wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Uncle Si's Secret and I think you will too. I will give you a small clue. The thief will really surprise you. It sure did me.

Great story! I sat up half the night reading this book and would love to see more from the author.

I'm a huge mystery fan having read books by many prominent mystery writers. M.M. Gornell is new to me and was I surprised! I read her book, Uncle Si's Secret, and it's amazing what's packed into 236 pages.

The mystery sleuth and heroine is Ms. Belinda Jones. Along with her brother, Bernard, they own and run Cedar Valley Residence - home to several delightful people including 5 very genteel seniors, a modern, screwed up teenager, a famous sous-chef and two near-human dogs - Naja and Buster. But, apart from these characters there are several others you'll meet and come to know.

The main theme, of course, is the murder of Lana Norris and trying to find her killer. There are several happenings and subplots related to this central theme that kept me intrigued: but, I'm not going to tell you here. There are also other subplots that stand alone - such as the disappearance of treasured items or what's with Tessa (Belinda and Bernard's cousin). All add color, dimension and much interest!

I really enjoyed the book and hope I'll meet some of these people again.
11/21/08

Well written - Picked up the book and stayed up half the night wanting to find out what happened... Very good read