Customer Reviews

The Wedding Caper (Bridal Mayhem Mysteries #1)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Janice Thompson has brought an appealing new character to the cozy mystery scene. Annie Peterson is Everywoman (at one time or another) and following Annie and her friends through the intricacies of a robbery (her husband is a suspect), two weddings (both daughters marrying within months of each other), and Annie's determination to get through a 'how-to' detective course provide continual occasions for laughter and enjoyment, while Annie's honest faith walk touches all of us where we live. Kudos to Thompson! She had me totally confused as to "whodunit" and provided a satisfying ending. I'll look forward to book 2 in the series.

Annie Peterson discovered she had a propensity for super-sleuthing when she became suspicious of her very own husband. The crime? Bank robbery. What other explanation was there for the $25,000 cash he plopped in her hands one day, to pay for the dream weddings of their twin daughters? Besides, he had joked about having to rob a bank to pay for the weddings right before an actual bank robbery occurred at the bank where he conveniently worked!
Follow Annie through the story as she learns how to solve this bank robbery mystery. As the investigation continues, she learns a lot more about her loved ones, and herself in the process. The Wedding Caper is a light-spirited cozy mystery, heavy on the light. This is the perfect read when you want a break from the meaty novels that require more brain cells. This story combines humor, insight, mystery, and a peek into Annie's spiritual journey as well.

Janice A. Thompson has written a cozy mystery, The Wedding Caper, that presents readers with a slightly off-kilter ameuter sleuth. Annie Peterson has stumbled onto clues that point to her husband as the thief in a recent robbery of the Clark County Savings and Loan. Her clues? Warren has motive and opportunity - their twin daughters are both getting married soon, and Warren and Annie need money, thus the motive, and Warren works at the bank, thus the opportunity.
Could the Christian man Annie has been married to for the past twenty-seven years be guilty of such a felony? Annie sets about trying to stack up the clues so they point to someone, anyone else. The facts seem to be destined to stack up their own way and point directly to her husband. But then the case becomes even more clouded. Other suspects find their way to Annie's list.
Janice places us in the mind of Annie when she writes the story in first person. We hurt for Annie as she tries desperately to rule out her husband. We laugh at Annie when she tries to hone her sleuthing skills over the Internet. We root for Annie to win the day and solve the crime in such a way that she will prove, without a doubt, that her husband is innocent of the crime.
If you like a light mystery versus heavy, dark ones, you'll enjoy The Wedding Caper by Janice Thompson.

What would you do if your husband plopped an envelope in your hands that contained $25,000 in cash and announced that it was enough to pay for your twin daughters upcoming weddings--and did it on the very same day that $25,000 was stolen from your husband's job at the local savings and loan? Would you immediately confront your husband or treat him like a suspect?

In Janice A. Thompson's The Wedding Caper, Annie Peterson faces this scenario but instead of confronting her husband, Annie decides to take the mystery into her own hands and play the part of a novice sleuth in order to solve the mystery of whodunit.

With the help of an Internet sleuthing Web site, Annie jumps headlong into the investigation. Rule number one in detecting is "stick to the facts," but by following this first rule, Annie quickly eliminates everyone as a suspect except three people, the loan officer, the security guard and her husband Warren. And what started out as a simple idea to resolve a crime quickly teaches Annie that the search for the truth will hurt the man she loves.

What a wonderful way to spend a few dreary winter afternoons--curled up with a cozy mystery. The Wedding Caper is a great detective novel with the perfect mix of mystery, humor and Annie Peterson's faith walk with the Lord.

If you want a lighthearted read that will keep you turning the pages, The Wedding Caper will keep you engrossed until the very end.

Armchair Interviews says: Enjoy!

The premise for this mystery - that a wife suspects her husband robs a bank to pay for their twin daughters wedding, is humorous. However, as a good Christian and prayer warrior wife, she should have just asked her husband outright where he got the $25,000. But of course then there would have been no mystery. The premise then became weak and Annie began to act oddly, as if she was mentally imbalanced.

The prologue started off strong and the narrative voice was good as well. There was a bit of humor as well and the mystery seemed to be laid out as a good whodunit. It's a quick and easy read.

I would have enjoyed it better if Annie would have acted more consistently. She did say she was stressed about the weddings and the robbery, but if you can't talk to your husband about these things in a good Christian marriage (as it was portrayed) who can you talk to? I also did not like the fact that Annie approached people deceptively and lied. She sometimes pretended to be concerned for someone but really had the ulterior motive of questioning them. She also deceived her husband most of all by not telling him of the detective course she took and paid for and for suspecting him of robbery.

If you don't mind suspending disbelief of the storyline and the issues stated above, then you'll probably enjoy this. I give the author a few stars for working out a mystery and writing in an engaging manner.

Janice Thompson created a wealth of unusual and lovable characters in her newest novel, The Wedding Caper. When her husband seems to be the prime suspect in the disappearance of $25,000 from the Clark County Savings and Loan, Annie Peterson becomes an amateur sleuth to uncover the real culprit. With twin daughters, Brandi and Candy, both planning weddings, Warren's gift of the same amount as the heist triggers Annie's imagination and she begins her quest to find the truth. Her list of suspects ranges from a somber faced bank loan officer to new security guard with a shady past. Annie chases down clues in finding who did steal the money by means of an on-line course in private investigating. Join the ride for fun along with Annie's best friend, Sheila, and Annie's faithful pooch, Sasha as they help Annie solve the mystery in an unusual, but most satisfying journey.

Life for Annie Peterson went sour the day Warren, her husband, robbed the Clark County Savings and Loan. Of course he didn't come right out and tell her he'd stolen the money, but he might as well have. Their twin daughters, Brandi and Candy, were getting married and Warren had kidded about having to rob a bank to pay the bill. Then someone did rob the savings and loan of $25,000, matching to the penny the check Warren handed Annie. She put two and two together and came up with...He robbed the bank!!!
Annie knew she had to learn the truth, so she signed up for an online course in investigation, even though she couldn't afford the $150.00 fee.
The Wedding Caper is a light-hearted cozy, with a heroine determined to solve this burglary no matter what it costs.

The Wedding Caper is a cute little "who did it" novel that will keep you guessing. Annie Peterson and her husband were told a surprise by their twin daughters. Both are engaged! Coming home from work one night, Annie's husband hands her an envelope with $25,000. Annie finds this rather strange because this is the same amount that was just stolen from the night deposit box at the bank her husband works at. Determined to solve this crime to prove her husband's innocence, Annie signs up for online private investigation classes. Each day, armed with her daily bible scripture and her new lesson from the onlince course, she comes closer to solving the crime. If you are looking for a good mystery to snuggle up with as the cold weather approaches then this is the book for you!

Loved this book! This story was a delight from the very beginning. Not only is the main character funny, the book alone is worth reading for all the hilarious "Sheila-isms" (Life lessons from Annie's best friend). It is so nice to see a happy marriage and happy family dynamics portrayed, as well as a constant search for God's direction in Annie's life. I especially enjoyed the Investigative Skills lessons - how creative! - as well as the scripture peppered throughout. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it!!

This book is book number #1 in the Bridal Mayhem Series.
They are light, humorous and at times silly but enjoyable
and easy to read.
I actually read book # 2 in the series
"Gone with the Groom" before I read this one. You
were not punished for reading them out of order,
Gone with the groom, was on it's own a fun book
and a pleasure to read!

If you have the option of reading them in order
I would recommend doing so but however you read them
I really think you will enjoy these lighthearted books.
They are each complete on their own and yet complement
each other. A book that isn't series bound and can be
enjoyed by itself is to me the mark or a good book.

While I don't mind waiting for the next book in a series
to come out, I do not like reading books that are hard
to follow because they are book two or three or so on.
I really dislike books have no ending of their own without
another book to do so.
A good author can leave things to be picked up in a next book but
make each book satisfying on it's own.
In my eyes the mark of a talented writer is one that can give you
an ending in each book and still leave you wanting to read
the next one and hoping for lots of sequels.
Janice has accomplished that and I hope she writes many more books like these.