Customer Reviews

When Zeffie Got a Clue (Christy Castleman Mysteries, No. 3)

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Faith fiction fans of the cozy mystery genre who have enjoyed Peggy Darty's "A Cozy Mystery" series will find the third installment, WHEN ZEFFIE GOT A CLUE, chugs along in the same gentle vein as its predecessors.

In the first book, WHEN THE SANDPIPER CALLS, Darty introduced amateur sleuth and author Christy Castleman, a young single woman living a stone's throw from her parents in her Florida panhandle hometown of Summer Breeze, Florida. If you haven't read SANDPIPER and WHEN BOBBIE SANG THE BLUES, stop reading here. You'll enjoy the storyline of ZEFFIE more by reading the series in order.

This latest episode has a sweeter-than-sugar beginning. In WHEN BOBBIE SANG THE BLUES, Christy's Aunt Bobby Bodine was opening a new shop, I Saw It First, a "trash-to-treasures" sort of establishment where Bobby bought old items and made them interesting and saleable. As the new story opens, it's almost Christmas. Christy is staffing the shop when Zeffie Adams, a young elementary-aged waif shows up with cheap jewelry box to sell. As Christy gently probes the girl for an explanation, she discovers the box once belonged to Zeffie's deceased mother. Zeffie, who now lives with her grandmother, is selling it to help pay for her grandmother's medical bills.

Christy generously pays Zeffie more than the box is worth and makes it her mission to ensure Zeffie is taken under the wing of numerous people in the small town of Summer Breeze. Heartstrings, prepare to be tugged!

In a bit of a credibility stretch, Christy discovers a piece of paper under the lining of the jewelry box that holds a clue to a long-ago unsolved murder --- coincidently, the murder of one of Christy's long-ago friends, Kirby Strickland, who had once saved her from drowning. The plotline follows Christy as she tried to solve the murder. Christy also continues her romance with Dan Brockman, her on-again, off-again boyfriend --- and this time, it looks like a proposal might be in the offing.

Darty does a good job leaving the identity of the killer in question right up until the closing pages. Is it R.J. Wentworth, the owner of a Florida marina, who married Kirby's girlfriend, Julie Clark, after Kirby died? What about Vince Brown and his wife, Ellen, Kirby's sister, who inherited the business and palatial house after Kirby's death? Another suspect, Wayne Crocker, is a ladies man with conquests up and down the coast and a successful boat broker with past ties to Kirby. Della, a housekeeper who quit soon after the murder and Rueben Foster, an alcoholic painter employed by the victim's family, also leave question marks in Christy's mind.

The faith themes are strong. As Christy, a pastor's daughter, gazes on a crystal angel figurine in her bedroom, she prays, "God, please help us bring this murderer to justice."

Overdescription can slow things down ("Sunlight bounced off the girl's long blond hair, forming a gauzy halo that lit her face and exaggerated the wisdom and sorrow in her green eyes.") The dialogue can become stiff ("Christy Castleman! It's been ages. I enjoy your books, and I see your grandmother often.") Wordiness also can slow down the pacing: "She would find the person who had killed Kirby. She was onto the killer, and the killer knew it. She knew it too."

But readers of the series will be delighted to discover the ongoing relationships developing between the characters in the tropical setting of Summer Breeze. It's nice to see the character of Bobbie making a return appearance as well. Tender-hearted readers will root for a happily-ever-after ending for Zeffie, and Darty doesn't disappoint. Darty knows what her readers want, and she delivers redemption, a neatly-wrapped up conclusion, and plenty of question marks about the identity of the killer as the plot unfolds in WHEN ZEFFIE GOT A CLUE.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

This is my first cozy mystery to read by Peggy Darty and I'm sure it won't be my last. The author says "The cozy mystery is, by far, my favorite, because this genre allows the reader to participate in solving the mystery." I did like that about reading this book. I really liked the town in Florida called Summer Breeze. It's a place you definitely want to stay for a while. Zeffie is the most adorable little girl that everyone falls in love with and wants to take home. She meets the main character Christy at her store called "I Saw It First Shop" don't you just love that name? I also like what there store does. Christy explains to Zeffie "What we like to do here is rework something that's lost its purpose and make it pretty again." I think every town needs one of these shops; I think God allows us to be re-worked once we have been lost our purpose as well.

This cozy mystery reminded me of a good Nancy Drew mystery. Zeffie hands Christy a clue that reopens a case from years ago. This case was personal for Christy. The man that was murdered saved her life. With the clue she is determined to track down this killer if that is the last thing she does. You will love this town and the Characters as well. It really makes me want to read the other books in this series.

Nora St.Laurent
www.psalm516.blogspot.com

Cozy mysteries are a comfortable fit for Christian fiction. By nature there is no gore, outright violence, or anything else too disturbing. They're light and fun, as we follow casually along until we find the murderer. When Zeffie Got a Clue fits right in with a page turning plot that won't give us nightmares.

Christy is a Christian, her father is a pastor, and her life is safe and predictable in the peaceful town of Summer Breeze, Florida. She's on her second try at romance with Dan, and things are looking up for them. Many of us already know Christy, as she's solved two other mysteries before, but this book stands alone just fine if you're new to Summer Breeze. Now she's trying to warm up a cold case she cares about very much. Kirby was her idol after he saved her from drowning. He was the all-American town hero, and his murder has remained unsolved for years.

The book's opening scene, even the first line, hooks the reader right away. A sweet little girl enters Christy's second hand shop. The girl is Zeffie, and she inadvertently opens Kirby's case wide open again with an old jewelry box she holds in her hands. Since Christy happens to be a mystery writer, she can't resist the opportunity to repay Kirby if she can only find his killer.

Our heroine is surrounded by an extended family of loving people, all who play a large part in her life, if not in solving this mystery. Perhaps an even bigger mystery here is why every character who is in the vicinity of the age of fifty refers to themselves as if they are elderly, and seem obsessed with talking about their age.

Zeffie has a sub plot all her own intertwined with the investigation, as the grandmother she loves and who has raised her is about to die. The only living relative they know of is definitely not going to give Zeffie the love and nurturing she needs, so Christy tries to find Zeffie's unknown father. We've got a budding romance for Christy's aunt and business partner, as well her own deepening relationship with Dan, which could be heading towards marriage. That is, if they can work out their uncertain future. She struggles to get closer to Dan, and she tries to be supportive as the possibility of a new job far away looms.

The number of suspects mounts, as do the coincidences, leading Christy and an officer friend closer and closer to the real truth of what happened to Kirby in his family mansion that day. We consider several scenarios, all pretty plausible, while none stands out as the obvious truth.

Thankfully, we haven't been tricked by Darty. She doesn't throw in some unrelated clue at the very end and reveal the murderer as someone we never could have guessed. That can be a frustration to the reader in this genre. It's a satisfying ending all the way around, and a fun, easy going journey that will keep you guessing to the end.

Mystery writer and amateur sleuth Christy Castleman has managed to come across another unsolved case in her small Florida town. This time, the clue comes in the form of a letter from the jewelry box of a young girl named Zeffie. This letter reopens an unsolved murder that took place over eight years ago. The killer was never found. With the new info that Christy has, she sets out to find the murderer before they realize she's looking for them.

Peggy Darty has become one of my favorite cozy authors to read. She also has a tight storyline with engaging characters and a mystery that will keep you guessing throughout. This latest addition featuring the gang from Summer Breeze did not disappoint. The mystery was really good because once again, the reader is kept guessing as to who the killer really was. This story was like a cold case being reopened years later. Therefore there are many suspects, including several who I myself guessed wrong. Zeffie was a cute character and I liked her. She wasn't annoying like a lot of bright little kids are normally portrayed in books. My absolute favorite part of reading this story was when Christy would visit the barbecue place. I envied her so much for the huge platters of ribs and sweet tea that she would get. I would get hungry every time it was mentioned. If I could get sucked into the story, I would definitely be tagging along with her when she ate there. I was geeked to read about Christy and Dan getting back together. I missed him in the 2nd book and it was good to see that he was able to keep up with her sleuthing habits in this one. These stories are perfect for those who love mystery but hate gritty suspense. It's perfect for a read on a lazy summer day. I do hope there will be more books featuring Christy and the residents of Summer Breeze. I will be anxious to make another trip down there.

Fans of cozy mysteries will be delighted to solve this cold-case mystery alongside Christy Castleman, part owner of I SAW IT FIRST JUNK SHOP and mystery writer turned part-time sleuth.

When little Zeffie comes into the I SAW IT FIRST JUNK SHOP to try to sell her music box, to help her sick grandmother, she doesn't know her life is about to drastically change. Christy buys the box and begins a friendship with her young patron. When Christy sets out to fix the damaged box, she finds a jewelry appraisal slip belonging to the mother of Kirby Strickland who was thought to have surprised a burglar in his home and was tragically shot. Did Zeffie's family have something to do with the murder?

Not one to allow a good mystery to go by and especially since Kirby was a dear friend, Christy is determined to use her investigative skills to solve the mystery against the sage advice of her parents and boyfriend. But as Christy gets close to piecing together the clues to the mystery, a dark sinister stranger sets out to stop her. Christy finds that everyone is not who they appear to be and the killer will stop at nothing to keep the secret hidden.

When Zeffie Got a Clue is a moderately paced mystery which allows the reader the opportunity to solve the mystery right along with Christy. I prefer a more rapid pace but I still did not figure out who killed Kirby and was surprised by the outcome.

Fans of Nancy Drew (the older years, remember it on T.V.?) and Murder She Wrote might want to pick up this cozy mystery set in Summer Breeze, Florida.

Young Zeffie Adams just wants to get some money for her grandmother's medical bills, so she brings a jewelry box to the I Saw It First Store, hoping to sell it. Christy Castleman doesn't think the box is worth much, but she is so touched by Zeffie she pays more than she should out of sympathy. Inside the ripped lining, Christy finds a clue to the murder of an old friend. She decides to talk to a few people who might not want the case reopened, which stirs up secrets better left alone.
When Zeffie Got a Clue is Peggy Darty's third cosy mystery set in Summer Breeze, Florida. It's an easy going story with a cast of comfortable, down-home characters, which makes this the perfect Cozy. Check out books one and two of this series, When the Sandpiper Calls, and When Bobbie Sang the Blues.

I don't normally read cozy mysteries, but this one was fun and it held my interest. The title was intriguing and once I got involved in the story and got to know the characters I wanted to finish the book. It had a nice hook and pulled me in. Nothing was edgy or compelling in a suspenseful sense. There were no graphic descriptions or things that made me cringe (not that I like that). There was nothing heart-wrenching or spiritually moving. It was just a nice read. Kind of like a Matlock murder mystery. The characters were well done, the writing was good, and it gave me the warm fuzzies - especially the subplot involving Zeffie. Maybe I would have felt even more attached to the characters if I had read the previous two books in the series. I dunno. Overall I'd say this book is a winner, because not once did I dread picking it up to finish the story. That's a great book!

When Zeffie Got A Clue, don't you just love the title? I did and that's what made me pick up book three of Peggy Darty's Cozy Mystery series, where we find mystery writer Christy Castleman at work along side her somewhat eccentric aunt, Bobbi Bodine in the I Saw It First Junk Shop. As the story opens, eight-year-old Zeffie Adams brings into the shop an old jewelry box she received from her mother. Zeffie is hoping to receive enough money from the sale of the box to help pay for her grandmother's many medical bills.

Taken by the young child's vulnerability, Christy generously pays Zeffie for the box and begins work on refurbishing it for resale. When Christy removes the worn lining, she finds an appraisal for jewels belonging to Annabel Strickland, the mother of Kirby Strickland who was shot to death years ago in an unsolved case that was labeled a burglary gone wrong. Believing Kirby's killer stole this box, Christy sets out to locate the person who gave the box to Zeffie's mother with the hope that this trail will eventually lead to the killer.


When things get interesting and dangerous, and even when Christy's boyfriend, encourages her to back off for her own safety, Christy, because of her fondness for Kirby who saved her from drowning once, moves forward in search of the killer. The mystery moves along at an even pace, with enough interest to keep you reading until the book leads to a very satisfying conclusion.


This entertaining mystery has many elements of a good cozy--a smallish town, people who know one another, some quirky characters, and an amateur sleuth tracking down a killer. Also in cozy style, the mystery unfolds slowly so you have time to savor the characters in the book while appreciating the strong leading character, Christy. Darty displays Christy's fine personal qualities through the relationships with the other characters, most notably with Zeffie when her grandmother passes on and the elderly retired housekeeper now alone and lonely at the nursing home.

When Zeffie Got a Clue by Peggy Darty is the third book in the Cozy Mystery series starring Christy Castleman. When little Zeffie comes into Christy's second hand store with a jewelry box, Christy buys the box in sympathy for the girl's sick grandmother. But hidden in the lining of the box is evidence from a murder eight years old. Christy dives right in to solve the cold case with help from her Aunt Bobbie and boyfriend Dan. I read a lot of these mysteries, but Christy stands out as a fun, strong character. While she does tend to run off putting herself in danger, she is far more careful than most heroines, and her relationship with Dan and her family is solid. Christy's faith really defines who she is. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next entry.

When I was younger I loved mysteries. I love to read them and watch them on various television shows or movies. My mother, my sisters, and I all watched Murder She Wrote together when I was really young and I can still remember the popcorn on the floor... Peggy Darty has made a really believable mystery stand out in this When Zeffie Got a Clue. I found out the hard way tha...more When I was younger I loved mysteries. I love to read them and watch them on various television shows or movies. My mother, my sisters, and I all watched Murder She Wrote together when I was really young and I can still remember the popcorn on the floor... Peggy Darty has made a really believable mystery stand out in this When Zeffie Got a Clue. I found out the hard way that this is the third in a series, and although I have not read the others and was able to understand the plot completely, there were some points where I was largely frustrated and a mention of a previous event that I can only assume would have been explained in a previous cozy mystery. I do fully intend to put When the Sandpiper Calls and When Bobbie Sang the Blues on my TBR pile.

Zeffie is a sweet little girl in an unfortunate point of circumstances in her young life and Christy, the local mystery writer/murder solver of the area of Summer Breeze, Florida is able to jump into detective mode and seek out answers to find for Zeffie's questions as well as others that are closer to home from her own youth.

This is the first Christian cozy mystery that I have read, and it really makes me thirst for more. The overall story is riveting and near impossible to put down once started. There are many different emotions and as a reader, one really gets pull into everything that is going on and debates all of the clues themselves.

I really recommend this book if you have a few hours to spare and jump in to see if you can help Christy and Zeffie find what they are looking for!