Monday, August 16, 2021

Danger at the Cove by Hannah Dennison

First Line: "Do you mind moving those plants into the potting shed before you run my errand, Ollie?"
 
Evie Mead is beginning to think that the renovations on the Tregarrick Rock Hotel may actually be done in time for opening day until one of Margot's high-maintenance Hollywood friends shows up expecting VIP treatment. Evie is all for telling Louise to find lodgings elsewhere, but her sister, Margot, talks her into letting Louise stay. Louise is grieving the death of her husband and besides... she's a marketing guru who should be able to work wonders at putting the hotel on the map.

But then one of the hotel staff is found dead, a mysterious stranger arrives, another death occurs, and old rivalries are uncovered. Does all this have anything to do with the shipwreck that was uncovered and the hints of buried treasure? Evie and Margot have got a lot to accomplish before opening day!

~

I have to be honest and say that I began reading Danger at the Cove with a bit of trepidation because of my reaction to the first book in the series, Death at High Tide. In that first book, Evie's sister Margot was a Diva of the highest order, packing six months' worth of clothing for a weekend stay and demanding a herd of minions be constantly at her beck and call. I have no use for divas, especially when they're major series characters. Fortunately, all the renovations being done at the Tregarrick Rock Hotel have evidently knocked most of the diva out of Margot, and her high-end attitude is seen mainly in what she wants the hotel to become.

On the other hand, Evie is much more my type of character. She tends to be a bit more hesitant and doubtful of her own abilities than I'd like, but she's still mourning the death of her husband. Evie wants to take the hotel back to its glory days when it was a writers retreat, and I'm all for that. I loved the descriptions of some of the rooms in the old place, just as I enjoyed the ambiance and bits of history about the Isles of Scilly that Dennison weaved into her story. Anyway, what's not to like about shipwrecks, treasure, and clinging to the side of a cliff during a raging storm?

For anyone who does like divas, they can feast upon the character of Louise. Good old Louise. I wanted to wring her scrawny little neck but, knowing that she was just temporary, I was able to restrain myself.

What made me happy was that Danger at the Cove reminded me of my favorite Dennison series, the Honeychurch Hall mysteries... the way the characters play off each other, the gentle humor, the enjoyable mysteries to solve. If this is the direction these Island Sisters mysteries are going to take, I am going to be very happy indeed. Bring on book three!

Danger at the Cove by Hannah Dennison
eISBN: 9781250194527
Minotaur Books © 2021
eBook, 320 pages
 
Cozy Mystery, #2 Island Sisters mystery
Rating: A
Source: Net Galley

10 comments:

  1. I'm not usually a cozy mystery reader, but I like the idea of this series!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dennison is doing some interesting things with it, Jen.

      Delete
  2. OK, now I may really have to try this series, Cathy. I like Dennison's Honeychurch Hall series a lot, and I do like the wit in her stories. I'm glad this one appealed to you more than the first one die.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it's much better to have the divas visit occasionally than live there permanently. ;-)

      Delete
  3. Sounds like a good one and a good reminder to check out the Honeychurch Hall series.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Honeychurch Hall is one of my favorite series, Gretchen.

      Delete
  4. Sounds like fun...even with the diva characters. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I like cozy mystery reads and this one is up my street! Thanks for the review.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to make a comment. I really appreciate it!