Review: Ring for Tomb Service
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 12, 2013
This is the 9th entry in the Pennyfoot Hotel mystery series - and the murder mystery didn't count for squat in this book!  The whole "mystery" is what is going to happen between Cecily and Baxter.It's been three months since Baxter suddenly left the Pennyfoot, with only a vague promise that he would explain at a later date. Not one single word has Cecily heard from him in that time and then, without notice, he walks up behind her on the roof garden. From that point on you simply do not want to put the book down.The book is expertly written with dialog of the time period.  The author's ability to express anger, fear, distress, supposition and love within that dialog and internal monologues is phenomenal. And the author's way of creating reader frustration with the characters is pretty good, too.  By the time you've gotten a third of the way through this book, you just want to shake both Baxter and Cecily and tell them to quit pussy-footing around and "communicate already."This series comes under the "cozy mystery" genre but is really a serial drama.  The books must truly be read in published order to get the most benefit and understanding of the time line and "family" dynamics involved.  They are a great way to lighten the heart and, for the avid reader, can be the well-placed break needed between heavier and/or nastier mysteries and thrillers.