This feature is in association with NetGalley.
Death of a Russian Doll by Barbara Early
Many thanks to both NetGalley and to Crooked Lane Books for letting me see an advance reader’s copy of Death of a Russian Doll.
This is the third in a series of Vintage Toy Shop Mysteries by Barbara Early, but it was the first one I’ve read.
Saying that, I didn’t feel as though I missed anything by not reading the other two, but I enjoyed this one so much I would like to start at the beginning.
It’s a fun, cosy mystery featuring some well-developed characters. I like the toy shop setting and the small town mystery where, of course, everyone knows everyone.
There were a couple of instances where I knew what was going to happen, but I do think that the denouement was a bit pulled-from-a-hat, as though Early had written herself into a corner and forced herself out of it again.
I found the MC a bit silly, doing things alone that I wouldn’t dream of doing, especially after there had been a recent murder in the town. I won’t go into detail, because that’ll be a bit of a spoiler.
I also thought that she was a bit old to still be living with her dad. Perhaps she needs to, though, if she goes around doing silly things…
However, if you enjoy cosy mysteries, then this is one of the better ones I’ve read in recently months.
Four stars.
