Book Recommendation: A Legacy of Murder by Connie Berry
A Legacy of Murder (2019, Crooked Lane Books) is novel number two of the Kate Hamilton Mystery books by author Connie Berry. Another good series for your reading list. Click on the link to reach the website to learn more about the author and her books.
American antique dealer Kate Hamilton's Christmastime jaunt to a charming English village leads to an investigation of a missing ruby...and a chain of murders.
It's Christmastime and antiques dealer Kate Hamilton is off to visit her daughter, Christine, in the quaint English village of Long Barston. Christine and her boyfriend, Tristan, work at stately-but-crumbling Finchley Hall. Touring the Elizabethan house and grounds, Kate is intrigued by the docent's tales of the Finchley Hoard, and the strange deaths surrounding the renowned treasure trove. But next to a small lake, Kate spies the body of a young woman, killed by a garden spade.
Nearly blind Lady Barbara, who lives at Finchley with her loyal butler, Mugg, persuades Kate to take over the murdered woman's work. Kate finds that a Burmese ruby has vanished from the legendary Blood-Red Ring, replaced by a lesser garnet. Were the theft and the woman's death connected?
Kate learns that Lady Barbara's son fled to Venezuela years before, suspected of murdering another young woman. The murder weapon belonged to an old gardener, who becomes the leading suspect. But is Lady Barbara's son back to kill again? When another body is found, the clues point toward Christine. It's up to Kate to clear her daughter's name in Connie Berry's second Kate Hamilton mystery, a treasure for fans of traditional British mysteries. Goodreads
Connie Berry, award-winning author of traditional mysteries, discovered her love for storytelling when her dream of becoming an archaeologist ended. Realizing the field involved more than unearthing lost tombs, she turned her passion for history and antiques into creating the enchanting Kate Hamilton Mystery series. Set in the United Kingdom, this captivating series follows an American antiques dealer with a knack for solving crimes and her partner-in-detection, Detective Inspector Tom Mallory. Drawing from her unique upbringing, Connie mirrors her own experiences in the series.
Raised by charmingly eccentric antiques collectors who opened a shop, not to sell antiques but as an excuse to keep buying them, Connie developed a deep appreciation for history, fine art, and travel. With a bachelor’s degree in English from DePauw University, Connie furthered her education at the University of Freiburg in Germany and St. Clare’s College, Oxford, where she fell under the spell of the British Isles. She later earned her master’s degree in English Literature at The Ohio State University, diligently typing her thesis at a child-sized table in her sons’ playroom.
Connie’s debut mystery, A Dream of Death, garnered critical acclaim, winning the IPPY Gold Medal for Mystery and becoming a finalist for both the Silver Falchion and Agatha awards. The Kate Hamilton Mystery series has grown to include five novels: A Dream of Death, A Legacy of Murder, The Art of Betrayal, and the Edgar-nominated The Shadow of Memory. The fifth installment, A Collection of Lies, released in June 2024, is available at your favorite book seller.
Adding to her repertoire, Connie’s first novella, the holiday-themed Mistletoe and Murder, was released on October 17, 2023. Crooked Lane Books publishes her works, and agent Paula Munier proudly represents her at Talcott Notch Literary Agency.
A true Anglophile, Connie’s love for all things British permeates her writing. When she’s not penning her gripping mysteries, she enjoys indulging her passions for history, foreign travel, and cute animals. She finds inspiration in the world around her, bringing her readers captivating stories that transport them to the charming villages and enchanting landscapes of the United Kingdom. Connie resides in central Ohio and northern Wisconsin with her husband and their adorable dog, Emmie.
Dahlia, Santa Claus, American Dahlia Society Show, Longwood Gardens,
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania USA IMG 5611
Canon PowerShot G11 Camera
Photograph by Roy Kelley
Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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