Murder by Mistake

Starred review from June 14, 2010
Ellie Quicke, who rescued waifish Mia Prior from her abusive criminal stepfamily in Murder in House (2009), plans on hosting a wedding reception for Mia's best friend, Ursula Belton, in British author Heley's entertaining 11th mystery to feature the stubborn amateur sleuth. Against her better judgment, Ellie is also planning the splashy, ill-advised nuptials of her oh-so-demanding daughter, Diana, to Denis "the Menace," a shady businessman (who might still be married). The week before the weddings, to be held on the same day, a speeding car kills a young mother and narrowly misses Ellie and Mia while they're out shopping. Further problems develop after Mia begins receiving threatening messages and flowers suggesting she's still in danger. Avoiding wedding day catastrophe and more, intrepid Ellie injects this high-octane cozy with endearing humor and enduring style. Adding to the fun is Ellie's impulse to pray for help from higher powers at critical moments.

July 1, 2010
Amateur sleuth Ellie Quicke returns in another mystery thats both cozy and sinister. Ellie has never regretted taking in young rape victim Mia, who was abused repeatedly by her stepfather and his friends. Thoroughly traumatized, Mia is only just beginning to lose her haunted look under Ellies gentle ministrations. Then a white van nearly runs Ellie and Mia downsurely it must be an unfortunate accident. Meanwhile, Ellie has agreed to host the wedding reception of Mias best friend, Ursula, and now her own daughter, Diana, has announced shes getting married and demands that Ellie host her reception tooon the same day as Ursulas! What with all these goings on, Ellie is stunned when there is a second episode with the white van. Mia is terrified her stepfather is behind the attacks, but could there be something even more sinister going on? This is a cleverly plotted, engaging British cozy with an edge.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)