Book Review: Murder Most Persuasive: A Mystery by Tracy Kiely

✰✰✰✰ This fun whodunit centers around the crime solving adventures of Elizabeth Parker, an amateur sleuth and Jane Austen fan. After Elizabeth's uncle dies, a body is discovered underneath the swimming pool of the recently sold family home. The family is shocked to learn that the body is none other than Cousin Reggie's former husband-to-be, who disappeared eight years earlier under suspicion of embezzlement.

Soon Elizabeth settles in to help her Cousin Ann get Uncle Marty's affairs in order. The intrigue heats up when Ann's former boyfriend, Detective Muldoon, shows up to investigate the case. Unfortunately, it seems that just about everyone is a suspect. Although Elizabeth's aunt and boyfriend try to discourage her from getting involved in another mystery, Elizabeth has no choice but to help when her sister, Kit, catches the crime solving bug.

Murder Most Persuasive: A Mystery includes an entertaining cast of characters. The action is lively, and there's a little for everyone: sibling rivalry, romance, family secrets, and, of course, murder.

The Bottom Line: This is the third book featuring amateur sleuth Elizabeth Parker, who tells the story in a chatty style. Parker is an avid fan of Jane Austen, and the story is peppered with many references to Austen's works, especially Persuasion. This was the first book in the series that I have read, and I look forward to reading more. I enjoyed the family dynamics of this clever and witty mystery. Murder Most Persuasive: A Mystery is lots of fun; it's a great weekend read. Highly recommended for fans of cozy mysteries. Fans of Jane Austen may also want to check out this series.

Details: Murder Most Persuasive: A Mystery by Tracy Kiely. 304 p. ISBN: 978-0-312-69941-3 Note: I received a complimentary advance uncorrected proof from Minotaur Books in exchange for a review. This was made possible by the Early Reviewer program at LibraryThing.