AUTHOR: Julianna Deering
DATE: 2014
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
STARS: ****
Just as Drew Farthering thinks his life has found smooth waters, Fleur Landis, an old flame, reappears in his life. She's married now, no longer an actress, and he expects she'll soon disappear--until she comes to him in dire need. The lead actor in her old troupe's production of The Mikado has been murdered, and Fleur is the police's number one suspect.
Drew would love nothing more than to just focus on his fiance, Madeline, and their upcoming wedding, but he can't leave Fleur in the lurch--even if she did break his heart once. As Drew, Nick, and Madeline dive into the murder, they discover more going on behind the scenes of the theater troupe than could ever have been imagined. Nearly everyone had a motive, and alibis are few and far between. It's Drew's most complicated case yet.
Set in the 1930’s, Murder at the Mikado is a fun immersion in jolly old England’s society. Drew has finally convinced his American sweetheart, Madeline, to marry him, but the appearance of Fleur upsets everything. The wedding date is quickly approaching, and Fleur’s involvement in a murder case draws Drew into investigating – much to his fiance’s dismay. Will Drew and his sidekick Nick figure out this complicated case? Will Madeline be able to handle the stress? Will Fleur entice Drew away from his sweetheart and his faith?
I enjoyed this story, even though it took a while for me to get into the speech rhythms of 1930’s England. The plot is complicated and well-written, the main characters are charming, and the twists and turns enticed me. I was offered an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Murder at the Mikado earns four stars.