Praise for INVITATION TO A KILLER: AUGUSTA HAWKE #2
“Entertaining . . . Fans of witty female amateur sleuths should pick this up.” ―Publishers Weekly "For all who love Augusta’s wit, insights into DC and the publishing industry, and a little bit of Agatha." ―Brian Kenney, FirstClue "Darkly comic and well-paced, this will appeal especially to fans of cozy, caper mysteries." ―Marie B, NetGalley "[Narrator Erin] Dion creates believable characters, male and female, and handles quick dialogue with ease, creating a fun and exciting listen." ―AudioFile Praise for 2022'S AUGUSTA HAWKE (New series) "Augusta is like if you took a big cup of Kinsey Millhone and added a dash of Stephanie Plum." ~Amazon.com Reviewer "Augusta is an engaging narrator, letting the reader in on the realities of being a bestselling author and the vagaries of the publishing world." ―Booklist "[A] strong story ... The pace is consistent, and the plot is well-crafted and intriguing." ―Mystery and Suspense Magazine "The pleasure in this book lies in the arch and humorous Augusta, her interior musings as well as her interactions with others, her caustic take on the publishing industry, and the ridiculous situations she gets caught up in. May this be the introduction to many more outings with Augusta. ―Brian Kenney, FirstClue "The story, the main character, and the wit are first-rate." Kittling: Books "The author of the award-winning “DCI St. Just” and “Rev. Max Tudor” series launches another with a mystery writer at the center" ―Library Journal Praise for 2021's DEATH IN CORNWALL
(St Just #4) "Gripping." ―Publishers Weekly "Low-key, highly professional work right up to the unmasking of the surprisingly well-hidden killer." ―Kirkus Reviews "Cozy readers will be happy to welcome back this duo." ―Brian Kenney, FirstClue "There are really very few practitioners of the traditional British detective novel working at the moment, and Malliet is one of the best....There are several factors that set this series apart from other series of its kind. One of Malliet’s sheer prose skill. Her use of the English language is light, humorous, and perfect." ―Robin Agnew, Mystery Scene Magazine columnist Read the full review here. Praise for THE HAUNTED SEASON
"Malliet combines a cunning plot with lovely prose and wicked humor in her novels, as well as a wealth of incisively drawn eccentrics. With a bow to Agatha Christie, another to Fred Secombe — and blessed with creative ingenuity — she honors the core of the English-village subgenre and deftly adjusts it to the contemporary era in this amusing and affecting whodunit." ―Jay Strafford, Richmond Times-Dispatch "[T]he handsome vicar's talent for sorting through clues to a murder is once again called into play in this charming and clever story." ―BookBeat Praise for WEYCOMBE"[A] sharp, satiric look at village life....I was absolutely compelled to keep reading...a good story, well told."
―Robin Agnew, Mystery Scene Magazine G. M. Malliet strays a bit from her cozy roots with this suspense novel, but it will still appeal to her fans. New-comers will find an author skilled at crafting complex characters whom readers will love (or love to hate). G. M. is a master at small village settings, and here she shows that while the village may be quaint and cozy, the crimes within are no less dangerous and devastating. ―BOLO Books "Weycombe is a fascinating novel of psychological suspense." ―Buried Under Books Praise for A DEMON SUMMER “Wittier than Louise Penny, lighter than Tana French, smarter than Deborah Crombie, G.M. Malliet has made a name for herself with her cozy-but-cutting English mysteries. ‘A Demon Summer’ makes the case that she may be the best mystery author writing in English at the moment (along with French). She’s certainly the most entertaining… As usual, Malliet’s story is filled with gorgeous descriptions of scenery and food, cutting wit and profound insight about the human condition. More than a few references to Penny’s ‘The Beautiful Mystery,’ set in a Canadian monastery, are a nice, winky touch, too. Grade: A” ―Plain Dealer "Wry humor permeates ‘A Demon Summer.’ After all, haven't most of us thought that fruitcakes were, in some way, lethal? Yet Malliet also weaves in a serious subplot about families, devotion and the reasons that attract some people to a near cloistered life. Each visit to Nether Monkslip with its mix of eccentric and ordinary residents has been a delight." ―Associated Press “With clever plotting that draws on classic elements of the British village mystery, characters conceived with care, an evocative setting and frequent doses of humor to leaven the inevitable sadness, Malliet continues her elegant and entertaining series, one that discerning fans of the genre will find stimulating, rewarding — and a ton of fun.” ―Richmond Times-Dispatch “The characters are well drawn, the pacing excellent and Malliet has a sly sense of humor woven into the story.” ―San Jose Mercury News “Entertaining… the ending will please Golden Age fans.” ―Publishers Weekly “The fourth fun entry in this charming English cozy series is delightful in tone. Think Agatha Christie meets Ian Fleming.” ―Library Journal Praise for WICKED AUTUMN “For readers who relish a traditional mystery with a satiric edge, perfect for a cozy fireside read, try G.M. Malliet's ‘Wicked Autumn.’ The characters here would be very much at home in a delicious comedy of manners by Barbara Pym or even Jane Austen, and there's plenty of wit to cut the treacle.” ―Boston Globe “Malliet has mastered the delights of the cozy mystery so completely that she seems to be channeling Agatha Christie… Religion, espionage, tea, and crumpets: a winning menu.” ―Booklist (starred review) “You’ll marvel at the author’s low-key humor and crystal-clear depictions of small-town life…this is a true homage to Agatha Christie, but Malliet, like Louise Penny, brings a contemporary freshness to the traditional mystery.” ―Library Journal (starred review) “[Provides] the sort of comfort a quintessential cozy can offer.” ―Kirkus Reviews “Appealing…Readers will look forward to seeing more of the Rev. Tudor.” ―Publishers Weekly "Wicked Autumn has great charm. Miss Marple would approve." ―Barry Turner, Daily Mail "A wickedly humorous skewering of the village trope, with modern sensibilities and depth of characterization." ―Deborah Crombie, CrimeReads |
Praise for IN PRIOR'S WOOD
“Agatha Christie fans will relish Malliet’s delicious second Max Tudor novel, which, in classic golden age fashion, includes a closed-circle of suspects and a dramatic final reveal to a captive audience… Clever deduction and a logical fair-play solution are enhanced by the author’s wry humor.”
―Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Malliet doesn’t miss a step in her stellar second case for her handsome vicar. Just to mix it up (after Wicked Autumn), she wisely takes him out of the village and into the region’s local castle. This series shines for its wit, well-drawn characters, pitch-perfect dialog, and intricately structured puzzle. Don’t expect to be rushed—it’s a leisurely paced read begging for the reader to catch every last detail. For Louise Penny fans, of course, but also for those who crave a well-done Golden Age–style mystery.” ―Library Journal (starred review) “A tiny village in the English countryside during a storm-wracked winter. A house party at the local castle that ends in two deaths. A dishy vicar, formerly an MI5 agent, summoned to the castle to solve the certain homicide of the lord. Put it all together, and this is one gift-wrapped package for cozy lovers and Agatha Christie devotees… thoroughly entertaining.” ―Booklist Praise for PAGAN SPRING “[A] charming series… Malliet is a gentle satirist.” ―New York Times Book Review “Here is the traditional English cozy brought up to date in loving detail.” ―Denver Post “Malliet again puts a humorous stamp on the classic village mystery, complete with a haunting plot and eccentric characters. Her readers can hope that summer is not too long a-coming in.” ―Richmond Times-Dispatch “The story is well told and fun. What's compelling about Max is his clear sense of purpose; he is, the author notes, ‘alert to nuance.’ In his spying days that helped keep him alive. Now it aids in his detecting.” ―San Jose Mercury News “Looking for a quiet mystery, set in modern times but with a feeling of the past? Looking for an interesting sleuth? If you treasure the mysteries of the past, you might want to try one with that same atmosphere, G.M. Malliet's Pagan Spring.” ―Lesa’s Book Critiques “Contemporary cozies don’t get much better than Agatha-winner Malliet’s third Max Tudor mystery.” ―Publishers Weekly (starred review) “A well-told tale whose greatest beauty, its charming cast of characters, binds together two generations.” ―Kirkus Reviews “In this third in a charming series, Malliet has grafted a contemporary village setting onto the classic roots of the beloved English cozy, with a dash of historical motivation.” ―Booklist |
Reviews and Interviews:
January 19, 2013: Leanne Davis in Fresh Fiction (A FATAL WINTER): "A traditional English mystery involving a small village, a dysfunctional family and an attractive vicar can't help but appeal to mystery lovers everywhere."
January 2013: Crimespree Magazine (A FATAL WINTER): "Well crafted and entertaining, this is a superb winter read."
November 25, 2012: Richmond Times-Dispatch (Jay Strafford): "A classic and ingenious whodunit laced with clues for the alert reader, A FATAL WINTER out-Christies Christie. Pray you don’t miss it."
Ocboter 2012: Library Journal starred review (A FATAL WINTER): "Malliet doesn't miss a step in her stellar second case for her handsome vicar....This series shines for its wit, well-drawn characters, pitch-perfect dialog, and intricately structured puzzle."
August 2012: Publishers Weekly starred review (A FATAL WINTER): "Agatha Christie fans will relish Malliet’s delicious second Max Tudor novel....Clever deduction and a logical fair-play solution are enhanced by the author’s wry humor."
June 2012: Charlaine Harris, appearing on NBC's Today show (WICKED AUTUMN): "Intelligent, charming writing make this a standout and a return to the traditional English village mystery."
December 2011: Boston Globe (Hallie Ephron): "For readers who relish a traditional mystery with a satiric edge, perfect for a cozy fireside read, try G.M. Malliet’s Wicked Autumn." WICKED AUTUMN also was chosen by the Boston Globe as a top ten crime novel of 2011: "Sly humor rivals Jane Austen’s."
December 2011: WICKED AUTUMN is on Shelf Awareness’ Reviewer's Choice: Top Ten of 2011 (Marilyn Dahl): "A wickedly witty mystery with all the right elements of a traditional British cozy: an idyllic English village, a dishy vicar (who has untraditionally fled his past as an MI5 agent) and a Women's Institute Harvest Fayre, run in a roughshod manner by a highly unpopular woman. What makes this book stand out is the humor--wry and clever."
November 2011: New York Times Sunday Book Review (Marilyn Stasio): "There are certain things you really want to have in a village mystery: a pretty setting, a tasteful murder, an appealing sleuth, a festive event, some eccentric locals, a dash of humor and maybe a nice map. G. M. Malliet delivers all that in WICKED AUTUMN."
November 2011: AnnArbor.com News (Robin Agnew's review of Wicked Autumn): "While Malliet's tongue is often firmly in cheek, with the descriptions of the citizenry frequently reaching a witty pinnacle that will have the reader chuckling throughout, she also hits on some real depth of emotion."
October 2011: Shelf Awareness review by Marilyn Dahl: "Another book that I will be rereading is Wicked Autumn by G.M. Malliet (Minotaur), a delectable mystery....It's the first in a series that I am sure won't disappoint."
October 2011: Shine from Yahoo! - Review by David Marshall James (Wicked Autumn): "The setting, the characters, and particularly the author's generous spread of wry humor will be most sufficient to entice the reader toward another visit to Nether Monkslip."
Fall 2011 issue, Mystery Scene: "Wicked Autumn is a winning entry in the quiet English village mystery genre." ~ Joseph Scarpato, Jr.
September 2011: Booklist starred review (Wicked Autumn): "Malliet has mastered the delights of the cozy mystery so completely that she seems to be channeling Agatha Christie, albeit with a hero who adds sex appeal to the mix."
September 2011: Kirkus Reviews (Wicked Autumn): "Provid[es] the sort of comfort a quintessential cozy can offer."
September 2011: New York Journal of Books (Wicked Autumn): "Takes the traditional English cozy mystery and plants it firmly into the twenty-first century."
September 2011: January Magazine review by Roberta Alexander: "What author G.M. Malliet...has done in Wicked Autumn is produce an authentic village mystery that also pokes fun at the conventions. And she does it without mockery, which is an achievement."
September 2011: Lesa's Book Critiques (Wicked Autumn): "G.M. Malliet’s use of language, setting, and character all encourage the reader to linger over the book. It’s a joy to observe a master at work."
September 2011: Mystery on Main Street Newsletter: "Our pick for best traditional mystery (English village, vicar, hidden secrets) has to be G.M. Malliet's Wicked Autumn....Spot on."
August 2011: Library Journal starred review (Wicked Autumn): "Malliet debuts a superb new series....You'll marvel at the author's low-key humor and crystal-clear depictions of small-town life." Wicked Autumn was also their pick for Debut of the Month.
August 2011: Publishers Weekly (Wicked Autumn): "This appealing first in a new cozy series from Agatha-winner Malliet introduces Max Tudor....Readers will look forward to seeing more of the Rev. Tudor."
August, 2011: Monsters and Critics (Wicked Autumn): "First of a new series, this charming English village mystery quickly draws readers into a finely drawn setting...The many characters are fully developed with clear, distinctive personalities and motives that make their actions plausible while creating a fun read."
August, 2011: Aunt Agatha's Death in the Stacks - Burbank Public Library (Wicked Autumn): "This delightfully witty cozy is sure to make many of the Best of 2011 lists."
July 2011: Mystery Loves Company bookstore newsletter review by Kathy Harig: "I loved WICKED AUTUMN and predict it will top many "Best of" lists for 2011."
(April 2010): On My Bookshelf by Allison Marie (Death at the Alma Mater):
"The delightful Malliet turns her rapier wit to the university murder mystery in the third St. Just and Sgt. Fear mystery."
(Spring 2010): Review/interview in CUA Magazine by Carol Casey:
"Surprise as well as delight epitomize G.M. Malliet’s writing in Death of a Cozy Writer, Death and the Lit Chick and Death at the Alma Mater..."
(February 2010): Vancouver Public Library Staff Fiction Pick (Death and the Lit Chick):
"A delightful and humorous insider’s view of crime writing and publishing."
(January/February, 2010): Interview, and review in Foreword Magazine by Julia Ann Charpentier (Death at the Alma Mater):
"In the classic tradition of Sherlock Holmes and other British mysteries, G.M. Malliet presents a meticulous novel with sophistication and uncomplicated restraint."
(January 15, 2010): Library Journal recommends the third St. Just, Death at the Alma Mater, saying it "uses many of the staples found in Agatha Christie: an eclectic cast of characters, a handful of suspects, and a satisfying denouement" and further recommending it for "fans of Dorothy Sayers's novels and other Golden Age British mysteries." (Even better, Jo Ann Vicarel predicts that traditional mysteries are making a comeback.)
(January 1, 2010): Booklist starred review by Judy Coon (Death at the Alma Mater):
"The reader who hasn’t yet discovered Malliet's St. Just Mystery series has a real treat in store....Longtime cozy fans will be reminded of Golden Age classics starring Dorothy Sayers' Harriet Vane and Edmund Crispin's Gervase Fen. Malliet’s writing is both smooth and elegant and her humor delicious."
(January 2010): Review in ReviewingTheEvidence.com by Christine Zibas (Death at the Alma Mater):
"The storyline and characters will continue to please readers. It's easy to see that the likable Detective Chief Inspector Arthur St Just will have a long run among fans."
(December 2009): Pam W of The Mystery Bookstore in Los Angeles choses Death and the Lit Chick, the 2nd St. Just mystery, for her December Top 10 list of favorite mysteries.
(November 30, 2009): Publishers Weekly calls Death at the Alma Mater a "witty third cozy" in the DCI St. Just series.
(November 9, 2009): Fred's Place blog (Death of a Cozy Writer):
"Highly Recommended"
(June 18, 2009): Review at Suite101.com by Vickie Britton (Death and the Lit Chick):
"Malliet’s old-fashioned style is reminiscent of the traditional whodunits of the past by Agatha Christie [and] Dorothy L. Sayers, but with a distinctly humorous flair....The book is a clever mystery as well as a witty satire."
(June 14, 2009): Review in the Denver Post by Tom and Enid Shantz (Death and the Lit Chick):
"In the second outing for her stalwart police detective, Chief Inspector Arthur St. Just of Cambridge, the author treats us to an absolutely delicious skewering of the world of mystery publishing and its none-too-savory denizens."
(May 2009): Review in ReviewingTheEvidence.com by Linnea Dodson (Death and the Lit Chick):
"Death and the Lit Chick shows why classics never go out of style....If you're a fan of the classic English manor house-style mystery, Malliet belongs on your bookshelf."
(May 2009): Review in Mystery Scene Magazine by Sue Emmons (Death and the Lit Chick):
"Delicious. That's the best word to describe the second outing of Detective Chief Inspector Arthur St. Just....Malliet is laugh-out-loud funny in describing the cadre of crime writers encountered by the sometimes-flustered [detective]."
(May 2009): Maggie Mason writing in Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine (Death and the Lit Chick):
"I especially appreciated the cast of characters at the beginning of the book, and eagerly await the next in the series." (Deadly Pleasures later chose Death and the Lit Chick as one of six best paperback originals of 2009.)
(April/May 2009): Review in Mystery News by Diana (Death and the Lit Chick):
"G.M. Malliet paints vivid pictures of her characters – she’s able in a few sentences to make them absolutely come alive for readers. It’s a characteristic I noticed in the first book in this series, Death of a Cozy Writer, which I loved. Death and the Lit Chick is even better.
The writing is A+ -- smooth, clever (in the good sense) and a pleasure to read. (The snarky bits about writers, mysteries and the publishing biz add to the fun.)"
(April 2009): Staff Pick, Mystery Lovers Bookshop, Oakmont, PA, by Lynne (Death and the Lit Chick):
"This book is particularly enjoyable because Malliet pokes fun at mystery writers - of which she is one, obviously - and their machinations in real life and in fiction. Malliet has selected a cogent niche for her books. I hope that this “lit chick” thrives for a very long time."
(April 26, 2009): Review in The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, VA, by Diane Makovsky:
Readers who enjoy all things British, as well as a good whodunit, will find either or both [Death of a Cozy Writer; Death and the Lit Chick] just the ticket.
(April 1, 2009): Review by Jo Ann Vicarel in Library Journal (Death and the Lit Chick):
"Lots of humor and a bit of 'guess who this writer is' make this one a good choice for readers who enjoy intelligent cozies and traditional mysteries."
(March 25, 2009): Booklist gives Death and the Lit Chick a starred review:
"This second St. Just Mystery easily and triumphantly fulfills the promise of Malliet’s first book, Death of a Cozy Writer....Devotees of the Golden Agers (not just Marsh but also Christie, Sayers, and Allingham) will be captivated, but fans of the early Martha Grimes novels as well as the work of Robert Barnard and C. S. Challinor will also find much to like here. A real find for old-school mystery fans." — Judy Coon
(Feb. 23, 2009): Publishers Weekly gives Death and the Lit Chick a starred review:
Murder's afoot at Dead on Arrival, a crime writers' conference held at Edinburgh's Dalmorton Castle, in Malliet's superior second cozy featuring Det. Chief Insp. Arthur St. Just (after 2008's Death of a Cozy Writer). The same evening that Kimberlee Kalder, “queen of the 'chick lit' genre,” accepts an award for best debut novel from her publisher, Lord Easterbrook of Deadly Dagger Press, her broken body is found in the castle dungeon. St. Just, who's visiting from Cambridge, and the local DCI learn that not all were thrilled by catty Kimberlee's megaseller, Dying for a Latte. Suspects include Kimberlee's literary agent, who's worried another agent wants to steal her star client, a flamboyant publicist and various jealous authors. Malliet's satirical take on the mystery scene is spot-on. Adding spice is the inspector's new romantic interest, writer and criminologist Portia De'Ath, with whom the love-starved widower becomes deliciously smitten.
(Dec. 19, 2008): Death of a Cozy Writer chosen by Kirkus Reviews as one of the Best Books of 2008:
"Fans and critics alike have lauded G.M. Malliet for this series debut—a stab at the classic English country-house murder mystery. When a rich father invites his four grown children to a weekend in the country—and to meet his new wife—panic sets in that he is going to write them out of his will. When both father and oldest son turn up dead, inspector St. Just is called in to solve the crime. Kirkus said that the book 'combines devices from Christie and Clue to keep you guessing until the dramatic denouement,' making the St. Just series one to keep an eye on."
Review in Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine by Norma Dancis
"Almost every sentence is a polished, malicious gem, reminiscent of Robert Barnard....the book is perfect for the lover of the classical detective story or the fan of great sentences."
Review at Meritorious Mysteries by Molly Weston
"If Agatha Christie and P. G. Wodehouse wrote a book together, it would be something like this one. Malliet adheres to the traditional mystery framework endorsed by Christie and enriches it with high jinks worthy of Plum himself."
Review in Mystery Scene Magazine by Lynne Maxwell
"Death of a Cozy Writer, the first novel in the St. Just series, fully lives up to the promise of its author's burgeoning reputation. Polished prose and a sophisticated, engaging plot propel this novel set in Britain."
Review: Mysterious Reviews
In the beginning, Death of a Cozy Writer will entertain readers with its characters, setting, and board game-like features, but in the end will captivate them with a compelling denouement in a familiar gathering of the suspects in the drawing room.
Review: The Mystery Bookstore (Carol's Favorite)
"Good mystery, characters, descriptive phrases, and resolution. Malliet could have a great series on her hands."
Review: Multnomah Public Library (Ruth)
Death of a Cozy Writer [is] perfect - it had all of the elements that I love in a good cozy: dysfunctional English families, lots of suspects, murders that were not too graphically described and, best of all, a country house setting!
Mysterical-E Review and Author Interview by Julie Obermiller
"From the first page (prefaced by an introduction of characters), the reader is whisked away to the country manor, with the timeless feel of a visit with Christie's Miss Marple."
Written review on KUOW.org / NPR radio website by Nancy Pearl, plus Ms. Pearl talking aboutDeath of a Cozy Writer (mp3 file)
"G.M. Malliet's Death of a Cozy Writer is a delightful homage to the great novels of Britian's Golden Age of Mysteries."
Review: Alibi Books by Roberta
"A good old-fashioned whodunit that Agatha Christie would have been pleased to claim as her own."
Interview at Jungle Red Writers blog with Hank Phillippi Ryan
Mystery Lovers Review
"G.M. Malliet starts up a charming new series featuring Detective Chief Inspector St. Just."
Des Plaines Library Staff Pick (Linda Knorr)
"Is Agatha Christie writing again? You would think so to read this British cozy mystery....Humor, red herrings, and a few unlikeable characters make this a very enjoyable cozy."
Review: Once Upon a Romance by Lori
"If you are an Agatha Christie fan or a Pink Panther fan, this story is right up your alley. This is a mystery in the truest form of the word. Yes, a crime is committed but there is no blood and guts – just a true mind-tumbling who-done-it for you to solve."
Review in Fresh Fiction by Denise Powers
"Death of a Cozy Writer is filled with twists and turns, making the reader constantly reassess who might be the guilty party. The story ends with a Christie-like denouement, revealing a killer and a motive that only the most attentive reader could have predicted. I myself was fooled; be warned, some of the clues are very subtle. Try Ms. Malliet's prize-winning debut for a classic cozy set in modern times."
Fairfax County Library Podcast Interview with Sam Clay (mp3 file)
Interview with Pamela at the Mayhem and Magic blog (also reprinted at the Midnight Ink blog)
Review: On My Bookshelf by Allison Marie
"Malliet's prodigious wit is used to great effect in this novel, and she's a fantastic writer."
Interview with Miriam R. Kramer for the Old Town Crier
Review: Gumshoe Review by Mary McElveen
This novel delivers exactly what you hoped it would: a new packaging of the old formula, and a very enjoyable read.
From Kirkus Reviews:
Detective Chief Inspector St. Just finds himself with a pretty puzzle when a father and son are murdered in a snow-shrouded Cambridgeshire manor house. The family of wealthy mystery writer Adrian Beauclerk-Fisk have arrived in response to a shocking wedding invitation. Long divorced from his first wife, he delights in keeping his unloved heirs on edge by constantly changing his will. Upon their arrival, they learn that he has already married beautiful, aristocratic Violet Winthrop, who Ruthven, his oldest son, announces was accused of murdering her first husband. Although Ruthven has usually been his favorite, Sir Adrian does not seem unduly upset when he is found brutally murdered in the wine cellar. As for his remaining children: self-absorbed George arrives with a girlfriend as stunning as she is pregnant; Albert is an actor with a drinking problem; and Sarah seems to take pains to remain unattractive while she writes successful cookbooks. In addition, the household includes a private secretary, a cook, her son the houseboy and an ancient gardener. When Sir Adrian is at last fatally stabbed in his study, St. Just looks among the houseguests and staff for the guilty party. As so often turns out in English country-house mysteries, the answer lies buried in the past.
Malliet's debut combines devices from Christie and Clue to keep you guessing until the dramatic denouement.
April 2008
From Cozy Library:
Oh-so-wealthy Sir Adrian Beauclerk-Fisk, the cozy writer in the title, is NOT a nice man. He’s manipulative, mean-spirited and a candidate for World’s Worst Father. He rewrites his will as often as most people write grocery lists, letting each legatee know when he or she is in or out, pitting one against the other. As Death of a Cozy Writer opens, Sir Adrian has invited his four grown children to his Cambridgeshire estate for an engagement party. He’s marrying Violet Winthrop, a woman whose shadowy past includes a dead husband and the suspicion she murdered him and got away with it.
In the opening pages of Death of a Cozy Writer, the author concentrates on setting the stage and developing and assembling the main characters/suspects in Cambridgeshire. After the first murder occurs and Detective Chief Inspector St. Just arrives on the scene, it’s a by-the-book police procedural.
Although G.M. Malliet has written a book reminiscent of Dame Agatha Christie’s mysteries, Death of a Cozy Writer has a decidedly modern feel to it. The writing is clever, in the very best sense of that word, and a bit edgy, with a little coarse language that would redden the ears of Sir Adrian’s "Miss Rampling" character just a tad. Ms. Malliet has a keen eye for sensory details and the skill to describe them deliciously. Her similes are spectacular. And yet, her writing doesn’t draw undue attention to itself, flowing along smoothly and effortlessly, or so it appears.
Death of a Cozy Writer is a book anyone who cut their teeth on Agatha Christie’s mysteries will treasure. I read it once for the story, and plan to read it a second time just to savor the language. It’s that good.
By Diana. First published in the Cozy Library March 10, 2008.
From Publishers Weekly:
Fans of stylish English detective work will welcome Malliet's droll debut, the first in a new series. When Sir Adrian Beauclerk-Fisk, a pompous cozy author, invites his four grown children to his Yuletide wedding to Violet Winthrop at his 18th-century manor outside Cambridge, none of the four is pleased at the prospect of a young stepmother who could inherit their father's vast fortune. Besides, Violet's considered a black widow who did in her first husband. Soon after Sir Adrian announces during a family dinner that he and Violet are already wed, eldest son Ruthven turns up dead in the wine cellar. Sir Adrian's subsequent murder in his office doesn't inspire tears from either his bride or his first wife. Detective Chief Inspector St. Just and Detective Sergeant Fear of the Cambridgeshire constabulary conduct a lively investigation that underscores how the lack and the love of money might be at the root of society's ills.
May 2008
January 2013: Crimespree Magazine (A FATAL WINTER): "Well crafted and entertaining, this is a superb winter read."
November 25, 2012: Richmond Times-Dispatch (Jay Strafford): "A classic and ingenious whodunit laced with clues for the alert reader, A FATAL WINTER out-Christies Christie. Pray you don’t miss it."
Ocboter 2012: Library Journal starred review (A FATAL WINTER): "Malliet doesn't miss a step in her stellar second case for her handsome vicar....This series shines for its wit, well-drawn characters, pitch-perfect dialog, and intricately structured puzzle."
August 2012: Publishers Weekly starred review (A FATAL WINTER): "Agatha Christie fans will relish Malliet’s delicious second Max Tudor novel....Clever deduction and a logical fair-play solution are enhanced by the author’s wry humor."
June 2012: Charlaine Harris, appearing on NBC's Today show (WICKED AUTUMN): "Intelligent, charming writing make this a standout and a return to the traditional English village mystery."
December 2011: Boston Globe (Hallie Ephron): "For readers who relish a traditional mystery with a satiric edge, perfect for a cozy fireside read, try G.M. Malliet’s Wicked Autumn." WICKED AUTUMN also was chosen by the Boston Globe as a top ten crime novel of 2011: "Sly humor rivals Jane Austen’s."
December 2011: WICKED AUTUMN is on Shelf Awareness’ Reviewer's Choice: Top Ten of 2011 (Marilyn Dahl): "A wickedly witty mystery with all the right elements of a traditional British cozy: an idyllic English village, a dishy vicar (who has untraditionally fled his past as an MI5 agent) and a Women's Institute Harvest Fayre, run in a roughshod manner by a highly unpopular woman. What makes this book stand out is the humor--wry and clever."
November 2011: New York Times Sunday Book Review (Marilyn Stasio): "There are certain things you really want to have in a village mystery: a pretty setting, a tasteful murder, an appealing sleuth, a festive event, some eccentric locals, a dash of humor and maybe a nice map. G. M. Malliet delivers all that in WICKED AUTUMN."
November 2011: AnnArbor.com News (Robin Agnew's review of Wicked Autumn): "While Malliet's tongue is often firmly in cheek, with the descriptions of the citizenry frequently reaching a witty pinnacle that will have the reader chuckling throughout, she also hits on some real depth of emotion."
October 2011: Shelf Awareness review by Marilyn Dahl: "Another book that I will be rereading is Wicked Autumn by G.M. Malliet (Minotaur), a delectable mystery....It's the first in a series that I am sure won't disappoint."
October 2011: Shine from Yahoo! - Review by David Marshall James (Wicked Autumn): "The setting, the characters, and particularly the author's generous spread of wry humor will be most sufficient to entice the reader toward another visit to Nether Monkslip."
Fall 2011 issue, Mystery Scene: "Wicked Autumn is a winning entry in the quiet English village mystery genre." ~ Joseph Scarpato, Jr.
September 2011: Booklist starred review (Wicked Autumn): "Malliet has mastered the delights of the cozy mystery so completely that she seems to be channeling Agatha Christie, albeit with a hero who adds sex appeal to the mix."
September 2011: Kirkus Reviews (Wicked Autumn): "Provid[es] the sort of comfort a quintessential cozy can offer."
September 2011: New York Journal of Books (Wicked Autumn): "Takes the traditional English cozy mystery and plants it firmly into the twenty-first century."
September 2011: January Magazine review by Roberta Alexander: "What author G.M. Malliet...has done in Wicked Autumn is produce an authentic village mystery that also pokes fun at the conventions. And she does it without mockery, which is an achievement."
September 2011: Lesa's Book Critiques (Wicked Autumn): "G.M. Malliet’s use of language, setting, and character all encourage the reader to linger over the book. It’s a joy to observe a master at work."
September 2011: Mystery on Main Street Newsletter: "Our pick for best traditional mystery (English village, vicar, hidden secrets) has to be G.M. Malliet's Wicked Autumn....Spot on."
August 2011: Library Journal starred review (Wicked Autumn): "Malliet debuts a superb new series....You'll marvel at the author's low-key humor and crystal-clear depictions of small-town life." Wicked Autumn was also their pick for Debut of the Month.
August 2011: Publishers Weekly (Wicked Autumn): "This appealing first in a new cozy series from Agatha-winner Malliet introduces Max Tudor....Readers will look forward to seeing more of the Rev. Tudor."
August, 2011: Monsters and Critics (Wicked Autumn): "First of a new series, this charming English village mystery quickly draws readers into a finely drawn setting...The many characters are fully developed with clear, distinctive personalities and motives that make their actions plausible while creating a fun read."
August, 2011: Aunt Agatha's Death in the Stacks - Burbank Public Library (Wicked Autumn): "This delightfully witty cozy is sure to make many of the Best of 2011 lists."
July 2011: Mystery Loves Company bookstore newsletter review by Kathy Harig: "I loved WICKED AUTUMN and predict it will top many "Best of" lists for 2011."
(April 2010): On My Bookshelf by Allison Marie (Death at the Alma Mater):
"The delightful Malliet turns her rapier wit to the university murder mystery in the third St. Just and Sgt. Fear mystery."
(Spring 2010): Review/interview in CUA Magazine by Carol Casey:
"Surprise as well as delight epitomize G.M. Malliet’s writing in Death of a Cozy Writer, Death and the Lit Chick and Death at the Alma Mater..."
(February 2010): Vancouver Public Library Staff Fiction Pick (Death and the Lit Chick):
"A delightful and humorous insider’s view of crime writing and publishing."
(January/February, 2010): Interview, and review in Foreword Magazine by Julia Ann Charpentier (Death at the Alma Mater):
"In the classic tradition of Sherlock Holmes and other British mysteries, G.M. Malliet presents a meticulous novel with sophistication and uncomplicated restraint."
(January 15, 2010): Library Journal recommends the third St. Just, Death at the Alma Mater, saying it "uses many of the staples found in Agatha Christie: an eclectic cast of characters, a handful of suspects, and a satisfying denouement" and further recommending it for "fans of Dorothy Sayers's novels and other Golden Age British mysteries." (Even better, Jo Ann Vicarel predicts that traditional mysteries are making a comeback.)
(January 1, 2010): Booklist starred review by Judy Coon (Death at the Alma Mater):
"The reader who hasn’t yet discovered Malliet's St. Just Mystery series has a real treat in store....Longtime cozy fans will be reminded of Golden Age classics starring Dorothy Sayers' Harriet Vane and Edmund Crispin's Gervase Fen. Malliet’s writing is both smooth and elegant and her humor delicious."
(January 2010): Review in ReviewingTheEvidence.com by Christine Zibas (Death at the Alma Mater):
"The storyline and characters will continue to please readers. It's easy to see that the likable Detective Chief Inspector Arthur St Just will have a long run among fans."
(December 2009): Pam W of The Mystery Bookstore in Los Angeles choses Death and the Lit Chick, the 2nd St. Just mystery, for her December Top 10 list of favorite mysteries.
(November 30, 2009): Publishers Weekly calls Death at the Alma Mater a "witty third cozy" in the DCI St. Just series.
(November 9, 2009): Fred's Place blog (Death of a Cozy Writer):
"Highly Recommended"
(June 18, 2009): Review at Suite101.com by Vickie Britton (Death and the Lit Chick):
"Malliet’s old-fashioned style is reminiscent of the traditional whodunits of the past by Agatha Christie [and] Dorothy L. Sayers, but with a distinctly humorous flair....The book is a clever mystery as well as a witty satire."
(June 14, 2009): Review in the Denver Post by Tom and Enid Shantz (Death and the Lit Chick):
"In the second outing for her stalwart police detective, Chief Inspector Arthur St. Just of Cambridge, the author treats us to an absolutely delicious skewering of the world of mystery publishing and its none-too-savory denizens."
(May 2009): Review in ReviewingTheEvidence.com by Linnea Dodson (Death and the Lit Chick):
"Death and the Lit Chick shows why classics never go out of style....If you're a fan of the classic English manor house-style mystery, Malliet belongs on your bookshelf."
(May 2009): Review in Mystery Scene Magazine by Sue Emmons (Death and the Lit Chick):
"Delicious. That's the best word to describe the second outing of Detective Chief Inspector Arthur St. Just....Malliet is laugh-out-loud funny in describing the cadre of crime writers encountered by the sometimes-flustered [detective]."
(May 2009): Maggie Mason writing in Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine (Death and the Lit Chick):
"I especially appreciated the cast of characters at the beginning of the book, and eagerly await the next in the series." (Deadly Pleasures later chose Death and the Lit Chick as one of six best paperback originals of 2009.)
(April/May 2009): Review in Mystery News by Diana (Death and the Lit Chick):
"G.M. Malliet paints vivid pictures of her characters – she’s able in a few sentences to make them absolutely come alive for readers. It’s a characteristic I noticed in the first book in this series, Death of a Cozy Writer, which I loved. Death and the Lit Chick is even better.
The writing is A+ -- smooth, clever (in the good sense) and a pleasure to read. (The snarky bits about writers, mysteries and the publishing biz add to the fun.)"
(April 2009): Staff Pick, Mystery Lovers Bookshop, Oakmont, PA, by Lynne (Death and the Lit Chick):
"This book is particularly enjoyable because Malliet pokes fun at mystery writers - of which she is one, obviously - and their machinations in real life and in fiction. Malliet has selected a cogent niche for her books. I hope that this “lit chick” thrives for a very long time."
(April 26, 2009): Review in The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, VA, by Diane Makovsky:
Readers who enjoy all things British, as well as a good whodunit, will find either or both [Death of a Cozy Writer; Death and the Lit Chick] just the ticket.
(April 1, 2009): Review by Jo Ann Vicarel in Library Journal (Death and the Lit Chick):
"Lots of humor and a bit of 'guess who this writer is' make this one a good choice for readers who enjoy intelligent cozies and traditional mysteries."
(March 25, 2009): Booklist gives Death and the Lit Chick a starred review:
"This second St. Just Mystery easily and triumphantly fulfills the promise of Malliet’s first book, Death of a Cozy Writer....Devotees of the Golden Agers (not just Marsh but also Christie, Sayers, and Allingham) will be captivated, but fans of the early Martha Grimes novels as well as the work of Robert Barnard and C. S. Challinor will also find much to like here. A real find for old-school mystery fans." — Judy Coon
(Feb. 23, 2009): Publishers Weekly gives Death and the Lit Chick a starred review:
Murder's afoot at Dead on Arrival, a crime writers' conference held at Edinburgh's Dalmorton Castle, in Malliet's superior second cozy featuring Det. Chief Insp. Arthur St. Just (after 2008's Death of a Cozy Writer). The same evening that Kimberlee Kalder, “queen of the 'chick lit' genre,” accepts an award for best debut novel from her publisher, Lord Easterbrook of Deadly Dagger Press, her broken body is found in the castle dungeon. St. Just, who's visiting from Cambridge, and the local DCI learn that not all were thrilled by catty Kimberlee's megaseller, Dying for a Latte. Suspects include Kimberlee's literary agent, who's worried another agent wants to steal her star client, a flamboyant publicist and various jealous authors. Malliet's satirical take on the mystery scene is spot-on. Adding spice is the inspector's new romantic interest, writer and criminologist Portia De'Ath, with whom the love-starved widower becomes deliciously smitten.
(Dec. 19, 2008): Death of a Cozy Writer chosen by Kirkus Reviews as one of the Best Books of 2008:
"Fans and critics alike have lauded G.M. Malliet for this series debut—a stab at the classic English country-house murder mystery. When a rich father invites his four grown children to a weekend in the country—and to meet his new wife—panic sets in that he is going to write them out of his will. When both father and oldest son turn up dead, inspector St. Just is called in to solve the crime. Kirkus said that the book 'combines devices from Christie and Clue to keep you guessing until the dramatic denouement,' making the St. Just series one to keep an eye on."
Review in Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine by Norma Dancis
"Almost every sentence is a polished, malicious gem, reminiscent of Robert Barnard....the book is perfect for the lover of the classical detective story or the fan of great sentences."
Review at Meritorious Mysteries by Molly Weston
"If Agatha Christie and P. G. Wodehouse wrote a book together, it would be something like this one. Malliet adheres to the traditional mystery framework endorsed by Christie and enriches it with high jinks worthy of Plum himself."
Review in Mystery Scene Magazine by Lynne Maxwell
"Death of a Cozy Writer, the first novel in the St. Just series, fully lives up to the promise of its author's burgeoning reputation. Polished prose and a sophisticated, engaging plot propel this novel set in Britain."
Review: Mysterious Reviews
In the beginning, Death of a Cozy Writer will entertain readers with its characters, setting, and board game-like features, but in the end will captivate them with a compelling denouement in a familiar gathering of the suspects in the drawing room.
Review: The Mystery Bookstore (Carol's Favorite)
"Good mystery, characters, descriptive phrases, and resolution. Malliet could have a great series on her hands."
Review: Multnomah Public Library (Ruth)
Death of a Cozy Writer [is] perfect - it had all of the elements that I love in a good cozy: dysfunctional English families, lots of suspects, murders that were not too graphically described and, best of all, a country house setting!
Mysterical-E Review and Author Interview by Julie Obermiller
"From the first page (prefaced by an introduction of characters), the reader is whisked away to the country manor, with the timeless feel of a visit with Christie's Miss Marple."
Written review on KUOW.org / NPR radio website by Nancy Pearl, plus Ms. Pearl talking aboutDeath of a Cozy Writer (mp3 file)
"G.M. Malliet's Death of a Cozy Writer is a delightful homage to the great novels of Britian's Golden Age of Mysteries."
Review: Alibi Books by Roberta
"A good old-fashioned whodunit that Agatha Christie would have been pleased to claim as her own."
Interview at Jungle Red Writers blog with Hank Phillippi Ryan
Mystery Lovers Review
"G.M. Malliet starts up a charming new series featuring Detective Chief Inspector St. Just."
Des Plaines Library Staff Pick (Linda Knorr)
"Is Agatha Christie writing again? You would think so to read this British cozy mystery....Humor, red herrings, and a few unlikeable characters make this a very enjoyable cozy."
Review: Once Upon a Romance by Lori
"If you are an Agatha Christie fan or a Pink Panther fan, this story is right up your alley. This is a mystery in the truest form of the word. Yes, a crime is committed but there is no blood and guts – just a true mind-tumbling who-done-it for you to solve."
Review in Fresh Fiction by Denise Powers
"Death of a Cozy Writer is filled with twists and turns, making the reader constantly reassess who might be the guilty party. The story ends with a Christie-like denouement, revealing a killer and a motive that only the most attentive reader could have predicted. I myself was fooled; be warned, some of the clues are very subtle. Try Ms. Malliet's prize-winning debut for a classic cozy set in modern times."
Fairfax County Library Podcast Interview with Sam Clay (mp3 file)
Interview with Pamela at the Mayhem and Magic blog (also reprinted at the Midnight Ink blog)
Review: On My Bookshelf by Allison Marie
"Malliet's prodigious wit is used to great effect in this novel, and she's a fantastic writer."
Interview with Miriam R. Kramer for the Old Town Crier
Review: Gumshoe Review by Mary McElveen
This novel delivers exactly what you hoped it would: a new packaging of the old formula, and a very enjoyable read.
From Kirkus Reviews:
Detective Chief Inspector St. Just finds himself with a pretty puzzle when a father and son are murdered in a snow-shrouded Cambridgeshire manor house. The family of wealthy mystery writer Adrian Beauclerk-Fisk have arrived in response to a shocking wedding invitation. Long divorced from his first wife, he delights in keeping his unloved heirs on edge by constantly changing his will. Upon their arrival, they learn that he has already married beautiful, aristocratic Violet Winthrop, who Ruthven, his oldest son, announces was accused of murdering her first husband. Although Ruthven has usually been his favorite, Sir Adrian does not seem unduly upset when he is found brutally murdered in the wine cellar. As for his remaining children: self-absorbed George arrives with a girlfriend as stunning as she is pregnant; Albert is an actor with a drinking problem; and Sarah seems to take pains to remain unattractive while she writes successful cookbooks. In addition, the household includes a private secretary, a cook, her son the houseboy and an ancient gardener. When Sir Adrian is at last fatally stabbed in his study, St. Just looks among the houseguests and staff for the guilty party. As so often turns out in English country-house mysteries, the answer lies buried in the past.
Malliet's debut combines devices from Christie and Clue to keep you guessing until the dramatic denouement.
April 2008
From Cozy Library:
Oh-so-wealthy Sir Adrian Beauclerk-Fisk, the cozy writer in the title, is NOT a nice man. He’s manipulative, mean-spirited and a candidate for World’s Worst Father. He rewrites his will as often as most people write grocery lists, letting each legatee know when he or she is in or out, pitting one against the other. As Death of a Cozy Writer opens, Sir Adrian has invited his four grown children to his Cambridgeshire estate for an engagement party. He’s marrying Violet Winthrop, a woman whose shadowy past includes a dead husband and the suspicion she murdered him and got away with it.
In the opening pages of Death of a Cozy Writer, the author concentrates on setting the stage and developing and assembling the main characters/suspects in Cambridgeshire. After the first murder occurs and Detective Chief Inspector St. Just arrives on the scene, it’s a by-the-book police procedural.
Although G.M. Malliet has written a book reminiscent of Dame Agatha Christie’s mysteries, Death of a Cozy Writer has a decidedly modern feel to it. The writing is clever, in the very best sense of that word, and a bit edgy, with a little coarse language that would redden the ears of Sir Adrian’s "Miss Rampling" character just a tad. Ms. Malliet has a keen eye for sensory details and the skill to describe them deliciously. Her similes are spectacular. And yet, her writing doesn’t draw undue attention to itself, flowing along smoothly and effortlessly, or so it appears.
Death of a Cozy Writer is a book anyone who cut their teeth on Agatha Christie’s mysteries will treasure. I read it once for the story, and plan to read it a second time just to savor the language. It’s that good.
By Diana. First published in the Cozy Library March 10, 2008.
From Publishers Weekly:
Fans of stylish English detective work will welcome Malliet's droll debut, the first in a new series. When Sir Adrian Beauclerk-Fisk, a pompous cozy author, invites his four grown children to his Yuletide wedding to Violet Winthrop at his 18th-century manor outside Cambridge, none of the four is pleased at the prospect of a young stepmother who could inherit their father's vast fortune. Besides, Violet's considered a black widow who did in her first husband. Soon after Sir Adrian announces during a family dinner that he and Violet are already wed, eldest son Ruthven turns up dead in the wine cellar. Sir Adrian's subsequent murder in his office doesn't inspire tears from either his bride or his first wife. Detective Chief Inspector St. Just and Detective Sergeant Fear of the Cambridgeshire constabulary conduct a lively investigation that underscores how the lack and the love of money might be at the root of society's ills.
May 2008