The Final Reveille

April 15, 2015
Kelsey Cambridge, director of Barton Farm, a living-history museum devoted to northeastern Ohio in the mid-nineteenth century, learns that the farm's benefactor, Cynthia Cherry, is passing control of the Cherry Foundation to her disagreeable nephew, Maxwell. During Barton Farm's special Civil War reenactment weekend, Maxwell informs Kelsey that he no longer intends to support Barton Farm. Naturally, when Maxwell is found dead, Kelsey becomes the chief suspect, so she works to solve the murder to clear herself. However, it soon becomes apparent there are others who wanted Maxwell out of the way; when the police announce they have solved the crime, Kelsey is not satisfied with their conclusion and continues her investigation. Complicating matters, her ex-husband is making noises about changing the custody arrangements for their young son. History and Civil War buffs will enjoy the historical details woven through the mystery, and Kelsey and the secondary characters are well drawn and sympathetic. This one will appeal to readers who enjoy contemporary cozies with a history frame, such as Kathleen Ernst's Chloe Ellefson mysteries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

April 1, 2015

The Civil War is resurrected on Barton Farm, a living history museum in Ohio, run by the harried but dedicated Kelsey Cambridge. Determined to make a good impression on her benefactress Cynthia Cherry, and perhaps even impress Cynthia's sour-faced nephew, Maxwell, Kelsey plans an elaborate, weekend-long reenactment. Except for a few minor scuffles between hotheaded Union and Confederate boys, the event is off to a great start--until Maxwell is found dead. Besides obviously putting a damper on the weekend's activities, the murder also throws Kelsey into the cops' crosshairs since she was seen arguing with Maxwell the night before about proposed funding cuts to Barton Farms. Determined to unmask the real killer and save the farm, as well as keep the faux battles raging on just beyond the crime-scene tape, Kelsey reluctantly joins forces with hunky EMT--and nephew of the local police chief--Chase Wyatt to find the real killer before he (or she) strikes again. VERDICT This first volume in a new series is somewhat predictable, but Flower (A Plain Disappearance) peppers it with enough historical detail and snarky one-liners to make readers intrigued to see what she'll do next.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2015
A living history museum teeters on the brink of extinction. Kelsey Cambridge, director of Barton Farm, is just about to pull off the biggest coup of her tenure: a long weekend of Civil War re-enactments capped by a ball. Cynthia Cherry's foundation has long supported the museum. So Kelsey is shocked when Cynthia's unlikable nephew, Maxwell, takes her aside and informs her that his aunt's health is failing, that he'll be running the foundation, and that Barton Farm will need to look elsewhere for money. During a tour Kelsey gives Cynthia, Maxwell, and his new fiancee, Portia Bitner, Maxwell, who's highly allergic, is disturbed by bees in the brick-making pit, and Portia comes face to face with Sgt. Wesley Mayes, whom she'd recently dumped for the wealthy Maxwell. When Maxwell is found dead in the brick pit, Kelsey becomes better acquainted with paramedic Chase Wyatt, the handsome nephew of the police chief (and part-time Confederate general), who indulges his uncle by taking part in an occasional re-enactment. Once it's discovered that Maxwell died from an overdose of insulin, Kelsey, whose father is diabetic, becomes the favored suspect. Chase wants to help prove her innocence, but Kelsey has had trust issues ever since she divorced her cheating husband, her beloved son's father, who's just announced he is getting remarried. Juggling all the problems that come with the crowds at the museum and sleuthing at the same time is very stressful, but it's not as bad as being attacked by a killer who thinks Kelsey is getting too close. In kicking off her Living History Museum series, Flower (Maid of Murder, 2010, etc.) combines a plethora of suspects, a soupcon of history, and a dash of romance.