Peachy Scream by Anna Gerard has Nina Fleet who owns Fleet House Bed-and-Breakfast in Cymbeline, Georgia hosting Georgia Amateur Shakespeare Players (GASP). It is the town's seventh annual Shakespeare on Cymbeline Square which includes nightly performances of Hamlet by the amateur acting troupe. Nina does not learn until the actors arrive that their director is Harry Westcott. The group is rehearsing at the B&B while they adjust to the hot temperatures for their outdoor performances. When Len Marsh fails to return from a smoke break, Nina goes searching and finds the thespian dead in the hawthorn hedge. There were tensions between Len and several of the member of GASP. Nina with her trusty Australian shepherd sidekick, Mattie reluctantly team up with Harry to unmask the killer. Peachy Scream is the 2nd A Georgia B&B Mystery. It can be read as a standalone. Nina Fleet cannot believe her luck in obtaining the actors performing at Shakespeare on Cymbeline Square for her fledgling bed and breakfast. But then the bus arrives with Harry Westcott behind the wheel. Nina was hoping she had seen the last of the actor who believes he should be the rightful owner of her Queen Anne Victorian. You can always count on laughs when Harry is around. There is plenty of fun to be had in Peachy Scream. The death of Len Marsh has Nina donning her sleuthing cap once again. The killer does not seem happy to stop with Len because attempts are made another one of the thespians. Someone is also playing pranks that are getting everyone riled up. There is a red herring as well as a variety of clues. I wish this whodunit had been more of a challenge to solve. I did feel that the killer was rather obvious. Also, there was a repetition of key details regarding the investigation. This character driven story will delight those who enjoy easygoing, humorous cozy mysteries. Peachy Scream is a blithe tale with a hawthorn hedge, amateur actors, number nine Nina, a play within a play, the Secret Squirrel Society, madcap mayhem, and playful pranks.
Peachy Scream is the second installment in the Georgia B&B series set in Cymbeline, GA and featuring innkeeper Nina Fleet. Nina is looking forward to the annual Shakespearean Festival and hosting the acting troupe that will be headlining with their production of Hamlet, on the town square: that is until the bus carrying the troupe arrives being driven by none other than Harry Westcott, the man still claiming to be the rightful owner of Nina's beautiful Queen Anne home.
The dissension between the actors is apparent from the minute they disembark the bus. The six members of the troupe include Len Marsh and his trophy wife Susie, millionaire Marvin Lasky, Professor Tessa Benedict and her husband Bill and the transgender Chris Boyd and they are all being directed by Harry. It only takes a day before Nina discovers Len dead in her hedgerow, a glass of her welcome peach mimosa not far from his body.
Determined that the show must go on and the reputation of her B&B at stake, Nina sets out with the help of Harry to uncover a killer. An entertaining plot with a quirky cast of characters, I was able to identify the killer early on but enjoyed the banter and growing relationship between Nina and Harry. I was very happy that the author did not have Nina explaining to everyone how to pronounce her name in this addition to the series (thank you). I will look forward to more adventures with Nina, Harry and the delightful Mattie.
The dissension between the actors is apparent from the minute they disembark the bus. The six members of the troupe include Len Marsh and his trophy wife Susie, millionaire Marvin Lasky, Professor Tessa Benedict and her husband Bill and the transgender Chris Boyd and they are all being directed by Harry. It only takes a day before Nina discovers Len dead in her hedgerow, a glass of her welcome peach mimosa not far from his body.
Determined that the show must go on and the reputation of her B&B at stake, Nina sets out with the help of Harry to uncover a killer. An entertaining plot with a quirky cast of characters, I was able to identify the killer early on but enjoyed the banter and growing relationship between Nina and Harry. I was very happy that the author did not have Nina explaining to everyone how to pronounce her name in this addition to the series (thank you). I will look forward to more adventures with Nina, Harry and the delightful Mattie.
