Murder on Charity Lane by Jo Nichols (book review)
STOP! This book is a sequel. Find my review of book 1 here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8184545832
GENRE: Adult Cozy Mystery
LENGTH: 338 pages
PLOT
This is the second book in the Marigold Cottages Murders series. The residents’ find themselves solving another murder when Ocean’s new girlfriend is accused of pushing her employer down the stairs to his death.
CHARACTERS
All of the Marigold Cottage residents from book 1 return – Mrs. B, who is the matriarch of this found family, Ocean, her surrogate daughter, Lily-Ann and Anthony, aspiring playwright Sophie and her beau Nicholas, and hermit Hamilton. Detective Vernon also returns. CJ is the newest resident to the Marigold Cottages. She is Ocean’s new love interest.
The Marigold Cottage residents are an eclectic bunch. All of their disparate life paths and personalities don’t clash, but instead each brings something to their group the others need. I do wish that we got more of CJ interacting with Ocean since they were in the beginning stages of a romantic relationship at the novel’s start.
Vernon was kind of the worst in book 1. It wasn’t because he was trying to thwart the Marigold Cottage residents, but just because of his nasty attitude. In this book, his character is greatly improved. He actually develops a begrudging respect for the Marigold group.
Hamilton has agoraphobia, and in the first book I grouched about I didn’t think this was well represented. It was presented as he just doesn’t like to leave the house. In this book, I felt conflicted. The residents often gathered at his house. On the one hand, it was sweet and thoughtful how they wanted to include him. On the other hand, it felt like they were enabling him.
WRITING
The novel is told from the 3rd person POVs of the characters Ocean, CJ, Anthony, Lily-Ann, Nicholas, and Vernon. In contrast, Sophie’s chapters are told in the 1st person. This is the same as book 1. I really like getting to see so many of the Marigold Cottage residents’ perspectives, and it enhances their individual personalities. However, it really confuses me why Sophie is singled out as being in 1st POV. I prefer for an author to choose one style and stick with it rather than seesaw.
The first part of the novel does a good job of reintroducing/catching the reader up with the residents of the Marigold Cottages. The first murder happens approximately 50 pages into the novel. I wish there was more meat to the mystery the story is centered around. It was the characters doing the heavy lifting in this one, not the mystery. I did like that there is a twist at the very end, though.
If you like this book, then may I suggest a few books by Jesse Q. Sutanto – Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block and the Vera Wong books. Ms. Mebel and Vera both reminded me personality wise of Mrs. B. The Vera Wong books are also cozy mysteries like this series.
FINAL THOUGHTS
While I liked the first book better, I still enjoyed my reading experience with this sequel. As I mentioned above, it’s really the characters who buoy what is an otherwise thin story. If you like cozy mysteries and found families, then give this series a read. The first book is The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective. I will continue this series if more books come out in the future.
FINAL RATING: 3.75⭐️
TRIGGER WARNINGS for: mention of drugs, suicide, stalking, domestic violence, blood, and cancer