Kristin Eckhardt

This is probably my favorite entry so far in the Mysteries of Sparrow Island series. I don't remember how I came to hear of the series--I think a friend recommended it to me. In any case, a friend sent me this book from the series.

Unlike other books in the series, most of this book takes place away from Sparrow Island. A small group of Islanders travels to have items appraised by Antiques Adventures (similar to Antiques Roadshow).

On the way to the show, we get to hear what most/all of the Islanders plan to get appraised. I'm not sure we get to learn what all the appraisers say about the items--it sounds like one of the Islanders skipped out on the appraisal to go to a baseball game instead.

Mystery ensues when Abby's painting is stolen from her hotel room. Abby and the hotel's detective rub each other the wrong way as each tries to figure out who did it.

We also get a bit of insight into traveling as a disabled person and some of the challenges that they can face.

WARNING: SPOILERS MAY FOLLOW. READ ON AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION

*****

There's a complication when it seems Betty's teapot that is a match to Thelma's tea set is stolen. I didn't catch on to what really happened with that until about the time Abby revealed it.

I didn't catch on to who stole the painting and why until right around the time that Abby revealed it.

At the end, I felt like the locket should go back to its original owner's family (or at least be offered to give it to them), just as they sent the diary/journal back to the descendants of its original owner. We're not told if Ellen decides to do that or not--or even if she thinks about it.… (mer)

A friend sent me this book in a box of books. I've read others in the series, but not necessarily in order.

The plot seemed very similar to a book I've read in the past though I don't know if it was a book in this series or a different book. I was expecting the thief to be a bird who was attracted by shiny objects (though I didn't quite see how Hugo's journal fit that category). I was wrong about the thief.

I didn't like that the plot had me questioning most male characters in the book to see if he was the con man. I thought Hugo's side of the plot in leaving the island so often was a bit contrived since we've never heard much about this part of his life in the other books from the series that I've read. It was an interesting twist that the investigator turned out to be a bit of a con man himself. I didn't guess who Howard Barnaby was until just before it was revealed by the author.

I knew chocolate was bad for dogs, but didn't realize it was also bad for ducks.… (mer)