Cyanide and Sensibility – Katie Oliver

Are Hannah’s Delicacies Truly to Die For?

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: Review Copy from Book Tour

TYPE OF NOVEL: Austen Inspired, Contemporary Cozy Mystery

SERIES: A Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery #3 (Even though each mystery is stand alone, I would recommend reading the previous books in this series prior to this one to fully understand the character arcs and developments.)

THE PREMISE: Jane Austen scholar and literary professor Phaedra Brighton is no stranger to mysterious happenings in the cozy Virginia hamlet of Laurel Springs. Nor is she shy about interfering with murder investigations (she has helped both a friend and an aunt clear their names before). And when some is taken to the hospital for poisoning at the grand opening of her sister’s patisserie, Phaedra is ready and eager to insert herself into the investigations and find out who poisoned the cupcake…and who was it intended for?

WHAT I LOVED:

Laurel Springs: A small mountain town in the Blue Ridge – my kind of place! With small-town vibes, mountains in the background, and a walkable downtown – this is just the type of locale I love to visit. I loved all the charming places mentioned – the bookstore – Poison Pen, the apothecary – Scents and Sensibility, the grand historic home – Delaford Winery. The atmosphere felt cozy and inviting – I definitely wouldn’t mind returning to Laurel Springs in the future. I also loved that the story was set during the Christmas season – perfect for this month!

Tout de Sweet: I love that Phaedra’s sister is opening a patisserie – what a wonderful addition to a small-town to give it even more character and appeal. The delicacies Hannah prepares sound scrumptious! I appreciated seeing how Hannah dealt with a murder mystery happening just as she was opening her business. Her experiences added some more emotion and urgency to the story.

Jane Austen Nods: I love that Phaedra is a devoted Jane Austen fan who dresses up in Regency garb to teach her Jane Austen course at the university. I also love her obsession with tea and that her cat is named Wickham! Giving this story’s title, I was trying to determine if it had parallels and echoes of Sense and Sensibility. But they were either few in number or so subtle I didn’t catch them. There are some characters maybe represented (you could say one is a Willoughby sort, Nan and Malcolm seem very Mrs. and Mr. Bennet) – and of course similar names used (Rachel Brandon – not a character match though!). Mark Selden is maybe supposed to be Phaedra’s Mr. Darcy. Although, Phaedra seems to have more in common with Elinor Dashwood than Elizabeth Bennet in my opinion.

Lots of Suspects: Like Highbury or Stars Hollow, Laurel Springs has a lot of quirky townsfolk, dear friends, and even some exciting newcomers or famed celebrities. Even though it may feel like a large cast list, I love how it fleshed out the town and gave me a lot to wonder about as I tried to solve the mystery! A lot of these secondary characters were well-drawn and distinct.

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:

The Relationships: In general, I didn’t feel a lot of connection between the characters. Some of their interactions felt a little stiff. Maybe it is because I haven’t read the previous books in this series? I especially felt this in the romantic relationships portrayed – they felt very adjunct. I get the sense that there is a multi-book relationship arc for Mark and Phaedra in progress – but their feelings for each other seemed hard to decipher and inconsistent. Their level of communication with each other for two people that are supposedly “seeing each other” felt very low.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

👩🏻‍🏫 Professor by day, sleuth by night – Phaedra Brighton is serious-minded, independent, and there is nothing she would not do for those who are really her friends.

🌲 Laurel Springs is an enchanting setting for a cozy mystery series, and I would happily visit it again.

🧁 A decadent croissant or cupcake would make an exceptional companion to your cup of tea as you enjoy this cozy town mystery!

Add to Cart I Add to Shelf