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Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Murder at Serenity Glade by Andrew Higgins is part of The Blaine and Meredith Murder Mystery Series. Demelza Blaine inherits a whiskey distillery with a long history. But she quickly learns that sometimes there’s a price to pay for an inheritance. This puts her in the middle of a business disagreement, with an important decision to make about the company’s future. At least Demelza gets to spend a few days at the glorious Serenity Glade Hotel. That is, until one of the businessmen, Callum Hunter, is found dead. Now she has other problems to worry about. DI Gideon Meredith isn’t ready to accept the death as a suicide, and has decided to dig into Hunter’s enemies. From angry rivals to even angrier lovers, there’s no end to the list of enemies the man had. Narrowing it down proves to be difficult, but Demelza is determined to uncover clues with the help of her feisty housekeeper.
The relationship between Demelza and Mabel is a highlight of the mystery. Mabel is a no-nonsense maid who works for Demelza, though the two share an instant connection, which is evident in the ease with which they share scenes. Their dynamic has great dialogue back and forth, proving that everyone could use a Mabel in their life. This gives the mystery a lovely charm that maintains a lighthearted tone. Andrew Higgins shows how receiving an inheritance can go horribly wrong and uses this to push Demelza into being more determined to get answers. She’s a grounded character that brings a sense of calm to the interrogative and investigative scenes, and is a sleuth you genuinely want to follow to search for clues. Her relationship with Gideon is also an important element of the mystery, as she views him as her anchor. He is driven by care for the victim, which gives an idea as to how the case is handled. These characteristics also make it clear why his and Demelza’s dynamic works so well. Murder at Serenity Glade is a highly recommended treat for mystery lovers as it brings charm and fun with delightful characters and an exciting mystery.
