Trouble Brewing by Dolores Gordon-Smith

Something is rotten at Hunt's coffee. Mark Helston, the apparent heir, has just up and disappeared. Jack Haldean is called in by the owner, Mr. Hunt, to investigate. As he's looking into it, the man's niece, Patricia, is having problems in her marriage and Jack gets pulled in as her best friends is one of his good friends as well. Then, Pat's first husband returns from the dead with a story of amnesia having coincidentally worked at Hunts coffee in Argentina, the same place that Hunt is having difficulties with. 

It took me a LONG time to read this book. It's fine but it just didn't capture my attention like some of Gordon-Smith's books have. Luckily, I know that some of the later books are great so I'm going to continue the series.

Three stars

This book came out November 1, 2012

Follows Off the Record

Followed by Blood from a Stone

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

The Chapel in the Woods by Dolores Gordon-Smith

Jack Haldean, detective story writer, returns in a new mystery that brings a little murder close to home, at least, his cousin's small village. A very rich Canadian and his wife have just bought Birchen Bower. The property has a very interesting history with a family that was descended from pirates. There are also stories about jaguars and ghosts that haunt the area. But the Jagos bring bad luck of their own with stories of Mr. Tom Jago's secretary, Derek Martin (a local boy), running off with twenty thousand dollars worth of diamonds.  

However, they stick around for a bit, even enjoying the village fete. It's just too bad that a body turns up in the chapel on their property. And then there's another.  And another. All appear to have been clawed by a big cat. It will be up to the local constable and Inspector Edward Ashley, with some help from Jack, to figure out what exactly is going on.

Four stars

This book comes out March 1, 2022

Follows Forgotten Murder

ARC provided by Severn House and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Off the Record by Dolores Gordon-Smith

The mystery in this one felt very much rooted in character development which was fairly interesting. There was a lot going on in showing the many facets of each of the characters. The solution ended up being fairly complex and I didn't really understand one of the character's motivations and there were other loose ends but it was a good story and a nice addition to the series. I really liked and appreciated Gordon-Smith's note at the beginning explaining the history. 

Jack Haldean is at the center of a new mystery where a man whose invention could revolutionize the way music is played. But why would the professor seemingly murder the man who could make his ambition even bigger? Could it be that the entrepreneur had secrets of his own.

Three stars
This book came out March 1, 2011
Follows A Hundred Thousand Dragons
Followed by Trouble Brewing
Hard copy borrowed from Library
Opinions are my own

A Hundred Thousand Dragons by Dolores Gordon-Smith

Jack Haldean has met Durant Craig before. That's why he's not surprised when the man confronts him in Claridge's Hotel. Also present are Jack's friend and a lawyer named Vaughn. They are all also present at a costume party when a car accident ends the life of... someone. It all harkens back to the war and when Craig and Haldean had crossed paths before. And the poem that leads them on the hunt for a hundred thousand dragons.
This book just didn't keep my attention like some of the others have. It was a nice enough book in the series but nothing spectacular. When I reread it as an audiobook, it definitely improved.

Three stars
This book came out May 27th, 2010
Follows As if by Magic
Followed by Off the Record
Borrowed from Hoopla and Audible Premium Plus
Opinions are my own

A Fete Worse than Death by Dolores Gordon-Smith

Jack Haldean isn't necessarily looking forward to the local fete when he visits his uncle, aunt, and cousins but it goes downhill when he is recognized by a man who reported to Jack in the RFC during the Great War. The man was a thorn in Jack's side; Jack even comments that Boscombe caused more trouble than the Germans. And he seems to be continuing the trend, making oblique comments about other people at the fete. Then the man turns up dead in the fortune teller's tent.
Jack, being a mystery writer of some note and generally curious, inserts himself into the investigation (Gordon-Smith inserts that Jack had helped on a major case in the past and has used the police extensively to write his stories so he's not a complete n00b.) With drama circling around Jack's uncle's ward and a hero of the war, a ball in the neighborhood being thrown by a local, older femme fatale, and another body popping up, there is a lot going on in this book.
Gordon-Smith weaves together all of the stories into a book that slides into the life of a detective and lets us ride along with him.

Four stars
This book came out June 26, 2007
Book borrowed from library