I’m so glad I found Cecelia Tichi and her Gilded Age series! Cozy mysteries are my escape after I’ve read several big, complex and/or intense books where the content requires a lot of concentration and thought. It’s these cozies that allow me to enjoy a great story, have a few chuckles and give me that refresh every reader needs from time to time.
In “A Fatal Gilded High Note” the story of Roddy and Val, the high society couple who live in Gilded Age New York City are back at it, but this time when they’re at the opera enjoying the show in their exclusive box, they’re disrupted by a murder in the box right next to them. Soon the police are asking Roddy and Val to help out with the investigation on the “QT”, which is nothing new, since they’ve been helpful in the past. And this time the police find “material evidence” that links Val to the crime, so it’s vital Roddy and Val figure this one out quickly!
I just love Roddy, Val! They’re such a cool couple and definitely not the norm for the Gilded Age. Val is a gal from the Wild West and doesn’t conform to New York society’s rules for a “lady,” she’s one go getter and doesn’t care what others say about her. After all it’s her family’s money that the couple counts on. Her father made a killing in silver out west where Roddy and Val met when Roddy was taken there as a young man to “dry out.” What’s really cool is Roddy’s hobby as a mixologist is a big part of the book Tichi gives the reader the recipes for all his exotic drinks. I don’t drink, but it’s a fun part of the storyline.
These books make me laugh, they’re good mysteries that I try to figure out as I’m reading, and the characters are great, but Roddy and Val are so cute together I picture them as a stuffy high-class couple out on their walks or lunching at the club and laughing together, just having fun. They seem like they’d be great friends to have! I’m hooked and so glad to know there’s another book on the way, as I learned when I finished this one. Anything about the Gilded Age grabs my attention, but these books present it in such a fun way it’s really entertaining, and Val is so independent and unlike a lady of the era it’s refreshing. She bucks the system and Roddy is right there with her supporting everything she does! it’s just great cozy mystery fiction and I can’t wait for more! Oh, and I can’t forget their French Bulldog Velvet, she’s got a starring role in this one, but for me she steals the scene in every book! I highly recommend this series, it’s become a favorite of mine and again, I’m so glad I found it! Happy Reading!