Book Review: Death in St. George’s: An Intrepid Traveler Mystery by M. A. Monnin

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently had the pleasure for reviewing Death in St. George’s, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it! This novel follows Stefanie and Thomas, who are supposed to be enjoying a romantic getaway in Bermuda, away from the constant demands of their jobs with the Artifact Retrieval Team. But as fate would have it, their plans take an unexpected turn when an archaeologist seeks their help to recover a stolen emerald bracelet linked to buried Spanish treasure.

Thomas is a bit hesitant about diving into this mystery, but Stefanie is drawn in by the allure of lost treasure. Just when things seem to be heating up, one of the archaeologists turns up dead, and suddenly they find themselves on the wrong side of the investigation. As secrets unravel and danger looms, Stefanie and Thomas must navigate their way through a web of deceit to catch a killer before it’s too late.

What I really appreciated about this book is that it held up nicely as a standalone read. I didn't feel lost at all, which can sometimes happen with series. The setting was absolutely beautiful—I could practically feel the warm Bermudian sun on my skin and hear the waves lapping at the shore. The mystery itself was well plotted; there were twists and turns that kept me guessing right until the end.

The pacing was just right as well—there was enough action and adventure mixed with the mystery to keep me engaged without feeling overwhelmed. Plus, the sprinkle of romance between Stefanie and Thomas added a lovely touch without overshadowing the main plot. The characters were likable, making it easy to root for them throughout their perilous journey.

Overall, I’d give Death in St. George’s a solid four stars. It’s a great mix of adventure and mystery, with just the right amount of romance thrown in. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from M. A. Monnin in the future! If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries with a dash of intrigue, this book is worth picking up.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

The book is engaging, unputdownable and twisted. It has a perfect blend of mystery, suspense and a hint of romance. The character development is so good. The investigation is spot on.

Stephanie and Thomas were spending time together. But when the request came their way to find the Emerald Bracelet, they didn’t refuse. The mystery is not limited to the stolen jewellery and buried Spanish treasure but it leads to the murder as well entangling them in a web of danger, secrets, suspense and mystery. This was a twisted suspenseful book. I loved the ending. I can’t wait to read next book in series.

Thanks to the Author, Publisher and Netgalley.

The Intrepid Traveler Mystery series returns for its third installment titled, Death in St. George's by M.A. Monnin.

Stephanie Adams and Thomas Burkhardt are ready for some rest and relaxation in Bermuda thanks to renting a house from one of her colleagues. But their romantic rendezvous is quickly waylaid when they are contacted by an archeologist to help recover an emerald bracelet stolen from a dig site.

Though Thomas isn't thrilled about the interruption, Stephanie can't resist the allure of buried Spanish treasure. Then one of the archeology team is murdered, making everyone--including Stephanie and Thomas--suspects. Long-held secrets are uncovered as they work to find a killer before it's too late.

Having not read the first two books in the Intrepid Traveler Mystery series, I didn't know what a treat I was in for. Stephanie is a bank exec turned popular travel blogger, and Thomas works for Interpol, investigating cases involving valuable historical artifacts. And while Thomas is good at his job, he just wants the two of them to enjoy time investigating romantic adventures like dinner cruises and glow worms in lovely Bermuda. Instead, their happy holiday is hijacked by theft on a dig they are called to assist with, which ends up turning into so much more.

What I loved about Death in St. George's is how the author quickly drew me in so that I felt like I had to keep reading through to the end. There were a lot of characters to get to know, twists and turns that made you lean one way and then the next, and that hint of tension when Greg, the colleague they were renting the house from (who also happens to be attracted to Stephanie), ends up in Bermuda and keeps showing up at the house they were renting from him. It all plays into the plot nicely, but my real estate head kept thinking about how many tenant's rights Greg was violating.

Death in St. George's is a fabulous, engaging mystery with a plot that keeps you guessing until the end. I look forward to reading more books in this series.

This is a novel for readers who like a plot firmly founded in place. Monnin excels in describing the location, such as lush flowers. The plot got off to a bit of a slow start for me, a murder not happening until a third of the way into the book. Her writing style includes a great deal of character thought, such as conjecture about possible villains or going over what is known yet again. At one point Stefanie thinks, “They'd spent an hour going through motives and risks and had not gotten any further.” (2495/3635) Nor had the plot. There are many suspects and it took a few twists at the end for the murderer to finally be revealed.

The framework for the murder mystery is an archaeological discovery. I liked learning about the historical Spanish presence at Bermuda. I also liked learning about how a representative of the country of origin of an archaeological item, in this case Spain, would want to claim it for that nation.

This is a novel for readers who like a well described setting more than a captivating mystery. It is an informative novel with a consistent pace.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Atmospheric..
The third outing in the Intrepid Traveller mystery series and, Bermuda based, an archeologist seeks assistance in finding an emerald bracelet which appears to have disappeared from his site. Stephanie and Thomas are wary but when murder rears its head they soon finds themselves in search of a killer. Atmospheric and intriguing and with a well imagined backdrop, a firm sense of place and a solid mystery at its heart.

A good introduction to the series for me, the third in the series, where Stefanie and Thomas take a break from the Interpol artifact retrieval department to spends some time together on Bermuda. But the request of a local archaeologist to help discover who stole a recently discovered Spanish gold bracelet from a bruied terasure cache pulls the two in. Murder soon follows with plenty of suspects and secrets.
Some of the pacing was a bit slow but it definitely picked up at the end as the two struggle to uncover the murderer right before a hurricane lands on Bermuda. The mystery was satisfying with plenty of suspects and twists. And during the slower pace the reader was treated to beautiful descriptions, the fun of an archaeological dig and the deepening of the relationship between Stefanie and Thomas. I really enjoyed the couple. There was a real spark there with caring for each other but also some stumbles that come with being in a relatively new relationship.

I was inspired to go and buy the next two in the series. Reviews to soon follow.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

A good mix of adventure/mystery and a pinch of romance. I had fun and enjoyed it.
It's well plotted and the pace is right. The mystery kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Exotic locale and an intriguing mystery makes this an engaging read. Besides the murder to solve, the idea of using archeology was a plus for me! Artifacts, dig sights, and stolen treasure...what could be more exciting, and for a cozy mystery at that!
Loved it and I look forward to reading the whole series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book. While I was initially intrigued by the premise and was excited to read a story set in Bermuda, ultimately I DNF'ed at 20% in, as I realized that this story wasn't for me. While I didn't connect with the characters and stakes here as much as I'd hoped, others (especially those who have read earlier installments in the series) will likely feel differently! I may try this series from the first book when I'm in a "cozy" mood.

Also wanted to note that I love the cover of this book!

amateur-sleuth, international-crime-and-mystery, Interpol, investigations, lies, local-law-enforcement, archaeology, Bermuda, historical-jewelry, historical-research, relationship-issues, relics, secrets, theft, vacation, murders, interpersonal-problems*****

Stefanie Adams is a former private banker, frustrated archaeologist, has no law enforcement training, recently became a travel blogger, and unofficially works alongside the multilingual Interpol agent, Thomas Burkhardt. A valuable artifact goes missing from a site near where they are spending their vacation, but things go pear shaped when the body is found. Great travelogue, sluggish investigation, realistic and engaging characters, sneaky plot twists, and positively diabolical red herrings. Not as good as the last one, but a fine read.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Level Best Books/Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)/Members' Titles via NetGalley. Thank you!
#IntrepidTravelerBk3

If you enjoy lengthy speculation about possible suspects and crime scenarios this book will work for you. For me it was ten chapters too long. The information on artifacts and archaeological processes is interesting but at some point it also gets tedious. There is a good narrative here but it needs some editing.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the previous installment of the series, I eagerly anticipated diving into this latest offering. However, I found myself disappointed as the story failed to hold my attention till the end.

While the premise of Spanish treasure, a shipwreck, and a theft held promise, the execution fell short. The plot-to-story development lacked depth, with Stefanie and Thomas seeming to circle back repeatedly as they attempted to unravel the clues and identify the culprit.

Adding to the intrigue was the introduction of Greg, a client at the private bank where Stefanie previously worked. His overly friendly demeanor towards Stefanie and subtle gestures of interest created tension between Stefanie and Thomas, adding a layer of jealousy to the narrative.

Overall, Death at St. George's by M.A. Monnin proved to be an okay read but failed to match the standard set by its predecessor. The mystery surrounding the missing Spanish gold artifact and the murder felt underdeveloped, leaving much potential for improvement.

Stephanie and Thomas get pulled into investigating a theft and then a murder linked to an archaeological site in Bermuda while on vacation there. The author brings the customs and scenery of Bermuda to life, and the details about how an archaeological dig work are interesting. The pacing of the story was good as our detectives slowly uncovered clues and motives among the wide circle of suspects. This is the third book in the series but can be read as a standalone, although the development of Thomas and Stephanie's relationship is nice to read in order. Thanks to NetGalley and Level Best Books for the ARC.