A Murder mystery, New York City, 1920s high society and plenty of secrets.
The plot itself is interesting, with multiple angles and intertwining investigative paths but at times a few things weren’t very well explained or linked together. That said, it kept me turning the page and there were a few twists and turns.
The characters are interesting and the two main protagonists are particularly endearing.
This is the second in the series but there is enough background not to feel like you should have read the first. The only caveat being that I probably wouldn’t go back and read it now as I feel like I know what happened.

What a fun and interesting story! It was so great to be back with Penelope and her wild life and then Lund joining the mix. I loved that they bumped in to one another at the opera and their banter before the show started (they are so cute!). I also really enjoyed the two different storylines. Lund is investigating a suicide someone is suspicious about. Penelope is roped in to a messy family as one member is found dead and another at the brink of death. I loved that with each turn, you could tell Penelope and Lund, in turn, were drawing closer to their conclusions, and yet I couldn't see it and didn't guess it. So well done.

Also, if you decide to give this one a try without reading the first, this one absolutely stands well on its own (although Why you wouldn't want to read the first one is beyond me! It's great too!)

I'm so glad I continued the series. I can't wait for more!

<i>A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.</i>

This mystery set in New York City in the 20's, features quasi-detective/investigator Thom Lund and his love interest Penelope Harris. This is the second in the series, and I felt seriously handicapped by not having read the first book. There are a lot of references back to that story, and I never did completely figure out the relationships among the principal characters.

The beginning chapters felt murky to me. The action centers on three sisters, Clover, Tulip and Ivy and their bizarre relationship with their parents. The father is the murder victim and he was unpleasant enough that there is no shortage of suspects. Their mother Violet is even more awful and right after the father is murdered, one of the daughters dies. Is it murder, suicide, or a gruesome accident?

Lund and Penelope are in love, but they don't do much to further their relationship. I just didn't click with this book or these characters. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The second book in the Penelope Harris mystery series is a wild ride! I actually went into this book not knowing it was the second in a series. The author did a great job explaining the first book without harping on it too long.

Penelope Harris and her (maybe) boyfriend Thom Lund go to the opera for a night of entertainment only to find out one man is dead and his daughter has been found poisoned. Thom is also investigating the possible suicide of another woman. Soon all the stories begin to come together and the least likely suspect becomes the most likely to be the killer.

This book was a great mystery with a lot of twists and turns. I really enjoyed it and look forward to more Penelope Harris books.

4 stars

Book 2 of the Penelope Harris series is just as interesting as the first. I love the continuing opera element, & of course there is more scandal, drama, & a murder to solve.

[What I liked:]

•I like Lund the more I read about him. I’m getting to like & respect Penelope more too, especially as her character is expanded more in this second installment. So yes, the two MC’s are worth getting to know better as this series progresses.

•Ah, the setting descriptions are wonderful. The clothes, the glittering opera house, the quirky characters, the music...it’s all engaging & vivid.

•The mystery has lots of twists & kept me guessing up til the end


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•Okay, I know this isn’t a romance novel, so the romantic relationship isn’t the focus of the story. However, the love story plot line is being dragged out way too long—they both have known they both love each other since the previous book...so what’s holding them back? It’s not adequately explained.

•The bank investigation is only really mentioned at the beginning and the end. That plot line is important to the story, but it kind of got lost by the wayside for most of the book.

CW: murder, suicide, parental abuse

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

I did not realize this was the sequel to The Jade Tiger until I started the book. It is just as well done as the first book and I love Penelope and Thom even more now. Thom is working an apparent suicide when he and Penelope are present at a murder - or is it two? he two different cases wind up being entwined so of course they become involved in catching the culprits. Both the plot and the characters are so well done, I became engrossed quickly. I look forward to future books in this series! Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of #MurderattheMet.

This is a very well executed crafty whodunit. I loved the various quirky characters and their witty banter among each other. Chapters flow nicely into one another leaving the reader wanting more. A well developed mystery plot that has lots of twists and turns and will keep you guessing until the very end. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read more in the series.

A very dysfunctional family, murder, rat poison and opera are some of the ingredients present in this very entertaining whodunit taking place in NYC at the tail-end of the Roaring Twenties. With a marvellous and very twisty plot redolent with the nasty smell of sibling rivalries, petty jealousies and never forgotten grudges, a cast of colorful and whacky characters and delicious dialogues full of venomous repartees, Ms. Cooper has gifted us with a delightful romp that should definitely keep many readers in stitches. Personally, I will never be able to hear the words Violet, Tulip, Ivy or Clover for the rest of my life without associating them with Jacques Offenbach and blaming Ms. Cooper for it....
I can't wait for the next installment! Please go ahead, read it and enjoy it without any moderation because it's a winner from start to finish 👍👍

Many thanks to Netgalley and Ink Dog Press for the opportunity to read this glorious novel prior to its release date