A Legacy of Murder: A Kate Hamilton Mystery

✍ Scribed by Connie Berry

• Publisher: CROOKED LANE BOOKS
• Year: 2019
• Tongue: en-US
• Weight: 224 KB
• Category: Fiction
• ISBN: 1643851551

✦ Synopsis

*American antique dealer Kate Hamilton's Christmastime jaunt to a charming English village leads to an investigation of a missing ruby...and a chain of murders. *

It's Christmastime and antiques dealer Kate Hamilton is off to visit her daughter, Christine, in the quaint English village of Long Barston. Christine and her boyfriend, Tristan, work at stately-but-crumbling Finchley Hall. Touring the Elizabethan house and grounds, Kate is intrigued by the docent's tales of the Finchley Hoard, and the strange deaths surrounding the renowned treasure trove. But next to a small lake, Kate spies the body of a young woman, killed by a garden spade.

Nearly blind Lady Barbara, who lives at Finchley with her loyal butler, Mugg, persuades Kate to take over the murdered woman's work. Kate finds that a Burmese ruby has vanished from the legendary Blood-Red Ring, replaced by a lesser garnet. Were the theft and the woman's death connected?

Kate learns that Lady Barbara's son fled to Venezuela years before, suspected of murdering another young woman. The murder weapon belonged to an old gardener, who becomes the leading suspect. But is Lady Barbara's son back to kill again? When another body is found, the clues point toward Christine. It's up to Kate to clear her daughter's name in Connie Berry's second Kate Hamilton mystery, a treasure for fans of traditional British mysteries. **

Review

**Praise for A Legacy of Murder:
** "Historic settings, antiquing tips, and a surprising motive in an angst-filled mystery/romance."
_—Kirkus Reviews
_
"A delightful mystery about the secrets of the past, closure, strong friendships, and finding answers."
— _Tulsa Book Review
_
"This cozy has it all: well-developed characters, clever dialogue, [and] a gentle love story that never slows the mystery plot...Readers will eagerly await the next installment." *
—Publishers Weekly

• "A well-realized cast and a beautifully described setting."
  — Booklist

"Readers will appreciate Kate's growth as a character in this atmospheric story. Fans of Jane K. Cleland's books...will want to try this series."
— Library Journal

“A multifaceted gem of a book, it's sure to hold your interest from the first page.”
— Myshelf

Praise for *A Dream of Death:_
“A well-written, intriguing debut mystery...that blends an old island legend with a contemporary whodunit.”
— _Library Journal _starred review, Debut of the Month

“Suspenseful [and] elegantly written… Readers will look forward to seeing more of the intelligent and resourceful Kate.”
— _Publishers Weekly _

“Nicely drawn characters with realistic backstories, a romantic historical subplot, and a modern-day flirtation combine to make this a promising start to a new series.”
— _Booklist _

"An exciting one, with tense and tough moments, aided by its rugged Scottish setting and the author’s entertaining unraveling of the plot."
— _New York Journal of Books _

“The Scottish atmosphere is captivating, the characters are well-drawn, and the dual mysteries blend together perfectly. This is exactly the type of book that I read cover to cover with barely a break...I honestly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery.”
— _MyShelf*

About the Author

Connie Berry was born in Racine, Wisconsin, to second-generation immigrants from Scandinavia and the British Isles. Like her main character, Connie was raised by charmingly eccentric antique collectors who opened a shop, not because they wanted to sell antiques but because they needed an excuse to keep buying them. Connie adores cute animals, foreign travel, and all things British. She lives in Ohio with her husband and adorable dog Millie.

✦ Subjects

FICTION -- Mystery & Detective -- Amateur Sleuth