The Hamptons are known for beautiful beaches, luxurious living, millionaire mansions, and nowβ¦murder! Antonia Bingham, a renowned chef and the new owner of East Hampton's Windmill Inn, escaped to the Hamptons to get away from a harrowing past. Yet now she finds herself in more danger than ever when she discovers the inn's previous owners may have been the victims of murder. Will her overly inquisitive personality be her downfall as she digs up secrets in her attempt to solve the crime? **
Review
From Kirkus Review:
"In this mystery novel, somebody's been killing the proprietors of a prestigious inn, and the newest innkeeper is determined to find out why before she becomes the next victim.
Doyle ( The Infidelity Pact , ** 2008,etc.) is a self-described "foodie" and an avid cheerleader for the quaint village of East Hampton, New York, and she indulges both of these passions in this first installment of her new Hamptons Murder Mysteries series.
Recently transplanted from California following a nasty divorce, 35-year-old protagonist Antonia Bingham has bought the Windmill Inn from the estate of Gordon Haslett,who died suddenly, apparently from a heart attack. An inventive, passionate chef, Antonia has just reopened the inn's restaurant when she learns from two of her regulars, Len and Sylvia Powers, that the circumstances surrounding Gordon's death were suspicious. Worse, he wasn't the first owner of the inn to experience an untimely death. Now, strange things are happening to Antonia--someone removes a stepladder while she's installing a light bulb, someone locks her in a supply closet, and more. Her new buddy, Joseph Fowler, a 60-something widower, joins in the amateur sleuthing as they try to sort out the possible motives of a multitude of suspects; Gordon, they discover, was universally disliked.
Doyle is an enthusiastic guide for Long Island's East End village; she details each street and shop, the spectacular beaches, and the unique play of sunlight that has been a siren call to artists for more than a century. She also gives readers plenty of opportunities to vicariously indulge in every mouthwatering bite that Antonia and her restaurant patrons consume--especially if the item is loaded with butter, sugar, or some other comforting dietary no-no. Doyle also pays careful attention to housing dΓ©cor, wardrobe selections, and the hairstyles of every character, which perhaps stems from her experience as a screenwriter ( Intern , ** 2009). The generally smooth prose maintains a gentle pace, although there are one or two unnecessarily awkward lead-ins, such as "an odd incident occurred that unnerved Antonia and once again gave her pause about her own mortality." The dinner-table gathering of suspects isn't an original device,but it's fun and satisfying nonetheless.
Praise for The Right Address by Carrie Doyle Karasyov & Jill Kargman: "Offers playful insight into a world as catty as it is rarefied." - Vogue "A hilarious tale...that hits high society right on the nose." - Star Magazine **** **** Praise for Wolves in Chic Clothing by Carrie Doyle Karasyov & Jill Kargman:__"For those who crave diamonds and Manolos with their fairy tales, this confection hits the spot." -_ People_ "A gossipy Saturday-afternoon treat." - Glamour
From the Author
The Hamptons Murder Mystery series captures the town I have called home my whole life, the authentic Hamptons--full of beauty and community (and a lot less murder than portrayed in my books!) As Carl the janitor says in the movie The Breakfast Club, 'I am the eyes and ears of this institution.' That's how I feel about East Hampton. I hope that readers will get to know Antonia Bingham and her hometown of East Hampton as well as they know Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone and her hometown, Santa Teresa.