Murder in Miniature (A Miniature Mystery)

by Margaret Grace

Book Overview

Geraldine Porter thought that being the chairwoman of the local Dollhouse and Miniatures Fair would give her leisure time to spend on her favorite craft. That was before a fellow miniatures aficionado... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425219801
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Berkley
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.7" x 0.7" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

Charming . . . This Book is a Winner

Geraldine (Gerry) lives in Lincoln Point, which is in Northern California. She is a retired English teacher. In this small town, elections are coming up. Gerry and her friend Linda work booths at a crafts fair. Since this is a mystery, there is (are) mysteri(es) to be solved. I will not say who, what, where, why, because I do not want to ruin the book for those who haven't read it yet. All I will say is, when these crime(s) happen, Gerry is determined to figure them out. The clues are fun and clever. Everything fits together and unravels smoothly. The author did a superb job on this mystery. I love Maddie, who is Gerry's ten-year-old granddaughter. She is a fun character. This book is themed as a miniature. Even if you aren't interested in miniatures, you could still love and enjoy this book, because it is interesting, very well-written, and the clues are fun. This book is cozy. There are plenty of chocolate chip cookies and other treats to go around. Not just the food, but the atmosphere of the book is cozy. And charming. This book is so charming. I love the characters, and now that I've gotten to know them, and to know the town, and because the book is so good, I can't wait to get my hands on the next book! If you like mysteries, I would recommend this book.

Excellent series

I've read all three books in this series and enjoyed them tremendously. While I really don't have any interest in the miniatures aspect of this series, the characters are very well-developed and I find I truly care about what happens to them. Maddie is the star of the series! I'm not sure such a murder spree is realistic in a small town....why can't these authors ever create a crime to solve that is something other than murder...but overall, I enjoyed these tremendously and look forward to more.

So you don't like miniatures. So What?

I didn't think I'd like this book by "Margaret Grace," but I loved her previous table of elements mysteries written by Camille Minichino, so I decided to give the book a try. I'm glad I did. She has created an interesting geographical setting and cast of characters. Not all are great, but the chemistry between the retired teacher heroine and her 11-year-old grand-daughter is real and affecting. The technical details on miniature-creation are interesting even to someone who has no intention of ever trying it. And, oh yes, it IS a mystery -- that keeps you guessing. I recommend it.

Murder and miniatures

Geraldine (Gerry) Porter is a retired school teacher who now loves to create miniatures. She sees miniature furniture in many small discarded items. Unfortunately Maddie, her visiting granddaughter, doesn't share her love. She prefers sports. Linda Reed's teenage son Jason is thought to be involved in the robbery of Crane's Jewelry store. He's been rebellious and in trouble. Gerry is the chairperson of the local Dollhouse and Miniatures Fair. She and Linda share a table. Gerry notices a spot of blood on a small desk of Linda's. Not long after, Linda and the desk disappear. Gerry is very worried. That night Gerry gets a late night plea from Linda to pick her up from a deserted area. Gerry bundles Maddie in the car and picks up Linda. Linda refuses to tell Gerry anything. Then a dead stranger is found near where Gerry picked Linda up and on the same night. Who killed the stranger, and what connection does she have to the area? Is Jason really involved in the robbery? How and why? This is the first in this great new cozy series. I can't wait to read the next book! I've always been fascinated with all the small furniture and details in dollhouses, so I really enjoyed the descriptions of creating the various furniture and scenes. The author has provided plenty of twists in the plot to keep the reader guessing to the end. I highly recommend this book!

Delightful Read

A delightful read with special appeal to hobbyists. Full disclosure: I'm one of the mystery authors involved in the http://killerhobbies.blogspot.com We joined forces because we all write mysteries involving hobbies. (Pretty obvious, eh?) But...we've only met each other virtually, and I'd never read anything by Margaret Grace (Camille Minichino). So when I received the ARC (Advance Reading Copy) of Murder in Miniature, I opened the book with excitement and trepidation. What if I didn't like her work? Whew. Very quickly, my fears were allayed. Murder in Miniature is a delightful read with special appeal to hobbyists. The protagonist, Geraldine Porter, is a complex woman, recovering from the loss of her husband, unsure sometimes how to do the "right thing," and devoted to her granddaughter and friends. She defines herself as "a pushover for difficult personalities," but Gerry is no victim. She's simply a woman who accepts imperfection--in her miniatures, in her life and in her friends. Gerry's involvement as an amateur sleuth makes sense, which is always a challenge in a book of this ilk. The underlying complexities of Gerry's life round her out as a character, and provide realistic stumbling blocks to crime solving. Unlike many cozies, Gerry evolves over the course of the book, and we, as readers, relish seeing her review her life and come to new conclusions. All in all, a most satisfying read. Here's the lagniappe: I love miniatures. The author gave me just enough about the hobby to make me eager to work on my own dollhouse and room boxes. Any book that not only entertains me but also helps me rediscover a lifelong passion is a winner! And that's exactly what Margaret Grace has here: A winning series.