Karen S. (BoysMom) - My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Intriguing tale of secrets and murder!
The Cadieux Murders is the latest novel in author R.J. Koreto's Historic Homes Mystery series and this intriguing tale of family secrets and murder does not disappoint. Although the third book in the series, readers new to the story will easily be able to read and enjoy it as a standalone.
Successful romance writer Bronwyn Merrick has retained architect and âhouse whisperer' Wren Fontaine to update her new home, the historically significant house designed by the famed French architect Marius Cadieux and the site of a tragic, unsolved murder in 1955. Cadieux was Wren's father's mentor and a man whom she herself had fond childhood memories, so she is eager to take on the project. But before work can even begin, a woman who is stalking Bronwyn and the attorney representing the house's previous owner are found murdered, one in the very room where the original murder occurred. Wren senses that, somehow, the home is central to the deaths, and as she researches the past, she hopes to find the answers to what is going on in the present.Wren has progressed so much, both emotionally and socially, since her first appearance in The Greenleaf Murders, the first book in the series, and much of that growth can be attributed to her relationship with her cool, supportive girlfriend, Hadley Vanderwerf. They are such a complementary couple, and I'm so glad to see Wren's new confidence. Together, the pair draws on their social and academic connections to build a complete picture of the design and conception of the Cadieux House and the history of the individuals involved: Marius Cadieux, his muse Rebecca Rodriguez Blaine and her husband Dennis and daughter Shoshana, and the new owner Bronwyn Merrick.
The storytelling is absorbing, and well-placed twists really surprised me along the way to the final resolution. Wren repeatedly informs anyone and all that she is not good at seeing beyond people's public faces, but she proves time and time again that she's more adept than she realizes. Important pieces to the puzzle come from several different sources and putting them together to reveal the truth behind the Cadieux House murders is sure to entertain.I recommend THE CADIEUX HOUSE MURDERS to cozy mystery readers, especially those interested in old houses, home makeovers, and historic architecture.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.