Never Laugh as a Hearse Goes by: A Penny Brannigan Mystery (Penny Brannigan Mystery, #5)

by Elizabeth J Duncan

"The fifth in this enchanting Welsh series which has been likened to the work of Dorothy Cannell and M. C. Beaton Spa owner and habitual amateur sleuth Penny Brannigan finds herself at a clerical conference at Gladstone's Library in North Wales. Also attending as a guest speaker is her boyfriend, DCI Gareth Davies, there to give a talk on theft prevention. But behind the ornate red sandstone façade of this most respectable of Victorian buildings, Penny encounters deception, marital and financial infidelity, a sham marriage scam, blackmail for beginners, and someone bent on murder. When the bishop's secretary dies of a suspicious case of food poisoning, Davies leads the investigation. At Penny's suggestion, Florence Semble, a friend from Penny's adopted hometown, is invited to the Library to decode the secretary's shorthand notebook in the search for clues. As the conference continues, another body is found in the beautiful library itself, and Penny must once again search for a killer. Never Laugh As a Hearse Goes By is a fine entry in a series celebrated for its small town charm, Welsh flavor, and loveable characters. "--

"Spa owner and habitual amateur sleuth Penny Brannigan finds herself at a clerical conference at Gladstone's Library in North Wales. Also attending as a guest speaker is her boyfriend, DCI Gareth Davies, there to give a talk on theft prevention. But behind the ornate red sandstone fac̦ade of this most respectable of Victorian buildings, Penny encounters deception, marital and financial infidelity, a sham marriage scam, blackmail for beginners, and someone bent on murder. When the bishop's secretary dies of a suspicious case of food poisoning, Davies leads the investigation. At Penny's suggestion, Florence Semble, a friend from Penny's adopted hometown, is invited to the Library to decode the secretary's shorthand notebook in the search for clues. As the conference continues, another body is found in the beautiful library itself, and Penny must once again search for a killer. Never Laugh As a Hearse Goes By is a fine entry in a series celebrated for its small town charm, Welsh flavor, and loveable characters"--

• ISBN10: 1250020492
• ISBN13: 9781250020499
• Publish Date: 29 October 2013
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Minotaur Books
• Format: eBook
• Language: English

Reviews

[Mystereity Reviews]

Between 3.5 and 4 stars. I like this series because it's a quick, simple and enjoyable read. This book was no exception, with a more intricate plot than the previous books. Not much more character development, although there's a glimpse into Penny's background that explains a few things. A little too much inner dialogue, too. But the plot made up for it, and it kept me guessing until the end.