Review, Q&A, and Giveaway - - Just Make Believe

Just Make Believe
by Maggie Robinson
Lady Adelaide Mysteries - Book 3
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Release Date: July 14, 2020
Reviewed by PJ

Gloucestershire, 1925. A week-long house party in the country—why not? Lady Adelaide has nothing else to do, now that her year of mourning for her unfaithful husband is up and her plans to rekindle her romantic life have backfired. But when her hostess is found dead on the conservatory floor, Addie knows just who to call—Detective Inspector Devenand Hunter of Scotland Yard.

Dev may not want to kiss Addie again, but he's anxious to solve the crime. Who would want to kill Pamela, the beautiful wife of one of Britain's greatest Great War heroes? Certainly not her devoted and wheelchair-bound husband, Sir Hugh Fernald. The other guests seem equally innocent and improbable.

But despite all appearances, something is very wrong at Fernald Hall—there's a body buried in the garden, and the governess has fallen down the stairs to her death. Who's next? Addie and Dev find themselves surrounded by Scotland ghosts and must work together to stop another murder, with some help from Rupert, Addie's late and unlamented husband. Rupert needs to make amends for his louche life on earth, and what better way to earn his celestial wings than catch a killer?

PJ's Thoughts:

I am having so much fun reading this series. Once again, Robinson has created an entertaining story with intriguing characters and murder mystery threads that kept me guessing throughout. Her characters are so well formed. She really brings them to life, along with the 1920's English countryside in which she places them. By the time I finish one of her Lady Adelaide mysteries, I haven't just read about these characters. I feel as if I've actually spent time with them and shared in their experiences.

In this book, Addie continues to evolve following the death of her husband though her potential relationship with Dev seems to have hit a wall. But, Dev's thoughts lead me to believe there may be a way over that wall in book four, especially after an unexpected twist near the end. I can't wait to find out! Then, of course, there's Rupert. I love the humor he brings to these books and how Robinson has gradually evolved him as well, without losing his mischievous nature. There's hope for Heaven yet. 

The surrounding cast is as vividly portrayed, and well formed, as the main characters. A few familiar characters from previous books make appearances and it was fun to see the twists and turns of their journeys. I'm eager to find out how Addie's sister's story progresses in book four, along with the unexpected turn of their mother's life that is unveiled at the end of Just Make Believe.

If you enjoy fast-paced, cozy mysteries with vibrant characters, well-placed humor, and twists and turns that keep you guessing, all set within the madcap 1920's, look no further than Maggie Robinson's Lady Adelaide Mysteries. These books can be read on their own but to fully appreciate the growth of the characters, and their relationships, I strongly encourage you to read the books in order. They are Nobody's Sweetheart Now, Who's Sorry Now, and Just Make Believe. The fourth, and final, book in the series is due to be released during the summer of 2021. 

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Q&A with Maggie Robinson

Welcome back, Maggie! Congratulations on the release of Just Make Believe, book three in your Lady Adelaide Mystery series. What should readers expect from this new Lady Adelaide adventure?

Thanks so much, PJ! It wouldn’t be a release day if I weren’t a guest at the Romance Dish. Addie’s a guest, too--at a country house party. But it’s hard to have fun when you fall off your horse, your hostess is poisoned, and a body is discovered buried in the garden. Fortunately Addie knows who to call, and it’s not Ghostbusters, although ghostly Rupert does assist. Detective Inspector Devenand Hunter is on the case!

You create a wonderful sense of time and place in these novels. What is it about 1920’s England that inspires you?

England in any decade inspires me, but I’ve always been drawn to the years between the world wars, when just about everything was in upheaval. The possibility for trouble is endless, which makes it an ideal era to set books in. And the clothes are fabulous!

There are so many delightfully mysterious twists and turns in this book. I admit, while I managed to guess a few, others eluded me right up until the reveal. I love when an author accomplishes that! How do you keep track of all the threads you interweave into these mysteries?

Everybody’s guilty till proven innocent! When I start to write, I rarely know myself “whodunnit.” I’m awful at plotting and being organized, and am in absolute awe of writers who have every chapter outlined. I never know what’s happening until my fingers get tapping. I burden my poor characters with lots of secrets and lies, and let the worst one slowly rise to the top. In the case of Just Make Believe, I wasn’t sure until I was half-way through who the villain was going to be. Then I had to go back and make sure I dropped the breadcrumbs in the appropriate places.

I have so much fun watching Addie and Dev (and Rupert) work together (reluctantly, in most cases) to solve the murders in these books. Who are the amateur sleuths and professional inspectors you most enjoy?

I grew up in a suburb of New York City in the Dark Ages (I’m pretty old, tbh), where the local television stations specialized in showing old black and white movies from the thirties and forties on the weekends. I loved the Thin Man movies, especially for Asta, since I had a wire-haired fox terrier too. (And so does Addie!) I have a dim recollection of glamorous clothes, dancing in nightclubs, and a lot of drawing room confession scenes which no doubt imprinted themselves on my developing brain. Never a Nancy Drew girl, I was an avid reader of the Judy Bolton Mysteries, though I can’t remember a single one.

Being somewhat more mature now, I’m a huge fan of the contemporary Ruth Galloway Mysteries by Elly Griffiths, and the historical Charles Murray of Letho books by Lexie Conyngham. Lynne Messina’s Regency Beatrice Hyde-Clare books are a hoot, a nice mix of romance and detection. P.F. Chisholm’s Sir Robert Carey novels are chock-full of 16^th century history and derring-do. And of course, Agatha Christie is simply a goddess.

The final page of Just Make Believe has me eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series. When can we expect another Lady Adelaide mystery? Are you able to tell us anything about it?

The title is Farewell Blues, and it’s just that—time to say good-bye to Addie, Dev and Rupert in the summer of 2021. I had very mixed feelings ending the series at four books, but it didn’t seem fair to Rupert to expect him to be on his best behavior indefinitely. 😉 The gang gets together one final time to prove that Addie’s very prim and proper mother did not kill her secret ducal lover, and I wouldn’t be a lapsed romance writer if everyone did not get their happy ending.

What books are you looking forward to reading this summer?

I have A Duke, A Lady, and a Baby by Vanessa Riley on my Kindle and will reward myself once I’ve planted 50 daylilies and made a stab at weeding.

Let’s do a summer speed round.

Favorite summer drink: Lemonade. Or if I’m feeling exceptionally frisky, a vodka tonic with lemon. Lemon is the key to everything.

Green or brown thumb: Green outdoors, brown inside. Never give me a houseplant. I will murder it. I have a small but great, three-level terraced garden which takes up more time and energy than I have.

Beach/Lake or mountains: We sold our lake house, so I’d have to say I’m just as happy in my own backyard as anywhere.

Favorite summer food: Boneless barbecue chicken on the grill and a green salad with too much poppyseed dressing. Or maybe a lobster roll followed by a piece of blueberry pie. Now I’m really hungry.

Favorite summer tunes: The Beach Boys!

Thanks for visiting with us, Maggie! Do you have anything else to add? Would you like to ask our readers a question?

Besides reading, how are you all managing to keep your spirits up during the pandemic? I escape to the garden, but those weeds are right there rebuking me. 

I’ve got a signed trade paperback of Just Make Believe (or any book from my backlist) for a commenter!

*Must be 18

*Winner randomly chosen from comments posted by 11:00 PM, July 15.