Anna Loan-WilseyCritiques

Mystery

Not really worth reading.

It's 1892 and Hattie Davish has been newly employed as a secretary to temperance movement leader Mrs. Edwina Trevelyan of Eureka Springs. But before she has a chance to officially meet her Mrs Trevelyan goes missing. Hattie decides to find out why and where.
An enjoyable start to a new mystery series. Interesting to see which other characters if any transfer to the next book.

Anna Loan-Wilsey, you have done it again! Intriguing characters, superb plot, and let us not forget the amazing, Miss Hattie Davish. I fall more and more in love with this character with each novel.

If you haven't read the first 2 novels, A Lack of Temperance or Anything But Civil, please jump into this series!

As a huge fan of historical mysteries, I was excited to receive this ARC for review. I thought the description of the story was intriguing. I can honestly tell you that I was not disappointed! From the start I noticed 2 things; the first being well developed characters. There was no apathy toward any of them really, you despised the jerks and you loved the heroine, I never felt like they lacked anything. The second was the author’s research into the time period. This novel is set post-Civil War, in Kansas, during the Victorian period. The author did a fantastic job of illustrating the class divide, structure and customs of the time period.
While I found at least 2 of the characters practically reprehensible, there were several more that I completely enjoyed, however, I can’t help but have fallen in love with Hattie. She is a remarkably written woman. I particularly like that the author wrote her to be a strong, independent, self-sufficient woman in a time period that authors commonly write women to be weak and needy, and often uneducated in worldly matters. Hattie handles herself with class and dignity, gives the illusion that she knows her place, and as it happens, this illusion puts her in a better position to get the information that she needs to solve the murder, especially after her employer is arrested for murder!
All in all, I will say that Anything But Civil should be high on your TBR shelves. It was a roller coaster of twists and turns, where there are tons of suspects and little in the way of clues. It will keep you guessing until the very end! I will definitely be checking out the author’s first novel, A Lack of Temperance, and eagerly anticipate the third in the series.

**ARC from NetGalley

~Michele
Book Geeks Unite

I couldn't finish it. It took 100 pages to get to the murdered victim. Too slow and just lost interest

Secretary Hattie Davish has recently been hired by former employer Sir Arthur Windom-Greene, who is researching Civil War history for a book he plans to write. Sir Arthur has rented a house in Galena, Illinois, in order to interview retired General Cornelius Starrett. Starrett's son, Captain Henry Starrett, is also a Civil War veteran. Captain Starrett's return to Galena triggers a chain of events that end in murder. Hattie has successfully solved a murder before, and she's going to have to do it again when someone close to her is arrested for the murder.

I had read and enjoyed the first book in this series so I was eagerly looking forward to this one. It was a disappointment. The dialogue is unnatural, and Hattie and the secondary characters are driven by emotion rather than reason. A good detective story should bring order out of chaos, and chaos has free reign in this book. I won't be looking for any more books in this series.

A March to Remember by Anna Loan-Wilsey is the fifth book in Hattie Davish Mystery series. Hattie Davish is in Washington, D.C. with her boss, Sir Arthur Windom-Greene (a historian and writer). They are staying with Senator Merriweather Lewis Smith and his wife, Mildred. Hattie’s beau, Dr. Walter Grice is coming to town to see Hattie and also visit with his sister, Sarah (wife of a congressman). Coxey’s Army (led by General Jacob Coxey) is heading into town on May Day for a march. Thousands of unemployed and hungry men are camping outside Washington waiting for May Day. Hattie is out on an early morning walk when she sees a carriage going too fast. Inside the carriage is a fallen (bawdy) woman Hattie had seen the previous day. The driver and woman end up in the lake. The man gets out and takes off. Hattie dives into the lake to try and rescue the poor woman. Two men come and assist her. Unfortunately, the woman (later identified as Annie Wilcox) does not make it. Hattie knows that the police will not put much effort into looking for her killer (because Annie is not a “lady”). Then during the march one of the men who assisted Hattie, Jasper Neely, is killed, and Hattie is injured by the police officer’s freely swinging night sticks. Someone wanted to quiet Jasper and used the march as a cover. Hattie wants answers and starts digging. Hattie also has a personal matter that she needs to address with Sir Arthur and cannot seem to get him alone. Romance may take Hattie away from Sir Arthur. Join Hattie on her latest adventure in A March to Remember.

A March to Remember is an enjoyable novel. Anna Loan-Wilsey does a wonderful job at capturing the time period and locale. Anna Loan-Wilsey includes many details on the sights of Washington, D.C. (what it looked like at that time). The author is a descriptive writer that brings the scenes to life (you can just see them in your mind). This is the type of book that needs your complete attention when you read it (or you will miss something important). While this is part of a series, A March to Remember can be read alone. The author updates the reader on the events in the earlier books. I did, though, think the mystery was very easy to solve. I picked out the killer based on his character description (maybe I have read too many mysteries). I then read the book to see if I was correct. The reader gets some good, pointed clues that will help solve the crimes. While I thought that the mystery was easy to solve, it really is quite complicated (the details). I give A March to Remember 4.25 out of 5 stars (I liked it). It was interesting to read about Coxey’s army and the march. It is an interesting historical tidbit that is rarely mentioned or listed in the history books. Anna Loan-Wilsey provided us with a wonderfully crafted story. I will be reading Anna Loan-Wilsey novels in the future. It is such a shame that this is our last adventure with Hattie Davish.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest review.

A historical mystery set during the Gilded Age, A Deceptive Homecoming by Anna Loan-Wilsey is the fourth installment in her Hattie Davish Mystery series. A well-developed female sleuth, colorful secondary characters, a good mystery and plenty of action kept me turning the pages to discover what would happen next. If you like a strong heroine, a good mystery and learning about social behavior in America’s past, this is a book you’ll want to pick up. Also, don't worry if you haven't read the previous books in the series as each book can be read and enjoyed on its own.

Having already established Hattie Davish as a well-trained and educated traveling secretary, Ms. Loan-Wilsey brings her main character home to St. Joseph, Missouri for her best friend Virginia Hayward father’s funeral. Arriving just in the nick of time for the funeral itself, Hattie knows something isn’t right but can’t quite figure it out. At least not until she gets a good luck at the man in the casket and realizes he doesn’t have the distinguishing scar that should be over his right eye. When her friend insists Hattie is wrong and questions why Hattie has bothered to come home, Hattie begins to think she’s made a terrible mistake but as she spends more time at “home”, she realizes nothing is quite as it seems.

Having read the previous book in this series, A Sense of Entitlement, I already felt as if I had an old friendship with Hattie’s character and this installment simply deepened our friendship. I admire her determination to be a self-supporting and independent woman at a time when the average woman was more concerned with finding a husband to take care of them. While Hattie is romantically involved with someone, who was introduced in a previous book, she doesn’t make him the center of her world and can easily fend for herself. I especially enjoyed this installment as we get to know more about where Hattie grew up and how she became who she is.

The secondary characters were well developed and very interesting. I understood Hattie’s dismay when her friend Virginia acted strangely towards her and was determined to keep her at arms-length. I also enjoyed getting to meet the women at Mrs. Chaplin’s School for Women, where Hattie obtained her secretarial training and learned to rely on her education for her future. All of the teachers where quite colorful, as are the current students they are training. Especially since the young women consider Hattie somewhat of a celebrity due to her “crime solving” skills.

The mystery is well written, takes several twists and turns and is tied to Mrs. Chaplin’s school and its finances. It’s also tied to Virginia’s father Frank Hayward, since he was in charge of the school’s finances. As Hattie investigates the strange behavior of her best friend, the curious situation at her alma-matter and her own emotions regarding her former home, her search for the truth takes her from the streets of St. Joseph to an insane asylum. It also puts her on a collision course with a murderer who has no qualms about disposing of anyone who gets in the way.

Will Hattie discover the real identity of the man in the casket? Will she figure out what her friend Virginia is hiding and be able to save her friend from a terrible mistake? Will Hattie be able to discover the truth before anyone else gets hurt? You’ll have to read A Deceptive Homecoming to find out. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next book in this series.

In this fourth book in the Hattie Davish historical mystery series, Hattie has some ghosts that she must lay to rest, and she does even though her investigation has her traveling from one spot in St. Joseph to another-- and trying to avoid an old boyfriend at the same time. There are several plot threads in A Deceptive Homecoming, and author Anna Loan-Wilsey deals with them with ease. One of the reasons why I enjoy the character of Hattie Davish is that she is an inveterate list maker (like me). Whenever she has a moment or is trying to think something through, she'll sit down and update her list of questions. Not only does this practice keep her thoughts organized, it helps readers think the mystery through themselves.

There are some serious topics in this book. An old friend who behaves like an enemy. Hattie's beloved alma mater is under some sort of attack. Something's not quite right at the State Lunatic Asylum.... Fortunately the author doesn't keep everything deadly serious all the time. One of the parts of the book that I enjoyed the most involved Hattie being forced to deal with her fame: she's being idolized by many of the students in Mrs. Chaplin's School. Many, but not all, the girls are starstruck, and Hattie is fun to watch when she's in situations with the girls.

There is one scene in A Deceptive Homecoming that had me thinking that Hattie was too stupid to live-- normally a deal breaker for me. When she got past the reception area in the State Lunatic Asylum and began following someone deep down into the bowels of that creepy place, my eyes rolled so far back into my head that they almost stuck. Since I did indeed finish reading the book and have written this review, you can tell that Hattie redeemed herself in some way. (But I'll be keeping an eye on her!)

Anna Loan-Wilsey's series is light and fun to read, and it also manages to highlight historical personages and incidents that are downright fascinating. I look forward to traveling with Hattie and her typewriter again in the future.

A Deceptive Homecoming by Anna Loan-Wilsey is the fourth book in the Hattie Davish Mystery series. Hattie Davish has returned to her home town of St. Joseph, Missouri for the funeral of her best friend’s father. Virginia “Ginny” Hayward and Hattie went to school together at Mrs. Chaplin’s School for Women. Hattie was devastated when she lost her father and wanted to be there for Ginny. Hattie is a traveling secretary to Sir Arthur Windom-Greene and will return to Newport, Rhode Island after the funeral. When Hattie sees the body of Frank Hayward, she knows that it is not Frank. She tries to tell Ginny, but she refuses to listen (she is also very cold and distant towards Hattie). Then Hattie receives an anonymous note written in an outdated shorthand. It asks Hattie to help. Hattie knows it is about Mrs. Chaplin’s school. There have been several incidents at the school and no one seems to know who is behind them. Someone set a fire, stole pages from textbooks, destroyed champagne at a party, and embezzled money from the school (these are just a few of the incidents). Hattie wants to help Mrs. Chaplin find the culprit behind these occurrences.

Then Hattie happens upon Mrs. Bertha Yardley. She is looking for her husband, Levi. When Hattie sees a picture of Levi Yardley, she notices that he could be Frank Hayward’s twin (except for the nose). Hattie could see how Levi could have been mistaken for Frank since the face had been damaged in the accident. Looking for Levi leads Hattie to the State Lunatic Asylum (the last place Hattie wants to visit). Hattie’s father died in the asylum and it brings back bad memories for her. Dr. Cyrus Hillman (who also treated Hattie’s father) was Levi’s doctor. He claims that Levi escaped from the asylum and has not been found. Dr. Hillman is not being completely forthright with Hattie and Mrs. Yardley. Hattie is determined to find out who was in the coffin and what Dr. Hillman is hiding. Hattie believes that Dr. Hillman contributed to her father’s death and the truth will be beneficial to Hattie (she will be free to move on with her life).

Hattie’s employer, Sir Arthur has asked Hattie to do a little research while she is in town (it’s not like she is doing anything else), and her beau, Walter (a doctor) would like a souvenir from the Jesse James’s house (where he was shot). Hattie is going to be very busy while in St. Joseph. She will have to keep her wits about her to solve the crimes (especially since someone seems to be following her). A Deceptive Homecoming can be read without reading the first three books in the series, but there are references to incidents and people (from the other books) that are not completely explained. Hattie’s beau, Walter is mentioned several times throughout the book, but we never get his last name or other details about him (except he is a doctor). I found Hattie to be a contradictory character. One minute she is strong, nosy, and determined, and then she is fainting, scared, and wanting to go home. We are also never told what year it is in the book. I am guessing it is around 1890 or later from the descriptions of clothing, hat, behavior, etc. I give A Deceptive Homecoming 3 out of 5 stars. I think there is too much in this book. The mysteries were child’s play to solve. All the mysteries relate to each other, but it can get very confusing (with all the people and details).

I received a complimentary copy of A Deceptive Homecoming from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.

I enjoy historical fiction with strong female characters, and the author certainly gives us that here. Unlike many women of her time, Hattie Davish is independent and more than capable of taking care of herself. She's forceful without being brazen, often pushing the boundaries slightly beyond what is expected of polite, society women.

The plot involves several mysteries that tie together. In her pursuit to find answers to one thing, Hattie inadvertently raises more questions and uncovers long kept secrets. The pace is steady, with a couple of intriguing twists.

I have not read the first three books in this series. While this one reads fine as a stand-alone, some of the subtleties within the plot and the characters' relationships were lost to me. I also felt that the female characters' emotional reactions tended to be overdone. I understand that women of that time were considered more fragile, but the excessive swooning and such felt almost comical at times.

Overall, this is a fun read that thoroughly captures and immerses us in another time.

*I received an advanced copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*

A special thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The traveling secretary and detective Hattie Davish (Hattie Davish Mystery #3) comes this time, for six glorious weeks to a small wealthy New England town of Newport, Rhode Island for her latest, A SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT. (#2 Galena, Illinois) and (# 1 Eureka Springs, AR).

Everyone knows Newport best for the Mansions. These sprawling summer “cottages” were once the home to the great American industrialist and captains of industry.

Hattie is not sure how she let Sir Arthur talk her into this trip; however, she thought she would enjoy herself for six weeks in Newport, the Queen of Resorts, with new plant species to collect, miles of hiking along the seaside cliffs, , and some light typing duties- you know, a vacation. (at least that’s what Sir Arthur said).

He and his wife, Lady Phillippa had rented a cottage in Newport for the summer season, with his manuscript to finish, she agreed to accompany them. Twelve hours on a bloody bloat! Why would Mr. Mayhew want a trunk thrown overboard?

Before she has time to think of relaxation in this small quaint town and possibly a summer romance, she learns members of the local labor unions are at odds with Newport’s gentry. How could workers be on strike in July in Newport, in season?

All sort of complications happen upon arrival leaving Hattie to work with the high society families, which of course are full of secrets and lies. Charlotte Mayhew was the wife of one of the wealthiest men in American. Along with Mrs. Astor and Mrs. Vanderbilt, she was purported to be one Newport’s society’s grande dames, with her husband, one of the most influential men in the country. (social standing among other things was vitally important to this wealthy class).

A mystery begins when Mr. Harland Whitwell, one of Newport's most eminent citizens, is found stabbed to death, his hands clutching a strike pamphlet. Of course there is more to investigate with a few secrets and skeletons in the closets of the Whitwell mansion and more prejudices and demands of the rich and wealthy—those who think they are above the law, of course

Hattie makes her list of eight people who may want the labor man dead. They range from Nicholas, Doubleday, Mayhew, Crankshaw, James, Charlotte, Jane or Eugenine, or someone else?

She does enjoy her two older lady friends somewhat and then there is Dr. Walter Grice, (love interest)? from an earlier book and his mother Julia is staying with her friends—more drama there.

A smart detective, begins to uncover more scandals and she dives into the lives of the wealthy in the late 19th century. She struggles between her loyalty to her employer and the guilty parties.

For those readers who enjoy historical crime mysteries with detailed research about these areas, Anna Loan-Wilsey's novels journey through areas of the world of the latter nineteenth century with great adventure.

As you step back in history, Hattie becomes the heroine and an integral part in solving the mysteries. Readers will be transported to the time, and will enjoy the cozy mystery of who did it!

With its picturesque setting, lively historical time period, and personality-filled cast of characters this cozy mystery is just as fun as it sounds. A Lack of Temperance is the first book in a series featuring botany-loving Hattie Davis who works as traveling secretary--which is a superb occupation to give a character for at least three reasons. Going from place to place to earn her own living means Hattie is forced to be more independent and resourceful than many of her 1892 peers, it’s a job that seems to straddle class lines, much like a governess in the earlier part of the nineteenth century, creating lots of plot-worthy frisson, and her peripatetic lifestyle allows every book in the series to be set in a different charming and fascinating locale, though fortunately many of the wonderful characters from this first entry manage to stick around in later volumes.

As A Lack of Temperance opens Hattie has been traveling by train and is just arriving in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, a mountainous resort town with lush vegetation, numerous health-promoting natural springs, and steep winding streets and walkways all so temptingly described that I am now determined to visit. Hattie hasn’t had a chance to meet her employer Mrs. Trevelyan yet and is just settling into her hotel when a cry of “Fire!” draws her out into the street. But it’s not the hotel that’s ablaze. A group of hatchet wielding women in town for a temperance meeting are smashing whiskey barrels pulled from a saloon that’s now burning and “Mother Trevelyan”, Hattie’s new boss, is front and center leading the destruction.

When Mrs.Trevelyan is found dead the next morning Hattie pulls out her typewriter and uses her personal secretary skills of organization, summation, and careful attention to detail in an attempt to solve the murder, which takes her all over town and involves her with a wide variety of locals and visitors, including a handsome doctor. To mull things over and attempt to relax in her downtime Hattie roams the surrounding verdant hills adding specimens to her plant collection, a hobby that helps her discover more clues but also puts her danger.

Characters have complex sometimes unexpected backstories, only gradually discovered by Hattie and the reader, that give the story a nice heft. As far as the mystery goes, I didn’t guess the killer so I didn’t find it predictable. Hattie’s own story hasn’t been completely revealed by the end of the book, there’s more to learn about both her history and Sir Arthur Windom-Greene, a man who stays off stage in this episode but who acts as a sort of sponsor helping Hattie secure employment. A Lack of Temperance was a vacation-like treat to read and I’m looking forward to starting the next book in the series.

This cozy little mystery features Hattie Davish as the main character. She is a on a semi vacation from her normal duties as a typist for Sir Arthur to take a position with a household in Newport as a social secretary. This position was definitely more than Hattie had bargained for as she quickly becomes embroiled in finding yet again, a dead body. She is enlisted by her new employer to find out all she can about how and who may have done the killing.

The storyline is unique in that I don't imagine there were too many, if any, female sleuths in the 1890's. The story is full of gossiping women, because it seems that that is all these women have to do with their time, besides planning and attending parties and soirees, with the hope of being 'seen' by the elite of society. Hattie does not really care about this sort of thing but her job takes her into many drawing rooms of these women. What a bunch of gossiping biddies they were too. It was almost a comedy in manners reading the dialogue of the story.

There is mystery, humor,a bit about labor unions and even a bit of romance to keep the person who enjoys this type of cozy mystery entertained. This is the third book in the historical Hattie Davish mysteries. I had not read the first two but I don't think it mattered at all. Enough of Hattie's past experiences was enough to understand the life of this lady sleuth. I enjoyed it and I am sure you will too.

I love historical mysteries so I adored this one. Anything But Civil by Anna Loan-Wilsey taught me more details about the Civil War so that and the spellbinding writing makes it an easy five stars for me.

Hattie Davish was hired to aid Sir Arthur Windom who was writing a biography of General Cornelius Starrett. Her employer specialized in writing books about the Civil War. They were trying to get the subject to relate the details of his experience in the Civil War. Despite several attempts, something had always caught interrupted his telling of the meeting Grant and Lee at Appomattox.

Hattie has to be self-effacing due to the low standing of women that were not in the upper class. She is able to catch herself from saying what she thinks. She respects Sir Arthur and wants to continue to work with him. She also knows that she has to fit in socially as not an upper class women or a servant. That trait is very useful when Sir Arthur asks her to plan and participate in the Christmas parties. Hattie has her employer’s up most respect as she has previous solved a murder. There are two people that you will love to hate in this book, General Starrett’s son who happens to resemble Santa Clause and Mrs., Baines who is a stickler for the classes not mixing. There is no way of pleasing Mrs. Baines!

It is easy to get wrapped up in this story and there were very many twists. Hattie also melodically laid out a list of suspects and works on the answers to her questions. Hattie is very clever and certainly knows the art of survival around people such as Mrs. Baines and other villains.

I really enjoyed this historical mystery and hope to read the previous one in this series.

I received this book as a win from First Reads. My thoughts and opinions in this review are totally my own.½

I really enjoyed Loan-Wilsey's first Hattie Davish mystery, A Lack of Temperance, but I have to admit that I had a more difficult time getting into Anything But Civil. This is mostly due to the fact that I intensely disliked two of the characters. Henry Starrett was a pompous, spoiled bully who found little reason to rein in his horrible temper. He was so obnoxious that I simply didn't care who killed him because Henry's absence was such a relief. Another character who drew my ire was Rachel Baines, a vain, ill-tempered sort of woman who feels better about herself by constantly putting others down. Henry and Rachel are two sorts of people whom, if I met them in real life, I would walk away-- and stay away-- from. Since they are prominent characters with many scenes, it was tough going at times.

But I still think the character of Hattie Davish is a winner. She's smart, hard-working, quick-thinking and brave, and I enjoy watching her piece together clues to solve the crime. Getting acquainted with Hattie's oft-mentioned employer, Sir Arthur Windom-Greene, was a treat as well. He's an interesting blend of scholar, forward thinker, and proper upper class British gentleman. Also tops on my enjoyment scale is the setting of Galena, Illinois. The author made a very good decision to set her book in the hometown of Ulysses S. Grant. What better place to show the lingering aftereffects of the Civil War than in the home of the best-known of the Union generals?

Although two obnoxious characters did dim my enjoyment of Hattie Davish's second mystery, I like her so much that I'm looking forward to her next adventure.½

I was surprised the book received so many good reviews. While it had a some interesting historical information about the temperance movement the characters were very predictable...from the young independent main character to the stock older women. The plot was fairly predictable too from the entrance of the main character to the happy ending....boring.

This is a time period and a part of history I really wanted to like, as my grandmother, who graduated from college around this time, was active in the suffrage and temperance movements. But I was irritated by all the hints about Hattie's past - they seem to be blatant ploys to get the reader to continue with the series, I would have rather understood Hattie from the get go! I read it through, but will not be adding it to my re-readable books!

Hattie Davish arrives at her new job as a secretary to an older woman. But whe she get there, she finds that her employer is missing and she's right in the middle of a storm over temperance. Her employer is the presidents of a large protest organization and they're hosting a rally that week. But her new boss turns up dead and the police haven't got much to go on. Hattie better figure out what's going on before she become a victim herself.

I liked this series debut. The setting, Arkansas in the late 19th century, was well done. I liked the resort town. It's certainly one that's not overdone, so I hope that the writer keeps the books in the same area. But I wasn't as crazy about the main character as I was about the setting. I felt that she was a little inconsistent and times and not especially likeable. Still, she might grow on me.

Overall, recommended. I received this book for review from LT Early Reviewers program.½

I was surprised to learn this was the first in a series. So many little hints & asides are given about past events I assumed this was the 2nd or 3rd at least.
It is set in 1895 & features Hattie Davish, who is hired as the secretary & assistant to Mrs Trevelyan, a leading light in the temperance movement. But Hattie has problems meeting up with Mrs Trevelyan, until she finds the woman dead in her trunk.
Hattie decides to stay in town for awhile to find out who wanted the woman dead, and does not lack for suspects.
This was a pleasant & easy to read historical mystery with enjoyable characters & a decent plot. I will certainly read the next in the series.