ILL-GOTTEN GAINS is the second Nell Forest Mystery by Ilsa Evans set in the imagined country town of Majic (somewhere out near Bendigo if I remember from the first book :) )

When reviewing the earlier book, NEFARIOUS DOINGS recently, I commented on the style of accidental female PI series that these books fall into and what a good example of that genre they are. Whilst the first book was, in itself, a fun example of that style, ILL-GOTTEN GAINS adds a much stronger plot to other strong elements.

Part of what makes these books work so well is the central character - Nell. She's an accidental investigator. A bit of a sticky beak that gets herself into the middle of any questionable goings on. Either by just being in the vicinity or because she actively seeks out involvement. When her youngest daughter uncovers a mystery about the founding father of the town, right on the eve of the 150th Anniversary celebrations, of course Nell's going to get involved. There's lots of strong twists and turns in the reveal of that story that will keep the reader guessing up until the end.

The supporting cast from the first book is back with various daughters, local cops, sister, mother and local entities all there. There's also a stronger part for the ex-husband and his new girlfriend and a lot of fleshing out of the relationships between everyone. There's the will / they won't they romance element which whilst expected in this style of book, is nicely done - with humour and a strong feeling of new attraction tempered with the reality of slightly advanced years.

Humour, mystery, family relationships and small town complications all get their moments in ILL-GOTTEN GAINS. I suspect you'd be able to read these books out of sync, but they would work better if you can start with the first. But if your a fan of this sort of lighter style, then you really should try both of these books.

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/ill-gotten-gains-ilsa-evans ( )

I so enjoyed the first Nell Forest Mystery, Nefarious Doings that I was delighted to be able to move on so quickly to the second, Ill-Gotten Gains.

Picking up just a few months after the end of Nefarious Doings, the town of Majic is about to celebrate its 150th anniversary when Nell’s youngest daughter, Quinn, uncovers a surprising anomaly at the crypt of the town founder. Nell dutifully shares the information with the local Historical Society unaware that the discovery will rewrite the history of the town and make her the target of a killer desperate to keep the past a secret.

I think the plot is stronger in Ill-Gotten Gains (than in Nefarious Doings), the mystery is less predictable and, just when you think you might have figured it all out, it twists nicely. Evan’s teases out the secret, which stretches back into the town’s history, without compromising the drama of present. The tension is also more immediate with Nell targeted by the killer, leading to a spectacular confrontation at the height of the town’s celebrations.

As with the first book, I adored the characters, I’d love to share a coffee with Nell (even though I can’t stand the stuff). I love the little asides shared from her column, ‘Middle Age Spread’, and her sense of humour makes me laugh. Nell’s familial relationships are so realistically drawn, I can empathise with the chaos her daughters introduce into her life and the love, and concern, she feels for all of them.
The supporting characters within the community of Majic are part of the appeal of the series, often quirky, sometimes completely insane, they add colour to the story. I’ve mentioned it previously but look out for Grace June Rae, a character I won naming rights to.
Oh and the dashing Detective Sergeant Ashley Armistead returns to charm Nell in Ill-Gotten Gains, even while he despairs of her habit of finding dead bodies and attracting trouble.

Ill-Gotten Gains is a delightful blend of mystery, humour and domestic drama with a touch of romance. I adore this new cosy mystery series – Ilsa, you can expect I’ll be harassing you on Words With Friends until the next installment is in my hands! ( )