The Advice Column Murders

Charley Carpenter feels like she might never sleep again. Between the insomnia-induced headaches and the constant yelling by her unfriendly next door neighbors, she struggles to sleep at all. In The Advice Column Murders by Leslie Nagel Charley hears Dr. Paxton Sharpe berating his wife about cold dinner and toys scattered around the house. She feels sorriest for the twins being raised in the house.

Adding to Charley's tension are the delays in remodeling caused by mischief at her store Old Hat Vintage Fashions in Oakwood, Ohio. The local newspaper's advice column, Ask Jackie is usually the only bright spot in her day.

The latest column includes an oddly worded letter hinting that a child might be in danger. Charley remains edgy about the letter because something about the wording sounds familiar. When a bloodcurdling scream from next door drives her into the house, Charley discovers the dead body of Judith Sharpe's oldest daughter.


With Detective Marcus Trenault out of town at a conference and no one on the police force wanting her meddling into the death, Charley decides to investigate on her own. In addition to the angry Dr. Sharpe, there are other suspects including his adult son and even Mrs. Sharpe herself. There is something odd about her, but Charley cannot pinpoint the problem. She does worry about the twins because one child rarely speaks and the other jabbers all the time.

As she delves deeper into the murder, another murder occurs and Charley finds herself in jeopardy. A tragic story unfolds and Charley finds the lives of many people have been irreparably damaged.

An exciting mystery with Charley at her best even though she is sleepless!

Where There's a Will

Charley, Charley, Charley you spent you entire high school career mooning over Marcus Trenault and now that you have him, you are reckless and interfering. In Leslie Nagel's The Antique House Murders, Charley Carpenter is looking over the clothing, handbags and shoes once owned by the late Augusta Mulbridge at her estate sale. She is giddy with the find and has visions of how much this will add to her shop Old Hat.

An altercation at the Mulbridge House between the members of SOAP (Sustain Oakwood's Architectural Past) and Pamela Tate, Calvin Prescott's shop assistant, breaks out at the estate sale. Millicent Peache is sure Augusta left a will donating Mulbridge House to SOAP. Holland Mulbridge begs to differ. She has plans to demolish the house and build high-end homes. Before Charley can fully appreciate the vintage clothing and accessories, she finds her friend Calvin dead in his shop.

As Detective Trenault begins to investigate, Charley does too. Before long the murder is linked to a

string of robberies plaguing Oakwood. Trenault heads in that direction, but Charley continues to think the murder is linked to the missing will and the large land deal awaiting approval.

Warned by Marc not to interfere, interfere she does and nearly loses her life for it. She believes Holland Mulbridge and her brother Jameson are planning more than 14 houses presented to the Oakwood Planning Commission and she wonders if they have destroyed a will their mother might have made to get their way. She recruits her friend Dmitri and his sister Vanni to ferret out information about the land deal.

This is a fast-paced mystery with many twists and turns. Time is ticking on the demolition and Charley races to find the answers.

For my review of another Leslie Nagel book, click here. For other books by Leslie Nagel, click here.

Murder Takes a Clue

As many of you know I am a huge Agatha Christie fan and The Book Club Murders bought out the Christie fan in me. Leslie Nagel sets her book in Oakwood, Ohio, Charley Carpenter is the owner of a clothing store called Old Hat Vintage Fashions and hopes to draw the wealthy elite to her shop.

She joins the Agathas Book Club with some of the snootiest women in the area in hopes of generating some new clients. As she is driving to the next book club meeting, Charley happens upon a road block of police cards positioned across the road near a railroad underpass. Something big must have happened, she thinks, and drives away to the book club meeting for which she is, as usual, late.

One of the Agathas reports on the few facts she knows about the murder, and the rest are eager for details. When the Detective Marcus Trenault to break the news to book club

member Lindy Taylor about the death of her sister Serena Wyndham, the book club becomes involved. Before too long another member is found murdered. What is the connection between the two murders? Is the murderer imitating the crime scenes of Agatha Christie books?

When a third murder takes place, Charley begs Detective Trenault to let her work as an inside informant to the club. Before long Charley finds herself in a dangerous situation and uses her Agatha Christie mystery solving techniques to find the murder.

This was an excellent book and I look forward to others, especially if they pay homage to Agatha Christie.For more books by Leslie Nagel, click here.