Cassie Gwynne, a young woman in her twenties, has no idea what she is about to find when she lands on Amelia Island. She is determined to meet the aunt she never knew she had. In the span of twenty-four hours, Cassie chases after a pickpocket, collides with a local officer, meets her aunt in jail, and finds a body. When her aunt is accused of murder, Cassie feels it falls to her to learn the truth.

Despite the title proclaiming it to be an "utterly addictive" mystery, I found myself mostly annoyed. I had to read it in small chunks because I kept rolling my eyes. Cassie is a character who doesn’t fit the time period. She hates that the bustle is back in fashion! Her corset is too tight! (Really, that's her own fault, since she dresses herself. And if it is the corset fault, why did she not have a properly fitting one if she just purchased her wardrobe?) She is an independent, modern thinker, and I just didn't like her.

I never like when a story makes me pause and go off on a Google search to find out if a detail is true or not. And I had a lot of moments like that with this one. So many characters are introduced that I forgot most of them. When the murderer is revealed, it didn’t come as a shock. It was more of an "oh, yeah. I remember that character in a couple other scenes." The narrative shifts between what I think was supposed to be comedic scenes (that I was not amused by) and very dramatic tones. They did not mesh well together and left me confused about what the author expected a reader to feel.

The author notes that she put hours of research into bringing to life what honestly sounds like an interesting time and place. However, by the end of the book, I didn’t have a strong idea of what Amelia Island was really like.

Overall, this was not a favorite, though there was nothing awful about it. I'm pretty sure I will not continue reading the series.

The book starts off with Cassie Gwynne arriving in Fernandina to meet her estranged aunt. Very quickly the body of Aunt Flora’s much hated neighbour is found and fingers start to point in her direction. Cassie sets out to clear her aunt’s name with the help of the large cast of colourful characters.

With a cover like this, it would be a lie to say that wasn’t what first drew me in. I love the style and the colours used. The description was interesting so I thought I’d give it a go.

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. I found it difficult to get into and then hard to stay focused.

The book is quirky and a more light-hearted mystery, but I don’t think I’m personally cut out for quirky. I found myself unable to connect with any of the characters and found them almost juvenile in their actions. They seemed like modern people dropped into a Victorian story. As a cat person, I did enjoy the kitten, however.

Cassie, to me, was annoying (a ‘not like other girls’ girl). She was trying hard to be seen as ladylike yet kept chewing gum at an alarming rate. She was also somehow more competent than the police, coroner and doctor.

I found the second half of the book easier to read and the story moved along a lot quicker (the first half was bogged down with setting the scene and introducing too many characters).

Cassie’s character might grow in the next books, but I won’t be diving into the rest of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Deception Most Deadly, the first in a cozy mystery series by Genevieve Essig, is a bit of a mess. It's a fun mess, but it's a mess all the same.

Cassie Gwynne has come to Florida to meet the aunt she has never known. Shortly thereafter, the local curmudgeon is killed, and Cassie's aunt Flora becomes the prime suspect.

It's a good thing the characters are so likeable, because the book reads more like a modern-day cozy that just happens to be set about 140 years ago. Cassie is not all that bright, yet she somehow solves the case ahead of multiple officials. You'd also think, given the results of her behavior back home, that she'd be a bit more circumspect now.

I think the author tried a little too hard to write a madcap cozy, and while it works some of the time, it does feel forced on occasion. Essig's sophomore effort will hopefully be stronger.

3/5 stars

I received an advanced copy from Bookouture and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This, and other reviews, are posted to Goodreads and my blog, https://redhatcatreviews.com/.

A Fresh Start…
Florida, 1883 and reluctant heiress Cassie Gwynne has arrived. Desperately trying to be a ‘proper lady’ and desperately seeking a fresh start. However, things will not quite pan out the way that Cassie has envisioned and the soon to be sometime amateur sleuth will be chasing murderers and mystery rather than anything else. Fun, frothy, light and entertaining escapism.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of A Deception most Deadly, the first novel to feature Cassie Gwynne.

After the death of her father in New York, 1883 Cassie travels to the fictional island of Fernandina, Florida to visit her only surviving relative, her aunt Flora. When the body of Peanut Runkles is found Cassie deduces that he was murdered and soon wishes she hadn’t as Flora has been feuding with Peanut for years and certain elements in town are determined to find her guilty. Can Cassie save the day?

I wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about this novel in the first half. It didn’t capture my attention and I kept finding other things to do rather than pick it up again. It picks up speed in the second half with several twists and an action packed, if unlikely, finale.

The novel is told entirely from Cassie’s point of view, which is a plus as theoretically it allows the reader to get involved with her character. This works better in the second half, but the first half is full of scene setting and doesn’t feel focused on the main event, saving Flora and solving the murder.

I must admit that I didn’t find the novel particularly amusing, light and frothy rather than funny. I also didn’t like the setting and the characters’ attitudes. It seems like modern sensibilities in a Victorian setting. As such, I couldn’t take it as credible. Maybe I’m being pedantic but it’s simply not my kind of thing.

Cassie Gwynne as a character shows promise. She’s smart and logical with an enquiring mind and endearing in her doubts and pain. It’s not enough, however, for me to overcome my dislike of the background and I won’t be rushing to see her again.

A Deception most Deadly is not for me, but will probably appeal to many cosy readers.

I really enjoyed this book about a lady with a curious mind trying to solve a murder case so as to free her aunt who’s been wrongly convicted. I must admit it kept me guessing until the very end, though I did feel some of the characters were unnecessary as they didn’t seem to do anything important, but cropped up frequently, to the point I kept hoping it would become clear in the ending why the author had written them in, but to no avail

I really enjoy 19th century murder mysteries so I wanted to like this one more than I did. Maybe it was because there were so many characters introduced and it was hard to keep them straight. And it was a mix of a comedy/slash mystery with a touch of tragedy thrown in. For example, the climactic scene involves the heroine chasing down the murderer while riding a donkey. Please.

There was a hint of a budding romance between the main character and a grumpy, rather obnoxious police deputy but that wasn’t developed. I guess the author is saving more there for future entries.

As far as the mystery, I thought it was pretty obvious who the murderer was. There was too much of the heroine just happening to overhear a key conversation or one of her new friends telling her about what will become an important conversation.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

This book did not become interesting until about halfway in, but I am glad I saw it through. Also, there was a real gut punch ( for me) that I did NOT see coming. Overall this was a nice, cozy mystery, and I look forward to more Cassie Gwynne mysteries.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

Cassie Gwynne looked for a fresh start after her father's death. They lived in New York, her father was an attorney, and she use to help him with his works.
She off to see her aunt who has owns a perfume and scented goods store in town, for the first time at Fernandina island, 1883. As a very gentlewoman and proper lady, as we expect in that time, soon as she arrived, arrested for ...
Well, not exactly arrested but was taken to the police station for answering some questions. Like other usual and ordinary families, she met her aunt for the first time at the jail, accidentally!

Wait a minute, the story didn't begin yet. Aunt Flora has very compassion for animals and cares about them. Like real life, there is always a neighbor who ALWAYS complains about animals.
Peanut Runkles has been quarreling with Flora for years, about everything from Flora’s eccentric ideas to Peanut’s vegetable patch that was destroyed by pet pig Flora.

"Who may have had an issue with Peanut.”
“That’s easy. Downing, Smalls, Meeks, Mr. Shaw, Mrs. Shaw, all of his neighbors, anyone else who’s ever met him."

Cassie accidentally finds Peanut's body lying at the foot of the harbor pilots’ lookout tower. Flora was arrested for his murder. Cassie and a few loyal friends try to find the real killer and help Flora. During this investigation, Cassie finds some unusual information about the last huge fire in town and the insurance company. It looks like is not only about Peanut anymore. There will be another murder, other documents against her aunt and meet an old friend after years, he had changed a lot!

A great start for a new historical cozy mystery series! I really enjoyed the narration; Plot, the island city of Fernandina 1883; the characters, Cassie, her Aunt Flora, their friends, and also their lovely animals, especially new kitty "Hesychia", Esy for short. :) I really like to read how the story could continue.

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read A Deception Most Deadly (A Cassie Gwynne Mystery #1) by Genevieve Essig, I have given my honest review.

This novel began very slow for me but seemed to pick up some pace and kept my interest midway through. It’s a well written cozy mystery that has a nice plot. I’m hoping other books in the series will get better over time. Definitely worth checking out if you like cozy mysteries!

In this historic cosy mystery, I found Cassie Gwynne to be a very likeable leading lady. Unsurprisingly she's a little unconventional for the time.

Her visit to her newly discovered aunt doesn't quite go to plan and before long she is using her wits and smarts to great effect in an effort to price her innocence. Much of the novel is scene-setting as you learn about Cassie's family history and the cast of interesting islanders that I'm sure will continue to play an important part going forward.

It will be interesting to see where the author takes the storyline next. I have some ideas. I wonder if I will be right.

With thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This warm and witty cozy mystery will transport you to the island city of Fernandina and introduce you to a feisty heroine far before her time. If you are wanting a great escape this is exactly the book you will want to read. You will be so glad you did – I know I was glad I got to read it.

I was so excited for this, but it just missed for me unfortunately. Slow pace, didnt build up as much as i'd hoped. Struggled to keep my attention. Sure i'm an odd one out, but wasnt for me.