Mrs Pargeter's Principle

Yay! We LOVE Mrs. Pargeter! Sooo happy that Simon Brett is writing her again!

Mrs Melita Pargeter has a comfortable life. Widowed, her late husband, who just may have had a hand in a number of rather dubious businesses, has set her up with some of his old associates only too happy to help her out with any problem, no matter how small. Her little black book, containing the names of her husband’s contacts, is an invaluable resource for her, but when one of the earliest names in it dies, Mrs P finds herself at his funeral, determined to find out who exactly he was.
She becomes determined to find the truth as to who Sir Normington Winthrop actually was, especially when “advised” not to by a large unpleasant man at the funeral. But as she pursues her investigation, along with helping out some other of her husband’s old friends, she soon finds that someone is willing to kill to stop the truth coming out.
Well, that was rather fun. I’ve read the first three – A Nice Class Of Corpse, Mrs, Presumed Dead and Mrs Pargeter’s Package – and enjoyed them all. There were three others before Mrs P disappeared into the literary wilderness in 1999. But, just like Charles Paris, Mrs P is back with a vengeance.
And an enjoyable little adventure it is too. A real page turner full of wit and charm that is over far too soon. The characters are entertaining, especially Mrs P herself, and the plot keeps moving forward until the highly amusing denouement.
But it’s not remotely a mystery. Not in a play-along kind of way. There is a twist but it’s a pretty unsurprising one – one of those that would have been more surprising if it didn’t happen – and a nice surprise at the end. And Brett spends some time giving UKIP – sorry, I mean BROG – “Britons, Restore Our Greatness” – a good kicking in the process, so that’s all for the good as well.
But regardless of the lack of puzzle, it’s Brett at his enjoyable best. So for fans of Mrs Pargeter from way back, it’s well worth a look. Highly Recommended.

Mrs. Pargeter is smart, gracious, and a lady as well as a down to earth woman. She knows how to enjoy life, and one of the most important sources of enjoyment for her is taking care of the people in and around the very special community created by her late husband.

In the latest installment of a wonderful series, Mrs. Pargeter gets to play Cupid in her own inimitable style -- but she also finds herself in danger.

This book, like the rest of the series, is beautifully written and filled with interesting people, places, and events.

This book was the very definition of "cosy crime" - and I loved it! It was very gentle, although it was definitely a crime book, and peopled by characters I felt I wanted to know. Mrs Pargeter is a star! The writing was excellent and it was easy to read, while not being too "simple". I will definitely read more of this series and I have already recommended it to my friends.

Mrs. Pargeter's Principle is a great funny, cozy read. Just right for someone who doesn't like the gory, too graphic tales of other mystery writers. Mrs. P. was left a very wealthy widow, but the best thing her husband left her was his little black book of contacts. People that she could call on for any old thing - like lockpickers and forgers and getaway car drivers. Mrs. P. is a genteel lady, refined in every way, but one that wants to continue her husband's "philanthropy". So she sets out to help those who need it and using her little black book, sets things right.
This is an enjoyable read, light and easy, and very entertaining.

Delightful resumption of the Mrs. Par getter series, the widow dispensing her late husbad's largess to assist his friends in need. Charming.

Mrs. Pargeter, her friends Gary, her chauffeur, and Truffler Mason, owner of a detective agency, are attending the funeral of one of her late husband's former employee, Sir Normington Winthrop. Not because she knew the man, but because he was listed in the little black book Mr. P willed to her, and Mrs. P thought it was the right thing to do.

While there, she is approached by a man named Edmund Grainger who warns her to stay away from Winthrop's widow, Helena. Mrs. Pargeter refuses to be cowed by the man but takes her friends and leaves, stating 'not to be where she isn't wanted.' However, she is now curious as to why she was being warned off, and decides to find out.

But before she can begin her investigation, she needs to meet with more of the people in the little black book, 'Gizmo' Gilbert, whom she has learned has fallen on hard times...and Samantha Pinkerton, whose father has recently died (another employee) and wants to marry her boyfriend Kelvin, but doesn't approve of what he does for a living "he's a criminal," she tells Mrs. P;...and Erin Jarvis, the daughter of another deceased employee.

So she proceeds to help out Gizmo without his knowledge; assure Samantha of a glorious wedding that won't cost her anything, including providing the vicar, and ask Erin to help her find information on the elusive past of Normington Winthrop - for it seems, aside from a first page in the little black book, there appears to be very little other information to go on. And since she was approached by Edmund Grainger, she becomes very curious indeed.

So when she meets another former employee, a vicar by the name of 'Holy' Smirke, and asks him to officiate at the wedding, she also asks him about his early days with her husband. Yet he has another appointment who has just arrived to meet him, and requests she call him later and they will discuss it. But when she calls, the vicar has disappeared; and it appears from a witness nearby that he has been kidnapped. Now Mrs. P, with the help of Truffler and Gary (also former employees), is determined to find her vicar in time for the wedding in three weeks.

And here we have a very detailed plot, which is quite a bit of fun to read. It seems that Mr. Pargeter was more than just the philanthropist Mrs. Pargeter says he was, yet when we are given bits and pieces of stories about his past, Mrs. P pretends not to understand what anyone is talking about, and the subject is immediately changed. The book is filled with colorful characters with just as colorful names, and they all seem to have a certain set of specialized skills - skills that Mrs. P. calls upon, and they are happy to provide, having a great fondness for their late employer.

And as she gets closer to finding information about the late Sir Winthrop, greater steps are taken by Mr. Grainger to ensure she does not.

We soon find out that all these subplots are connected somehow, and trust me when I say that blending them all together is a masterpiece of sheer delight. I can only imagine what an interesting life Mr. and Mrs. Pargeter must have led, and Mrs. P carrying on for him as best she can. Highly recommended.

Mrs. Pargeter gets mixed up in danger simply by attending the funeral of wealthy Sir Normington Winthrop. Sir Normington's life seems to have been above reproach, but Mrs. Pargeter is determined to find out what connection he had with her late husband. She also wants to know if there is more to Winthrop’s life than meets the eye and the more she is warned off, the more determined she is to learn the truth.

I love author Simon Brett’s writing style and wonderful wit. The “Charles Paris” series has always been my favorite by Brett, but this newest installment of the Mrs. Pargeter series is excellent! I’ve not read all of the books in this series, but I had no problems catching up with the story’s key players. Mrs. Pargeter is a joy as the book’s main character and amateur sleuth. Mrs. Pargeter is far from a docile, frail widow. I enjoy seeing Mrs. Pargeter take charge and get things done, with a little help from her late husband’s former business associates. Mrs. Pargeter is very kind, but she can silence someone with just a glance if they dare imply criticism of her late husband. Mrs. Pargeter’s associates are also interesting characters and the plot of the book kept my interest from the very first chapter. This is easily my favorite book in this beloved, long-running series. Fans of Simon Brett and also M.C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin series will enjoy this delightful book.

I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Severn House Crème de la Crime. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

The delightful, charming and deceptively shrewd Mrs Pargeter is back! After a hiatus of 17 very long years, I was thrilled that Simon Brett decided to continue her adventures with her entertaining circle of 'reformed' criminals (a legacy left by her philanthropic master-mind criminal husband). Such a joy to read about them all again! The original six books in the series had been eeked out over the years. I hope there will be more adventures in the offing. Highly recommended as an original take on the cozy mystery heroine with larger-than-life, humourous characters.

The always witty Simon Brett revives an old character in this enjoyable cozy reminiscent of the old Ealing Comedy movies