Member Reviews
Another Jaymie vintage kitchen cozy, and it didn’t disappoint. It was the most captivating and intriguing one so far. Jaymie refuses to believe her best friend is a murderer. It looked like an elaborate frame job with gaps that puzzled her. As she began her investigation, the killer turned their eyes on her, almost killing her daughter and sister. Jaymie went rogue to flush the killer out, not knowing what to expect. It was exciting, captivating, and intriguingly engaging.
This latest instalment was very interesting as I haven't read one of these series in a while and I was able to pick up what was going on Jaymie and Val are good friends and help each other out. This vintage series has gotten better and better. I enjoyed reading how they solved the mystery. I had a felling i who it could be but dismissed it and they found the killer amazing.
Princess Fuzzypants here: Jaymie discovers a body with her best friend Val. That is bad enough but the deceased had been acting very erratically and had accused Val of doing things that she did not do. It makes Val a suspect in the woman’s death although initially no one is certain how she died. Jaymie is a bit like a bull in a china shop when it comes to investigating. She questions all those who knew the victim best but she gets too close. One of them decides Jaymie should be removed…and does not care whom else is harmed. This only makes Jaymie more determined to reveal the killer. And she is willing to go to extremes to get it done.
Jaymie is a kind hearted and intelligent character but she is without guile or finesse when it comes to sleuthing. She seems to be oblivious to the fact that she might be provoking a murderer, at least until the villain makes a move against her. It jars a bit but does not wander into Darwin territory.
Four purrs and one paw up.
Victoria Hamilton writes another Vintage Kitchen mystery with Sieve and Let Die. Jaymie Muller witnesses her pharmacist friend Val accused by building company owner Mandy of prescribing a wrong medicine. Mandy was acting erratically and ended dead--found by Jaymie and Val. Mandy's company is in legal trouble for crappy buildings. Whodunit. Her partner? her family members, unhappy customers? Twisting plot with interesting characters.
This was the first of the Vintage Kitchen mysteries I read and overall I was able to jump in without any issues. There were some things I wasn't 100% sure about (like why Jaymie was so protective of her step-daughter), but as the book went on most of them cleared up.
I did find it a bit jarring that the first part of the book focused so much on a new walking path in the community that then had no bearing on the rest of the story in any way, and was actually only mentioned once (I believe) afterwards. I wasn't a huge fan of the "fade to black" style scenes between Jaymie and her husband. It came off as a little juvenile, tbh.
I'd guessed who the murderer was and the way victim died pretty early on, though Hamilton did a pretty decent job of making other characters suspicious.
I wasn't really gripped by the book, but it was enjoyable and very much a modern cozy mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Another good and entertaining mystery in this series. I was glad to catch up with the characters and the solid mystery kept guessing.
Love the cover
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
This murder mystery novel focuses on two good friends – after many small incidents, both women find an old friend dead on the back steps of a pharmacy. The main character then goes on a detective mission to clear her friend’s good name. The story is strong and the characters are interesting.
What I liked: I enjoyed how the book had a clear focus and the main character and her friend were very likeable. This made it easy to root for the main character’s success. I also really liked the interleaving of sister stories throughout showing different types of sister relationships.
What I didn’t like: I thought the story became repetitive with less new information introduced with each repetition.
What I found confusing: I found the list of characters right in the beginning of the first chapter confusing. Since I didn’t have a context for these characters and I was reading a digital version that made it hard to go back and forth, this was not very useful to me. The other thing I found confusing was that the word “sieve” was used in the title and the implication was that this would be a food related mystery. It was more like a real estate mystery novel.
Takeaway: This book is worth reading and a fun mystery to solve. It’s light and not incredibly violent for a mystery novel.
Sieve and Let Die is the 11th book in the Vintage Kitchen Series, but it can be read as a standalone . It takes place in Queenville, Michigan. Jaymie Muller is the protaganist, a collector of vintage cookware, a newlywed, and stepmom. Mandy de Boer came into Jaymie's sister, excited about the new subdivision her company, Manor Homes, was going to be developing. Mandy is the co-owner since her husband died and she offered a partnership to Randy Kallis under some duress. Lately, Manor Homes hs been accused of shoddy homes with major problems and there is a class action suit pending. Jaymie's best friend Val owns the local pharmacy. Mandy suddenly switches to Val's pharmacy, but then accueses her of tryin to poison her of Manor Homes who builds houses for developments. Jaymie's best friend, Val. who owns a pharmacy has a run-in with Mandy about a prescription which she accused Val of trying to kill her by giving her the wrong medication. Many people have been saying that Mandy has been acting strange, something is wrong with her. When Mandy is found dead on the stopes to Val's pharmacy, the investigation begins.
I enjoyed this story and mystery. Jaymie is a great investigator. She seems to know just what to ask and gets a lot of answers. The one thing I like is that she shares e verything she learns with the p olice. They don't work together, but they also know what Jayme is doing. There are so many great chracters in this series. Val is a great friend and sidekick. Becca, Jaymie's sister plays an important role as well. I love Jocie, Jakob's daughter and Jaymie's stepdaughter. She is a delight and it such a great family. I also love Mrs. Stubbs, she is an older woman who is Jaymie's friend but also her sounding board, often helping her sort things out. There are a lot of supects and twists that kept me guessing. Of course, a lot of the information Jaymie collects points to one particular suspect, so I figured it couldn't be him, but I didn't guess who it was. The culprit was one who I had suspected at one point so I wasn't surprised, but the motive was surprising. Overall, this was a well written and plotted mystery with great characters, an interesting mystery and great stories about the characters. I look forward to the next book in the series, as well as catching up on those I missed along the way.
Book Review: Sieve and Let Die by Victoria Hamilton
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5 stars
First off, let me start by saying that the cover of "Sieve Let Die" is fantastic! It immediately caught attention and drew me into the book. Now, let dive into the review.
Overall, I enjoyed this latest installment the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series by Victoria Hamilton. The writing was solid, and the pace of the story kept me engaged throughout. One of the highlights the book was undoubtedly the charming setting. The author effortlessly brings to the autumn aesthetic, creating a delightful atmosphere that adds the overall appeal of the story.
In terms of the mystery itself, it was adequately plotted. While it wasn't the most intricate mystery I've come across, it still held my interest. I will admit that I figured out the identity of the killer fairly early on, but that didn't detract too much from my enjoyment the book.
One aspect that lowered my overall rating a bit was the large number of characters in this story. There were fifteen characters that I can recall off the top of my head, and it did become a bit challenging to keep track of who was who and how they were related. However, despite this minor issue, the characters were likable, well-developed, and added depth to the story.
With that said, "Sieve and Let Die" can be read as a standalone novel. As someone who hasn't read the previous books in the series, I didn't feel lost while reading this one. Of course, returning readers will likely have a deeper understanding of the characters and their dynamics, but it doesn't hinder one's ability to enjoy the book as a standalone.
In conclusion, "Sieve and Let Die" is an enjoyable cozy mystery with a charming setting and likable characters. While the mystery itself may not be the most complex, it still manages to entertain and keep readers engaged. Whether you're a fan of the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series or new to it, this book is definitely worth picking up for a cozy autumn read.
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
A wonderful mystery that I chose to feature on Fresh Fiction's Cozy Corner. I only feature 5-star mysteries!
When an irate customer who made a scene at her friend's pharmacy is later found dead on the building's back steps, Jaymie jumps right into the investigation. I didn't realize how many of the Vintage Kitchen mysteries I've somehow missed. There have been lots of changed in Jaymie's life since the last book I read, but being behind on those developments didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book at all. I was able to jump right in and enjoy the mystery. It was a fun read with lots of intriguing plot elements.
When vintage cookware collector Jaynie Muller pharmacist friend is accused of tampering with a woman’s prescription Jaynie sets out to clear her friend. This was the first book I read in this series ,but I was able to read as a standalone. The characters were likeable and real and the plot held my attention. I look forward to the next book in this series .
I just reviewed Sieve and Let Die by Victoria Hamilton. #SieveandLetDie #NetGalley
I enjoy reading cozies, especially if they're going to teach me something. I unfortunately could not get into this one, though I am a fan of Ms. Hamilton's bookish B&B series. It was nice to have the cast of characters in the front but I wish it had included pronunciations - like how you would say "Luuk." for example.
It was just too hard to feel like part of the story.
A nice meandering mystery with plenty of character side stories. It was good to revisit and see how everyone is. The mystery was good, but I was able to guess the murderer and the how & why pretty quickly.
I’ve read several books in this series, so I know the main cast of characters and like them. Jaymie as a wife and mom is definitely different from single Jaymie of the early books.
Sieve and Let Die has several good suspects for the death of Mandy. I did not figure out who was responsible. I did feel like Jaymie took some unwise risks.
The pacing is different with a drawn out period of life and investigation making the book feel long to me. This wasn’t a story that I couldn’t easily put down. It’s a good mystery just not one I would call above average.
Thanks to Netgalley and Beyond the Page for the opportunity to read the book.
While I hadn’t read any other books in this series, I had no trouble jumping into Sieve and Let Die as a standalone. I enjoyed the talk of vintage items and found myself googling several to learn more. In fact, I would have loved having even more of the vintage products content.
As for the mystery itself, I found it a bit lacking. The murderer and method seemed obvious from early on, so the only answer I needed to read for was the “why”. Regardless, I will definitely be picking up another book from this author to try.
Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
In this Vintage Kitchen Mystery not only was I confused by the suspects and who dun it but so was Jaymie. I had no idea who the killer was until it was revealed in the story. The is a first for me. Jaymie and Val has no idea what is wrong with Mandy lately, her hair is disheveled, her behavior is erratic and her accusations against Val are so mean and personal. Then the unthinkable happens Val and Jaymie find Mandy’s dead body on the back steps of Val’s pharmacy.
Jaymie determined to find out what happened to Mandy and who is framing her friend Val and trying to ruin her reputation starts questioning the town folks while tracing Mandy’s whereabouts. Meetings, visits with sibling, conversations, restaurants visits and business partners they all seem like they could’ve done it but what’s the motive?
It’s not until she begins to look at the case differently that she can see. This was such a good read I think it took me longer to write this review than finish the book.
This is my first book by the author and I enjoyed it. At times it felt a bit wordy but as you continue to read you understand why. If you enjoy mysterious I believe you will enjoy this one Hamilton doesn’t disappoint
In exchange for my honest and thoughtful review I received a Galley copy from NetGalley
Sieve and Let Die by Victoria Hamilton is a charming cozy with the best family ever! It takes place in Michigan, basically out in the woods. And features, Jaymie Leighton Muller, her first generation husband, Jakob Muller, and her adorable step-daughter, Jocie Muller who is beyond happy with her parents and doesn’t consider the fact she is a little person hamper her in any way. These people are beyond characters in a book: they are paragons. Val Nibley is Jaymie’s best friend and owns her own pharmacy nearby. Life is good for these folks, until one day, a previously perfectly pleasant woman comes into the pharmacy and swears Val has poisoned her. Val wasn’t the one working that day, had not filled her prescription, and had no idea what the woman was on about. It continued around town and people started questioning Val’s competence. It didn’t stop until Mandy de Boer was dead. And, she had been poisoned. But, by whom? And why?
This was an intriguing small town mystery which ended in the saddest of ways. There was plenty going on: lawsuits against Mandy’ construction company, houses falling down around people’s ears, including Mandy’s own father’s house, fraud, greed, jealousy, and plenty of surprises. Jaymie, of course, was in the middle of it. Val was beginning the question herself and that was so unfair. There was plenty of unrelated activity which kept the story active and interesting. But, the best part is the Muller family.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Sieve and Let Die by Beyond the Page Publishing, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BeyondThePagePublishing #VictoriaHamilton #SieveAndLetDie
I really enjoyed reading this fun cozy mystery. I loved Jaymie and her family. I liked the mystery that had a lot of twists and turns. I liked how Jaymie could get information from people. I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that i gave of my own free will.
Sieve and Let Die is book #11 in the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series by Victoria Hamilton.
This is the first book I’ve read in this series and I really enjoyed it. I really like the characters and the town. The characters are well-developed which isn’t surprising since this is the 11th book. Jaymie is a good investigator. It was an interesting mystery that took me a while and a few guesses to identify the guilty party. The recipe at the end looks tasty. I’m hooked and plan to catch up on the earlier books.
Thank you to the author, Beyond the Page Publishing, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.