While this series follows the lines of other successful series, something about it fell short for me. Unfortunately, I did not finish the first in the series and struggled to find the motivation to read this one.

This is the second book in the Miss Sharp Investigates series, and there’s just something so cozy and fun about a group of elderly friends that embark on an adventure.

The book trend seems to be amateur sleuthing right now and I’m here for it!

I listened to the audio format, which was performed by Moira Quirk, and I thought it was great!

*many thanks to RB Media and Netgalley for the gifted copy

This book wasn’t for me. While Agnes Sharpe and the Trip of a Lifetime had a quirky and fun tone, I found it slow to get to the plot, and the characters and story felt oddly disjointed. It seemed like something an older audience might appreciate more, but it just didn’t hold my interest. If you enjoy eccentric characters and a meandering narrative, you might like it, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

This group of oldsters cracks me up and I can't get enough of their antics! I can't wait to see what they get up to - on purpose and accident - in the next installment! Leonie Swann has now made it to my always-read list!

#AgnesSharpandtheTripofaLifetime
#NetGalley

this was overall a cosy, enjoyable mystery but i‘m not sure i would pick up another book in this series again or recommend it to a friend. while the audio book version was ver well narrated and i did like the setting and idea, i felt that the pacing was a little off at times, which left me losing interest a little bit rather than being on the edge of my seat, waiting for the murderer to be discovered.
the elderly characters are quite charming, but also feel like types without too much depth to them, which i don’t think is essential for a mystery like this but would’ve been nice to have. some details like oberon the snake and even the death of the verger at the start of the novel sparked my interest initially, but ended up seeming a little pointless and random as the novel went on. all in all, not really 100% my cup of tea, but still a pleasant read!

I enjoyed this book but it did drag at points. I am almost wondering if it is something in the translation for this book, as the first book didn't have the same pacing.
I also found Oberon's POV a tad laborious, and didn't add in the same way that Harriet's POV did in the first book! (An animal POV in a mystery is quite rare, so I do appreciate the creativity.)

Moira Quirk's narration was fantastic, though!

Agnes Sharp and the Trip of a Lifetime was an entertaining listen. This made me think of the secret lives of old people. There were moments I was laughing aloud during my commute.

Book 191 of 300 ~ 2024

🌟🌟🌟💫

From the looks of the reviews, something seems to have been lost in translation as the reviewers who read this in its original language have high praise for it while those who have read the translated version... well... not so much.

I listened to the audiobook version, and while the narrator was excellent, the story itself felt like a poorer copy of the Thursday Murder Club and the like.

It's not too bad, but it's not that great. Maybe I needed to read the first book to get to know the characters better?

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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What a fabulous book. Agnes Sharp and her fellow retirees go on holiday to a remote fancy hotel. There is a storm that washes out access to the hotel and people start dying. Agnes, former cop that she is, decides to solve the murders with the help of her fellow retirees. I loved the quirky characters. I love the elderly investigators. I even loved the snake. This is a really fantastic cozy mystery. If you enjoy mysteries, you will enjoy this books.

I was initially hesitant to pick up this book, even though I was eagerly anticipating it. My fondness for the first book in the series made me worry that the sequel might not live up to the high standards set by its predecessor. Thankfully, I needn’t have worried—this book is just as delightful as the first.

As the title suggests, Agnes and her friends venture further out of their comfort zones and embark on a vacation. Along the way, we meet even more intriguing characters and experience memorable incidents, deepening our affection for this lovable gang.

Once again, the narrator, Moira Quirk, does a splendid job of bringing each character to life with her remarkable voice talent.

Thank you to Leonie Swann, Moira Quirk, RB Media, and NetGalley for providing me with this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

Agnes Sharp and the Trip of a Lifetime by Leonie Swann, narrated by Moira Quirk, is a delightful and suspenseful mystery that combines humor, intrigue, and the charm of an elderly sleuth. This audiobook is a follow-up to Swann’s previous work, The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp, and it continues the adventures of Agnes and her quirky group of friends from Sunset Hall.

The story begins with Edwina Singh winning a vacation to the luxurious Eden eco-hotel in Cornwall. However, instead of taking her housemates, she chooses to bring along the ashes of their recently deceased friend, Lillith. Feeling left out, Agnes decides to book rooms for herself and the rest of the group, leading to a series of unexpected and dangerous events.

Moira Quirk’s narration is a highlight of this audiobook. Her expressive and engaging voice brings each character to life, capturing their unique personalities and quirks. Quirk’s ability to convey the humor and tension in the story enhances the listening experience, making it entertaining and immersive.

Swann’s writing is witty and clever, with a plot that keeps listeners guessing until the very end. The setting of the Eden hotel, with its picturesque yet eerie atmosphere, adds to the suspense. The narrative is filled with twists and turns, as Agnes and her friends find themselves entangled in a mystery involving a series of unexplained deaths and a storm that cuts off the hotel from the outside world.

One of the strengths of Agnes Sharp and the Trip of a Lifetime is its character development. Agnes and her friends are portrayed with warmth and depth, making them relatable and endearing. Their interactions and the dynamics within the group add a layer of humor and heart to the story. The book also touches on themes of aging, friendship, and resilience, making it more than just a simple mystery.

Overall, Agnes Sharp and the Trip of a Lifetime is a thoroughly enjoyable audiobook that will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries and character-driven stories.

I received this audiobook from RBMedia on NetGalley - thank you!

Having read “Three Bags Full” many years ago, I was excited to discover another book by Leonie Swann. I haven’t read “The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp”, but it didn’t seem to be a problem, as in my opinion “The Trip of a Lifetime” can be read as a stand-alone, too.

I really like the idea of a group of elderly people being the protagonists. Each of the characters has a unique, quirky personality and a complicated past - including the snake! I enjoyed Oberon’s POV and I also loved the setting - a remote hotel on a cliff in Cornwall - which added to the mysterious atmosphere.

In my opinion the book could have been shorter, but even the stretched-out fragments were nice to listen to, because Moira Quirk did a great job as the narrator. I managed to guess who the murderer was pretty early on, but it didn’t take away from the fun.

It was definitely an enjoyable, lighthearted read and I recommend this book to all fans of Miss Marple, Poirot and other classic detective stories.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and RB Media for my copy of Agnes Sharp and the Trip of a Lifetime by Leonie Swann Narrated by Moira Quirk in exchange for an honest review. It published September 3, 2024.
First off, I want to mention that Moira Quirk did an excellent job narrating another Agnes Sharp book. I couldn't read this book without her voice!
Secondly, this was a very solid sophomore book in this album. I may go so far as to say I enjoyed it even more. There is very solid character development for several characters, and it's got me excited for the next installment. This was a great mystery with lots of red herrings, misdirection, clues, twists, and turns. I loved the setting and I could picture it very vividly! All-in-all, I really enjoyed this one!

I have loved the slate of mysteries that feature senior citizens in the last 5 or so years. Leonie Swann brings us back to Sunset Hall where the residents are looking for a little excitement on cold winter days.

Featuring the same heartwarming cast of characters and full of hijinks and mysteries, Agnes Sharp and the Trip of a Lifetime is an excellent sequel and a great read for the second half of the year. The audiobook version was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the narration and would recommend this format to others.

Another super fun mystery with Agnes Sharpe and the gang! This time the Sunset Hall residents are off on a relaxing vacation, but it’s not all sunny days. This is a great take on a locked room mystery, with lots of twists and turns, a “cold case” murder and a few fresh bodies turn this vacation into a working holiday. I only figured out half of the mystery which was a nice surprise. The reveals were smart and the new characters were all great additions. Overall this was a really fun read and the narrator again does a great job with all of the character voices.

Thanks to Netgalley, RB Media and Leonie Swann for this ALC

I enjoyed reading the first book in the Agnes Sharp series and found the second one even better. The elderly residents of Sunset Hall – Agnes, Edwina, Bernadette, Charlie, Marshall, and Winston – go on vacation to a fancy, secluded Cornish hotel, partially because Edwina won a romantic gateway for two and everybody wants to go with her,  and partially because the heater in their home doesn't work. As in the first book, they become senior detectives investigating the murder.

This kind of mystery book has become very popular recently, emphasizing that the golden years can be fulfilling and fun. However, in the Agnes Sharp series, one can't escape to see that it's not always fun and games. The group of friends is really impacted by their age and unwelcomed consequences: a painful hip, a walking stick, a wheelchair, obesity, and a mind fog. And yet, the novel is quirky and funny, with each character being distinct. I especially liked Edwina (the part when she decides to teach yoga is very funny) and her unusual sidekick, a white boa constrictor named Oberon, who is still very young. Edwina hopes he'll soon learn to behave like a grownup snake under her care. Oberon offers his POV; he is a brilliant snake indeed.

This mystery might not be to some people's liking, but I immensely enjoyed it. It has that unique, slightly self-deprecating sense of humor. If you like series like "The Thursday Murder Club" and "The Marlow Murder Club," you should invite Agnes Sharp and her friends to your home. You may be pleasantly surprised how much fun they can offer!

This is the second book following the same cast of characters from 'The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp'. A book that I swear by as cozy old detective mystery, one can read over and over.

This time the house mates have decided to go on a little trip to avoid the freezing discomforts. But, wherever they go, trouble follows & if only Agnes & her housemates were a little less conspicuous, they wouldn’t be the target. The mystery is setup in a hotel which is considered a relaxing retreat, though the recent events have left both the residents and workers alarmed.

The mystery element is on the lighter end, whereas the descriptions of sparky characters & the challenges of navigating through an old age is fairly put up. Read this if you are looking for less complicated things in life that are entertaining but not taxing on your mind.

Genre: Murder Mystery
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️

Agnes Sharp and the Trip of a Lifetime: Agnes Sharp Mysteries #2
Leonie Swann, Amy Bojang
The residents of Sunset Hall need a vacation. They are tired of the Christmas music and cold bedrooms, the boiler is broke down. Plus, there are the murders. They went thirty years with hardly any crime but that has changed. The elderly residents at Sunset Hall have no desire to be where there are such crimes committed.
Edwina used Marshall’s computer without his permission and won a trip to Cornwall. Her friends don’t want her to travel alone so they decide to accompany her. They arrive at Eden the Cornish Spa/resort and begin to settle in, hoping for a relaxing vacation. Retired police officer, Agnes witnesses two people dressed in raincoats with the hood up, as they walk from the hotel toward the cliffs, but she only saw one return. What happened to the second person? Could Agnes be a witness in a murder case. Her friends doubt she witnessed a crime. Agnes can’t let it go and is caught snooping. The group take advantage of the hotel’s beautiful landscape and delicious food. A storm isolates the senior group at the resort along with the other guests. There is no internet, no phone service and the road wash out. Agnes and her friends become suspects in the murders as they investigate.
The characters in this book are eccentric to say the least. For the most part the characters are funny and loveable. The story is told from several points of view. The best part of this book is the humor. Of course there are clues as well as red herrings throughout this book. This is the first book I’ve read in this series.
Thank you NetGalley.

I’ve become quite the fan of septuagenarians and octogenarians solving mysteries. I wasn’t sure the concept would quite work, but I was quickly proven wrong with Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club. When I ran out of books to read in that series, I stumbled upon Agnes and her unruly bunch at Sunset Hall last fall. Agnes, Marshall, Winston, Edwina (oh how I love her), Bernadette, and Charlie are all so wildly different, and each of their personalities ensures the reader is in for a good time. I received an advanced audio copy of Agnes Sharp and the Trip of a Lifetime in exchange for an honest review.

Cozy mysteries have a special place in my heart. They are a small piece of quiet away from a busy life. What I love about Leonie Swann’s book is that while this does fall into the genre of a cozy mystery, there are still thriller elements, there is still comedy, there are still lessons learned and tender moments of love and loss. I find myself reading/listening with my breath held at certain moments, immediately exhaling with audible laughter…. And here is how Leonie so brilliantly does this.

She gives us Edwina, a very sweet, albeit odd character, for comedic relief. She gives us Winston and Bernadette, two characters with physical disabilities, to demonstrate that with determination comes possibility, and that having limitations need not stop you from being fully, wholly, and boldly yourself. She gives us Charlie to remind us to look for the “fabulous” in life no matter what. She gives us Marshall as a memento that love is a powerful thing in life. And lastly, she gives us Agnes to remind us of the preciousness of time and memory. It is through these 6 characters that we are able to receive one beautiful masterpiece, full of love, loss, overcoming, tender moments, and above all else, a smashing good mystery.

This time around the clan of Sunset Hall embarks on a getaway, courtesy of a prize won by Edwina and Edwina’s inability to pick who gets to join her (sadly Hettie the tortoise and Lilith in her screw-top urn are not viable options). While on the getaway, we encounter a cast of new colorful characters, outlandish adventures (one involving a new snake friend for Edwina), and some questionable spotted on the horizon (or should I say cliffs?). But never fear, Agnes and the Sunset Crew are here! Stranded at the hotel along with all the other guests, Agnes must convince the others of the murder she believes she witnessed and find the killer before it’s too late!

I enjoyed this group of octagenarians and their shenanigans at an eco-resort. This series is similar to the Thursday Murder Club but not quite as good. The characters are a bit stereotyped, and the point of view switches to a snake at one point. I would rate the book 3.5 stars, but rounded up to 4 because I really needed to find out what happened.

I received an advance reader's copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review, and my honest opinion is that cozy mystery fans will enjoy this book.