Murder at the Mikado by Julianna Deering - REVIEWED

About the Book:  (from Bethany House Publishers)
When a celebrated ACTOR IS FOUND MURDERED IN HIS DRESSING ROOM, all signs point to Drew's old flame. But behind the curtains nothing is what it seems and this quickly becomes hisMOST puzzling case YET.
Just as Drew Farthering thinks his life has calmed down some, Fleur Landis, a former girlfriend, reappears, in dire need of his help. She's married now, no longer an actress--but the lead actor in her former troupe's production of The Mikado has been murdered, and Fleur is the police's number one suspect.

Drew would rather focus on his fiancée, Madeline Parker, and their upcoming wedding, but he can't leave Fleur and her family in the lurch--even if she did break his heart once. As Drew, Nick, and Madeline begin investigating, they discover more going on behind the scenes of the theater troupe than could ever have been imagined. It seems nearly everyone had a motive, and alibis are few and far between.

Both the murder case and the presence of the beautiful, exotic Fleur put a heavy strain on Drew and Madeline's relationship. Will their still-young romance survive the pressure?
My Thoughts:

“A rather odd sort of calling to have, isn’t it...Detecting?  (p. 59)

“I haven’t kept a happy wife by putting myself in harm’s way.”  (p. 71)

“Maybe that’s the point of this whole thing, Drew, helping anyone who needs us.  Not just the ones we particularly like.”  (p. 77)

I simply could not decide upon a quote that encapsulated this wonderful story!  Julianna Deering is an author that creates such a multi-layered, complex story line that your heart and mind remain completely engaged from the first page to the last!  Yes,  the plot line revolves around a murder…and then another…and then suspecting one character then another….and everything is built upon the very fragile, fickle human heart.  Sigh…..nothing is clear cut and easily explained.  Just when you think you know what is taking place, you discover there is more to the story.  This really is an excellent and very engaging novel!

Drew Farthering and Madeline Parker find themselves in the midst of a personal and professional maelstrom.  They are forced to closely examine every detail surrounding the murders to protect the innocent, and they are forced to examine their own hearts to be able to make some commitments that seem overwhelming.  There is a level of danger that builds throughout the story, and it is a very human heart-cry the eventually reveals the culprit!

Trust me!  This is a read worth investing time to enjoy!  You won’t be disappointed!

About the Author:

Julianna Deering has always loved British history and literature and is particularly a fan of the classic mysteries written by Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie. She graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas and now works for an attorney specializing in wills and estate planning. She lives outside Dallas, Texas, where she loves to quilt, cross-stitch, and watch hockey. Learn more at www.juliannadeering.com.