Death at Dinner: A Cassie Pengear Mystery

Nisula’s entertaining second mystery set in an alternate Victorian universe that includes bizarrely modified technology (after Killing at the Carnival) finds energetic Cassie Pengear, who has no backstory to speak of, reluctantly agreeing to help serve at a dinner party held at the home of businessman Edgar Carrollton in London’s posh Mayfair district. When Carrollton’s solicitor, John Ainsworth, collapses during the soup course and subsequently dies, foul play is suspected. Scotland Yard’s Inspector Hamilton arrives to interview the guests, with Cassie on hand to discreetly pour tea and soak up clues. She takes a more active part in the investigation after Mrs. Pomeroy, the cook, comes under suspicion. Nisula, who also writes fantasy novels under the name Lisa Anne Nisula, offers readers a fair play puzzle—all the clues are clearly on display for those who wish to match wits with Cassie—though anyone expecting the complexity of an Agatha Christie whodunit will be disappointed. [em](BookLife) [/em]