"Three Sisters" & "Showstoppers" - Helen Smith

Emily Castles Mysteries 

Emily Castles is a twenty-six-year-old Londoner who lives in Brixton, south London, where I live. The London that you'll find in the Emily Castles Mysteries has familiar locations and landmarks. But it has a village feel that is typical in cozy mystery books (and not very typical of a big city like London): neighbors know each other and help each other out. 

Three Sisters and Showstoppers are two novella-length stories in the Emily Castles mystery series. The first full-length novel, Invitation to Die, will be published by Thomas & Mercer in October 2013.

Helen Smith is a member of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain, the Crime Writers Association and English PEN. She traveled the world when her daughter was small, doing all sorts of strange jobs to support them both--from cleaning motels to working as a magician's assistant--before returning to live in London where she wrote her first novel. Her work has been reviewed in The Times, the Guardian, The Independent, Time Out and the Times Literary Supplement. Her books have reached number one in the bestseller lists in the Kindle store on both sides of the Atlantic.

Check out her blog - HERE

  

In Showstoppers, Emily helps out at a local stage school run by her neighbor, Victoria. Soon she's mixed up in a blackmail plot and two deaths. Emily and Dr. Muriel team up to prevent further a massacre live on stage during the end of term show.

MY REVIEW -
I liked this story. It was quick and easy to read. I am normally not much of a mystery person, but I did like these short stories.
The characters were very likable, especially Emily. The storyline was great and the mystery was a nice, I would say "easy-going" mystery, not like blood and guts.
It kind of reminded me of the old TV show - "Murder she Wrote".

In Three Sisters, Emily goes to a party in a big house at the end of her street. She's sure she witnesses a murder, but no one will believe her. She teams up with Dr. Muriel to investigate.

MY REVIEW -
Another very nice little quick mystery to read!  I do have to admit that I had this one figured out about half way through. I didn't have all the details, but I did know "who done it".
Nice character development. Nice scenery setting.
This story was a little more confusing for me, there was a lot going on. But a nice read all the same.


I gave both these stories a 3 star rating. It probably would have been higher if I was more of a mystery reader. So If you love mysteries you will probably love these. They are both very clean and enjoyable.

For a chance to win e-book copies of each, go - HERE

Thank you "I am a Reader, not a Writer Book Blasts and Blog Tours" for sending me these eBooks to read and review!