Murder at the Mikado.

Let me be honest...I was reluctant to read this book. However, that's only because I was in the middle of rereading the Harry Potter series and I really didn't want to be interrupted. :) It wasn't that I thought I wouldn't enjoy this third installment in the Drew Farthering mystery series...in fact, I was sure that I would enjoy it. I liked the first book well enough, and the second one was even better.

As it turns out, Murder at the Mikado was my favorite of the three. (Also, this is my favorite cover of the three. It's so moody and classy!)

I loved the theater as a setting. It feels like such a classic mystery setting to me: a play going on, one of the actors murdered, and most of the theater troupe held in suspicion. Combine that with the ongoing setting of 1930s England, and it's pretty much perfect!

After three books, I feel like I know the characters pretty well, though as I've mentioned before, I don't really connect with them. I was a little disappointed with some of Drew and Madeline's behavior toward each other at times...I wish they had been a bit more understanding about each other's feelings. Anyway, they're still cute together. And of course I was glad to read more of Aunt Ruth, who is basically the (more pleasant) Lady Violet of this series.

The mystery kept me guessing until the very end. I had a definite suspicion from fairly early on, but I was completely wrong, as usual! (Yes, it seems that it was just a fluke that I guessed the correct murderer in the last book.) I did have trouble keeping a few of the characters straight: in particular, Benton and Hazeldine. But after one of them faded into the background of the story, that wasn't really an issue anymore.

I really enjoyed Murder at the Mikado. I'm not sure if it's the last book in this series or not...I thought I had read that it was, but I can't seem to find confirmation of that now. It's a good, solid mystery and a satisfying conclusion (if it is indeed the conclusion). I am still curious about Drew's mother, though, and I definitely wouldn't object to another book, especially if they just continue to get better and better! :)

*Note: I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.*