Marriage and Murder

de Penny Reid (2021)

Résumé : Cletus Byron Winston wishes to marry Jennifer Anne Donner-Sylvester (aka The Banana Cake Queen) posthaste! He’s spent the last year wanting nothing more than for the celebrations to be brief, libations flowing, and BYOB (bring your own blueberries). His future mother-in-law has other plans, plans his intended has been willing to indulge, much to Cletus’s chagrin. Therefore, so must he. To a point. But truth be told, he wouldn’t mind if the meddlesome matriarch disappeared, at least until the nuptials are over.

On the night of Cletus and Jenn’s long-awaited engagement party, just when the surly schemer is of a mind to take matters into his own hands, a shocking event upends everyone’s best laid plans and sends the small hamlet of Green Valley into complete disarray. The final months leading up to Cletus and Jenn’s matrimonial bliss are plagued with chaos and uncertainty. Will Cletus and Jenn finally make it to the altar? Or will murder and mayhem derail their happily-ever-after ? And most importantly, who done it ?

"Marriage and Murder" est le 2e tome des cosy mystery, avec Cletus et Jenn.

L'histoire se passe presque 1 an après le premier livre (Engagement and Espionnage), le mariage de nos héros arrive à grand pas, mais tout d'abord Cletus doit survivre au dîner de répétition où presque toute la population de Green Valley a été conviée. Tout semble bien se passé jusqu'à l'apparition soudaine du père de Jennifer et de sa copine, alcoolisé. Après une provocation maitrisée, il est escorté dehors, la fête peut reprendre mais coup de théâtre : des coup de feux retentissent dehors, un mort est trouvé dans une voiture, des gens s'enfuient... et Diane Donner, la maman de Jennifer a disparu !

Lorsqu'on apprend qui est mort, Diane est présentée comme suspecte principale : elle est réapparut le lendemain matin, mais son alibi n'est pas terrible. Cependant Cletus et Jenn sont convaincu qu'elle n'est pas la coupable et vont tout faire pour trouver le ou les vrais coupable(s), tout en finalisant les derniers détails du mariage ^^

L'intrigue autour du meurtre est rudement bien menée, Penny nous amène d'un côté plus de l'autre, nous faisant parfois douter sur qui est suspect ou pas. Petit à petit nos futurs mariés apprennent ce qui s'est passé cette nuit, limite minute par minute, le suspense est bien dosé et ne monte pas trop vite en intensité.

Outre le côté cosy mystery, le gros point fort du roman (tout comme le tome 1) sont toutes les scènes qui nous replongent dans les vies de toute la fratrie Winston. On a le droit à de très belles discussions entre Cletus et quelqu'uns des autres ;) (même que ça ma donnez la larmichette parfois xD)

"Marriage and Murder" is the 2nd book of the cozy mystery, with Cletus and Jenn.

The story takes place almost 1 year after the book 1 (Engagement and Espionage), the marriage of our heroes is approaching fast, but first of all Cletus must survive the rehearsal dinner where almost the entire population of Green Valley has been invited. Everything seems to be going well until the sudden appearance of Jennifer's father, drunk and his girlfriend. After an almost successful provocation, he is escorted outside, the party can resume but there's a dramatic turn of event : gunshots sound outside, a dead man is found in a car, people are seen fleeing... and Diane Donner, Jennifer's mother has disappeared !

When we learn who is dead, Diane is presented as the main suspect : she reappeared the next morning, but her alibi is not that great. However Cletus and Jenn are convinced that she isn't the culprit and will do everything to find the real one(s), while finalizing the details of their marriage ^^

The plot around the murder is rudely well written, Penny takes us from one side to the other, sometimes making us doubt who is suspect or not. Little by little, our future bride and groom learn what happened that night, nearly minute by minute, the suspense is well balanced and does not rise too quickly in intensity.

Besides the cozy mystery side of the story, the big highlight of the novel (like volume 1) are all the scenes that take us back to the lives of all the Winston siblings. We have some very nice discussions between Cletus and some of the others ;) (even some that gave me close to tearfulness sometimes xD)

 

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