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elizabeth j. Duncan is a Canadian author known primarily for writing cozy mysteries. Since her first novel in 2009, Duncan’s work has received critical acclaim and has earned her some major awards.
+biography
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elizabeth j. Duncan didn’t publish her first book until 2009. Some people might assume that she took too long to get into the world of writing. however, it would be more rational to believe that she duncan waited long enough, marinating her ideas and stories before finally putting pen to paper and producing her first story.
after all, her first book earned her nominations for the agatha and arthur ellis awards, which says a lot about her skills. Duncan attended Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. he graduated with a degree in English.
However, instead of immediately entering the world of publishing, Duncan worked in journalism. Playing the roles of editor and writer, Duncan had the opportunity to work on many newspapers in Canada, such as the Hamilton Spectator and the Ottawa Citizen.
The opportunities gave him plenty of time to hone his writing skills, while also getting ideas for his stories. The author also spent quite a few years living and working in London. Duncan was working in broadcasting at the time, though he too discovered that freelance writing could be lucrative for someone like her who had the right connections.
duncan’s most notable work is a cozy series of mystery novels known as the penny brannigan series that began in 2009.
The fact that the story is set in North Wales is not surprising. after all, duncan travels to north wales every year and spends some time there. Clearly, the place has a special place in Duncan’s heart.
The author’s first novel, The Cold Light of Mourning, received the William F. Deeck-Malice National Scholarship for Unpublished Writers. Suffice to say, the recognition gave Duncan all the momentum she needed to pursue her writing career in the cozy mysteries genre.
elizabeth j. Duncan is not completely consumed with the process of writing her cozy mysteries. She also teaches at Humber University.
+the cold light of mourning
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meg wynne thompson is not the nicest person in the llanelens. The self-made beauty hasn’t become a particularly popular bride, at least not when it comes to folks in the quaint North Wales market town.
However, intrigue arises when Meg apparently disappears on her wedding day. And people aren’t sure how they should react when Meg turns up dead. All eyes turn to Penny Brannigan. attention is anything but welcome for the manicurist.
However, she was the last person to see the victim, and the Canadian expat who has lived in the area for over two decades might be the only person who can unravel the truth behind Meg’s murder.
Penny is initially distracted by the recent death of her dearest friend. Noticing something suspicious at her funeral, Penny decides it might be time to get her hands dirty by investigating the crime herself.
It doesn’t take long to come up with a long list of suspects who might have wanted Meg dead, including her drunk and abusive father. However, as she continues to pull various strings, even Penny is surprised when the trail leads to the boyfriend’s house.
An explosive secret is waiting to be unearthed, a secret that could shake the entire city.
Cozy mysteries often follow old ladies as they try to solve relatively complicated mysteries. In that sense, this book, the first that Elizabeth J. duncan wrote, it’s nothing new or even different.
The heroine featured here is a middle-aged Canadian living a dull but comfortable life in North Wales. When the son of a wealthy landowner decides to marry a beautiful London lady, Penny’s salon is chosen as the location for the bridal party to get their nails done.
The book tries to suggest that, as the last person to see the victim, Penny has a key that perfectly positions her to solve the crime. however, the story feels a bit disjointed.
Duncan makes an effort to explain his characters’ strange decisions and reactions, but he doesn’t exactly succeed. the police are a bit clumsy at times, and things seem to fall into place too easily in some cases.
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It doesn’t help that the book moves at such a slow pace. very few characters bother to stand out. As the first book in a series, this Elizabeth J. Duncan’s novel isn’t terrible.
but could have been much better, especially the anticlimactic resolution.
+a brush with death
penny brannigan was very curious to learn that she had inherited an old country house in north wales. Upon inspecting the property, Penny realizes that he could have stumbled upon something far more valuable than a desirable vintage property.
There is a decades-old crime that needs to be solved, one filled with memories and mysteries. it all starts with a pack of cards. Penny finds them while he is going through the belongings of a deceased teacher, his benefactor. the letters were from a. Jones, a young artist from Liverpool who had much talent and promise before his accidental death in 1970.
As an artist, Penny is immediately intrigued and wonders if she has what it takes to find out who killed the painter. Luckily for a dime, she enlists the help of her business partner Victoria Hopkirk.
Things start to come together when Penny comes across Jones’ work at a retrospective art exhibition in Liverpool. however, the work has been attributed to another artist.
penny begins to wonder if art theft could be at the heart of the dated case. If Jones’s death was no accident, then Penny is determined to prove it.
Many writers often struggle to get their first book out, but usually find their stride and master their voice by their second book. this book, the sequel to ‘the cold light of mourning’ does not manifest the level of improvement one might have expected from elizabeth j. duncan.
In fact, the author’s weaknesses seem to shine even brighter, with a slow-paced story, odd character decisions and reactions, and disappointing resolution.
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