Last Word to the Wise by Ann Claire - Book Review

Series: Christie Bookshop #2 

Publication Date: 03rd Oct 2023

Genre: Small Town Cozy Mystery, Contemporary 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Fun and entertaining (needs some serious fine-tuning) 

Meg and Ellie Christie are sisters running their family bookshop, Book Chalet, in the Last Word town. Apart from the love for books and mysteries, the sisters also have a bad dating history as a common factor. However, they end up agreeing to be test dummies for a double blind date set up as a part of her latest entrepreneurial venture by Cousin Lorna.  

Ellie’s date ends up as boring as she expected it. Meg, however, has a good time and makes plans to meet her date the next day. Of course, they soon find out that the man has been murdered. Meg is the prime suspect, and the sisters have no choice but to become active investigators. It doesn’t help that Meg’s scumbag ex is back in town, acting too sweet and trying to manipulate their fourteen-year-old daughter Rosie. The sisters need to sort out the issues before they can breathe easy! 

The story comes in the first-person POV of Ellie Christie. 

My Thoughts: 

I enjoyed the first book and was excited to read this one. Luckily, I could get the ARC and enjoy it before the release. 

The beginning is slow, like the previous one, but picks up pace after 30%. Though the book should work as a standalone, it might be better to read the first as well. Last Word has some eccentric and loud characters that may seem overwhelming without a proper introduction. 

This one combines mystery and subplot (the sisters’ lives) quite well. There’s a potential love track for Ellie and the police officer. Though cliché, it might work for the duo. Let’s see where it goes. 

Agatha C (cat) Christie, the Siamese cat, makes her presence felt just by being who she is. After all, Agatha is a celebrity with more followers than the bookshop. And as expected, the book has plenty of references to Christie’s mysteries.

Gram and Rosie also have some space, though I wish they were around for more. Rosie’s vulnerability comes out well, though I wish Ellie would have helped the girl understand a few things. The issue with Meg’s ex (Rosie’s dad) could have been better handled. Just one dialogue from Ellie would have done the job and showed that she is a capable aunt (loving isn’t enough; she ought to guide her niece too). 

Lorna contributed to the comic factor initially but soon became infuriating. I hope the sisters can stop being emotionally manipulated and set healthy boundaries. 

The mystery is decent, with enough suspects, red herrings, and clues. However, I am disappointed by the reveal. The killer was a surprise, but made me curious to see how and why (it’s not often that I get this wrong). That said, the motive is weak and doesn’t feel logical. It can still make sense if a few more details are added to iron out the wrinkles. (This is an uncorrected proof, so maybe they’ll do the needful). 

The setting is beautiful. It’s wintertime, with snow, cold, and frost. The gondola is mentioned a few times but is not a part of the story (like in the first one). We also meet a couple of mules (again). I love how the cover incorporates the various elements from the setting and the plot. 

To summarize, Last Word to the Wise is an entertainer with good doses of banter, gossip, drama, and sleuthing. The cozy bookshop is a definite bonus. 

Thank you, Ms. Diaz, from Random House Publishing Group – Bantam and NetGalley, for the eARC on my request.  

#NetGalley #LastWordtotheWise