Book Review (and a Giveaway!): Murder Under a Bridal Moon by Abigail Keam

Posted February 27, 2023 by meezcarrie in Abigail Keam, cozy mystery, giveaway, historical, mystery/suspense / 55 Comments


MURDER UNDER A BRIDAL MOON by Abigail Keam
SERIES:
Mona Moon Mystery #10

GENRE: Historical Cozy Mystery
PUBLISHER: Worker Bee Press
RELEASE DATE: November 14, 2022
PAGES: 262

TOP TEN MYSTERY NOVEL 2022 BY KINGS RIVER LIFE MAGAZINE!

Mona Moon is planning her wedding to Robert Farley, Duke of Brynelleth, when preparations go haywire after one of the maids is found murdered. With just days before the blessed event, unwanted guests invade Moon Manor throwing a wrench into Mona’s plans and making it more difficult to seek the truth. Now Robert is a suspect in the maid’s murder. A missing gold brooch and twenty five-dollar bills are the only clues Mona has to find the murderer. She must clear Robert from suspicion or he will call off the wedding, saying he refuses to taint Mona’s good name. Can she discover the killer before the wedding, or will the murderer witness the breakup between Mona and Robert? Was that the intention all along?

 

Other Books I’ve Featured In This Series

   


While Abigail Keam’s mysteries have been on my radar for a while, Murder Under a Bridal Moon is my first read by this prolific author. This historical cozy may be set in 1930s Kentucky but it has all the feels of a British cozy with Agatha Christie vibes to boot.

As the countdown begins for Mona Moon’s wedding to her beloved Duke (fondly known as Lord Bob), her Kentucky estate is brimming with preparations and abuzz with excitement. Guests (both the invited & the uninvited) are arriving left and right – including well-known historical figures such as Alice Roosevelt, Georgia O’Keefe, and even Jean Harlow – and an intrusive reporter keeps trying to make a name for himself at Mona’s expense. I really enjoyed seeing the parade of historical figures, and the glossary at the end is quite helpful to place those names that sound familiar but you can’t quite remember why. Or maybe. like me, you’ll encounter some names that are completely new to you and get to learn a little bit of history while you’re also being entertained.

Needless to say, Mona is definitely distracted by all the hubbub and the recent threats to her personal safety. Her preoccupation, though, does not prevent her from doing her own sleuthing when one of her trusted servants is found murdered just days before the big day. Right up until just moments before she walks down the aisle, she’s tracking down clues and putting the pieces together to reveal at least one criminal – maybe more! I enjoyed the way the mystery unfolded, and readers will need to pay careful attention if they want to solve the crime ahead of Mona. There are plenty of clues but they are tucked away between the lines of the outside events demanding her attention, keeping armchair sleuths on their toes.

Bottom Line: Murder Under a Bridal Moon by Abigail Keam overflows with colorful characters (including several strong females), intriguing history, and the kind of hustle & bustle that only occurs on the eve of a wedding. This creates the perfect set-up for a clever cozy mystery, and the author’s writing style also lends itself well to the task. A light & entertaining read, this novel is perfect for fans of British cozies, historical mysteries, rolling Kentucky hills, 1930s moxie & Christi-esque reveals.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4 stars / enjoyed it!

Reviewer’s Note: Readers of this blog may want to be aware that, while definitely a clean read, there are a couple of very mild curse words and implication of intimate activity in this novel.

affiliate links used


Abigail Keam is an award-winning and Amazon best-selling author who writes the 1930s Mona Moon Historical Mysteries and the Josiah Reynolds Mystery Series about a Southern beekeeper turned amateur female sleuth. The Last Chance For Love Series tells of strangers who come from all walks of life to the magical Last Chance Motel in Key Largo and get a second chance at rebuilding their lives, and The Princess Maura Fantasy Series.

One thing Miss Abigail loves to do as an author is to write real people and events into her stories. “I am a student of history and love to insert historical information into my mysteries. My goal is to entertain my readers, but if they learn a little something along the way–well, then we are both happy.”

website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube | BookBub

Other Featured Books by Abigail Keam

 


Abigail Keam is offering a signed print copy of Murder Under a Bridal Moon and a tote bag to one of my readers! (Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What about you? What makes you want to read Murder Under a Bridal Moon by Abigail Keam?

Tags: , , , , ,

55 responses to “Book Review (and a Giveaway!): Murder Under a Bridal Moon by Abigail Keam

  1. Dianne Casey

    I would like to read “Murder Under A Bridal Moon” because Abigail Keam is a new author to me and I would enjoy reading her book. I also like the 1930’s Kentucky setting.

  2. Audrey Stewart

    Of course, I want to read this book. I am a huge fan of Abigail Keam. Her book series are some of my favorites. I read all her books.

  3. Lisa Cobb Sabatini

    Wow! A bride on the hunt for clues as she walks down the aisle and appearances by historical figures! What fun!

  4. Kay Garrett

    Oh, I love everything about MURDER UNDER A BRIDAL MOON by Abigail Keam! Love the cover! Love this author’s books! Love historical cozy mysteries and the storyline from the Mona Moon Mystery series sounds sure to please!

    MURDER UNDER A BRIDAL MOON is on my TBR list and marked so on Goodreads. Can’t wait for the opportunity to read and review it. If I were fortunate enough to be selected, I’m hoping for a print copy since medical issues make reading on my computer difficult which in turn makes reading in a timely manner or satisfying my desire to read almost impossible.

  5. anne

    Abigail’s historical mystery interests me greatly. The setting, story and era are captivating and a real treasure. A series that is unique and intriguing.

  6. Maria Proctor

    Other than the gorgeous cover, I want to read it because I love stories about weddings & the events that lead up to them!

  7. Steph

    I really enjoy a good cozy mystery and this one looks great. I have not read any of the Mona Moon series but it sounds good.

  8. Nancy

    I would like to read Murder Under a Bridal Moon by Abigail Keam because I like some history mixed in with a mystery!

  9. Nadine

    My library’s Mystery book club often chooses to read the first of an author’s series. This giveaway gives me a new author to introduce for possible reading.

  10. Laura DeLaRosa

    Cozy mysteries are my jam. Thank you for introducing me to a new-to-me author. Both series are going on my TBR list. (Listening to I Love the Nightlife by Alicia Bridges)

  11. Jennifer Donelow

    I can’t wait to dive into “Murder Under a Bridal Moon” by Abigail Keam! 📖🌕 As a fan of mystery novels, I’m excited to unravel the twists and turns of this murder investigation set against the backdrop of a wedding. The synopsis promises a page-turning plot with a cast of intriguing characters, making this book a must-read for any mystery lover. 🕵️‍♀️🔍 Bring on the suspense! 📚🌕 #MurderUnderABridalMoon #AbigailKeam #MysteryNovel #Can’tWaitToReadIt

  12. Debbi Wellenstein

    Murder Under a Bridal Moon has all the elements I like in a cozy mystery. I love the time period!

  13. Lisa Edwards

    This would be a fun read. My daughter and I share books then pack them up to be sent to friends. We have quite a Book-Club-by-Mail Club, lol

Leave a Reply