Friday, March 4, 2016

DEATH DESCENDS ON SATURN VILLA by M.R.C. Kasasian (Book Spotlight & Wine/Dessert Pairing)


Armchair sleuths, unite! Today it's all about ‪‎mystery fiction, wine, and dessert here on Mina’s Bookshelf.
 
 
 
DEATH DESCENDS ON SATURN VILLA
By M.R.C. Kasasian
Published in the US by Pegasus Books on March 7th, 2016
Hardcover, 400 pages
Thriller, Historical, Murder, Crime Fiction
 
Book 3 in The Gower Street Detective series is about to be released in the US. Sidney Grice, Londons most famous personal detective, and his goddaughter and ward, March Middleton, are back in M.R.C. Kasasian's 1880s England mystery novel Death Descends On Saturn Villa. Out on March 7th (Pegasus Books).
 


Gower Street, London: 1883.

March Middleton is the niece of London's greatest (and most curmudgeonly) private detective, Sidney Grice. March has just discovered a wealthy long-lost relative she never knew she had. When this newest family member meets with a horrible death, March is in the frame for murder—and only Sidney Grice can prove her innocence.
Grice agrees to investigate (for his usual fee) but warns that he is not entirely convinced of her innocence. If he were in her position, he might have been tempted. But the more he uncovers, the more all the clues point to Grice himself . . .
 
Praises for Death Descends On Saturn Villa
“Delightful and original.” ― Daily Mail
“The story rushes along at a ripping rate, embellished by Grice's wonderfully fierce wit and moments that make us wonder how it was all done. The novel itself may be a fast, easy read but the solution to the crime is complex and not as obvious as a couple of the twists.” ― Bookbag
“This is one of those books where you will make sure you are not disrupted while reading ... Let's see where Martin Kasasian takes his story next!” ― Bookplank
“A fascinating roller coaster unrolls from the peculiar to the surreal and then the merely macabre then soaring back to surreal and bloody ... bizarre and frightening.” ― Mystery People
"...an unflinching look at the darker side of Victorian London and a portrait of a heroine strong enough to stand up to a thoroughly disagreeable detective. Clever plotting, morbid humor, and colorful characters are a great treat.” ― (Kirkus Reviews about The Mangle Street Murders)
 
About the Author


 
Martin Kasasian was raised in Lancashire. He has had careers as varied as factory hand, wine waiter, veterinary assistant, fairground worker and dentist. He lives with his wife in Suffolk in the summer and in a village in Malta in the winter. He is the author of The Mangle Street Murders, The Curse Of The House Of Foskett, Death Descends On Saturn Villa, and the upcoming The Secrets Of Gaslight Lane. Connect with him on Twitter.

 


Wine pairing
For today’s book and wine pairing, I picked a simple and elegant dessert: Red Wine Poached Pears and Mascarpone. The recipe I prefer is the lightly spiced version offered by the Food Network, drizzled with a juice made of red wine (cabernet or merlot), sugar, orange zest, cloves, and cinnamon ― all served with a dollop of mascarpone cheese. An Italian merlot Castello Banfi “Mandrielle” 2004 to match and a crime novel that will keep even the most voracious mystery readers pinned to their chairs.
 
 
 

 

 
 

2 comments:

  1. I like the setting and the era. Going on my TBR list.

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    Replies
    1. Great, Mystica! I am glad it caught your fancy :)

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