Hearse and Gardens (Hamptons Home & Garden Mystery Book 2)

Meg Barrett is an Interior Designer on LongIsland. Meg’s mother had owned an antiqueIn Michigan so Meg grew up around antiques.Meg and her friend, Elle Warner, who sellsantiques and vintage items are going toMontauk to clean out and inventory a beachfrontbungalow on the Harrison Falks’ estate.They discover a secret door behind a bookcase.When they open the door, inside is a skeleton.Harrison had a son who disappeared twentyyears ago along with an expensive Warholpainting and the wife of a neighbor.The skeleton turns out to be this son!!A lot of historical information about the areais described plus the reader will learn aboutthe value of vintage items and a variety ofpaintings and painters.There are a myriad of in-depth, eclectic, wellfleshed out characters that will keep thereader anticipating what they will do next.A well written story mixing elements of loss,old family secrets, family trials, disappointment,hearing loss with determination, old and newfriendships.Meg adopts a Maine Coon car named Jo whowill keep her company.A mysterious, enjoyable read with decoratingtips plus recipes at the end.

This is the second book in a new series set in the Hamptons with interior decorator Meg Barret as the main character. The people are interesting and likeable. There are love interests and pets. Although I generally am not a poetry fan, a selection of poetic phrases is well-selected and interesting. The descriptions of Meg's interior design work and the Hamptons in general are interesting. The heroine is hearing -challenged and wears hearing aids which is unusual and interesting (she reads lips better than most) . Her description of hearing aid problems adds to this story. What lets this book down is the ridiculous plot. Secret staircases, convoluted family relationships, decades old skeletons, unbelievable motives detrarct from this book. There is no serious attempt to weave a real solvable plot.

Interior and landscape designer, Meg Barrett is loving living in the Hamptons of New York. Although she is having to fight ownership of her dream cottage, "Little Grey," life is definitely looking up.Meg's business partner and friend, Elle Warner invites Meg to help her 'pick over' the antiques in her 'Uncle' Harrison's bungalows. Uncle Harrison is from the days of the 'Pop' art period. He built his home, 'Sandringham' a few acres from legendary artist Andy Warhol. Harrison Falks is an elderly man now, and misfortune has followed him for several decades.When Uncle Harrison's dead son, Pierce is found in the bungalow, his misfortunes continue, including a steady decline of mental and physical abilities.Meg feels something is not 'right' and she proceeds to get more involved with the persons living at Sandringham and the tragic tale of Pierce. Meanwhile, she has to fight the battle of her home, inherit a Maine Coon Cat, and more while living with a natural disability of impaired hearing.I'm quite impressed with the naturalness that the character of Meg is drawn by the Author. Her hearing impediment is recognized but it doesn't stop Meg from living her life fully. Nor is she embarrassed by something that is not her fault. I also liked that Ms. Bridge chose to not stress the sometimes vocal issues that the hearing impaired are pressed by. This is implied and needn't be stressed. Excellent character development in my opinion.Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Read some other reviews. I am almost finished this one-read the first and third and they were okay but this one has too many characters,houses,names and sub plots. I skipped over many pages and will now skip to the end. With all the names and relations i had to keep going back to see who they were again and just totally lost interest. Location is great and she has a good idea but spare me so many players. Most are not too likable either. Hearing aid part, I don't get unless it is so she can lip read sometimes. Not needed for the book-just a distraction.

Book 2 in the Hamptons series is even better than the first! Besides liking the main characters in this series, I enjoy the extras about food, antiquing, decorating, the Hamptons, and health. There is casual but clever insertion of asthma and inhalers which could be very helpful to readers. The discovery of a skeleton opens a fun, secret rooms and passages mystery that coordinates quite well with Meg's real life dramas. At the end, everything made perfect sense and best of all, for me as the reader, I got some surprises! I am looking forward to Book 3!

This series is my favorite of the many cozy mysteries I've read over the last several years. I'd like to thank Kathleen Bridge for writing an original, interesting and intelligent story line with a very likable lead character in Meg. I love her friendship with Elle, the humor, and Meg's soft spot for animals that others may not want. I couldn't get enough of her life by the ocean! Showing us how she deals with a hearing disability with a mature attitude is very enlightening. Oh, and I love the poetry in the sand from her mysterious neighbor!

In this second installment in the series, Meg works to complete her current decorating job and begin renovations of her newly purchased bungalow while helping Elle with salvaging a beach bungalow belonging to a wealthy family - and soon finds herself drawn into a murder mystery. Imaginative, well-executed cozy mystery.

I will say I do like the main character, Meg. However the book goes so fast that many times I have to go back and re read to see who is who again. The author at times introduces new characters in rapid succession and it doesn’t have an easy flow. The historical details are interesting but at times I feel it drags on too long. I want to like this series as I also read the first book but I am just not sure I will go for the third. At times it feels like work reading it.