RATING: 4.5 ★
The Pryce of Conceit: An Historical Ghost Cozy Mystery, Kari Bovée
Bosque Publishing, 2023
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Historical
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Colorado, 1885: Per her late husband’s request, actress Arabella Pryce abandons her celebrity to spend a year at her namesake hotel in rural Colorado. But catastrophe strikes when the town beauty is found dead in the hotel. What’s worse—as the newcomer, Arabella is singled out as the prime suspect. With the spectral help of a ghost, Arabella sets out to find the killer, salvage her reputation, and save the hotel.
My Thoughts
This is a fun and lighthearted series opener featuring a headstrong, slightly diva-esque protagonist. I absolutely loved the setting in 19th century Colorado. The description of the small town and its surrounding nature is lifelike and realistic.
I’ll note now that one of my cozy mystery pet peeves is an inept or timid sleuth—especially one who seems to solve the mystery more by accident than proper detective work. I’m happy to report that Arabella’s character is not like that at all. She’s strong-willed and decisive, with an actress’s flair for drama. While some might not like that aspect of her personality, I thought it made for some humor and solid, intentional sleuthing. Plus, Arabella is not without insecurities; she’s a three-dimensional character, flaws and all.
The mystery is solid, with enough red herrings and small details to not be obviously solved. The paranormal element is fun, and I enjoyed the ghost’s character. He has a clever way of showing up and interacting with the hotel guests and rooms. His presence didn’t have as much impact on the mystery as I expected, but I think there’s a lot of opportunity with the paranormal theme and the ghost himself, so I look forward to future books in the series.
A couple small issues I had: first, there are a lot of characters in this story. Most of them are suspects, and even the ones who aren’t positioned as such are still suspicious (or maybe that’s just me overthinking things?). Be prepared to learn more names than usual for a cozy mystery.
Something else is the cover—the fashion is far more 1890s and 1900s than the time period of the book, especially since the setting is a rural town in the West. But this is a small detail that has no bearing on the story itself, and is probably another example of my own overthinking.
Overall, the book is an enjoyable adventure that promises a strong series. If you enjoy driven female protagonists, lighthearted fun and crime solving, and historical adventures, I recommend giving The Pryce of Conceit a read.
Big thanks to iRead Book Tours and the author for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.