"Cecily and Hugh Baxter return to the Pennyfoot"

Cecily and Hugh Baxter are called upon by Uncle Edward to return to the Pennyfoot Hotel, now the Pennyfoot Country Club, to run things over the holidays. Cecily owned it and Hugh ran it before they were married. It seems Edward's current manager has fallen down a well and Edward is out of the country on business.

The authorities believe Barry Wortham's death is an accident. Cecily wonders otherwise, especially once they arrive at the Pennyfoot. All the staff is talking about how they don't believe it was an accident. Then Mrs. Wrotham asks Cecily to look into Barry's death.

Cecily invites her friends and former employees, Mrs. Chubb and Gertie as well as their families, to come and join them for the holidays. She also sets out to have a pantomime prepared for the holidays by her friend Phoebe and her dance troupe. This usually spells disaster. Her friend, Madeline, will help decorate the Pennyfoot for the Christmas holidays.

Many things happen to Cecily while she is investigating. Hugh is quite perturbed, because he explicitly asked her not to do anything without consulting him first. She keeps forgetting. Then there's a definite murder. Cecily steps up her investigating and ends up putting herself in danger as well.

The four barristers and their wives staying at the Pennyfoot are real characters and really add to this story. I like books set in inns and find it makes it easier to keep everyone together and accounted for.

This was the first book I've read in this series, and I can truly say I am looking forward to the next. Rarely do I like books set back in time, but this series is enchanting. The staff, current and former, are enjoyable characters and really add to the story.

I highly recommend you read this book.

Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle
Posted November 22, 2003

Summary

Cecily Baxter and her husband, Hugh, haven't been back to Badgers End in two years-not since they sold the Pennyfoot Hotel and the new owner turned it into a country club. But when Cecily receives a letter asking her to manage the place during the Christmas season, she's delighted to accept. Hugh, however, is not quite so enthusiastic- especially when he discovers that the previous manager met a mysterious end...