I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Small Plates
by
Katherine Hall Page
It is part of the Faith Fairchild series and is a in Hardcover edition that was published by William Morrow on May 27, 2014 and has 240 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include The Body in the Bouillon, The Body in the Vestibule, The Body in the Cast, The Body in the Basement, The Body in the Bookcase, The Body in the Big Apple, The Body in the Moonlight, The Body in the Bonfire, The Body in the Lighthouse, The Body in the Attic, The Body in the Snowdrift, The Body in the Ivy, The Body in the Sleigh, The Body in the Bog, The Body in the Gazebo, The Body in the Boudoir, The Body in the Piazza, The Body in the Birches
There are nine short stories of mystery in this omnibus. Six are with Faith Fairchild and three are not.
My Take
A quirky collection with some stories that are too confusing and others that are intriguing.
The Stories
“The Ghost of Winthrop” finds Tom and Faith helping Prudence Winthrop with a quilt-oriented treasure hunt. Cute if a little dorky.
“Death in the Dunes” finds Faith and Tom at an oceanside conference on “Heretics: Heroes and Heroines: Conversations about Sects”. The setting is lovely; the food is not. Nor can Faith get excited about the people. Except one. And I do not understand why she would leave the protection of the Fairchilds’ bathroom…? What I don’t get is how Faith made the leap from no tan line to a murdering twin.
“The Would-Be Widower” is gruesomely funny as Mr. Carter plots and plans his wife’s death as he basks in his fantasies of being a widower. So imagine his surprise at the end, *chuckling*.
No Faith in this one.
“Across the Pond” is too sad as a friend of Faith and Hope’s plans her wedding. It’s fair that Fiona, Polly’s stepsister, is angry at Polly for stealing her man. It’s not fair the lengths to which Fiona and her full sister, Tessa, will go to spoil it.
“A Perfect Maine Day” is not so perfect for one family when a beloved daughter washes ashore. It’s a retired fisherman with a good eye for the sea and boats who solves this one. It’s a little too simplistic in how it’s solved, but no less sad for it.
No Faith in this one.
“Hiding Places” starts off cute, and I loved the description of how Felicity has decorated her new-to-her house. The small finds she makes are cute as well, but it’s that surprise find that finds me confused. Nor did I like that ending…too vague!
No Faith in this one.
“The Proof is Always in the Pudding” lays to rest a Fairchild family secret. It’s always interesting to learn more about one’s family, its past, even if it does mean finding out how ruthless they can be.
“Sliced” is both traumatizing and tasty. It’s a charity cook-off between Faith and three of her enemies with the weirdest list of ingredients. It’s even more amazing what they come up with. It’s definitely a story I want to read over and over again if only for the inspiring ideas. Well, and I don’t mind the comeuppance they all receive. I certainly enjoyed the back history on these three.
“The Two Marys” finds Mary Bethany an unexpected mother at Christmas, and she asks Faith for help in locating the real mother. This is sweet and dramatic with a somewhat satisfying ending.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a black background that showcases two orderly columns of different plates with a taste of kill on the four plates that show: a bloody knife, a green water pistol, a pair of bullets, and a question mark.
The title is an amuse-bouches, a tapas-like tasting of Small Plates, small stories that offer a chance to savor minute bites of life.
