Madrigals and Mayhem - (Cambridge Bookshop) by Elizabeth Penney (Paperback)

Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney has Molly eager to experience her first Christmas in Cambridge with her family and friends. An attempted murder, though, was not on Molly’s Christmas wish list nor is a murder. I found Madrigals and Mayhem to be easy to read. I like the cast of characters as well as the setting. I just love Thomas Marlowe—Manuscripts and Folios. The shop is rich in history and full of fabulous books. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the toy shop. I wanted Charlotte’s dollhouse, and I like how it played into the story. I was not a fan of the lengthy excerpts from the dollhouse book. They took me away from the story. The mystery was interesting but simple to solve. I wish the guilty party had not been so obvious. There were several suspects and more than one crime (which I liked). I did not like the repetitive details. Molly learns something or finds a clue, she shares it with someone, and then they go to the pub and share it with their circle of friends (and so on). The treasure hunt was a fun addition. There is a good reveal and wrap up at the end. There is romance in the story as well. I liked a special announcement at the end. I enjoyed the book references and bookmarked a couple of them. The story needed more Christmas. Madrigals and Mayhem can be read as a standalone for those new to The Cambridge Bookshop Series. Take a trip to Cambridge in Madrigals and Mayhem for a dollhouse display, poisoned pastries, greedy relatives, a treasure hunt, rough rehearsals, and a cheery Christmas.