Freezer I'll Shoot

Vintage Kitchen Mystery Series, Book 3

By: Victoria Hamilton

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

Trying to escape her overbearing mother, vintage kitchenware enthusiast and soon-to-be columnist Jaymie Leighton retreats to her family's cottage on Heartbreak Island. While there she hopes to write an article about the Ice House restaurant, owned by good friends and neighbors, siblings Ruby and Garnet Redmond. Once an actual icehouse, the restaurant is charmingly decorated with antique tools of the trade, including a collection of ice picks.

One night, while working on her article, Jaymie overhears an argument and, ever the sleuth, sets out to explore. But when she stumbles upon a dead body her blood runs cold. It's Urban Dobrinskie, whose feud with the Redmonds is no secret, and he's got an ice pick through his heart. Now Jaymie's got to sharpen her sleuthing skills to chip away at the mystery and prove her neighbors' innocence - before someone else gets picked off ...

©2013 Donna Lea Simpson (P)2013 Tantor

The Vintage Details

I don't like Daniel. Not at all.
He doesn't get Jayme. Not really.
Absolutely love Hoppy and Denver.

Vintage kitchen tools and mystery

On Michigan's boarder with Canada, Jaymie Leighton is enjoying her vintage cottage on Heartbreak Island. She definitely needed a break from her mom, whom she loves but drives her batty at times. She's trying to write her first article to start her blog on vintage tools, and old updated food recipes. She's chosen to write about her friends old Ice House that's been turned into a restaurant. But when a vintage ice pick turns up in the body of a local man, found in Jaymie's yard, some arguments and abuses seem to point to a number of Jaymie's friends, and she starts sleuthing again.

Confusing all her efforts are the squabbles between Jaymie's mom and her new rich boyfriend's mom over the annual family dinner that Jaymie's parents have always celebrated at their cottage. Redoing a drainage system has left a mess in their yard so why not have it at the lovely cottage of the boyfriend's parents. Trying to compromise between the mom's is becoming as difficult as finding who left a body in her yard. Then add in the cute detective on the case, and Jaymie has lots more to handle than her growing vintage kitchen tools collection.

This third book in the vintage kitchen series, is definitely the best one yet, or maybe it's just that the characters in these books are growing close to my heart. I enjoy the discussion of the connection between this part of Michigan and Canada, and the shared holidays. Personalities and problems seem very realistic, and I find myself rooting more and more for Jaymie and one particular man. The mysteries are always solid and developed with good clues. I listened to this on Audible and really liked the narration.

Entertaining!

I've really enjoyed reading this series. Wonderful writing and the reader is enjoyable to listen to.

Fun Summer Mystery Read<br />

Premise of book quite enjoyable - young woman extolling the beauty of vintage kitchen items, cookbooks, etc, writing a column and blog about vintage items and recipes. She is not interested in being a professional woman, but her own woman. And, on the side she discovers dead bodies and lends her questioning nature to solving the 'who done it' , along with the attractive police detective. He is aloof but very interested as is the young computer geek millionaire whose mama is more than a little interfering. The first in the series introduced the reader to a smart. caring, woman with character. This book showed a character who was unfeeling and insensitive to others; although she seemed to mellow out by the end of the book. There is nothing worse than disliking the protagonist and wishing someone would box her ears. She seems to be showing similar traits as her own mother has. Maybe she will become a true heroine in future books. I'm going to continue reading to see what develops.

ACCUSTOMING TO HEROINE'S AMATEUR DETECTIVE STATUS

What made the experience of listening to Freezer I'll Shoot the most enjoyable?

(Pre confession: Based on some reviews, I skipped book two.) I've now accepted the
fact that the murders will aways be coming to Jaimie, the main character and protagonist; and, that she is too curious and intelligent to leave the police to do all the addition of facts. In the first book, being privy to the gossip agonized me; now I realize this, especially in a small, comfortable town, is the vehicle for forwarding the action of the story, and, the gossip is not frivolous - or just enough to keep you interested and wondering.

In this story, Jaimie is through grieving her former long term boyfriend, Joel, even though he's still in town with his new girlfriend, now fiancee' Heidi; and is happily on comfortable terms with her dating partner, Daniel, even though he would like to move faster, and she defines their relationship as a 6 month trial period, after which they will decide together which path to take. I really like that she is clear about her likes and limits with Daniel, being equally clear about her somewhat confused physical attraction to Detective Zach
Christian.

This time a maligned and ill liked businessman is found stabbed with a vintage ice pick on her lower grassy property, which was being dug up to replace the sewer and leach lines. No murder is really lovely, and this one, combining the vintage ice pick, the
history of which she was going to write in her first newspaper column is equally horrifying.

Meeting and interacting with all the town folks, how they add such color, texture, friendship and interest, forming the matrixes of each murder , does make it cozy for me.
Jaimie supports and is supported by her many friends, and this creates a lot of stability
to lean on when she "inadvertently" ends up facing the true murderer.

The geography, history and culture of this small border (Michigan/Canada) town is really picturesque. This time I learned Canada has a Thanksgiving in October, which her
family has always celebrated, followed by the US Thanksgiving in November.

I also really enjoy the vintage tools, kitchen implements, and historical food recipes, which were less in evidence this novel than Number 1. I'm really curious what foods she puts in her "Vintage Basket" lunches!

The narrator in the first novel did well on all the voices except the Carribean owner of the next door B & B; it was barely distinguishable. This time, she maintains most distinguishing characteristics, but the a few of the younger women sound the same, and a few of the adult men may sound the same. Overall, it is a pretty good match.

For now, for the ease, I will probably continue the series. You may notice the titles are
subtle portents.

Enjoyable, well-structured cozy

I like this author, After several books I appreciate the overall tone and storylines that maintain energy. The main character has a mild, refreshing, intelligent demeanor. There are many interesting characters throughout and they do not blend.

It's a bit gory but not over the top.

It's interesting to hear about old time kitchen apparatus, I would have never considered these objects as art.

One annoying, recurrent topic: the treatment of gays, hate speech etc. It became preachy. Most of us know these basics and I hope as the series continues these moral lessons are toned down a bit. This author is skillful and could stand to step up the game a bit into more subtle territory.

Excellent narrator makes this a win. Thank you.

Great book

Jaymie Leighton is staying at her family’s cottage on Heartbreak Island while some repairs are being made and she is writing an article. One night, while working on her article, Jaymie overhears an argument and, ever the sleuth, sets out to explore. Of course, she stumbles upon a dead body and is compelled to investigate. The romantic storyline is more defined and Jaymie will have to make a decision soon. I enjoyed this book just as I enjoyed the previous ones in the series. I'm looking forward to the next book.

Gossip goody two shoes

Good story line like the antiques, but Jamie is such a good two shoes and gossip!

Disappointed.

I loved the previous books but felt something was missing with this one. The storyline wasn't as gripping & well, I really don't like the relationship between Jaime & Daniel. I love the narrator. Her voice is really soothing. Despite my feelings towards this book, I will continue the series. 😊

Monsterous Man Meets Murderer

The murder of Urban Dobrinskie, a hot headed, mean man, who bullied everyone he came into contact with is the subject of the third in the series of the Vintage Kitchen Mystery books. Jaymie Leighton is busy at her cottage in Michigan, on the border of Canada, and her septic system has gone awry . . . so she is having work done to repair it . . . and low and behold, in the wee hours of the morning, she hears a disturbance in her yard, while taking her Yorkie Poo out to pee . . . and finds Urban Dobrinskie dead on the property between her and her neighbor's yards, where the workmen have been digging to repair her septic system . . . discovering the body sets into motion the discovery of a myriad of could-be murderers . . . as no one on the island liked the man . . . including his own family . . . so, between trying to write her vintage recipe column for the local newspaper, fill orders for her picnic basket business, and helping her friend with her bed and breakfast, Jaymie looks for clues to who is the murderer might be . . . and to complicate things, her parents are in for a visit and wanting to have a family dinner with Daniel and his parents . . . Daniel and Jaymie have been dating for a while, and Daniel would like for them to be even closer . . . the interaction between Daniel and Jaymie's mothers is bordering on ridiculous . . . both are used to getting their own way . . . ALL THE TIME . . . to Jaymie's credit, she initiates a compromise . . . and the dinner is finally scheduled . . . I like that this series is always clean, without bedroom scenes . . . the mysteries are always good . . . I love the vintage things that Jaymie finds and collects and that she's an &quot;old soul&quot; . . . despite her mother's attempts to &quot;upgrade&quot; her cottage . . . great story and once again, great resolution . . .