Hazel Edwards

Quinn, a self-described asexual and part time actor, part time celebrant (weddings, funerals, naming ceremonies and alike), describes how sleuthing skills come in handy when dealing with the ins and outs of the local’s lives, in a rural town.

"Celebrant Sleuth: I Do ... or Die" by Hazel Edwards is a little difficult to classify. I must admit, that the title lead me to believe that it was going to be a cosy mystery, but it is more a collection of amusing anecdotes, rather than what I describe as a standard crime/sleuthing offering. It certainly doesn't follow a traditional mystery/crime book style (not necessarily a bad thing).

The stores are presented in first person, in memoir-style vinaigrettes, and cover a range of weird and wonderful events that could happen in the life of a celebrant. It is clear that it is well researched and I suspect that more than one of the stories is based on a true event. Once I shifted my style/genre expectations I enjoyed the book.

The book is well-written and fun to read. The bite-sized chapters make it an excellent choice for holiday reading, and managing on public transport voyages.

I received a copy of this book from Sisters in Crime, Australia in exchange for a fair and honest review.… (meer)

I don't want to start any arguments here, but my mind-reading chook is an Australorp, currently known as "Underfoot", although a renaming ceremony is now on the cards. I've always been convinced she was a mind reader, although I'm pretty sure there's been no laboratory accidents in her vicinity. But she's the one, out of the very big flock of chooks in these parts, that always seems to be where I'm heading before I've even decided to go there. Of course it might be that she's such a guts that she secretly tracks movements in the hope of treats to get out from "Underfoot", but I much prefer the idea that she's able to read minds, solve problems, leap not very tall buildings, and generally be a multi-skilled chook! Just like Sleuth Astrid.

Needless to say the idea of SLEUTH ASTRID appealed from the first mention. And both of these books "THE MIND READING CHOOK" and "LOST VOICE OF THE GRAND FINAL" are really quite clever. Part of the Easy to Read Mysteries category on Hazel's website, they are designed to allow younger readers to simply enjoy the stories, whilst the more adventurous or older would find the puzzles along the way engaging as well. The language is direct and very readable, the story's clever, quirky and particularly Australian. The connection with the Grand Final is a lovely touch that might also help with getting young, sports-mad kids to engage with reading.

Previously available in print format, these ebooks are now available directly from Hazel's site (http://www.hazeledwards.com/shop/cate...). Plus there's classroom performance scripts, a Design Your Own Sleuth section and other bits and pieces. It's great to see kids reading like this popping up in electronic format. Even for kids of "slightly" more advanced years.

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/sleuth-astrid-mind-reading-chook-hazel-ed...… (meer)