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Fire Engine Dead (2012)

by Sheila Connolly(Favorite Author)

3.73 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0425246701 (ISBN13: 9780425246702)

languge

English

genre

Fiction

publisher

Berkley

series

Museum

review 1: Fire Engine Dead (A Museum Mystery) ~Berkley (8) A great author with storyline drawbacks, May 15, 2012 By Ellen Rappaport (Florida) This review is from: Fire Engine Dead (A Museum Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback) This is my 3rd in the Museum mystery series. I loved the first 2 and can truly get into the situation due to this creative and original author.In this latest entry Nell Pratt, the new President of the Pennsylvania Antiquarium Society, has been asked to assist in finding the arsonist that has set fire to a fireman's museum. James Morrison, Nell's confident and possibly a significant other, is the one doing the asking.The relationship between Nell and James evolves at slow but steady rate and is mostly centered on the arson. The Fireman's Museum is the focal point... more and I'm sorry to say I found that part of this book quite boring. It was only due to the wonderful writing of this author that kept my interest in Nell, James and the goings on at the P.A.S.The hiring on of two new people, one of which comes directly through Marty, perked my interest. It was a relief to find they could work together well under stress when the overload regarding the Fireman's Museum files were dumped on Nell and the P.A.S. This was a growing period for Nell and everyone involved. Another learning experience for Nell continues to be with LaToya. LaToya is a necesary part of the hierarchy at the Society and not one Nell can deal with comfortably. The hiring of these 2 new employees has given both of them an opportunity to show what team work can accomplish.Marty is another, in my opinion, thorn in Nell's side. On one hand she has donated a good portion of historical material to the Society regarding her family and their place in the building of their town. On the other hand, Marty believes herself to be an entitled part of the goings on inside the P.A.S. so much so that she interrupts Nell in her office without offering any explanation. This time Nell takes somewhat of a stand and lets Marty know that she is still the president and not beholdent to Marty's every whim. I felt this was a necessary move on Nell's part.The continuing realtionship between James Morrison and Nell developed so smoothly and at the appropriate times...I found it a welcomed doorway to future books in this series.All in all I enjoy this author and this series and although I found the Fireman's Museum aspect of it dull...the author's development of the characters and their growing communication with each other realistic and interesting.
review 2: I remember being somewhat disappointed after reading the first book in the Museum Mystery, Fundraising The Dead. It was ok, but I had expected to love her Museum series as much as her Orchard series and I did not. However, it was not bad, so I stuck with it. Now that I have read the third book, Fire Engine Dead, I can honestly say that it may have taken me awhile, but now I do love this series! Nell Pratt, president of the Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society in Philadelphia, is the heart of this mystery series. Nell's responsibilities at the museum, her interactions with colleagues and the meetings of the Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society take up a lot of time, but that is fine because I like the characters. Whenever Nell is not hard at work she is doing her best to hunt for clues in museum related crimes. Usually at the behest of maybe-boyfriend and FBI agent James Morrison. I do not find the Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society all that interesting in itself. Not like the Fireman's Museum, for instance. It is therefore a good thing that crimes taking place at other museums require Nell to snoop elsewhere and allows us readers to learn more about museums that fascinate me a whole lot more! I believe Connolly managed to sketch a very realistic portrait of the dangers and dedication of fireworkers.The Museum mysteries include a couple characters I quite enjoy. Apart from Nell I like Marty a lot. She is quite a force of nature, but what a wonderful woman! James is a bit slow to invite Nell on a date instead of a business lunch or dinner, but I think Nell has handled that efficiently enough to ensure that there will be no more of that in the next book! Nell's counterpart at the Fireman's Museum, Peter Ingersoll, is a bit spineless. Nice, but not exactly the go-getter you would expect a man in his position to be. Fire Engine Dead was written with a fine sense of irony, which helps make it fun and entertaining. The mystery itself is intriguing and in the course of finding enough clues to solve the case Nell is facing quite a lot of action. Great story! I like this one best, I think! less

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