Apple Strudel Alibi

Oxford Tearoom Mysteries, Book 8

By: H.Y. Hanna

Narrated by: Pearl Hewitt

Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

When Gemma’s romantic holiday with her boyfriend is cancelled, the tearoom sleuth finds herself heading to Vienna instead with her cat Muesli and the nosy Old Biddies for company. And it’s not long before they stumble across a murder right in the heart of Austria’s historic capital.

A handsome art critic dies suspiciously at their hotel, and the Old Biddies are determined to sniff out the killer. Is it the bitter hotel owner nursing a grudge? The critic’s jealous mistress wanting revenge? Or even the American horse trainer who seems inexplicably nervous around the police?

Soon Gemma is dragged into an impromptu investigation which has her tackling Vienna’s famous pastries, snooping in police files and even braving a nude sauna in search of clues!

But can she sort the suspects from the Schnitzel and solve the mystery before the killer strikes again?

©2018 H.Y. Hanna (P)2018 H.Y. Hanna

Another clever mystery that you will love!!

H.Y. Hanna has done it again. Apple Strudel Alibi is another successful installment to the Oxford Tearoom Mystery series. In it we find ourselves on a trip to Vienna, Austria, where we're introduced to a few new characters that become suspects in a murder investigation that Gemma Rose and the Old Biddies find themselves entangled in.

Regarding the audio narrator, Pearl Hewitt, her voice is absolute perfection. Her depictions of the various characters, (including Muesli the tabby cat’s audible expressions), is incredible. Her masterful narration brings this series to life in a way that can only be fully described if you listen for yourself. Extraordinary talent. I always look forward to listening to Ms. Hewitt's narration. I highly recommended Apple Strudel Alibi.

Love these cozy mysteries.

The stories are well told and always surprise me with the ending. Love the kitty being a part of the story. The voice is perfect for telling this tale.

Next adventure Please!🐱

Will Jemma marry her dashing detective? Can the sweet but shy professor win Cassieys affection? What zanny adventures will the "old
bitties" imbark on next? I am looking forward to this wonderful authors next installment!

Don't miss this series

the last book in the series thus far I thoroughly enjoyed but I'm biased I love anything that involves animals

An engaging on-location cozy

I am a fan of the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries from my first reading, and Pearl Hewitt does an excellent job bringing the characters to life. Until this book, the setting has been the environs of Oxfordshire, but this book goes on the road, so to speak, to Vienna, Austria along with her cohorts, the "old biddies". These are recurring characters that lend an element of farce, as well as a device where their antics reveal clues to the central mystery.

Emma's love interest, Devlin, plays a minor role in this book, but the descriptions of Vienna, the charming hotel, and the mouth-watering descriptions of Viennese pastry make up for the lack of romance.

The plot was suitably convoluted to keep my interest, with a liberal sprinkling of red herrings. The real charm of the book, though, was the setting, a sub-plot involving a gifted child, and the descriptions and backstory of the famed Lippizaner Stallions.

Disclosure: A review copy of this audiobook was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.

Good but left wanting

I love the Oxford Tea Room series and eagerly listen to each one. They aren’t my usual cup of tea as I gravitate towards steamier novels or ones with a supernatural twist.
So up until now I’ve been patient with the relationship between Jemma and Devlin (though the last book had me shaking my head a few times) but this book really was horribly lack lustre in the romance department.

Spoiler alert

I just don’t understand their relationship at all at this point. It’s like they are just acquaintances. They have as much steam as frozen perogies. Devlin bails on their vacation and she gets mad (rightfully so) but then the novel just skips around and randomly inserts their relationship as if he’s nothing more than a contact she needs. There’s ZERO chemistry now. He doesn’t do anything to redeem himself and at the end she returns home and he’s not there to greet her or pick her up from the airport....like what?! Why are they even together?
There’s nothing likeable to me about their relationship. Neither of them try hard to see each other, they never have fun, they argue more than they kiss and Jemma is a prude.

Again, I know that normally the stories I like are much more romantic but even in real life I don’t know any of my friends that act like this. I’m married and I can tell you that in comparison to Jemma and Devlin my relationship would be a scone with clotted cream and jam and theirs would be a soggy saltine. =_=

I hope there’s more character development. Because as far as I can tell they have a very unhealthy relationship. And each book seems like they are getting closer and closer to ending things. Or at least I hope they do because they are horribly mismatched.

I think though that I’m really just listening to the series for the Old Biddies. They are by far the most interesting and amazing part of this book. And of course muesli, things would be horribly dull without the cat and the old ladies.

I’ll try one more book but I don’t see myself listening to more if things don’t improve with the main characters.

apple strudel alibi

loved the story, amazed at all the situations Gemma gets into. love the narrator in these stories, love the British touch to all, great pleasure in listening to these tales

Muesli Is the Star

Always love this series. The story (now it goes International, to Vienna), Muesli the cat surely stole the attention. She’s cute and unpredictably fun. The narrator is good. It’s an enjoyable story to listen over and over.

one of the best murder mysteries on the market!

one of the best murder mysteries on the planet! I love H.Y.Hannah's writing. I am in love with the characters and waiting anxiously for the next addition to this series.

Pleasant fun

Always enjoy this series after a tough day. Muesli always makes me smile. And the old biddies are the best!