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Laura Giebfried
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Saint Peter's Tear: an Alexandra Durant mystery Kindle Edition

by Laura Giebfried (Author), Stanley Wells (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 27 ratings
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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"SAINT PETER’S TEAR by Laura Giebfried and Stanley R. Wells has everything a mystery fan might wish for: a brilliant yet flawed protagonist, a twisted tale of murder and betrayal, and a glamorous 1950s setting." - Indie Reader

"An immensely entertaining ... shipboard tale starring a striking sleuth who 'remembers things.'" - Kirkus Reviews

In 1956, ninety-year-old Mrs. Dabney is on her way to the event of the century: the wedding of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco.

But when Mrs. Dabney begins to receive threatening letters telling her she will die before she reaches Monaco, she hires Alexandra Durant to figure out who's trying to kill her. The catch? Alexandra must solve the crime onboard the RMS Queen Mary, between the time when the ship leaves New York and reaches France.

Though Alexandra is still reeling from the murders that took place on the Marlowe Island four months earlier, she's keen to help Mrs. Dabney and thinks that the job will be simple. After all, who would want to kill a ninety-year-old woman, especially one who's already divvied up her will and given inheritances to her friends and family?

Shortly after stepping on board the ship, though, it becomes clear that the threat is serious, and whoever is after Mrs. Dabney has their sights set on Alexandra, too.

"The dialogue is snappy and peppered with clever comebacks that somehow only occur these days between the pages of books as well written as this one. Fans of Agatha Christie’s novels (or any one of her many successors) will be left captivated, engaged and guessing, right up until the end." - Indie Reader

"Fresh and snappy ... Alexandra is a sharp and uncompromising lens." - Kirkus Reviews
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  1. Book 2 of 2
    Alexandra Durant mystery
  2. Print length
    395 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    January 11, 2022
  6. File size
    683 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

★★★★★
Who would threaten a kindly, rich, old lady? Private investigator Alexandra Durant is here to find out. As she travels across the Atlantic aboard a luxurious ocean liner, she finds herself with too many suspects and barely enough time to discover the culprit before the ship arrives in Europe.
It is 1956, and private detective Alexandra Durant is investigating a seemingly frivolous case. Adelaide Dabney, a kindhearted elderly widow, has been receiving anonymous letters warning her not to attend the wedding of the movie star Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco. But Dabney insists on traveling aboard the ocean liner Queen Mary, along with her family, servants, and Alexandra. What happens next is a tale of blackmail, betrayal, murder, and more aboard one of the most luxurious ships in history.
SAINT PETER'S TEAR by Laura Giebfried and Stanley R. Wells has everything a reader could wish from a murder mystery novel. There are twists, turns, and a lengthy list of suspects. It takes place in a glamorous setting full of colorful characters. Most importantly, the novel has a great lead character. Cool, calm, and collected, Alexandra Durant seems like she's always in control. With her keen eyes, sharp mind, and photographic memory, she feels like an omniscient narrator. However, Alexandra is also a woman scarred by past traumas. She hides behind her dry wit and uses pills and alcohol to dampen her fears. Then, as the plot thickens, she finds herself with too many suspects and not enough evidence.
Those suspects help bring the story to life, acting as the protagonist's friends or foils - sometimes both. Glen Cleary is Mrs. Dabney's old lawyer, bodyguard, and friend. Her niece, Jacqueline Lane, is a neurotic actress traveling with her charismatic (and much more successful) fiancé, Gregory Hopper. And there's Dabney's misogynistic nephew Philip, whom readers will love to hate. The dialogue is snappy and peppered with clever comebacks that somehow only occur these days between the pages of books as well written as this one. The novel culminates in a finale that is tense yet immensely satisfying. Fans of Agatha Christie's novels (or any one of her many successors) will be left captivated, engaged and guessing, right up until the end.
SAINT PETER'S TEAR by Laura Giebfried and Stanley R. Wells has everything a mystery fan might wish for: a brilliant yet flawed protagonist, a twisted tale of murder and betrayal, and a glamorous 1950s setting.
~Danijel Štriga for IndieReader

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09QBMGPYY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Laura Giebfried, Stanley R Wells (January 11, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 11, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 683 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 395 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ B09Q1TZWXC
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 27 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Stanley Wells

    Stanley Wells

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    Stanley R. Wells is a former actor who guest starred on several television series including M*A*S*H, Bret Maverick, Palmerstown, USA, and co-starred in the Emmy winning television production of The Miracle Worker. In the late nineties he opened The Empty Stage Theater in Los Angeles where he wrote and directed the critically acclaimed play Three and directed the improv groups The Transformers and The Waterbrains, who are still performing regularly in LA more than twenty years later. Wells still teaches and directs improv in Bangor, Maine, where he currently lives with his wife, Laura Giebfried, though now he devotes most of his time to writing novels and screenplays.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Laura Giebfried

    Laura Giebfried

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Laura Giebfried is the author of six novels. As a native Mainer, her stories are often set in New England.

    Giebfried has a master’s degree in Forensic Psychology. She earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology and Technical Writing from the University of Maine, and screenwriting certificates from The National Film and Television School in the UK, The Film School in Seattle, and the University of California, Los Angeles.

    She currently lives in Bangor, Maine with her husband, Stan Wells, and two daughters.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
27 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jackh
4.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2024
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An engrossing, brilliantly written novel. Character development is swift and straightforward with the protagonist being introduced in a gentle manner.
One person found this helpful
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AC
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Winner! Great New Mystery Series!
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2022
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I loved this book and I love this new series! This is the second book in the Alexandra Durant mystery series, and I liked it even more than the first! The heroine struggles with anxiety and severe insomnia but all the while is dedicated to solving the mystery and saving her client. She is an interesting and unique character whose humanity and ability to empathize is being reawakened more and more with each mystery she takes on. There were twists and turns I did not expect, which is saying a lot as I usually project more twists than are really there. I also really liked several
If the characters besides the heroine: the lawyer turned body guard Cleary; the indomitable Mrs. Dabney, and recurring like interest Lennox. I am looking forward to Alexandra Durant Mystery Number 3!! I highly recommend this book!
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Laura M
4.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining sequel
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2022
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Saint Peter's Tear is the second installment of the Alexandra Durant mystery series by Laura Giebfried and Stanley R. Wells. It has been four months since the murders on Marlowe Island occurred and Alexandra is still reeling from the event. Still, Alexandra is eager to help her new client, ninety-year-old Mrs. Dabney, on what she hopes will be a relatively easy task. Mrs. Dabney has been receiving death threats and wants Alexandra to discover who the culprit is. The catch is that Alexandra has to solve the case while onboard the RMS Queen Mary, between the time the ship leaves New York and reaches France for the wedding of the century between Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco. But Alexandra runs into trouble upon boarding the ship when she realizes her own life is at stake as she is also being targeted. This sequel has an interesting plot with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing until the end. This could possibly be read as a stand-alone, but in order to have a better understanding of Alexandra's character as well as different events that are mentioned, it would be helpful to have read the previous book. As always, Alexandra's quirky personality is entertaining given the time period she is in. Fans of the previous installment are sure to be pleased.
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Steven Rosenstein
5.0 out of 5 stars A great Who Done It story with two sub plot mysteries.
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2022
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“Saint Peter’s Tear” by Laura Giebfried and Stanley R Wells is a very well written Who Done It. I love 'Who Done It’ novels and especially the ones that I don’t figure out on my own, like this one. This story has sub plots that are mysteries within a mystery.

It’s 1956 as our story opens in the townhouse of Mrs.Adelaide Dabney, an affable wealthy widow. Mrs. Dabney has been invited to the wedding of the century where movie star Grace Kelly will marry Prince Rainier of Monaco. As the departure date draws near, Mrs. Dabney starts receiving anonymous threatening notes urging her to stay home or die. Mrs. Dabney is a superstitious woman and in addition to traveling with her lawyer and armed bodyguard Glen Cleary and fortune teller Madame Delavue, she hired our protagonist Alexandra Durant to determine who wrote the notes and is planning to kill her. Alexandra is working on her doctorate in psychology and has a perfect memory. She solved the mystery in the previous novel on Marlowe Island. The journey to Monaco will be aboard The Queen Mary. There are 12 people in Mrs. Dabney’s party and she encounters family and friends also on board. The headcount of around 20 adds more potential suspects for we readers trying to solve the main mystery and two sub plot mysteries from home.

Our authors have crafted an exceptionally well written story. I felt as if I was on location in the story watching the events unfold personally. With so many people in Mrs. Dabney’s town house and in the staterooms aboard the ship I actually felt claustrophobic especially since almost everyone was smoking, which was common in 1956. Also, I have been aboard several cruise ships and one ocean liner, so I can state that the descriptions of The Queen Mary are spot on.

As an avid reader and lover of Who Done It stories, i enthusiastically recommend this Book. Enjoy!
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Rachel
3.0 out of 5 stars Promising story, but there's a few complaints...
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2022
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**To preface this review, I made the mistake of not reading the first book in this two-part series. Once I realized there was a book written previous to Saint Peter’s Tear, the lack of context from past events (from the previous book I assume) makes much more sense. So, this review is being written without the context of the first book. I also tend to be a little harsh with reviews, so take all of this with a grain of salt!**

This book has real promise, with a perfectly scripted “who did it” mystery. I kept thinking I had the bad guy figured out, but the authors kept bringing in new surprises. The characters were fun and relatable. From the main character being a strong female detective, to the concept of women being used as a sort of prize or plaything for a man, the authors mixed both inspiration and reality of what it is like to be a woman. Also, I know I can relate Mrs. Dabney to many sweet, overly trusting and unconcerned old women in my life.

Unfortunately, there was several places throughout the story that lacked an immersive quality. Especially at the beginning of the book, the story felt almost rushed. For example, wonderful descriptive words were used to draw up the imagery of the scene, but the introductions to the characters seemed rushed and bland. As far as vocabulary goes, for the majority of the book, the authors did a fantastic job weaving more advanced vocabulary yet keeping the text simplistic. Unfortunately, there were some words that either did not mesh with the rest of the sentence based on complexity OR the authors used too repetitively. There were also far too many typos and grammatical errors for a book that is no longer in the review stage.

I would love to see this book republished with a couple more rounds of editing to work the kinks out. Like I said, this book has real promise!
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