Audio Book Review: Unseemly Pursuits: The Concordia Wells Mysteries Book 2 by K.B. Owen

This is a fun, engaging, character driven historical mystery series.
Unseemly Pursuits: The Concordia Wells Mysteries Book 2
Written by: K.B. Owen
Narrated by: Becket Royce

Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins
Series: Concordia Wells, Book 2
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:10-02-15
Publisher: K.B. Owen Mysteries
Genre: Historical, Mystery
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
A deadly secret that won't stay buried....
It is the fall of 1896, and Miss Concordia Wells is hip-deep in the usual tumult of a lady professor's life: classes, clubs, student pranks, and the unending drama generated by the girls she lives with on campus. Complicating this normality is the new Lady Principal, whom the students have nicknamed "the Ogre". The woman seems bent on making Concordia's life miserable.
Events take a grave turn, however, when an ancient Egyptian amulet donated to the college mysteriously disappears, the donor is found murdered, and his daughter - Concordia's best friend - confesses to killing him.
Desperate for answers, Concordia unravels a 20-year-old secret, closely guarded by men now dead. But such secrets can be dangerous for the daughters left behind, including Concordia herself. Can she make sense of the mystery that has bound together their fates, before it's too late?
©2013 K.B. Owen (P)2015 K.B. Owen

Review:
Concordia is back to her normal duties as a lady professor but under a new Lady Principal who has been nicknamed “ogre” by the students. The woman clearly doesn’t like Concordia and takes away long time assignments and gives her secondary positions, such as moving her from director of the student play to assistant under a math teacher who has never had experience directing a performance. The continual insults from the Lady Principal take second place though to a theft of an Egyptian artifact recently donated to the museum. The donor is the father of Concordia’s best friend, Sophia. When he is found murdered the younger daughter is traumatized into silence by finding the bloody body. Not even the Police Detective believes Sophia when she confesses to the crime.

Concordia of course is intent on proving her friend innocent. She soon learns that the dead man had once been a partner of Concordia’s own father when they searched for artifacts in Egypt. Details that Concordia never knew and her mother continues to refuse to discuss. Instead, Concordia’s mother has gotten herself involved with a physic whose séance results in Concordia’s father speaking to her!

The Lady Principal is a character that you like to dislike, causing Concordia to seek help from the Dean and the President of the college. There is plenty of intrigue and multiple suspects as well as surprising twists. I enjoyed the friendship between Concordia and David which is continuing to grow, especially after a misunderstanding is cleared up.

This is the second story in the series and I recommend reading/listening to them in order to better know the supporting characters and the friendships and tensions that exist. I enjoyed this one even more than the first and it makes me want to hear more adventures/misadventures for Concordia. I recommend this to readers who enjoy character driven mystery.

Audio Notes: Becket Royce does another good job narrating this historical mystery. She manages the various voices with clear distinction. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

I received this audio book from the narrator for an honest review. This qualifies for my Audio Challenge and "U" in Alphabet Soup Challenge.

Audible Book Review: Dangerous and Unseemly: A Concordia Wells Mystery, Book 1 by K.B. Owen

I enjoyed this engaging cozy, historical mystery.

Dangerous and Unseemly: A Concordia Wells Mystery, Book 1
Written by: K.B. Owen
Narrated by: Becket Royce

Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins
Series: Concordia Wells, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:11-10-14
Publisher: K.B. Owen Mysteries
Genre: Historical Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
An unseemly lesson…in murder.
The year is 1896, and college professor Concordia Wells has her hands full: teaching classes, acting as live-in chaperone to a cottage of lively female students, and directing the student play, Macbeth. But mystery and murder are not confined to the stage, especially when the death of Concordia's sister, Mary, appears to be foul play. To make matters worse, the women's college is plagued by malicious pranks, arson, money troubles, and the apparent suicide of a college official.
With her beloved school facing certain ruin, Concordia knows that she must act. As she struggles to seek justice for her sister and discover who is behind the college incidents, there are some closest to Concordia who do not appreciate the unseemly inquiries and bold actions of the young lady professor. Can she discover who is responsible…before she becomes the next target?
©2013 K.B. Owen (P)2014 K.B. Owen

Review:
Concordia is a professor at a woman’s college when higher education for woman was still looked down upon. The president of the school, and other male community leaders, seems to view it as a place for women to prepare for domestic duties, not really for learning towards a career. Concordia is inclined to observe all of the staff members, especially the fairly new Lady Principal, Miss Hamilton, who is a formidable, yet fair, leader. Concordia is juggling her teaching responsibilities, serving as live-in chaperone for one of the student cottages and directing the student end of year performance of Macbeth. Additionally, Concordia tries to make time to visit her sister who has been suffering an undiagnosed illness since marrying many months before.

The College is struggling with financial troubles. The annual spring Sophomore prank includes dark elements that create a stir and is of even more concern when the treasurer of the college is found dead. It might be suicide or it could be more nefarious. When Concordia’s sister dies under less than forthright circumstances, Concordia begins to investigate both deaths. Her sleuthing results in surprises as well as behavior that some might consider ‘dangerous and unseemly'.

I enjoyed Concordia’s personality. She has true concern for her sister and her students. Sadly, she has a very estranged relationship with her mother. She grows closer to Miss Hamilton and a brash, retired teacher who challenges Concordia to see beyond the surface. I was pleased by the strength of Miss Hamilton but I can’t be more specific without giving spoiler info. There is a light touch of romance as Concordia gets the attention of first one male teacher and then she manages to run into another.


Ms. Owen does a wonderful job of presenting the details of the 1980s. She has created a believable character in Concordia who is thoughtful and brave but not flaunting her freedoms and views. She does have a friend who is active in the women’s suffragette movement so that perspective is shared as well.

The mystery and romances are developed at a steady pace. This is nicely consistent with Concordia’s sometimes impulsive response to danger which is tempered by her careful deliberation as she weighs the facts and clues. Although the story is not flashy or intense, it is satisfactorily engaging. I think this is a good start to an interesting series and I recommend this to readers who enjoy a clean read with history and mystery.

Audio Notes: Becket Royce does a very nice job of delivering the conservative characters to suit the time period. The voices are distinct and the emotions are appropriately portrayed. The narration made this a better ‘reading’ experience for me.

I received this audio title from the narrator through AudioBook Boom. It qualifies for my Audio Challenge.