Peril on the Page

Peril on the Page by Margaret Loudon is the third installment in The Open Book Mysteries. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. Peril on the Page has a quaint English village, a charming bookshop, quirky characters, and fun mysteries. I like Margaret Loudon’s writing style. It is casual, friendly, and easy to read. The story moved along at a good pace. The mystery involved a local boarding school art teacher who drops dead after a paint and wine event. While I was able to solve this whodunit quite early, I still had fun following Penelope as she gathered clues and asked questions. I like that she has a friendly relationship with Detective Maguire. There was more than one mystery in Peril on the Page. There is the death of Odile, jewel thefts, an alcohol issue at the school, smashed store windows, and a missing first edition from the boarding school. All of the mysteries are resolved by the end of the book with help from Penelope. Penelope does have some close calls (she really needs to be more careful). There is humor sprinkled throughout the story. There is one scene that had me laughing out loud (it is hilarious). It is nice how the romance between Penelope and Detective Brodie Maguire is developing. I am glad it is progressing slowly. I love the Britishisms in the book (butty and jammy dodger are two examples). I appreciate that the author takes the time to explain the unusual ones. I enjoyed my latest visit to Upper Chumley-on-Stoke. I look forward to returning soon for Penelope’s next adventure. Peril on the Page is tickety-boo with a writer in residence, a paint party, a departed artist, nicked trinkets, a filched first edition, wrecked windows, pupils purchasing plonk, and a dedicated detective.