The Family Vault

A Sarah Kelling and Max Bittersohn Mystery, Book 1

By: Charlotte MacLeod

Narrated by: Andi Arndt

An aging stripper's fresh corpse turns up in an old family tomb at Boston Common in this "first-rate suspense whodunit" (The Cincinnati Post).

Like many old New England families, the Kellings live to die. Although their family vault is spacious and comfortable, it will not do for Sarah Kelling's great-uncle Frederick. In his will, he demands to be buried inside the ancient family tomb at Boston Common, which hasn't admitted a new member in more than a century. But when the Kellings crack the old vault's door, they find a recently built brick wall - and behind it lays a surprisingly fresh corpse, a skeleton with rubies in its teeth.

Her name was Ruby Redd, and many years ago she was the toast of Boston's burlesque scene. Her murder case is ice cold, but when Sarah begins investigating it, she finds that the fiery passions behind Ruby's death still burn white hot. With the help of art-fraud-investigator Max Bittersohn, Sarah will solve the mystery of the stripper's murder - or take her own place in the family vault.

©2002 Charlotte MacLeod; Introduction copyright 2002 by Margaret Maron (P)2021 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Enjoyable read

Enjoyable book, though not stellar. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I’d read it or if there had been a different narrator.

A thoroughly enjoyable listen!

I remembered this book positively, but it definitely exceeded my expectations. The story was smart and exciting, the emotional beats were powerful and compelling, and it was funny and very charming to boot. Furthermore the readers perfance was excellent and very enjoyable. I highly recommend this book for fans of lightly humorous mysteries.

Decent

This was a decent mystery that went far to long than necessary. Sarah as a young bride/then widow trying to solve decades old murder then the murder of her husband and MIL with the mysterious Max.

Story enjoyable

Was pleased to see this series on Audible . However, will not continue the stories with this narrator.

enjoyable

not quite how I heard the book in my head while reading, but still enjoyable.

Love this

Andi Arnt is my favorite narrator. Make every book so exciting! Brings the characters to life! I can’t wait to have time to listen to! Wear my ear buds a lot 😂

Very good

I really enjoyed this book. I rarely have a jaw drop in the middle of a cosy mystery, but I had one in this. I loved the details of the mystery, the characters, the writing - all of it.

it's a bit dated, but I was born in the 1960s, so I remember these days. It's certainly a good reminder that as a society, we.really don't want to go backwards. 🙂

The narration is pretty good as well. Definitely worth a listen.

loved it!

historical-fiction, art-fraud, murder, cozy-mystery, situational-humor, verbal-humor

Written in 1982, the details rank as historical. The publisher's blurb is somewhat off, but don't let that stop you from enjoying this delightful cozy! The long suffering Sarah and her beloved older husband Alexander have been victimized and swindled for years and didn't even know it. Then things get even worse, but there is plenty of humor to lighten it up. If you've never read this book or others in the series, do yourself a favor and read now!
My current copy is audio performed by Andi Arndt who is excellent in character (they all are!) differentiation and conveying attitudes.

Don’t like the narrator

I’m only on Chapter 5, but I cannot listen to any more of this narrator.

I thoroughly dislike everything!

The wealthy “but deary me” “unspoiled” main character is so off putting. Nothing sympathetic about her. The reader has a squeaky, annoying voice, and the story is so predictable. Ugh.