Cozy Mystery Review: A Necessary Death, by Terri Karsten

 

 

Thanks to Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours for the chance to read and review Terri Karsten's A Necessary Death.  

A Necessary Death
Historical Cozy Mystery
Setting – A tavern in Colonial Pennsylvania (1764)
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wagonbridge Publishing
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 15, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1953444202
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1953444202
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1953444219
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FLDWVCJW

With Penelope Corbitt in the kitchen, the tavern will never be the same.

Penelope Corbitt can turn a lump of meat and a bit of flour into a mouth-watering pie or make a tasty meal of cabbage and vinegar. But all her skill can’t save her family in the spring of 1763, when she loses everything to pay off her missing husband’s debts. Walking a tightrope between the freedom of poverty and the confines of propriety, she must accept her stingy brother-in-law’s reluctant charity to keep her family fed and her children close. The miserable journey north from Philadelphia is interrupted when the coach crashes in the mud. Penelope and her children are stranded at a run-down tavern. Penelope doesn’t think things can get worse.

Then she finds a dead man.

 

My Review:

A Necessary Death is a historical novel set in a period where I haven't seen many cozy mysteries--colonial America in the late 1700s. It's clear that the author has done her research; the details of life in the period feel true and make the setting come to life. If Penelope is a bit unusual for a woman of her time, we accept and embrace that, and she has some reason to be--though married, she's been getting along on her own for most of her adult life.

 

Penelope's own story felt like the real story much of the time, but the mystery does remain central. It's a complex problem and, while I developed suspicions in the right direction early on, the motives and details were something of a surprise. I'm hoping the author is planning more books about Penelope and her family (though I can do without the egregious brother-in-law).

 

My Recommendation:

If you like historical fiction, and mysteries with a restrained bit of romance about them, then I'd say, check it out. 

About Terri Karsten

Living in the shadow of the Mississippi River bluffs, Terri Karsten has been a writer and educator for many years. She grew up in sunny San Jose, California, playing amid the cherry orchards that soon gave way to houses. In her search for education and adventure, she lived in Iowa and Wisconsin, Mexico and France, before settling into a hundred-year-old house in Winona, Minnesota. She spends most days in her tiny office, surrounded by books, papers, and good memories.

With more ideas than time, Terri writes a bit of everything, ranging from historical fiction novels to picture book folktales to dozens of short stories and articles in magazines, encyclopedias, and newspapers.

When she is not writing, Terri loves poring over old cookbooks and recreating dishes from long ago, especially medieval, Renaissance, and colonial  foods. Always ready for the next adventure, she enjoys camping, hiking, and traveling. Her latest goal is to visit National Parks in every state. Only 13 states to go!

Author Links

• Webpage: https://terrikarsten.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terrikarsten
• Substack: https://historicalcookery.substack.com/
• GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7343260.Terri_Evert_Karsten
• Purchase Links – Amazon  B&N

 

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 4 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

June 4 – Salty Inspirations – RECIPE

June 4 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 5 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 5 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

June 6 – Sarandipity’s – SPOTLIGHT

June 6 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW 

June 7 – Deal Sharing Aunt – RECIPE

June 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 8 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – RECIPE

June 8 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

June 9 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

June 9 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

June 10 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT 

June 11 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 11 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

June 12 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

June 12 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 13 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

June 13 – Rebecca M. Douglass, Author – REVIEW

 

 

 

FTC Disclosure: I was given a e-ARC of A Necessary Death as a participant in the Great Escapes Virtual Book tour, and received nothing further from the writer or publisher in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."  

 

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