Facade (An Iris Reid Mystery) Paperback – May 15, 2016

I enjoyed this book very much! This is the second book in the series; I also read and was delighted with the first book, but this would stand alone well. I’m now eager to read the 3rd and 4th books—Iris is a great character. I’m a bit jaded regarding romance, but Luc is a very likable character also. The author obviously has good knowledge of architecture, Cambridge, fine dining and wine, so those aspects add to the authenticity. I would call this a cozy mystery except that it does touch on some darker subjects; the darker topics are sad, but are handled carefully and didn’t interfere with my enjoyment of solving the mysteries. The book isn’t sad overall and does have a great happy ending to the more grimy parts. I don’t generally like cliffhangers, but there’s a bit of a tiny one at the end that only makes me more eager to read the next book. I can definitely recommend this book and the series.

Iris Reid, an architect, is asked to teach a special course on architecture at Harvard. There, she meets Xander DeWitt, a famous Dutch architect, who is also a guest lecturer. When DeWitt is implicated in the case of a young girl, a Cambridge student, but claims that he’s never met the girl before, Iris finds herself in the position of being able to give him an alibi for the time the girl went missing, but unsure if he’s actually innocent.The more she learns about the case, and about Xander, the more confused she becomes. Is he, as he claims, being framed, or is he an accomplished child predator, using her to cover his crime?Façade by Susan Cory is a finely-tuned cozy mystery, with a long list of suspects, plenty of red herrings, and a surprise ending that marks this author as someone to keep an eye on.

What an amazing book that immediately captivated me and had me hanging onto every word with a great cast of characters, twists and turns, ups and downs keeping me on the edge of my seat until I read the last word. I feel like I know architect Iris Reid and enjoyed her dynamic with the other characters as she is trying to find out what happened to a missing Cambridge schoolgirl. If you enjoy well-crafted mysteries that you can't put down, don't miss Facade, book two in the Iris Reid Mystery series. This is the first book I have read by Susan Cory and I can't wait to find out what happens next in Iris's world. I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This was also a very good story but it definitely raises some morals issues. I can’t really say much without giving away the plot twists. I did figure it out almost immediately but it was interesting to see how the author played it out. Kind of plays on the you may not be guilty of this but we know you r guilty of that philosophy. I don’t adhere to that myself but I know others who do. Still a good story even though I can see where Iris is starting a slide into mild vigilantism.

Ms. Cory's writing style is excellent and I'm not a fan! The premise of Facade and it's cast of characters is unique and clever. The story is very well developed and the descriptive wording made it easy to picture events as they occurred. I especially liked the twists and turns along the way. This book held my attention from start to finish.

This is an intriguing story that is difficult to put down. One character after another comes under suspicion -- and yet? The plot thickens and you read on wanting to know what really happened. In addition to this being a good read, a satisfying mystery with interesting characters, it is also a book informed by Susan Cory's deep knowledge of architecture and design. I loved learning more about architecture even as I followed Iris Reid, her fearless amateur investigator, across backyards and into darkened barns. In addition to relating to Iris Reid, I also adored Iris' close friend and confidant, Ellie as well as Iris's loyal dog, Sheba. Although in many respects this is a dark tale that connects back to atrocities committed during the war in Bosnia, difficult material is handled deftly and with a light touch. I highly recommend.

A truly entertaining book. The characters are engaging. Unveiling of dark secrets and surprising twists in the plot, especially intertwining some of the horrors of war, develop into an interesting read, however, I would caution that because of this it is not a book that will appeal to everyone.

All the characters I loved in the first book are back, with a fantastic new one—Budge, the reporter—added to the mix. What a treat to re-enter Iris' Cambridge world, to learn more about her life as an architect, as a professor at GSD, and as an inadvertent but believable sleuth. Cory's writing is fluid and confident, her plot and subplots intricately woven together. The clues are salted in, but you will have difficulty putting the book down before you read to the satisfying conclusion to learn everyone's secrets.

The first thing I liked was being introduced to a KC who is an architect. That was novel, and I found the architect talk interesting. The second thing I liked was how well Cory manipulated me as a reader. I wasn't sure what to make of Xander, nor how I felt about Iris or Jasna. The secondary characters were all really good too, adding depth to the main characters and the story. The third thing I liked was the plot itself; well crafted, plausible and intriguing.With just the right amount of "padding" to provide setting and atmosphere, some genuinely suspenseful scenes and a satisfying, albeit slightly drawn out ending, Facade was an entertaining mystery novel.