Title: The Mysterious Affair at the Met
Author: M. J. Simms-Maddox
Genre: Fiction – Mystery – General
The Ratings:
Appearance:
5
The appearance of a book can make a significant impact on the experience of a reader, whose enjoyment is often enhanced by an enticing cover, an intriguing table of contents, interesting chapter headings, and when possible, eye-catching illustrations.
Plot:
5
The characters of a book should be well defined with strengths and flaws, and while they do not have to be likable, the reader does have to be able to form a connection with them. The tone should be consistent, the theme should be clear, and the plot should be original or told from a unique perspective. For informative books — those without plot and characters–this rating refers primarily to your concept and how well you presented it.
Development:
5
Development refers to how effectively you told your story or discussed your topic. The dialogue should be realistic, the descriptions should be vivid, and the material should be concise and coherent. Organization is also a key factor, especially for informative books — those without plot and characters. The order in which you tell your story or explain your topic and how smoothly it flows can have a huge impact on the reader’s understanding and enjoyment of the material.
Formatting:
4
Formatting is the single most overlooked area by authors. The way in which you describe scenes, display dialogue, and shift point of view can make or break your story. In addition, excessive grammatical errors and typos can give your book an amateurish feel and even put off readers completely.
Marketability:
5
Marketability refers to how effectively you wrote your book for your target audience. Authors may include content that is above or below the understanding of their target reader, or include concepts, opinions or language that can accidentally confuse or alienate some readers. Although by its nature this rating is very subjective, a very low rating here and poor reviews may indicate an issue with your book in this area.
Overall:
5
The overall starred rating takes into account all these elements and describes the overall reading experience of your reviewer. This is the official Readers’ Favorite review rating for your book.
The Review:
The Mysterious Affair at the Met by M. J. Simms-Maddox, another installment in a series, will appeal to fans of mystery, drama, and leading female characters. Heavy rains bring many tourists to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Suddenly, two of them start behaving strangely in front of one of the masterpieces of Mark Chagall. Then, a volunteer docent notices that the painting looks off. The brewing scandal can damage the Met’s reputation. The chairman of the board of the Metropolitan Museum’s trustees, Ignatius Devoe, and the museum’s executive director, Shane Carpenter, enlist the aid of the distinguished PR consultant, P. J. Austin-Bernhardt, who is about to open a branch office in New York. P. J., or Priscilla, accepts the challenge to save the good name of the world-famous museum.
In The Mysterious Affair at the Met, M. J. Simms-Maddox thoroughly reveals the main character, P.J. Austin-Bernhardt, or Priscilla. This amazing woman is highly professional in her field. She possesses many other talents and treasures her African American heritage. Priscilla’s unique approach to the challenges she faces drives the narrative. Simms-Maddox creates a realistic main character in that Priscilla sometimes “sees the world through rose-colored glasses.” Married into a wealthy family, Priscilla is not vain and takes nothing for granted. It makes Priscilla a perfect role model for young girls and women. Among the secondary characters, my favorite is Jules, Priscilla’s brave little neighbor in Harlem. The Mysterious Affair at the Met has a well-paced narrative and a gripping intrigue that captures our attention at the beginning of the story. Simms-Maddox is a gifted storyteller, and her writing style is very elegant. The author shows us Priscilla’s work as a PR consultant from every possible angle, skillfully weaving it into the clever plotline.
Reviewed by Nino Lobiladze