From the publisher
No one talks to the cops. Everyone talks to the bartender. And Avalon Nash is one hell of a bartender.
Avalon is on the run from her life in Los Angeles. Having a drink while waiting to change trains in the former Olympic town of Tranquility, New York, she discovers the freshly murdered bartender at MacTavish’s. A bartender herself, she’s offered the position with the warning he wasn’t the first MacTavish’s bartender to meet a violent end.
Avalon’s superpower is collecting people’s stories, and she’s soon embroiled in the lives of artists, politicians, ghost hunters and descendants of Old Hollywood.
Can Avalon outrun the ghosts of her past, catch the ghosts of Tranquility’s past and outsmart a murderer?
My review of Death in Tranquility
I found a lot to like about Death in Tranquility. Written from a first-person point of view, the main character, Avalon, is smart and funny. The atmosphere of the small town of Tranquility exudes charm, friendliness, and a hint of unrest that unfolds as the story progresses. All-in-all, death in Tranquility seems like a natural thing.
The writing is sharp and to the point without a lot of over-the-top introspection. That’s not to say there aren’t any, but those moments of inner monologue felt well-placed and succinct. The author introduces characters and facts as needed, making their introductions seem natural.
With multiple plot lines slowly converging, the pacing is solid throughout the story. The dialogue is also well done. Speaking of which, there were a few instances of profanity in the middle of a high-tension scene. While not much, it was a surprise in a book that was otherwise squeaky clean.
Overall, this one gets solid marks as a good read and makes me want to visit Tranquility again.
Learn more about Sharon Linnea on her website at sharonlinnea.com. If you liked this review, why check out some of my others here.
FTC Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by its publisher.
