Reviews

From the Publisher of Spring Upon a Crime

Wilderness guide Crystal Rainey leads a group of college students to a private campground amidst the awe-inspiring Olympic Rain Forest. The excursion is ruined when the charming hostess Roxie is discovered standing over the land owner’s body, murder weapon in hand.

Enlisted to investigate the crime to absolve her friend, Crystal descends on the quiet city of Forks to find loggers, developers, and eco-protesters circling the property, intent on either exploiting or protecting the bastion of old-growth forest. The list of suspects is intimidating. Can Crystal find answers in a community determined to keep her in the dark?

My review

Spring Upon a Crime is very much a product of our times. It exemplifies the fight over what to do with natural resources such as old growth forests. Kudos to the author for tackling this difficult subject.

The protagonist, Crystal, is likable and easy to follow on her adventure. Other characters are also appropriate for their roles…up to a point. In particular, there were two plot twists in which characters that had been foes suddenly became allies. In both cases, I felt the transitions weren’t believable and found myself going, “Whaaat?” Eventually, the character turnabouts made sense, but at the moment they occurred, I felt disoriented.

Setting is handled well. I could see the forest, the clear-cut, and even the camp for a band of staunch environmentalists. The plot is well-planned and has the requisite twists and turns. For me, though, the writing style itself got in the way of these elements. At times, it felt somewhat stilted and methodical.

Overall, a good read for those with an interest in the wilderness and followers of the series. And despite being in the cozy genre, it hits the spot for dealing with some difficult issues.

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From the publisher of Death by Intermission

Abby McCree spends a summer showing family films under the stars—only to end the season with an unexpected slasher flick …

Ushered once again onto another committee by the mayor of Snowberry Creek, Washington, Abby is tasked with keeping the box office receipts of the town’s Movies in the Park nights. Cut to the director’s chair from where she’s suddenly organizing the summer’s last feature. From the opening scene through the final credits, Abby feels she’s earned nominations for best volunteer, best movie date with her tenant Tripp Blackston—and best daughter for ignoring her mother Phoebe’s own movie date with Owen Quinn.

Unfortunately, Abby and the others are treated to a post-credits scene: the body of local insurance agent Mitchell Anders. This discovery is followed by a plot twist revealing that the murder weapon comes from Owen’s food truck. With her mother’s boyfriend suspected of murder, Abby starts her own investigation determined to shine a spotlight on the real killer …

My review

This is the first book in this series that I’ve read and, while I had no difficulty getting up to speed on the series, I found myself asking what I’d gotten myself into. With the exception of the constant bickering between Abby and her mother, this was an enjoyable cozy. The problem was the amount of tension between Abby and her mother. Quite honestly, it felt way over-the-top for a cozy and sadly realistic. This was truly a case where less would have been much better.

Overall, I liked the protagonist and her approach to the crime. Dialogue felt realistic. Her motivation for investigating was also believable. I did find the writing style to be a little too explanatory for my taste because it slowed the plot. Overall, I’d have enjoyed this one more with less angst in Abby’s personal life and a little more mystery in the plot, but for fans of the series, it’s a good read.

FTC Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by its publisher. Want more book news? If so, click here to read my Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.

From the publisher

Certain she’s seen more than enough death for one lifetime, literary agent Allie Cobb is ready to close the book on her amateur sleuthing, even when she learns that an unidentified body has been unearthed in a local state park. But when a worn and haunted-looking woman shows up on her doorstep with a grim story about her young daughter’s disappearance twenty years ago—and the police confirm that the recently discovered body is hers—Allie can’t bear to turn the poor woman away.

Determined to uncover the truth about the young woman’s murder, Allie begins delving into the circumstances of her life and those she knew so many years before. And when she meets powerful resistance from those she questions—many of whom are now trusted leaders in her small, tight-knit community—she’s sure she’s on the right track. But as she narrows down the list of suspects, Allie realizes too late that a cold-blooded killer is dead-set on keeping the secrets of the past buried, and it will take all her wit and cunning to avoid becoming the second young woman to meet an untimely end …

My review of A Deadly Discovery

Never having read the Allie Cobb Mysteries, I was immediately interested in A Deadly Discovery based on a quick read of the first few pages, during which I took an immediate liking to the main character. In the beginning, the writing felt tight and the plot moved quickly. With the character actions described clearly and good dialogue, it felt like we were off to a great start.

The story did slow down, however, near the middle, primarily because the author fell into what I call the cozy-mystery trap—summarizing what’s about to happen in a paragraph before getting into the action or dialogue. A certain amount of this writing style is perfectly normal, and almost unavoidable, but it just became too much of a regular occurrence for my taste. While this won’t bother many cozy fans, who gobble up this style freely, I found it an impediment to moving the story forward.

Overall, the story will appeal to traditional mystery fans thanks to it’s plot, likable protagonist, and smooth dialogue, but the cozy fans are going to love Ursi (the cat), who sometimes steals the show.

FTC Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by its publisher.

From the publisher of Artistic License to Kill

Artist Amanda Trent, accompanied by her beloved golden retriever Laddie and her persnickety calico cat Mona Lisa, is determined to start a new life after her husband divorces her to marry a younger woman, but it isn’t easy.

After a disastrous interview at the prestigious Roadrunner Gallery in Lonesome Valley, Arizona, far away from her previous home in Kansas City, Amanda’s afraid that she’ll fail at her new career. But her prospects begin to improve when she’s accepted as the newest member of the cooperative gallery.

Then, on her very first day, she discovers Janice, the stern director, has been murdered right in the art gallery, and the Roadrunner’s members, including Amanda herself, become suspects. Which gallery member murdered the unpopular director? Or was the killer an outsider with an ax to grind?

My review

This craft-centric mystery focuses more on the world of crafts than the mystery. If that’s your thing, this is a good fit. Amanda is a likable protagonist. She’s just getting settled in a new place—both personally and professionally. As a result, there’s plenty going on. The story moves quickly, partially because of the writing style and partially because it’s short. At just over 200 pages, Artistic License to Kill is a fast read with little to slow it down.

The dialogue is realistic and descriptions are concise, which made it easy to stay involved in the story. While Amanda was never overly pushy about her sleuthing, she did turn up clues that ultimately led to the killer. I found it a bit difficult to suspend disbelief when Amanda had to escape the killer’s trap, but this fun read moved quickly and kept me entertained until the end.

FTC Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by its publisher.

Learn more about Paula Darnell at pauladarnellauthor.com.. Do you like author interviews? If so, click here to read more Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.

From the publisher of Saint Vandal’s Day

St. Valentine’s Day is THE perfect day for a wedding. Unless a vandal is trying to ruin your life that is.

Callie is finally getting her dream wedding. On St. Valentine’s Day no less. Only a vandal is determined to destroy her bakery before the wedding can occur. Anna, self-proclaimed best cupcake baker this side of the Mississippi, is not letting anything happen to the cupcake bakery. No way. Barista extraordinaire Kristie jumps at the chance to help as well. Together the three women launch a mission to find the jerk who thinks it’s okay to attack the bakery.

Will the gals of Callie’s Cakes find the vandal and save the cupcake bakery before Callie’s dream wedding is ruined?

Cupcakes not included, although recipes for all the delicious cupcakes Anna bakes are.

My review

Saint Vandal’s Day is a short, entertaining read. Told in first-person, present tense, this novella moves quickly without an overabundance of backstory thrown in. It’s unusual in the mystery genre in that there is no murder. The actual mystery is all about finding whoever is vandalizing Callie’s Cakes.

While the lack of a murder isn’t a deal breaker for me, I didn’t feel the problem to be solved was that compelling—probably because I haven’t read the previous books in the series and never found myself invested in the characters. The characters are certainly entertaining enough, but this is a story in which the plot takes center stage, not the characters.

Overall, I liked the pacing and the storyline and, for anyone who wants a short, purely-for-fun read, this is a winner.

FTC Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by its publisher.

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