murder mystery

Review: Bidding for Murder (Stamford Mysteries #3) by E.C. Bateman

~ megs14malloy

Bidding for Murder (The Stamford Mysteries 3)Bidding for Murder by E.C. Bateman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bidding for Murder is the 3rd-installment in E.C. Bateman’s Cozy Mystery series, The Stamford Mysteries.

If you’re unaware, this series follows Felicia Grant, a single-mom, who has returned to her home village of Stamford to help her Dad run their family-owned Auction House after her Dad’s health took a turn.

At this point, Felicia has been back in the village a while, and a lot has happened, including a few murders, which she’s become embroiled in solving.

Felicia’s ex, Dexter, the father to their son, Algernon, now 13-years old, has also returned to the village, so the family dynamics are chaotic and fun to follow. Add in her curmudgeon father, and you’re sure to be chuckling.

The mystery in this book kicks off when an old classmate of Felicia’s, Lucia, comes to town and asks Felicia to appraise some of her jewelry. The two meet up at the exclusive and mysterious Aquitaine Club, a private lodging and club in Stamford that regular residents really know nothing about.

Lucia, wife to a powerful politician, is staying there at the invitation of a friend, and Felicia is a bit overwhelmed and intrigued to even be invited in.

The meeting with Lucia is memorable indeed, and Felicia is drawn into the dramatic and secretive world of the Aquitaine. In fact, she’s invited back, along with her family, for their annual Halloween celebration the following day.

The evenings activities include a truly haunting Mummers performance, but everyone seems to be in good spirits. That is until the first body falls, followed quickly by another.

Before she knows it, Felicia is caught up in another investigation. Will she be able to weed out the killer lurking in the shadows before they successfully take another life?

There’s no doubt this is my favorite of the series thus far. A Murder Mystery set on Halloween night at a prestigious private club? Yes, please.

As a Spooky Season girlie through and through, I was loving the atmosphere Bateman was bringing to this story. It definitely had full-fledged Halloween vibes.

Additionally, I’m so attached to these characters now. As with many Cozy series, I feel like the further you go along, the more you feel like returning to the main characters is almost like going home. You get attached to their lives and whatever they have going on in it.

I found the mystery in this story so fun. I loved the locked room feel. Since it is set at the Aquitaine, and its being a private club, it is quite insular. The only people involved were those members staying there, as well as the employees, and Felicia and her family.

Over the course of the story, you learn a lot about the members and employees, and boy are they messy. There was so much going on amongst them, a lot of unlikable folks and certainly plenty of motives for any potential killers.

Pettifer and Jess are the police called to the scene, who we’ve come to know in previous books, and I loved having them back. I love how Pettifer and Felicia’s relationship has grown an developed across the books.

I really enjoyed trying to solve this one. There were so many clues, and I did have a lot of theories. It kept me hooked and therefore, up late into the night until I was able to finish. There’s no way I was sleeping on it.

I’m guessing from the final chapter and Epilogue that we’ll be getting another installment too, which I’m very happy about. I have no idea how long this series is slated to be, but I’m here for the long run.

I would definitely recommend this to Cozy Mystery fans, particularly if you enjoy charming village vibes and an amateur sleuth with a lot of pluck and a fun family dynamic.

Thank you to the publisher, One More Chapter, for providing me for a copy to read and review. I’m so excited for more Stamford Mysteries!

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Review: All of Us Murderers by K.J. Charles

~ megs14malloy

All of Us MurderersAll of Us Murderers by K.J. Charles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙💚💙

In All of Us Murderers, a lush gothic mystery by K.J. Charles, we follow Zeb Wyckham after he is summoned to his wealthy Uncle’s manor home for a family gathering.

Even though the guest list no doubt includes many individuals Zeb would rather avoid, like his estranged brother, for example, he nevertheless accepts the invitation, curious to discover what it’s all about.

How bad can it be?

Therefore, Zeb arrives at the property at the appointed time and date and is less than thrilled to find not only his horrid brother, and his snake of a wife, but also his cad of a cousin and irritable ex, Gideon.

As they dine with their Uncle Wynn the very first evening, they discover the truth of why he’s brought them all there. It’s time for an inheritance game. The winner takes it all, and that’s a vast fortune indeed.

Wynn wants someone to marry his young ward, Jessamine, upon his death. That way, he’s assured she’ll be cared for. If one of them is willing to do that, they’ll get his full fortune.

Zeb can hardly believe what he’s hearing. Jessamine is very, very young, and from the start, she’s seemed not entirely well. He’s unsettled by his Uncle’s plan, and vows to take no part in it; money be damned.

However, that leaves his other male family members, and none of them are desirable as suitors. What is Zeb to do? How can he stop this unsavory business from playing out?

All of Us Murderers turned into a delightful reading experience for me. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I started, but I’ve thought about it many times since finishing.

It’s a bit of a slow burn, and it did sneak up on me, for sure. I was pulled in quite thoroughly without even noticing how invested I had gotten. The gothic atmosphere was impeccable and I loved the MC, Zeb, soooo much.

The mystery elements, mainly revolving around the motivations and intentions of Uncle Wynn, before turning into a full-fledged Murder Mystery, were also quite entertaining. It got intense the further it progressed, with the stakes getting higher and higher.

The star of the show for me truly was the gothic setting and subsequent atmosphere. With inclement weather rolling in across the Moors, the characters are trapped at the property with no means of escape.

Even when Zeb decides he won’t play his Uncle’s little game, there’s really nothing he can do about it. I loved that element, it made it feel claustrophobic and desperate.

It also has a Scooby-Doo feel about it in places, which I enjoyed, but I can see how some Readers may find those aspects a little silly. For me, the hauntings and history of the house just added to the overall ambiance. It was giving me exactly what I wanted in that regard.

Finally, I would note how much I enjoyed Zeb’s delivery of the events happening around him. He had a wry and witty way of viewing it all, which lent it a bit of humor to the story, even though what was happening was unhinged.

Overall, I had a lot of fun with this and am happy to have read from a new-to-me author. I look forward to picking up more from Charles in the future.

Thank you, Poisoned Pen Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would def recommend this to anyone who enjoys a atmospheric Gothic Mystery.

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Review: Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson

~ megs14malloy

Blood in the WaterBlood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

💙🧡💙🧡💙🧡💙🧡💙🧡💙🧡💙

In Tiffany D. Jackson’s Middle Grade Debut we follow 12-year old, Kaylani, a Brooklyn girl headed to Martha’s Vineyard for the summer to stay with some family friends. A trip she’s not exactly excited about.

The family in question, the Watsons, are extremely wealthy and powerful. In fact, Kaylani’s Dad used to be close with them and worked for them, prior to his incarceration for financial crimes Kaylani is positive he didn’t commit.

She doesn’t have time to go to the stuffy ole’ Vineyard, when all she wants to do is study the law and try to figure out a way to free her Dad.

In spite of her hesitations though, both Kaylani’s parents insist she go. She needs to have fun, be a kid and let loose. She’s been so worried about her Dad, and focused on his case, she’s sort of put her life on hold.

Even on the ferry to the island though, Kaylani knows it’s going to be a rough summer. The Watson’s granddaughters, London and Cassie, are also on the ferry and London instantly makes Kaylani feel uncomfortable and judged.

In spite of this, once on the island. Kaylani does start to settle in. It’s beautiful and there are lots of other kids. Maybe it won’t be a completely terrible summer. Sometimes, she and London even get on a little, or at least find ways they can be mutually-beneficial to each other.

The day after the girls attend their first beach party, they’re shocked to learn that one of the other kids from party, a boy named Chadwick, has been found dead.

The circumstances are mysterious, and rumors fly as to whether it was a drowning, a shark attack, or even worse, murder. Chadwick happens to be Cassie Watson’s ex-boyfriend, and suspicion falls onto her.

Kaylani’s innate curiosities are triggered and she’s determined to get to the bottom of it. She’s confident Chadwick’s death was no accident, but how can she prove it?

Blood in the Water was really fun and so cute, with a great MC. Kaylani is a character you can connect to instantly. She’s smart, determined, she loves her family and she’s just an all-around good kid. She’s someone you want to see succeed.

I love the setting on the Vineyard. I live on the neighboring island of Nantucket, and appreciated all the true-to-life details that Jackson brought to the story. It made it feel extra special for me and helped me picture everything perfectly.

I also loved having a true murder mystery where the majority of our main players were kids and teens. Kaylani getting her sleuthing on, and making friends to help along the way, was such a delight. Additionally, I loved Kaylani’s relationship with both of her parents, but her Dad especially.

My only complaint was that I wish it had been like 30 to 40-pages longer. I wanted to know even more about the characters, and to get more details on Kaylani’s stay on the island. Overall though, a great MG debut for Jackson.

Jackson is such a talented writer, definitely one of my all time faves and I loved seeing what she could do in this new age-range. Thank you so much to the publisher, Scholastic, for providing me with a copy to read and review!

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Review: The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Philip Fracassi

~ megs14malloy

The Autumn Springs Retirement Home MassacreThe Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Philip Fracassi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brimming with dark humor, violence, and mystery, The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre is a blood-soaked slasher sure to keep readers guessing until the very last page.

The above, from the Publisher’s synopsis, is what first caught my attention in regards to this book. After reading it, I’d agree, that description is spot-on. I couldn’t be happier about my experience with it.

🧡🧡🧡 I’M OBSESSED 🧡🧡🧡

The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre follows Rose, a single-woman, in her late-70s living on her own. Well, she does live in Autumn Springs though, so is surrounded by friends and companions her own age, as well as the staff always willing to lend a hand.

When one of her friends dies, while alone in her apartment, Rose is okay chalking it up to an accident. These things happen at their age.

After another resident drops dead though, and then another, Rose starts to believe these are no accidents. Finding it difficult to convince the people in charge of this fact however, Rose and her good friend, Miller, start looking into the deaths themselves.

The more they dig, the more convinced Rose becomes that there’s a real-life killer on the loose at Autumn Springs, and if she doesn’t watch her back, she may end up next on the killer’s to-do list.

Y’all, I loved this. Absolutely loved it. As a Horror Girlie through-and-through, I always appreciate when someone puts a new spin on the genre so close to my heart.

Fracassi’s choice to have a Slasher MC, a potential Final Girl, in her late-70s, is such a smart and creative choice, IMO. As the wild success of books such as The Thursday Murder Club have made clear, people are itching for some time with more aged protagonists.

I adore following older protagonists as I’m an older protagonist myself. And no offense to anyone in their 20s, but once you reach a certain age, there’s only so many books you can stomach following protagonists in that age bracket.

Rose was a very likable MC. She was smart and resourceful, not willing to back down in the face of danger. I also liked how her looking into these deaths, it didn’t feel forced. The information, in the beginning, just sort of fell into her lap and she ran with it.

I had so many questions around these deaths, so could understand why Rose would be curious enough to pursue it. Particularly, when the authorities were trying to sell her a story of ‘accidents’ that just weren’t lining up.

Fracassi also got super creative with his kills, which made this very fun. I never knew what to expect next. I appreciated he didn’t hold back just because he was dealing with elderly characters either.

And the characters, all the fabulous characters, there were so many quirky, interesting side characters, which made this story extra-compelling. It wasn’t just Rose, they were all great, just trying to live their best lives.

This also kept me guessing to the very end, as predicted by the publisher. I loved how fast-paced it got as the conclusion closes in on you. I was speeding through so quickly. I couldn’t stop. I needed to know who, or what, was behind the Autumn Springs Massacre.

I can’t recommend this enough, including the audio format, for anyone looking for a delicious twist on the Slasher genre. Rose is a protagonist I won’t soon forget, and I’d happily read this again some day. It definitely entertains.

Thank you to the publisher, Tor Nightfire and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This is the 2nd-novel I’ve read from this author, and the 2nd-5-star rating. I definitely need to be picking up more from him!

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Review: A Tour to Die For (The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco #2) by Michelle Chouinard

~ megs14malloy

A Tour to Die For (The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco Mysteries, 2)A Tour to Die For by Michelle Chouinard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Tour to Die For is the 2nd-book in The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco mystery series. This is a fun and modern Cozy Mystery series perfect for fans of Finlay Donovan, or other series with that same level of humor.

These books follow Capri Sanzio, who owns her own tour company in San Francisco. Carpi is also a True Crime podcast host, and budding investigative journalist in her own right.

During one of her True Crime walking tours, one of Capri’s customers claims to have seen a woman being attacked in her apartment. Feeling she must take the woman’s report seriously, Capri contacts the police, who end up searching the apartment of the alleged attack.

Unfortunately, they find no evidence of anything amiss, so chalk it up to a false report. While Capri feels the police may be right, they also may be wrong.

Her senses urge her to look further into the alleged attack. She’d never forgive herself if someone was injured and she did nothing to help. When she stumbles across a body, she’s thrust into yet another murder investigation.

Using her full range of investigative skills and spot on instincts, Capri digs in to the mysterious death, putting herself in danger in the process.

I had so much for with the 1st-book in this series, The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco, and had been anxiously awaiting this sequel. Happily, it didn’t disappoint. As with the 1st-book, this was a fast-paced, funny and mysterious romp through the streets of San Francisco.

I listened to the audiobook again and can’t recommend that format enough. The stellar narration by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker perfectly fits our MC, Capri. Nemeth-Parker’s delivery enhances Capri’s personality and I can’t imagine these stories without it. Her voice is Capri to me.

Capri sets everything aside when she starts digging into a new case, and this was no exception. I often wondered, who is running her company, but also, who cares, because I’m having so much fun.

These books are silly, mysterious, packed with intriguing leads, they’re just great entertainment; an escapist read.

It seems from the tone of the conclusion of this story, we may be getting more books in this series, and I certainly hope so. I would read them for as long as they’re released.

Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I hope Michelle Chouinard keeps them coming.

If you love funny Cozy Mysteries, you need to check this series out!

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Review: A Very Bookish Murder (Ally McKinley Mystery #3) by Dee MacDonald

~ megs14malloy

A Very Bookish Murder (Ally McKinley Mystery #3)A Very Bookish Murder by Dee MacDonald
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Very Bookish Murder is the 3rd-book in the Ally McKinley Mystery series, which has quickly become one of my favorite, currently-running Cozy Mystery series.

These books, set in the Scottish Highlands, follow recent-retiree and widow, Ally McKinley, who fell in love with the village of Locharran while on a holiday. Shortly thereafter, she purchased the old malthouse and transformed it into a now successful B&B.

Ally has settled into her new life very well. She’s made many great friends, adopted a beautiful Labrador puppy, Flora, and has even found a charming new love interest.

Her quiet life in the Highlands is going better than she could’ve ever dreamed. Well, except for the fact that she keeps finding herself adjacent to suspicious deaths.

Silver lining: Ally has turned into quite the intrepid amateur sleuth. There’s no stopping her once she starts digging.

This mystery revolves around a group of women authors, who are all visiting Locharran to attend a Writers’ Retreat Workshop led by successful novelist, Jodi Jones. A few of the women, including Jodi herself, will be staying at Ally’s B&B, while the rest stay in the village at the local hotel.

The women who check themselves into Ally’s guest house are all pleased with the accommodations, and hospitality. They seem to take to her, and invite her to attend one of the very first sessions of the retreat, which is being held at the hotel, the Craigmonie.

Ally is certainly interested by all the goings-on, and is surprised to hear a few complaints lodged against the host, Jodi Jones. Jodi’s accused of stealing plots, and plagiarism, amongst other things, and then Ally finds the famous author strangled in the Ladies restroom.

The authorities, as well as Ally, believe that the culprit is most likely one of the other retreat attendees. Ally uses her past experience cracking cases to methodically work her way through the cast of suspects, discovering new evidence and plenty of potential motives along the way.

When another attendee is found murdered, hours after she told Ally she knew who the killer was, Ally is positive the murderer is close at hand. Will she be able to figure it out before they stop her snooping for good?

Another fun, fulfilling and engaging Ally McKinley Mystery book complete. Let the countdown begin for the next one. I can’t wait to see what mystery unfolds next.

As mentioned above, this has become one of my favorite Cozy Mystery series and I think a lot of that has to do with Ally. She’s a great protagonist. There’s something about her that’s just so thoughtful and comfortable. She’s like getting a nice warm hug from your Gran.

Additionally, the Scottish Highlands setting is a huge plus, as well as the quirky cast of characters and always intriguing mysteries. As soon as I finish one of these books, I want the next one in my hands.

I loved that this one revolved around this group of women writers. They were each unique and distinct, yet all of them could have had reason to get rid of Jodi, so there were plenty of red herrings swimming about.

There wasn’t as much focus in this one on the local characters, which I sort of missed, but there really wasn’t reason to be, because there were so many new characters in town for the retreat. With this being said, we still got Ally having interactions with her friends, like Hamish, her cleaner and other local business owners.

I have a feeling that perhaps the next mystery will be more village-focused. Either way, even if it’s not, I’ll be reading it, and I’m more than confident that I’ll be enjoying it.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Bookouture, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Dee MacDonald has a real gem on her hands with this series, and I hope there’s many more installments to come!

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Review: Artificial Wisdom by Thomas R. Weaver

~ megs14malloy

Artificial WisdomArtificial Wisdom by Thomas R. Weaver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars**

Artificial Wisdom is a near-future SciFi-Thriller set in the year 2050, a decade after millions of people in the Persian Gulf where killed by a unusual heatwave.

One of those killed on that terrible day was Marcus Tully’s wife, who was visiting family prior to giving birth to the couple’s first child. Back home in London, Tully, a well-known and successful investigative journalist, was devastated by her, and their unborn child’s, death.

Even all these years later, he is left with many unanswered questions and doubts. He seems one step closer to answers though after information he receives from a source indicates that the heatwave wasn’t actually a natural occurrence, but how is that possible?

With the world on the cusp of a ground-breaking election where they will elect a global leader for the first time, Tully finds himself swept along and up into all the political drama after someone he is closely-acquainted with is murdered.

Though it started out great, Artificial Wisdom was a bit of a mixed bag for me. It had moments where I was completely locked in; mostly those moments involving the murder mystery. Then other times I felt disconnected and wishing it would hurry up and get somewhere.

I did enjoy Weaver’s writing style, and found it easy to digest, however the plot moved too slowly for me and it was way too long.

With this being said, don’t take this as all doom and gloom. This did have a lot of positive aspects, and I know a lot of Readers are going to love it. The tech concepts and ideas for a potential future alone are worth picking it up for.

I would recommend it for SF-fans who enjoy a more literary type of story, set in a futuristic our world. There’s plenty of content here to sink your teeth into, and I actually think it could make a solid series. There’s definitely more to explore following where the author left off with this one.

At the end of the day, I felt this had great writing and strong SF-concepts, it just wasn’t a super good fit to my tastes.

Thank you to the publisher, Del Rey, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would definitely be interested in checking out more work from this author.

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Review: The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective by Jo Nichols

~ megs14malloy

The Marigold Cottages Murder CollectiveThe Marigold Cottages Murder Collective by Jo Nichols
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars**

With a story as fun and cozy as this cover, The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective gave me everything I was hoping for and then some. I did not expect to love this as much as I did, but I was pulled in and held so tightly.

The audiobook is a fabulous way to go with this one, as the dual narration of Meg Price and Jim Meskimen helped fuse humor and heart even more so into the story.

The comp to The Thursday Murder Club in the publisher’s synopsis is definitely apt, but whereas with those books, the main characters are all mostly elderly, this story features more of a range of ages and backgrounds.

I feel like their differences, firstly, make them easier to remember, but also made the dynamics among them so heart-warming, interesting and funny.

I adore the Thursday Murder Club series, don’t get me wrong, but I actually think it took me less time to learn this cast of characters and to fall in love with them. Sophie, Mrs. B, Ocean, and all the others, are just so darn lovable.

The mystery was also super compelling and I loved watching them all bumbling around trying to figure it out. They all wanted to protect one another, often with calamitous results.

It’s got a real wacky found family vibe, and the Southern California setting was also an enjoyable backdrop. Overall, I think this is such a fun and carefree Cozy Mystery that I’m definitely hoping will turn into a much longer series.

Thank you so much to the publishers, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I had a fabulous time with this!!

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Review: Mayhem at a Halloween Wedding (Halloween Bookshop Mystery #2) by Emmeline Duncan

~ megs14malloy

Mayhem at a Halloween Wedding (Halloween Bookshop Mystery, #2)Mayhem at a Halloween Wedding by Emmeline Duncan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mayhem at a Halloween Wedding is the 2nd-installment in Emmeline Duncan’s Cozy Halloween Bookshop Mystery series.

These books are set in the quaint town of Elyan Hollow, Oregon, where it’s Halloween 365-days a year. Our protagonist is Bailey Briggs, who has taken over her family’s well-loved local bookstore, Lazy Bones Books.

In this 2nd-book, Bailey’s college friend, Raven, has planned a Halloween-themed wedding for herself and her partner, and there’s no better place to pull off her signature spooky style than Elyan Hollow.

Bailey is committed to the hilt, both with being a bridesmaid in Raven’s wedding, and assisting with the prep for Elyan Hollow’s annual Halloween festival. She needs everything to go smoothly if she wants to save her sanity.

Sadly, it does not.

Fellow bridesmaids, Ivy and Harmony, who also happens to be the sister of the bride, are both absolute nightmares. Demanding and rude, these girls are pushing Bailey and her best friend, Colby, to their limits.

When Ivy is found dead mid-bachelorette party, as the women are attending the Halloween parade, Colby is immediately considered a suspect. The two had been witnessed in a few heated arguments prior to the murder.

Bailey knows that there is no way Colby would actually kill someone, but now she needs to prove it.

I had a lot of fun with this latest installment to the Halloween Bookshop Series. I love the small town vibes of this series, and the MC, Bailey, as well as her canine companion, Jack, are really growing on me.

It would be hard to beat a setting of a town where it’s always Halloween. That’s like literally my aesthetic. I read this one so quickly, in under 24-hours, because I was hooked into the wedding party drama.

It was honestly the most judgmental and negativity-fueled wedding weekend I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve been to a lot. Even I was getting stressed. I’m not sure how any of these women survived.

Ivy and Harmony were the pits, but they weren’t the only ones sus as heck. I loved trying to guess who had taken Ivy out, and whether or not it had been related to the wedding. I had no clue how anyone could have pulled it off.

The Halloween costumes everywhere added another layer to the confusion at the time the crime was committed, and I liked that unusual aspect.

Additionally, I do just want to note, IMHO, this 2nd-installment shows a lot of improvement over the 1st-book in writing and the mystery plotting itself. The 1st-book was good for me, but I did have some issues with it.

This one, I really didn’t have any issues. I was completely invested in the mystery and also, am enjoying the trajectory of Bailey’s character arc. I truly hope there’s another book. I’d love to see more of these mysteries.

Thank you to the publisher, Kensington Cozies, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would recommend this to any Cozy Mystery Reader who loves a small town atmosphere, as well Halloween!!

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Review: Matchmaking for Psychopaths by Tasha Coryell

~ megs14malloy

Matchmaking for PsychopathsMatchmaking for Psychopaths by Tasha Coryell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alexandra works for a small, woman-owned matchmaking company, and her area of specialty is with clients who fall somewhere along the psychopathy scale.

Her clients aren’t the murdery-type of psychopaths, though, that we might all think of. At least she doesn’t think so. They actually tend to be quite successful individuals, who are just as deserving as love as the next person.

But what happens when the matchmaker is barely holding her own love-life together?

Alexandra thought she had found love for herself, but boy, was she wrong. A fact she discovered on her birthday, when her boyfriend, Noah, and best friend, Molly, revealed that they were now an item, leaving Alex out in the cold.

Alex has suddenly lost the two people she was closest too in the world, but as the old adage goes, there are more fish in the sea, both in the romance sea and the friendship sea.

Alex soon has a potential love interest, as well as a potential new best friend, but instead of stabilizing things for her, circumstances continue to spiral after her ex disappears, and she fears he’s been murdered on her behalf.

Much like Coryell’s previous novel, Love Letters to a Serial Killer, this story succeeds in pushing boundaries, and potentially Readers outside their comfort zones.

It’s a fun and edgy blend of Romance, Mystery and Horror, all rolled into one tidy little package. I enjoyed getting to know our MC, Alexandra. She certainly contains multitudes.

As the story unfolds, it’s hard not to try to figure out what is actually going on, but Coryell reveals things in such a way, that I found it close to impossible to guess. Sure, I had various theories throughout, but I was never confident, because there were so many darkly-delicious possibilities.

I found the concept of Alexandra’s job super interesting, and it was fun reading about various situations occurring in her workplace. Additionally, Alex has a fascinating history that definitely added its own level of intrigue to the story.

Overall, this out of the box, genre-blending, Romantic Suspense story, full of murder and mayhem, definitely kept me on my toes. I loved trying to guess what was actually going on. The characters were intriguing, and the plot, just wacky enough to deliver pure entertainment!

Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’m looking forward to picking up more from Tasha Coryell!!

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