#cozymystery – Page 2 – Rosepoint Publishing

Two of a Kind: The Beginning by Gail Meath #BookReview #HolidayFiction

Jax Diamond Mysteries Book 4

Book Blurb:

It would take a pint-sized miracle to save this Christmas holiday. A prequel novella.

December, New York City, 1923
Officer Jax Diamond doesn’t always play by the rules, and he’s in the hot seat again with the captain of his precinct. So, when a brazen little puppy alerts him of a crime, Jax is ordered to stand down or get canned.

On the city streets, broke and alone, Jax beats himself up for not following his own instincts and saving a boy’s life. Even the little tramp who keeps trailing him everywhere can’t lift his spirits. But crime never stops in New York City and a string of deadly Christmas capers spirals out of control.

The city’s only hope is Jax and his new pint-sized partner who team up to save the Christmas holidays during the Roaring Twenties.

My Review:

I love it when a historical novel captures not only the atmosphere but the vernacular of the period—in this case, the Roaring Twenties. Even though it is Book 4 of the series, this novella is issued as a prequel to establish the introduction of the puppy Ace as the canine partner of Jax. See that cover? Can you not just love that face?

So, yes, I was drawn in, always looking for a good book with a dog involved and a PI in New York nearing Christmas checks the boxes. It doesn’t take long to be there in the midst of the action, which begins almost immediately.

The German Shepherd will have your heart thinking a 120 lb dog might just be the right companion for you—well—I thought the same of the series in which a Belgian Malinois is featured until I read a profile of the latter (lighter weight, faster, more agile). (But no, thinking I’ll stick to the under 15 lb breeds.) Jax is clever, caring, relatable, and multi-talented. Jax and Ace make an effective, engaging team.

There are skillful twists and turns and the Christmas season permeates throughout with the well-plotted narrative focusing on seasonal criminal activities. Fast and easy to read.

I previously read Book 1 of the series, Songbird, and was taken with the period and the characters. Definitely an engaging series and nice that each can be read as a standalone. I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Holiday Fiction, Traditional Detective Mysteries, Cozy Animal Mystery
Publisher: Cranberry Pond Publishing
ASIN: B0BC981875
Print Length: 112 pages
Publication Date: November 25, 2022
Source: Publisher and NetGalley
Title Link: Two of a Kind [Amazon]

The Author: Gail Meath is the author of the multi-award winning Jax Diamond Mysteries, the fun series about of a wise-cracking PI, his sweet German Shepherd partner, Ace, and his Broadway singing heartthrob, Laura, as they solve crazy crimes during the Roaring Twenties. She’s currently working on the first book in her exciting new 1930s mystery series, Stone & Steele Mysteries, takes place during the glamorous Golden Age of Hollywood. As always, she blends the most loveable characters with a good, solid mystery.

Gail also has a growing list of other award-winning historical romances, mysteries, westerns, and fictional biographies of true heroines. She lives in a small village in Upstate New York with her husband and their sweet, little Boston Terrier, and she spends loads of time with her grandchildren.

Loggin' off

Game Over at Guild Hall by Amy Patricia Meade – #BookReview – #TuesdayBookBlog

Pret’ Near Perfect Mystery #3

A Vermont Country Living Mystery Book 3

Book Blurb:

In rural Vermont, where hunting and trapping are a way of life, nothing is bigger than the annual wild game supper at Guild Hall. Stella can’t wait to sample the exotic dishes prepared by her neighbors, but when the longtime organizer of the supper falls dead, a victim of poisoning, Stella’s appetite—along with a roomful of suspects—vanishes. Then that same night someone ransacks the hall’s kitchen, presumably to destroy any evidence, and spots Stella snooping. Now she fears she may be the next target.

Certain the only way to save herself is to find the culprit, Stella digs into the victim’s life hoping to discover who might have wanted him dead. It turns out he’d made countless enemies over the years, as volunteers at the event were run ragged and hunters who wanted their food included were shunned. What’s more, Stella discovers the victim had unearthed a shameful and long-buried secret at the hall itself. With the list of possible suspects growing and her life in danger, Stella zeroes in on a clue that could break the case wide open—as long as she can stay out of the killer’s crosshairs . . .

My Review:

Yes, it’s a cozy mystery and one that I volunteered to read as it coincides with the season—also I loved that adorable and irresistible cover!

Set in the countryside of Vermont, the descriptions of the area are compelling, particularly in the fall when autumn colors turn breathtaking and the air becomes crisp with cooling winds and drying leaves.

“…I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…but if that runs out, I’ll drink the red.”

This storyline revolves around hunting—something the CE did for years (though not in Vermont). That aspect was also interesting for me with quick sketches of the various wild game the people in Vermont are open to hunt.

So it wasn’t so far-fetched that one of the activities of a small Vermont mountain town following the end of the tourist season would host a big annual wild game dinner. The problem is the event organizer who is poisoned about halfway into a three-seating dinner. Apparently, there were as many who loved the dinner as those who thought it had run its course.

The protagonist, Stella (and her Forest Service hubby Nick) manages to get into the middle of the mystery as with her keen eye for detail, she reveals several to the local law enforcement who (shockingly) welcomes her input. (Yes, it’s a cozy mystery and that would be different as well as the fact that she is happily married. For those who appreciate that…no romance distractions.)

Lots of suspects, per cozy mystery standards, small-town secrets, and loads of diverse characters.

It’s a fun, fast little romp into the charm of the local history, people, and activities of the area. The narrative is well-paced and the characters right out of rural America (although I must say I’m shocked they could legally offer road kill dishes). I loved the dog (of course I would).

Might be Book 3, but I think the way this reads would not be a problem to come in at this point and enjoy as a standalone. The narrative manages to veer fairly off-track with a motive you’d never have expected, much less the perp. Yes, it’s a gotcha! You can’t say it isn’t entertaining and if you enjoy cozies, especially a slightly unusual one (keeping your disbelief in check), you’ll enjoy this one.

I’d forgotten the unique writing style of this author. I read The Garden Club Murder for a blog tour back in 2019 and enjoyed it–a Tish Tarragon Mystery. (Of course I did–it had a Bichon on the cover.)

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Culinary Mystery, Cozy Culinary Mysteries
Publisher: Beyond the Page
ASIN: B0CLQ718G1
Print Length: 265 pages
Publication Date: November 14, 2023
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Author of the critically acclaimed Marjorie McClelland Mysteries, Amy Patricia Meade is a native of Long Island, NY where she cut her teeth on classic films and books featuring Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown.

After stints as an Operations Manager for a document imaging company and a freelance technical writer, Amy left the bright lights of New York city and headed north to pursue her creative writing career amidst the idyllic beauty of Vermont’s Green Mountains.

Now residing in Bristol, England Amy spends her time writing mysteries with a humorous or historical bent. When not writing – which is rare these days – Amy enjoys traveling, testing out new recipes, classic films, and exploring her new home.

Amy is a member of Sisters in Crime and The Crime Writers Association.

Christmas bough

Rosepoint Reviews – November Recap – Welcome Holly Jolly Season!

Rosepoint Reviews - November Recap

The snow on Halloween this year was a wake-up call that summer is over, fall is flirting with winter, and the holiday season isn’t far behind. I have always enjoyed the holiday season, particularly when our kids were little and we were able to see the excitement and enjoy the anticipation all over again through their eyes; too soon grown and the responsibilities of adulthood overshadow those innocent years.

The shift, of course, happens now from reading, reviewing, and blogging to Christmas lists, wrapping, delivering, decorating, cards (yes, I still snail mail), menu items, grocery shopping and food prep. I used to do a lot of baking and made large Christmas trays for those close, both relatives and co-workers. Not anymore. Do you still bake?

Thankfully, Punkin the Pom is bonding well to the CE. He still can’t pick her up though is getting her to follow him out on the secured deck and she is about 50/50 doing her bathroom duties outside. That’s a big one and yesterday he got a harness on her! Still running at the sight of a leash, but we continue to hope we’ll eventually be able to get her out on walks and have her totally housebroken.

Between visits to the local vet with Punkin and the transition to holiday mentality, we did manage to read and review eighteen books in November—because one post included seven short synopses of audiobooks backlogged for review, including one Christmas-themed audiobook. Looking now to line up a couple more at least for the season but perhaps not in a cozy mystery genre. (And as always, links below are to reviews that include purchase or source info.)

November Recap

Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh (audiobook)
Cruel Lessons by Randy Overbeck (CE review)
Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney
The Stolen Coast by Dwyer Murphy (audiobook)
More Than a Hashtag by Penny Poulsen (5* CE review)
The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen (5* review)
The Lost Van Gogh by Jonathan Santlofer (CE review)
Invisible No More by Scott Pitoniak and Rick Burton (5* CE review)
Blue Ridge by Peter Malone
Trans-Mongolian Express by David L Robbins (CE review)
Mission Churchill by Alex Abella (CE review)

I also posted a group audiobook review, catching up on all those backlogged reviews—a number that surprised me when I added them up.

Audiobooks! Listen, Not Read, the Most Recent #NYTimesBestseller – included in the post are:

Favorite Book of the Month

The CE turned in two five-star reviews and I also had two, though once again, my vote wins: The Crossing: Harry Bosch, Book 18 by Michael Connelly also an Amazon Editors’ pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense. Pretty hard to compete against two of the most widely accepted bows to excellence, his Bosch series combined with contribution by Mickey Haller. The whole thing is neatly wrapped by TV’s Bosch Titus Welliver.

Book of the Month for November—The Crossing

My Reading Challenges page… I have 141 books of a goal of 145 in Goodreads (at this point two books ahead of schedule) and at a 98% feedback ratio in NetGalley. My Reading Challenges page is suffering from neglect–again.

I never stop appreciating those who read and comment, and as always, welcome my new subscribers!

Death by Cutting Table by Susie Black – #BookReview – #TuesdayBookBlog

Holly Swimsuit Mystery Book 4

“This fairytale happens when? The second Tuesday of next week.”

Book Blurb:

Mermaid Swimwear CEO Butch Oldham was an equal opportunity scoundrel who screwed anyone and everyone in his wake. So, the question wasn’t who wanted the bastard dead. The question was, who didn’t?
After Mermaid sales exec Holly Schlivnik finds colleague Queenie Levine standing over Oldham’s battered corpse nailed to a fabric cutting table with a pair of cutting shears plunged deep into his chest, the cops soon recover Queenie’s hidden blood-soaked sweater, discover her stormy relationship with the victim, and her public threats to make Butch pay for destroying Mermaid by stealing it blind.
When Queenie is arrested for Butch’s murder, Holly jumps into action to flesh out the real killer. But the trail has more twists and turns than a slinky, and nothing turns out the way the wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth thinks it will as she tangles with a clever killer hellbent for revenge.

My Review:

What you say? The old girl is reading a cozy mystery? Yes, and I was craftily coerced by glimpsing the cover. Whoever came up with that one deserves a percentage of sales.

The unlikely protagonist is Holly Schlivnik, a houseboat resident, dog owner, and high-level executive of private label division of Mermaid Swimwear—in LA (of all places). Bucks all the normal trope background, except maybe that she owns a canine companion Sigmund (Siggie) who artfully answers all her questions with the appropriate woof.

Mermaid Swimwear CEO Butch Oldham has gotten his just desserts by being offed and pinned to a cutting table; spread-eagled like his butterfly collections. I won’t go into detail regarding further forensics; suffice to say you can’t unsee that one.

Of course, for me, it’s the snarky sense of humor that provides the hook and after that I’m lost—must finish the book and it’s a good one. Well-plotted and paced, the characters are way too much fun (including the Yentas), beginning with co-worker, Queenie Levine, who is accused of the crime. Well, you can’t ignore that one—no way Queenie would have done it—ample motive or not. How many others had a good motive? Lots! Good her bestie Assistant Medical Examiner Sophia Cutler MD (known as Snip) can be called on as Holly has Detective Josiah Jones to maneuver.

I ate it up. And loved most of it! Dialogue is a hoot, the writing style keeps you glued. Loved the characters with the exception of the possible romantic triangle (although it was resolved well).

“Two men frantic over the thought of losing me? Guess neither one got the memo. You can’t lose what you don’t have.”

I have to protest the number of times Nancy Drew is referenced and the conversations with both Detective Jones and Captain Alvarez—I can’t imagine speaking to high-ranking officers like that without receiving a stern warning immediately.

“You want me to quit interfering? Arrest the right suspects.”

Overall, however, the sense of humor was fun, the narrative gripping, and the romp through the investigation highly engaging and entertaining. Will definitely be looking for another in the series. Highly recommended.

I received a gratis copy of this book from the author that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Amateur Sleuths, Cozy Mysteries
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
ASIN: B0C62HRJXM
Print Length: 202 pages
Publication Date: August 2, 2023
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Susie Black biography

Named best US author of the year by N. N. Light Book Heaven, award-winning cozy mystery author Susie Black was born in the Big Apple but now calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries.

She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect.

Looking for more? Reach her at mysteries_@authorsusieblack.com

#TuesdayBookBlog

Happy Halloween!!

Rosepoint Reviews – September Recap – Welcome October Autumn

Rosepoint Reviews - September Recap

Yes, September brought our long-awaited East Coast trip! While I did get some reviews scheduled, I relied on my little tablet and the “stick” to which I’d downloaded the activity for the month. Unfortunately, it didn’t work although I’d tried, tested, and thought I had it before we left.

Lincoln Memorial - DC — Lincoln Memorial

Our timing landed us in DC during their record-setting heat wave where walking the National Mall was a major test of the constitution of the physical kind. We planned to hit Philly, New York, Boston, Bar Harbor (my personal designation), Nova Scotia (the CE’s personal designation), Montreal (Canada), and Toronto (Canada). Hurricane Lee knocked Bar Harbor out, however, and we diverted to Plattsburgh IL, and a ferry ride—thence a quick and easy cross at the border into Canada.

Scaddabush Front Street Italian Restaurant, Toronto, Canada — Scaddabush Front Street Italian Restaurant in Toronto. So good we went back a second time.

We did experience a major downpour but nothing like New York just experienced with flooded subways. Our son did all the driving, the scenery was beautiful—much of it looked like home actually—except for the majestic skylines of the massive cities. My personal daily walking goal is 3,500 steps. Walking those cities achieved more than 21k steps one day, my equivalent of…10 miles? And there was always a lot of walking! Do you use a FitBit or equivalent; chronicle your steps? You’d think with all that walking I’d have shed some pounds. Nope. One—it was just one.

I mentioned last month our puppy adoption failure. Even with a lot of steps, could not keep up with a puppy. Still, back home and missing a dog’s joyous grin when we return home and a little couch buddy. I shouldn’t, but can’t help looking for an adult rescue.

If I was looking for some downtime, walking miles every day for almost three weeks wasn’t it, nor the backlog faced when we returned. Still trying to play catch up.

So a slow reading month—we read (or listened to) twelve books in September. These are still predominately from NetGalley, but more now from a variety of sources as we search for good, easy reading. (As always, links below are to my reviews that include purchase info.)

September Recap

The Dog Stars by Peter Heller (CE review)
Dying for a Daiquiri by Cindy Sample
A Superior Death by Nevada Barr (audiobook)
The Woman with a Purple Heart by Diane Hanks (5* CE review)
That Others May Live by Sara Driscoll (5* CE review)
Three Wise Men by Lou Bavou (CE review)
The Sorrowful Girl by Keenan Powell (5* CE review)
Tangled Webs by Maria McDonald
A Beautiful Ferocity by Jean Grainger (5* review)
One Last Kill by Robert Dugoni (5* CE review)
The Women by Kristin Hannah (5* review)
The Storyteller’s Death by Ann Dávila Cardinal

These included historical fiction, literary fiction, cozy mystery, and paranormal.

Favorite Book of the Month

Sorry, not sorry, but there is no contest here. Hands down, this month’s favorite (and will likely be the favorite of the year is The Women. Okay, you might accuse me of prejudice because we lived through that time—spent in nearby support—and heard that protest music echo in my head as I read. But I’d argue that the well-developed main character nailed the reality of the time—and perhaps could be applied to the present as well. Not due to release until February of 2024; I’d urge you to put it on your must-read list.

Book of the Month for September—The Women by Kristin Hannah.

My Reading Challenges page… I have 110 books of a goal of 145 in Goodreads (at this point one book ahead of schedule) and still riding at a 97% feedback ratio in NetGalley. Haven’t even looked at the Reading Challenges page. Soon…

Autumn is making herself known in crisp morning temps, changes of weather from erratic warm to very cool and back again. (In our neck of the woods, 80 will plummet 20 degrees shortly.) I do enjoy leaf peeping and did see the start of it on our trip. For me, though, it’s a harbinger of winter and I’m not a fan. As pretty as those northern states were, I couldn’t help but visualize and feel the snow and cold. I’ll proudly wear my Toronto sweatshirt, but I’ll be glad I’m no longer there.

Welcome, as always, to my new subscribers. I always appreciate those who read and comment.

Rosepoint Reviews – July Recap – Wild Weather and Scorching Temps

Rosepoint Reviews - July Recap

July in the upper Midwest is a volatile month with sudden, violent thunderstorms or tornadoes or highs in the low seventies with a cool breeze. You can’t accuse the area of boring weather. Still, I shouldn’t be grousing as with the sudden drenching rains and warm to hot days, the lawn has gone nuts—you can almost literally watch grass grow here—and my garden is loving it. Well, my sugar snap peas didn’t love it so much.

Late start with the garden, slow spring, and just now beginning to get some tomatoes trying to ripen. The baby deer are beginning to venture out—still have their spots. They look sweet until they get into my garden—squash being the current favorite. The CE is happy about that though.
Fawns with spots

We are trying to get in some steps, got the bikes all pumped up—and walking or riding any semi-cool mornings we can get. Still we managed fourteen books in July. These are mostly from NetGalley and also my local library with both audiobooks and digital. (As always, links below are to my reviews that include purchase info.)

Rosepoint Reviews - July Recap
Drowning in the Desert by Bernard Schopen (CE review)
The Night We Burned by S F Kosa
The Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda (audiobook)
Splinter by Paul McHugh (CE review)
Trotting Into Trouble by Amber Camp
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix (audiobook)
The Last Ranger by Peter Heller (CE review)
Home at Night by Paula Munier
The Wrong Victim by Allison Brennan (audiobook)
Night Owl by Andrew Mayne (CE review)
Some of Us Are Looking by Carlene O’Connor
Unwrapped by Lynda McDaniel
All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers (audiobook)
The Cove by Gregg Dunnett (CE review)

These included historical fiction, literary fiction, psychological fiction, cozy mysteries, and thrillers.

Favorite Book of the Month

I was gifted two ARCs from favorite authors in July, one being Unwrapped by Lynda McDaniel and the other, Some of Us Are Looking by Carlene O’Connor, both of which earned my five stars. I really like that slightly darker turn in Ms O’Connor’s Irish mysteries and Unwrapped proved to have a sweet Hallmark type of ending–timed perfectly for the Christmas season. The CE also had a couple he particularly enjoyed, one for the sense of humor (The Last Ranger) and another because of that totally off-the-wall wallop of a surprise ending (The Cove). There were several others hovering in the 4.5 star range for both of us–it was one of those great reading months. But in the end, I’ll have to go with–

Book of the Month for July—Unwrapped.

My Reading Challenges page… I have 88 books of a goal of 145 in Goodreads (one book ahead of schedule) and still riding at a 97% feedback ratio in NetGalley. As always, I’m struggling to keep up with the rest. *Sigh* Maybe after the summer months…

First the death of the Instagram feed—then Musk messed with Twitter—and there went that feed. I’d boycott that stupid “X” but need to Twitter away my reviews. Is anyone getting around this (other than adding another job to the post) so they can show both feeds on their blog? All I’ve got now are the blank spaces where those feeds used to show up in my right column. Any suggestions, help, or ideas? I’d welcome them all!

Welcome to my new subscribers and thank you, as always, to those who read and comment. I love hearing from you!

k-luv-u-bye

Rosepoint Reviews – May Recap – Early Taste of Summer!

Rosepoint Reviews - May Recap

May presented us with an unintended two-week break from the blog. While we were planning our trip to Texas, I had scheduled ahead as much as I could and took my old laptop to fill in spots I normally posted. Last time I used the laptop, it was extremely slow, huffing and puffing, sounding like it was preparing for take-off. I guess it did as I was not able to get into the administration of the blog.

Luckenbach TX We met up with our old Navy buddies of 54 years, first in Hot Springs, Arkansas, then to their home in the upper eastern part of Texas, portions known as “the Hill country.” OMG, so beautiful! Not the Texas of my memory at all. Green hills, monster oaks hundreds of years old, wildflowers everywhere. And so much to see and do! Fantastic hosts, Ted and Kitra packed in a full schedule and we enjoyed great food and in Luckenbach, a downhome country band. So much fun! (We missed Waylon and Willie though.)

May then obviously took a hit with reading and reviewing only ten books. (As always, links below are to my reviews that include purchase info.)

Rosepoint Publishing May Reviews

Closer by Sea by Peter Chafe (CE review)
Snapshot by Don Keith and George Wallace (CE review)
When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi
Washington by Ron Chernow (audiobook)
Hidden Beneath by Barbara Ross
North of Nowhere by Allison Brennan (CE review)
Flop Dead Gorgeous by David Rosenfelt
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn (audiobook)
A Line in the Sand by Kevin Powers (CE review)
Lock ‘N’ Load by Tee O’Fannon

These included historical fiction, cozy mystery, literary fiction, and (gasp!) romantic suspense! Sayyy what?!

Favorite Book of the Month

While I greatly enjoyed Flop Dead Gorgeous (the author always a favorite) and I gave it five stars partly owing to the surprise in conclusion, we’ll have to give Snapshot, a CE review the nod for May.

Book of the Month for May—Snapshot.

Blogger Post

I did little blog-hopping in May but always appreciate the thoughtful and varied posts of Carla at Carla Loves to Read. I thoroughly enjoy her reviews, meme posts, and am dazzled by her signature graphics. If you haven’t found her yet, now is the time.

My Reading Challenges page… I have 60 books of a goal of 145 in Goodreads (one book ahead of schedule) and holding a 98% feedback ratio in NetGalley. Behind on the others again but hope to have the page and challenges caught up shortly.

With the crash of a laptop used only for out-of-town trips now, I began a search for a cheap replacement, and after seeing Kitra’s Kindle Fire (she also reads—a LOT) and the extent of its capabilities, I began thinking in terms of a tablet. During our motorcycling years, we learned to travel with just a trunk and saddlebags that fit on the back of the bikes. We have traditionally traveled light. I needed something light.

I looked at laptops, the size, and the price. Goodness! Then the tablets: I liked the size, the weight, and the price. However, they just won’t do Photoshop—hoping I can get by with Canva. Also, having old equipment and old versions of Word—which I paid for years ago and have managed to use in successive PC’s, have now discovered it’s subscription only—except for those tablets 10.1” and below.

It’s been a bear figuring out how to get the tablet, an Android (Samsung) set up to my liking. I need a class for this! I finally figured out how to get Office Word on it. But it won’t open a document without asking for an upgrade to Office 365—the subscription. Has anyone tried to download and use a free version of Word on a tablet?

The year is going too fast! Welcome to new subscribers and thank you, as always, to those who read and comment. I love hearing from you!

Flop Dead Gorgeous by David Rosenfelt – #BookReview – #TuesdayBookBlog

An Andy Carpenter Mystery Book 27

in Animal Fiction

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

Lights, camera, action in bestselling author David Rosenfelt’s Flop Dead Gorgeous, as Andy Carpenter goes bicoastal to prove an old friend’s innocence.

Retired lawyer Andy Carpenter remembers every dog that’s come through the Tara Foundation’s doors, but the most well-known alum of the dog rescue organization that Andy founded in Paterson, New Jersey, may be Mamie. Adopted by famous actress Jenny Nichols—Andy’s high school girlfriend—the miniature French poodle is now practically a starlet in her own right.

Andy doesn’t hold it against his friend. In fact, he and his wife, Laurie, have dinner with Jenny while she’s in town filming her next big hit. But after an eventful meal, there’s a plot twist the next morning that none of them see coming: Jenny’s costar is found dead, a knife in his back. It’s not long before Jenny is arrested for the murder and finds herself in need of Andy’s legal services.

While Mamie becomes reacquainted with Tara, Andy’s golden retriever, Andy digs into the lives of the rich and famous.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.

My Review:

Attorney Andy Carpenter is very wealthy and retired. Or at least he’s worked very hard at retiring, but it seems something always comes up that touches him personally and he has to, absolutely must, be involved in their defense.

This time, though, it really is personal, as the accused is an old high school flame, now a well-known movie star, Jenny Nichols. When back in Paterson, she adopted a mini-poodle from Andy’s Tara Foundation. So don’t you know he has an investment in seeing her found not guilty.

Andy has an amazing team, including his wife, an ex-cop and her K-Team which includes Corey and his retired police dog Simon Garfunkel. There are others, of course, including Marcus Clark, who is far more vocal this time than in previous installments. All work beautifully to round out an all-star cast of characters you come to know and love.

Now comes all the grunt work, meetings, assignments, and investigation. If Jenny didn’t do it, who did? Each well-developed character gets to shine, including the dogs—and we do love the dogs!

Andy is full of his snarky sense of humor as they weave through threads, twists, and misdirections.

These stories aren’t simple, they develop layers not always initially satisfied. I was surprised at the courtroom outcome this time. I don’t ever remember such a development before but remind you that these stories are all different. Author Rosenfelt always presents a new wrinkle.

Remarkable this is Book #27 and can still be fresh and unique. I’ve read or listened to most of this series and often fall back on an audiobook I might have missed, including my last Holy Chow. I love the banter, the investigation, and the courtroom footwork. This is one of my favorite series and I must assume yours as well. If not—check it out!

I received a complimentary review copy of this uncorrected digital galley from the publisher and NetGalley. Thank you, thank you! These are my honest thoughts and, as usual, looking for the next installment.

Book Details:

Genre: Animal Fiction, Traditional Detective Mysteries
Publisher: Minotaur Books
ASIN: B0B9KV1T2L
Print Length: 272 pages
Publication Date: July 4, 2023
Source: Publisher and NetGalley
Title Link: Flop Dead Gorgeous [Amazon]
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

The Author: David Rosenfelt, a native of Paterson, New Jersey, is a graduate of NYU. He was the former marketing president for Tri-Star Pictures before becoming a writer of novels and screenplays. “Open And Shut” was his first novel; “First Degree,” his second novel, was named a best book of 2003 by Publishers Weekly. He currently lives in Southern California with his wife and 35 dogs.