A Reference to Murder

In Kym Roberts's A Reference to Murder, the second installment in the Book Barn Cozy mystery series, this newest edition is intriguing and compelling to keep you in suspense. While Charli Rae Warren worked in the family-run bookstore in Lone Rock, Texas, she's up to her eyebrows on a new case. It all started when the local rodeo competition comes to town and draw up a media attention. And one of the stars, Dalton Hibbs, is looking to ride in honor of his late brother Wyatt's memory, who had gone missing eight years before. While he had his eyes set on Scarlet, heads will turn and eyes will not roll. But suspicions stirred up trouble when people thought Dalton killed his brother. Before the competition, he strangely disappeared and later feared dead when Scarlet and Charli Rae find two dug graves along with his phone. But while they had a vigil for him, Charli winds up in a possible love triangle with Cade and Mateo--and maybe a rectangular when another local cowboy wants to date her. But as she looked for answers inside the bull-riding rodeo circuit, she ends up thrown over into the pen of a dangerous doped up bull, leaving her bruised all over. Before the competition, Dalton turns up alive and well--all for a publicity stunt no less. But then he's later charged of his brother's murder and from his agent's murder. Now's it up to Charli and Scarlet to find out who done it and why it was too late... and it's a life-and-death situation for Charli too.

This was another great installment in the Book Barn Cozy mystery series. I still loved that Charli's biracial and is beloved by everyone in her home town and loves books too. I also cared for her and how she wanted to protect Scarlet from being hurt and from getting to the heart of the matter, even if she put herself in harm's way. Though I did think she might be a little over her heard when she got hurt in the bull ring. I still think Princess the armadillo is a hoot for a family pet. The theme in this story is that doping can be dangerous to animals, just like it is for athletes to up their game.  And home is where the heart is when everyone loves a good book to read. I loved the small-town feel in Lone Rock Texas and how the community looks after each other. The rodeo scenes were lovely and the locations were mesmerizing for the settings too.

If you love an adventurous cozy with some bits of humors, a scoop of non-stop drama, a dollop of suspense, and plenty of action in every turned page, check out A Reference for Murder today!