Death by the Finish Line

  In  this blog post, I reviewed Alexis Morgan’s Death by the Finish Line, the 5th installment in the Abby McCree cozy mystery series. This cozy mystery had excitement, danger, and twisted turns to keep you in suspense. It all started for Abby McCree, when she teamed up with Gil Pratt, a local biker, to coordinate the Snowberry Creek Founder’s Day Salmon Scoot race. Everything went smoothly until a dead body was found by the finish line. That’s when she called in the police to retrieve the body and later learned his name was identified as James DiSalvo. The main suspect was Gil’s brother Gary and arrested for his murder. But to help her friend prove his brother’s innocence, she did some shopping in Di Salvo’s background without sticking her head into it. To make things worse, his estranged daughter arrived on the scene and making a fuss about her father’s house. At this time, Abby’s uncertain about her feelings with her friend Tripp Blackston, who wanted to take their relationship to the next level. As Abby dug closer to the truth, danger lurked over her head and boomed ahead for her. When she thought she had figured it out, the real culprit revealed itself to her when she fought for her life to see justice service.

This intriguing cozy mystery had me hooked from the first page to keep on reading further.  I cared for Abby and how she’d gotten herself into another pickle. I loved how she cared about her family and the other residents in Snowberry Creek. I also have found Tripp ambitious to keep up with his studies in college and to help keep Abby out of trouble. Zeke was adorable and a true devoted pet by herself. The location of Snowberry Creek, Washington, was enchanted and charming to picture a small town in Northwestern Washington State with idyllic scenic settings by the river. The theme of the story is not to hold a grudge on someone when your anger is boiling hot.

This fascinating cozy will captivate you into a great mystery in one or two settings. I couldn’t find anything fault to nitpick on. I rated this book, four out of five stars for no reason. If you love great cozy capers to keep you in suspense with non-stop action, plenty of non-stop drama and a hint of romance, Death by the Finish Line is the book for you. This cozy is recommended for all mystery and cozy lovers who enjoy a good read to try out a new series and a new author to follow.

Organized for Homicide

  In this blog post, I reviewed Ritter Ames’s Organized for Homicide, the 2nd installment in the Organized Cozy Mystery series. This  captivating cozy mystery is a perfect light read. It all started for Kate McKenzie and her friend and business partner Meg Berman to help a family prepare to move across the country. As organizers in their moving business, nothing was all that it seems when they discovered a dead body. When the police came on the scene, they suspected Sydney Collier, the victim’s daughter, who had motive to kill her mother, Lila. Both Meg and Kate didn’t believe she had done it and wanted to prove her innocence while they also took care of their families at home. Together, when Kate had dug close to the truth of who had motive to do It and why, the more it brought her closer to danger with a startling ending.

This was an interesting cozy mystery to read in one or two sittings. I really liked how it had organization tips before every chapter, which is always a bonus. I cared for Kate on how she handled the situation with her two daughters, Sam and Suzy, and how she worked well with Meg on the business side. We do care about her as a business woman, a wife, and a caring mother, who has an instinct to find the truth to prove Sydney’s innocence to solve this crime. I really liked the small town of Hazelton, Vermont for the central locations—it’s picturesque with the scenic settings in the New England region. The theme of the story is jealousy might stand in your way of being successful.

I couldn’t find anything negative to say about it since this was a well-written mystery with well-rounded characters to care about and to root for. This was a compelling light read. I rate this book, three out of four stars, because it’s a terrific cozy series to sink your teeth into. This is recommended to all fans who love light cozies and mysteries of all sorts to add to your TBR list.  If you love intriguing cozies with non-stop action, plenty of dramatic suspense, and lots of intrigue to keep you guessing, Organized for Homicide is perfect for you.