Murder is a Dirty Business
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Soul Mate Publishing, LLC (November 15, 2017)
Print Length: 254 pages

Synopsis

When Cece Cavanaugh’s husband empties their joint bank account, steals her designer luggage, and runs off with a younger woman, Cece must decide whether to ask her manipulative mother-in-law for a handout or get a job. Choosing the easier path, Cece lands a job cleaning a crime scene where a high school coach was murdered. When his wife is implicated—a young woman Cece practically raised—Cece finds herself mopping floors, balancing an empty checkbook, and ferreting out a killer.

Amid all this messy business, Cece bumps heads with a handsome detective. She tries to ignore her growing attraction to the detective, but he gives new meaning to the term “hot flash.”

After she stumbles onto a clue that could vindicate her friend, her elation turns to panic when she haphazardly confronts the killer. Through the danger and romance, Cece discovers self-reliance and inner strength.

And that crime—at least, someone else’s—does pay the bills.

Review

This is a brand new cozy series and I think it is going to be a winner!

As the author’s website says, she writes books about women with class, sass, and a touch of kick-ass, and Murder is a Dirty Business and the main character, Cece Cavanaugh, definitely fit that description.  Cece finds out at the beginning of this story that her husband is leaving her for a younger woman.  To top it off, he has cleaned out the bank accounts and she has nothing to her name but a huge house that is six months behind on the mortgage payments.  She also has two daughters, one that is a spoiled brat, and the other is self-sufficient (thank goodness!), and a very controlling mother-in-law. But does Cece let any of this get her down?  Heck no!  She goes out and finds a job that will pay the bills.  Of course, it is a job that I probably wouldn’t want to do – clean up crime scenes.  But Cece finds that this is her niche, especially since she is a former nurse so if there is any blood it isn’t going to affect her too much.

There was so much that I enjoyed about this book: Cece’s character, the hunky detective, a mystery to solve and lots of humor.  But just so you don’t think that she is automatically going to find romance with the detective, there is a condo developer that has taken a shine to Cece too.  After all these years in a controlling marriage, she should get out there and play the field.  Cece finds herself pulled into a murder investigation since her daughter’s friend is being accused of murdering her husband.  Cece has known Karen many years and can’t believe this is possible.  Plus the body was found at a B&B where Karen, Jessie (her daughter) and another friend were staying for the night.  And wouldn’t you know that her new job has her at the B&B to clean up the scene, perfect for a little snooping to see what might have been missed by the police.

The mystery was well written and there are several suspects to choose from to be the killer.  However, the actual killer was quite a surprise because this character was not on my radar.  The reasoning made sense but sadly it was all for naught.  I don’t want to say too much and give away the ending.

The only thing I hope doesn’t happen is that Cece just signs the divorce papers presented to her because from what was mentioned, it was not in her favor and she needs to get what she can from Philip, if not for herself then for her sixteen year old daughter.  Hopefully, her friend, Angie, will keep her from doing anything rash.  Angie is definitely the friend we all need!

We give this book 4 1/2 paws and highly recommend it to you the next time you are looking for empowering to read.

About the Author

Tricia L. Sanders writes about women with class, sass, and a touch of kickass.  A former instructional designer and corporate trainer, she traded in curriculum writing for novel writing, because she hates bullet points and loves to make stuff up. And fiction is more fun than training guides and lesson plans.

When she isn’t writing, Tricia is busy crossing dreams off her bucket list. With all 50 states checked, she’s concentrating on foreign interests. She’s an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, so don’t get between her and the television when a game is on. Currently, she is working on a mystery series set in the fictional town of Wickford, Missouri. Another project in the works is a women’s fiction road trip adventure.

Her essays have appeared in Sasee, ByLine, The Cuivre River Anthology and Great American Outhouse Stories; The Whole Truth and Nothing Butt. She is a proud member of The Lit Ladies, six women writing their truths into fiction.

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