On today’s version of Mystery Monday, I am featuring Lynn Cahoon’s book Guidebook to Murder.  This is the first book in the Tourist Trap Mystery series AND I will have a guest post and a review of her second book, Mission to Murder a little later today (so check back!)

Synopsis

In the gentle coastal town of South Cove, California, all Jill Gardner wants is to keep her store–Coffee, Books, and More–open and running. So why is she caught up in the business of murder? When Jill’s elderly friend, Miss Emily, calls in a fit of pique, she already knows the city council is trying to force Emily to sell her dilapidated old house. But Emily’s gumption goes for naught when she dies unexpectedly and leaves the house to Jill–along with all of her problems. . .and her enemies. Convinced her friend was murdered, Jill is finding the list of suspects longer than the list of repairs needed on the house. But Jill is determined to uncover the culprit–especially if it gets her closer to South Cove’s finest, Detective Greg King. Problem is, the killer knows she’s on the case–and is determined to close the book on Jill permanently.

Review

This was an excellent first book in a new series. set in a small tourist town in CA, Jill runs a bookstore/coffeeshop and while having lived in the town 5 years is still considered a newbie. She befriended Miss Emily and when she finds her dead immediately suspects foul play. Of course she is right and there are a variety of suspects to choose from. Some of the characters are wacky, some are down to earth and some are just hunky!

And let’s not forget the character Sadie who makes wonderful pie! The words describing her pies made me feel like I could almost taste them.

This is a series to watch/read!

We give it 4 paws up.