Review – Finders, Not Keepers by D. E. Haggerty @dehaggerty #4paws #cozy #mystery
Book title: Finders, Not Keepers
Book Series: Book #1 of The Not So Reluctant Detective Series, can be read as a standalone
Genre: Mystery, Romance, Humor
Published: August 20, 2018
Synopsis
What do you do with a diamond no one wants? You can’t keep it. Or can you?
While cleaning her ex-husband’s effects out of the attic, Terri finds an exquisite diamond pendant necklace. She’s determined to return the necklace to its proper owner, but the owner was brutally killed, a murder which remains unsolved, and her heirs want nothing to do with the diamond. Terri embarks upon a journey researching charities to which she can donate the diamond. When her research becomes dangerous, Terri contemplates solving the murder herself. Her best friend, Melanie, jumps feet first into investigating the murder, but her neighbor, Ryder, doesn’t want Terri exposed to any danger. Ryder, to Terri’s surprise, also wants to be more than neighbors with Terri. Luckily, he’s prepared to take any measure necessary to keep her safe because someone is determined to stop her inquiries.
Join Terri on her quest to find a home for the diamond, which may result in the unveiling of a murderer – if she survives long enough.
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Review
If I had been in Terri’s position and found a diamond necklace, I’m not so sure I would be willing to give it up or search for the owner. Especially if I found it in my attic!
I am hoping that this is going to be a new series because the interaction between Terri, Ryder, and Melanie is engaging and comical at times. Terri is in her early 40’s and Ryder is in his 30’s somewhere, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting Terri or from acting like a “caveman” wanting her to stay out of harm’s way. I understood Terri’s frustrations about being told to not do one thing or another. She is a grown woman after all! But learning more about Ryder’s background (the important nugget comes near the end of the book) created a better understanding of his viewpoint. Melanie is a bit of a wild child and doesn’t think about the consequences of her actions. But she is a good offset for Terri who is very much a “follow the rules” kind of gal.
The mystery itself was well written and none of the clues were obvious in assisting me in solving the crime of who killed Jessica. I liked how the victim was woven into Terri’s life in multiple ways and I even felt sympathy for the Collins’ family because of the way their children acted about what Jessica left behind. You see it too often, someone dies and all people see is dollar signs and greed is rampant.
I can see future books with Terri, Ryder, and Melanie so I hope that there are more to come!
We give it 4 paws up.
Excerpt
“How are we going to solve the murder if we don’t even know where it happened?”
“We are not solving the murder! How many times do I have to explain myself? I’m only trying to honor Jessica’s last wishes by finding somewhere to donate the necklace in her memory.”
“We are totally solving this murder.”
“Did you not read the part where she was shot to death! And the police have no fricking idea what happened?”
Melanie shrugged as if she knew people who were shot to death all the time. “We’ll be fine.”
“We? We are not doing anything. I’m the one who is doing this. We are not doing anything.”
“Fine. Fine. So, Ms. Patterson, what are you going to do next, hmm?” She raised an eyebrow, crossed her arms over her chest, and leaned back in her chair.
“I’m not sure.” Terri tapped her fingers on the table. There was a long pause before she suddenly sat up straight. “Where did the obit say donations were to be sent?”
Melanie pulled the obit up on her tablet. “Westside Soup Kitchen.”
“That’s it!” She snapped her fingers. “I’ve volunteered at that soup kitchen several times. I’ll just go check it out. See if they are a good candidate for receiving the necklace.”
“You volunteered at the same soup kitchen as Jessica? Maybe you met her and don’t remember?”
“No.” Terri shook her head. “I saw a picture of her at the Collins’ house. There’s no way I would have forgotten meeting her.”
“Maybe some of the other volunteers or even the homeless people will remember Jessica. You could ask them about her.”
“Stop trying to solve the murder!”
Melanie readily agreed she wouldn’t get involved in investigating the murder, but Terri knew better than to believe her.
About the Author
I grew up reading everything I could get my grubby hands on, from my mom’s Harlequin romances to Nancy Drew, to Little Women. When I wasn’t flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic after returning to the law. But practicing law really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out running a B&B wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript languishing in the attic before following the husband to Istanbul where I decided to give the whole writer-thing a go. But ten years was too many to stay away from my adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.
Finders, Not Keepers is my thirteenth novel.
D.E. Haggerty
Thanks for taking the time to read and review Finders, Not Keepers! I’m glad you enjoyed it. PS I’m working on Mel’s book right now. And there is one more book planned after that.