The Killer Outdoors (A Southwest Exposure Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Indendently Published (October 5, 2020)

Synopsis

Welcome to Bushwhack, New Mexico: home to tourists, the great outdoors, and murder…

 

Tourist season has hit Bushwhack and Andie Sullivan–owner of Sullivan’s Adventure Company–is ready for her town to fill up with city slickers, snotty teens, and the dollars she needs to keep her business afloat after her messy divorce from Bucky Gunn–local celebrity rafting guide and Sullivan’s main competition. With all her guided tours booked, it finally seems lady luck is on her side.

But then Bucky is found dead. Not great.

And she’s the prime murder suspect. Double not great.

Being framed for murder sucks worse than a rabid chipmunk bite. Andie’s determined to clear her name, and this time her survival training skills won’t be used to fetch an ice pack. But how long can she stay one step ahead of a killer before she becomes the final victim?

Review

This shorter cozy packs a punch when it comes to characters and murder.

Andie Sullivan has taken over her father’s adventure shop after his passing but things aren’t great and to top it off she has to compete with her ex-husband’s adventure company and let’s just say he is quite an interesting person. When we meet him he continually refers to himself in the third person. Very odd. And then he has questionable motives when it comes to the house that they once shared even though Andie’s father helped her purchase it initially. But then he ends up dead and Andie is the primary suspect. She decides to take matters into her own hands to prove her innocence despite Sherrif Zac Mars wanting her to stay out of the situation. But does he want her to stay out because she is not on the police force or was it for something more? Like his interest in her?

Apparently, when something is suspicious, Andie’s nose itches and she seems to have a positive track record when it comes to helping solve crimes. Let’s just say her nose itches a lot in this book! She reminds Zac of this often much to his chagrin. But when it all boils down to is that she is a knack for putting clues together and uncovering secrets.

I was quite surprised when the murderer was revealed and the whole reason why things happened as they did. I shouldn’t have been shocked at the reveal because the cast of characters is limited, but for some reason, this character wasn’t on my radar.

There is a couple of potential love interests for Andie. There is the Park Ranger, Mike, and of course Zac. I think Andie resists against becoming involved with Zac because she watched him when they were younger (she is 5 years older than him) and he is her brother’s best friend. But only time will tell who will win out in the end.

This is the first book in the series but there are a lot of references to past crimes that Andie helped solved. I don’t think this is a spin-off series, so I was surprised at the number of references to the past when it wasn’t tied to another book.  But it does set up Andie’s ability to uncover clues and suspects.

This is a solid start to a new series and I’ll be interested in how the next books continue this story.  We give this 4 paws up.

About the Author

Hey Y’all,

I’m just a girl from Texas, minus the big hair…and oh, yeah, a horse. My crew consists of two kiddos, one which inherited my makeup addiction, and a husband still living out his garage band dreams, but in our closet next to my shoe collection.

I love to hang out with my readers, discussing books, recipes, and just everyday shenanigans. I got started in the romance community, which you might know a few of my books from there. Now, I’m all about the cozies…and the coffee. Yeah, can’t forget that.

I’d love for you to come join my reader group, Jodi’s Book Corner, or come like me on Facebook to discover my books. And chat. Naturally.

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