Back to the Burgh and Beyond (The Owl’s Nest Mysteries)

by C.S. McDonald

Publisher: McWriter Books

Release date: Sep 10, 2020

Synopsis

Meet Alexa Owl. She’s returned home to Pittsburgh after a divorce to start a new life and a new business, The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe. Much to her surprise, she’s getting more than she ever bargained for: Detective Bobby Starr, and he’s no ordinary sleuth. Bobby is an angel who’s returned to Earth in hopes of earning his way into the Guardian Angel Squad. He’s been sent by none other than Saint Pete to acquire Alexa’s help to solve three cold case murders he left behind. Except, here’s the catch: he’s only been allotted four days to solve the first case! How in heaven’s name is she supposed to do that? Alexa is a professional seamstress—not a detective. Bobby insists the only way to solve the first case is to return to 1953, and Alexa’s not in love with that idea at all!

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Review

I had such a good time reading this first book in a new series….or at least I hope it will be a series! It combines mystery, humor, paranormal, and time travel all in one book.

Alexa Owl, freshly divorced, is back in her hometown to start her couturier business. What she doesn’t expect is to have a ghost and a ghost cat arrive on the scene and demand her help in solving a very old mystery. But the unique part is how she helps solve the crime, she is transported back to 1953 yet a copy of herself remains to take care of business. Thankfully, she has some new help that covers for her if she seems a bit off in the present.

As I read the book and tried to solve the mystery, the author does a tremendous job of throwing several red herrings into the mix and while you might think you know the answer, the truth will probably surprise you. I thought I had it all solved and tied up in a red bow and then had to undo that bow and find another suspect.

I think my favorite character is going to be Winnie. When she was a child, she lived in the building that Alexa now owns. She is quite the spitfire and I love that she enjoys baking and using alcohol in all of her recipes.

There is a bit of potential romance between Alexa and a classmate, Cliff.  There is a rocky start and only future books will tell us if this progresses or not.

We give this book 5 paws up and if you are a cozy fan, definitely check it out.

About the Author

For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg. Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh. The female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Next Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy! Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister.

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Giveaway

Autographed copy of BACK TO THE BURGH AND BEYOND (USA only) (ends Nov 27)

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