Posted in 5 paws, Cozy, mystery, Review on March 26, 2023

 

 

Synopsis

 

Just when everything is returning to the calm that Quinn Caine and her sidekicks, Ruff Barker Ginsburg and Sister Daria, are used to in their beloved town of Vienna, a Broadway star crash-lands into their peace and quiet. Former ‘player’, Chad Frivole, is Vienna’s prodigal son—the once notorious lothario has returned a Broadway star, ready to make a different kind of mark on his hometown.

Not everyone is celebrating the Tony-award-winner’s return. Chad’s a triple threat—with a cast of characters lining up to seek their revenge on him. So, when he turns up dead in his car, trapped with a sack full of snakes, Quinn can’t say she’s surprised—but promises handsome detective Aiden Harrington that she’s staying out of this local mystery.

That is, until someone starts threatening her brother’s life. It’s true, Sebastian ‘Bash’ Caine used to be a womanizer, just like Chad. And the killer doesn’t seem to care that he’s not that man anymore. Bash Caine is in the killer’s sights, and unless Quinn and her crew can find the killer in time, whoever it is will drag her brother into his final act on this mortal coil.

 

 

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Review

 

I think this might be a new favorite series! I have a lot of those if you follow any of my reviews. But this one has engaging characters and a mystery that kept me guessing until the very end.

Normally, I’m a stickler for starting a series at the beginning. However, this is only the second book, and I felt like there was enough backstory that I didn’t feel lost in any of the personal relationships that occurred in the series. The story is also told from two perspectives, Quinn and her cousin Daria. I had read books before that had multiple points of view, and they didn’t seem to work, or at least I was always confused when the voices changed. That is not true with this book. It was obvious to me when it was Quinn or Daria because they are very different. Daria is a novice nun; however, she is tested by Lucas and their attraction to one another. Will she go through with her vows, or was she just running away thinking that the convent was a safe place? There is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end regarding Daria.

Quinn had a rough start in the first book; however, it has led to her relationship with Aidan, the local police detective. I really enjoyed watching their relationship and the respect that they have for one another. Quinn is inquisitive but manages to end up in the thick of things, even when she isn’t trying.

I also enjoyed the dog training that Daria and the nuns do at the convent. While that is just a small notation in the book, I thought it was a nice twist for that to be an area that they help in their community.

If you are squeamish about snakes, spiders, and other creepy crawlies, just be forewarned that there are some scattered throughout the book. It added an interesting twist to how people were murdered, especially once the killer is revealed and the truth comes to light.

I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series, but I will probably have to wait a while!

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Born in California and raised in South Florida, Harper Kincaid has moved around like a nomad with a bounty on her head ever since. Kincaid earned her master’s degree in Gender History and another in Clinical/Macro Social Work. She currently works as a psychotherapist.

 

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