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Monday, August 29, 2016

A Story to Kill - Cozy Mystery Review

A Story to Kill (Cat Latimer #1) by Lynn Cahoon
Rating: Good 
Source: NetGalley

Description:  Former English professor Cat Latimer is back in Colorado, hosting writers' retreats in the big blue Victorian she's inherited, much to her surprise from none other than her carousing ex-husband!  Now it's an authors' getaway - but Cat won't let anyone get away with murder...
The bead and breakfast is open for business and bestselling author Tom Cook is among the first guests.  Cat doesn't know why he came all the way from New York, but she's glad to have him among the quirkier - and far less famous - attendees.  Cat's high school sweetheart Seth, who's fixing up the weathered home, brings on mixed emotions for Cat... some of them a little overpowering.  But it's her uncle, the local police chief, who she'll call for help when there's a surprise ending for Tom Cook in his cozy guest room.  Will a killer have the last word on the new life Cat has barely begun?  (from Goodreads)
Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I've been reading Cahoon's Tourist Trap series since the beginning and always enjoy it.  I was excited to see what she did with a mystery set around a writing retreat.

My Impression:  We briefly met Cat Latimer in the last Tourist Trap mystery but I didn't really remember much about her so I was excited to get to know her better in this first book in the new series.  As I have come to expect from a mystery from Cahoon A Story to Kill provided a fascinating mystery, likable characters, and a setting I instantly feel at home in.

While I have no interest in actually writing a book myself I'm fascinated by the behind the scenes of the writing process.  With all that was going on in this mystery - Cat and her right hand woman, Shauna, getting their writing retreat business off the ground, home renovations featuring Cat's "the one who got away", making peace with her ex-husband's rather nefarious past, murder, and the usual mayhem that accompanies an investigation - I was worried that the writing retreat aspect would end up being talked about but rarely shown.  Thankfully we get just the perfect amount to really see them writing but not so much that it feels like a how to book on how to write a book!  I also really enjoyed Cat and Shauna's interactions as they're figuring their way through the first week of business.   I also really enjoyed seeing how Cat and Seth interacted as they became reacquainted after years apart.

The mystery itself kept me reading.  While I did guess the bad guy pretty early there were a few misdirections along the way that had me guessing and I didn't know the whys and hows of the situation until the end. Plus there's the a few hints throughout the book and a tease at the end about the next mystery and I can't wait!  Is it 2017 yet?

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?: Absolutely!  I can't wait for the next one in this series and the next Tourist Trap book.

Would I Recommend this Book?: Definitely!  If you enjoy cozy mysteries Lynn Cahoon is an author you shouldn't miss.

9 comments:

  1. I don't think I've seen a bad review for any of Lynn Cahoon's books, and now when I think of cozies her name comes to mind (along with Jenn McKinlay and a few others)- even though I haven't read them they're on my list! I think the writing retreat elements would be fun too.

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  2. I'm not the biggest cozy mystery reader, but the parts about the writers' retreat sound interesting to me as I try to write myself. Great review!

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  3. Glad it's a good one, Katherine. I have no energy to blog lately. I'm reading The Charm Bracelet and it's a simple, straight-to-the-point story and message. I'm enjoying it.

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  4. I can't wait to get my audio for review! Yippy skippy! I love Cahoon's books! :)

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  5. This sounds good and the writing retreat post sounds interesting. Great review!

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  6. I really need to read this author. I like a cozy every once in a while so I will need to keep her in mind. I think that the fact that it takes place at a writing retreat really does add to the story. Great review!

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  7. A mystery surrounding a writing retreat, how fun!

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  8. I love the title of this one. :-) I am glad you liked A Story to Kill. I like the premise of this one and am really eager to give Cahoon a try.

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  9. Well that's a really fun setting. I've got no desire to write a book but I do love reading about authors/writers. Yay for it being the right balance :)

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