Room for Doubt - Cozy Mystery Review

Room for Doubt (A Carol Childs Mystery) by Nancy Cole Silverman

Rating:  Good
Source:  Author

Description:  When radio reporter Carol Childs is called to a crime scene in the Hollywood Hills at five thirty in the morning, she’s convinced it must be a publicity stunt to promote a new movie. That is, until she sees the body hanging from the center of the Hollywood sign. The police are quick to rule it a suicide, but something doesn’t add up for Carol. Particularly after a mysterious caller named Mustang Sally confesses to the murder on the air and threatens to kill again.

With the help of an incorrigible PI, her best friend, and a kooky psychic, Carol is drawn into the world of contract killers and women scorned. As she races to find the real killer, she finds herself faced with a decision that will challenge everything she thought she knew.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I read the previous book in the series and really enjoyed it so I couldn't resist this one!  Especially since it involves a body hanging on the Hollywood sign.

My Impression:  This is the 2nd book in the Carol Childs series I've read and reading this one really made me wonder why I haven't gone back and read the first two.  This is a solid mystery series with an interesting main character and exciting mysteries.  Book 3 was all about a jewel theft ring and in the first few pages in Room for Doubt we find a body hanging from the Hollywood sign. Discovering how it got there is quite the journey with lots of twists and turns to keep Carol on her toes and it all wraps up with a satisfying conclusion.

What really makes this series special is Carol herself.  She's just such a grown up and is so easy to identify with it's impossible not to like her.  She's a single mother to a teenage boy and the challenges of that come through in a very real way without taking center stage.  She's also trying to adapt to her job in the constantly changing world of journalism where she has to juggle her professionalism with the demands of her boss - the very young Tyler who doesn't quite buy into work-life balance.  Carol feels like such a real person and a person I could be friends with.

Silverman really makes use of the Los Angeles setting.  This is not a book that feels like it could be taking place in anywhere USA.  The landmark mentions are frequent without seeming unnecessary and just the whole pacing of the story itself feels very LA.  If you are looking for a fun mystery series with a likable real main character, a slew of entertaining side characters, and a well thought out and fast paced plot this is a series not to miss!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I've really enjoyed the 2 books I've read and look forward to reading more.

Would I Recommend this Book?  Definitely!  If you enjoy mysteries that are cozy but not cutesy this is a great series.  I think fans of Julie Mulhern and Susan M. Boyer would enjoy this series.