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A Tourist Trap Mystery #1
Guidebook to Murder
In the gentle coastal town of South Cove, California, all Jill Gardner wants is to keep her store—Coffee, Books, and More—open and running. So why is she caught up in the business of murder?
When Jill's elderly friend, Miss Emily, calls in a fit of pique, she already knows the city council is trying to force Emily to sell her dilapidated old house. But Emily's gumption goes for naught when she dies unexpectedly and leaves the house to Jill—along with all of her problems. . .and her enemies. Convinced her friend was murdered, Jill is finding the list of suspects longer than the list of repairs needed on the house. But Jill is determined to uncover the culprit—especially if it gets her closer to South Cove's finest, Detective Greg King. Problem is, the killer knows she's on the case—and is determined to close the book on Jill permanently. . .
When Jill's elderly friend, Miss Emily, calls in a fit of pique, she already knows the city council is trying to force Emily to sell her dilapidated old house. But Emily's gumption goes for naught when she dies unexpectedly and leaves the house to Jill—along with all of her problems. . .and her enemies. Convinced her friend was murdered, Jill is finding the list of suspects longer than the list of repairs needed on the house. But Jill is determined to uncover the culprit—especially if it gets her closer to South Cove's finest, Detective Greg King. Problem is, the killer knows she's on the case—and is determined to close the book on Jill permanently. . .
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2014
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About the author
Lynn Cahoon
105 books2,370 followersNYT and USA Today bestselling author, Lynn Cahoon, writes the Tourist Trap, Cat Latimer, Farm-to-Fork, Kitchen Witch, Survivors' Book Club, the Haunted Life, and the Bainbridge Island cozy mystery series. No matter where the mystery is set, readers can expect a fun ride Sign up for her newsletter at www.lynncahoon.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 925 reviews
March 19, 2022
As an avid fan of Lynn Cahoon's books, I am working my way through each of her series. Since I'm current on three of them, I gave myself permission to begin reading the Tourist Trap Mysteries this week. First up was Guidebook to Murder, where readers are introduced to Jill Gardner, a ~30ish divorced woman who moves to a Southern California seaside town and opens a coffee and bookshop. She knew no one there except for an elderly woman who could be cantankerous. Miss Emily and Jill hit it off, but years later, the old woman is complaining too much about the town's desire to buy her house and convert the land into condos. It leads to her death - old age or murder?
Jill gets to know the local police while trying to find out what happened to her friend. Another friend disappears, and the one relative of the elderly woman causes trouble because his aunt left her house and money to Jill! Great plot set up... the first few chapters were good but I worried my attention might not stay focused. By 25% in, things began getting more clear. There was a lot of time jumping back to Jill's introduction to the town and her recently deceased friend, which ultimately caused me to stop and re-read a few times to ensure I understood what actions were happening when. After it settled down, I found myself intrigued by the plot and liking the side characters.
It turned out to be a good one... a bit predictable in one storyline but surprising in another one. I will miss Miss Emily, tho! I will definitely be reading the entire series, likely one per week until I'm current at the end of the summer. Give this one a chance!
Jill gets to know the local police while trying to find out what happened to her friend. Another friend disappears, and the one relative of the elderly woman causes trouble because his aunt left her house and money to Jill! Great plot set up... the first few chapters were good but I worried my attention might not stay focused. By 25% in, things began getting more clear. There was a lot of time jumping back to Jill's introduction to the town and her recently deceased friend, which ultimately caused me to stop and re-read a few times to ensure I understood what actions were happening when. After it settled down, I found myself intrigued by the plot and liking the side characters.
It turned out to be a good one... a bit predictable in one storyline but surprising in another one. I will miss Miss Emily, tho! I will definitely be reading the entire series, likely one per week until I'm current at the end of the summer. Give this one a chance!
November 5, 2016
The setting and premise of this cozy mystery were appealing - a bookstore/coffeeshop an hour or so from San Francisco, and a heroine who has escaped hectic city life after a divorce. The premise held up - evil developers pursuing and maybe murdering locals to do their dirty deeds and make loads of money.
Many cozy heroines have love interests. But the writing of these scenes read more like parts of a bodice ripper which I found very annoying. It made the book seem as though it couldn't decide whether it was a mystery or a romance novel. Cozys invariably include potential romantic partners for the main character. My objection was to the style of these passages which disrupted the flow of the book.
I also found some of the actions of various characters infuriating. How can someone go missing for days and the police refuse to investigate? How can a character have her property vandalized and receive multiple threats before the police do anything?
I might read another of these but only if I find one at the library.
Many cozy heroines have love interests. But the writing of these scenes read more like parts of a bodice ripper which I found very annoying. It made the book seem as though it couldn't decide whether it was a mystery or a romance novel. Cozys invariably include potential romantic partners for the main character. My objection was to the style of these passages which disrupted the flow of the book.
I also found some of the actions of various characters infuriating. How can someone go missing for days and the police refuse to investigate? How can a character have her property vandalized and receive multiple threats before the police do anything?
I might read another of these but only if I find one at the library.
December 18, 2019
Some things I found a bit too implausible, the romance passages were a bit weird sometimes, and some of the end parts were rushed but despite all that I still enjoyed reading this. It did have me gripping the pages at certain points too.
The mystery seemed secondary to the town and characters in the story. Loved Aunt Jackie and Jill but felt everyone else could have been fleshed out a bit more (Well, aside from Sabrina.. she was a piece of work).
Not a bad start to the series but dunno if I'll be reading more.. maybe if the next goes on sale or on Kindle Unlimited.
The mystery seemed secondary to the town and characters in the story. Loved Aunt Jackie and Jill but felt everyone else could have been fleshed out a bit more (Well, aside from Sabrina.. she was a piece of work).
Not a bad start to the series but dunno if I'll be reading more.. maybe if the next goes on sale or on Kindle Unlimited.
July 13, 2017
The description of this book is what made me pick it up to read it...I mean, what could be better than a book about a book store, coffee, and murder?
There were many things I liked about the story:
- I did not figure out who did it even though I was convinced I knew the answer.
- It was a quick read.
- I wasn't bored...there were enough elements to keep it interesting.
- The characters were not over developed...just enough information to flesh them out.
So why only 2 stars?? If there is one thing that drives me nuts, it's a protagonist that does not learn from their mistakes and continues to make illogical decisions and guesses. For example, how long would it take a normal rational human being to realize the person pursuing you is NOT married and is either divorced, widowed, or separated...and if you couldn't figure it out, how long would you wait to ask? And what normal thinking intelligent person (a lawyer no less) would think an inheritance left to them would actually belong to someone else? Another thing...who in their right mind would ignore three attempts on their life along with threatening notes and vandalism to their property, as just some unconnected coincidental chain of events?? There are numerous others but it's aggravating me again just thinking about it.
Though the story was fairly decent and interesting, I don't believe I will be reading any of the others in this series...I just couldn't handle the frustration.
There were many things I liked about the story:
- I did not figure out who did it even though I was convinced I knew the answer.
- It was a quick read.
- I wasn't bored...there were enough elements to keep it interesting.
- The characters were not over developed...just enough information to flesh them out.
So why only 2 stars?? If there is one thing that drives me nuts, it's a protagonist that does not learn from their mistakes and continues to make illogical decisions and guesses. For example, how long would it take a normal rational human being to realize the person pursuing you is NOT married and is either divorced, widowed, or separated...and if you couldn't figure it out, how long would you wait to ask? And what normal thinking intelligent person (a lawyer no less) would think an inheritance left to them would actually belong to someone else? Another thing...who in their right mind would ignore three attempts on their life along with threatening notes and vandalism to their property, as just some unconnected coincidental chain of events?? There are numerous others but it's aggravating me again just thinking about it.
Though the story was fairly decent and interesting, I don't believe I will be reading any of the others in this series...I just couldn't handle the frustration.
August 24, 2018
A good start to a cozy series that takes place in a cute little town where nothing ever happens outside of the normal. When Jill, a gal in her thirties, decides to run away from the big city and big career, she eventually lands in South Cove where she feels at home from the first day she arrives. Miss Emily, an older resident, befriends her and their relationship blossoms into a a very strong mother daughter type of bond.
Upon a call from Miss Emily concerning a legal matter, Jill decides to go over to her house the next day to visit and share some legal advice. Unfortunately it is a day too late, Miss Emily had passed in the night, however, she was in good health and Jill knows that there is something fishy going on. There are quite a few people who would benefit from Miss Emily's death so Jill starts an investigation of her own to the chagrin of the local police.
A murder mystery with a bit of drama and a side of unrequited romance. Jill was a believable character and the story line was good. The ending was a bit abrupt but a fun, light, Daily Deal, cozy never the less. Susan Boyce did a great job narrating and I am looking forward to getting to some of her other titles in my library.
Upon a call from Miss Emily concerning a legal matter, Jill decides to go over to her house the next day to visit and share some legal advice. Unfortunately it is a day too late, Miss Emily had passed in the night, however, she was in good health and Jill knows that there is something fishy going on. There are quite a few people who would benefit from Miss Emily's death so Jill starts an investigation of her own to the chagrin of the local police.
A murder mystery with a bit of drama and a side of unrequited romance. Jill was a believable character and the story line was good. The ending was a bit abrupt but a fun, light, Daily Deal, cozy never the less. Susan Boyce did a great job narrating and I am looking forward to getting to some of her other titles in my library.
November 2, 2018
I broke my own rules with this author -my rule is never to buy a whole or even a part of a series no matter how cheap it is UNTIL I've read the first book. Well, I must have had a major brain fart because I now own this entire series except book 2 -and the first book pretty much sucked.
There were too many inconsistencies that I just couldn't overlook, too many red herrings, too many characters for a first book in a series, impossible plot points, unfortunate policing, and the main character acts like a teenager for most of the book and a weepy spoiled one at that.
Now I'm stuck with the rest of the series----I just hope that the author learns how to write better and the characters grow ... for the better.
There were too many inconsistencies that I just couldn't overlook, too many red herrings, too many characters for a first book in a series, impossible plot points, unfortunate policing, and the main character acts like a teenager for most of the book and a weepy spoiled one at that.
Now I'm stuck with the rest of the series----I just hope that the author learns how to write better and the characters grow ... for the better.
March 19, 2024
Guidebook to Murdering My Last Nerve is more like it.
Oy vey, this was not good. I mean, just to begin with the title, which has zero relation to the plot except that 1) there's a murder; and 2) the MC owns a bookstore/coffee shop. Usually cozy mystery titles are a little more relevant than just Hey Look Here's a Death and There Were Books Somewhere Nearby or something. But I could have shrugged that off if the story was any good, which, as noted, it was very ungood. The plot made no sense and was also pretty boring and also went off the damn rails. Jill and Greg (and oh, I will get to him) think this is something to do with a devious developer who wanted Emily's land so badly he was gonna literally murder her. Look, I know developers can be shady, but come on. They're so desperate to build a big development in this itty bitty nothing of a town that they're going to ice an old woman for it? How much money could they possibly have expected to reap from this project? So it was dumb and nonsensical, and also nothing fucking happened most of the time, except SO MUCH INAPPROPRIATENESS on the part of Greg, our supposed detective. Just sitting around and eating and painting and talking in husky voices. And then the whole stupid "OMG ur house was the site of a former Mission and there's gold in them thar hills" thing, oh lordy. This felt like something a teenager would come up with. And even then, you're gonna commit multiple murders for, what, a couple hundred grand? Bitch, please. I laughed my ass off when they found the gold coins, and it was not meant to be funny.
Besides, instead of investigating Emily's murder or Amy's disappearance, Greg should have been investigating his own VERY BADLY BEHAVING ASS. Jill starts out as a suspect, and then is a witness, and then a potential victim, and this fucking detective is all up in her business all day and night, spending hours with her alone in her home, taking her to dinner, taking her shopping, giving her countless hugs and stroking her hair and back, touching her face, pretending like he's gonna kiss her...I was like I GUESS SOUTH COVE IS TOO SMALL FOR AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT because what the greasy fuck. And Jill, our dick-hungry MC, spends the whole book thinking the dude is married and doesn't actually ask him until like three or four pages from the end. (He's divorced, and no wonder.) She's constantly having this inner monologue of Please kiss me, hot and rugged hunky man, but oh no, you're married and that makes me bad, but you wore a dress shirt and I almost came in my pants, whatever is a girl to do. Grow up, babe, either be a ho and go for it or use your words and ask if he's married and tell him to eff off if he is.
And jeeeeeeeez there is a lot of offensive shit in here. First off, since this is a cozy written by an older white lady, OF COURSE we have constant fatphobia and Jill is forever lusting after milkshakes and fries but she can't eat THAT STUFF because then she'd get FAT and that is the worst thing anyone can be. The developer dude is described as a "Middle Eastern man" which like...what does that mean? We don't actually get much description, and like, Lynn, babe, the Middle East is pretty diverse, if you aren't a racist who thinks they all look the same. And he's sleazy and threatening because of course he is because, you know MIDDLE EASTERN. Good Lord. Then for some more racism, near the end of the book Jill says that all she knows about Mexico is that there are drug wars "and the fact that shooting Americans was the new bloodsport". WHAT. This was published in 2014, not the 70s or something, so you cannot say "oh you know everyone was racist back then" or whatever bullshit people use to excuse grossness like this.
Also, South Cove is a fictional town on the Central Coast of California, probably somewhere between Monterey and San Luis Obispo, and I don't think the author has ever been there. I lived in Santa Cruz for a few years and before that had spent a lot of time in the SLO area, and not only did the town in this book have zero character whatsoever, which is not true of most Central Coast towns, but it's supposedly a big tourist trap and yet there is one single diner. LOLOLOLOLOL.
Ugh, this was total crap. Thankfully it was free on KU, but it still feels like I paid too much. IN BRAIN CELLS.
Oy vey, this was not good. I mean, just to begin with the title, which has zero relation to the plot except that 1) there's a murder; and 2) the MC owns a bookstore/coffee shop. Usually cozy mystery titles are a little more relevant than just Hey Look Here's a Death and There Were Books Somewhere Nearby or something. But I could have shrugged that off if the story was any good, which, as noted, it was very ungood. The plot made no sense and was also pretty boring and also went off the damn rails. Jill and Greg (and oh, I will get to him) think this is something to do with a devious developer who wanted Emily's land so badly he was gonna literally murder her. Look, I know developers can be shady, but come on. They're so desperate to build a big development in this itty bitty nothing of a town that they're going to ice an old woman for it? How much money could they possibly have expected to reap from this project? So it was dumb and nonsensical, and also nothing fucking happened most of the time, except SO MUCH INAPPROPRIATENESS on the part of Greg, our supposed detective. Just sitting around and eating and painting and talking in husky voices. And then the whole stupid "OMG ur house was the site of a former Mission and there's gold in them thar hills" thing, oh lordy. This felt like something a teenager would come up with. And even then, you're gonna commit multiple murders for, what, a couple hundred grand? Bitch, please. I laughed my ass off when they found the gold coins, and it was not meant to be funny.
Besides, instead of investigating Emily's murder or Amy's disappearance, Greg should have been investigating his own VERY BADLY BEHAVING ASS. Jill starts out as a suspect, and then is a witness, and then a potential victim, and this fucking detective is all up in her business all day and night, spending hours with her alone in her home, taking her to dinner, taking her shopping, giving her countless hugs and stroking her hair and back, touching her face, pretending like he's gonna kiss her...I was like I GUESS SOUTH COVE IS TOO SMALL FOR AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT because what the greasy fuck. And Jill, our dick-hungry MC, spends the whole book thinking the dude is married and doesn't actually ask him until like three or four pages from the end. (He's divorced, and no wonder.) She's constantly having this inner monologue of Please kiss me, hot and rugged hunky man, but oh no, you're married and that makes me bad, but you wore a dress shirt and I almost came in my pants, whatever is a girl to do. Grow up, babe, either be a ho and go for it or use your words and ask if he's married and tell him to eff off if he is.
And jeeeeeeeez there is a lot of offensive shit in here. First off, since this is a cozy written by an older white lady, OF COURSE we have constant fatphobia and Jill is forever lusting after milkshakes and fries but she can't eat THAT STUFF because then she'd get FAT and that is the worst thing anyone can be. The developer dude is described as a "Middle Eastern man" which like...what does that mean? We don't actually get much description, and like, Lynn, babe, the Middle East is pretty diverse, if you aren't a racist who thinks they all look the same. And he's sleazy and threatening because of course he is because, you know MIDDLE EASTERN. Good Lord. Then for some more racism, near the end of the book Jill says that all she knows about Mexico is that there are drug wars "and the fact that shooting Americans was the new bloodsport". WHAT. This was published in 2014, not the 70s or something, so you cannot say "oh you know everyone was racist back then" or whatever bullshit people use to excuse grossness like this.
Also, South Cove is a fictional town on the Central Coast of California, probably somewhere between Monterey and San Luis Obispo, and I don't think the author has ever been there. I lived in Santa Cruz for a few years and before that had spent a lot of time in the SLO area, and not only did the town in this book have zero character whatsoever, which is not true of most Central Coast towns, but it's supposedly a big tourist trap and yet there is one single diner. LOLOLOLOLOL.
Ugh, this was total crap. Thankfully it was free on KU, but it still feels like I paid too much. IN BRAIN CELLS.
April 16, 2017
Made it to 50% before deciding to give up. It probably would have been mildly decent if the main character Jill didn't spend most of her time swooning over the police chief who she thinks is married. It's bad enough that she won't stop thinking about how cute he is and his buff physique and how much she has a crush on him but it's worse since she thinks he's married. (I'm guessing he's divorced but I never got far enough to find out.) She also "waxes poetic" over one of the possible antagonists. She spends more time thinking about her lack of a love life than over the mystery. I just can't waste any more of my time.
May 14, 2014
In the quiet coastal town of South Cove in California, Jill Sanders sets up her shop “Coffee, Books, and More”. Jill loves to read and wants nothing more than to make the shop a success. Things turn out to be not so quiet when she gets a desperate phone call from her elderly friend Miss Emily. It seems the town council is issuing her ultimatums to get her old house in shape or else. Miss Emily seeks out Jill’s assistance, but when Jill arrives, she finds her friend dead. The police are sure it was of natural causes, but Jill isn’t buying it. The autopsy supports Jill’s belief.
When Miss Emily’s will is read and Jill inherits everything, the police turn their sights on her. She has become their prime suspect, but Jill has a list of her own. The list of people who wanted Miss Emily dead is growing every minute. When Jill’s best friend, Amy, goes missing, she turns to the handsome detective on Miss Emily’s case, Greg King, for help.
Jill fears for Amy's safety. She absolutely cannot lose someone else she’s close to, plus her own life hangs in the balance when threats begin coming fast and furious to her doorstep. As Jill tries to satisfy the council’s demands for repairs to the house, she meets obstacle upon obstacle.
She finds herself dealing with Miss Emily’s disinherited relatives, art thieves and building developers. Each one has dollar signs in their eyes and Jill wonders if one of them could also be a killer.
I love starting on the ground floor of a cozy mystery series. It’s great fun to meet new characters and visit new places. This story is no exception. I thought the two main characters Jill and Greg were wonderfully portrayed. They are strong characters and the supporting cast were equally as strong.
My one problem was that there was a misunderstanding between the main characters that could have been solved on page one with a simple question. That was bothersome but didn’t ruin the story for me. Jill did seem to take a few unnecessary risks, but that’s the nature of a cozy mystery. The main character usually does do things that make the reader scream “NO!”, but it’s all part of the excitement and adventure of a mystery story.
I didn’t figure out the real culprit until Jill did, so that’s good. The story took a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and that makes it even better to read. I will definitely be checking out the next one which is due out in July.
FTC Disclosure: NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
When Miss Emily’s will is read and Jill inherits everything, the police turn their sights on her. She has become their prime suspect, but Jill has a list of her own. The list of people who wanted Miss Emily dead is growing every minute. When Jill’s best friend, Amy, goes missing, she turns to the handsome detective on Miss Emily’s case, Greg King, for help.
Jill fears for Amy's safety. She absolutely cannot lose someone else she’s close to, plus her own life hangs in the balance when threats begin coming fast and furious to her doorstep. As Jill tries to satisfy the council’s demands for repairs to the house, she meets obstacle upon obstacle.
She finds herself dealing with Miss Emily’s disinherited relatives, art thieves and building developers. Each one has dollar signs in their eyes and Jill wonders if one of them could also be a killer.
I love starting on the ground floor of a cozy mystery series. It’s great fun to meet new characters and visit new places. This story is no exception. I thought the two main characters Jill and Greg were wonderfully portrayed. They are strong characters and the supporting cast were equally as strong.
My one problem was that there was a misunderstanding between the main characters that could have been solved on page one with a simple question. That was bothersome but didn’t ruin the story for me. Jill did seem to take a few unnecessary risks, but that’s the nature of a cozy mystery. The main character usually does do things that make the reader scream “NO!”, but it’s all part of the excitement and adventure of a mystery story.
I didn’t figure out the real culprit until Jill did, so that’s good. The story took a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and that makes it even better to read. I will definitely be checking out the next one which is due out in July.
FTC Disclosure: NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 17, 2014
South Cove California is a tourist stop along the coast. Jill Gardner owns Coffee, Books, and More and she just wants to make enough to keep the business open. She is relatively new to the town. It was meeting Miss Emily one day that convinced her to move to South Cove. Miss Emily is an elderly woman who has had a bunch of businesses crop up around her home. Her house needs a lot of work but when she receives a letter telling her the town council is going to condemn her home or force he to sell to a big developer she calls Jill in a panic. Jill calms her down and tells her they will work things out. But before that can happen Miss Emily passes away very unexpectedly. She leaves her home and all its problems to Jill, but Jill thinks Miss Emily was murdered and sets out to prove it even as the killer tries to puts Jill out of business permanently.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I knew I was going to love this book and I sure did. Jill Gardner is a great character. She is down to earth and her confidence while shaky at the start continues to grow throughout the story. She also likes food and she features some tasty treats in her shop. There will be even more if Aunt Jackie has her way.
Aunt Jackie is a lot like my mom was, do things now and get permission for them later. Jill asks Aunt Jackie to help her with the store as she deals with Miss Emily’s house and all that entails and Jackie took “help” to a whole new level. I was laughing out loud.
I was sad that Miss Emily became the murder victim. She was quite a woman and she has a few secrets. I would have loved to spend more time with her.
South Cove is also home to Detective Greg King. A handsome guy that just keeps running into Jill. The sexual tension is thick enough to cut with a knife. It is going to be fun watching this relationship progress.
The mystery is great too, I just wish I had Jill’s energy, not only does she find out what happened to Miss Emily and why, she also makes substantial repairs to Miss Emily house. Of course she has outside contractors to help but just pulling everything together while painting and decorating was miraculous and a joy to read.
There is a lot going on in this book. The pages just flew. I have been trapped by this Tourist Trap mystery and can’t wait to be trapped again by Mission to Murder coming July 31, 2014.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I knew I was going to love this book and I sure did. Jill Gardner is a great character. She is down to earth and her confidence while shaky at the start continues to grow throughout the story. She also likes food and she features some tasty treats in her shop. There will be even more if Aunt Jackie has her way.
Aunt Jackie is a lot like my mom was, do things now and get permission for them later. Jill asks Aunt Jackie to help her with the store as she deals with Miss Emily’s house and all that entails and Jackie took “help” to a whole new level. I was laughing out loud.
I was sad that Miss Emily became the murder victim. She was quite a woman and she has a few secrets. I would have loved to spend more time with her.
South Cove is also home to Detective Greg King. A handsome guy that just keeps running into Jill. The sexual tension is thick enough to cut with a knife. It is going to be fun watching this relationship progress.
The mystery is great too, I just wish I had Jill’s energy, not only does she find out what happened to Miss Emily and why, she also makes substantial repairs to Miss Emily house. Of course she has outside contractors to help but just pulling everything together while painting and decorating was miraculous and a joy to read.
There is a lot going on in this book. The pages just flew. I have been trapped by this Tourist Trap mystery and can’t wait to be trapped again by Mission to Murder coming July 31, 2014.
March 10, 2018
Good first book in the series. I liked the California coast town setting and the characters were likeable too. The mystery was good and kept me guessing. The ending seemed kind of rushed and may be could have just benefited from the last scene being set up as an epilogue instead of a continuation of the last chapter.
August 26, 2015
A special thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A wonderful series to curl up with on a rainy afternoon. A light and entertaining read--Think small business, quaint town, shops, espresso, bookstore, cafe, coffee, galleries, inns, and a good cozy mystery which GUIDEBOOK TO MURDER offered; full of lovable (and not so likable) characters and friends in this small South Cove, CA tourist town.
Jill, a former lawyer has inherited Miss Emily’s house (she befriended her years ago), and of course the city wants to tear down the house for a new condo real estate development. With other things in mind and begins her fight with small town politics and meets many obstacles, and of course Emily’s family, the mayor, real estate developers, attorneys, threats, and now faced with the circumstances which surround Miss Emily’s death and secrets, and then then her best friend goes missing.
As the mystery unfolds (who did it), many possible suspects and secrets to keep you turning the pages. My only input would be more background of Miss Emily and her past, as I agree with some of the other reviewers.
Loved the main character, Jill at times, however other times not, as she was back and forth as a door mat. She owns the quaint Coffee, Books and More, along the coastal Pacific, after having moved from a larger city after her divorce, interacting with many tourists while they are in the area – life is good until she inherits the home of her old friend and Detective Greg (possible love affair)?, gets involved – mystery begins . . .
If you like cozy books, bookstores, small towns, and a light mystery, this book is for you; however, if you are a serious thriller mystery lover, it might not be your cup of tea. The front cover was a nice draw and appealing if you are a book lover. My first book by this author--definitely look forward to reading the next book , “Mission to Murder” #2 in series “A Tourist Trap Mystery.” (sneak preview at the end – with mentions of Aunt Jackie, Sadie, Greg, Craig, The Castle, a mystery writer, fortune teller, a B&B and of course a murder mystery–something to look forward to-coming summer 2014)!
http://judithdcollins.booklikes.com/p...
A wonderful series to curl up with on a rainy afternoon. A light and entertaining read--Think small business, quaint town, shops, espresso, bookstore, cafe, coffee, galleries, inns, and a good cozy mystery which GUIDEBOOK TO MURDER offered; full of lovable (and not so likable) characters and friends in this small South Cove, CA tourist town.
Jill, a former lawyer has inherited Miss Emily’s house (she befriended her years ago), and of course the city wants to tear down the house for a new condo real estate development. With other things in mind and begins her fight with small town politics and meets many obstacles, and of course Emily’s family, the mayor, real estate developers, attorneys, threats, and now faced with the circumstances which surround Miss Emily’s death and secrets, and then then her best friend goes missing.
As the mystery unfolds (who did it), many possible suspects and secrets to keep you turning the pages. My only input would be more background of Miss Emily and her past, as I agree with some of the other reviewers.
Loved the main character, Jill at times, however other times not, as she was back and forth as a door mat. She owns the quaint Coffee, Books and More, along the coastal Pacific, after having moved from a larger city after her divorce, interacting with many tourists while they are in the area – life is good until she inherits the home of her old friend and Detective Greg (possible love affair)?, gets involved – mystery begins . . .
If you like cozy books, bookstores, small towns, and a light mystery, this book is for you; however, if you are a serious thriller mystery lover, it might not be your cup of tea. The front cover was a nice draw and appealing if you are a book lover. My first book by this author--definitely look forward to reading the next book , “Mission to Murder” #2 in series “A Tourist Trap Mystery.” (sneak preview at the end – with mentions of Aunt Jackie, Sadie, Greg, Craig, The Castle, a mystery writer, fortune teller, a B&B and of course a murder mystery–something to look forward to-coming summer 2014)!
http://judithdcollins.booklikes.com/p...
August 19, 2017
a most excellent 5 star read! review to come...:)
guidebook to murder: a tourist trap mystery:
I knew right away I was going to like this book. What a hoot. I don't take notes while reading, that would so wreck the book buzz I get but, upon reflecting for the book review I could not stop chuckling!
Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books and More in the small town of South Cove, California is just like all the rest of us, she is plagued with self doubt, yet strong and tuff when she needs to be. She fantasizes about food constantly and really enjoys eating yet, is aware of it and of course always thinking about losing those extra 10 pounds. Of course she wants a good man yet, doesn't really want to want one. I related to and very much enjoyed this character. The confusion and sexual tension with the very handsome Detective Greg King is quite fun.
We meet Jill in her book & coffee shop one morning when she gets a phone call from her neighbor down the street, her dear friend 80 year old Miss Emily who is very upset that yet again she is being pestered by the town council to sell her beloved but very run down home so they can build an apartment complex. Jill wants to help her so she enlists her friend Amy who just happens to work for the city to look over the paperwork and maybe clear up these problems for her friend and neighbor.
The next day on her way over to Miss Emily's house to tell her what Amy found out, what Jill finds out is a dead, possibly murdered Miss Emily! Jill soon finds out Miss Emily had no family...or does she, so she left everything to her and with so much to do and sort out, she calls her aunt to come and help her out at the Book & Coffee shop. Jill and Detective King are on the case of who killed Miss Emily and what they find turns out to be a treasure trove of excitement! There are some thrilling and scary near misses when they and people they love come close to getting hurt but what they do find ultimately is an attraction for each other. I loved Aunt Jackie and I'm hoping she will be in the next book too. I Loved the storyline, characters and the humor but, most of all I liked Jill.
I got this book for a review from Net Galley
guidebook to murder: a tourist trap mystery:
I knew right away I was going to like this book. What a hoot. I don't take notes while reading, that would so wreck the book buzz I get but, upon reflecting for the book review I could not stop chuckling!
Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books and More in the small town of South Cove, California is just like all the rest of us, she is plagued with self doubt, yet strong and tuff when she needs to be. She fantasizes about food constantly and really enjoys eating yet, is aware of it and of course always thinking about losing those extra 10 pounds. Of course she wants a good man yet, doesn't really want to want one. I related to and very much enjoyed this character. The confusion and sexual tension with the very handsome Detective Greg King is quite fun.
We meet Jill in her book & coffee shop one morning when she gets a phone call from her neighbor down the street, her dear friend 80 year old Miss Emily who is very upset that yet again she is being pestered by the town council to sell her beloved but very run down home so they can build an apartment complex. Jill wants to help her so she enlists her friend Amy who just happens to work for the city to look over the paperwork and maybe clear up these problems for her friend and neighbor.
The next day on her way over to Miss Emily's house to tell her what Amy found out, what Jill finds out is a dead, possibly murdered Miss Emily! Jill soon finds out Miss Emily had no family...or does she, so she left everything to her and with so much to do and sort out, she calls her aunt to come and help her out at the Book & Coffee shop. Jill and Detective King are on the case of who killed Miss Emily and what they find turns out to be a treasure trove of excitement! There are some thrilling and scary near misses when they and people they love come close to getting hurt but what they do find ultimately is an attraction for each other. I loved Aunt Jackie and I'm hoping she will be in the next book too. I Loved the storyline, characters and the humor but, most of all I liked Jill.
I got this book for a review from Net Galley
March 12, 2017
A great small town cozy mystery book with a hint of romance.
April 14, 2022
I'm on a roll with great new-to-me cozy mystery series lately. Really enjoyed the blend of humour and angst in this one and the secondary characters add an extra oomph to the story. Great mystery with enough plausible suspects to keep me guessing and an alluring love interest for our heroine besides. No sign of the dreaded love triangle either so that's really good news!
August 7, 2017
The heroine does one stupid thing after another. And the stupid things she did got stupider, as in LIFE-ENDANGERING. As a way of moving the plot along, it really sucked.
The constant references to her weight and trying to resist delicious food got old.
The constant references to how attractive the detective was, but oh no, he's married, when you know he isn't, was also super annoying.
And leaving the valuable thing in a random drawer?? What idiot does that? What idiot focuses on decorating instead of proper storage??
And the villains in the piece didn't even stretch to two-dimensions.
And the person who filed a false paternity lawsuit gets rewarded at the end?? Really?
May 28, 2017
Review originally published at The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
Guidebook to Murder takes the well-known "unexpected inheritance" plot and gives it almost too many twists in the form of additional "treasures," a mayor and developer intent on condemning Jill's new house to put up condos, and several other possible claimants to Miss Emily's estate. Throw in an attractive but possibly married police detective, a series of threats, a sudden disappearance, and tensions around Jill's coffee shop and bookstore, and poor Jill is suddenly up to her ears in troubles.
Despite its plethora of complications, the plot works pretty well overall, and author Lynn Cahoon succeeded in pulling the wool over my eyes regarding the main villain's identity. I say "main villain," because the author doesn't make trying to pin all the nefarious deeds (of which there are a fair few) on a single person, making the challenge of identifying the perpetrator(s) more difficult for the fictional sleuths -- and more fun for the reader!
I did think Jill's book-and-coffeeshop would feature more prominently in the mystery, and it's one of the things that drew me to the book in the first place. I'm hoping the shop will play a bigger role in the next mystery, but I understand why this book couldn't revolve around it. Jill has more than enough on her plate just dealing with her inheritance, making urgently-needed repairs to the house, and trying to find a murderer; it simply makes sense that her shop has to take a backseat for a while.
My only real peeve about the novel, other than the sheer unlikelihood of so many unexpected things occurring so close together, is that Cahoon resorts to a common and overused ploy to increase romantic tension: the long misunderstanding that could be easily cleared up with a single conversation. Frankly, that trope drives me nuts; a reasonable, rational adult would simply confront whatever issue is causing the tension and talk about it. But that's a personal preference, and since the relationship isn't the main focus of the book, I didn't find it as annoying as I would have in a romance novel. Aside from that one complaint, the budding romance is sweet and charming, with plenty of potential for future books.
Guidebook to Murder is entertaining and fun despite its minor flaws. I like Jill, her aunt Jackie, her friend Amy, and Detective Greg King, and I look forward to seeing what happens to them next. Most important, the mystery kept me guessing almost to the end, and that's not always easy to do! I'm already looking forward to the next book in the Tourist Trap series, Mission to Murder, due out July 31.
FTC disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.
Guidebook to Murder takes the well-known "unexpected inheritance" plot and gives it almost too many twists in the form of additional "treasures," a mayor and developer intent on condemning Jill's new house to put up condos, and several other possible claimants to Miss Emily's estate. Throw in an attractive but possibly married police detective, a series of threats, a sudden disappearance, and tensions around Jill's coffee shop and bookstore, and poor Jill is suddenly up to her ears in troubles.
Despite its plethora of complications, the plot works pretty well overall, and author Lynn Cahoon succeeded in pulling the wool over my eyes regarding the main villain's identity. I say "main villain," because the author doesn't make trying to pin all the nefarious deeds (of which there are a fair few) on a single person, making the challenge of identifying the perpetrator(s) more difficult for the fictional sleuths -- and more fun for the reader!
I did think Jill's book-and-coffeeshop would feature more prominently in the mystery, and it's one of the things that drew me to the book in the first place. I'm hoping the shop will play a bigger role in the next mystery, but I understand why this book couldn't revolve around it. Jill has more than enough on her plate just dealing with her inheritance, making urgently-needed repairs to the house, and trying to find a murderer; it simply makes sense that her shop has to take a backseat for a while.
My only real peeve about the novel, other than the sheer unlikelihood of so many unexpected things occurring so close together, is that Cahoon resorts to a common and overused ploy to increase romantic tension: the long misunderstanding that could be easily cleared up with a single conversation. Frankly, that trope drives me nuts; a reasonable, rational adult would simply confront whatever issue is causing the tension and talk about it. But that's a personal preference, and since the relationship isn't the main focus of the book, I didn't find it as annoying as I would have in a romance novel. Aside from that one complaint, the budding romance is sweet and charming, with plenty of potential for future books.
Guidebook to Murder is entertaining and fun despite its minor flaws. I like Jill, her aunt Jackie, her friend Amy, and Detective Greg King, and I look forward to seeing what happens to them next. Most important, the mystery kept me guessing almost to the end, and that's not always easy to do! I'm already looking forward to the next book in the Tourist Trap series, Mission to Murder, due out July 31.
FTC disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.
April 6, 2014
When Jill Gardner moved to South Cove, CA she was looking for a fresh start after her divorce and a quiet life running a café / bookshop. But then one of her close friends, Miss Emily tells her the council and a developer are trying to bully her into selling out and shortly thereafter she turns up dead. Jill knows there is something hokey going on and convinces the town's detective to investigate.
Adding to her woes, Miss Emily left everything to her except the family bible which she left to her greedy relatives. Now the family are threatening to sue, council is threatening to condemn the house, someone is stealing from Miss Emily's estate and a murderer is on the loose. Throw into the mix Aztec gold and expensive art works and the scene is set for a bit of a mystery romp.
Guidebook to Murder isn't perfect. The story is quite straightforward...entertaining without ever being particularly challenging. But Jill is pretty damned awesome (what's not to love about an amateur sleuth who runs a book store?) and even if the male characters aren't all that interesting, the female characters who inhabit her world are really quite delightful and set the book just a little higher than other cozy murder mysteries.
Many thanks to Kensington and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC
Adding to her woes, Miss Emily left everything to her except the family bible which she left to her greedy relatives. Now the family are threatening to sue, council is threatening to condemn the house, someone is stealing from Miss Emily's estate and a murderer is on the loose. Throw into the mix Aztec gold and expensive art works and the scene is set for a bit of a mystery romp.
Guidebook to Murder isn't perfect. The story is quite straightforward...entertaining without ever being particularly challenging. But Jill is pretty damned awesome (what's not to love about an amateur sleuth who runs a book store?) and even if the male characters aren't all that interesting, the female characters who inhabit her world are really quite delightful and set the book just a little higher than other cozy murder mysteries.
Many thanks to Kensington and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC
April 5, 2014
Jill Gardner owns Coffee, Books, and More in the city of South Cove, CA. When Jill moves to the California coast, she meets and becomes close friends with a sweet, elderly lady, Miss Emily. Miss Emily has no one to look out for her, and she becomes like a mother to Jill as their friendship flourishes. When Jill finds Miss Emily dead in her bed, grief hits her hard. Did Miss Emily simply die of old age, or did something sinister happen to her?
Jill's friend, Amy, works for Mayor Baylor, who's a mean spirited man, threatening to condemn Miss Emily's unkempt property to try and force her to sell to a developer who wants to build apartments on her land. When Jill inherits Miss Emily's property and assets, it starts a chain of events that lead to a killer who will stop at nothing to get what they want! Jill unveils Miss Emily's hidden talent! Amy suddenly goes missing!!
This satisfying cozy mystery is rich in humor, compassion, and friendship. The characters are enjoyable, and there is a hint of romance between Jill and Detective Greg King. Everything centers around the murder mystery, and Jill's combination bookstore and coffee shop.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review.
Jill's friend, Amy, works for Mayor Baylor, who's a mean spirited man, threatening to condemn Miss Emily's unkempt property to try and force her to sell to a developer who wants to build apartments on her land. When Jill inherits Miss Emily's property and assets, it starts a chain of events that lead to a killer who will stop at nothing to get what they want! Jill unveils Miss Emily's hidden talent! Amy suddenly goes missing!!
This satisfying cozy mystery is rich in humor, compassion, and friendship. The characters are enjoyable, and there is a hint of romance between Jill and Detective Greg King. Everything centers around the murder mystery, and Jill's combination bookstore and coffee shop.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2017
I enjoyed this introductory to the Tourist Trap series and the cast of characters set in the fictional town of South Cove, California. Jill Gardner has the perfect job owning a book store/coffee shop. Who could ask for a more fun place to spend your time especially since she gets to read for a living so she can recommend books? Throw in a little murder mystery and the handsome Detective Greg King. The only problem is that the murderer knows that Jill is on to him/her and wants to silence her. I recommend this book that is a great start to a fun series.
May 3, 2014
Loved it.
April 8, 2024
Good characters and story. Will read the next in the series
January 16, 2018
Guidebook to Murder delivers exactly what readers of cozy mysteries expect: a lightly themed, not too gruesome murder mystery set in a small town with a dash of romance. The story isn't unusual or particularly inventive, but it's not boring, either. Many of the plot elements are typical of cozy mysteries (flexible job that allows time to investigate, outspoken BFF, romantic tension, savings fund / inheritance that means the main character doesn't have to worry too much about making money), but Cahoon breaks from the pack with the dead body count, limiting it to one in this series starter, which I appreciate. One murder in a small town is believable, but numerous dead bodies per book would deplete the town of residents (and tourists) pretty quickly. Hopefully she can remain similarly restrained as the series continues.
I also appreciated that Jill, the main character, doesn't behave in a stupid, ditzy, or reckless way. She made a few poor decisions, as most people do, but she's definitely not the bumbling, putting-her-life-in-danger type of character that has become typical of light mysteries. My only significant issue with the book is a lack of creativity with titles. The main character's shop is called "Coffee, Books, and More," which is the absolute least creative and most boring store name I've ever seen. You're telling me Jill spent her savings establishing her dream job/store in a historic coastal town and she couldn't come up with anything better than Coffee, Books, and More? I don't buy it. The name just makes the character, the author, and the editors look lazy. The title of the book also bothers me -- not only is Guidebook to Murder not very interesting, but it also has nothing to do with the plot. Again, it seems the author and editors should have been able to come up with something better, and the fact that they didn't makes it seem like they weren't trying very hard.
Overall, Guidebook to Murder is a quick, fun mystery that the reader actually has a chance of solving before the main character
-Andrea F.
Click here to find the book at the Prince William County Public Library System.
Click here to find the audiobook at the Prince William County Public Library System.
Click here to find the eAudiobook at the Prince William County Public Library System.
I also appreciated that Jill, the main character, doesn't behave in a stupid, ditzy, or reckless way. She made a few poor decisions, as most people do, but she's definitely not the bumbling, putting-her-life-in-danger type of character that has become typical of light mysteries. My only significant issue with the book is a lack of creativity with titles. The main character's shop is called "Coffee, Books, and More," which is the absolute least creative and most boring store name I've ever seen. You're telling me Jill spent her savings establishing her dream job/store in a historic coastal town and she couldn't come up with anything better than Coffee, Books, and More? I don't buy it. The name just makes the character, the author, and the editors look lazy. The title of the book also bothers me -- not only is Guidebook to Murder not very interesting, but it also has nothing to do with the plot. Again, it seems the author and editors should have been able to come up with something better, and the fact that they didn't makes it seem like they weren't trying very hard.
Overall, Guidebook to Murder is a quick, fun mystery that the reader actually has a chance of solving before the main character
-Andrea F.
Click here to find the book at the Prince William County Public Library System.
Click here to find the audiobook at the Prince William County Public Library System.
Click here to find the eAudiobook at the Prince William County Public Library System.
April 28, 2020
After settling down in South Cove, Jill Gardner is spending her days running her shop and enjoying the town she fell in love with enough to restart her life in. Things are going well until Miss Emily passes away. In her heart, Jill immediately knows it was murder because Emily’s derelict house was sitting on an extremely profitable piece of land. When it turns out Emily left everything to her name to Jill, poor Jill finds herself trying to solve a murder before she becomes the next victim.
I really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately for me, I did not like Jill, so I had a hard time getting into the story. I found her to be extremely dull and had a hard time believing that she was ever a lawyer. The longer I read the book, the more I found it hard believe she was supposed to be living the fast life with a big career let alone be a former lawyer. Even her own aunt was light years ahead of her. I also didn’t care for the romance because Jill kept focusing on how her beau was a married man. The pair could’ve been on fire, but Jill was the only one who failed to notice that the man is clearly divorced and very single.
That said, I did enjoy the supporting characters, particularly Aunt Jackie. I loved Jackie from the moment she was introduced and found myself wishing I was following her instead of Jill. She’s such a vibrant and fun character who seems to have gotten all the brains. I also loved Amy, so I was sad when she went missing early in the story. Emily was also a wonderful character that we got to know well through everyone’s memories as well as the mementos she left behind. I think that, at the core, there’s a great cast of characters here.
The mystery itself was okay. I think that there was a little too much going on between the house repairs, the history of the property, the mysterious treasure, various characters pressuring Jill to sell the house, Amy’s disappearance, Emily’s late son’s secret kid and grandchild… The list goes on. I think that some of these things could’ve been saved for future books because it felt like we just kept getting hit with something new while Jill was bumbling around trying to investigate.
I do think that, overall, it’s a cute story with several funny moments. I just had a hard time getting into it because Jill is such a flat character. The mystery itself was a little overwhelming at times, but I think the author was onto something and that her mysteries will likely be tighter as the series continues. I’m not sure if I’ll read the second book since I don’t like Jill, but I loved the supporting characters, so we’ll see.
I really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately for me, I did not like Jill, so I had a hard time getting into the story. I found her to be extremely dull and had a hard time believing that she was ever a lawyer. The longer I read the book, the more I found it hard believe she was supposed to be living the fast life with a big career let alone be a former lawyer. Even her own aunt was light years ahead of her. I also didn’t care for the romance because Jill kept focusing on how her beau was a married man. The pair could’ve been on fire, but Jill was the only one who failed to notice that the man is clearly divorced and very single.
That said, I did enjoy the supporting characters, particularly Aunt Jackie. I loved Jackie from the moment she was introduced and found myself wishing I was following her instead of Jill. She’s such a vibrant and fun character who seems to have gotten all the brains. I also loved Amy, so I was sad when she went missing early in the story. Emily was also a wonderful character that we got to know well through everyone’s memories as well as the mementos she left behind. I think that, at the core, there’s a great cast of characters here.
The mystery itself was okay. I think that there was a little too much going on between the house repairs, the history of the property, the mysterious treasure, various characters pressuring Jill to sell the house, Amy’s disappearance, Emily’s late son’s secret kid and grandchild… The list goes on. I think that some of these things could’ve been saved for future books because it felt like we just kept getting hit with something new while Jill was bumbling around trying to investigate.
I do think that, overall, it’s a cute story with several funny moments. I just had a hard time getting into it because Jill is such a flat character. The mystery itself was a little overwhelming at times, but I think the author was onto something and that her mysteries will likely be tighter as the series continues. I’m not sure if I’ll read the second book since I don’t like Jill, but I loved the supporting characters, so we’ll see.
July 2, 2024
Omg the main character couldn’t be dumber if she tried. I find it so insulting and infuriating when female lead characters do the same stupid crap again and again and again. Nobody ever writes male characters to be this dumb.
March 6, 2018
Originally, I was going to give this one three stars, but... There were editing issues in the last few chapters. One of my biggest peeves is authors not knowing what their characters are doing. Chapter 16 starts out with the main character wearing Capri's, but then changes mid-chapter into a sundress...then at end of the chapter is suddenly back in pants again, and she had not stopped to change again before engaging in the activity that supposedly got the pants dirty that she was not wearing at the time. There is another similar issue in chapter 20. One character turns on the TV, leaves the room for a few minutes, then returns and turns on the TV that was already on.
This may seem nitpicky to some people, but if one person notices issues like this, you can be sure others will, too.
This may seem nitpicky to some people, but if one person notices issues like this, you can be sure others will, too.
March 11, 2020
not only did i start listening to this audiobook thinking it was by a different (better) author, but i stubbornly listened to the end. imagine when i heard this exact line word for word, coming from the narrator..... “All I could think about when I thought of Mexico was the horrible drug wars and the fact that shooting Americans was the new bloodsport.”
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this was so casually said but did not detract from how racist that statement truly was.
i’m sure the author has more opinions in her other books but safe to say i won’t be reading any more.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this was so casually said but did not detract from how racist that statement truly was.
i’m sure the author has more opinions in her other books but safe to say i won’t be reading any more.
April 3, 2014
This is the kind of book that I love. It had everything that I look for; a great plot, a wonderful mystery, an amazing heroin, a murder that I didn't figure out, and topped of with a hint of romance. This is a fantastic read.
May 9, 2020
I loved this book from beginning to end. I can’t wait to read more books in this series.
September 23, 2021
I love cozy mysteries with settings in bookstores and libraries so the beautiful cover indicating a bookstore was an immediate draw to me. I was also interested in reading a cozy mystery by Lynn Cahoon as her name is frequently mentioned as a favorite author in many Facebook groups highlighting cozy mysteries.
I loved the name of the bookstore, "Coffee, Books, and More" and that it was an established store for the past 5 years. Jill's life is turned upside down and inside out by the murder of her dear senior friend, Miss Emily, especially when Jill learns that she has inherited the bulk of Miss Emily's estate. It added interesting character interaction that Jill was able to call upon her Aunt Jackie who owned a coffee shop in San Francisco prior to her own retirement. With Aunt Jackie's experience she has no hesitation in taking over Jill's business and implementing changes even before they are discussed with Jill.
The most frustrating aspect of the plot was for the reader to learn from Jill in Chapter 2, referencing Detective Greg King that
I understood Jill's delight in planning and executing all of her home improvements but for a young woman who makes daily to-do lists it seemed a little off that it took her so long to go to friend Amy Newman's apartment especially since Jill has her own key.
For those that aren't tired of amateur sleuth/detective pairings, you'll definitely want to meet Detective Greg King. I enjoyed the cozy but I'm not sure I'll continue reading the series.
I loved the name of the bookstore, "Coffee, Books, and More" and that it was an established store for the past 5 years. Jill's life is turned upside down and inside out by the murder of her dear senior friend, Miss Emily, especially when Jill learns that she has inherited the bulk of Miss Emily's estate. It added interesting character interaction that Jill was able to call upon her Aunt Jackie who owned a coffee shop in San Francisco prior to her own retirement. With Aunt Jackie's experience she has no hesitation in taking over Jill's business and implementing changes even before they are discussed with Jill.
The most frustrating aspect of the plot was for the reader to learn from Jill in Chapter 2, referencing Detective Greg King that
"He’d been married at the Methodist church down the street. He was one of them."Only to read of Jill's surprise in Chapter 6 in conversation with Detective King's brother Jim,
Jim King: "He’s my brother. In fact, I was the best man at his wedding."If one can forget that Jill was perfectly aware of the detective's marital status prior to Chapter 6, then you can give this annoyance a miss.
Jill: "He's married?"
I understood Jill's delight in planning and executing all of her home improvements but for a young woman who makes daily to-do lists it seemed a little off that it took her so long to go to friend Amy Newman's apartment especially since Jill has her own key.
For those that aren't tired of amateur sleuth/detective pairings, you'll definitely want to meet Detective Greg King. I enjoyed the cozy but I'm not sure I'll continue reading the series.
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