You definitely get a feel for life in a retirement community from reading Booked 4 Murder. I haven't been over on that side of the valley for a while, so it's good to know that you still have to watch out for golf carts. There's a lot to like about this debut mystery even though it has one or two small things I'd rather do without. I've obviously been spoiled by my own family's behavior because pushy, interfering, "colorful" mothers like Harriet Plunkett drive me nuts. Harriet also makes a big production of her rescue dog she's named Streetman, but I found Streetman to be very much underutilized throughout the book-- other than showing that Harriet cares more about the dog's needs than she does her own daughter's. Ah well. If nothing else, I have a greater appreciation for my own mother!

But as I said, there's a lot to like. Phee may not have many police/investigative smarts, but she does have a friend in the Mankato PD whom she can call for advice. And she does need advice. The writing team of J.C. Eaton has created a mystery with many layers, and I had fun watching Phee piece all her clues together. I have to admit that I found the reason for the whole "cursed book" scenario rather disappointing-- probably because it's easy to see it actually happening. Read it for yourself and see if you agree. Phee's mother may have worked my last nerve, but I still found Booked 4 Murder to be a very enjoyable read.

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I really enjoy cozy mysteries. However, I struggled to get through this one. Not sure exactly why. Phee is summoned from MN to AZ by her retired mother. Her mother's book club started reading a new book by an unknown author and suddenly several members of the group are dead and an attempt is made on another's life. The rumor spreads that the book is cursed. Phee is there to unravel the details.

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As first in a series I see potential but this one was just ok.
Both Phee (I'll get back to that) and her mother are mildly annoying. Her mother listens with half an ear and barks out orders. Phee, a 45 year old woman just folds under her mother's domineering personality. As to the ending, yes, it's all wrapped up but too much of the solution is about things that happened off screen as they say.

Quibble: The series is called "A Sophie Kimball Mystery" but she's called Phee throughout the book. I think it was a good number of pages in that she actually mentions her name is Sophie. I'm probably just being picky...haha

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Sometimes, as we all know, the first book in a series can be a bit of a challenge to read. However, this book is, IMHO just not very good. Other members speak of wading through the book and that just about summarizes it for me. There are somewhat less than a million retirees who are mentioned at one time or another, I didn't like the dog at all, Phee's mother got on my last nerve as well, and I found it hard to figure out why no one knocked Phee off somewhere during the book for being so nosy. Don't think I will be reading the next book in the series.

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