John Lamb writes a very well developed story line involving interesting and smart characters. This is not a traditional cozy in the sense that the main character, Brad, is a retired Inspector from the San Franisco Police Department. In fact, Mr. Lamb pokes a little fun at a cozy mystery his wife is reading that is solved by a woman with a talking dog. :o)

The world of the Teddy Bear Collector is introduced in a way that is easy to understand and Mr. Lamb doesn't beat you over the head with it. Some cozies seem to expect you to be an expert in the field before you can read the book, but not this one.

I think that since Mr. Lamb is a retired Inspector, his portrayal of the local Sheriff's Department is a little bit more realistic than in the traditional cozy. He doesn't paint the whole department to be the typical "bumbling" idiots that couldn't solve the case without a civilian sleuth.

Overall a wonderful story with great character development. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

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Generally I am not a big fan of cozies, but I did enjoy this book because of the author's writing style. He is a wee bit sarcastic, and occasionally pokes gentle fun at the cozy genre. I also like the fact that the protagonist is a retired detective - it makes this book somewhat more plausible that other cozy series. I recommend this book for both cozy-lovers and general mystery fans.

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I found that I really cared what happened with Brad and Ash the main characters. That compeled me to keep turning the pages until I finished the story. I'm looking forward to the next book in what promises to be a fun series.

This novel is full of delightfully sleazy bad guys, plot twists and surprises, and an accurate, detailed depiction of police and detective work that stays interesting and never becomes pedantic. It's a very satisfying read. And yes, there are teddy bears. I'm sure teddy bear fans will be delighted. I certainly was even though I wouldn't even know how to stuff one let alone sew one!

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Skillfully blends elements of the traditional cozy with the gritty instincts of a tough but tender ex-homicide detective -- Ellen Byerrum
Well done, intriguing mystery... very enjoyable read

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I thought this book was a very good read. No humor like I like but it was not a book I could not read before bed and have nightmares. It had enough suspence in it for me and I already ordered the second book. The main people were very likeable.

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I really enjoyed this book--the writing style is different, the fact that the main character is a man and a "cop". Characters were well written and I really like Brad and Ash--looking forward to learning more about some of te supporting characters, esp. Sergei. Looking forward to the next one already!

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This little Virginia town at the foot of the Shenandoah Valley is a regular hot bed of illicit activity. Let's see, the sheriff couldn't be bothered to investigate a suspicious death, even though retired San Francisco cop, Brad Lyon flat out told him and showed him the proof. The local pastor is selling stolen merchandise at his monthly flea markets right across the street from the sheriff's office. If any of the cops question the sheriff's orders, they are immediately fired for insubordination. Oh yeah, can you say corrupt cop? It really hits the fan when the sheriff's son, Sergeant Trent gives Brad and his wife a ticket for running a red light that was green and then threatens Ashleigh. Brad has every intention of letting all the mysteries slide until this incident, then he was out for blood.

An entertaining and rather exciting hunt follows with many twists and even a few surprises. Definitely a series I will be continuing.

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This book is pretty much as you'd expect from the cover. It is a good mystery, but a little on the light and fluffy side. If you're looking for a quick little entertaining diversion, this is just right. If you want more substance to your mysteries, you should probably pass.

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