Read to Death by Terrie Farley Moran is the third book in A Read Em and Eat Mystery series. Sassy Cabot and Bridgy Mayfield are taking the Cool Reads Warm Climate Book Club on an outing to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. The tour ties in with the book The Florida Life of Thomas Edison the group just finished reading. Everyone has a good time and they return to Red Em and Eat in high spirits. Bridgy forgot her sunglasses in the van and goes out to retrieve them. Upon hearing a scream, Sassy runs out to investigate. Their van driver, Oscar Frieland is dead. The police are called and Lt. Frank Anthony shows up (assigned the case). Everyone is separated and held for questioning. Bridgy ends up the main suspect (she just went to get sunglasses) and that does not sit well with Sassy. Sassy is determined to find the culprit. Of course, Bridgy's mother, Emelia decides to come visit and brings Sassy's mother, Sage with her (this should be interesting). Can the group find out who killed Oscar before Bridgy ends up in the brig?
Read to Death is nicely written and had a good pace which made for an easy to read book. The mystery was a bit of a letdown. Oscar made a comment (before he died), and I knew he would be the victim. A comment from someone else told me the name of the killer before the murder even occurred. I liked the setting of the novel in Fort Myers Beach. It was interesting to read about their trip to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates (I have always wanted to visit). I liked most of the characters in the book the one exception was Sage, Sassy's mother. I thought she was too over-the-top and extremely annoying (and pushy instead of funny). I give Read to Death 3.5 out of 5 stars. I just felt that book was lacking. We get quite a bit of information about the city, the sites, and books. I wish the author had put a more work into the mystery as she did the research on the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. I found some information to be repeated a few times and there were way too many references (more than eight) to the Heap-a-Jeep (the main characters' car). Will I read the next book in A Read Em and Eat Mystery series? Of course. This could have just been an off book in an otherwise enjoyable series.
I received a complimentary copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Read to Death is nicely written and had a good pace which made for an easy to read book. The mystery was a bit of a letdown. Oscar made a comment (before he died), and I knew he would be the victim. A comment from someone else told me the name of the killer before the murder even occurred. I liked the setting of the novel in Fort Myers Beach. It was interesting to read about their trip to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates (I have always wanted to visit). I liked most of the characters in the book the one exception was Sage, Sassy's mother. I thought she was too over-the-top and extremely annoying (and pushy instead of funny). I give Read to Death 3.5 out of 5 stars. I just felt that book was lacking. We get quite a bit of information about the city, the sites, and books. I wish the author had put a more work into the mystery as she did the research on the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. I found some information to be repeated a few times and there were way too many references (more than eight) to the Heap-a-Jeep (the main characters' car). Will I read the next book in A Read Em and Eat Mystery series? Of course. This could have just been an off book in an otherwise enjoyable series.
I received a complimentary copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Dollycas's Thoughts
The Cool Reads/Warm Climate Book Club goes on a field trip but it ends badly. The van driver, Oscar, is killed on the van after all the book club members have scurried off. Bridgy ends up finding his body when she returns to look for her missing sunglasses and that makes her the prime suspect for his death. Everyone knows she is innocent but the police don't appear to be looking for other suspects. Before Bridgy is reading her books in a jail cell she and Sassy with the help of their friends do their best to find the real killer.
I have escaped right into all three books in this series. Sassy and Bridgy are fabulous characters and I wish the Read Em and Eat bookstore café actually existed because I want to visit and meet them, Miguel, Ophie, and all the other characters that come through the doors. I really enjoy reading about the teenage book group and all the things they do.
The plot was terrific, just as I knew it would be. Plenty of suspects with plenty of twists. As each suspect was eliminated the focus kept returning to our Bridgy. When things seemed too dire Ophie always came to the rescue to brighten things up. Things were a little tense when her sister, Bridgy's mom, came to town but Sassy's mom came too and that helped to lift the tension. These women love to shop and you can't stay mad when you are shopping.
Of course the setting was pure bliss and we get to see many different places as the girl's investigation continued. We also traveled to some touristy spots to keep one certain mother out of Miguel's kitchen.
An truly captivating cozy! Great characters with great relationships, an intriguing whodunit in a delightful setting! I can't wait to return to the Read Em and Eat!
I highly recommend the entire series!
The Cool Reads/Warm Climate Book Club goes on a field trip but it ends badly. The van driver, Oscar, is killed on the van after all the book club members have scurried off. Bridgy ends up finding his body when she returns to look for her missing sunglasses and that makes her the prime suspect for his death. Everyone knows she is innocent but the police don't appear to be looking for other suspects. Before Bridgy is reading her books in a jail cell she and Sassy with the help of their friends do their best to find the real killer.
I have escaped right into all three books in this series. Sassy and Bridgy are fabulous characters and I wish the Read Em and Eat bookstore café actually existed because I want to visit and meet them, Miguel, Ophie, and all the other characters that come through the doors. I really enjoy reading about the teenage book group and all the things they do.
The plot was terrific, just as I knew it would be. Plenty of suspects with plenty of twists. As each suspect was eliminated the focus kept returning to our Bridgy. When things seemed too dire Ophie always came to the rescue to brighten things up. Things were a little tense when her sister, Bridgy's mom, came to town but Sassy's mom came too and that helped to lift the tension. These women love to shop and you can't stay mad when you are shopping.
Of course the setting was pure bliss and we get to see many different places as the girl's investigation continued. We also traveled to some touristy spots to keep one certain mother out of Miguel's kitchen.
An truly captivating cozy! Great characters with great relationships, an intriguing whodunit in a delightful setting! I can't wait to return to the Read Em and Eat!
I highly recommend the entire series!
