Helpful Score: 1
Lynn Cahoon has written a very good mystery with an appealing main character. The setting is a winner, too, and I loved the house Cat inherited as well as learning how she and her business partner/friend Shauna had set up the retreat. This isn't the first cozy with a retreat-type setting that I've read, so I found it interesting that Cat hadn't thought to run background checks on her attendees either. That should probably be the very first tip in "Craft & Writers' Retreats for Dummies." (Don't google it; I made that title up.) I also wondered about having Seth do all that remodeling work on the house while the retreat was being held. There were supplies and tools out in the yard, a lot of hammering going on, and traffic with the aforementioned Seth and supplies on the same stairs the guests were using. As clumsy (and oblivious) as I know people can be, I would think Cat would finish the remodeling before she ran her first retreat to avoid possible injuries and law suits. I know, I know... she didn't have enough money to do it that way-- and Seth needed to be around a lot of the time.
With the exception of Shauna, Seth, and Cat's uncle, the secondary cast doesn't stand out much, and since I'm the type of mystery reader who doesn't like much romance in her whodunits, there was way too much tingling going on between Cat and Seth. Enough that I really don't care to read further in the series. But that's just me-- the love-is-in-the-air element may tickle you pink, and I hope it does.
A Story to Kill ends on a bit of a cliffhanger concerning Cat's ex-husband, and it should draw you right into the next book in the series, Fatality by Firelight. Cat Latimer is a stellar main character and so is the writers' retreat setting. If romance is your thing, add that to what you will hopefully find to be a very enjoyable mystery.
With the exception of Shauna, Seth, and Cat's uncle, the secondary cast doesn't stand out much, and since I'm the type of mystery reader who doesn't like much romance in her whodunits, there was way too much tingling going on between Cat and Seth. Enough that I really don't care to read further in the series. But that's just me-- the love-is-in-the-air element may tickle you pink, and I hope it does.
A Story to Kill ends on a bit of a cliffhanger concerning Cat's ex-husband, and it should draw you right into the next book in the series, Fatality by Firelight. Cat Latimer is a stellar main character and so is the writers' retreat setting. If romance is your thing, add that to what you will hopefully find to be a very enjoyable mystery.
A Likely Story is the first in the Cat Latimer Mystery series. Catherine "Cat" Latimer has moved back to her hometown of Aspen Hills, Colorado after her ex-husband Michael left her the Victorian mansion they had once shared. Cat is a retired English Professor who has now found her way as a successful author. She and her best friend Shauna Clodagh have turned the home into a Bed and Breakfast that hosts a monthly writer's retreat.
The ladies are looking forward to their first group of writers which include Best selling mystery writer Tom Cook, local grad student Sara, romance writing sisters Rose and Daisy, and aspiring author Billy Williams. The retreat gets off to a rocky start when the group visits Covington College, where Tom Cook was once an attendee. He engages in a somewhat nasty conversation with presiding Dean Larry Vargas and it soon becomes apparent the two have history. When Tom is later found murdered in his guest room at the B & B, Cat is determined to find the killer and save her fledgling business.
With the help of Shauna, her Uncle Pete Edmond who also happens to be the local Chief of Police and high school boyfriend now turned handyman Seth Howard, Cat soon uncovers a secret in Tom's past. Tom's widow Linda has arrived to claim her husband's body and reveals that the couple was once best friends with Dean Vargas and his girlfriend Gloria Jenson. One summer month Gloria mysteriously disappeared and was never found. Linda believes that her husband was writing his newest novel about the cold case and fears this has led to his death.
As a sideline to the main mystery, Cat also begins to realize that her philandering husband, well known for his escapes with his female undergrad students, might have been hiding a secret of his own. Suspicions soon surface that perhaps Michael hadn't died from a heart attack as originally thought, but was also murdered. This mystery is not solved at the conclusion of the book and definitely will feature in upcoming installments.
A fast paced storyline that had me hooked from page one. A great cast of characters, a cozy setting in a small town and just the right touch of romance.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
The ladies are looking forward to their first group of writers which include Best selling mystery writer Tom Cook, local grad student Sara, romance writing sisters Rose and Daisy, and aspiring author Billy Williams. The retreat gets off to a rocky start when the group visits Covington College, where Tom Cook was once an attendee. He engages in a somewhat nasty conversation with presiding Dean Larry Vargas and it soon becomes apparent the two have history. When Tom is later found murdered in his guest room at the B & B, Cat is determined to find the killer and save her fledgling business.
With the help of Shauna, her Uncle Pete Edmond who also happens to be the local Chief of Police and high school boyfriend now turned handyman Seth Howard, Cat soon uncovers a secret in Tom's past. Tom's widow Linda has arrived to claim her husband's body and reveals that the couple was once best friends with Dean Vargas and his girlfriend Gloria Jenson. One summer month Gloria mysteriously disappeared and was never found. Linda believes that her husband was writing his newest novel about the cold case and fears this has led to his death.
As a sideline to the main mystery, Cat also begins to realize that her philandering husband, well known for his escapes with his female undergrad students, might have been hiding a secret of his own. Suspicions soon surface that perhaps Michael hadn't died from a heart attack as originally thought, but was also murdered. This mystery is not solved at the conclusion of the book and definitely will feature in upcoming installments.
A fast paced storyline that had me hooked from page one. A great cast of characters, a cozy setting in a small town and just the right touch of romance.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
A Story to Kill by Lynn Cahoon is the first book in A Cat Latimer Mystery series. Cat Latimer is a former English Professor at Covington College. She has decided to start the Warm Springs Writer's Retreat in Aspen Hills, Colorado (near the college). Writers can get away from the normal environment, meet fellow writers, and have some quiet time to write. It is all thanks to her ex-husband (Michael) who recently passed away and left her this house. This is Cat's first retreat and one of the guests is Tom Cook, a bestselling writer (something Cat was not expecting). Things are going well until Cat notices that she has not seen Tom in a while. Cat finds Tom dead in his room. Cat immediately calls Chief Pete Edmond, her uncle. Who wanted Tom dead? Cat needs to get to the bottom of this mystery (it did happen in her house).
Seth Howard, her boyfriend from high school, has been fixing up the house for her and will be doing a remodel to add additional space to the house. Seth discovers a secret room in the attic but is unable to open it. When Cat finds Michael's journal, it references the room, and he even left her a key. Did any of this have something to do with his death? Then someone leaves a white carnation outside her study. Only Michael knew she loved them. This is only the beginning. Cat is in for a busy time with her writing (she writes paranormal novels), her writing retreat business, a possible romance, solving Tom's murder, and now this! Join Cat on her adventures in A Story to Kill.
I thought that there was too much romance in A Story to Kill. I do not feel that romance should not be the dominate part of a cozy mystery. The book had Cat admiring Seth's rear end in his jeans and watching "his muscles ripple". It was too much (these were just two examples). I enjoy a little romance in a cozy mystery (it needs to be subtle and play out slowly), but the lust fest was over the top (and I am not exaggerating). The mystery (main one) was so very simple and easy to solve (I knew who the murderer was when they found the body). The secondary one leaves us with a cliffhanger (it will probably take place over a series of novels). I thought the secondary mystery (about Michael) was more captivating (it definitely captured my interest). A Story to Kill as a satisfactory first novel. I think it needs some work (like less romance and lusting). I felt bad for the retreaters. Cat spent more time writing (working on her second novel) and with Seth, than with the people who paid for the retreat. I give A Story to Kill 3 out of stars. The book is nicely written and has a good pace. I will read the next book in the series to see if there is improvement.
I received a complimentary copy of the novel in exchange for an honest and forthright review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Seth Howard, her boyfriend from high school, has been fixing up the house for her and will be doing a remodel to add additional space to the house. Seth discovers a secret room in the attic but is unable to open it. When Cat finds Michael's journal, it references the room, and he even left her a key. Did any of this have something to do with his death? Then someone leaves a white carnation outside her study. Only Michael knew she loved them. This is only the beginning. Cat is in for a busy time with her writing (she writes paranormal novels), her writing retreat business, a possible romance, solving Tom's murder, and now this! Join Cat on her adventures in A Story to Kill.
I thought that there was too much romance in A Story to Kill. I do not feel that romance should not be the dominate part of a cozy mystery. The book had Cat admiring Seth's rear end in his jeans and watching "his muscles ripple". It was too much (these were just two examples). I enjoy a little romance in a cozy mystery (it needs to be subtle and play out slowly), but the lust fest was over the top (and I am not exaggerating). The mystery (main one) was so very simple and easy to solve (I knew who the murderer was when they found the body). The secondary one leaves us with a cliffhanger (it will probably take place over a series of novels). I thought the secondary mystery (about Michael) was more captivating (it definitely captured my interest). A Story to Kill as a satisfactory first novel. I think it needs some work (like less romance and lusting). I felt bad for the retreaters. Cat spent more time writing (working on her second novel) and with Seth, than with the people who paid for the retreat. I give A Story to Kill 3 out of stars. The book is nicely written and has a good pace. I will read the next book in the series to see if there is improvement.
I received a complimentary copy of the novel in exchange for an honest and forthright review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
