Former English professor Cat Latimer is back in Colorado, hosting writers’ retreats in the big blue Victorian she’s inherited, much to her surprise, from none other than her carousing ex-husband! Now it’s an authors’ getaway—but Cat won’t let anyone get away with murder…
The bed-and-breakfast is open for business, and bestselling author Tom Cook is among its first guests. Cat doesn’t know why he came all the way from New York, but she’s glad to have him among the quirkier—and far less famous—attendees.
Cat’s high school sweetheart Seth, who’s fixing up the weathered home, brings on mixed emotions for Cat…some of them a little overpowering. But it’s her uncle, the local police chief, whom she’ll call for help when there’s a surprise ending for Tom Cook in his cozy guest room. Will a killer have the last word on the new life Cat has barely begun?
My Thoughts :
I have been enjoying the Tourist Trap Mysteries a lot so when I saw that the author, Lynn Cahoon, had another series coming out I couldn't wait to try it. A Story To Kill may have a not so spectacular cover but the contents definitely make up for it. It seems that the author has managed to come up with another interesting and unique cozy series with another set of great characters to get to know.
At first, I will admit, things didn't seem like they were going to be that good. The couple of chapters were a little off and while I can see what the author was trying to do, it just left me a little confused. If I hadn't already read her Tourist Trap Mysteries, I may have just given up on this one within the first few chapters. The jumbled information, leaving important information for later and the general mystery about Cat's circumstances was not welcoming. Luckily I kept going because the rest of the book was worth it.
Now the plot was a little twisty but the story was well thought out and I managed to follow it with no problems. I have to say I had a inkling who the murderer was but it was fun to go through the paces and get to know Cat, her friends and the other characters. Also there was always a hint of a much bigger mystery which actually turned out to be a cliffhanger. Even though I was already interested in more from this series I have to say this sealed the deal for me and I knew I would be back for more.
It is a shame that this book didn't get a nicer cover, I don't usually focus on covers when I write reviews but this one really doesn't do the book justice and doesn't even give you a feel for the great story hidden inside. This was a great cozy mystery and it deserved a better cover with more effort. This looks like some kind of stock photo off the internet.
Anyway, well worth checking out. Great debut in the new series and I am looking forward to more. The author manages to change her style a little and make A Story To Kill feel completely different to her other series. Actually it felt like she has evolved her style which made this book feel more mature and somehow better than her other series. Can't wait for more!
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