Blog Tour Review of A Story to Kill by Lynn Cahoon

Series: Cat Latimer Mystery #1
Publisher: Kensington
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: August 30th, 2016
Challenges: NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | OmniLit*  | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

A new series from the author of the Tourist Trap Mysteries!

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:

Several of my blogging friends have had good things to say about Cahoon's Tourist Trap mysteries so when I had the chance to start her new series, I jumped at it. It helped that the premise was appealing; a former English professor turned writer who also leads writing retreats? Catnip!

"A Story To Kill" did not disappoint. The story captured me from page one; if not for sleep and work, I would have kept reading all the way through. I tried to stay up until the wee hours to finish it but I was sick and tired and my body said "Sleep!" The story kept me guessing as to who the killer was. I had several guesses and one was accurate. But, there were actually multiple mysteries, some of which were wrapped up by the end and one which continues. It seems like it will run through several books, maybe the entire series? The different threads were woven together seamlessly and the action never slowed down. One thing I didn't expect was the heavy romance aspect in the story. Cozies often have a romance but it's not usually the focus. It was a focus in "A Story To Kill"; so much so that you could consider this a romantic suspense/mystery novel and not just a cozy mystery. The love interest, Seth, though he's mostly likable, was too assertive and cocky for my tastes. It took me a while to warm up to him. Frankly, I'd be just as happy if Cahoon dispensed with the romance or took it down several notches.

I liked our heroine, Cat, and her friend and business partner Shauna. They're smart, capable, clever and very relatable. I'm looking forward to learning more about both of them as the series progresses and I'm very curious as to how Cahoon will pull off having murders occur on a regular basis in this small town. If they keep happening at Cat's B&B, she'll be out of business in no time!

Pick up a copy of  "A Story to Kill", you won't be sorry. Multiple mysteries, an inside look at writing, a fun setting, a romance, there's something for every reader.
 
About Lynn:

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Lynn Cahoon is an Idaho native. If you’d visit the town where she grew up, you’d understand why her mysteries and romance novels focus around the depth and experience of small town life. Currently, she’s living in a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi river where her imagination tends to wander. She lives with her husband and two fur babies.

Find Lynn Online:

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5857424.Lynn_Cahoon
Twitter – https://twitter.com/LynnCahoon
Facebook –https://www.facebook.com/LynnCahoonAuthor
Website – http://lynncahoon.com/
Amazon Author Page – http://www.amazon.com/Lynn-Cahoon/e/B0082PWOAO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

 

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