Reviews

Publishable By Death by ACF Bookens

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bevgrey's review against another edition

4.0

Good book. The mystery was clever, the culprit wasn't obvious and I liked most of the characters. In fact, I was envious of the main character's ability to make friends so quickly, not to mention meet the requisite handsome man so early in her new life.

One slight caution: If you are someone who finds people being politically correct annoying, don't bother reading the book. I'm fine with it, but there are some out there who still don't get it.

whiteteacat's review against another edition

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lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

estherfilbrun's review

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4.0

What a great mystery, with a sweet small-town feel! I don’t know how else to describe it. I love mysteries, but I often try to not read too many, because I don’t like having to always stay up at all hours of the night reading because the book is a thriller. Those books have their place, and a very important one in my reading diet, but sometimes I just need a lighter, easier, restful story. And if a mystery can be paired with an interesting and relaxing read, I’m game.

I love books set in smallish towns, where the characters all become good friends and help each other. This one had so many different fun little businesses in it, especially the bookshop, which I fell in love with. I’d love to visit this place if it were real! Besides the setting, the mystery was also well-done. Just enough red herrings to keep us guessing, just enough advances (or not!) to keep the story moving along without getting too bogged down. And the writing style, while not the most amazing I’ve ever seen, was still good.

There were some parts I felt could have been perhaps over-emphasized; racism and different “races” of people (white, African American, Asian, etc…) were a big deal in here, and there were a couple of gay characters. These are, of course, up to the author’s decision to include or not, and I did find the history surrounding the Green Book fascinating. But for my tastes, these did feel somewhat overdone—and for that, I can’t give it a full five-star rating.

If you’re looking for a good cozy mystery, and don’t mind the things mentioned in the last paragraph, check this book out. It’s not a Christian book, but I’m sure some would enjoy it anyway.

I was given a free review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

fuzzkins's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

taaya's review

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

First of all this doesn't feel like Cozy Crime. Okay, maybe, as a fantasy reader, I just don't get what Cozy means to the crime community. But there's so much past trauma and highlighting the racist past of the United States that it feels more like a normal, even somewhat sociocritical crime and not like being wrapped in a soft blanket with warm drink (what cozy, to me, should feel like).

I like that I never knew where the story would end up.

I had actually thought perhaps the love interest would be the murderer, because we read him get the security code. Also, he's too perfect to be likeable, so I WANTED him to be the murderer. But there had also been the possibility of Marcus' mum perhaps being the first victim's half-sister and that being the reason for the victim's hatred towards her and that perhaps Marcus avenged his mother?

I was a little sad that the actual revelation was a lot less meaningful than everything my brain could come up. But I did NOT guess the murderer and motif, guess for crime people that's a plus.

And like the revelation, it's also a bit ... off that everyone's life seems to suddenly revolve around the protagonist. Okay, that one helps the new neighbour a bit, granted. But the best friend gives up her job and seems to pay for everything, other friends jet across a continent to visit her, and everyone is constantly around her and doing things for her, mostly for free? Not to mention that there are WAY too many people to remember who is who. This is almost a George RR Martin-size cast. And they're strangely immature for people over 40. This could've been a YA novel, too.

My final negative point: What the hell is going on with the police? Yeah, the Sheriff is nice as a person. But from a German point of view entirely incompetent. Like ... why the hell didn't he close down the shop and call forensics to comb through EVERYTHING? And the protagonist should get a hefty fine for hindering the police (holding back knowledge as well as evidence).

And I'm not sure what to think about the black history part of the book. I like that it's not glossed over that the US were (and are) racist. I like learning about the Green Book, never had heard of it before. But the way it works potentially retraumatising topics (in-depth) into the story, ... It would have at least needed Content Notes. (It was also a bit too on the nose, a bit too trauma p*rn-y. I hope the author has a personal connection to the trauma involved, because as an otherwise marginalised person, it would be a bit icky to talk about a trauma that isn't one's own in that particular way. But since I don't know the author I can't tell and don't know how to feel about that bit of the story.)

All in all ... The crime part with me not being able to guess the murderer was executed (no pun intended) well and the novel doesn't shy away from darker chapters of history. But there were too many things bugging me to give it more than 2.5 stars.

Content Warnings

tracy_j's review against another edition

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lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

A fast paced cozy mystery. I loved that the MC was in her 40s and that the other characters had range as well. Is was a bit too over the top with how amazing her community was and that she kept saying it over and over 😂. We'll see if I continue the series.

Content Warnings