peggyemi's review against another edition
4.0
This third installment to the Cat Latimer Mystery series delivers everything fans come to expect from a Lynn Cahoon story. It is located in a great location. I love the idea of a writer's retreat in a college town. In addition, she provides us with well rounded, likable characters that resonate with her readers. I very much like Cat. She strikes me as someone that could be one of my friends. Not only does the author provide us with a smart, likable, genuine lead character, but she supports her with a terrific cast of secondary characters that are mature and dimensional. Ms. Cahoon rounds out the story with a wonderful mystery that unfolds throughout the course of the book and provides her readers with enough twists and turns to keep them on their toes, guessing the identity of the killer.
This has quickly become a favorite series for me. I know that when I finish a book by this author I will have been taken on a very entertaining journey that leaves me waiting for the next book.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided by the publishers, Kensington, through Netgalley.
This has quickly become a favorite series for me. I know that when I finish a book by this author I will have been taken on a very entertaining journey that leaves me waiting for the next book.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided by the publishers, Kensington, through Netgalley.
caitkom's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series. I enjoyed this one in particular because a lot of questions were answered and the story line really moved along. Cat is prepping for another retreat. She is a little more stressed than usual because her partner, Shauna has been spending more time with her boyfriend, turned fiance, Kevin. Cat is trying to be supportive, but she really doesn't like the guy and is dreading what will happen to the retreat when/if Shauna leaves. Despite her dislike of Kevin, Cat doesn't want to see him dead, which of course, is what happens. Shauna looks like the most obvious suspect, however Cat knows she would never do such a thing.
This group of writers includes a college student from Covington, and a retired police detective from Alaska. In this installation, we see a budding romance for Uncle Pete and Cat finally learns what happened to Michael. I am hoping that if Cat is able to put the Michael issue to bed, she will be able to move forward with Seth. I don't like how snappy she can be toward him, when he bends over backwards to make her happy. I can't wait to read the next one, but I really hope there will be an improvement in their relationship.
This group of writers includes a college student from Covington, and a retired police detective from Alaska. In this installation, we see a budding romance for Uncle Pete and Cat finally learns what happened to Michael. I am hoping that if Cat is able to put the Michael issue to bed, she will be able to move forward with Seth. I don't like how snappy she can be toward him, when he bends over backwards to make her happy. I can't wait to read the next one, but I really hope there will be an improvement in their relationship.
bwilhoite8's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I love the Cat Latimer series and Lynn Cahoons writing. She's brilliant. I sadly let quite some time pass in between books. Lynn made me feel like no time pass by and got me back on track.
wildflowerz76's review against another edition
3.0
I don't really get the relationship between Cat and Seth. Their banter with each other comes across as mean. They don't seem to like each other much. And for being the owner, Cat doesn't really do a lot to run the business. Shauna does 95% of the work. Anyway, this one was fine. I've got the next one, so I'll read it.
jessa_yes's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
gotoboston's review against another edition
3.0
This is a cozy mystery that does fairly well with the mystery, but the characters are all painfully written. I don't really like any of them. And Cat's relationship with Seth is so... stilted. It's awkward and uncomfortable.
So, yea, I'm not sure how many more of these I'll go through.
So, yea, I'm not sure how many more of these I'll go through.
bookwyrm_lark's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
What keeps me reading Lynn Cahoon’s books, besides the small-town atmosphere that I enjoy, is the likeable ordinariness of the characters, especially the main characters (Jill and her police detective boyfriend Greg in the Tourist Trap mysteries; Cat, Shauna, and Cat’s former and current boyfriend Seth in this series.) By “ordinary,” I don’t mean boring; I mean they are people like my friends and neighbors. They’re not eccentric or quirky or unusually gifted. For the most part, they lead ordinary lives, and their relationships, whether romantic and friendly, go through the usual ups and downs.
The romances also progress, thank goodness. I have no patience for series that leave a possible romance in limbo forever, without resolving the question of whether they will get together and/or stay together. You can take plenty of time developing the relationship, but I need to see that is moving in some direction…and I’d like some resolution within a reasonable number of books. Thankfully, Cahoon offers that.
I said above that ordinary didn’t mean “boring,” and I meant it. That goes for the mystery plot, too. This one has several potential suspects and a few other people who might or might not be involved, and whose behavior may be completely normal or a cover for something sinister. Cahoon usually does a good job of keeping me guessing, as she did in this novel. I was a little surprised at the ending, though, and felt we hadn't been given quite enough clues to make the puzzle "fair."
There are really two mysteries in Of Murder and Men: the question of who killed Kevin and why, and a multi-book story arc surrounding the actions of Cat’s ex-husband before his death…which may not have been of natural causes. Just what Michael had been working on, and whether and how it led to his death, are still unresolved at the beginning of this mystery, which simply leads to more things for Cat to worry about, wonder about, and try to solve. Is it resolved by the end of Of Murder and Men? Like the solution to Kevin’s murder, that’s something you’ll have to read the book to find out.
A longer version of this review, with character guest post, appears on The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
FTC disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.
What keeps me reading Lynn Cahoon’s books, besides the small-town atmosphere that I enjoy, is the likeable ordinariness of the characters, especially the main characters (Jill and her police detective boyfriend Greg in the Tourist Trap mysteries; Cat, Shauna, and Cat’s former and current boyfriend Seth in this series.) By “ordinary,” I don’t mean boring; I mean they are people like my friends and neighbors. They’re not eccentric or quirky or unusually gifted. For the most part, they lead ordinary lives, and their relationships, whether romantic and friendly, go through the usual ups and downs.
The romances also progress, thank goodness. I have no patience for series that leave a possible romance in limbo forever, without resolving the question of whether they will get together and/or stay together. You can take plenty of time developing the relationship, but I need to see that is moving in some direction…and I’d like some resolution within a reasonable number of books. Thankfully, Cahoon offers that.
I said above that ordinary didn’t mean “boring,” and I meant it. That goes for the mystery plot, too. This one has several potential suspects and a few other people who might or might not be involved, and whose behavior may be completely normal or a cover for something sinister. Cahoon usually does a good job of keeping me guessing, as she did in this novel. I was a little surprised at the ending, though, and felt we hadn't been given quite enough clues to make the puzzle "fair."
There are really two mysteries in Of Murder and Men: the question of who killed Kevin and why, and a multi-book story arc surrounding the actions of Cat’s ex-husband before his death…which may not have been of natural causes. Just what Michael had been working on, and whether and how it led to his death, are still unresolved at the beginning of this mystery, which simply leads to more things for Cat to worry about, wonder about, and try to solve. Is it resolved by the end of Of Murder and Men? Like the solution to Kevin’s murder, that’s something you’ll have to read the book to find out.
A longer version of this review, with character guest post, appears on The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
FTC disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.
morticia32's review against another edition
4.0
Book 3 in the series.
I love this series. The description of Cat's home always makes me wants to attend her retreats, and the Colorado location makes this Colorado gal feel even more at home.
Cat's got the routine down for her monthly writer's retreats, with a lot of help from her partner, Shauna. But this time around Shauna's distracted by her boyfriend/fiance. Cat's worried about how she's going to run the retreats if Shauna gets married and isn't around to help anymore. But suddenly, getting married isn't what will ruin their partnership, it's murder, because Shauna is suspect #1.
Each book just gets better in this series. And we finally see an end to mystery with in the mystery of Cat's ex-husband, so I really liked that. I could do a little less with the Mobster as a potential love interest, heading toward love triangle territory, but we're not there yet, and I hope it stays that way.
I am now impatiently waiting for book 4, haha.
*I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*
I love this series. The description of Cat's home always makes me wants to attend her retreats, and the Colorado location makes this Colorado gal feel even more at home.
Cat's got the routine down for her monthly writer's retreats, with a lot of help from her partner, Shauna. But this time around Shauna's distracted by her boyfriend/fiance. Cat's worried about how she's going to run the retreats if Shauna gets married and isn't around to help anymore. But suddenly, getting married isn't what will ruin their partnership, it's murder, because Shauna is suspect #1.
Each book just gets better in this series. And we finally see an end to mystery with in the mystery of Cat's ex-husband, so I really liked that. I could do a little less with the Mobster as a potential love interest, heading toward love triangle territory, but we're not there yet, and I hope it stays that way.
I am now impatiently waiting for book 4, haha.
*I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*
dontmissythesereads's review against another edition
3.75
Book #96 read in 2022
Back at the writer's retreat, we are blessed with another group of writer's snd another mystery. Plus we are still learning about Michael's death as well. I thought this was a slower paced novel and it dragged a little. Since I chose to listen to this on audio, the similarity in all the character names made it difficult for me to keep track of who was who. That lessened the enjoyment a little. It does appear that the mystery of Michael's death has been wrapped up, do maybe the storyline with Cat and Seth can develop?
Back at the writer's retreat, we are blessed with another group of writer's snd another mystery. Plus we are still learning about Michael's death as well. I thought this was a slower paced novel and it dragged a little. Since I chose to listen to this on audio, the similarity in all the character names made it difficult for me to keep track of who was who. That lessened the enjoyment a little. It does appear that the mystery of Michael's death has been wrapped up, do maybe the storyline with Cat and Seth can develop?
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
It's time for another writer's retreat at Cat Latimer's bed and breakfast. Too bad her business partner Shauna is so involved with her new fiance. Cat's worried about whether she's going to be there to help. She's also worried because Shauna's fiance is a bit of a jerk. But it's still a surprise when he ends up dead. Even more surprising when Shauna becomes the prime suspect. But Cat knows Shauna would never hurt a fly and, more logically, why would she kill the man before they were married? Even if she was seen with rat poison before the man was killed by that same method.
There is a lot going on in this book including some movement in the storyline of Annie's now-deceased ex-husband. The ending wasn't particularly fairly clued though there were some hints here and there, especially right before the denouement.
There is a lot going on in this book including some movement in the storyline of Annie's now-deceased ex-husband. The ending wasn't particularly fairly clued though there were some hints here and there, especially right before the denouement.