Reviews

Have a Deadly New Year by Lynn Cahoon

sprinklesofspooky's review

4.0

This is a super fun novella in the Angie Turner/ Farm to Fork series by Lynn Cahoon.

While catering a New Year’s event at a secluded cabin, after a guest is stabbed, Angie and her staff must find the killer.

If you love the series, Lynn’s books, or cozy mysteries, this is a great, fast read.

Many thanks to Kensington Books and NetGally for providing me with a digital ARC.

kristirose's review

mysterious fast-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? No

3.25

Ended way too abruptly.  I went back twice to make sure I hadn't missed anything, but I hadn't.  The killer is revealed, and it just stops cold turkey.

peggyemi's review against another edition

4.0

This is a short novella that gives readers a quick visit with Angie Turner and the rest of the characters from the Farm-to-Fork Mystery series. This was a quick, fun, enjoyable read. In my opinion, Ms. Cahoon writes terrific novellas for her series. She has created such wonderful characters that I enjoy any chance I get to visit with them. Angie and her employees are hired to cater an event for an old friend of Felicia's who also happens to be a famous rock star. Unfortunately, murder just seems to follow Angie. The characters in this story are all well rounded and diverse which adds to the enjoyment. Ms. Cahoon continues to develop and grow them even with the limited amount of space the novella provides. The mystery was well done. Given that there were not a lot of people around when the murder was committed, the small suspect pool does not detract from the readers attempt to guess the killer's identity and motive.

I enjoy all of Ms. Cahoon's cozy mystery series and will be back for more in this one. I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley.

bookwoman37's review

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

 

I enjoyed this Holiday Novella.  Angie and her staff are catering a private New Year Dinner for a Rock N' Roll band at a singer's house in Sun Valley.  When the band leaves the next morning for LA they will get to stay at the house and enjoy a week's retreat.  During the dinner all is not well between the band members.  Most of the party goers choose to leave early.  The next morning there is a snow storm and a dead body.  The sheriff has a missing child to find so it is up to them to solve the crime and stay safe.  The story is short and it moves along quickly.  The mystery was OK but there were not many suspects and it was easy to solve.  I did like the characters and country house setting. I will be reading more in this series.  Enjoy this fun Holiday novella.

 

melmo2610's review

4.0

A fun holiday mystery with Angie and the gang. The story was good and the mystery was interesting. I enjoyed the premise of Angie and her friends catering for the rock band and the added issue of being snowed in with a killer made for an enjoyable read. Looking forward to the next Farm-To-Fork book.

I received this book from NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

randombookgrl's review

4.0

Fun novella that is a quick read. The story makes me want to go back to the previous books in order to find out more about the characters. Looking forward to reading more of this series!

sadiereadthat's review

mysterious fast-paced

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

4.25

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This is a vey short cozy mystery. We have a crew that goes to the very large house of a major music star and old acquaintance to cater an event and have a group retreat. However, those plans are derailed when someone is murdered. The leader of this catering crew seems to be a bit of an accidental sleuth, so while they are all locked in this house waiting on the sheriff who it delayed by a blizzard, she and her crew solve the crime. 

This was probably too short. I felt a little let down by how quickly everything wrapped up. I think this is indicative that this was a good book. I really did enjoy it and I think the rest of her books would also be enjoyable. 

heatherj818's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

bugabusu's review

4.0

Have a Deadly New Year by Lynn Cahoon is a fun murder mystery novella. All your favorite characters are trapped in a snowed in house over the New Years holiday with the members of a crazy, old rock band. Ms. Cahoon sets the scene, murders the fading rockstar, and solves the mystery in just a few pages. And manages to add a touch of humor and romance along the way. The story grips your right at the beginning and luckily it won’t take you long to learn what happened. A great short read for in between holiday cooking and preparation for New Year’s Day.

amythebookbat's review

3.0

I think I might like this series. This novella was a little on the short side and I feel like it moved just a wee bit too fast. I would have liked a little more character development, but it was still a decent story. I think if I had read the previous stories in the series, I would have liked it better since I would have known the MCs better.