Reviews

Fatality by Firelight by Lynn Cahoon

hugbandit7's review against another edition

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5.0

I have really enjoyed this spinoff of the author's Tourist Trap series. This is the second book n the series and I want to visit this town in Colorado and stay at this retreat even though I am not a writer.

There are several mysteries happening in this series. The first is one that will be seen in probably all of the books until solved, what happened to Cat's ex-husband Michael. We gain a little more insight in this book as to what he might have been involved in or with whom.

The main mystery is the death of a local Lothario (or so he thinks) and of course one of the retreat visitors, Christina, was considered as the killer. She had some other issues back home and that seemed to add to the issue. It wasn't a huge surprise who the killer was because this character was a bit odd/suspicious to me. I also did figure out another aspect having to do with Christina's issues back home.

I like seeing Cat and Seth's relationship continue. However, there is the introduction of Dante, that while it isn't likely to become a love triangle, he does seem to be actively pursuing Cat. And how exactly does Dante fit into the story about her ex-husband? Only future books will tell us I think!

Overall great book and can't wait to read more.

kristen2193's review against another edition

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lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

3.75

peggyemi's review against another edition

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5.0

I absolutely loved this book. I think it was even better than the first which I enjoyed tremendously. Fatality by Firelight has all of the components that I look for in a cozy mystery series and then some. This is a wonderfully written, fast paced story full of mystery and intrigue. I thought the mystery itself was very strong and Ms. Cahoon supplied us as readers with great twists and turns along with the unexpected. I just kept turning the pages trying to get in one last chapter. I also think that the characters are well crafted. For the second book in a series they have depth, dimension and already feel like old friends. I can't wait until the next book in this series because it is fast becoming one of my favorites and I am hooked.

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided by the publisher through Netgalley.

caitkom's review against another edition

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4.0

Cat Latimer is hosting her second writer's retreat in her Aspen Hills house. One of her guests has taken a fancy to a local guy who happens to be engaged. When he ends up dead, and Cat's guest was the last to see him she becomes the prime suspect. Cat uses her detective skills to prove her guest's innocence and find the real killer. I like this series a lot. The characters are developing nicely andI secretly wish I could go to a writers retreat, although I'd prefer it without the dead body!

meezcarrie's review against another edition

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5.0

Fatality by Firelight is the second book in the Cat Latimer mystery series by Lynn Cahoon, and I enjoyed it even more than I did the first one. My fave characters all returned (Cat, Shauna, Seth, Uncle Pete) and a whole new batch of retreaters show up for the week. Poor Cat. Maybe one day she’ll get a nice, boring, “normal” writers’ retreat but it’s probably not likely anytime soon. Not as long as Cahoon continues with the series lol.

This case takes several twists and turns, and just about the time I thought I had everything figured out… I didn’t. And then I did. And then I didn’t again. And then I did. But woven through the story is the mystery I’m most interested in – what really happened to Cat’s late ex-husband and what other clues has he left behind in their former house? I’m so loving this continuing story arc. It’s nice because the individual or “new” mysteries in each book are wrapped up by the end but this thread with her late ex-husband keeps getting more layered and more intriguing.

Bottom Line: Another terrific offering from Lynn Cahoon! You may not want to read it while you’re hungry though because you’ll find yourself craving all the delicious food cooked by Shauna. (Don’t ask me how I know this.) Well-plotted with engaging characters and a cozy setting, Fatality by Firelight is the perfect choice for a night in by the fire or a weekend escape.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)

see my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower

wildflowerz76's review against another edition

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3.0

This is number 2 in this series. I liked the first one fine. But there were a few things that annoyed me. I found them worse in this book. I find the nonstop badgering of the MC about her love life to be highly annoying. Her friend literally tells her she looks like hell almost every morning. The love interest is annoying. The mystery was entirely too far-fetched. I'm not going to spoil the plot points, but it just wasn't logical. There were also a lot of grammatical error. And continuity errors. I may be mistaken, but I thought she finished her book at the end of the last one. Now in this one, that seems to not be the case. There was more, but I can't remember now. I have the next two and I'll read them, but I've got some ARCs piling up, so I'm taking a break from these for now.

girlonthecsaw's review against another edition

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4.0

Love this series!!! I had to pace myself so I wouldn't finish it too soon because then I have to wait for #3. The characters are wonderful, the mystery is engaging and resolved in a satisfactory manner. I really wish the Warm Springs Retreat was a real place -I'd love to visit- well, minus the murders.

gotoboston's review against another edition

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4.0

I felt like this one was a lot better paced. I got into the characters more and I definitely am so curious about the mystery of what her ex-husband was involved with. But, the relationship between Cat and her boyfriend is doing nothing for me. They are so boring and just thrown together. There was no build up or tension or really any reason for the two of them to be together beyond having a past. Dante is an interesting new addition, though I'm not sure if the author is going the Stephanie Plum direction of having a 'good boy' love interest and a 'bad boy' love interest. Either way, I'm curious to see what happens next.

morticia32's review against another edition

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3.0

Book 2 in the series.

I am enjoying this series. The Colorado setting, the writer's retreats, the main mystery, I loved it. The writing is tight, the characters are well developed and mostly likeable.

What I am not loving is the secondary plot-line that is dragging on and dragging more people in. I am not a fan of "To Be Continued" in anything. In the first book, it was a bit more subtle. With book 2, it's as much a part of the book as the current murder and I am not liking that so much. I would really like to see it given its own book and wrapped up so Cat can move on.

As a result, I just can't give this book more than a 3 star rating. I liked it, but I didn't love it. I am still looking forward to reading book 3 in the series.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book received from the publisher, via NetGalley*

lunifur's review against another edition

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5.0

**I voluntarily reviewed this ARC**

I love this series! You'll definitely want to read the books in order since part of the story is continued from the first book. Both storylines in it are really well-written, and I can't wait for the next one.