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A review by rebelbelle13
A Deadly Grind by Victoria Hamilton
4.0
I had a lot of fun with this cozy mystery. You have to remember while reading these to not take the story or the characters too seriously. They aren't supposed to be the next great American classic. They are meant to be fast, fun, entertaining reads. There are a few minor sticking points, as there always seem to be with these- Jaymie isn't the smartest main character, she second guesses herself, asks way too many questions and hides important information from police. That being said, she's also quite brave, independent, stands up for what she wants and believes in, and is always quick to help out her neighbors and friends. She's also strong and resilient in getting over her boyfriend, Joel walking out on her.
The other reason I hesitate to rate this cozy a 5 star is it seems to lack editing. There's way too many mentions of the names 'summer porch' and 'Hoosier' and the fact that Canada is a ferry ride away. We get it, Hamilton. You only need to say those things a few times, not every other page. That aside, I loved all of the mention of vintage kitchen implements and recipes. My mother had a huge collection of these things while I was growing up, so I was familiar with everything Jaymie mentioned in the book. It was like a warm hug from the past.
The mystery was engaging and interesting, and I didn't have it figured out until the reveal. I don't like the fact that it seems that Jaymie is headed for a love triangle- so perhaps I won't be reading the next one in this series.
All in all, it was satisfying and fun.
The other reason I hesitate to rate this cozy a 5 star is it seems to lack editing. There's way too many mentions of the names 'summer porch' and 'Hoosier' and the fact that Canada is a ferry ride away. We get it, Hamilton. You only need to say those things a few times, not every other page. That aside, I loved all of the mention of vintage kitchen implements and recipes. My mother had a huge collection of these things while I was growing up, so I was familiar with everything Jaymie mentioned in the book. It was like a warm hug from the past.
The mystery was engaging and interesting, and I didn't have it figured out until the reveal. I don't like the fact that it seems that Jaymie is headed for a love triangle- so perhaps I won't be reading the next one in this series.
All in all, it was satisfying and fun.