Author: Brianna Bates
Genre: Mystery
Digital Book
ASIN #: B019M34ALK
Independently Published
189 Pages
$2.99 Amazon
January 8, 2016
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Not even a sighting of Missy's hot ex-boyfriend at the bookstore where she works can deter her from her flea market quest. It's a perfect September Saturday for garage sale shopping in tiny Grove City, Pennsylvania -- blue skies, seventy-five degrees -- and Missy DeMeanor is set on scoring that cabinet she's had her eye on. Driving a hard bargain is one thing, but now the seller is dead -- and the so-handsome investigating officer says it's murder!
Who should the investigating officer turn out to be but Tyler Brock, the boy Missy dated in high school, recently returned to Grove City after a decade in Philadelphia, with an undetermined marital status. And he's acting like he still has feelings for her -- when he's not asking pointed questions and scribbling in his notebook. Surely Tyler doesn't think she's a killer!
But the who town seems in on family secrets Missy's just learning that could be a strong motive -- secrets about a business deal gone bad between the murdered man and Missy's own father, and about a violent incident involving her mother, whom even Tyler acknowledges to be "the sweetest woman on earth." Even worse than being suspected of murder? Missy's mother being suspected of murder. Things have gotten so out of hand that Missy deduces her friend Noreen, the avid mystery reader, is right: it's up to Missy to find the killer! And like that a talented amateur sleuth is born.
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Missy DeMeanor works at a used bookstore and in her spare time sells items she's refurbished and found at garage sales, at a local flea market. One morning she's determined to purchase a cabinet from an elderly friend, and they strike a deal. The cabinet is in the yard with the rest of his garage sale items, but when she needs change to pay him, she finds his dog Cody barking like crazy and his door open. When she steps into the home she discovers him dead, and immediately calls 911.
The arriving officer is her ex-boyfriend Tyler Brock, recently returned from Philadelphia and now a detective with the local force. After questioning her, she's allowed to leave, taking Cody with her. Somehow, she's acquired a dog, when she never knew she wanted one. But when she discovers that not only she, but her mother is also a suspect, her best friend Noreen convinces her to investigate the murder, they start making a list of suspects. Unfortunately, every time she questions someone, Tyler finds out and warns her to stay out of it. But Missy isn't going down without a fight -- in fact, she's not going down at all...
This is the first book in the series, and new to me. The blurb sounded interesting, so I thought I would read the book. There are pluses to this book, and negatives as well. What I didn't like was the fact that Missy knew what she was doing was wrong -- or she would apologize to Tyler every time she saw him -- but she kept on doing it. Why investigate if you're going to be wishy-washy about it? I also didn't like Noreen pushing her to be someone she wasn't. And I really didn't like the fact that Missy kept on thinking she was fat. Low self-esteem, anyone? I also didn't understand why, since she's obviously in her late thirties, her mother was keeping secrets from her. How can they have a close relationship like that?
But I did like the plot, even if I knew who the killer was the moment that person stepped onto the page. It was pretty obvious even if Missy didn't get it. I would have liked her to explore this area more, but she never did. The story was entertaining enough to keep me reading in one sitting, and I did like the ending, even if it leaves a loose end or two (not cliffhangers, at least!). When the murderer is discovered, the climax is believable enough, and it gives us something to look forward to in the next book.
More on Brianna Bates's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/brianna-bates/
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