Reviews

Guidebook to Murder by Lynn Cahoon

emilyrose_isreading's review against another edition

3.0

This was okay, I'm not interested in continuing the series however I didn't dislike it

gracefullypunk's review against another edition

1.0

Apparently there will be more books in this series, but I'm not even tempted to check them out. This is honestly one of the worst mysteries I've read. The author repeatedly uses tired tropes and worn-out cliches, and fails to distinguish the revolving cast of characters in a way that makes them stick in the mind. She puts the story in a small town on the Central California coast for some reason. While it might've been good to make that more of an essential part of the plot -- almost a character, even -- it's clear she's not all that familiar with the area or the people. The characters are poorly drawn and the heroine quite unlikeable. Finished it simply to confirm that my suspicions were right about whodunit.

swoo's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.75

I am a bit disappointed by this book. Jill inherits a house and immediately starts remodeling it. She doesn'  know if she gets to keep the house or whether it will be torn down. Yet we decide to spend thousands of dollars to upgrade the interior. Her repeated disregard to the value of money - hey, Miss Emily lived frugal all her life for you to squander it. Her hang-up on the good-looking detective. So many stupid decisions...

skyeb_'s review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

4.0

badseedgirl's review against another edition

4.0

I am a dyed-in-the-wool horror, and science fiction fangirl. I love the sound of organs slowly sliding from an eviscerated body. I relish the moans from the undead. Nothing makes me happier than the vision of an apocalypse; be it by invading alien horde, off course meteors, or plagues that only spare type AB positive, left handed children under the age of 10.675 years of polish decent.

But I also love reading stories about little old ladies, lazy Scottish police constables, and slightly plump cookie boutique owners who can't take a step out their front door without stumbling over a dead body. That's right I love a cozy mystery. My love of this genre stems from an early age. Even as a child I religiously watched "Murder She Wrote".

I was thrilled to find this series. It has everything I want in a cozy mystery. There is a charming heroine who stumbles into a mystery. She is just the right amount of prickly and sweet. There is humor injected in a regular basis. and best of all, I can finish the book in a day or two. This was a wonderful series, but the book ended a tad abruptly.

4 of 5 stars

tiffthelibrarian's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

3.0

aade6705's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad fast-paced

4.0

rachelellyn's review against another edition

2.0

I really had a hard time within the first few chapters of buying the idea that Jill, the retired divorce-court lawyer turned coffee and book shop owner, would just assume everyone in the town is a nincompoop and that she would have get to the bottom of the death of her friend.

I wanted to like this book, but the plot just left me frustrated.

mhsenglish's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

3.5

nick_27's review against another edition

5.0

After rereading this book for the second time my initial review from 2015 still stands; however, i was definitely blind to cozy mystery motifs then, as it was my first cozy mystery I've read.