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cleansetolovers's review
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A solid, twisty debut from Connor. Good pacing, snappy dialogue and the world is built out really nicely. Excited to see this series continue!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Homophobia
jessoehrlein's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
2.5
This feels like it's setting up for a series in the neighborhood, but there were a lot of characters, and I didn't find anyone particularly compelling.
The mystery aspect was... fine?After the first bit of information that really solidly pointed toward Leon, it was hard to imagine it would be anyone else.
The mystery aspect was... fine?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Homophobia
letsgolesbians's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Homophobia
20sidedbi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Chronic illness, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
chezler24's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Choosing this book as one of my first cozy mysteries was definitely a good choice for me. I look forward to seeing how this series continues and what new mysteries CJ Connor can cook up after this debut novel. The small business and board game aspects worked for me, but I would love to see the pacing and the mystery (especially the red herrings, deductions, and suspects) cleaned up just a tad. I felt like a new suspect was introduced a bit too late in the story, and, by that point, I was already fairly confident about who the killer was. (Hopefully, this critique isn't just because I'm fairly new to the cozy genre.) With that being said, I loved the setting and the main character, Ben. I definitely think mystery lovers should give this new series a shot because I simply love the melding of board games and murder mysteries.
Also! Go and play Nertz! I was introduced to this competitive solitaire-like game via this book and was instantly hooked!
Learned a new book term! Quozy = queer cozy
Read an Advanced Reader Copy/Uncorrected Proof
Also! Go and play Nertz! I was introduced to this competitive solitaire-like game via this book and was instantly hooked!
Learned a new book term! Quozy = queer cozy
Read an Advanced Reader Copy/Uncorrected Proof
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia and Murder
ezwolf's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Ben is a (just turned) thirty year old professor who comes home to help care for his father and take over running his board game store. One night a murder takes place right on their front porch and Ben and the flower shop owner next door, Ezra, set out to prove Ben's innocence.
This was certainly an interesting book. I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it. It was entertaining and Ben's relationship with his dad felt very real and genuine to me. Ben and Ezra's team up and flirting (unintentional or otherwise) was also cute. The community between the shop keepers had a very found family feel to it which was also nice.
I wasn't a fan of how the author seemed to switch between out right pop culture references and ones that were just alluding to the work. There were also, what seemed to be, an abundance of long metaphors.
The ending was interesting. And I'm not sure how to describe how so. It wasn't a bad ending, it was just kind of laughable? But I think it was sort of intended that way.
Overall if you're looking for a queer murder mystery with a more relaxed feel to it, then I think this is the right book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!
This was certainly an interesting book. I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it. It was entertaining and Ben's relationship with his dad felt very real and genuine to me. Ben and Ezra's team up and flirting (unintentional or otherwise) was also cute. The community between the shop keepers had a very found family feel to it which was also nice.
I wasn't a fan of how the author seemed to switch between out right pop culture references and ones that were just alluding to the work. There were also, what seemed to be, an abundance of long metaphors.
The ending was interesting. And I'm not sure how to describe how so. It wasn't a bad ending, it was just kind of laughable? But I think it was sort of intended that way.
Overall if you're looking for a queer murder mystery with a more relaxed feel to it, then I think this is the right book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Religious bigotry, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Homophobia, Bullying, Terminal illness, and Violence
Minor: Ableism and Animal cruelty
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