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theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
3.0
Live, Local, and Dead by Nikki Knight is the debut of A Vermont Radio Mystery series. I liked the idea of a main character owning a radio station in a small Vermont town. I had a challenging time, though, reading Live, Local, and Dead. The writing style made it difficult to get into the story. The author dived into the story introducing us to a variety of people including the governor who just happened to be walking by when Jaye shot the head off a snowman. There are a number of quirky characters. I felt like I was missing a novella that had introduced us to Jaye and her daughter, Ryan. The characters felt flat since we do not get background information on most of them. The story is told in the first person in a rambling style. The sentences all seemed to run together (Jaye starts talking and just keeps going). It is hard to know what Jaye is talking about half the time (I re-read some sections multiple times trying to figure out what was going on). The topics change quickly. Jaye will mention a townsperson by name, and I would wonder who they were (she would just name drop and go on to the next topic). There was a lot of politics in this book. It was too much for a cozy mystery along with the significant amount of foul language. There is at least one bad word per page (I find it offensive and off putting). The mystery has a body being found inside the snowman (clever idea) and it happens to be the radio host that Jaye discontinued using at the station. Jaye becomes a suspect especially since she shot the head off the snowman. I thought Jaye would dive into the investigation, but she seemed more concerned with romance. The crime is solved with little help (I mean very, very little) from our DJ. I wanted to like Live, Local, and Dead but it is not a good fit for me. I did not like all the political insults, the foul language, and the focus on romance instead of the mystery. I also could not relate to the main character (nor did I like her), and I was not a fan of her musical selections. I could not believe Jaye fend candy to a wild moose (I know it is fiction, but she could have fed the moose something normal). Another negative was Jaye shooting the gun in the middle of the town (she picked up the gun not knowing if it was loaded or not). It was just the start of the silliness. This book was all over the place (lacked focus). I even wonder if it fits into the cozy category since Jaye does not investigate. Jaye would rather focus on restarting her life after her divorce (and she has the hots for a certain guy). Live, Local, and Dead was not a good fit for me, but it may be right up your alley. I suggest you obtain a sample to judge for yourself. Live, Local, and Dead is an offbeat cozy mystery with a moose with a sweet tooth, a headless snowman, a cold corpse, a gregarious governor, and a divorced DJ.
bethechange_07's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! It is a cute cozy mystery with a touch of romance that takes place in Vermont. The main character has moved from NYC to a small town and is running a local radio station. She is now a single mom, but her ex-husband lives close by and his family also helps out. Their daughter is awesome.
I found the writing to be good and it kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. The characters were likable and I enjoyed the tidbits about the requests into the radio station. Overall for a cozy mystery this one was a hit for me. I would give it 4.25/5. Thanks to #NetGalley and #Dreamscape Media for this ARC audiobook in exchange for my honest review. #LiveLocalandDead
I found the writing to be good and it kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. The characters were likable and I enjoyed the tidbits about the requests into the radio station. Overall for a cozy mystery this one was a hit for me. I would give it 4.25/5. Thanks to #NetGalley and #Dreamscape Media for this ARC audiobook in exchange for my honest review. #LiveLocalandDead
deanapotter's review
4.0
What a story!! Live, Local and Dead is a different take from my normal and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Jaye Jordan is a very interesting woman. A radio DJ, a mom and recently divorced moving. She and her daughter have recently moved to a small Vermont town where she has taken over the local radio station. What should be a nice and safe home for her and her child, Jaye soon becomes the target of some nice crimes. The surprising thing about this is our lead lady is not the one figuring out the mystery. She is going on with her day today life but yet working closely with the local authorities to figure out what’s going on behind these crimes.
I enjoyed Live, Local and Dead. Jaye has gone through a challenging event and is trying to make the best of her new life. She is a woman with strong opinions and beliefs. She doesn’t let up on those things that she values just because someone else pushes her to try to do so. I wouldn’t necessarily categorize this as a cozy mystery just because it’s a little more outspoken in certain ways than the typical cozy Mystery. that did not deter my enjoyment from this book. I’m actually very much looking forward to see where the author takes the series.
Jaye Jordan is a very interesting woman. A radio DJ, a mom and recently divorced moving. She and her daughter have recently moved to a small Vermont town where she has taken over the local radio station. What should be a nice and safe home for her and her child, Jaye soon becomes the target of some nice crimes. The surprising thing about this is our lead lady is not the one figuring out the mystery. She is going on with her day today life but yet working closely with the local authorities to figure out what’s going on behind these crimes.
I enjoyed Live, Local and Dead. Jaye has gone through a challenging event and is trying to make the best of her new life. She is a woman with strong opinions and beliefs. She doesn’t let up on those things that she values just because someone else pushes her to try to do so. I wouldn’t necessarily categorize this as a cozy mystery just because it’s a little more outspoken in certain ways than the typical cozy Mystery. that did not deter my enjoyment from this book. I’m actually very much looking forward to see where the author takes the series.
courtagonist's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I absolutely loved this book! I love the diversity of the cast when it comes to race, religion, sexuality, and gender! I love the feel of family and community in this. I absolutely loved that. This was a different take on a starting over chapter where our main character is moving and starting her own radio station with her daughter. I love the fact that it touches on some of the hard things that come with life. And it was just an absolute delight to listen to on audiobook. I highly recommend this book, and I will be continuing this series!
katreader's review
3.0
LIVE, LOCAL, AND DEAD by Nikki Knight
The First Vermont Radio Mystery
After a fairly amicable divorce, Jaye Jordan moved to Vermont with her tween daughter and bought a small radio station, the first one she ever worked for. Getting rid of a syndicated hate mongering talk show in favor of an evening of love songs has two militia styled townsfolk protesting her station. Relieving one of the men of his musket, Jaye beheads a snowman with one shot. When the snowman starts crumbling it reveals a surprise, the dead body of none other than Edwin Anger, the hate mongering talk show host himself. Jaye soon finds herself confronted by fans of the show as well as feelings for her former crush, who happens to be the current governor. Will this radio jock and mom be able to spin her love songs live to the Vermont locals, or will she wind up dead?
Although the publisher is marketing LIVE, LOCAL, AND DEAD as a cozy, I consider it a traditional mystery. The atmosphere is a bit darker, the sarcasm heavier, and the sex more active. The first portion of the novel is a bit laden down with radio details and technical jargon. It's obvious that the author knows what she's talking about, but the information doesn't really drive the plot. About halfway through the author hit her stride and I found myself turning the pages quicker, eager to see what happened next.
Jaye is a mother determined to raise her daughter and run her radio station. Unlike other mystery protagonists, she doesn't actively sleuth. In fact, she doesn't even inactively sleuth. I liked her friends and family and I love Charlemagne. I appreciate the little details too, like the governor's fun ties and love of Champ (I'm a fan too). While I never found a sense of neighborhood, I did find a sense of community. In the end people who didn't know each other well, with different belief systems, still came together in support.
LIVE, LOCAL, AND DEAD brings real world issues to a mystery embroiled in today's political climate.
The First Vermont Radio Mystery
After a fairly amicable divorce, Jaye Jordan moved to Vermont with her tween daughter and bought a small radio station, the first one she ever worked for. Getting rid of a syndicated hate mongering talk show in favor of an evening of love songs has two militia styled townsfolk protesting her station. Relieving one of the men of his musket, Jaye beheads a snowman with one shot. When the snowman starts crumbling it reveals a surprise, the dead body of none other than Edwin Anger, the hate mongering talk show host himself. Jaye soon finds herself confronted by fans of the show as well as feelings for her former crush, who happens to be the current governor. Will this radio jock and mom be able to spin her love songs live to the Vermont locals, or will she wind up dead?
Although the publisher is marketing LIVE, LOCAL, AND DEAD as a cozy, I consider it a traditional mystery. The atmosphere is a bit darker, the sarcasm heavier, and the sex more active. The first portion of the novel is a bit laden down with radio details and technical jargon. It's obvious that the author knows what she's talking about, but the information doesn't really drive the plot. About halfway through the author hit her stride and I found myself turning the pages quicker, eager to see what happened next.
Jaye is a mother determined to raise her daughter and run her radio station. Unlike other mystery protagonists, she doesn't actively sleuth. In fact, she doesn't even inactively sleuth. I liked her friends and family and I love Charlemagne. I appreciate the little details too, like the governor's fun ties and love of Champ (I'm a fan too). While I never found a sense of neighborhood, I did find a sense of community. In the end people who didn't know each other well, with different belief systems, still came together in support.
LIVE, LOCAL, AND DEAD brings real world issues to a mystery embroiled in today's political climate.
jenage's review
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
3.0
dnemec's review
1.0
I listened to 25% and quit. If I wanted to be annoyed by politics, I would turn on the news or listen to idiots on Facebook. All the anti-Republican crap became so incredibly old. Otherwise the story was cute. Too bad it was bogged down by the author's opinions.
My first DNR on a Netgalley advance reading copy.
My first DNR on a Netgalley advance reading copy.
bethanyread's review
4.0
Nice story. Great family dynamics. Nice characters. Got a little tired of some of the name jokes, but good basic story. Would read book 2.