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theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
Deadly News by Jody Hedlund is set in Britton Bay, Oregon. Molly Owens has moved from Lancaster, California to Britton Bay to become editor for the Britton Bay Bulletin. The Britton Bay Bulletin’s owner, Alan Benedict, is hoping Molly can revitalize the struggling paper to increase readership and revenue. Vernon East, a reporter for the paper, is antagonistic and resents Molly’s presence. She assigns Vernon to interview Vanessa Phillips on her family and two days later he is found dead in his home. The suspect list is long since Vernon was disagreeable, but Molly did spot a good clue at the crime scene. Molly works her way through the suspect list which includes an ex-wife, victim’s son, and her fellow employees. Someone feels Molly is getting too close to the truth and leaves her a threatening message. Molly is a reporter and not about to be dissuaded in her quest for the truth. When not out on the trail of a killer, Molly is settling into her new abode and making friends. She also finds an adorable bouncy puppy in need of an owner. Britton Bay will be a lovely home for Molly once she pinpoints Vernon’s killer.
Deadly News is a cute new cozy mystery. The cover is adorable with the black and white puppy who Molly names Tigger (it suits him). Molly is a likeable main character. She is starting over after catching her boyfriend in flagrante delicto with his ex-girlfriend. Thanks to mechanic, Sam Alderich, she finds a charming carriage house to live in with a landlady who will become a good friend. I would have liked more backstory on Molly, but she is an interesting, friendly character. I did find it odd, though, when she spilled out case details. As a reporter, I expected her to keep details to herself (it seemed out of place). The pace alternates in Deadly News. It starts out brisk, then slows down through the middle (especially when Molly is thinking about the case) with it picking up towards the end of the book. The mystery has several suspects with subtle clues. Avid cozy mystery readers will find this whodunit a cinch to solve. I was surprised by the quick romance between Molly and Sam. The sparks fly right away between them and he jumps into to help her with the mystery. I prefer a romance that develops slowly and is not as prominent in the story (the mystery should be the focus). I am giving Deadly News 3.5 out of 5 stars. A Britton Bay Mystery series has potential, and I will pick up the next book in this new cozy mystery series.
Deadly News is a cute new cozy mystery. The cover is adorable with the black and white puppy who Molly names Tigger (it suits him). Molly is a likeable main character. She is starting over after catching her boyfriend in flagrante delicto with his ex-girlfriend. Thanks to mechanic, Sam Alderich, she finds a charming carriage house to live in with a landlady who will become a good friend. I would have liked more backstory on Molly, but she is an interesting, friendly character. I did find it odd, though, when she spilled out case details. As a reporter, I expected her to keep details to herself (it seemed out of place). The pace alternates in Deadly News. It starts out brisk, then slows down through the middle (especially when Molly is thinking about the case) with it picking up towards the end of the book. The mystery has several suspects with subtle clues. Avid cozy mystery readers will find this whodunit a cinch to solve. I was surprised by the quick romance between Molly and Sam. The sparks fly right away between them and he jumps into to help her with the mystery. I prefer a romance that develops slowly and is not as prominent in the story (the mystery should be the focus). I am giving Deadly News 3.5 out of 5 stars. A Britton Bay Mystery series has potential, and I will pick up the next book in this new cozy mystery series.
bookwoman37's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was just an OK cozy mystery for me. Maggie has moved to a new town on the Oregon Coast to edit a small town newspaper. One of the newspaper reporters resents her arrival. When he does not show up for work she goes to his house and stumbles over his body. She sets out to solve the mystery. The mystery was easy to solve even though there were a few suspects. The motive was thin and the suspect did not make sense. I was not a big fan of the romance. There was a lot of repetition and the main character got on my nerves. She has the annoying cozy habit of insisting that she would not interfere but does. I also do not like it when the sleuth breaks the law or tampers with evidence. I did like the newspaper background and the town could be interesting. It was a quick read.
thisandthatwithkaren's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVED it! This first novel in a new cozy mystery series "DEADLY NEWS" was engaging and really well-written, with a wonderful small town, seaside setting and excellent characters. As most of you know I love the sea and the way this town was described I was dreaming of living there myself. The protagonist Molly was intelligent, likeable, and the friends she made were people I would like to hang out with especially Katherine and Cali. I found myself thoroughly enjoying the story and instant romance whilst trying to figure out the killer. The reveal and the reason Vernon was killed was surprising, I had guesses who close to end but not the why. I think Jody did a very good job on her first cozy mystery (author of romance novels) and I am really looking forward to her next book in the series DEADLY VOWS. (PS I preordered it already)
peggyemi's review
4.0
I enjoyed Deadly News and look forward to seeing what the author had up next for Molly Owens and the rest of Britton Bay. I thought this was a charming start to a new series with good potential. It has a quaint, small town setting, with characters that are interesting and while the mystery was not overly compelling, I thought it was done well by the author in establishing this new series. I don't mind the romance that started with the first book and didn't feel like it distracted from the story.
A full review will be on the blog closer to the release date.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Lyrical Underground, through Netgalley.
A full review will be on the blog closer to the release date.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Lyrical Underground, through Netgalley.
jeneessa's review
1.0
The plot was an interesting situation, but the main character tended to ramble in redundancy. I had to skip entire paragraphs and move on to the dialogue to get through the book.
#goodreadsgiveaway
#goodreadsgiveaway
shannonreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It was enjoyable but it hasn’t blown me away. The story was kind of slow and the ending was slightly predictable.
melmo2610's review
5.0
This was a super adorable cozy and one for my keeper shelf. Likable characters(especially Sam!!) an adorable pup, a great setting and a fantastic mystery combine for a charming story that I thoroughly enjoyed. This new series is off to a great start and I hope for several more adventures with Molly, Sam and the rest of Britton Bay!!
I received this book through NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
I received this book through NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
jbrooxd's review against another edition
4.0
[I received an electronic review copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
4.5 stars. A terrific mystery with engaging characters. I really enjoyed this series kickoff. The introduction of characters and suspects was paced perfectly for me - nothing felt rushed or dragging. I loved Molly and Sam, both alone and together, as well as Tigger the dog. The setting and the townspeople will be great for future stories. I look forward to spending more time in Britton Bay in the future.
4.5 stars. A terrific mystery with engaging characters. I really enjoyed this series kickoff. The introduction of characters and suspects was paced perfectly for me - nothing felt rushed or dragging. I loved Molly and Sam, both alone and together, as well as Tigger the dog. The setting and the townspeople will be great for future stories. I look forward to spending more time in Britton Bay in the future.
charlisbookbox's review against another edition
5.0
Cozy mysteries are a relatively new found love of mine. Deadly News by Jody Holford fits the bill perfectly.
A murder in a sleepy Oregon town and a complete mystery, with twists that aren’t telegraphed six chapters before they happen, are what you’ll find with this book. Quaint touches, such as referring to a Coke or Pepsi as a cola, are found throughout the book.
The hint of danger that pervades the book and the sleepy little town, despite it being your typical small town, keep you on you toes and the edge of your seat. The budding romance between Molly and Sam – which was telegraphed immediately – is sweet but not overly sweet. The book is also not steamy, which is nice as well.
The book is quite well written and can be read in a single night if the reader is of a mind to do so. It’s a fast paced book and will have you wanting to keep reading more. I that my Kindle App said it was about 3.5 hours to read the whole book, although that’s at my reading speed. Your results may vary.
I gave this one 5 out of 5 stars. I definitely recommend this book for cozy mystery lovers or anyone looking to get started in the cozy mystery genre.
A murder in a sleepy Oregon town and a complete mystery, with twists that aren’t telegraphed six chapters before they happen, are what you’ll find with this book. Quaint touches, such as referring to a Coke or Pepsi as a cola, are found throughout the book.
The hint of danger that pervades the book and the sleepy little town, despite it being your typical small town, keep you on you toes and the edge of your seat. The budding romance between Molly and Sam – which was telegraphed immediately – is sweet but not overly sweet. The book is also not steamy, which is nice as well.
The book is quite well written and can be read in a single night if the reader is of a mind to do so. It’s a fast paced book and will have you wanting to keep reading more. I that my Kindle App said it was about 3.5 hours to read the whole book, although that’s at my reading speed. Your results may vary.
I gave this one 5 out of 5 stars. I definitely recommend this book for cozy mystery lovers or anyone looking to get started in the cozy mystery genre.