Board Stiff by Kendel Lynn is the first book in the new “Elliott Lisbon” humorous mystery series. Publisher: Henery Press, April 2013

As director of the Ballantyne Foundation on Sea Pine Island, South Carolina, Elliott Lisbon scratches her detective itch by performing discreet inquiries for Foundation donors. Usually nothing more serious than retrieving a pilfered Pomeranian. Until Jane Hatting, Ballantyne board chair, is accused of murder. The Ballantyne’s reputation tanks, Jane’s headed to a jail cell, and Elliott’s sexy ex is the new lieutenant in town.

Armed with moxie and her Mini Coop, Elliott uncovers a trail of blackmail schemes, gambling debts, illicit affairs, and investment scams. But the deeper she digs to clear Jane’s name, the guiltier Jane looks. The closer she gets to the truth, the more treacherous her investigation becomes: a brutal attack on her own suspect and the murder of a witness. With victims piling up faster than shells at a clambake, Elliott realizes she’s next on the killer’s list.

This is an engaging read that grabbed my attention from the start with Elliott’s desire to prove Jane’s innocence and to best the lead detective by being one step ahead and it’s those encounters that made for a fun read as Elli’s discreet inquiries landed her in one mishaps after another in the pursuit of a killer.

The author did a good job in delivering a well-written whodunit that was entertainingly pleasing. There were plenty of suspects that kept me guessing throughout most of this lighthearted drama and I loved how everything came together when I knew exactly who the killer was. Elliott is a wonderful character and I like the possibilities of more escapades with obtaining her PI license and handling discreet inquiries for her employer. The added bonus of sexy Nick is a plus and I would love to see that relationship blossom. With witty banter, a likable cast of characters and a visually appealing setting, this is a great start to what I hope is a long running series. Note: Board Stiff is a humorous mystery with a sprinkle of spicy language.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a copy of this book from NetGalley with a request for a review.

previously posted on the Cozy Chicks blog