Home Is Where the Body Is by Jody Holford
Series Name: Wannabe Sleuth Mystery #1
Genre: Cozy
Release: August 23, 2022
The coastal Oregon town of Rainbow Falls might be sleepy, but it’s definitely not innocent. . .
When graphic designer and true crime fan Annie Abbott agrees to house sit her parents’ home for a year, she’s convinced that even though the small town has ten coffee shops, nothing exciting will happen. But that’s before a seemingly feral cat gives birth in her garage, prompting a call to the very handsome, very single town vet. It’s a dream meet-cute, but just as their romance blooms, Annie discovers the bloody body of her grumpy neighbor. And despite the fact that she passes out at the sight of blood, the police suspect her.
To clear her name, Annie will need to put her years of watching police procedurals and reading mysteries to good use. She’ll also need to rely on her new friends who have welcomed her to Rainbow Falls, but is one of them the killer?
Dru’s Short Musing:
Who would have thought an encounter with an ornery man would be her next-door neighbor? Not Annie especially when she discovers his dead body. Then the kicker is she becomes the prime suspect and with help from unlikely sources, they put the pieces together to solve this puzzling case, of course not without some resistance from neighboring police.
I enjoyed this fast-paced and well-written whodunit that catered to all that I like in a new series. A great bunch of characters, a solidly wicked plot, plenty of suspects and a few red herrings tossed in to make it a worthwhile read. The author knows how to tell a story that kept me immersed from beginning to end with engaging dialogue, visually descriptive narrative, yes, I want to live in this town, and a small-town atmosphere where anything is possible. Annie is a hoot and I like the friendship she develops with Ben, Ashley, and the others in her new hometown. This was a delightfully charming and entertaining start to a new series that I hope is to stay for a long time.
Can’t wait to read it!