Welcome to Fiction Friday. Today I am reviewing The Sign of the Calico Quartz by Jan Drexler. A new cozy mystery.
Book Description:
Emma Blackwood’s favorite pastime is solving literary murder mysteries…until the body in her living room makes everything a little too real.
When Emma comes to the Black Hills to work at her Aunt Rose’s B&B, the Sweetbrier Inn, she is hoping for a quiet break from the corporate treadmill. But she hadn’t expected murder and intrigue to mar this peaceful setting.
As she wades through too many clues to identify the murderer, she soon finds that the culprit isn’t stopping at only one homicide and may even have placed Emma herself on the list of targets. With the help of her friend Becky, and a deputy sheriff who grudgingly lets them join in on the investigation, Emma tracks down the killer. But will it be in time to save the next victim?
My Review
When I first saw the cover I wanted the book and the blurb sounded interesting. I enjoy cozy mystery but the cat sold it.
I am glad I bought the book as it was a good mystery. The cat Timmie and dog Thatcher both are more than cover fodder. They are part of the story. We see Emma arriving at the inn to help her Aunt Rose for the Summer. She is involved with serving, cleaning and administration jobs. The Inn is a Bed and Breakfast with around 6 suites for guests. We start with a murder and from there everyone is a suspect. Each morning one of the locals, Becky, brings some supplies for the Inn and becomes friends with Emma and we have the local police investigator who just happens to be Becky’s cousin and single.
The story had me wondering who the murder was and towards the end I thought I had worked it out and at one stage wanted to scream to the characters don’t forget so and so. The story held me to the end and I am looking forward to the next one in the series. I haven’t read any books by the author although I think I do have a couple of her Love Inspired books. I will be reading more. The book is also a Cozy mystery with only a small amount of romance but if it goes anywhere it will happen across the series. For those who prefer not to have much romance in a mystery this will suit you well.
Cozy mystery is becoming my favourite genre at the moment.
Thank you so much for the great review, Jenny!
Sounds very interesting, Jenny. I love the cover. I will put it on my ‘to read’ list which is getting longer. By the way, did you know we have moved back to Queensland?
Hi Heather it was the cover that said buy me. Yes I remember you moved back to QLD not sure where now. How are you liking it there.