Dakota Cassidy returns to the blog today with the second installment in her Lemon Layne mystery series, and yes, Lemon is again embroiled in another murder case. Narrated by Hollie Jackson, please read on for my review of this fun cozy murder mystery
Play that Funky Music White Koi
Lemon has been solving mysteries since childhood, but she’s pretty well tapped out after the last murder. Unfortunately, a bludgeoned body with two puncture marks in the neck and an antique chalice are in her pond, right in Koi George’s space, she’s apparently got no end to the questions. Thus begins yet another murder investigation for poor Lemon, even as she’s trying to stay out of it. But for her, curiosity is her guide, so off she goes to investigate. It doesn’t help that Cappy and his proclamations of conspiracies and vampires (the corpse did have bite marks) just add to her questions. And, of course, she does stumble on a major clue that points to a town official and provides at least some evidence of a vampire cult, she can’t help herself.
From the traumatized Koi George and the clever puns with the victim Amy actually ‘sleeping with the fishes” the laughs and humor in this story are plentiful, all while presenting a series of red herrings and clues that point to several suspects, all while the actual culprit does manage to divert attention from their own involvement. With secondary characters that provide a real sense of community and Lemon’s place in it, the quirkiness of small town life and the sense that the group of friends and townspeople are truly invested in solving these murders are clear. Side scenes with Lemon and her friend Coco, the conspiracies that Cappy sees in every action, and the fact that despite wanting to stay out of the investigation, people can’t help themselves when it comes to sharing with her.
Hollie Jackson takes on the role of narrator for this series, and manages (I don’t know how) to deliver some of the quirkiest and funniest moments of dialogue with flair – moments where smiling are required, you can’t help but hear the smile. Lemon is completely relatable and present in her moments, her own interior voice is distinct and present, even as she is being dragged in. Dialogue with other characters is clear and distinct, easy to recognize who is speaking and their emotions are clearly presented. Another winner in this series, easily read (and enjoyed) without having read (or listened to) the first in the series, and brings a quirky humor and sense of fun to the genre.
Stars: Overall: 4 Narration: 4 Story: 4
Title: Play That Funky Music White Koi
Author: Dakota Cassidy
Series: Lemon Layne Mystery #2
Also in this series: Prawn of the Dead (A Lemon Layne Mystery Book 1)
Genre: Contemporary Cozy Mystery
Narrator: Hollie Jackson
Published by: Self-Published, Tantor Audio
ISBN: 1541456289
Published on: 20 July, 2017
Format:Audiobook
Source: Tantor Audio
Pages: 208
Audio Length: 4 Hours: 40 minutes
Rated:
Get Your Copy: Amazon ♦ Barnes&Noble ♦ iTunes ♦ Kobo ♦ IndieBound ♦ Book Depository ♦Audible ♦Tantor Audio
Welcome back to Fig Harbor, Washington home to amateur sleuth Lemon Layne, the best Sherlock Holmes wannabe west of the Mississippi!
No way. Vampires aren't real. Period! Or are they?
My tiny town of Fig Harbor's just recovering from our last tango with murder, only to be faced with yet another--and this time, it sure looks an awful lot like a vampire's on the loose in the PNW.
Vampires are just Twilight fiction, right?
I'm not so sure after a murder victim is found in my koi pond right next to my favorite fish, Koi George, (not good!) with bite marks on her neck, and a gothic antique chalice next to her body with blood residue.
By now, everyone knows I can't keep my nose out of a good mystery. But when I literally stumble upon an important clue linking a town official to the murder and what looks like a real live vampire cult, I decide it's time to gather up all the garlic I can buy and put my sleuthing shoes back on!”
This contemporary cozy mystery has it all, from the local doomsday prepper to an out of control pet monkey, a mother who would drive a saint to drink, and of course a dead body in the Koi pond.
A copy of this title was provided via Tantor Audio for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
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