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theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
3.0
Death by Pumpkin Spice by Alex Erickson is the third book in Bookstore Café Mystery series. Krissy Hancock is invited to the exclusive Yarborough Halloween Party by Dr. William Foster. Krissy purchases her costume at the local Halloween pop-up store (for a fancy, exclusive party). Krissy goes as Sherlock Holmes and Will is Phantom of the Opera. The Yarborough driveway is steep and under construction (just gravel). It is difficult for the cars to get up the driveway due to the pouring rain. The Yarborough house is unique (wait until you read the description of the kitchen). Howard Yarborough, who recently passed away, loved Halloween and the house reflects his taste (it is this way all the time). After Margaret Yarborough addresses the guests, Quentin Pebbles steps up and proposes to his girlfriend, Jessica. Jessica rejects Quentin’s proposal (she humiliates him). When the guests are invited to explore the house (each room has a different theme), Jessica is found dead in the pumpkin room. Officer Paul Dalton is the only police presence in the house and responders cannot get up the drive. Paul asks Krissy for assistance (she is thrilled to help). They are searching for Quentin (who disappeared) when Margaret states her jewels are missing. Does it have anything to do with the murder? Paul and Krissy have their work cut out for them. The guests refuse to stay in the ballroom. They keep taking off to explore the house. Krissy is also distracted by her ex-boyfriend, Robert. He showed up at the party so he could talk to Krissy. Robert wants Krissy to give him another chance (after he cheated on her). Will Paul and Krissy be able to find the killer before the guest’s mutiny and demand to be released? To find out who killed Jessica Fairweather, you will need read Death by Pumpkin Spice!
I thought Death by Pumpkin Spice was disappointing. I thought Krissy was an extremely unlikeable character. Krissy has confidence issues and is constantly doubting herself (it is unappealing). Her self-doubts and lack of confidence make it really hard to enjoy the book. Krissy seems very immature. The book also focused too much on romance. Krissy is at the party with Will, but she keeps thinking about Paul (blushing when his name is mentioned, when she thinks about him). Then Robert pops up and wants her back. I also found some contradictions in the novel. She agrees to go to an exclusive party with Will. But after seeing Will’s costume, the fancy house, and the other guest’s costumes, she realizes it is a fancy dress party (she did not get that from the invite and her friends telling her how this is a very exclusive event). Death by Pumpkin Spice is easy to read and can be finished in a couple of hours. The mystery can be easily solved (you can solve it before you get to page 100). You only need two clues to figure it out. I give Death by Pumpkin Spice 3 out of 5 stars (it is okay). This book was just not for me. The premise is good, but I did not like the final product.
I thought Death by Pumpkin Spice was disappointing. I thought Krissy was an extremely unlikeable character. Krissy has confidence issues and is constantly doubting herself (it is unappealing). Her self-doubts and lack of confidence make it really hard to enjoy the book. Krissy seems very immature. The book also focused too much on romance. Krissy is at the party with Will, but she keeps thinking about Paul (blushing when his name is mentioned, when she thinks about him). Then Robert pops up and wants her back. I also found some contradictions in the novel. She agrees to go to an exclusive party with Will. But after seeing Will’s costume, the fancy house, and the other guest’s costumes, she realizes it is a fancy dress party (she did not get that from the invite and her friends telling her how this is a very exclusive event). Death by Pumpkin Spice is easy to read and can be finished in a couple of hours. The mystery can be easily solved (you can solve it before you get to page 100). You only need two clues to figure it out. I give Death by Pumpkin Spice 3 out of 5 stars (it is okay). This book was just not for me. The premise is good, but I did not like the final product.
bluestockings's review
Did not finish. Got about 2 chapters in and already couldn’t stand the protagonist.
qu33nofbookz's review against another edition
1.0
Right off the bat I don't like the heroine of the story. Negative self-esteem, no confidence or will power she is a spineless doormat. As the book progresses all of a sudden she does a 180 and had spunk, but is as petulant as a 12 year old. She is not a cop and says so repeatedly but stick her nose into the murder investigation and begins to act like the lead and only investigator even after being told repeatedly by the cops and other people to stop. She talks about it being her investigation and she won't be left out of her case! The cops threaten to lock her up and then do a 180 and do as she says!? I would have locked her up and charged her with obstruction and interference a long time ago. She holds back information from one detective and even the police chief to hold on to her involvement and won't tell anyone but a cop named Paul who she has a crush on, had one date with and thinks she is in love with him despite being on a date with a doctor named Will who she likes possibly loves then doesn't then does....she goes back and forth between these two men like a ping pong ball at a table top tournament. What these two men see in her I will never know because all she shows them is self doubt, an attitude of a preteen and keeps running off on them at the drop of a hat. Oh and she is being stalked by Robert, her ex-boyfriend who just won't leave her alone. She goes from being scared of him and thinking to get away and what she might do to him, to 1 action and back to being scared. He grabs her and harasses her twice in front of witnesses and she never once asks for help? She is standing next to the police chief at her last encounter with him and doesn't mention that she doesn't like him, he is staking her and she is afraid!? By the end of the story when she has a confrontation with the bad guy I was rooting for him to kill her! For however big the town in the story is and it sounds like a nice size it had 2 cops and a police chief who are all incompetent if you ask me. To rely on and let this woman run all over them is a joke, this case and any previously and I'd guess after would never hold up in any court. Yet the author wants us to believe that this is just the norm? I know it's fiction and a "cozy" mystery but this is just too much out in left field fiction.
calycat2's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I was enjoying the series and I plan to continue but I find the love triangle to be very frustrating and painful to read.
bellygames's review
2.0
This was not the cozy, autumnal read I was hoping for. I tried to enjoy it for what it was, but what it was still wasn't that great.
hagcraft's review
2.0
I’ve only read this one in the series. So maybe I’m just ignorant but…it just took place over a one Halloween party. No pumpkin spice to be seen, except for the first couple pages, and the only cozy spooky autumnal things were that the owner of the mansion had horror memorabilia everywhere.
Might as well just read a regular murder mystery book.
Might as well just read a regular murder mystery book.
lindz_reads's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5