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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
Before her Southern Vampires series, Charlaine Harris wrote about a small-town Librarian, Aurora “Roe” Teagarden, a smart and single lady who has an interesting hobby: studying true crime. Roe has found others who also enjoy this hobby and the Real Murders club meets to learn all about and debate the grisly events of well-known crimes. The club is going great until members begin being murdered! Suddenly all the Real Murders club members are possible suspects, not to mention possible victims. This cozy murder mystery is the first in a series of books featuring Roe and her hometown full of quirky characters… and murderers. – Michelle V.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I know several people who really love this series, and they are all quite diverse, so I thought I would give it a try. And it fit a reading challenge category of the first book in a "new-to-you series." I was not disappointed.
First off, I had no idea that Aurora Teagarden is a librarian! That instantly made the book cooler. And, having been written in the nineties, before there were things called "podcasts," I truly believe that the premise of the book is a forerunner to the "true crime" podcast. Because Real Murders is the name of the little club that Aurora and her friends have going on. They meet on a regular basis, and at each meeting, one of the members presents a talk about a murder that they have researched. Sounds a lot like "My Favorite Murder," doesn't it?
It's all fun and games until Aurora shows up for the club meeting one night, and one of the members has been brutally murdered in the place where they are meeting, and the crime scene has been arranged to look like the very murder that Aurora was going to present that night! More murders happen, each one copied after an older, somewhat famous murder (one of them even mimics Lizzie Borden). Aurora and a couple others are convinced that the perpetrator is one of the club members.
This book was so much fun! First off, I am very familiar with Charlaine Harris's work, having read a number of Sookie Stackhouse books, and all of the existing Gunnie Rose series (hoping there are going to be more of those), so I am a fan, for sure. But darn it, this author is diverse! Vampire stories, dystopian westerns with wizards, and just plain mysteries with nothing supernatural in them. There's more, because I know of at least one or two other series that she has written.
In this one, one of the main characters is named Robin Crusoe. I thought that was hilarious. And the murders that the book murders were patterned after are real. I looked up the first one, which was the Julia Wallace murder in England. And of course, who doesn't know the story of Lizzie Borden. And a book was mentioned, concerning that murder, and I now have it on my TBR.
There is a good bit of humor in this story, along with the intensity of the plot. But there is plenty of serious mystery, as well, and I didn't guess who the killer (s) was/were.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery, as well as anyone who has read some of Ms. Harris's other works. Not exactly "cozy," I don't think, so if you're looking for one of those, you might not want to try this.
First off, I had no idea that Aurora Teagarden is a librarian! That instantly made the book cooler. And, having been written in the nineties, before there were things called "podcasts," I truly believe that the premise of the book is a forerunner to the "true crime" podcast. Because Real Murders is the name of the little club that Aurora and her friends have going on. They meet on a regular basis, and at each meeting, one of the members presents a talk about a murder that they have researched. Sounds a lot like "My Favorite Murder," doesn't it?
It's all fun and games until Aurora shows up for the club meeting one night, and one of the members has been brutally murdered in the place where they are meeting, and the crime scene has been arranged to look like the very murder that Aurora was going to present that night! More murders happen, each one copied after an older, somewhat famous murder (one of them even mimics Lizzie Borden). Aurora and a couple others are convinced that the perpetrator is one of the club members.
This book was so much fun! First off, I am very familiar with Charlaine Harris's work, having read a number of Sookie Stackhouse books, and all of the existing Gunnie Rose series (hoping there are going to be more of those), so I am a fan, for sure. But darn it, this author is diverse! Vampire stories, dystopian westerns with wizards, and just plain mysteries with nothing supernatural in them. There's more, because I know of at least one or two other series that she has written.
In this one, one of the main characters is named Robin Crusoe. I thought that was hilarious. And the murders that the book murders were patterned after are real. I looked up the first one, which was the Julia Wallace murder in England. And of course, who doesn't know the story of Lizzie Borden. And a book was mentioned, concerning that murder, and I now have it on my TBR.
There is a good bit of humor in this story, along with the intensity of the plot. But there is plenty of serious mystery, as well, and I didn't guess who the killer (s) was/were.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery, as well as anyone who has read some of Ms. Harris's other works. Not exactly "cozy," I don't think, so if you're looking for one of those, you might not want to try this.
While this was an enjoyable read, and I'll be going through all the Aurora Teagarden mysteries, it was clearly a debut novel. The dialogue was clunky, the prose needed tightening, and I kept wondering if Roe was supposed to be a mind reader. She kept glancing at people, then jumping to these absurd conclusions that usually turned out to be true.
Despite its faults, though, it was a compelling mystery, and it kept me listening. So I can't complain too much. It was just a little jarring, after reading only Harris's later books, to see how much she'd grown as a writer.
Despite its faults, though, it was a compelling mystery, and it kept me listening. So I can't complain too much. It was just a little jarring, after reading only Harris's later books, to see how much she'd grown as a writer.
A light and easy read. Perfect for the train and the treadmill. Not as good as the Sookie Stackhouse or Harper Connelly books, but I will probably read more of series.
Last read this back in 2015 maybe and am glad it has held up in my estimation. I just love the way she writes her main characters. They’re so normal.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
Aurora Teagarden is a librarian in a small town. Except for her books and the weekly Real Murder club where they discuss true crime cases, nothing much happens to her. Normally. Until they find a real body. And another. The police doesn't seem to catch on so fast, so in her spare time, she decides to do some digging for herself.
I really like the character of Aurora. She isn't heroic or complicated or especially interesting, she just leads her life. I actually wish I could trade places. It sounds peaceful and fun. (I love books. And true crime.) I like the way Charlaine Harris goes to 'normal people' as heroines of her books.
The mystery was good too, I didn't see the end coming, which doesn't happen a lot with these kinds of detective books.
If you're into a comfy detective / romance, I would definitely recommend reading this.
I really like the character of Aurora. She isn't heroic or complicated or especially interesting, she just leads her life. I actually wish I could trade places. It sounds peaceful and fun. (I love books. And true crime.) I like the way Charlaine Harris goes to 'normal people' as heroines of her books.
The mystery was good too, I didn't see the end coming, which doesn't happen a lot with these kinds of detective books.
If you're into a comfy detective / romance, I would definitely recommend reading this.
I enjoyed this book, as I seem to enjoy all of Charlaine Harris's books so far, but I had a harder time getting into the characters with this one. (Though I got TOTALLY hooked in book two.) I guess Roe just didn't hook me right away...I liked her but I also felt like she was a little wishy-washy at times. However, there was a lot of good setup for the series here - the town, the supporting 'players', her life, her personality. And the mystery was good as well. So overall, I enjoyed it. Certainly enough to read book two...which REALLY hooked me!
mysterious
If I had to describe it with one word, I'd use "flat". Boring characters and predictable plot, but a really quick and easy read. At least it looks like Charline Harris might have stopped considerably projecting herself on the characters.
I did enjoy the beginning of Sookie Stackhouse series, but I don't think I'll continue reading this one.
I did enjoy the beginning of Sookie Stackhouse series, but I don't think I'll continue reading this one.