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mintlovesbooks's review
4.0
This is a gripping cozy mystery with lots of twists and turns.
Young does a fantastic job of demonstrating how impactful a murder and the investigations that follow it can be on a small community, from the witnesses to those accused of the crime. The book also explores the possibility of police misconduct and how it can negatively impact investigations and community trust. These are both serious and dramatic topics that can happen in real life too, which makes the cozy more serious than others I've read. However, the book was still cozy at its core. I felt the drama really added to the suspense and realism of the novel.
The suspense builds right away because the book immediately places you into the mystery. However, it's not a fast-paced book throughout, as some parts of the book can seem slow in contrast, especially if you're not interested in the other plot line involving Lyla's love life.
At times, I felt quite frustrated with Lyla and her unwillingness to consider certain possibilities, even if it seems quite clear to us as observers or to other characters. Lyla's not perfect and I liked that not all of the characters agreed with her. Some actually pushed back against her at several points. I think my frustration points to how talented Young is, because of how strong my frustration was, but I can see others becoming so frustrated with her that they put down the book or begin actively rooting for her to be wrong.
I haven't read the previous books in the series and I still enjoyed this one, so I think it'd work as a standalone. I'd recommend it for anyone who likes some drama and suspense in their cozies.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
For more of my reviews, please visit my blog.
Young does a fantastic job of demonstrating how impactful a murder and the investigations that follow it can be on a small community, from the witnesses to those accused of the crime. The book also explores the possibility of police misconduct and how it can negatively impact investigations and community trust. These are both serious and dramatic topics that can happen in real life too, which makes the cozy more serious than others I've read. However, the book was still cozy at its core. I felt the drama really added to the suspense and realism of the novel.
The suspense builds right away because the book immediately places you into the mystery. However, it's not a fast-paced book throughout, as some parts of the book can seem slow in contrast, especially if you're not interested in the other plot line involving Lyla's love life.
At times, I felt quite frustrated with Lyla and her unwillingness to consider certain possibilities, even if it seems quite clear to us as observers or to other characters. Lyla's not perfect and I liked that not all of the characters agreed with her. Some actually pushed back against her at several points. I think my frustration points to how talented Young is, because of how strong my frustration was, but I can see others becoming so frustrated with her that they put down the book or begin actively rooting for her to be wrong.
I haven't read the previous books in the series and I still enjoyed this one, so I think it'd work as a standalone. I'd recommend it for anyone who likes some drama and suspense in their cozies.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
For more of my reviews, please visit my blog.
h_with_a_feather's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
alireadsandknits's review
3.0
I liked the first book in the series, LOVED the second book and am (unfortunately) back to a like again. I loved Lyla's progression to a capable/strong private investigator in the second book. Fortunately, that is still here. She is growing in her skills and is not a frivolous/flighty main character (which can so often happen in cozy mysteries).
What I didn't enjoy with this book was that it felt disjointed to me. For example, (location 1572) "Yes, I had technically ended it with him and I'd made it official". What? I really did not recall reading a break up conversation between Lyla and Brad...I know she had people telling her stories, but that isn't the same as a conversation. That conversation happened chapters after this line. Several other times, I had to book mark pages and go searching past chapters, I felt situations or recollections seemed to come out of left field.
The second thing for me was the fact I had to use my kindle dictionary several times. I'm all for learning new words, however (for example) Rosa saying "puerile gossip" did not seem to fit the character. Although, they are a book club so they may have a robust vocabulary.
This just didn't seem to be as tightly edited as book no. 2 and that was disappointing for me.
3 stars as I really do like the series and hope book 4 will come back strong.
What I didn't enjoy with this book was that it felt disjointed to me. For example, (location 1572) "Yes, I had technically ended it with him and I'd made it official". What? I really did not recall reading a break up conversation between Lyla and Brad...I know she had people telling her stories, but that isn't the same as a conversation. That conversation happened chapters after this line. Several other times, I had to book mark pages and go searching past chapters, I felt situations or recollections seemed to come out of left field.
The second thing for me was the fact I had to use my kindle dictionary several times. I'm all for learning new words, however (for example) Rosa saying "puerile gossip" did not seem to fit the character. Although, they are a book club so they may have a robust vocabulary.
This just didn't seem to be as tightly edited as book no. 2 and that was disappointing for me.
3 stars as I really do like the series and hope book 4 will come back strong.
thisandthatwithkaren's review
5.0
“Crime for the Books” by Kate Young this is the 3rd instalment in the "A Jane Doe Book Club Mystery" series. OMG! I really enjoyed this story and think I liked even better than the first two. This has become one of my favourite series!
Lyla Moody and her book club, the Jane Does, are hosting a Halloween party at Magnolia Manor, tailored after Agatha Christie’s A Murder is Announced, but when the lights come on after the staged murder, a real victim lies dead with a gunshot wound in her chest.
I found myself engrossed in the story and reading till the wee hours as I had to finish. It was suspenseful, and had me on the edge of my seat. I found it had just the right mixture of everything.
This go around we are more focused on Sergeant Rosa Landry and why she is acting strange and proving Elaine didn’t murder of her cousin. The mystery was interesting, well plotted, and full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises that kept me on the edge of my seat.
I am so looking forward to seeing more in this series
I highly recommend this series to all my mystery loving friends.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
Lyla Moody and her book club, the Jane Does, are hosting a Halloween party at Magnolia Manor, tailored after Agatha Christie’s A Murder is Announced, but when the lights come on after the staged murder, a real victim lies dead with a gunshot wound in her chest.
I found myself engrossed in the story and reading till the wee hours as I had to finish. It was suspenseful, and had me on the edge of my seat. I found it had just the right mixture of everything.
This go around we are more focused on Sergeant Rosa Landry and why she is acting strange and proving Elaine didn’t murder of her cousin. The mystery was interesting, well plotted, and full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises that kept me on the edge of my seat.
I am so looking forward to seeing more in this series
I highly recommend this series to all my mystery loving friends.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
the_sassy_bookworm's review
4.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- Great cover on this one!
So before I start my little rant, I will say that I read the previous book in this series (and enjoyed it) and again, I enjoyed this book 3. It isn't a cozy. It's a regular mystery disguising as a cozy (
So before I start my little rant, I will say that I read the previous book in this series (and enjoyed it) and again, I enjoyed this book 3. It isn't a cozy. It's a regular mystery disguising as a cozy (
claireaa's review
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
jadereadsbooksss's review
3.0
3.5 stars!
Crime for the Books is the third book in the Jane Doe Book Club Mystery series by Kate Young and it was a lot of fun!
It follows Lyla Moody and her friends in the Jane Doe book club as one of the sweet old ladies in their town is arrested for a murder that happened during one of their events. The Jane Doe’s don’t believe that Elaine is guilty and Lyla sets out to help her and find the true killer!
My favorite character, hands down, was Lylas grandmother! She’s so funny and was so fun to read about.
I really liked Lyla and I loved that she didn’t let anyone tell her what she should be doing. She loved investigating and wouldn’t let anyone tell her that she should be doing anything else and I really admired that.
Maybe it was because this is the first book I’ve read in this series (and I will definitely read the others!) but I didn’t feel as connected to the side characters as I probably should have.
Also the whole mystery part of it was kinda meh, I loved the story but the big reveal wasn’t particularly shocking which is why it wasn’t a five star read but I really did enjoy this book and I’d recommend it to any mystery lover or someone who wants to start getting into mystery books.
Huge thanks to Netgalley and the author/publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
Crime for the Books is the third book in the Jane Doe Book Club Mystery series by Kate Young and it was a lot of fun!
It follows Lyla Moody and her friends in the Jane Doe book club as one of the sweet old ladies in their town is arrested for a murder that happened during one of their events. The Jane Doe’s don’t believe that Elaine is guilty and Lyla sets out to help her and find the true killer!
My favorite character, hands down, was Lylas grandmother! She’s so funny and was so fun to read about.
I really liked Lyla and I loved that she didn’t let anyone tell her what she should be doing. She loved investigating and wouldn’t let anyone tell her that she should be doing anything else and I really admired that.
Maybe it was because this is the first book I’ve read in this series (and I will definitely read the others!) but I didn’t feel as connected to the side characters as I probably should have.
Also the whole mystery part of it was kinda meh, I loved the story but the big reveal wasn’t particularly shocking which is why it wasn’t a five star read but I really did enjoy this book and I’d recommend it to any mystery lover or someone who wants to start getting into mystery books.
Huge thanks to Netgalley and the author/publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
sunshinevibes's review
5.0
The Jane Doe's are family and are thick as thieves and no one will get in the way of that! If anyone tries the Jane Doe's will stop them!
Lyla Moody is a fire cracker who does not mess around when it comes to her Jane Doe's or her family. She will stop at nothing to solve the case. She is a strong independent woman who does not need a man! I am so happy her and her mom gotten closer and are in a better place. They understand each other better. Even though she never had siblings. She always has her best friend since kindergarten Mel. Always can count on her. Them two crack me up when they are together. United and forever bonded. As Mel would say " Chicks before D****." Lol.
Rosa Landry is also tough as nails but when someone tries to hunt her down and frame her. Lyla and the Jane Doe's will do everything and anything to figure out why and who is doing this.
Lets say it gets wackle doodle in a very intriguing way. So buckle up and enjoy the ride. You will not want to stop reading or listening. Fingers crossed for another one of this series. Really and truly wonderful.
Lyla Moody is a fire cracker who does not mess around when it comes to her Jane Doe's or her family. She will stop at nothing to solve the case. She is a strong independent woman who does not need a man! I am so happy her and her mom gotten closer and are in a better place. They understand each other better. Even though she never had siblings. She always has her best friend since kindergarten Mel. Always can count on her. Them two crack me up when they are together. United and forever bonded. As Mel would say " Chicks before D****." Lol.
Rosa Landry is also tough as nails but when someone tries to hunt her down and frame her. Lyla and the Jane Doe's will do everything and anything to figure out why and who is doing this.
Lets say it gets wackle doodle in a very intriguing way. So buckle up and enjoy the ride. You will not want to stop reading or listening. Fingers crossed for another one of this series. Really and truly wonderful.
rants_n_reads's review
2.0
After reading the first two books, this newest edition was unfortunately disappointing. On the part of the mystery, I liked the idea of involving Rosa more in with the plot. I loved her addition to the previous book, and it felt like a good move for Lyla to have a more positive connection to the police with Sheriff Quinn and her complicated past. However, there was a lot here that felt too complicated and yet boring at the same time. There are a lot of characters and suspects to the point where I just didn’t think I could connect to anyone. Also, all the romantic elements just felt unnecessarily dramatic. We get the very quick introduction to Courtney as Quinn’s new wife when they weren’t even dating last book. So, Quinn and Courtney have issues that Lyla unknowingly gets involved with. Then, we also get drama with Lyla and Brad. It was just a lot for one book. And although the book was longer than normal, it still felt like everything was being crammed in. It seemed like we were given a bird’s eye view of three books instead of one, and so I never felt centered into the one story. Also, this is the third book with an Agatha Christie theme. When the series was introduced, it seemed more like the club would be involved with true crime and advocating for Jane Does. All the fictional references seem unrelated to what the book presents itself as. That added onto a pretty obvious whodunnit made me give the book a lower rating. I will probably continue to read the series, in hopes it will get better again, but if this is the new tone of the series, I don’t think it’s for me,