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thephdivabooks's review against another edition
4.0
The second Bailey Weggins, and a fun read!!!
There's only so many times I can gush about the fun Bailey Weggins series, but I suppose if I'm reviewing, its as good a place to gush as any! Bailey Weggins is a fictional true crime writer in New York City, who routinely finds herself in the middle of a murder scene, and uses her keen journalistic skills and brain to help solve the mystery. I've heard the Bailey Weggins books described as Sex and the City meets Nancy Drew, and its very accurate!
Some readers don't respond as well to these books. There are lots of comments made about fashion and appearances. I like these, but they certainly throw back to a YA type style, though these books are certainly not YA. I love the descriptors, and I've always been a magazine reader--these felt right in line with other things I've read and enjoyed in the past.
Plot Teaser
Bailey has had a rough few months in our previous book, and she is ready to get out of NYC for a few days. An old friend of her mother's that she is fond of invites Bailey up to rural Massachusetts for a stay at her Cedar Inn hotel and luxury spa. The hotel is nestled in the woods and has cute coming out the wazoo. Bailey can't imagine anything better than a relaxing weekend at an Asian-inspired, tranquil spa, and she wants to see her mom's friend. She has worried that she sounded stressed on the phone, and she was always there for Bailey after her mom died.
But, when Bailey is settled into the spa and enjoying the soothing decor, she literally stumbles across a dead body wrapped in spa mud wrappers in a treatment room. As Bailey is thrust into another mystery, she must abandon her plans for a soothing weekend away. If she wants to be there to support her friend, she'll have to be careful. There's a murderer on site, and the list of suspects is growing by the hour. The worst part is, there's a good chance the murderer may have been another employee at the spa!
Bailey chases down leads and uses her guest status to get close to the other Spa staff, in an attempt to find out clues about how the victim ended up dead. But Bailey needs to move quickly, before she becomes the next target!
Reflection
This is a fun read. Kate White is my go-to author when I'm in a reading slump. Her books are fun, snappy, and move quickly. The perfect read for when a more serious, slow-building book may not capture my attention. I recommend this book to fans of mysteries with a serving of chick-lit. I'd almost verge on classifying this series on the brink of a cozy mystery, though there are some notable differences as well. It does have that non-law enforcement heroine-turned-detective that cozy mysteries often showcase. And her free-lance writing career makes Bailey the perfect person to chase down leads.
There's only so many times I can gush about the fun Bailey Weggins series, but I suppose if I'm reviewing, its as good a place to gush as any! Bailey Weggins is a fictional true crime writer in New York City, who routinely finds herself in the middle of a murder scene, and uses her keen journalistic skills and brain to help solve the mystery. I've heard the Bailey Weggins books described as Sex and the City meets Nancy Drew, and its very accurate!
Some readers don't respond as well to these books. There are lots of comments made about fashion and appearances. I like these, but they certainly throw back to a YA type style, though these books are certainly not YA. I love the descriptors, and I've always been a magazine reader--these felt right in line with other things I've read and enjoyed in the past.
Plot Teaser
Bailey has had a rough few months in our previous book, and she is ready to get out of NYC for a few days. An old friend of her mother's that she is fond of invites Bailey up to rural Massachusetts for a stay at her Cedar Inn hotel and luxury spa. The hotel is nestled in the woods and has cute coming out the wazoo. Bailey can't imagine anything better than a relaxing weekend at an Asian-inspired, tranquil spa, and she wants to see her mom's friend. She has worried that she sounded stressed on the phone, and she was always there for Bailey after her mom died.
But, when Bailey is settled into the spa and enjoying the soothing decor, she literally stumbles across a dead body wrapped in spa mud wrappers in a treatment room. As Bailey is thrust into another mystery, she must abandon her plans for a soothing weekend away. If she wants to be there to support her friend, she'll have to be careful. There's a murderer on site, and the list of suspects is growing by the hour. The worst part is, there's a good chance the murderer may have been another employee at the spa!
Bailey chases down leads and uses her guest status to get close to the other Spa staff, in an attempt to find out clues about how the victim ended up dead. But Bailey needs to move quickly, before she becomes the next target!
Reflection
This is a fun read. Kate White is my go-to author when I'm in a reading slump. Her books are fun, snappy, and move quickly. The perfect read for when a more serious, slow-building book may not capture my attention. I recommend this book to fans of mysteries with a serving of chick-lit. I'd almost verge on classifying this series on the brink of a cozy mystery, though there are some notable differences as well. It does have that non-law enforcement heroine-turned-detective that cozy mysteries often showcase. And her free-lance writing career makes Bailey the perfect person to chase down leads.
jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition
2.0
I was a little torn between giving this 2 or 3 stars, but ultimately there was just a little too much "chick" in this chick-lit. It was a fairly solid mystery, but there was too much talk about how "hunky" the detective was. (Yes, I believe that was the exact word. I've already turned my copy back into the library though, so I wouldn't swear to it.) I think the last time I used the word "hunky" I was in middle school. If that's what you're looking for, this book is for you.
ldv's review against another edition
3.0
A Nancy Drew-esque murder mystery for those who have outgrown Nancy Drew. The character even admits she's been playing 'Nancy Drew.' Nothing to amazing or shocking, but not sensationalist or over the top, either. Enjoyable.
And Kate Walsh is a great reader/voice-over person.
And Kate Walsh is a great reader/voice-over person.
puzzlegirl30's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.25
ladyquestion's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
It was fine. A quick read (you can speed read, a lot of details and references are not important to move the story along), slow in the middle, fairly predictable at parts, although I didn't see the ending coming (but in hindsight makes sense). I don't know that it needed to be 368 pages.
It was fine. A quick read (you can speed read, a lot of details and references are not important to move the story along), slow in the middle, fairly predictable at parts, although I didn't see the ending coming (but in hindsight makes sense). I don't know that it needed to be 368 pages.
mi_amors_wife's review against another edition
4.0
Was a little slow getting into it, but it spend up. Bailey visits her friends inn and spa to relax but finds herself mixed up in a double murder.
It was a surprise ending. The whole time I was thinking the murderer was this this one person, but I was completely wrong, and that doesn't happen often!
It was a surprise ending. The whole time I was thinking the murderer was this this one person, but I was completely wrong, and that doesn't happen often!
ljm1061's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
abookwormwithwine's review against another edition
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
[b:A Body to Die For|341390|A Body to Die For (Bailey Weggins Mystery, #2)|Kate White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327956799l/341390._SX50_.jpg|1285063] by [a:Kate White|59972|Kate White|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1518566895p2/59972.jpg] was such a fun second book to the Bailey Weggins series! It was shorter than [b:If Looks Could Kill|341388|If Looks Could Kill (Bailey Weggins Mystery, #1)|Kate White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348725750l/341388._SY75_.jpg|331758] and more concise, but still had the trademark descriptions that I have come to love White for. "In the mirror I noticed that my face was flushed. Nothing serious, just the same degree of red you'd see on someone who'd been scorched by a blowtorch or was in the throes of scarlet fever." How can I not love descriptions like that?
White is seriously the best at casting suspicion on all the characters in her books. I always think I have it figured out and then BAM it's who I'm least expecting. I also like that you don't find out who the killer is until the very end. There is so much buildup, and I just love that about this series so far.
There was a tiny bit of steam but less than book one had, and this time the setting wasn't New York City which was a nice change of pace. Bailey still totally reminds me of a Carrie Bradshaw type though, and I just love her character. Smart-ass comments and wit always make me laugh, and she's super relatable as a person too. She's not a good actress and when you put yourself into precarious situations like she does things get a little dicey! She's like the perfect combination of Carrie and Nancy Drew and I've loved the references to Nancy Drew in the books!
Final Thought: Overall this was another win for me in the Kate White department. I realized recently that I read one of her books a couple years ago and didn't love it, but I'm really enjoying this series and I'm so happy I have six more books to look forward to. Plus she’s still writing them so that’s a win for me! If you like mysteries that are a little more old-school with a journalist sleuthing and some steam thrown in, then you need to check this series out ASAP!
[b:A Body to Die For|341390|A Body to Die For (Bailey Weggins Mystery, #2)|Kate White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327956799l/341390._SX50_.jpg|1285063] by [a:Kate White|59972|Kate White|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1518566895p2/59972.jpg] was such a fun second book to the Bailey Weggins series! It was shorter than [b:If Looks Could Kill|341388|If Looks Could Kill (Bailey Weggins Mystery, #1)|Kate White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348725750l/341388._SY75_.jpg|331758] and more concise, but still had the trademark descriptions that I have come to love White for. "In the mirror I noticed that my face was flushed. Nothing serious, just the same degree of red you'd see on someone who'd been scorched by a blowtorch or was in the throes of scarlet fever." How can I not love descriptions like that?
White is seriously the best at casting suspicion on all the characters in her books. I always think I have it figured out and then BAM it's who I'm least expecting. I also like that you don't find out who the killer is until the very end. There is so much buildup, and I just love that about this series so far.
There was a tiny bit of steam but less than book one had, and this time the setting wasn't New York City which was a nice change of pace. Bailey still totally reminds me of a Carrie Bradshaw type though, and I just love her character. Smart-ass comments and wit always make me laugh, and she's super relatable as a person too. She's not a good actress and when you put yourself into precarious situations like she does things get a little dicey! She's like the perfect combination of Carrie and Nancy Drew and I've loved the references to Nancy Drew in the books!
Final Thought: Overall this was another win for me in the Kate White department. I realized recently that I read one of her books a couple years ago and didn't love it, but I'm really enjoying this series and I'm so happy I have six more books to look forward to. Plus she’s still writing them so that’s a win for me! If you like mysteries that are a little more old-school with a journalist sleuthing and some steam thrown in, then you need to check this series out ASAP!
williamsdebbied's review against another edition
3.0
Bailey Weggins mystery series, book 2.
After solving her first mystery, Bailey decides to visit a spa owned by an old family friend for some much-needed R & R. Unfortunately, she stumbles right into another murder, and this time she may not get out alive.
After solving her first mystery, Bailey decides to visit a spa owned by an old family friend for some much-needed R & R. Unfortunately, she stumbles right into another murder, and this time she may not get out alive.