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abeautytoyourbeast's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
5.0
A Trip with Trouble by Diane Kelly is the second A Mountain Lodge Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. I like Diane Kelly’s writing style. It is casual and friendly. I was quickly drawn into A Trip with Trouble. I enjoyed the picturesque descriptions of the Mountaintop Lodge and the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. It sounds like a beautiful place to visit in the fall. Evidently, the Dangerous Curves Motorcycle Club thought so as well. They bought out the Mountaintop Lodge for the week to enjoy rides on the mountain roads and hikes on the trails. Unfortunately, one of the group ends up dead and Misty suspects foul play. Misty likes the motorcycle ladies and is determined to get justice for their fallen leader. I like Misty, Brynn, Rocky, Patty, and Yeti (Misty’s cat). It is a good cast of characters. I am glad that the author gave us an older protagonist. Misty is fifty and recently divorced. She has two sons in college. Misty is smart, independent, resourceful, and good with people. This makes her a great innkeeper. I enjoy the chapters told from Yeti’s point of view (I laugh often while reading them). Diane Kelly really captures a cat personality and antics. The mystery had several suspects which included a member or two of the Dangerous Curves and members of the victim’s “family.” I joined Misty as she set out to unravel the clues and find the victim’s killer. I like that she worked with the police. A helpful deputy may have overshared just a touch. While I had a clue as to who was behind the murder, I still had fun following Misty. The author has provided developed, realistic characters that you want to get to know better. I felt transported to North Carolina in the autumn. There is a touch of romance. Misty likes Rocky, but she is not ready to start dating. They have casual dinners at home, chats, walks, and evenings in front of the fire. I was sorry for A Trip with Trouble to come to an end. I am looking forward to Misty’s next adventure. A Trip with Trouble transports readers to the Blue Ridge Mountains with motorcycle mavens, falling leaves, greedy relatives, a hunky handyman, a scaredy cat, a fallen friend, a firebrand rider, and an indomitable innkeeper.
milowolfhart's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lynguy1's review against another edition
4.0
Diane Kelly brings plenty of mystery, atmosphere, and secrets to the second book in her Mountain Lodge cozy mystery series, A Trip with Trouble. It features 50 year-old Misty Murphy who has recently signed her divorce papers and purchased a mountain lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains in northwestern North Carolina. A women’s motorcycle club, Dangerous Curves, has rented the entire lodge for the week to enjoy rides, hikes, and companionship during the fall season. However, things don’t go well when the last rider in their group fails to show up at an overlook during one of their rides. Cell phone service is spotty at best and there’s no response to the handheld radio. What has happened? Misty is determined to help them.
The story is mainly told from Misty’s point of view, but there are a few chapters interspersed with thoughts from her cat, Baroness Blizzard also known as Yeti. While Yeti’s chapters aren’t necessary, they provide some humor and I enjoyed them. Misty is independent, resourceful, organized, and good with people. She quickly starts to make friends. Rocky, the handyman, Brynn, her assistant, and diner owner Patty play pivotal roles as secondary characters and the club guests are a mixed group of personalities with secrets to lend a sense of realism.
The setting was perfect for this novel and Ms. Kelly does a great job of transporting readers to the mountains of North Carolina. The winding roads, the fall color, the scenic views, and even the southern foods were authentic. There are several plot twists along the way along with plenty of suspects. The dialogue and pacing were on target. The characters and humor enhance it with both relatable characters like Misty and Rocky along with some obnoxious ones and a bit of everything else in between. I also liked the fact that Misty worked with the police rather than hiding her sleuthing activities. However, it seemed like the deputy shared more information with her than he should.
I was immediately drawn into Misty’s life and enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery and the development of friendships. The story captivated me from the beginning with a good plot, great world-building details, and characters that are emotionally rich. The novel shines a light on death, relationships, friendship, family, life’s curveballs, and a bit of romance.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, which was suspenseful, engaging, and atmospheric. In all three of the books I have read by this author, I had a connection with the writing style that I found relatable, vivid, and irresistible. I can’t wait to find out what happens during the next book in the series. I recommend this to those that like cozy mysteries with a more mature main character.
St. Martin’s Press – St. Martin’s Paperbacks and Diane Kelly provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently expected to be October 25, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
The story is mainly told from Misty’s point of view, but there are a few chapters interspersed with thoughts from her cat, Baroness Blizzard also known as Yeti. While Yeti’s chapters aren’t necessary, they provide some humor and I enjoyed them. Misty is independent, resourceful, organized, and good with people. She quickly starts to make friends. Rocky, the handyman, Brynn, her assistant, and diner owner Patty play pivotal roles as secondary characters and the club guests are a mixed group of personalities with secrets to lend a sense of realism.
The setting was perfect for this novel and Ms. Kelly does a great job of transporting readers to the mountains of North Carolina. The winding roads, the fall color, the scenic views, and even the southern foods were authentic. There are several plot twists along the way along with plenty of suspects. The dialogue and pacing were on target. The characters and humor enhance it with both relatable characters like Misty and Rocky along with some obnoxious ones and a bit of everything else in between. I also liked the fact that Misty worked with the police rather than hiding her sleuthing activities. However, it seemed like the deputy shared more information with her than he should.
I was immediately drawn into Misty’s life and enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery and the development of friendships. The story captivated me from the beginning with a good plot, great world-building details, and characters that are emotionally rich. The novel shines a light on death, relationships, friendship, family, life’s curveballs, and a bit of romance.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, which was suspenseful, engaging, and atmospheric. In all three of the books I have read by this author, I had a connection with the writing style that I found relatable, vivid, and irresistible. I can’t wait to find out what happens during the next book in the series. I recommend this to those that like cozy mysteries with a more mature main character.
St. Martin’s Press – St. Martin’s Paperbacks and Diane Kelly provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently expected to be October 25, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
xenaschakram's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
sparklingreader's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cute cozy mystery with actually two mysteries involved—the murder and another one that may or may not be connected. There are plenty of suspects to go around and just enough clues to keep you guessing (though, I’m sorry, I had the perp pegged almost from the beginning). The addition of the scenery on the NC/TN area is a highlight of the story. Although I’ve been through the area, I did have to look up the “Tail of the Dragon” route - not a road I’d ever try driving!
In this story, Misty Murphy’s mountain lodge is hosting a women’s motorcycle club for a week. They’re there to see the sights, hike, and generally enjoy themselves. But when the leader is murdered, things go south in a hurry. Plus there are other things going on, like a white van that keeps showing up and sinister figures attempting to gain entrance to the lodge. Misty and her friends Rocky, Brynn, and Patty band together along with local cops to figure out what’s going on.
One thing I did *not* like were the chapters from the cat’s point of view. They made no sense and added nothing to the plot at all. You could completely remove them from the book and nothing would be lost.
Recommendation: This is a decent cozy with a satisfying ending. I do recommend you skip the chapters from the cat’s POV. Trust me, you won’t miss anything.
Disclaimer: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
In this story, Misty Murphy’s mountain lodge is hosting a women’s motorcycle club for a week. They’re there to see the sights, hike, and generally enjoy themselves. But when the leader is murdered, things go south in a hurry. Plus there are other things going on, like a white van that keeps showing up and sinister figures attempting to gain entrance to the lodge. Misty and her friends Rocky, Brynn, and Patty band together along with local cops to figure out what’s going on.
One thing I did *not* like were the chapters from the cat’s point of view. They made no sense and added nothing to the plot at all. You could completely remove them from the book and nothing would be lost.
Recommendation: This is a decent cozy with a satisfying ending. I do recommend you skip the chapters from the cat’s POV. Trust me, you won’t miss anything.
Disclaimer: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
jessieharrison's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bonniereads777's review against another edition
5.0
This captured me from the get-go! I have not read the first book in the series, but I will be remedying that soon. I love that the main character is living her best life later in life and is close in age to me. I had never heard of The Dangerous Curves Women's Motorcycle Club, but I'm excited to hear it actually exists.
As a North Carolina homeowner, I loved all the references to places I know and have been to myself. The mystery is fantastic, with many red herrings. All of the characters are so well-developed and engaging. I am absolutely looking forward to the next book in this series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
As a North Carolina homeowner, I loved all the references to places I know and have been to myself. The mystery is fantastic, with many red herrings. All of the characters are so well-developed and engaging. I am absolutely looking forward to the next book in this series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
inmyhumbleopinion's review against another edition
5.0
A Trip with Trouble is a delightful vacation for the mind. The author takes you on a delicious autumnal leaf peeping tour of the Blue Ridge Mountains and mixes in a bit of mystery along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed this getaway.
sparklingreader's review
3.0
This was a cute cozy mystery with actually two mysteries involved—the murder and another one that may or may not be connected. There are plenty of suspects to go around and just enough clues to keep you guessing (though, I’m sorry, I had the perp pegged almost from the beginning). The addition of the scenery on the NC/TN area is a highlight of the story. Although I’ve been through the area, I did have to look up the “Tail of the Dragon” route - not a road I’d ever try driving!
In this story, Misty Murphy’s mountain lodge is hosting a women’s motorcycle club for a week. They’re there to see the sights, hike, and generally enjoy themselves. But when the leader is murdered, things go south in a hurry. Plus there are other things going on, like a white van that keeps showing up and sinister figures attempting to gain entrance to the lodge. Misty and her friends Rocky, Brynn, and Patty band together along with local cops to figure out what’s going on.
One thing I did *not* like were the chapters from the cat’s point of view. They made no sense and added nothing to the plot at all. You could completely remove them from the book and nothing would be lost.
Recommendation: This is a decent cozy with a satisfying ending. I do recommend you skip the chapters from the cat’s POV. Trust me, you won’t miss anything.
Disclaimer: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
In this story, Misty Murphy’s mountain lodge is hosting a women’s motorcycle club for a week. They’re there to see the sights, hike, and generally enjoy themselves. But when the leader is murdered, things go south in a hurry. Plus there are other things going on, like a white van that keeps showing up and sinister figures attempting to gain entrance to the lodge. Misty and her friends Rocky, Brynn, and Patty band together along with local cops to figure out what’s going on.
One thing I did *not* like were the chapters from the cat’s point of view. They made no sense and added nothing to the plot at all. You could completely remove them from the book and nothing would be lost.
Recommendation: This is a decent cozy with a satisfying ending. I do recommend you skip the chapters from the cat’s POV. Trust me, you won’t miss anything.
Disclaimer: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”