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asanford's review
4.0
Adoring this series and especially loved the Sundance Film Festival setting. Loving the characters and of course the location!
cj_mo_2222's review
4.0
Things get more exiting in the small town of Star City, Utah when the annual Star City Film Festival comes to town. Even down-to-earth Clare Henry, who helps her grandfather Chester run The Rescued Word, restoring old books and typewriters, isn’t immune to being in awe of their celebrity visitors. Although happily dating her scientist boyfriend Seth, she has an instant, platonic connection to Matt Bane, one of the visiting movie stars. Soon, at the handsome actor’s request, Clare finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation as she tries to prove that Matt is innocent of killing his sister.
This is the second book in the Dangerous Type Mysteries. The first book gives details on how Clare and her best friend Jodie each met their boyfriends, but it’s not necessary to have read that book to enjoy the latest in the series. This book has some great moments, but there are parts that seem to drag where there is no progress being made at all in the investigation. Clare’s friend Jodie is a police officer, so the times they work together and share information are interesting, but sometimes Clare seems to be going in circles. There are also a few too many varied subplots going on, from typewriter ribbon tins full of cash, to local sister wives, to a group of German visitors to Chester and Clare’s shop. Some of these things to end up tying into the main plot, but others just slow the pace of the investigation even more.
I like Clare as a main character and it’s great that she has good relationships with her friends, her boyfriend Seth, and her family, including her grandfather Chester and her brother and his daughter. The small-town Utah setting is interesting and the film festival provides an excellent way to introduce new characters and provides a unique motive for murder. However, I have a hard time accepting that a popular movie star in town for the first time, would have nobody to turn for help except Clare, who he just met. Since this is a major part of the plot, I kept shaking my head as Matt waited in jail for Clare to help him. Putting disbelief in this part of the plot aside, I like Clare and enjoyed the story as a whole. The book picks up towards the end, and it’s fun to see the main characters included in a glamorous Hollywood-type party. Fans of Shelton’s other series or fans of Sheila Connelly or Lorna Barrett will enjoy this book.
This review was originally written for Smitten by Books blog and website. (3.5 stars) The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the Dangerous Type Mysteries. The first book gives details on how Clare and her best friend Jodie each met their boyfriends, but it’s not necessary to have read that book to enjoy the latest in the series. This book has some great moments, but there are parts that seem to drag where there is no progress being made at all in the investigation. Clare’s friend Jodie is a police officer, so the times they work together and share information are interesting, but sometimes Clare seems to be going in circles. There are also a few too many varied subplots going on, from typewriter ribbon tins full of cash, to local sister wives, to a group of German visitors to Chester and Clare’s shop. Some of these things to end up tying into the main plot, but others just slow the pace of the investigation even more.
I like Clare as a main character and it’s great that she has good relationships with her friends, her boyfriend Seth, and her family, including her grandfather Chester and her brother and his daughter. The small-town Utah setting is interesting and the film festival provides an excellent way to introduce new characters and provides a unique motive for murder. However, I have a hard time accepting that a popular movie star in town for the first time, would have nobody to turn for help except Clare, who he just met. Since this is a major part of the plot, I kept shaking my head as Matt waited in jail for Clare to help him. Putting disbelief in this part of the plot aside, I like Clare and enjoyed the story as a whole. The book picks up towards the end, and it’s fun to see the main characters included in a glamorous Hollywood-type party. Fans of Shelton’s other series or fans of Sheila Connelly or Lorna Barrett will enjoy this book.
This review was originally written for Smitten by Books blog and website. (3.5 stars) The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
quietjenn's review
3.0
Cozy + typography. *swoon* the mystery is decent - not great, but enjoyable enough
carebear102106's review
3.0
It's good and I enjoy the author. I do, however, hate it when a cozy author refers to their own series in another series. (the main character's grandfather is currently reading the farmers market mysteries)
lunifur's review
4.0
Hollywood invading small-town Utah? It's a unique concept that ends up working very well. I always love when characters have to try to act normal around celebrities (some are more successful than others). The mystery was great, with a surprising (and amusing) ending.
justkeyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
dollycas's review
5.0
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Back to Star City, Utah for the second book in the Dangerous Type Mysteries. Stars from Hollywood have come for the Annual Film Festival and to enjoy some time on the slopes. They also descend on Bygone Alley and into The Rescued Word. Matt Bane, the current heartthrob, is in town to promote his superhero movie and visits the shop for some personalized note cards. Just a short time later Clare witnesses the police leading the actor from his hotel in handcuffs. She quickly learns a young actress, Matt’s sister, has been murdered and he was found over her body covered in blood. Clare just can’t believe it, he just doesn’t seem the “type” or maybe he is such a good actor he has her fooled. She delves right into her own investigation to seek out the real character but all the “stars” are in “the show must go on” frame of mind so it isn’t going to be easy to catch this killer.
Ms. Shelton has typed us up a marvelous mystery. You know, the kind that pulls you in right away and holds you tight until the very end with so many twists and a plethora of suspects.
Bringing so many people to this small town, stars and tourists, gives a wide variety of people to question. Clare pares them down quickly to a manageable number but any one could be the killer. With her best friend on the police force she tries to get some inside information and Jodie does help her to get in to see Matt while he is in jail to get his take on the case. Clare’s ex/police chief, Creighton, is not quite as helpful but that was to be expected. Clare and her grandfather also have another mystery on their hands that brings another element to the story and solving that one isn’t easy either. Shelton sets a brisk pace and has given us a story that is almost impossible to put down.
The core characters and their continued development really drives this story. They have big hearts and really care about each other and all the people they meet. Clare and Jodie reconnect with one of their old classmates and she has an interesting story too. I hope she pops up in future stories. The romance between Seth and Clare is so perfectly paced as it her grandfather’s relationship with his lady friend. Clare’s niece Marion is growing up and has such a bright future, she is going to be a very interesting character to watch as this series continues.
This has quickly become a favorite series of mine and I have to give it my Paradise Rating. I really love playing sleuth right along with Clare and I completely escaped right into this book.. I can’t wait for the next Dangerous Type Mystery. The little snippet from Comic Sans Murder has me ready another trip to The Rescued Word as soon as possible.
Back to Star City, Utah for the second book in the Dangerous Type Mysteries. Stars from Hollywood have come for the Annual Film Festival and to enjoy some time on the slopes. They also descend on Bygone Alley and into The Rescued Word. Matt Bane, the current heartthrob, is in town to promote his superhero movie and visits the shop for some personalized note cards. Just a short time later Clare witnesses the police leading the actor from his hotel in handcuffs. She quickly learns a young actress, Matt’s sister, has been murdered and he was found over her body covered in blood. Clare just can’t believe it, he just doesn’t seem the “type” or maybe he is such a good actor he has her fooled. She delves right into her own investigation to seek out the real character but all the “stars” are in “the show must go on” frame of mind so it isn’t going to be easy to catch this killer.
Ms. Shelton has typed us up a marvelous mystery. You know, the kind that pulls you in right away and holds you tight until the very end with so many twists and a plethora of suspects.
Bringing so many people to this small town, stars and tourists, gives a wide variety of people to question. Clare pares them down quickly to a manageable number but any one could be the killer. With her best friend on the police force she tries to get some inside information and Jodie does help her to get in to see Matt while he is in jail to get his take on the case. Clare’s ex/police chief, Creighton, is not quite as helpful but that was to be expected. Clare and her grandfather also have another mystery on their hands that brings another element to the story and solving that one isn’t easy either. Shelton sets a brisk pace and has given us a story that is almost impossible to put down.
The core characters and their continued development really drives this story. They have big hearts and really care about each other and all the people they meet. Clare and Jodie reconnect with one of their old classmates and she has an interesting story too. I hope she pops up in future stories. The romance between Seth and Clare is so perfectly paced as it her grandfather’s relationship with his lady friend. Clare’s niece Marion is growing up and has such a bright future, she is going to be a very interesting character to watch as this series continues.
This has quickly become a favorite series of mine and I have to give it my Paradise Rating. I really love playing sleuth right along with Clare and I completely escaped right into this book.. I can’t wait for the next Dangerous Type Mystery. The little snippet from Comic Sans Murder has me ready another trip to The Rescued Word as soon as possible.