Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
This is the first book in this series and the first I have ready by this author. It was an easy ready and I enjoyed it. Jazzi, her family and Ansel are all likable characters. I did enjoy that family was at the heart of this book. Jazzi and her cousin flip houses and they get more than they bargained for with their latest purchase. Not only do they find the body of her aunt in the attic, but they find the another body while digging in the back yard. This sets up one mystery that happened in the past and one that was a recent murder. The trouble is determining if the same person was responsible for both deaths. While I did enjoy the story and the characters, I had issues with the mystery and the romance in the book. Let's start with the mystery. For me, it didn't feel like Jazzi really did any amateur sleuthing in the way we are used to seeing it in a cozy mystery. Rather, she would accompany the detective on the case to interview witnesses and he would share information with her. I found this to be unbelievable. The police would not just invite a civilian into the case - at least not in the first book before a relationship between the protagonist and the detective has developed to that point. Even then I still might have issues with how free the detective was in this book. The other thing that I had an issue with was the romance. I thought it happened way too quickly and detracted from the mystery aspect. While I typically don't mind a romance for my cozy characters, this one just felt rushed for a first book in a new series. At times, this felt more like a romance with the mystery as a backstory.
I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by the publisher, Lyrical Underground, through Netgalley.
I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by the publisher, Lyrical Underground, through Netgalley.
3.5 stars
The Body in the Attic is an intriguing mystery that combines the past with the present. A startling find by a pair of house flippers leads to decades-old questions being answered – and new ones raised. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this book a lot, trying to solve the old murder and piece together information while also trying to solve a new, related, crime and figure out if the same person was involved. And if so, who?
Jazzi is an interesting protagonist – a great cook, a devoted daughter/sister/cousin/granddaughter, a house flipper (with her cousin) and an amateur sleuth. I never quite understood why the police detective kept bringing her along on his investigation though, but at least this way we the readers got to be in on the case as it unfolded. Jazzi works with her cousin Jerod flipping houses, and she has a major crush on their contractor Ansel. The romance angle seemed to move too fast, in my opinion, with not a lot of emotional pull – mostly physical. (I also didn’t care for the direction it took or the ‘closed door’ implications that were frequent after a certain point.)
George the dog stole the show! Laid back but with a definite personality, he was an adorable addition to the great cast of supporting characters. I also loved Jazzi’s grandma and sister and the scenes she spent with them.
Bottom Line: The Body in the Attic combines a variety of plot points into an intriguing cozy mystery, with a lot of romance thrown in as well. Great characters, family secrets, and a couple of surprising twists keep readers invested even when some of the plot points don’t make sense. A different kind of cozy but I’m interested in seeing what other mysteries they uncover as they continue to flip houses.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
The Body in the Attic is an intriguing mystery that combines the past with the present. A startling find by a pair of house flippers leads to decades-old questions being answered – and new ones raised. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this book a lot, trying to solve the old murder and piece together information while also trying to solve a new, related, crime and figure out if the same person was involved. And if so, who?
Jazzi is an interesting protagonist – a great cook, a devoted daughter/sister/cousin/granddaughter, a house flipper (with her cousin) and an amateur sleuth. I never quite understood why the police detective kept bringing her along on his investigation though, but at least this way we the readers got to be in on the case as it unfolded. Jazzi works with her cousin Jerod flipping houses, and she has a major crush on their contractor Ansel. The romance angle seemed to move too fast, in my opinion, with not a lot of emotional pull – mostly physical. (I also didn’t care for the direction it took or the ‘closed door’ implications that were frequent after a certain point.)
George the dog stole the show! Laid back but with a definite personality, he was an adorable addition to the great cast of supporting characters. I also loved Jazzi’s grandma and sister and the scenes she spent with them.
Bottom Line: The Body in the Attic combines a variety of plot points into an intriguing cozy mystery, with a lot of romance thrown in as well. Great characters, family secrets, and a couple of surprising twists keep readers invested even when some of the plot points don’t make sense. A different kind of cozy but I’m interested in seeing what other mysteries they uncover as they continue to flip houses.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
What a fun mystery and I didn’t solve it before the book solved it for me. Loved the characters and the recipes at the end.
fast-paced
What a great read! If you’re looking for a cozy that combines wonderful characters, a delectable murder mystery plot rife with numerous suspects and stellar writing, look no farther! I loved this entertaining introduction to a new series by author Judi Lynn. Jazzi and her cousin Jerod flip houses along with Ansel, a local contractor who helps with the gut-and-remodel work. They make a great team and have a wonderful friendship (although there are plenty of sparks under the surface between Jazzi and Ansel). The latest house they undertake comes complete with a body in a trunk in the attic. And that’s just the beginning of this twisty read that delves into secret histories, family dynamics, old rivalries and more.
George, the pug, is a fun addition, as are Jazzi’s weekly Sunday dinners with her large and colorful family. I felt like I got to know each of them. I also really enjoyed seeing how the remodel job on house progressed, and loved watching the whodunit murder mystery unfold.
I can’t wait for the next book in this engaging series!
What a great read! If you’re looking for a cozy that combines wonderful characters, a delectable murder mystery plot rife with numerous suspects and stellar writing, look no farther! I loved this entertaining introduction to a new series by author Judi Lynn. Jazzi and her cousin Jerod flip houses along with Ansel, a local contractor who helps with the gut-and-remodel work. They make a great team and have a wonderful friendship (although there are plenty of sparks under the surface between Jazzi and Ansel). The latest house they undertake comes complete with a body in a trunk in the attic. And that’s just the beginning of this twisty read that delves into secret histories, family dynamics, old rivalries and more.
George, the pug, is a fun addition, as are Jazzi’s weekly Sunday dinners with her large and colorful family. I felt like I got to know each of them. I also really enjoyed seeing how the remodel job on house progressed, and loved watching the whodunit murder mystery unfold.
I can’t wait for the next book in this engaging series!
George, the pug, is a fun addition, as are Jazzi’s weekly Sunday dinners with her large and colorful family. I felt like I got to know each of them. I also really enjoyed seeing how the remodel job on house progressed, and loved watching the whodunit murder mystery unfold.
I can’t wait for the next book in this engaging series!
What a great read! If you’re looking for a cozy that combines wonderful characters, a delectable murder mystery plot rife with numerous suspects and stellar writing, look no farther! I loved this entertaining introduction to a new series by author Judi Lynn. Jazzi and her cousin Jerod flip houses along with Ansel, a local contractor who helps with the gut-and-remodel work. They make a great team and have a wonderful friendship (although there are plenty of sparks under the surface between Jazzi and Ansel). The latest house they undertake comes complete with a body in a trunk in the attic. And that’s just the beginning of this twisty read that delves into secret histories, family dynamics, old rivalries and more.
George, the pug, is a fun addition, as are Jazzi’s weekly Sunday dinners with her large and colorful family. I felt like I got to know each of them. I also really enjoyed seeing how the remodel job on house progressed, and loved watching the whodunit murder mystery unfold.
I can’t wait for the next book in this engaging series!
This cozy had a very intriguing premise and I was excited to read it. The mystery was good and kept me guessing. I liked the characters especially a cutie little dog named George. I didn't love this cozy but I enjoyed it and I would read another in this series.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
So this is actually not bad. I like the house renovating/flipping set up and the mystery is good. I’m not sure how it can sustain the premise though because how many houses do have bodies hidden in them (and how many missing people can one small town have?!) but I have seen authors make it work before.
Jazzi Zanders and her cousin Jerod, along with their contractor, Ansel, are professional house flippers in River Bluffs, Indiana.
In this installment, they purchase their next renovation project, a Victorian formerly owned by the late Cal Juniper. Cal was the finacee of her Jazzi's long time missing Aunt Lynda, her mother's sister. Everything is going great until the skeleton of Lynda is found in a trunk in the attic of the home. In cooperation with the town's detective, Jazzi is searching for answers to solve her aunt's murder. Jazzi is very good at digging up clues, and more bodies, so good that someone is warning her to stay clear or she will be next.
One of my favorite things about this book, is that the detective is kind and wants Jazzi to assist him in the investigation. In so many Cozies, authors make the detectives out to be huge jerks. In most cases, they soften over time, but in this case, he is was instantly a likeable guy. I really enjoyed the sense of family and togetherness that this book promotes. I am looking forward to moving on to the next adventure of Jazzi Zanders.
I have this book in both digital (NetGalley) and audio versions. The narrator, Devon Sorvari, did a great job.
In this installment, they purchase their next renovation project, a Victorian formerly owned by the late Cal Juniper. Cal was the finacee of her Jazzi's long time missing Aunt Lynda, her mother's sister. Everything is going great until the skeleton of Lynda is found in a trunk in the attic of the home. In cooperation with the town's detective, Jazzi is searching for answers to solve her aunt's murder. Jazzi is very good at digging up clues, and more bodies, so good that someone is warning her to stay clear or she will be next.
One of my favorite things about this book, is that the detective is kind and wants Jazzi to assist him in the investigation. In so many Cozies, authors make the detectives out to be huge jerks. In most cases, they soften over time, but in this case, he is was instantly a likeable guy. I really enjoyed the sense of family and togetherness that this book promotes. I am looking forward to moving on to the next adventure of Jazzi Zanders.
I have this book in both digital (NetGalley) and audio versions. The narrator, Devon Sorvari, did a great job.
A good start for a new series.
The book is enjoyable and entertaining.
I loved the cast of characters, Jazzi above all, well written and likeable.
The plot was interesting and fun to read, the mystery kept me guessing till the end and there was no plot hole.
I look forward to reading the next instalment in this series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC
The book is enjoyable and entertaining.
I loved the cast of characters, Jazzi above all, well written and likeable.
The plot was interesting and fun to read, the mystery kept me guessing till the end and there was no plot hole.
I look forward to reading the next instalment in this series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC
I saw the latest book in this series on Netgalley and it sounded good, so I requested it. When I saw the latest is book 5, I got this book to "catch up" if I am approved for the Netgalley book.
I started it last night, since there wasn't anything good on TV (which was a good thing, since I ended up not being able to put it down!) I liked Jazzi immediately and was sucked into the story within a few pages. Then I realized the book is set in the area I live, and having a personal connection to many of the places in the book really brought the story alive. I loved the dual plot, revolving around Jazzi's long-missing aunt's skeletal remains found in a cedar chest and another (more recent) body found in the back yard. I liked how the investigation unfolded, with all its tragic details (I really felt for poor Cal!) and the satisfying conclusion (although I still can't figure out why a police detective would bring a civilian along when questioning suspects. A bit far-fetched but I was able to suspend disbelief.)
Frankly, I enjoyed the house flipping more than anything else in the story, I play House Flipper on Steam obsessively, watch a lot of DIY Network, and love everything about historic home conservation, so I loved "watching" Jazzie, Ansel and Jerod restore Cal's house (I loved almost everything they did , except for the stainless steel countertops. Ugh.)
There was some romance involved in this book, more than you'd usually find in a cozy mystery but considerably less than what you'd find in a romance novel, so I'd say this is a romantic cozy mystery rather than a cozy mystery romance. Although the relationship between the characters seemed to move pretty quickly, I chalk that up to the characters having known (and worked with) each other for years before the book begins. Really, it's such a small aspect to the book that I (as someone who doesn't care for romance novels) wouldn't be put off recommending it to others as a good cozy to enjoy.
Overall, this was a delightful read, homey, familiar and touching, as well as a cracking good plot.
I started it last night, since there wasn't anything good on TV (which was a good thing, since I ended up not being able to put it down!) I liked Jazzi immediately and was sucked into the story within a few pages. Then I realized the book is set in the area I live, and having a personal connection to many of the places in the book really brought the story alive. I loved the dual plot, revolving around Jazzi's long-missing aunt's skeletal remains found in a cedar chest and another (more recent) body found in the back yard. I liked how the investigation unfolded, with all its tragic details (I really felt for poor Cal!) and the satisfying conclusion (although I still can't figure out why a police detective would bring a civilian along when questioning suspects. A bit far-fetched but I was able to suspend disbelief.)
Frankly, I enjoyed the house flipping more than anything else in the story, I play House Flipper on Steam obsessively, watch a lot of DIY Network, and love everything about historic home conservation, so I loved "watching" Jazzie, Ansel and Jerod restore Cal's house (I loved almost everything they did , except for the stainless steel countertops. Ugh.)
There was some romance involved in this book, more than you'd usually find in a cozy mystery but considerably less than what you'd find in a romance novel, so I'd say this is a romantic cozy mystery rather than a cozy mystery romance. Although the relationship between the characters seemed to move pretty quickly, I chalk that up to the characters having known (and worked with) each other for years before the book begins. Really, it's such a small aspect to the book that I (as someone who doesn't care for romance novels) wouldn't be put off recommending it to others as a good cozy to enjoy.
Overall, this was a delightful read, homey, familiar and touching, as well as a cracking good plot.