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katreader's review against another edition
4.0
A FIELD GUIDE TO HOMICIDE by Lynn Cahoon
The Sixth Cat Latimer Mystery
A hike with Cat Latimer's latest retreat writers leads to the discovery of a dead body. It's no accident and it's not just any body. It turns out to be an old army buddy of Seth's, a buddy who had supposedly died in Germany. Why was Chance living off grid? Why did he stage his own death all those years ago? Seth has never talked about his time in Germany and seems reluctant to say anything now. But is it a coincidence that there's a reunion in town for Seth's platoon?
Comprised of couples, Cat's retreat has a different vibe and so does this book. While there is a mystery here, and an interesting one at that, most of the book deals with the business and art of writing as well as secrets between the main characters. I like that Cat doesn't go hurling herself into a police investigation, but quietly uncovers information, some even at the request of her uncle. I was surprised that there were so few pages left before the mystery was suddenly resolved. Like Cat's retreat, the different vibe doesn't mean bad, just different.
The characters are the heart of the Cat Latimer series. There is also a lot of character growth and development in this sixth entry to the series. Watching them grow and adapt is just as interesting as contemplating the mystery. While I enjoy reading all the inside information about writing as a career, I wonder if the books are becoming more a primer for would be writers than a puzzle for mystery readers.
A FIELD GUIDE FOR HOMICIDE is a character driven mystery that takes a look at secrets and questions just how well we know those we call friends.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.
The Sixth Cat Latimer Mystery
A hike with Cat Latimer's latest retreat writers leads to the discovery of a dead body. It's no accident and it's not just any body. It turns out to be an old army buddy of Seth's, a buddy who had supposedly died in Germany. Why was Chance living off grid? Why did he stage his own death all those years ago? Seth has never talked about his time in Germany and seems reluctant to say anything now. But is it a coincidence that there's a reunion in town for Seth's platoon?
Comprised of couples, Cat's retreat has a different vibe and so does this book. While there is a mystery here, and an interesting one at that, most of the book deals with the business and art of writing as well as secrets between the main characters. I like that Cat doesn't go hurling herself into a police investigation, but quietly uncovers information, some even at the request of her uncle. I was surprised that there were so few pages left before the mystery was suddenly resolved. Like Cat's retreat, the different vibe doesn't mean bad, just different.
The characters are the heart of the Cat Latimer series. There is also a lot of character growth and development in this sixth entry to the series. Watching them grow and adapt is just as interesting as contemplating the mystery. While I enjoy reading all the inside information about writing as a career, I wonder if the books are becoming more a primer for would be writers than a puzzle for mystery readers.
A FIELD GUIDE FOR HOMICIDE is a character driven mystery that takes a look at secrets and questions just how well we know those we call friends.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.
hugbandit7's review against another edition
4.0
It's time for another journey back to Colorado and Cat's writer's retreat. This retreat is different than others since there are two couples plus the college student from the local college. It is an interesting bunch and while they are featured in the book, I don't think that they were the main focus. The main characters were tied to Seth's past in the military and those that were in town for a reunion of sorts. I'm not sure we learned much about Seth's military buddies but that didn't stop me from thinking something was off about the deceased and those he served with all those years ago. I feel like there is so much more that Seth hasn't revealed yet about his time in the military and I wonder if more will be revealed in future books.
We discover a little bit more about Cat's deceased husband, Michael. The author has a way of keeping me engaged in this series because I want to know what he was involved with and how it will affect Cat. Especially since the dead body from Seth's unit has notes about Michael and others in his cabin. What is the secret? When will we learn more?
The mystery and the interactions between the various characters (Cat, Seth, Shauna, Uncle Pete, and Shirley) kept me engaged and made it hard for me to put the book down. I had my suspicions about the killer but there was more to the story than I ever expected. Shauna has some family issues that she hides from Cat for most of the book, but I'm glad she trusts their friendship and opens up about what is happening with her family.
Overall we give this book 4 paws up.
We discover a little bit more about Cat's deceased husband, Michael. The author has a way of keeping me engaged in this series because I want to know what he was involved with and how it will affect Cat. Especially since the dead body from Seth's unit has notes about Michael and others in his cabin. What is the secret? When will we learn more?
The mystery and the interactions between the various characters (Cat, Seth, Shauna, Uncle Pete, and Shirley) kept me engaged and made it hard for me to put the book down. I had my suspicions about the killer but there was more to the story than I ever expected. Shauna has some family issues that she hides from Cat for most of the book, but I'm glad she trusts their friendship and opens up about what is happening with her family.
Overall we give this book 4 paws up.
thisandthatwithkaren's review against another edition
5.0
A Field Guide to Homicide Is the 6th instalment in the Cat Latimer mystery series by Lynn Cahoon. As always I found this story to be a quick and enjoyable read. I love this series and was super happy to get an Advanced Readers Copy.
Cat Latimer and her writer’s retreat group go on a hiking trip—but a murderer has been lurking off the beaten path . . .
Cat’s sweetheart, Seth, is going all out on an outing into the local mountains—for the benefit of the writing group Cat’s hosting at her Colorado B&B. But when they try to identify some plant and animal life, they find death instead. The body belongs to a man with a gold claim a few miles away. Instead of striking it rich, he’s been struck down.
To his surprise, Seth recognizes the victim from his military days—and up to now believed he’d already died during his last tour of duty. Now Cat has to solve this mystery before the killer takes a hike . . .
I love the main set of characters Cat, Shauna, Seth and Uncle Pete they feel like family/friends. The characters are well developed and interesting. One thing I like about this series is that we get a look at writing as a profession and what authors have to do to get published.
I was pulled in from the very beginning and didn’t stop till the end. The mystery was well plotted and moved along at an even pace. There are only a few suspects for the murder and you find yourself second guessing on who the murder can be. Overall I found this to be a great story.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy friends.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Cat Latimer and her writer’s retreat group go on a hiking trip—but a murderer has been lurking off the beaten path . . .
Cat’s sweetheart, Seth, is going all out on an outing into the local mountains—for the benefit of the writing group Cat’s hosting at her Colorado B&B. But when they try to identify some plant and animal life, they find death instead. The body belongs to a man with a gold claim a few miles away. Instead of striking it rich, he’s been struck down.
To his surprise, Seth recognizes the victim from his military days—and up to now believed he’d already died during his last tour of duty. Now Cat has to solve this mystery before the killer takes a hike . . .
I love the main set of characters Cat, Shauna, Seth and Uncle Pete they feel like family/friends. The characters are well developed and interesting. One thing I like about this series is that we get a look at writing as a profession and what authors have to do to get published.
I was pulled in from the very beginning and didn’t stop till the end. The mystery was well plotted and moved along at an even pace. There are only a few suspects for the murder and you find yourself second guessing on who the murder can be. Overall I found this to be a great story.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy friends.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
peggyemi's review against another edition
4.0
This is the sixth book in the Cat Latimer Mystery series and a very enjoyable read. By this point in the series, the characters are well developed, realistic and with the cast of secondary characters a diverse group. I enjoy the writing retreat aspect of the series because it allows Ms. Cahoon to introduce us to new characters that contribute to the diversity and keeping the series fresh. This time around, I thought the story was different from the rest in that the attendees of the retreat were not such a focus as in past books and didn't really play a role in solving the mystery. This book focused more on Seth's past in the army and how it is still impacting his relationship with Cat today. The two of them still have a bit of baggage to unpack, and there were times throughout the book that wondered if their relationship was grounded in the present or an attempt to recapture the past. I also love the growth we are seeing with Shauna. I like where the author is taking her character and hope to see that continue.
The mystery was interesting. As usual, Cat has the misfortune to find another dead body. This time, however, it is someone from Seth's past that he and his army buddies thought had been killed. The mystery proved interesting in that there was no really viable murder weapon or motive, give that everyone thought the victim was already dead. As the story unfolds, the reader gets introduced to some army buddies of Seth's and potential suspects come into focus. The identity of the killer is not completely obvious but it is not a complete surprise either. The motive, however, is not really known until the killer's identity is revealed and then the story crystalizes.
I enjoy this series and look forward to reading each new book The characters are well developed and have a natural, realistic feel to them. The author's writing flows and she knows how to engage her readers in a mystery that will capture their attention, providing them with a few hours of fun entertainment.
I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley. This book is currently scheduled for release in January 2020.
The mystery was interesting. As usual, Cat has the misfortune to find another dead body. This time, however, it is someone from Seth's past that he and his army buddies thought had been killed. The mystery proved interesting in that there was no really viable murder weapon or motive, give that everyone thought the victim was already dead. As the story unfolds, the reader gets introduced to some army buddies of Seth's and potential suspects come into focus. The identity of the killer is not completely obvious but it is not a complete surprise either. The motive, however, is not really known until the killer's identity is revealed and then the story crystalizes.
I enjoy this series and look forward to reading each new book The characters are well developed and have a natural, realistic feel to them. The author's writing flows and she knows how to engage her readers in a mystery that will capture their attention, providing them with a few hours of fun entertainment.
I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley. This book is currently scheduled for release in January 2020.
achoward's review against another edition
3.0
In this cozy mystery from Lynn Cahoon, Cat Latimer, her business partner Shauna, and Cat's boyfriend Seth host a writer's retreat at the bed and breakfast run. While the group is out hiking, Cat takes a photo of one of the couples. While looking at the photo to ensure she hasn't committed any stranger photo faux pas, she notices a leg sticking out of a huckleberry bush behind the couple. The unfortunate owner of the leg is an old Army buddy of Seth's, Chance. The problem is that Chance supposedly died in Germany years ago.
Cat's uncle Pete leads the investigation, and his girlfriend, Shirley (formerly law enforcement herself) is down from Alaska visiting. Both Shirley and Cat put themselves into the investigation. Seth also has some of his former Army buddies in town for a reunion. It's a little busy in this small Colorado town. The dead man was sitting on a gold claim, and according to his bank records, was receiving two grand a month into his bank account. Since he was living under an assumed name, was completely off the grid, and rarely visited town, who killed him, and why?
I'll admit that cozies are not really my jam these days. It isn't that they don't have gore or explicit scenes. It's just that I like more detail than often is given about crime scenes and procedures. For instance, we don't find out much of anything about the initial crime scene here. Chance's body is just kind of found and it kicks off the investigation. A journal the dead man kept and that Cat reads a couple of times doesn't really yield much to push the story forward (except the romance part, as the dead man writes about how Seth, Cat's high school sweetheart, bought a ring and was going to ask her to marry him back in the day, before she married another man).
The writer's retreat aspect of the book could easily have been left out or swapped for anything else. We rarely see the two couples and the young man who make up the five people at the B&B. One of the characters even makes a comment about how little interaction there is between Cat, who is presumably running the thing, as a published writer, and the others. What we do get an awful lot of, though, is talking. Pete shows up now and again to fill Cat in, Seth tells Cat a teeny bit about his Army past, Shirley shows up to tell Cat about something she has gleaned by hanging out with Pete - you get the idea.
We also get a ton of food: breakfast, lunch, dinner at the B&B, restaurant food, people eating, people talking about eating, and so on. Shauna, it turns out, is writing a cookbook, with Mrs. Rice, the next door neighbor Cat doesn't particularly like, as her beta eater.
There is a little bit of chat from Cat about publishing and how it works, and a pep talk to the young man about writing what he loves, a few scenes where Cat goes off to write, but again, all of this could have been left out, as it really adds nothing to the story. It's as if the retreat group was simply a box to tick because the series demands it. Yes, the series is about a writer running a writing retreat; however, there's nothing in this book that requires they be there.
The "who" in the whodunnit comes a bit out of nowhere, with an ending that wraps things up nicely with a bow, although a bit improbably.
3.5 out of 5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the advance copy.
Cat's uncle Pete leads the investigation, and his girlfriend, Shirley (formerly law enforcement herself) is down from Alaska visiting. Both Shirley and Cat put themselves into the investigation. Seth also has some of his former Army buddies in town for a reunion. It's a little busy in this small Colorado town. The dead man was sitting on a gold claim, and according to his bank records, was receiving two grand a month into his bank account. Since he was living under an assumed name, was completely off the grid, and rarely visited town, who killed him, and why?
I'll admit that cozies are not really my jam these days. It isn't that they don't have gore or explicit scenes. It's just that I like more detail than often is given about crime scenes and procedures. For instance, we don't find out much of anything about the initial crime scene here. Chance's body is just kind of found and it kicks off the investigation. A journal the dead man kept and that Cat reads a couple of times doesn't really yield much to push the story forward (except the romance part, as the dead man writes about how Seth, Cat's high school sweetheart, bought a ring and was going to ask her to marry him back in the day, before she married another man).
The writer's retreat aspect of the book could easily have been left out or swapped for anything else. We rarely see the two couples and the young man who make up the five people at the B&B. One of the characters even makes a comment about how little interaction there is between Cat, who is presumably running the thing, as a published writer, and the others. What we do get an awful lot of, though, is talking. Pete shows up now and again to fill Cat in, Seth tells Cat a teeny bit about his Army past, Shirley shows up to tell Cat about something she has gleaned by hanging out with Pete - you get the idea.
We also get a ton of food: breakfast, lunch, dinner at the B&B, restaurant food, people eating, people talking about eating, and so on. Shauna, it turns out, is writing a cookbook, with Mrs. Rice, the next door neighbor Cat doesn't particularly like, as her beta eater.
There is a little bit of chat from Cat about publishing and how it works, and a pep talk to the young man about writing what he loves, a few scenes where Cat goes off to write, but again, all of this could have been left out, as it really adds nothing to the story. It's as if the retreat group was simply a box to tick because the series demands it. Yes, the series is about a writer running a writing retreat; however, there's nothing in this book that requires they be there.
The "who" in the whodunnit comes a bit out of nowhere, with an ending that wraps things up nicely with a bow, although a bit improbably.
3.5 out of 5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the advance copy.
meezcarrie's review against another edition
5.0
I love Cat Latimer! And Shauna and Seth and Uncle Pete and Shirley. I love that these 5 core characters stay the same in each novel. Their friendships are the kind you hang on to for life, and because of these solid relationships we get to explore more layers to each character, including some emotional backstories. This brings the characters more fully to life and keeps us invested in them – and the series.
I also love that we get to meet a whole new cast of supporting characters in each novel, thanks to Cat’s writing retreat B&B. Sometimes they have a lot to do with the case (whether investigating it with Cat or being the ones murdered or murdering lol) and other times they’re mainly there to help advance the plot in other ways. No matter which of these is true in A Field Guide to Homicide (no spoilers lol), if you follow the series you know that they are interesting characters in their own right who will teach you a bit more about the writing process too.
The addition of Seth’s army buddies in this latest book laid the foundation for a complex mystery, as well as giving us a more detailed peek into Seth’s army years and his perspective on the time when he and Cat had broken up & she’d married Michael. This made me even happier that they’ve found each other again and that their old feelings have been rekindled. And yes, I even swooned a couple of times (but don’t worry – if you prefer your cozies without romance, it doesn’t dominate the story, I promise).
Bottom Line: There’s a reason that Lynn Cahoon is one of my top 5 fave cozy mystery authors, and she proves it once again in A Field Guide to Homicide. The mystery, the characters, the setting – all are carefully placed & vividly drawn. But she also takes the storyline, the layers, the emotions deeper and more complex than a typical cozy and it’s this skill that elevates her to be one of the very best in this genre – and it makes A Field Guide to Homicide one of my fave reads of 2020 so far.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
I also love that we get to meet a whole new cast of supporting characters in each novel, thanks to Cat’s writing retreat B&B. Sometimes they have a lot to do with the case (whether investigating it with Cat or being the ones murdered or murdering lol) and other times they’re mainly there to help advance the plot in other ways. No matter which of these is true in A Field Guide to Homicide (no spoilers lol), if you follow the series you know that they are interesting characters in their own right who will teach you a bit more about the writing process too.
The addition of Seth’s army buddies in this latest book laid the foundation for a complex mystery, as well as giving us a more detailed peek into Seth’s army years and his perspective on the time when he and Cat had broken up & she’d married Michael. This made me even happier that they’ve found each other again and that their old feelings have been rekindled. And yes, I even swooned a couple of times (but don’t worry – if you prefer your cozies without romance, it doesn’t dominate the story, I promise).
Bottom Line: There’s a reason that Lynn Cahoon is one of my top 5 fave cozy mystery authors, and she proves it once again in A Field Guide to Homicide. The mystery, the characters, the setting – all are carefully placed & vividly drawn. But she also takes the storyline, the layers, the emotions deeper and more complex than a typical cozy and it’s this skill that elevates her to be one of the very best in this genre – and it makes A Field Guide to Homicide one of my fave reads of 2020 so far.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
karen_the_baroness's review against another edition
4.0
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.A Field Guide to Homicide by Lynn Cahoon is another great book. Cat is back again with some trouble of course.
Cat is our sleuth and the main character. I love Cat in this installment as she is a pretty funny sleuth. The parts about the writing retreat are great and I loved reading them. Going on hikes, doing writing sprints, and having talks are great things for a writing retreat. Cat has a deal with the university in town as well for college kids to get some writing advice.
I like Cat Latimer and I can't wait to see what else she gets into.
Cat, Seth, and most of the writing retreat writers are going on a hike when Cat noticed something funky in some pictures. She, of course, found a dead body. Seth, though, is having a hard time dealing with all of this. They are trying to figure out what is going on with Seth's Army buddy that was supposed to be dead from before. Cat is trying not to get involved this time but if it helps Seth than who can stop her. I didn't figure it out until the sleuth was face-to-face with the culprit. Wow, I didn't expect it.
A Field Guide to Homicide by Lynn Cahoon is a great book. I loved Cat, Shauna, and Seth. Cat is a great sleuth and I hope that something good happens between her and Seth. I am recommending and giving it four stars.
Prize: (3) Print - A Field Guide to Homicide (A Cat Latimer Mystery) by Lynn Cahoon (U.S. ONLY)
Will Cat solve this mystery about Seth's old Army buddy?
Cat Latimer
Cat is our sleuth and the main character. I love Cat in this installment as she is a pretty funny sleuth. The parts about the writing retreat are great and I loved reading them. Going on hikes, doing writing sprints, and having talks are great things for a writing retreat. Cat has a deal with the university in town as well for college kids to get some writing advice.
I like Cat Latimer and I can't wait to see what else she gets into.
The Mystery
Cat, Seth, and most of the writing retreat writers are going on a hike when Cat noticed something funky in some pictures. She, of course, found a dead body. Seth, though, is having a hard time dealing with all of this. They are trying to figure out what is going on with Seth's Army buddy that was supposed to be dead from before. Cat is trying not to get involved this time but if it helps Seth than who can stop her. I didn't figure it out until the sleuth was face-to-face with the culprit. Wow, I didn't expect it.
Four Stars
A Field Guide to Homicide by Lynn Cahoon is a great book. I loved Cat, Shauna, and Seth. Cat is a great sleuth and I hope that something good happens between her and Seth. I am recommending and giving it four stars.
Other Books in the Series
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This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
melmo2610's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fantastic story. The mystery in this one was one that I enjoyed-probably one of the most enjoyable of the series for me. I really liked the angle of the Army buddies and the mystery surrounding them. This series is developing well in my opinion and I look forward to more adventures with Cat, Seth, Uncle Pete and the rest of the gang.
I received this book from NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
I received this book from NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
morticia32's review against another edition
2.0
Book 6 in the series.
This one was not my favorite. I had a hard time getting in to it, and I found myself really not liking Seth for much of the book. And really, I am getting tired of Cat's ex being dragged in all the time. I thought we were finished with him.
Throw in all the food descriptions, eating and an over-use of dialog versus action, and the whole book was weak. As Elvis once said, "A little less conversation, a little more action, please."
Hopefully this book was just a fluke and the next one will be back to normal.
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*
This one was not my favorite. I had a hard time getting in to it, and I found myself really not liking Seth for much of the book. And really, I am getting tired of Cat's ex being dragged in all the time. I thought we were finished with him.
Throw in all the food descriptions, eating and an over-use of dialog versus action, and the whole book was weak. As Elvis once said, "A little less conversation, a little more action, please."
Hopefully this book was just a fluke and the next one will be back to normal.
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*