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lynguy1's review against another edition
5.0
SELL LOW, SWEET HARRIET by Sherry Harris is the eighth book in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale cozy mystery series. The story takes place in Massachusetts and while the books can be read stand-alone, I believe it is best to read them in order to fully appreciate the main character’s growth over time.
Sarah Winston has a garage sale business where she helps homeowners with pricing, organization and much more. She has a new client, the daughter of a couple who recently died in an accident overseas. Since they traveled extensively, their house is full of items from around the world. When an intruder breaks in and a hidden camera is found, the job becomes dangerous. In addition to this, Sarah is asked by Special Agent Bristow and Ellington police officer Scott Pellner, to listen, observe and report back on any information she finds regarding a murder at the nearby Air Force base. As a former military spouse she still has friends on base and volunteers at the base thrift store.
I discovered this series in October of 2018 when I was able to purchase the first five books in the series at a friends of the library book sale. It became my favorite cozy mystery series. I did not realize that I had missed books six and seven, but when I saw this one, I knew I wanted to read it.
Sarah Winston is a likeable main character that feels real and three-dimensional with her own distinct flaws and virtues. Her goals are always clear and with believable motivations. The story is engrossing, well-paced, and insightful with several twists and turns. Since the story takes place both on the air force base and in the nearby small town, it brings an unusual setting to a cozy mystery.
Overall, I enjoyed this well-written novel and recommend the series to those that enjoy cozy mysteries and yard sales or estate sales. This is the sixth book that I have read by this author and I am already looking forward to reading the other two in the series that I have not read.
Thanks to Kensington Books and Sherry Harris for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Sarah Winston has a garage sale business where she helps homeowners with pricing, organization and much more. She has a new client, the daughter of a couple who recently died in an accident overseas. Since they traveled extensively, their house is full of items from around the world. When an intruder breaks in and a hidden camera is found, the job becomes dangerous. In addition to this, Sarah is asked by Special Agent Bristow and Ellington police officer Scott Pellner, to listen, observe and report back on any information she finds regarding a murder at the nearby Air Force base. As a former military spouse she still has friends on base and volunteers at the base thrift store.
I discovered this series in October of 2018 when I was able to purchase the first five books in the series at a friends of the library book sale. It became my favorite cozy mystery series. I did not realize that I had missed books six and seven, but when I saw this one, I knew I wanted to read it.
Sarah Winston is a likeable main character that feels real and three-dimensional with her own distinct flaws and virtues. Her goals are always clear and with believable motivations. The story is engrossing, well-paced, and insightful with several twists and turns. Since the story takes place both on the air force base and in the nearby small town, it brings an unusual setting to a cozy mystery.
Overall, I enjoyed this well-written novel and recommend the series to those that enjoy cozy mysteries and yard sales or estate sales. This is the sixth book that I have read by this author and I am already looking forward to reading the other two in the series that I have not read.
Thanks to Kensington Books and Sherry Harris for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
bethanyread's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book. Liked the new characters, enjoyed seeing Seth again. Fun seeing Sarah on base. Definitely a good book in this series.
peggyemi's review against another edition
4.0
Author Sherry Harris had delivered another delightful entry in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series. When I pick up a book in this series I know that I am in for several hours of entertainment and enjoyment. This book did not disappoint. I like the main character Sarah Winston. It has been fun watching her grow and change from the first book. I was a bit disappointed when her relationship with CJ did work out but I like where the author is taking the storyline with Seth. I don't feel like it is being rushed or forced. The regular cast of secondary characters return to help Sarah, only this time, the police are actually asking for her assistance. The mystery is solid and woven nicely throughout the story. There are two mysteries that unfold in this book and each one left me guessing until the reveal.
This is a series that has everything I look for when reading a cozy mystery series. The protagonist is likable and entertaining; the setting and theme allow for a variety of crimes to investigate and the mystery is solid and kept me engaged throughout the book. This is a series I continue to return to and will be back for the next installment.
I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley.
This is a series that has everything I look for when reading a cozy mystery series. The protagonist is likable and entertaining; the setting and theme allow for a variety of crimes to investigate and the mystery is solid and kept me engaged throughout the book. This is a series I continue to return to and will be back for the next installment.
I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley.
gothicvamperstein's review against another edition
4.0
Sell Low, Sweet Harriet was a fun and entertaining cosy mystery with three dimensional characters and a great storyline with some twists and turns. Also, it was a bit fun to see a main character in a cosy mystery mess up the cooking big time as I've read some cosy mysteries with excellent cooks earlier.
debrajoreads's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of my most anticipated new releases for the new year. However, you may read that many times in my reviews, as this list is quite long. Definitely in my top 10 Cozy Mystery Series, Sherry Harris did not miss a beat with the latest installment. The plot, characters, and even the crimes are so relatable. The books in this series fly by, like a visit with old friends.
In this installment, there is more mystery than any other book yet. There are several unrelated crimes in this book but, of course, Sarah has her hand in all of them. Between a murder on base, a garage sale for former CIA members, and her favorite mobster moving in next door again, Sarah is on super sleuth mode. While the authorities have become more accepting of Sarah's abilities to solve the crimes, people on and around the Air Force Base are not very welcoming. With multiple tasks on her agenda, can Sarah get to the bottom of everything before she becomes the next victim?
Like I said, reading the new installment is like catching up with old friends. I am delighted that the end of this novel has some joyful news (I won't spoil it). Although I wish Carol and Stella were more involved in the sleuthing this go around, I enjoyed meeting some of the characters introduced in this book.
I have both the digital and audio versions of this book. Hillary Huber, who is one of my most favorite narrators, does and phenomenal job with this series. I was awarded the digital ARC via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Now to impatiently wait for the next book.....
In this installment, there is more mystery than any other book yet. There are several unrelated crimes in this book but, of course, Sarah has her hand in all of them. Between a murder on base, a garage sale for former CIA members, and her favorite mobster moving in next door again, Sarah is on super sleuth mode. While the authorities have become more accepting of Sarah's abilities to solve the crimes, people on and around the Air Force Base are not very welcoming. With multiple tasks on her agenda, can Sarah get to the bottom of everything before she becomes the next victim?
Like I said, reading the new installment is like catching up with old friends. I am delighted that the end of this novel has some joyful news (I won't spoil it). Although I wish Carol and Stella were more involved in the sleuthing this go around, I enjoyed meeting some of the characters introduced in this book.
I have both the digital and audio versions of this book. Hillary Huber, who is one of my most favorite narrators, does and phenomenal job with this series. I was awarded the digital ARC via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Now to impatiently wait for the next book.....
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
This an excellent addition to an excellent series.
I was happy to meet again the well thought cast of characters, the solid mystery and the setting.
I can't wait to read the next instalment.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I was happy to meet again the well thought cast of characters, the solid mystery and the setting.
I can't wait to read the next instalment.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
teatimewtrisha's review against another edition
The protagonist of our mystery, Sarah Winston, is a former military wife and current garage sale extraordinaire. “Garage sale” doesn’t really describe the productions that Sarah put on – she prices items and plans and conducts sales for people, and in this case, she handles everything inside of a home that a couple bequeathed to their children upon their death. Winston prices designer dresses and artifacts from all over the world, making this not-your-mother’s yard sale. It’s a full-blown estate sale. Needless to say, the underlying hook of this series had me… hooked. Harris even provides tips for holding a garage sale during the winter.
The layout of the book was a little different than other cozy mysteries. The victim of the story is already dead as the book begins, and very little backstory is provided about the circumstances around her death. Generally, our brave heroine stumbles across the body, and receives a weary reprimand from the cute detective who is the subject a of a “will they, won’t they?” storyline as well as curious questions from every nosy citizen in the small town.
Harris also creates a different take on the cast of characters. I’ve seen “new girl in town,” where all the characters are each introduced to our amateur sleuth, and “pillar of the community,” where our heroine knows everyone and anyone as well as all the dirt. Sarah Winston sits somewhere in the middle. As a former military wife, she knows a lot of the people on the military base where the mystery occurs, but others are strangers to her, having moved to the base after her divorce and departure. We find Sarah living in a nearby town, and only tied to the base by the thrift store where she volunteers. (Side note: shout out and a thank you to my own base thrift shop, they gave me a small scholarship for college years ago.) This seems fairly more realistic than our “new girl” and “pillar” stereotypes, but I did find the base culture Harris described fascinating and somewhat unsettling. Sarah is seen as a bit of a misfit and outcast since she still comes to the base despite her lack of familial ties, and the military wives seem to be clique-y and at times, gossipy and vicious.
Despite having these interesting draws that make Garage Sale Mysteries stand out in the cozy mystery world, I was not a huge fan of the character development. Namely, the lack luster approach to development. Cozy mysteries have a lot to pack into a story, so it’s understandable that there won’t be elaborate development, but the characters were so vanilla I had a hard time keep track of them. Sarah’s assistants stood out and were memorable, but I had trouble differentiating between the military wives, Sarah’s friends, and other side characters.
The layout of the book was a little different than other cozy mysteries. The victim of the story is already dead as the book begins, and very little backstory is provided about the circumstances around her death. Generally, our brave heroine stumbles across the body, and receives a weary reprimand from the cute detective who is the subject a of a “will they, won’t they?” storyline as well as curious questions from every nosy citizen in the small town.
Harris also creates a different take on the cast of characters. I’ve seen “new girl in town,” where all the characters are each introduced to our amateur sleuth, and “pillar of the community,” where our heroine knows everyone and anyone as well as all the dirt. Sarah Winston sits somewhere in the middle. As a former military wife, she knows a lot of the people on the military base where the mystery occurs, but others are strangers to her, having moved to the base after her divorce and departure. We find Sarah living in a nearby town, and only tied to the base by the thrift store where she volunteers. (Side note: shout out and a thank you to my own base thrift shop, they gave me a small scholarship for college years ago.) This seems fairly more realistic than our “new girl” and “pillar” stereotypes, but I did find the base culture Harris described fascinating and somewhat unsettling. Sarah is seen as a bit of a misfit and outcast since she still comes to the base despite her lack of familial ties, and the military wives seem to be clique-y and at times, gossipy and vicious.
Despite having these interesting draws that make Garage Sale Mysteries stand out in the cozy mystery world, I was not a huge fan of the character development. Namely, the lack luster approach to development. Cozy mysteries have a lot to pack into a story, so it’s understandable that there won’t be elaborate development, but the characters were so vanilla I had a hard time keep track of them. Sarah’s assistants stood out and were memorable, but I had trouble differentiating between the military wives, Sarah’s friends, and other side characters.
dollycas's review against another edition
5.0
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Sarah Winston’s business is slow during the colder blustery months but an estate sale is the perfect thing to keep her garage sale business in the black. A couple recently died while in Africa and their daughter has hired Sarah to liquidate the couple’s belongings. As retired CIA agents the couple traveled the world and collected a vast number of exotic items. The house is full of treasures. Treasures others seem to be interested in because there is a break-in, a suspicious visitor, and a hidden camera placed in the house. Sarah is nervous being the house alone and because it is a huge job she hires a couple of ladies from the nearby Air Force Base to assist her hoping there is safety in numbers. That is when she meets Harriet, a former FBI hostage negotiator with a flair for sales. She also has other talents that may come in handy.
Sarah has also been tasked to keep her eyes and ears open when on the base to help the authorities wrap up a murder that took place there. So instead of telling her to butt out of the investigation Sarah now feels she has permission to snoop.
Ms. Harris weaves two strong mysteries together this time to give her readers a real treat.
I was delighted to catch up with this group of special characters. Sarah’s life continues to unfold after her divorce from CJ. I really enjoy the relationship she is building with Seth. An old neighbor returns to rent the apartment next door and landlady/friend Stella’s relationship with Nathan Bossom (Awesome) may have hit a snag. Carol Carson, friend, and owner of Paint and Wine and Angelo and Rosalie DiNapoli are around to serve up advice and be sounding boards. The DiNapoli’ also serve up some mouthwatering Italian dishes that will make your mouth water. We are also introduced to several new characters. The dialogues between the characters in realistic and relationships make sense. Several subplots immerge allowing all the characters to really shine.
The mysteries are very well-plotted. I really liked the police asking Sarah for help even though she does go beyond their instructions just like they had to know she would. I enjoyed the twists and turns that played out with the estate sale mystery. The author really impressed me with the way both mysteries developed side by side to keep Sarah on her toes. Frankly, I was on my toes as well, completely drawn in but still putting clues together until all was revealed. Sherry Harris is also an expert at adding humor in all the right places. She had me truly giggling in places. I loved the ending too!
Entertaining and filled with wonderful characters Sell Low, Sweet Harriet, is an excellent addition to this series. The entire series are must-reads for all cozy lovers.
Sarah Winston’s business is slow during the colder blustery months but an estate sale is the perfect thing to keep her garage sale business in the black. A couple recently died while in Africa and their daughter has hired Sarah to liquidate the couple’s belongings. As retired CIA agents the couple traveled the world and collected a vast number of exotic items. The house is full of treasures. Treasures others seem to be interested in because there is a break-in, a suspicious visitor, and a hidden camera placed in the house. Sarah is nervous being the house alone and because it is a huge job she hires a couple of ladies from the nearby Air Force Base to assist her hoping there is safety in numbers. That is when she meets Harriet, a former FBI hostage negotiator with a flair for sales. She also has other talents that may come in handy.
Sarah has also been tasked to keep her eyes and ears open when on the base to help the authorities wrap up a murder that took place there. So instead of telling her to butt out of the investigation Sarah now feels she has permission to snoop.
Ms. Harris weaves two strong mysteries together this time to give her readers a real treat.
I was delighted to catch up with this group of special characters. Sarah’s life continues to unfold after her divorce from CJ. I really enjoy the relationship she is building with Seth. An old neighbor returns to rent the apartment next door and landlady/friend Stella’s relationship with Nathan Bossom (Awesome) may have hit a snag. Carol Carson, friend, and owner of Paint and Wine and Angelo and Rosalie DiNapoli are around to serve up advice and be sounding boards. The DiNapoli’ also serve up some mouthwatering Italian dishes that will make your mouth water. We are also introduced to several new characters. The dialogues between the characters in realistic and relationships make sense. Several subplots immerge allowing all the characters to really shine.
The mysteries are very well-plotted. I really liked the police asking Sarah for help even though she does go beyond their instructions just like they had to know she would. I enjoyed the twists and turns that played out with the estate sale mystery. The author really impressed me with the way both mysteries developed side by side to keep Sarah on her toes. Frankly, I was on my toes as well, completely drawn in but still putting clues together until all was revealed. Sherry Harris is also an expert at adding humor in all the right places. She had me truly giggling in places. I loved the ending too!
Entertaining and filled with wonderful characters Sell Low, Sweet Harriet, is an excellent addition to this series. The entire series are must-reads for all cozy lovers.
mrskatiefitz's review against another edition
3.0
This was another solid entry into this series. I always like the way Harris involves the military base in each mystery, as this is a unique setting I don't see anywhere else. I also never get tired of the mysterious events that seem to occur as Sarah plans for or puts on garage sales. (A case of mistaken identity was an especially fun and surprising part of this book!) All my favorite characters from previous installments were involved once again in this story, and in addition to piecing together the clues surrounding two different mysteries, it was also enjoyable to check in on their relationships and personal lives. (I had an ARC of this book from NetGalley, but since it had already been released when I started reading it, I opted to listen to the audiobook. Hillary Huber is a favorite narrator, and I really enjoyed her performance!)
lisaeliza's review against another edition
4.0
A well-written and engaging cozy mystery. I recommend it for an easy read on a cold day.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid for this review.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid for this review.