I haven’t really been a huge fan of the mystery genre since my childhood days with “Nancy Drew” and “Hardy Boys”, and I only recently learned what a “cozy mystery” is. However, when I first saw this posted on a fellow author’s Instagram feed, the cover and title sparked my interest. I’m glad to report that my first foray into the “cozy mystery” genre was a hit!

The Premise

Bexley Squires, whose recent claim to journalistic fame (after exposing a sex-trafficking ring) is soon drying up financially, gets contacted by a famous actor Dean Halliwell. After a press leak, it is suspected that he is involved with the murder of a dead girl, and he wants to clear his name so as to not tarnish his career in Hollywood. He offers loads of money, and Bexley is in need of some funds to help her search for her missing sister, so the timing is perfect. Soon after she gets back to town, she gets help from her teenage crush, now Detective Grayson Rivers, who has been told to drop the case since the missing person’s identity is unknown. However, the pair of stilettos left a telltale trail, and Bexley is hot on it! Soon the Jane Doe’s identity is revealed — along with another connection Bexley didn’t expect. As she tries to uncover the truth, she is torn between who to trust, and is soon embroiled in a conspiracy of rich-and-famous male depravity.

The Pros

I loved loved loved the no-nonsense main character. She was amazing, kicking ass from left to right, plucky, tough, and not easy to faze. Her personality brimmed through the writing, and kept the story flowing nicely. Thankfully, for a female character she wasn’t *too* in her head, and was driven to uncover the facts rather than get caught up in a possible romance with either of the two male characters. There were also flashes of dark humour that had me laughing out loud — Snickers, implants! The dialogue was fresh and on point, taking the action through a nice, steady pace that unfolded as the story developed. I also appreciated that the romance didn’t overpower the story, but was still humming along nicely there in the background all the while — a perfect balance.

The Cons

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end, but I have to admit it was quite predictable. I always love when a mystery completely shocks you when it is unveiled, and this one kind of spelled everything out along the way. By the time Bexley had figured it out, I already knew. I also wish the final bit — when everything is revealed — had a bit more action before it ended; it felt like the big lead-up fell a wee bit flat coming down to the end. Mid-action, it seemed to dive into the resolution chapter and then did a recap. I wanted more biting, snarky dialogue, some more fighting/struggling, something… well, more.

Conclusion

Despite the points I mentioned that were a bit of a let-down for me personally, this book was a great romp of a mystery read. I loved the writing talent, the humour interlaced throughout the novel, and the eventual satisfactory conclusion (though predictable). I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys strong female characters, a bit of suspense, and the tiniest drop of romance to tie it all together. I couldn’t get enough of Bexley, and I would love to read more in the series.

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