Devi Nair
Edition 🎧 Listened in audio 📢 Narrated by Nicol Zanzarella ⏱ Duration: 9 hours 🏷️ Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks and Tantor Media (December 27, 2022)
I picked this up as a filler. A palate cleanser between heavier reads. I wasn't expecting much, maybe some quirky small-town charm, a predictable whodunit, the usual cozy mystery formula. What I got instead was Olivia Blacke serving up sisterhood goals wrapped in a murder investigation.
Juni, Tansy, and Maggie feel real in a way that sneaks up on you. Their banter, their loyalty, the way they show up for each other, is the emotional backbone that elevates this beyond your standard cozy mystery. Now, about Beau. This man broke Juni's heart years ago, shows up as the arresting officer, and somehow still manages to act like he holds the moral high ground. The audacity. He wasn't just annoying, he was the human equivalent of a skip in your favorite song. Every scene with him had me yelling at my earbuds. But honestly, that's good writing. A character who gets under your skin that effectively is doing his job. The supporting cast adds even more texture. The family dynamics, especially with their mother and uncle, bring warmth and stakes that kept me invested.
The pacing flows well for the most part, and the audiobook narration by Nicol Zanzarella brings a lively, personable energy that fits the tone perfectly. What started as a “just passing time” read quickly turned into a “wait, I need the next book” situation.
Would I recommend it? This is cozy mystery comfort food with actual substance. The sisterhood is beautifully written, the mystery kept me guessing, and the Cedar River setting feels like a town I'd actually want to visit (murder aside). If you love found family vibes, small-town charm, and mysteries that don't sacrifice character development for plot twists, grab this one.
Edition 🎧 Listened in audio 📢 Narrated by Nicol Zanzarella ⏱ Duration: 9 hours 🏷️ Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks and Tantor Media (December 27, 2022)
I picked this up as a filler. A palate cleanser between heavier reads. I wasn't expecting much, maybe some quirky small-town charm, a predictable whodunit, the usual cozy mystery formula. What I got instead was Olivia Blacke serving up sisterhood goals wrapped in a murder investigation.
Juni, Tansy, and Maggie feel real in a way that sneaks up on you. Their banter, their loyalty, the way they show up for each other, is the emotional backbone that elevates this beyond your standard cozy mystery. Now, about Beau. This man broke Juni's heart years ago, shows up as the arresting officer, and somehow still manages to act like he holds the moral high ground. The audacity. He wasn't just annoying, he was the human equivalent of a skip in your favorite song. Every scene with him had me yelling at my earbuds. But honestly, that's good writing. A character who gets under your skin that effectively is doing his job. The supporting cast adds even more texture. The family dynamics, especially with their mother and uncle, bring warmth and stakes that kept me invested.
The pacing flows well for the most part, and the audiobook narration by Nicol Zanzarella brings a lively, personable energy that fits the tone perfectly. What started as a “just passing time” read quickly turned into a “wait, I need the next book” situation.
Would I recommend it? This is cozy mystery comfort food with actual substance. The sisterhood is beautifully written, the mystery kept me guessing, and the Cedar River setting feels like a town I'd actually want to visit (murder aside). If you love found family vibes, small-town charm, and mysteries that don't sacrifice character development for plot twists, grab this one.