The Secrets of the Deadwoods Series
Author: Ashley Brandt
Genre: Cozy Mystery Short Story
Book #1: The Secrets of the Deadwoods
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/179895757-the-secrets-of-the-deadwoods
Buy - https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Deadwoods-Ashley-Brandt-ebook/dp/B0C8V2KZ5N
Blurb
Every town has its secrets, and Corinth is no exception.
When a local realtor turns up dead, Denali falls under suspicion as she was the last person to see the victim alive. Together with her telepathic cat, Da Vinci, these two amateur sleuths uncover the killer’s trail, leading them back to the haunted wood, known by the locals as the Deadwoods.
But when the murder suspect turns victim, the residents of Corinth are left with more questions than answers, not to mention more ghosts inhabiting the Deadwoods!
The story comes in Denali’s first-person POV.
3 Stars
My Thoughts:
The case, as such, takes no time to solve and is straightforward. In fact, it ends before it fully begins. However, I like the orange tabby, Da Vinci, and his special talents, so I’m okay with it.
There isn’t much to say without giving away the spoilers. The characters do stand out despite the lack of information or depth (both are impossible given the length). I’m not sure about Denali’s stay in the town (the details don’t match up), either.
It would work better if expanded a little more to add some clues or intrigue. Or, it could be merged with book #2 and used as the first two chapters in that one. (I’d pick option 2).
To summarize, The Secret of the Deadwoods is a quick intro to the series. You can finish it in 10 mins.
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Book #2: Something Like Murder
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198656438-something-like-murder
Buy Links - https://mybook.to/somelikemurder-zbt
Blurb
When two of Corinth’s oldest residents turn up murdered, Da Vinci and his sidekick team up to uncover the truth behind the murders.
Denali crosses paths with the newest resident in town, the gorgeous Alex Plummer and Da Vinci fears his housemate has fallen for a killer. However, as always, nothing in Corinth is as it seems, and the killer may be much closer to home than they ever suspected!
The story comes in Denali’s first-person POV.
3 Stars
My Thoughts:
The case in this one is a tad longer. We have new characters, each with a varying amount of importance in the book. Yet again, the mystery is solved easily. Everything is revealed without much effort. A stage-wise resolution might have been helpful.
Cozy Mystery is my favorite genre, so I like it better when an effort is made to structure the storyline. The plot has potential but needs to be fleshed out. It requires another 3-5k words to read like a decent mystery.
My copy also has a teaser from book #3. I admit I liked it more than one and two combined. I hope the author takes time to develop it into a longer version.
Da Vinci continues to shine and is impossible to ignore. He makes the story interesting and adds a few chuckles, too.
To summarize, Something Like Murder has the potential to become a solid mystery story or even a novelette. However, it’s a one-time read.
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About the Author - Ashley Brandt
Ashley Brandt is a Paramedic and an author living in North Texas. When she isn't reading or writing, Ashley enjoys hiking, swimming and photography. Ashley is a coffee addict and spends as much time at the bookstore as possible.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashley.brandt.9461/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087089264856
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrandtB95480105
Website: https://www.ashleybrandtbooks.com/
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This has been a pitstop on the blog tour conducted by ZooLoo’s Book Tours. Thank you for stopping by!
Thank you so much for taking part in the tour x
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure! :)
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