When an extra ticket becomes available to see the dress rehearsal of King Lear, Kellan tags along with Nana D and her buddies.When one of them dies of an apparent heart attack in the middle of second act, Nana D raises her suspicions and asks Kellan to investigate the death. With family members suddenly in debt and a secret rendezvous between an unlikely pair, Kellan learns that the Paddingtons … Paddingtons might not be as clean-cut as everyone thinks.
But can Kellan find the killer, or will he get caught up his own stage fright?
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Much like the first Braxton Campus Mystery book, Broken Heart Attack is put together like the perfectly cut and pieced jigsaw puzzle. Every chapter holding a clue that pieces together in flawless unison with another piece… on the completely opposite side of the puzzle. Over time, you can see the full picture coming into focus, yet each and every piece is an intricate part of the puzzle as a whole. It’s all splayed out and broken apart as, Kellan the main character carries the responsibility of wading through and putting it all together.
Broken Heart Attack can be read as a stand alone, yet I’m very glad to have read Academic Curveball first, as I feel like it set the scene SO well and I already had an attachment to the characters and family dynamics. Especially with Nana D. I love her, as you can see in my review of the first Braxton Campus Mystery book! Kellan’s grandma, AKA Nanna D is a snarky ol’ broad who’s so full of sarcasm and social bravery that it’s practically spewing from every pore. She’s hilarious, and utterly fearless.
Another aspect that I really loved about this book, is that it ties in so much more of Kellan’s family life with his daughter, and ‘dead’ wife… which turns out to be a whole other twist all in its own! I don’t want to give anything away, but lets just say I was shocked!!
Nana D, is running for Mayor and the community of elderly friends surrounding her make for quite the group. Each with secrets, unique personalities, family U-turns, and their own abundance of wit. One of them in particular is a very rich woman. The Padington business and family fortune are exposed to have many frayed ends when the not-so-sweet old broad winds up murdered. Kellan, the now campus professor, finds himself getting pulled into the family dynamics from more angles than he could have possibly prepared for. Much like in the first book, Kellan find himself right smack in the middle of solving a murder investigation (I wish he’d just get a degree and become the main detective of the town because he’s amazing at it!
I love the story line, and I love how the ending had so much build up for the next book! I can’t wait to dive into another of James J. Cudney’s cozy mysteries… SO MUCH TALENT!
I was keen to read “Broken Heart Attack” after enjoying “Academic Curveball” – the first in the Braxton Campus Mystery series. It does not disappoint.
After a jaw dropping end to book 1 (no spoilers), Kellan Ayrwick finds himself seated next to Gwendolyn Paddington at a dress rehearsal for King Lear. However, she takes her last breathe after taking her medication, and the performance is thus disrupted…
Kellan is urged to help uncover the killer by his grandmother Nana D, who is meanwhile running for mayor. A series of suspects grace the pages of this well written murder mystery, each with a motive for murder. There is a great wealth of humour running throughout, and I also enjoyed an ongoing guessing game as to the identity of the murderer. I did not succeed!
Highly recommended.
Broken heart attack is the second book in James J. Cudney’s successful Braxton Campus Mysteries series.
In this book we are immediately drawn back into Kellan’s world in the introductory scenes where he has agreed to assist his feisty and determined grandmother, Nana D, in running for mayor and is trying to rally her team of elderly friends into constructively assisting with her campaign. Nana D is quick to notice that her friend Gwendolyn Paddington, matriarch of the extremely wealthy Paddington family, is unwell and at loggerheads with her selfish and uncaring descendants. After accidentally overhearing Gwendolyn engaged in a telephonic conversation with an unknown family member, Kellan agrees to investigate the strange circumstances surrounding Gwendolyn’s ill-health on behalf of Nana D.
We are quickly reminded about the death of Kellan’s wife and his life as a single parent to their daughter who has quickly settled into her new life in the way that only very young children can. His struggles with his “boss” at the Braxton Campus faculty where he works as a lecturer are re-introduced creating a lot of sympathy in the reader for Kellan, who is a really nice chap and the kind of man everyone should like. James Cudney is, in my opinion, excellent at creating believable characters which the reader really cares about.
When Gwendolyn unexpectedly dies at a theatre performance, following a public argument with her estranged son during the interval, Kellan is swept into the investigation into the unnatural circumstances surrounding her death. Who could be responsible? One of her spoiled children, all of whom have failed in areas of their lives and need money as a result? One of her selfish grandchildren, who seem to actively dislike her? Or could it be her male nurse who has a history of his own? Kellan throws himself into discovering the true facts of her death, while avoiding conflict with the town’s female sheriff, who does not like any competition, especially from Kellan, and unexpected and unsettling confrontations with his dead wife’s mother.
This is an exciting and fast past murder mystery with believable and interesting characters which will keep you flipping pages until the thoroughly satisfying ending. Luckily, there is another four books already available in this series so you don’t have to wait to dive back into the world of Braxton Campus.
Broken Heart Attack by James J. Cudney is another murder mystery, written in the same style as the first book in the Braxton Campus Mysteries but doesn’t have any connection with the first book. We meet the same characters in a different situation, trying to figure out the real reason of Gwendolyn Paddington’s death. It moves at a leisurely pace, with a lot of humor thrown in. Nana D wins the flag once again, endearing herself with her reprimands and threats. James adroitly leaves some open ends to develop the story of Kellen’s family further, thereby keeping the interest alive.
Paddington family is portrayed with diligence and each character stands out clearly, displaying the pretentious bonds that have kept them together. Cudney understands relationships too well and gives that perceptive eye to Kellan who feels he possesses a natural talent to dig deeper, as his intellect and curiosity are intrigued by investigating real life crimes. He proves to be better than sheriff April. Myriam reminded me of a witchy boss; Cecilia worse than the former but her character development is slow. On the whole this is an enjoyable book and I look forward to reading the third one in the series.
One of the good things about reading the second book in a series is that you are already up to speed with the main characters. This helps you slip into the story where the last one left off, with a bit of a cliffhanger for the lead character, Kellan Ayrwick, which continues to intrigue throughout this story. We get to know new players in the drama, including the leading family in the town, who have a finger in most pies, including the university and particularly the drama department. Nana D, Kellan’s grandmother has ambitions of her own, but when it comes to friendship, she will leave no stone unturned to find out the cause of her friend’s problems.
Rather she will get Kellan to leave no stone unturned, and in this case it is the suspicious death of the matriach of the Paddington family, who expires in an untimely fashion in the middle of a Shakespeare play. And what things he finds when he does lift some rocks and secrets and lies are abundant.
Add in a fiesty sheriff who likes to play hardball, his former mother-in-law making impossible demands, and a boss who would be delighted to see the back of him, and you have a fast paced mystery with plenty to keep the reader busy.
There were red herrings which is always a good thing in a mystery, nothing worse than identifying the killer in the first chapter… I had my suspicions about a few characters but only discovered my misconceptions in the last chapter of the book. Whilst the case is satisfactorily closed for most people concerned, the author has left some threads for us to follow up in the next book, Flower Power Trip, which I am looking forward to.
I do recommend that you begin with Academic Curveball so that you are up to speed with the cast members and you will then enjoy this next mystery to the full.
Kellan Ayrwick accompanies, his grandmother, Nana D and her friends to a dress rehearsal at the Paddington Theatre. However, during the performance, Gwendolyn, the woman sitting next to him suddenly falls against his shoulder. When he checks her pulse, he finds that she is dead. At first, it is thought she’d had a heart attack, but was there something more sinister going on? Gwendolyn had mentioned to her friends that she thought someone was trying to kill her. Therefore, had they succeeded? Once it is established that she had been poisoned, Nana D, calls on her grandson to find the killer. After all, he had uncovered a murderer only a few weeks previously, when bodies had been found on the campus.
But this case would be much more difficult for Kellan, as Gwendolyn had a number of relatives, many of whom needed money to cover debts or planned new ventures. Anyone of them could have killed her to receive their share of her will. As if that is not enough, Kellan has to face the local sheriff again. She didn’t like him interfering with her last case and certainly doesn’t want him intruding again.
But there is another problem he needs to come to terms with; something he never thought possible. To say anymore would spoil it for readers.
I found this novel to be really attention-grabbing. I didn’t want to put if down. Despite following Kellan closely, hoping to find the murderer before he did, I got it wrong. Will you guess whodunit?
Kellan Ayrwick’s Unexpected Life
This second story flows smoothly from Academic Curveball, the first book in the series. When I began reading I felt the lives of the characters flowed smoothly, as if I had just finished reading the first book. Broken Heart Attack is a new story and another contorted plot that kept me guessing.
The author has created characters that stand out from one another, each with strong personalities. Besides Kellan’s non-assuming personality, my favorites are the Deputy and Nana D, partly because they are so spunky. But each character plays a vital role and not one seems like a movie extra. Even those characters with minor appearances serve to push the story forward. We get to know each character by the subtle descriptions Cudney smoothly drops into the narration. Individual personalities are confirmed in their strong dialogues and Cudney is a master of dialogue.
Kellan Ayrwick is a young man who finds himself caught up in another murder investigation that is just too close to home. This story reads swiftly and the action keeps rolling. Though you’d never know it from the twist and turns, everything ties up neatly – but not without some shocking events that lead to another of Cudney’s breathtaking cliffhangers.
The twists and turns of the different story lines keep you on your toes. The characters feel like family, I can’t wait to start book 3.
4.5/5 stars
This is Book 2 and can work as a standalone, especially as it is so early in the series. However, there are some ‘situations’ and ‘interesting characters’ that cross from Book 1 into Book 2. I suspect that from Book 2 onwards, you’ll definitely need to read in order.
Let’s start with the mystery. Who killed Gwen? Gwendolyn is the Paddington family matriarch and holds tight reins over the family fortune. It’s a good thing too, as most of that family is incredibly dysfunctional, spoilt, lazy or just too busy thinking about themselves. That cozy bunch provides ample suspects when trying to figure out the true killer.
The clues are dropped from the very beginning, but be careful, there are several red herrings in there too. Every time I thought aha, this one must be the one, my resolution was dashed by compelling evidence against someone else! The motives are all believable. Some of the suspects are unlikable and I couldn’t help but hope it was them. A couple others are just too sweet and I kept my fingers crossed for their innocence.
Speaking of sweet characters, Kellan is back and so is his wife! As if he wasn’t in enough conflict at work with the acerbic, biting, mean-spirited Myriam, he’s got to face-off against his formidable in-laws and their shady dealings. All of this on top of working out his conflicting emotions over Francesca’s return! This book has got some drama!!!
As for Nana D, she’s back in all her dramatic glory and determined to find out who killed her friend. There’s a scene involving Kellan, Nana D and some margaritas…. all I can say is, don’t try to pull the wool over this lady’s eyes. She’ll make you pay!
Now, James provides his readers with a full story and a satisfactory resolution. On the final page, he leaves us with the segue into the next book. So yes, there is a cliffhanger but it does not affect the main story of this book. That said, the cliffhanger is juicy!!! And I can’t wait for Book 3!
I have to admit that I like this instalment more than I liked the first. I think part of that is the author finding his “Cozy Voice”. I look forward to even more improvements as we go along the series and recommend this book to Cozy lovers.
The second dose you must have after reading the first!
These are just so good and I would love it if they just kept coming! This world is one I am happy to sink into again and again. It’s full of twists and turns, humor, plots, and some characters with some amazingly thought out personalities.
I have dived straight into the second book in the Braxton Campus Mysteries without reading the first. While it soon became clear I would have benefited from reading the earlier mystery, I was quickly brought up to speed and settled into the story without any difficulty.
Broken Heart Attack has all the elements of a good cozy mystery, including an amateur sleuth who sets out to solve a suspicious death, in this case Gwendolyn Paddington, a family friend dying while watching a dress rehearsal of King Lear. The narrator, professor Kellan Ayrwick, is a satisfyingly flawed protagonist with a full portion of problems, both personal and professional, on his plate. In true cozy style, the reader is drawn into an intimate world filled with loveable, and well-rounded characters. Even chair of the department, Miriam Castle, the “venomous barracuda”, is sympathetically cast.
As Kellan bends to his grandmother Nana D’s wishes and investigates Gwendolyn’s death, he struggles to deal with the complex matter of his own nuclear family. Cudney has given his sleuth a challenging and heartbreaking dilemma. Cudney’s handling of this theme is sensitive and considered.
There is nothing not to love about Broken Heart Attack. Cudney’s writing style is warm, vibrant, edgy and upbeat, the humour leaping off the page in the opening paragraphs. The first person narration is strong, the use of a modern vernacular style appropriate. Broken Heart Attack is a racy read, the reader kept entertained as the plot unfolds, eager to discover the culprit. The novel ends on a cliffhanger, leaving the reader hungry for Book 3. It is a device that does not always work, but in this case it does.
In Broken Heart Attack, James Cudney’s second book of the Braxton Campus Mystery series, there’s conflict at every twisty turn. Our main sleuth is Kellan Ayrwick, a TV crime show researcher turned temporary teacher on the same campus where his father was president. We get to know a range of sarcastic characters on and off campus in Kellen’s wide circle of humorous friends and family. One of my favorites was his feisty grandmother, Nana D, whose unfortunate friend becomes the victim in this episode. Her wealthy family might not be as wholesome as they first appear.
What follows is a complex murder mystery with a number of potential suspects. Along the way, Kellen is pulled in many directions as a single dad trying to make the best decisions for Emma, his six year old daughter. In fact, there were so many forces tugging Kellen in both his personal and professional life, that I began to feel sorry for him. He struggled to resolve any of them satisfactorily until the very end when the killer was revealed. At times you’ll laugh, but you’ll be angry, too. Mostly you’ll be entertained.
Cudney ended both the first and second books with cliffhangers, so be prepared to read all six books in this series once you begin. You’ll want to know what happens next.
BROKEN HEART ATTACK by James J. Cudney is the second book in the Braxton Campus Mysteries series. It’s the story of Kellan, his adjusting to moving back in Wharton County, Pennsylvania as a Professor at Baxter, with Emma, his 6 year old daughter, and how he is once again pulled into helping to solve a murder.
You can’t help but fall in love with Nana D., Kellan’s grandmother – known by others as Seraphina Danby. After the sudden death of her dear friend, Gwendolyn – of the renown Paddingtons and part of Braxton’s Septuagenarian Club, and at the request of Gwen’s sister-in-law Eustacia, Nana D. calls upon Kellan to get to the truth about what really happened. It seems there had been statements and actions by Gwendolyn to give credence that it wasn’t a heart attack, but rather that someone may have murdered her. When evident confirms it, Nana D. is more determined than ever to find out who murdered her dear friend. Nana D. is also determined to run for mayor even though she knows very little about the political structure and being of advanced years. She definitely needs Kellan’s help!
Kellan’s banter and quick comebacks with Sheriff April Montague keep things interesting and fun to read. They eventually find that they can work rather well together for a like cause – maybe even be friends.
During all of this, Kellan is dealing with major events in his own life like his dead wife, Francesca, showing up very much alive, dealing with his in-laws, the Castigliano and their mob connections, and most importantly thinking through things so as to make the right and best decision for his future while protecting his daughter at the forefront and not becoming a murder victim himself.
BROKEN HEART ATTACK ends with a murderer nabbed (that I for one hadn’t guessed), one surprise revealed and a cliff hanger that will have you looking for book #3 in this series.
BROKEN HEART ATTACK is well written and definitely keeps you turning the pages. Although part of a series, it can definitely be read as a standalone book. This was the first book in the series for me and although I had a bit of trouble at first keeping everyone straight in the Paddington family just because there are quite a few of them and I was trying to figure out whodunit from the beginning. It didn’t take me long to get the pecking order figured out and into the rhythm of the book. With the ending of this book, I will definitely be reading book #1 to see how it builds to this one and I’m excited to read the rest of the series as well.
Loved that the main sleuth was a man in this series and one that takes his family responsibilities seriously and with great heart. His quick wit added to his intelligence and made him more enduring. I would definitely recommend this book to those that love a great cozy mystery, a clean mystery, or one that will keep you guessing to the very end. I really enjoyed it and feel you would too.
Myriam is my most treasured character. She has the best lines. It was like this was a modern version of King Lear too.
Broken Heart Attack is the second book in James Cudney’s Braxton Campus Mysteries. Just as the first, I love Mr. Cudney’s COZY MYSTERY true to the genre with MURDER, MYSTERY, and a HUMOROUS SLEUTH. Again, KELLAN finds himself involved in another Braxton campus crime, a murder revolving around the affluent PADDINGTON FAMILY. GWENDOLYN Paddington, the matriarch of this dysfunctional clan and close friend of Kellan’s grandmother, NANA D. dies on Kellan’s shoulder in the middle of a King Lear production. How crafty of Mr. Cudney to use Shakespeare’s King Lear as the play where death befalls the murder victim. Just as in King Lear, Broken Heart Attack revolves around the victim’s last will and testament and the clashing family heirs.
Gwendolyn knew her life was in danger. Who wanted her dead?
Suspicions surround the family when Gwendolyn’s will goes missing. As usual, Kellan disregards the local Sheriff, April Montague’s, warnings to stay out of her investigation. Hard-headedly, Kellan insinuates himself into the Paddington family, investigates each member’s MOTIVE for murder, uncovering years of animosities and infidelity from the past that threatens the family’s foundation. Who was clever and hateful enough to murder her with a lethal dose of cocaine-infused medication, and why? Was it Brad, THE NURSE, Millard her HUSBAND, Ophelia her DAUGHTER, Richard her SON-IN-LAW or one of the GRANDCHILDREN?
With the help of his wise-cracking Nana D., now running for town mayor, Kellan powers on, budding into the Paddington family’s past and present history until he uncovers the killer.
But some days Kellan’s had just about enough of older women bossing him around.
“There are days when I want to pack myself in a box and ship it anywhere but Braxton for another forty years. It’s almost like once people turned seventy, they decided it’s their right to do and say whatever they wanted… Why couldn’t I have stayed back in Los Angeles? Oh right, the Castiglianos… I was surrounded by sassy women who liked to torture me.”
Kellan’s personal life is fraught with uncertainties when his supposedly dead wife, Francesca, resurfaces, still insistent on remaining in his life. The dangerous Castiglianos, his wife’s family, is more of a threat than Kellan realizes. Just when Kellan believes his life is resuming some normalcy, he stumbles on another secret, this time involving his brother. Will Kellan ever find peace. Highly unlike with another looming drama involving his wife. Will Kellan ever break free of his wife? Does he want to?
Mr. Cudney’s, lovable and humorous sleuth and his relationship with Nana D. always makes me laugh. I enjoy the banter between these two and Kellan’s dangerous capers keep me turning pages as if I’m right with him in solving the mystery. Broken Heart Attack is WELL WRITTEN, SUSPENSEFUL, and a PAGE-TURNER that kept me GUESSING to the end. I highly recommend this novel to those who love a cozy mystery or those looking for a good read. Thank you, Mr. Cudney, for the laughs, thrills, suspense, and great read!
https://edenisebillups.com/2019/08/15…
I wanted it to deal more with his wife, but the mystery was good. Looking forward to book 3 in the series!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Kellan has a wonderful relationship with his Nana D which means her friends, the Septuagenarian Club, are up in his business and he in theirs. Pushed into attending an early performance of King Lear with the group he finds himself seated to Gwendolyn Paddington. The matriarch of the Paddington family. Her family built the theater and she is now the family representative and very involved in all the facets. When her head topples to his shoulder he thinks she has fallen asleep, until he realizes she is dead and he calls for the performance to be stopped. It is assumed she has had a heart attack but she recently confessed to Nana D and Kellan that she thought someone in her family was trying to kill her. Her sister-in-law Eustacia begs Kellan to solve the murder as he had recently done at the college. Nana D accepts for him and he finds himself up to his ears with the Paddington family. The all have secrets and not everyone is happy about his continued presence. Hopefully, he can get to the bottom of the case before he ends up joining Gwennie at the pearly gates.
Kellan also has his hands full with family drama. He recently learned his deceased wife’s family was mobbed up and now that he has moved his daughter to Pennsylvania from California they are making his life miserable.
James J. Cudney has created such terrific characters. From his 6-year-old daughter, Emma, who just like my granddaughter is 6 going on 30, to the 70+-year-olds and everyone in between. We learn more about Kellan’s family and meet some new members. His relationship with his parents is evolving. They love have their granddaughter around. His deceased wife’s family, represented by his pushy, controlling mother-in-law got me fuming to say nothing of the mob element that really had my blood boiling. The Paddington family has so many issues. To says their lives are complex is an understatement. There are some good ones, but plenty of bad ones too. College life took a little bit of a backseat this time, but Kellan’s boss is not happy to have him in her department.
Mr. Cudney has jam-packed these pages absolutely full. Twists and turns on top of more twists and turns. Kellan is being pressed from so many different directions I am surprised at how he handles it all. The story keeps from getting too heavy by the antics of Nana D and the wonderful precocious Emma. Cudney sets a nice pace and his explanations and descriptions are tighter than in book one and the story flows like the breeze.
This story wraps up revealing Gwennie’s killer in a fantastic way. A little ice seems to be melting between two characters which was surprising. But hold on to your Kindle because there is a huge cliffhanger. A cliffhanger that has me super enthused for Book #3. Flower Power Trip releases March 30!!!
Here we continue following the story and journey of Kellan Ayrwick as he transitions from LA family man to Pennsylvania family man as well as a professor/transition facilitator at Braxton College. He once again finds himself involved in a mystery when one of his grandmother’s friends dies during a theatre performance. Kellan’s grandmother – the irrepressible Nana D. – asks Kellan to investigate and find out what really happened to Gwendolyn. He agrees, while trying to stay out of the way of both the disagreeable sheriff and his partner/boss at Braxton, Dr. Myriam Castle.
Kellan’s personal life is expanded much more in this book and we finally get to meet more of his family. Also in the mix is the continuation of the little wrinkle that is introduced at the end of the first book. Mr. Cudney’s writing is on-point here, which makes it a very interesting, heartbreaking, funny, and compelling read. I have very much enjoyed both Braxton books in this series so far and greatly anticipate getting to read the third book next year.
This is the second book in the Braxton Campus Mysteries series and another home run! I love, love, love being in Kellan’s head and seeing what shenanigans are going to go down next.
All I’ve gotta say is Nana D is my favorite character, hands down! She’s freaking awesome, and I wish I had a funny grandmother like her! Kind of reminds me a bit of Thelma from Mama’s Family, but awesomer and more hilarious! And that’s hard to top!!
As with book one, Kellan faces drama and mystery! I was flying through the pages wanting to know what was going to happen with Kellan’s family life and with the investigation. There was great characterization, addictive writing, and a wonderfully developed mystery! By the time I got to the last page, I was like nooooooooo! I have to know what happens next! Can’t wait for book three!