Abby McCree spends a summer showing family films under the stars—only to end the season with an unexpected slasher flick . . . Ushered once again onto another committee by the mayor of Snowberry Creek, Washington, Abby is tasked with keeping the box office receipts of the town’s Movies in the Park nights. Cut to the director’s chair from where she’s suddenly organizing the summer’s last feature. … feature. From the opening scene through the final credits, Abby feels she’s earned nominations for best volunteer, best movie date with her tenant Tripp Blackston—and best daughter for ignoring her mother Phoebe’s own movie date with Owen Quinn. Unfortunately, Abby and the others are treated to a post-credits scene: the body of local insurance agent Mitchell Anders. This discovery is followed by a plot twist revealing that the murder weapon comes from Owen’s food truck. With her mother’s boyfriend suspected of murder, Abby starts her own investigation determined to shine a spotlight on the real killer . . .
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Dollycas’s Thoughts
Abby McCree finds herself in charge of another Snowberry Creek event. This time it’s a family film in the park. Everyone seems to have enjoyed the movie, especially Abby who took in the movie with Tripp Blackston, and Abby’s mother, Phoebe who attended the show with her new boyfriend, restauranteur, and food truck owner, Owen Quinn but they didn’t watch most of the movie because they were making out like teenagers and making Abby cringe.
When the movie was over and the park cleared out Abby, Phoebe, Tripp, and Owen took on the tasks of putting equipment and tables away and picking up any litter left behind. They also found a man who appears to have had too many adult beverages and is sleeping it off. But as Abby gets closer she realizes the man isn’t sleeping, he’s dead. He is identified as Mitchell Anders, the new insurance agent in town, and we quickly learn that he has been stabbed. Stabbed with a chef knife belonging to Owen. Abby doesn’t know much about Owen but when her mother asks her to help clear his name she can’t say no. She also sees the tension between Phoebe and police chief Gage Logan so to keep the peace she needs to get involved. Hopefully, she isn’t making a huge mistake.
The characters I have come to love return, and they are joined by Abby’s mother Phoebe visiting from Seattle, Owen Quinn, who has come to town to open a restaurant and food truck, and his employee, Jada. Abby and Tripp’s relationship is moving along nicely. I love the two of them together but her mother doesn’t. In fact, her mother found issue with almost everything Abby did and all of her friends. She was a cantankerous woman throughout most of the story and Abby really did try to keep her cool but finally blew. I found Abby’s reactions to be very realistic. Her mother’s attitude and actions were a little over the top but the relationship challenges did add a unique slant to the book. Again the lovable mastiff Zeke stole my heart.
The mystery was very well constructed. Owen is holding something back and there are a wide variety of clues that open up the suspect pool. One glaring clue was found in an intriguing place and when discovered broke the case wide open. I really enjoyed this twist and the manner in which it was handled. The way all the subplots entwined with the main plot really kept those pages turning.
Death by Intermission is a superb addition to this series. Ms. Morgan knows how to give her readers a stellar mystery to solve laced with a nice amount of humor and the perfect amount of romance. She has placed her characters in an interesting small town that always has an event or two for them to get believably involved in.
I was smiling as the book drew to a close. I can’t wait to see what these characters are up to next.
This is a well-crafted mystery with lots of twists and turns and well-placed red herrings. The characters are well-developed and relatable with complex relationships. I am looking forward to the next installment.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.
Snowberry Creek always seems to have a lot going for it. Movies in the park are Abby McCree’s latest committee job, and a successful one at that. When a body is found during clean up, Abby’s mom’s new beau is first on the suspect list. I liked the addition of some new characters, but Abby and her mom’s regressive teen like relationship will hopefully even out if her mom decides to remain in town. This is turning out to be a favorite series and always a good diversion.
A very fun and intriguing book! Snowberry Creek is holding the last of their summer movie nights in the park. After the movie ends, Abby, Tripp, Abby’s mom, and Abby’s mom’s gentleman friend, Owen, help to clean up. Abby and her mom stumble across a dead body while cleaning up. It turns out to be Mitch Anders, the local insurance agent. It turns out that Mitch was murdered and the murder weapon is one of Owen’s knives. Abby’s mom is not at all happy with how things are being handled by the police and it is causing problems between Abby and her mom. The McCree ladies go to visit the young woman who works for Owen, Jada Davidson, and try to see if they can help after Owen is arrested. After Jada’s house gets broken into, she comes to stay with Abby. It is later discovered that a picture of Jada’s dad with his army buddies was taken the night of the break in. It seems likely that the missing picture is connected to the murder. This book was really intriguing as there weren’t really any suspects other than Owen, who seemed a little too obvious, and that made me want to keep reading to find out who the killer was in addition to the motive. I enjoyed getting to meet Abby’s mom and they definitely butted heads several times over the murder and Abby’s choice to stay in Snowberry Creek and get involved with Tripp. Abby and Tripp’s romantic relationship seemed to be developing and I loved seeing the little moments between them. It was nice to see the women come together in the end to catch a killer. I look forward to more of this series and seeing what’s next for Abby and Tripp and Zeke the dog!
DEATH BY INTERMISSION by Alexis Morgan
The Fourth Abby McCree Mystery
It’s bad enough that Abby McCree is once again in charge of a committee, but she’s also dealing with a visit from her mother. Abby’s relationship with her mother is strained as Phoebe carries on with a relative stranger, but treats Abby as if she were a teenager. Things get more complicated when Abby and Phoebe find a dead body while cleaning up after the town’s movie night. With her romantic interest a person of interest Phoebe goes on the warpath. Will Abby be able to rein her mom in, or will she be the one to blow her own top? With a young woman in the crosshairs of a killer, the two had better find a way to catch the murderer before they kill each other!
I really love this series and this book is a great example of just why. The mother/daughter dynamic in DEATH BY INTERMISSION is brilliantly written. Abby may be an adult, but living with her mom brings her right back to her teen-aged self. At times I wanted to throttle Phoebe and I was so proud when Abby stood up to her and fought back. I also feel the hurt that Abby felt when her mom said some of the things she did. But the two do love each other and I was cheering Phoebe on during the ultimate confrontation. I appreciate how Abby stands up for her friends and enjoy seeing the relationship between her and Tripp grow.
Intelligent, well developed characters, a smart well plotted mystery, a spark of romance, a sweet big dog, and laugh out loud moments make DEATH BY INTERMISSION a fantastic book that shouldn’t be missed.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
This is the first book in this series that I’ve read and, while I had no difficulty getting up to speed on the series, I found myself asking what I’d gotten myself into. With the exception of the constant bickering between Abby and her mother, this was an enjoyable cozy. The problem was the amount of tension between Abby and her mother. Quite honestly, it felt way over-the-top for a cozy and sadly realistic. This was truly a case where less would have been much better.
Overall, I liked the protagonist and her approach to the crime. Dialogue felt realistic. Her motivation for investigating was also believable. I did find the writing style to be a little too explanatory for my taste because it slowed the plot. Overall, I’d have enjoyed this one more with less angst in Abby’s personal life and a little more mystery in the plot, but for fans of the series, it’s a good read.
FTC Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by its publisher.
What should have been a fun night in the park watching the last movie of the summer movie night program soon turned deadly. Abby is in charge of the after show clean up crew but her mind is elsewhere and her thoughts are conflicted, to say the least. Her divorcee mother, visiting for more than a few weeks from Seattle, has found her own boyfriend and Abby is creeped out about it. Watching her own mother canoodling (as Abby puts it) with the new guy in town, Owen…well Abby is having some big time issues about it. She is does not like Owen much, to be honest. He seems a bit off.
Soon after the movie ends, she and her mother are picking up trash and find more than they expected. Beer cans, sure but not the very dead man seated amidst them.
Finding her fourth dead body since moving to the small Washington State town of Snowberry Creek isn’t something Abby is thrilled about. She has learned way too much about police procedure for one lifetime. That soon comes in handy as her mother’s new boyfriend is declared the prime suspect. Both the victim and Owen were new to town and the murder weapon is a chef’s knife. Open and shut case? Her mother is in high gear to clear Owen and Abby has her hands full to keep her under control and also try to figure out what got the dead guy stabbed. Dealing with her ‘Mother issues’ is another challenge.
This is a great series and Abby is a very realistic character. The mystery is complex enough to keep the reader guessing and the ending is satisfying. I’m holding a spot on my TBR list for the next book.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Such a fun read, even with a murder involved. Death by Intermission by Alexis Morgan is the fourth Abby McCree book. No matter how much Abby tries to get out of committees she is unable to do so. Then it always seems to lead to a murder mystery that she become involved in solving. A wonderful cozy mystery series that continues to entertain, this time with a movies in the park night murder scene. Besides finding the killer I always look forward to any and all interaction between Abby and her tenant Tripp Blackston.
I recommend this series to all cozy mystery fans who enjoy a small town favor to their stories with a reluctant heroine. Abby always comes through with a little help from her friends and community.
An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Death by Intermission is an average story with a few issues. But none of the problems compare to the dynamics achieved in mother/daughter relationships. Or the damage the main character and her mother do to what equates to complex relationships, to begin with. As an amateur sleuth, Abby always finds herself in a murder investigation. She gets stuck in the middle of them and feels that she doesn’t have a choice but try to figure it out on her own.
This time we find that Abby’s mom has come for a visit; she managed to find a boyfriend and a dead body. She isn’t a suspect, but her new beau is, and Abby isn’t sure that he isn’t guilty. The amateur sleuth in her comes to the foreground. One way or another, she has to find out who killed a local insurance agent before her mother does something stupid. Other suspects are present but aren’t as easy to connect to the dead man until some secrets come to light.
The killer’s identity is revealed and doesn’t really come as a surprise. I thought it was evident from the beginning. Some of the secrets that seem so important turn out to be easy to figure out. The constant bickering between Abby and her mother gets old quickly, and it doesn’t help that they are acting like teenagers and have the attitude to go with it. This makes it difficult to get to know Abby’s mom, which would have made the story more interesting if the reader could know what type of person she is instead of who she is presented to be by her biased daughter. Kids have an odd idea of who their parents are to begin with, adding murder and a boyfriend into the mix makes it even more skewed. Abby isn’t a very good sleuth as she doesn’t figure out who the killer is; she sort of falls into the killer’s line of sight and almost becomes a victim.
I have enjoyed this series from the beginning. Even though I found Death by Intermission to have some issues and a few unanswered questions, it hasn’t changed my opinion or enjoyment of the series or the author. This is still one of the better amateur sleuth series on the market and one of the best writers. However, isn’t it time Abby gets some life goals, maybe a job, or starts a business, and she and Tripp need to stop pretending to be landlord and renter?
First off Abby’s Mom was the WORST! That woman drove me CRAZY the whole entire book. Abby wasn’t to far behind with her almost constant getting into dangerous situations. I really think she needs to figure out what she wants to do job wise so MAYBE just MAYBE she will live through the next book. I really like these books and I just love this author.
This is the first cozy I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last! I really enjoyed Abby and Tripp and their friends in Snowberry Creek. We get to know the characters well through actions and realistic conversations. That includes the conversations between Abby and her visiting mother, Phoebe. The complex mystery kept me guessing.
Abby’s mother is visiting from Seattle. Ever since she met Owen, owner of a new BBQ restaurant, she has much more of an interest in visiting her daughter. They are at the last movie in the park event for the summer, and the closest thing Abby and the former Special Forces soldier who rents her guesthouse, Tripp, will have to a date. Their friendship has progressed slowly; he is attending college and doesn’t have much free time. Mostly he has helped get her out of trouble when looking into a few little murders. Phoebe and Owen’s “canoodling” puts a damper on Abby’s enjoyment of one of her favorite movies.
Abby is volunteered for many things by the mayor’s assistant. Tonight, she must help clean up the park before they leave. Phoebe helps Abby pick up trash while Owen and Tripp help in other areas. As she picks up trash near the woods, she sees a lounge chair a few feet into the woods with empty beer cans around it. Phoebe shook the shoulder of the man on the chair to send him on his way, but he won’t wake up. She can feel that his shirt is wet, and assumes it is from the beer. Then they realize there is blood on her hands and the man is dead.
Owen recognizes the dead man as Mitch, the new insurance rep who took over for Don Davidson after his recent death. Gage, the chief of police, sees that Mitch was stabbed and the murder weapon that everyone else has missed. A chef’s knife is identified as one of Owen’s, and Phoebe is furious that he is held for questioning, convinced he will be railroaded. Abby doesn’t want to get involved in another murder investigation, but to have peace from her mother, she manages to ask questions here and there, especially of her close friends, the ladies in the quilt guild, also friends of her late Aunt Sybil, from whom she inherited the home she lives in.
I love this group of friends! Some people think it is odd that her closest friends are much older than she is. I don’t. She is very content with her new life, even if Phoebe isn’t. There are funny, laugh-out-loud moments interspersed with sweetness of her and Tripp growing closer, tension with Phoebe, and times of fear when Abby herself becomes a target. Tripp and her 95-pound Mastiff, Zeke, are charged with keeping her and Phoebe safe. The mother-daughter aspect brought insights that I had not considered before, one of the things our moms fear most.
This enjoyable mystery is fast paced with plot twists that offer various suspects. It took a community effort to find the clue that narrows down the suspect pool and reveals quite a long-term scheme. There are still surprises; even Phoebe gets in the act of stopping whodunit in their tracks! I highly recommend this mystery and series to fans of well-written cozy mysteries, novels that include an eclectic mix of ages and backgrounds, a complex mystery, and a setting that I will be back to visit!
From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this novel from Amazon through a Goodreads First Read contest, and this is my honest review.
This was a good book. I like Abby and her town and her dog.
This is an enchanting and entertaining mystery. Abby McCree has a penchant for finding trouble. Once again, she stumbles upon a dead body, this time while accompanied by her mother who is visiting from out of town. And once again she is right in the middle of trying to find answers and solve the mystery, much to the chagrin of both her boyfriend and the chief of police. Abby has a keen eye and a way of sniffing out trouble and answers! This mystery kept me entranced and turning pages. I loved it!
My reviews for this series in the past have averaged an OK rating. I found the mysteries relatively weak and I didn’t find the characters very appealing.
Well, this was a DNF for me. I gave up at 27%. I believe Abby’s mother may have been mentioned merely in passing in one of the other books so we don’t have much knowledge to work with and are thrust immediately in the middle of mother/daughter issues since Mom is visiting. Both are guilty to me as written and I didn’t feel like reading more of their struggles to deal with each other. Of the two, I thought Abby was acting the worst.
I was seriously thinking of not reading any more of the series after #3 (so many cozy series out there to keep going with one I don’t consistently like), this one seals the deal for me.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.