Paramedic Zoe Chambers hoped a week at the Monongahela County Fair, showing her horse and manning the ambulance, would provide a much-needed diversion from recent events that continue to haunt her. An old friend, a bossy nemesis, and a teenage crush from her 4-H days fail to offer the distraction she had in mind. But ever the caregiver, she soon bonds with a troubled teen and a grieving father.… grieving father.
Back in Vance Township, a missing woman turns up dead, leading Police Chief Pete Adams into a journey through her mysterious final hours. With each new clue, the tragic circumstances of her death grow increasingly muddied.
A cryptic phone call leads Pete to join Zoe for an evening at the fairgrounds where the annual school bus demolition derby concludes with a gruesome discovery and a new case that may or may not be connected to the first.
Pete’s quest for the motive behind two homicides—and Zoe’s stubborn determination to reunite a family—thrust them both onto a collision course with a violent and desperate felon.
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FAIR GAME by Annette Dashofy | A Henery Press Mystery. If you like one, you’ll probably like them all.
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Fair Game
Zoe Chambers Mysteries, Book #8
Annette Dashofy
5+ Stars
Synopsis:
Paramedic Zoe Chambers hoped a week at the Monongahela County Fair, showing her horse and manning the ambulance, would provide a much-needed diversion from recent events that continue to haunt her.
An old friend, a bossy nemesis, and a teenage crush from her 4-H days fail to offer the distraction she had in mind. But ever the caregiver, she soon bonds with a troubled teen and a grieving father.
Back in Vance Township, a missing woman turns up dead, leading Police Chief Pete Adams into a journey through her mysterious final hours. With each new clue, the tragic circumstances of her death grow increasingly muddied.
A cryptic phone call leads Pete to join Zoe for an evening at the fairgrounds where the annual school bus demolition derby concludes with a gruesome discovery and a new case that may or may not be connected to the first.
Pete’s quest for the motive behind two homicides—and Zoe’s stubborn determination to reunite a family—thrust them both onto a collision course with a violent and desperate felon.
– – – – – – – – – – – – –
FAIR GAME by Annette Dashofy | A Henery Press Mystery. If you like one, you’ll probably like them all. (Goodreads)
Review:
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and it was these descriptions that pulled me into the story right from the very beginning. I could picture in my mind’s eye the fair going on, the midway, the games and the food booths. It made me want to go a a county fair and experience these things in real time.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy exciting read. The mysteries are well plotted and move along at a steady even pace. There is more than one dead body found, and that means even for clues to sift through. This was not an easy mystery to solve, which is how I like it.
The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. Zoe has a heart of gold and wants to help everyone that she meets. Sometimes this gets her into trouble, but that is who she is. Pete is a great Police Chief and he wants Vance Township to be as safe as it can be. And that includes Zoe, his girlfriend and the love of his life. When these two work together, there is not much that can stop them When I get to spend time with Zoe and Pete, I am a happy camper.
I very highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. It is definitely one of my very favorite series and when a new book is released, I savor it like a great meal. I am so looking forward to the next one.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Henery Press, and Edelweiss, which I greatly appreciate.
This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Each book is very well written with a wonderful plot and great characters. In the latest installment Zoe is at the County Fair to show her horse and is also working there as a paramedic with her partner Earl. Zoe was in 4-H when she was younger and is reunited with many people from her past including the 4-H leader that encouraged her love of horses and helper her become the horsewoman that she is now. There are a few mysteries in the story that Pete is working on and Zoe is trying to keep things together at the fair ground. The mysteries always keep me guessing, but I also love the characters. This series gets better with each book.
I really enjoyed this! Of course a fascinating mystery, but I also loved the paramedic approach of this series and the 4-H county fair, complete with school bus derby, gave this a unique and interesting backdrop. There is a certain grittiness that I found compelling, but not overdone. Dashofy’s characters are as memorable as they are delightful. Excellent series.
This was a really good book. It was the first book that I have read in this series and I will definitely be going back and reading the rest of the books in this series. I enjoyed the characters, the town, the setting, and the story. How fun to have it set at the fair! I enjoyed trying to figure out the mysteries behind the deaths and I look forward to reading more of this series and seeing what’s next for Zoe and Pete!!
FAIR GAME by Annette Dashofy
Visiting the fairgrounds with Zoe and friends was a delight! I’ve never seen a school bus demolition derby, but now I feel as if I have, along with the horse shows, 4H contests, and midway games and rides I have enjoyed IRL. Pete is such a perfect partner, concerned for Zoe, who promises to stay out of trouble, but who cares so much for so many others that . . . well, did we really expect her to keep that promise? The mysteries are compelling and delightfully twisty, the relationships are tricky and heart-warming (and breaking), and the writing flows beautifully. Fair warning, FAIR GAME pushed all distractions aside and took the main stage. I did have to take a break to sleep, but less than 24 hours from downloading it, I arrived at the most satisfying conclusion. This is #8 in the series, and like a greedy child in the food court, I’m already wanting to know . . . when is the next one?
I loved Fair Game! This book is interesting, suspenseful, and exciting. The book is well written and detailed. The characters are interesting and well developed. I really enjoyed the setting at the fair and the school bus derby. It was interesting and fun. This book captured my attention right from the beginning and was impossible to put down. The mysteries are complex and you were kept guessing right until the end. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
“Fair Game” earns 5/5 Blue Ribbons…Clever and Engaging!
Zoe is back! I am an eager fan of Annette Dashofy’s Zoe Chambers well-crafted series, and this book did not disappoint! Although more a “cozy with an edge” including some adult language and situations (all good…no blushing), it is a book well worth reading. It’s a county fair and very welcomed distractions include horse shows, 4-H memories, and all the entertaining trappings, but murder, too? Annette has created an intriguing murder mystery with overheard threats, one tragic death, and another gruesome discovery, and the search for answers is treated realistically with intelligent characters using official and unofficial skills, dead ends, misdirection, and a nail-biting ending. This is the eighth book, so obviously much has transpired in experiences and character growth; newbies may feel overwhelmed…but, don’t overlook starting here. You will be totally hooked!
Another great entry in the series. Dashofy does a fine job of developing her characters while also giving us a twisty mystery (or two!) to solve.
Absolutely amazing. Great characters, fast paced, great mysteries, could not stop reading. What a perfect ending to this book. Loved it. Terrific series and very well written.
Let me just say that this is one of my favorite series, because it is set in a fictional area very close to my home.
See, I live in Charleroi, PA, which is a few miles from Monongahela…and this book is set in Monongahela County, which is somewhere near Pittsburgh. Believe me, when I started reading the books, I had to get out a map and check. Was I missing something?
I love Zoe and Pete and with every book I read (and I have missed a few on the way) I feel like I’m getting reacquainted with old friends. Zoe is smart and a very real character. She’s a EMS worker and deputy coroner, even though her stomach as problems with autopsies.
I love how well developed the characters are and how likable they are as they work to solve the case or cases. In this instance, two cases that seem like they could be connected and they slowly start to seem connected. From the death of a woman that seems like an accident but has too many coincidences to the murder of judge at the fair.
I loved the setting of the county fair..and could easily envision everything that was happening.
This is the first cozy-ish mystery that really left me emotionally gutted. See most of the time, there’s a definite bad guy. Sure there is at least one baddy, but when it all comes out…readers, be prepared to possibly shed a few tears for what happened.
OH and not to worry the end will turn your tears to smiles.
This is a series that mystery lovers will want to check out.
ATTENTION KEEPER!
FAIR GAME (Zoe Chambers Mysteries #8) is an ATTENTION KEEPER! Dashofy is on the top of her game with this latest installment of this fantastic series. She includes her main characters of course but adds new characters that you won’t soon forget. Her plot is complex and will keep you guessing until the very end. Her setting is the Monongahela County Fair complete with the 4-H Horse Club Members and Competitions as well as other Adult Horse Show Competitions. There are all the aspects of any County Fair such as the Food Booths, Exhibits and Games of Chance. They also have Tractor pulls and such but the Big Event is the School Bus Derby. Zoe has to be there to show her horse Windstar so she volunteers to work as an EMT for the majority of the week. She is also the Deputy Coroner and has no idea what all that will entail before this week is out. Dashofy has presented her readers with a dynamic novel that draws you in quickly and keeps you reading late into the night! I was provided an ARC of this novel by Henery Press and Edelweiss. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
Annette Dashoffy brings us one amazing book after another with her Zoe Chambers Mysteries. I didn’t think any book could match Cry Wolf, but if it has an equal, Fair Game is it. Fans of the series will love, love, LOVE Fair Game, the eighth book in one of the best series around.
If you have never read any of the books in this phenomenal series, start it now. Once you read one Zoe Chambers novel, you will be a fan for life! I would recommend starting at the beginning of the series but whatever it takes, check out Zoe and the gang.
The complexity of the plot had me hanging on until I could not keep my eyes open at dark-thirty in the morning and my first thought when I awoke a few hours later was about a plot point that had not yet been resolved. Ms. Dashoffy creates multidimensional characters with strengths and weaknesses that create a link between the reader and the people of Monogahela County.
Be prepared to be touched with both joy and sadness throughout the tale. An old friend brings great news and a new friend gets the ultimate in bad news and Zoe is right in the middle of all of it. Be assured that there is enough humor and horses to keep us balanced but you might want to have a few tissues for those happy and not so happy moments.
I was thrilled to be approved for an advanced readers copy from Henery Press via Edelweiss and I am more than ready to share my love of the book and the series. The Zoe Chambers series is among the best mystery series out.
Release date Isn’t until May 14th.