In the latest Tourist Trap mystery from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Lynn Cahoon, bookshop café owner Jill Gardner contends with a best friend-turned-bridezilla while trying to solve a local historian’s untimely date with death . . . At Coffee, Books, & More, Jill’s the boss. But as Amy’s maid-of-honor, she can barely keep up with marching orders–and now she’s in charge … marching orders–and now she’s in charge of organizing an epic bachelorette! Adding to Jill’s party-planning panic, the South Cove Heritage Society just unceremoniously dumped her historic landmark bid. While vying proposals rush in from a loaded land developer and a pushy travel guide company, Jill finds an unexpected ally in Heritage Society expert, Frank Gleason. But their happy union is cut short when Frank is mowed down in a suspicious hit-and-run. With Amy’s big day on the horizon, Jill vows to catch the killer before she has to catch a bouquet.
Praise for Lynn Cahoon
“I love the author’s style, which was warm and friendly . . . [A] wonderfully appealing series.”—Dru’s Book Musings on the Tourist Trap Mysteries
“Well-crafted . . . Cat and crew prove to be engaging characters and Cahoon does a stellar job of keeping them—and the reader—guessing.” —Mystery Scene on A Story to Kill
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Murder In Waiting
Tourist Trap Mysteries, Book # 11
Lynn Cahoon
5 Stars
Synopsis:
In the latest Tourist Trap mystery from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Lynn Cahoon, bookshop café owner Jill Gardner contends with a best friend-turned-bridezilla while trying to solve a local historian’s untimely date with death . . .
At Coffee, Books, & More, Jill’s the boss. But as Amy’s maid-of-honor, she can barely keep up with marching orders—and now she’s in charge of organizing an epic bachelorette! Adding to Jill’s party-planning panic, the South Cove Heritage Society just unceremoniously dumped her historic landmark bid. While vying proposals rush in from a loaded land developer and a pushy travel guide company, Jill finds an unexpected ally in Heritage Society expert, Frank Gleason. But their happy union is cut short when Frank is mowed down in a suspicious hit-and-run. With Amy’s big day on the horizon, Jill vows to catch the killer before she has to catch a bouquet. (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Jill has a lot going on, with running Coffee, Books & More, trying to get a historic landmark recognized and being Amy’s maid-of-honor and all that that entails. When someone is killed in a hit-and-run accident, she adds finding the killer to her list of must-do things. And Aunt Jackie has been acting very strange, so Jill needs to figure
out what she is up to.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story right from the very beginning. I felt like I was right there in South Cove, watching all of the action taking place. The mystery was well plotted and there were plenty of clues to sift through and suspects to consider. And if that is not enough for you, there is Amy’s wedding and Aunt Jackie’s secret to figure out.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Whenever you read a book by this author, you are in for a real treat.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Murder in Waiting was a good addition to the Tourist Trap Mystery series.
Even though the book is centered around an upcoming trip to celebrate Amy’s upcoming wedding we do not see a lot of her in this story. Even Jill’s aunt is not as prevalent in the story. I’m used to them taking up as much story time as Jill so I kind of missed them.
I either missed a lot of clues or the red herrings were expertly placed as the killer was not who I thought. I like a mystery that keeps me guessing.
I listened to some of the Audiobook and the narrator is one of my favorites and does all the characters justice. She keeps you interested from the beginning.
I’m glad I picked up this series on a whim a couple of years ago as it has been a good one. Filled with plenty of full-length stories and novellas.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
Great read. The Tourist Trap mysteries are pure fun, and I love how Lynn Cahoon always gives us a delicious, twisty ending.
Murder in Waiting earns 5/5 Escaped Sea Lions…Entertaining Fun!
“No matter what they teach you in high-school, it turns out not everyone can do everything” —Jill Gardner, Murder in Waiting.
Lynn Cahoon has penned another compelling drama with an entertaining look into small towns, land developers, city councils, walls, coffee, books, and murder. Jill has been trying to get the Historical Society to approve her home as a historical spot, yet the official letter sites budget constraints and suggests she reapply next year. The last remaining wall of the South Cove Mission in her backyard and their siting budget! Later Jill is seen by Frank Gleason from the Society, frantic, he questioned whether Jill had seen the letter. After letting him have a big piece of her mind, he says, “Just ignore the letter,” along with “Just don’t do anything stupid.” Jill apologizes for her outburst and thanks Frank. Then from the window of her bookshop, Jill sees Frank standing by his car, animated on his phone, then sideswiped by a black truck…Frank is dead!
The fate of the “Mission Wall” is one key to this story, and sides are drawn between preservation and progress. At first, motive seems obvious, but I’ve read enough Cahoon books to know, my first thoughts always need revising. The murder mystery had plenty of twists, misdirections, and a “Watch out!” ending. Threats. Greed. Abductions. Secrets. Lies. All in the life of a cozy “Tourist Trap” Mystery. Lynn uses a first-person narrative from Jill’s perspective sharing her memories, worries, and inner thoughts to paint a picture of a strong, caring female character who has more intuition (Esmeralda thinks psychic abilities) if she’d just let it flow. Lynn’s writing style incorporates descriptive language to set scenes, appearances, and tone and realistic dialogue to illustrate emotions and personalities. It’s definitely a can’t miss page-turner…all the way to the end! Recipe included…Enjoy Easy, Low-Carb Egg Muffins; prepared ahead of time, then microwaved, and served with fresh fruit.
Murder in Waiting by Lynn Cahoon is the 11th novel in A Tourist Trap Mystery series. Jill Gardner has her hands full. Jill is Amy’s maid-of-honor and she had no idea that Amy would become consumed with the wedding. It seems that all Amy can talk about is the wedding (decorations, where to sit people at the reception, linen colors, table decorations). Jill is trying to plan a bachelorette party in Vegas while handling extra duties at work. Aunt Jackie is wrapped up in Harrold and plans for her own upcoming nuptials. Jill must deal with Sabotage, complaining emails, persistent realtors, a travel writer, and a developer. Just after Jill talks with Frank Gleason from the South Cove Heritage Society, a car hits the man and then takes off. Detective Greg King, Jill’s beau, is investigating, but the leads are sparse. I was surprised that Greg accepted Jill’s help (he normally tells her to stay out of the case). Jill digs into Frank’s background and speaks with his first wife. I found Murder in Waiting to be disjointed with so much going on. The mystery tied together in the end (mostly). I wanted it to be the focus not a side story (which is what it felt like to me). Eating seemed to be have a higher priority than the whodunit (there is a lot of food consumed in this book). I then felt the wrap up was rushed with an odd chase scene. The mystery can easily be solved before the solution is revealed. The trip to Vegas seemed so out of character for Amy and Justin who prefer outdoor activities. I am curious how they can afford a $40,000 wedding (I could not help but wonder considering their occupations). A Tourist Trap Mystery series is character driven. Jill, Aunt Jackie, Toby, Greg, Amy, and the gang are what make this an enjoyable series to read. I like visiting them in each book to see what they are up to. It is nice to see Aunt Jackie happy with Harrold. Emma, of course, continues to be a highlight. It is wonderful that Jill loves books and reading. I like how it is featured in the series. Jill gets ARCs that she devours and she even comments how she loves the smell of books (I concur). Murder in Waiting can be read as a standalone for those new to A Tourist Trap Mystery series. Murder in Waiting is a blithe cozy mystery with a determined developer, an assertive realtor, a scheming saboteur, party planning problems, work worries, and a bridezilla bestie.
Welcome to South Cove and Jill’s shop, Coffee, Books, & More. Leaving her legal job in the city, moving to South Cove, and opening her shop, was the best decision she ever made. Her new life includes family, friends and employees that have become like family. When a series of events take place, someone targeting her shop, the hit and run of a member of the historical society, and a developer in town pressuring her to sell her home and surrounding land, Jill knows it’s time to get involved. Add to that, planning her best friend’s wedding, a glitch in her relationship with Greg, and Aunt Jackie moving forward in her relationship, Jill’s stress level is high.
Visiting in South Cove is always enjoyable. The small beach town is one I would love to visit and soak up the sand and surf. I envy Jill’s run on the beach with her lab, Emma. The sense of family between the characters draws you in making you feel apart of their life. I am curious to see the direction the subplot may go with many of the characters. There are various suspects that continually kept me guessing. I found myself caught up in the story and anxiously awaiting the outcome. A definite highly recommended series and Murder in Waiting is sure to entertain. I received an advance reader copy from Kensington Books through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is book 11 in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. In this installment, Jill is busy helping her friend Amy get things ready for her wedding, and keeping her shop going. The. She receives a letter in the mail, saying that things with the mission wall have been stopped. Then right after she has finished talking to Frank, the man over the mission wall, about having her ignore the letter she received, he’s hit and killed. She soon starts getting people asking what she is selling her house for, and people messing with her shop.
This was another great installment in the series. Going back to this book and these characters is like getting reacquainted with old friends. It is well written and funny, and the story jumps off the page. I definitely recommend this entire series if you haven’t read it.
This book was so good. I loved reading this one. It was so twisty and the mystery was so interesting. I loved seeing more of the characters and more of their relationships. I’m so happy for Aunt Jackie!
These books could use closer editing, but I read them for pure entertainment value. They make me feel comfortable and cozy. And this book had a more complicated mystery than usual with more suspects and subplots than most. I enjoyed the ending, but it felt a little pulled out of a hat, and I didn’t care. When Jill told Deek, who’s trying to write a book, that he didn’t need to be chained to plotting, it felt like the author describing how she wrote to me. This book didn’t drift as much, though, and had more substance, and I enjoyed that. A fun read.
Wedding madness and blood thirsty realtors have invaded Jill’s life. That is about all I can say about this book. It was good and I enjoyed it but it’s been a while since I read a book in this series so I was a bit LOST at times. I am REALLY hoping that Greg doesn’t feel the pressure to “put a ring on it” like everyone seemed to be pushing for. For me it would kind of ruin the series. Oh, well guess we will see what happens.
Jill’s BFF is getting married, and she is turning into a handful. Not that Jill has done a lot, or even most of what Amy has asked her to help with, but with her bookshop cafe, and general lackadaisical attitude towards weddings, maybe she isn’t cut out to be a maid of honor. Before the wedding planning can get too far, Jill finds herself involved in a good old fashioned murder investigation. The problem is, the victim was a man she was counting on to help her establish a historical landmark on her property.
Poor Frank is run down right in front of Jill’s bookshop, and she is reasonably certain it was no accident. It doesn’t take long for the police to agree. The suspects vary from the easy to understand motives to the more convoluted motives. Jill isn’t sure which one to follow. The evidence is scarce; some don’t even seem to make sense. Greg suddenly lets jill help with the investigation, which is a complete break from his usual advice to stay out of it. But between the two of them, they manage to find the killer and get justice for Frank.
Murder in Waiting is easy to read, with fleshed-out characters long established. Lynn Cahoon knows her characters inside and out, and she knows her writing her strengths and plays to them at all times. That being said, there are some oddities in this book compared to others in the series. The story is a bit slow and rambles slightly. Even though some of the characters aren’t as useful as they have been in the past, and some are outright out of character, I enjoyed this book and happily recommend it to readers of all types.
Love this series! And this book is an excellent addition to it. Jill’s trying to help her bestie with wedding plans that seem to have one problem after another. On top of that, Jill has a mystery to solve.
Such a fun book! I love Jill and her crew, and her coffee/bookstore. I wanna visit there and find a chair to curl up in with a cozy mystery book…or two.
Thank you to the publisher, Lyrical Press, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
Murder in Waiting by Lynn Cahoon is book eleven in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. This is an excellent series and while this could be read as a stand alone, you will want to read the entire series.
Jill’s plate is overflowing, she is trying to get her home listed as historical property, her aunt is getting married, she is being constantly being bothered by a land developer, and she has promised to throw her best friend an epic bachelorette party in Vegas! What else could happen….. She witnessed the historical expert working on getting her home listed ran down in a hit and run. Then when strange notes start getting posted on the door of the shop, Jill has had enough and starts asking questions. That might not have been the best idea,
This well written, easy to read cozy is filled with plot twists, a great setting, likeable, relatable characters, humor and romance plus throw in undercover agents.
I was given an ARC by Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
Book 11 in this series. Great reading kept my attention from the start. Nice crazy story to distract you for awhile this one is about Jill who is trying to be a help her friend who is getting married while dealing with her company being sabatoged and a missing aunt fast paced and plenty of action
“Murder in Waiting” by Lynn Cahoon the 11th instalment in the ” A Tourist Trap Mystery” series. I really enjoy this series and this authors other series too.
Visiting South Cove, California and Coffee, Books & More is always a pleasure. I love the main set of characters Jill, Amy, Aunt Jackie, Greg and Toby they feel almost like family now. There was a lot happening with the couples in this instalment but I was happy to see the natural progression in their relationships.
I loved the subtle hint that Deek is saving up to attend a writers retreat in Colorado. I think that would be an awesome crossover between the two series to have him arrive as a quest at Cat Latimer’s B&B.
As for the mystery I found it to be well plotted and it moved along at an even pace. There were several suspects for the murder and you find yourself second guessing on who the murder can be. Overall I found this to be a great story.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy friends.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
This is the first time in reading this author but not the last. Since mysteries are my passion to read lately this caught my eye. Of course it is in a series which is something that when finished tempts the reader to read more in it. A wonderful coffee and book shop is also the base in this series. She gets a full plate in this one with being a bride needing her and looking into a murder you are strung along in events that keep you to the page as they turn. The formula this author uses in her writing keeps you interested and captures you imagination. Great escape to a place in needed times.
Murder in Waiting by Lynn Cahoon is the 11th addition to her Tourist Trap series and was a delight from beginning to end.
Jill is dealing with a lot in this book, her relationship with Greg, business issues, some one has spread the word that she wants to sell her house and then the mission wall has now been taken off of consideration for preservation. Then there is a murder or is it a tragic accident? A smooth and swiftly paced plot with plenty of twists and more than a few suspects These characters have become like friends to me and I always look forward to my next visit to South Cove. I loved the hint that Deek is saving up to attend a writers retreat in Colorado I think that would be fabulous to see Deek arrive at Cat Latimer’s B&B.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Lyrical Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
I love reading this series. The characters all fit well together. I enjoy it because I can stop and read for a short time (but want to keep reading) and don’t feel that I need to sometimes go back to get a hint of where I left off/ Lynn Cahoon is a great cozy mystery author. Never disappointed in any of her series.
I love the characters in this series. This is a cozy, and it provides enjoyable light reading this kind of book should provide. I can read it at night and not have bad dreams!
I really like this series