Jane Marsh wants to shake off the empty nest syndrome, plus the notoriety of the death of her first and second husbands, by starting over in a new place. She sells her family home to move to a far northern suburb of Denver. At the same time, Jane’s dinner club is undergoing a transformation, and a new man-a gourmet chef-enters her life. But, things turn sour when, on the day Jane moves into her … her new home, she discovers a dead body. She cannot feel at home in this town where she’s surrounded by cowboys, horse pastures, and suspects. Not to mention where a murder was committed practically on her doorstep. How can she focus on romance and dinner clubs when one of her new friends-or maybe even her old ones-might be a murderer?
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Food Fest!
This is book two of a series, but any past references are filled in so you aren’t in the dark and the current book is complete within itself. Our heroine is a capable woman with adult children, twice widowed under unusual circumstances, with a good job as a paralegal and wonderful friends, especially in her Dinner Club group. She also suffers a bit from tunnel vision and a singular lack of subtlety approaching people whom she wishes to question, ignoring those who suggest she leave it to the professional . . . Wow! Guess this is a cozy mystery! I especially enjoyed the descriptions of Colorado’s great outdoors and some of the available activities such as hiking, biking, skiing, and snowshoeing. And very subtle digs are gotten in about new development in pristine areas with immense and splendid views–with each new house blocking those views for its neighbors. Excellent narration kept me listening when I should have been doing other things.
Jane decides to move away from the town into a just built home. She discovered a dead body in the basement pit next door to her new home. It turns out to be Ethan who is co owner of the construction company building the homes in this development. The police also discover Ethan’s brother buried in the pit. Jane investigates and makes some enemies in the process. This book has missing company funds, affairs, and a warning note on Jane’s door. A surprise ending.
Jane Marsh has empty nest syndrome. She needs to recover from the death of her first and second husbands, by starting over in a new place. She sells her home and moves to northern Denver. Just when she thought her life was going to settle down and get better, things take a turn for the worse. The day she moves into her new home, she discovers a dead body.
Jane’s dinner club is changing, and her life is as well. She meets an attractive gourmet chef, has a new home and is trying to make new friends. She doesn’t feel at home in a town where she’s surrounded by cowboys, horse pastures, and murder suspects. Not to mention a murder was committed practically on her doorstep. How can she focus on romance and dinner clubs when one of her new friends or neighbors might be a murderer? Things go from bad to worse when a second body is discovered.
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Series: The Dinner Club Murder Mysteries – Book 2
Author: Karen C. Whalen
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc
Not According to Flan, is a fast-paced, fun, easy-to-read cozy that keeps the reader guessing the identity of the killer until the very end. The location is a wonderful combination of city and country living mixed with old acquaintances and new romantic interests. Karen Whalen has created believable and likable characters that almost any reader can relate with.
Jane is an older woman who has had a rough life, and all she wants to do is start over in a new place with new people. Unfortunately, things don’t go according to plan when her new home is next to a crime scene. The only suspects Jane can find are the very people who created her new neighborhood and the not so unhappy windows.
The characters in this story are likable and entertaining. The action is intriguing and filled with twists and turns. This is the second book in “The Dinner Club Murder Mysteries” series and has all the makings of an original story and series that can go on indefinitely. Although it isn’t necessary for the reader to have read the first book in the series, it is something they will want to go back to after reading the second installment.
Readers of romantic cozy mysteries will enjoy the interaction between Jane and Everett as they learn to trust each other and enjoy their time together. Jane’s friend Cheryl has moved on to a new life with her husband. She pops up throughout the story to remind readers that good friends even when they are far away will still be there in the background waiting for a call or an email or a late night conversation.
The reader will be on pins and needles waiting to find out who the killer is and anticipating the next book in the series. There is no sexual content, bad language or anything that would be inappropriate for readers of all ages. Not According to Flan is highly recommended.