Liss MacCrimmon’s meddlesome mother is back in Moosetookalook, Maine, to serve a hefty portion of trouble in time for Thanksgiving. But when a scandalous murder case threatens to leave Liss alone at the table, family drama takes on a terrifying new meaning . . . While Liss preps the Scottish Emporium for November’s inevitable shopping rush, other local businesses aren’t half as lucky. Year after … half as lucky. Year after year, her father-in-law’s rustic hotel can barely turn a profit during the stretch between autumn’s peak and ski season. Except this time, Mr. Ruskin realizes that the recipe for success lies in enticing an untapped niche clientele—childless couples desperate for a holiday away from family . . .
The unusual marketing tactic has everyone in Moosetookalook talking. Unfortunately, it also inspires a scathing social media campaign aimed at persuading tourists to boycott the hotel for affronting family values. Liss dismisses the bad publicity as being totally “overkilt”—until angry mobs fill the streets, the troublemaker who started it all turns up dead, and her loved ones are suspected of murder . . .
With so much at stake, Liss can’t possibly follow police orders to stay out of the investigation. There’s just one wee problem: saving her own clan could mean sending a friend or two behind bars. Now—partly helped, partly hindered by her difficult mother—Liss must digest a slew of unsettling clues and catch the real killer . . . or else everything she’s ever been thankful for may vanish before her eyes.
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Overkilt by Kaitlyn Dunnett is the twelfth tale in A Liss MacCrimmon Mystery series. Amaryllis “Liss” MacCrimmon Ruskin lives in Moosetookalook, Maine with her husband, Dan. Liss is enjoying a quiet dinner with Dan at Spruce Lodge when she notices her father-in-law, Joe Ruskin talking with an oddly dressed man and two women in old fashioned lavender dresses. They are New Age Pilgrims and object to Joe’s new promotion to bring in tourists during his slow period. The promotion appeals to childless couples who would like to get away for Thanksgiving. The New Age Pilgrims leader, Hadley Spencer states the special is affront to family values and organizes a protest in the town square. All the Ruskin family businesses are targeted by the group and threatening messages left on their doors. Thanks to Hadley’s social media campaign, hundreds arrive for the demonstration preventing the scheduled bus of tourists from enjoying their day in Moosetookalook. Late in the day, Hadley is discovered by the merry-go-round with a knife sticking out of his back. With several of Liss’s family members on the suspect list, Liss dons her sleuthing cap and sets out to bag a killer. Violet, Liss’s mother, insists on helping her with the investigation. Liss is going to need the patience of Job to resolve this whodunit.
While Overkilt can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading this series in order. Liss has grown since we first met her in Kilt Dead. Liss is married to Dan Ruskin and manages the Moosetookalook Scottish Emporium. Liss is not her usual self in Overkilt which can be attributed to her mother, Violet returning to town. Liss and her mother do not get along which can be attributed to Violet’s high-handed manor. An example would be that Liss does not like big parties nor does she want a birthday party. Violet, despite being told by Dan not to have one, organizes a surprise birthday party (she creates problems for Thanksgiving too). It seems to be Violet’s way or Violet’s way which is frustrating and unwanted in a cozy mystery. I thought Overkilt was easy to read thanks to the author relaxed writing style and steady pacing. I like the small town of Moosetookalook with its quaint shops and friendly townspeople (for the most part). There are also some adorable cats and dogs added into the mix. The mystery is straightforward. You can tell right away which person will die because of his behavior and attitude. There are multiple suspects and misdirection. The police tell Liss to quit meddling in the case (of course) multiple times. Liss has no intention of letting anyone in her family go down for a crime they did not commit. The situation with Hadley and the demonstration was realistic. It is easily a situation that could happen in our society (and probably has somewhere). I was surprised to see foul language in Overkilt. I like to read cozy mysteries because the do not have course language, extreme violence or intimate scenes. I am giving Overkilt 3.5 out of 5 stars. While Overkilt is not my favorite book in this series, I did enjoy my visit to Moosetookalook.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Thanksgiving in Moosetookalook Maine should be delightful, right? Not this year. The Spruces’, a rustic hotel owned by Liss’ husband’s family is facing an uphill battle. The new marketing director came up with an idea to fill the rooms this year with childless couples that don’t want to join their own families over the holidays. It was a good idea and reservations were up until a fringe group decides to make trouble. Going so far as to truck people from away into town to boycott anyone supporting or connected to the Ruskin family claiming they are all against family values. Businesses were even vandalized to stir up trouble. But before the angry hoards have left the town square a member of the radical group is found dead and all clues lead to the Ruskin family. She can’t just sit on her hands, she has to help, but if things go wrong there will be absolutely nothing to be thankful for this year or a long time to come.
This is my second visit to Moosetookalook and I enjoyed myself. The author takes on a hot topic and her approach was very stirring. A group with a very narrow viewpoint feels they can press their beliefs on an entire town. As the story continues we find the group isn’t as tightly knit as we believed at first as the death of the member of the group brings cracks in their make up to the forefront.
Liss digs deep to solve this mystery, going back, again and again, to try to uncover the truth. The way the author wrote this was very gripping making it a hard book to put down. The way the community rallied together was heartwarming and at times hard to read because difficult questions had to be asked to clear people from the list of suspects.
The subplot of the family dynamics in Liss’ family was captivating too. Her parents, Mac and Violet “Vi” MacCrimmon, have just moved back to Maine from Arizona. Vi and Liss have a had a strained relationship but circumstances bring them closer in this story. I didn’t like the way Vi kept a secret about her health from her daughter though. I believe it is things like that that put the strain in their relationship in the first place. I may have to go back and read the series from the beginning to see if my theory is correct.
This was an entertaining mystery that kept me guessing right up until the suspenseful conclusion. The characters were unique. I want to get to know the core characters better so I am excited about Ms. Dunnett next book in this series. For me, it was a 5 Starfish read and a Perfect Escape!
Ms. Dunnett’s mysteries are both believable and entertaining. Moosetookalook, ME could be any one of hundreds of small New England towns populated with its cast of distinctive characters. Totally believable. The characters themselves are also totally believable, even the eccentric ones. The plot is suitably unpredictable, except for the fact that Liss is incapable of staying uninvolved in the investigation. It’s an endearing trait.
Thanksgiving is approaching, and the merchants of lovely Moosetookalook, Maine, are preparing for the holiday shopping rush when the New Age Pilgrims set out to make the Ruskin family, and all who support them, miserable by staging a campaign against them. When their leader is supposedly killed during a demonstration, suspects include Liss’ own husband, aunt, and fellow shopkeepers and residents of the town. Liss, encouraged by her mom (what a refreshing change from all those other fictional moms who discourage their children’s sleuthing!!!), sets out to discover the culprit and discover what’s really happening at the Pilgrim Farm! Kaitlyn Dunnett’s Overkilt is the 12th in the series, but the first that I’ve read, and it won’t be the last. It was very easy to jump into this already established series. A+++
Lisa’s business is doing quite well, especially with the seasons upcoming holiday rush, but not all business’s are doing quite so well. Her father-in-laws rustic hotel hardly does any business during this time but with a new strategy in place he hopes to fill his hotel. Things don’t go as well has planned for him though, with social media turning customers away from him because of his tactics. When the lead of the group trying to boycott him ends up dead things don’t look good. With her father-in-law being a suspect in the murder Lisa knows that she must do everything she can to find a murderer and clear his name. The police want her to mind her own business but there is no way that she can let them railroad him. The clues are never ending but who do they lead to? Lisa knows that she right must sift through everything to find the answers that she seeks. Plunge right in and see if you can figure out the clues and solve the mystery.
Maine, amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths, cozy-mystery, suspense, twisty
Beginning with the background of the characters and set up so that we can pick out the murder victim (and rejoice), that is all straightforward. Then come the twists and red herrings that make you want to sit up and read it to the end! The characters certainly are and the reader can’t help but agree with the townsfolk and shake heads over the shenanigans perpetrated by the cult causing problems. Well, no sense doing a recap or spoilers, just go ahead and enjoy!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Another great book in the Liss MacCrmmon series. This edition finds Liss, Dan, Joe, Aunt Margaret, and several others in Moosetookalook, Maine at odds with Hadley Spinner the crazed leader of the New Age Pilgrims commune. Things get dicey when Mr. Spinner starts a campaign to ruin The Spruces for a Thanksgiving couples special they are running under the pretense that it is sinful and anti-family since it is open to any and all couples and not just those that are married. The New Age Pilgrims stage a protest in town and one of the members ends up dead. Dan, Aunt Margaret, Stu from Stu’s Skis, and Patsy from the cafe are all suspects in the murder and it’s up to Liss … with the help of her mother … to find out who truly committed the heinous crime. A very good read, as always!
Sometimes I find the stories in this series a bit stodgy, a bit tough to wade through. Overkilt was a quick read for me. I was afraid that Liss’ issues with her mother were going to make this story less appealing to me, but it worked out okay with me (and Liss) more hopeful about her parents staying in town.
Despite the small town and limited number of characters, there was no shortages of suspects and I liked the realism on how something like this could get out of hand and damage people quickly.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.