Traveling with your family can be murder.One wedding party + one estranged mother = another vacation that goes array for Naomi.Naomi is off on another international vacation. She thinks traveling with her mother will be the most difficult part of her trip until she meets the rest of the tour group—a wedding party. It only gets worse when she finds the groom dead. Everyone’s a suspect on her … suspect on her Icelandic tour of this stunning country.
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R.I.P. in Reykjavik is the second book the Traveler Cozy Mystery series written by A.R. Kennedy. It will be published next month, but I received an early copy because I’m part of the book’s wonderful blog tour. I previously read the first book, Sleuth on Safari, and I enjoyed it so much, I had to get the second as soon as possible. Let’s chat about the book…
Naomi has a sister and a brother. In the last book, she went on the safari with her sister. In this book, she goes on a trip to Iceland with her mother. And it is not gonna be easy. Her mother can be quite a difficult woman, and Naomi was guilted into going together, so the trip started off shaky as soon as they deplaned and her mother was flirting with the pilot. It didn’t help when she insulted her daughter either, noting how she looked pretty bad from the flight. Phew… the stage was set, and we quickly meet the rest of the cast: a wedding party who followed the bride and groom on their honeymoon. Except… during the first event on the trip, someone ends up dead!
Similar to the last book, we meet a group of about 8 to 10 people, and the story revolves solely around them. We might meet a few of the hotel staff, but the point of these books, at least as I see it, is the locked door scenario without a professional sleuth or cop doing any investigating. I love this concept, and it makes us root for Naomi even more. The girl is smart, but she is tortured by her family. At least in this second book, she and her sister are getting along… even though Charlotte’s not on the trip, she helps from afar with research and medical knowledge. How did the victim die in the water when no one else was nearby!?!
Kennedy’s writing style is fun. I like getting to know the quirks of this family and the supporting travelers. It must be difficult to write in this venue because you have to change the scenery all the time, plus you have lots of parameters about random visitors not just showing up. It has to be about the group of people on the trip, hence why these are fun and solid books. As the series is still in its early stages, we’re getting to know the characters and the author is working out the best way to meet fan expectations… I really like where it’s going, and I can’t wait to see all the countries we visit. There’s a hint at the end for the next book too!
I enjoyed learning about Iceland. It’s not just a mystery… we get facts and descriptions of places perhaps as readers we’ve never been or might not get to. We learn about other cultures and languages, and we see different styles in the books. I wonder… does the author visit all of these places for a long time before deciding what to write about? All I know… I’m a fan, and I look forward to the next one. Thanks for this opportunity to read and travel at the same time.
I like this series. It is easy to read and sure to keep you entertained. I enjoy that it exposes me to new and interesting places. I knew nothing about Iceland going into the book and it was interesting to read about. I liked how the author kept some of the characters we met in the first book alive in this installment of the series, even though they are not on the trip with Naomi. It was a page-turner that I didn’t want to put down.
https://cozyexperience.com/r-i-p-in-reykjavik-book-review/
This second book of the Traveler Cozy Mystery series takes Naomi to Iceland with her mother. I found this book both funny and informative. It was a great break from my current quarantine and makes wonderful armchair travel reading. While never having traveled to Iceland or considered going there, the details included about the sights made me think about future possibilities. I also learned some Icelandic words that were listed at the beginning of each chapter and within the story. I enjoyed A.R. Kennedy’s descriptions of Snorkeling in crystal clear water, observing geyser eruptions, watching rainbows over waterfalls, horseback riding Icelandic horses, and viewing puffins on a boat tour — all this while Naomi and her mother secretly investigate the death of a man on his honeymoon with his family.
As Naomi mingles with this odd group of tourists, she discovers that something’s rotten in Denmark or Reykjavik, as the case may be. She starts to suspect that the groom’s death during a snorkeling expedition might be murder. The bride’s parents are divorced but haven’t told the bride yet. The groom’s best man is pretending to be gay. The tour guide is acting strange. The Maid of Honor is more upset by the groom’s death than the bride. The bride might be sleeping with someone else, and Naomi’s mother might be sleeping with the bride’s father.
Dealing with her mother and discussing the case with her sister Charlotte via Facetime, Naomi also finds the opportunity to sightsee and look for romance in the way of a bartender her mother calls Thor with whom she begins visualizing Icelandic grandchildren.
When the mystery is solved with a twist that Naomi figures out and the killer is caught, Naomi and her mother bid farewell to Iceland, having grown a little closer. I look forward to the next Traveler Mystery trip to Australia and hope to also read the first one, Sleuth on Safari, that takes Naomi and her sister Charlotte to Africa.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
It’s time for another adventure for Naomi and this time her mother invites herself along paying no attention to the packing instructions or itinerary. Naomi immediately knows she will have her hand’s fulls when her mother starts flirting with every man she meets. Plus her mother is just full of barbs at her daughter. It should be a great trip.
They arrive in Iceland and meet the rest of their group, a wedding party complete with the bride’s parents and maid of honor and best man on the honeymoon trip. Their very first excursion ends on a bad note with one of the wedding party dead in the water literally. With everyone now a suspect, and Naomi with one murder mystery solved under her belt, she starts investigating this Icelandic. murder knowing the killer could be anyone.
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This is another fun mystery from A.R. Kennedy.
I love traveling with Naomi. She goes off the beaten path and takes us to such interesting places. First, on a Safari, and now to Iceland in this story. I have always heard that Iceland should be called Greenland and Greenland should be called Iceland and Naomi confirms that. Swimming in the freezing waters and hiking the glaciers were just two excursions I would love to have tried. Ms. Kennedy does an excellent job taking us to exciting places, even without a murder.
The author has introduced a very interesting group of characters this time. Parents and friends along on a honeymoon are not my idea of a good time, but it sure works for this story. I did love that Naomi’s sister Charlotte was still part of the story, albeit from afar. Her mother texting her sister basically tattling on every move Naomi makes and Naomi texting Charlotte on ways to deal with her mother. It really added humor to the whole book.
The mystery is like a closed room mystery with all the suspects known and amateur sleuth Naomi following the clues and uncovering secrets. It is well-plotted with a twisted ending that caught me by surprise.
As soon as I finished R.I.P. in Reykjavík I knew I would have to wait patiently for Naomi’s next journey, but waiting is hard. I can’t wait for my next virtual trip no matter where Naomi takes us.
This is book two in the Traveler Cozy Mystery series by A.R Kennedy, and whilst I have not read book one, it was easy enough to read this one as a stand alone. Naomi is off on vacation to the amazon Iceland but this time she is going with her mother! It would appear that they have somewhat of a turbulent relationship, which may been touched more on in book one, Naomi chose to live with her father whilst her brother and sister stayed with her mom after they split up so I am guessing that is where the animosity is stemming from in their relationship.
Once they arrive in Reykjavik they make a start on the many excursions they have planned and end up being in a tour group with a wedding party (who honestly brings their family and best friends on honeymoon with them??) Soon disaster strikes for the new groom when when he dies whilst snorkelling. The group are all questioned and it seems like it was a tragic accident, but as the trip goes on it becomes clear that he was in fact murdered.
The dynamics of the wedding party are questionable at best, and whilst I thought I might have figured out who would want to kill him when it was all pieced together and the actual culprit was revealed I was initially shocked. I loved how during the trip Naomi manages to salvage something out of her relationship with her mother and I hope it brings them even closer in future books.
I loved this story and I absolutely loved being transported to Iceland, it is a place on my bucket list to visit and reading this makes me want to go right now, I found myself googling the places and sights that Naomi and the group was visiting.
5 stars
I was excited to go on another adventure with Naomi, the protagonist of Sleuth on Safari. This time she’s traveling with her mother and, once again, a dead body shows up.
It was wonderful to get a detailed glimpse of Iceland and learn about some of the special foods and habits of the people. It was also great getting another small glimpse of Jack (I loved him from the last book).
The mystery was just as good as the last one – I have to admit to not knowing who the killer was until the end. Good job on that!
And, I loved Naomi’s mother…finally. She was a hard one to swallow until all was revealed. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series – hopefully we’ll be able to meet Naomi’s brother. It was also really cool that Charlotte was involved long distance.
This is shaping up to be a really neat series and I can hardly wait to see where the author takes us next.
R.I.P. in Reykjavík by A. R. Kennedy is a murder mystery with jealousy, secrets, and family issues that complicate even the most straightforward event.
Was the groom murdered? If so, then by who and why?
Naomi is traveling with her mother, Deidre, on this trip to Iceland. Everything is planned out, and then Deidre invites herself along. Naomi and her mother have a strange relationship. However, the two of them are going to learn much more about each other and the past. Let’s not forget Charlotte (Naomi’s sister), from Sleuth on Safari. She plays peacekeeper between Naomi and Deidre throughout the trip from her home.
The Mystery
Naomi and Deidre are in Iceland, and the group they are partnered with on all of their tours is a part of a wedding/honeymoon party. I know who invites guests on your honeymoon? These people do. At the Thingvellir National Park, the groom Milo dies while snorkeling with the group. No one was around him at the time, and no one saw that anyone was near him. By the way, that snorkeling part sounds so fun. Seriously!
Naomi doesn’t think that this is an accident or a natural death. She believes that foul play is involved, and she plans to figure out whodunit. Surprisingly, Diedre has decided that she will also keep track of the wedding party and starts a journal, making notes of things that they do each day.
Five Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and I love that it is a fast read. Naomi is funny and smart with just enough bad traits and character flaws to make her both realistic and believable. One day she will find love on vacation. Anyway, I am giving R.I.P. in Reykjavík by A. R. Kennedy five stars and recommending it to all you cozy mystery readers out there.
Oh, I can’t wait to see which family member(s) will be traveling with Naomi in the next installment.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of R.I.P. in Reykjavík by A. R. Kennedy.
This Guest Review is for Baroness’ Book Trove.
Until the next time,
~Jen
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This is Book 2 of a series titled “A Traveler Cozy Mystery Series”. I was lucky enough to be able to read and review Book 1 too. Its theme was a safari as this one is set in Iceland. These first two books have some definite correlation. I don’t mean that they are the same story by any means. However, they do have the same excellent description of tourism sites and the country of origin. This is a cozy. I am not talking about an article in a tour magazine but somehow A. R. Kennedy always makes you feel as if you’ve been on the tour. The other aspect contained in both books is that wonderful give and take between Naomi and the accompanying family member (sister in Book 1, mother in Book 2). It’s funny, sarcastic, and a little caring, mostly funny though :). One more item exists that I enjoyed. Both books involve a broad participation with the tour group and the author draws out their personalities, so you get the feel of the group. Makes the storyline much better.
I said in my previous review of Book 1 that I felt as if it were Book 2, lacking background or understanding of the main characters. This time that is not true. Now we know how penny-pinching Naomi must always be and now we have an idea of how both her sister and her mother can be. We have all of this information to get the “jokes” as well as the insults.
As I said above, this is Book 2 of a series titled “A Traveler Cozy Mystery Series”. This is not the only series A. R. Kennedy has published. All have good reviews. Check them out.