“An impossible-to-put-down Harvey Wallbanger of a mystery. With a smart, funny protagonist who’s learning to own her power as a woman, Send in the Clowns is one boss read.” – Ellen Byron, Agatha Award-Nominated Author of Plantation ShuddersHaunted houses are scary enough without knife-wielding clowns. Especially murderous knife-wielding clowns. So thinks Ellison Russell, single mother, artist, … mother, artist, and reluctant sleuth.
Now death wears a red nose and Ellison is up to the blood-stained collar of her new trench coat in costumes, caffeine, and possible killers. Who stabbed Brooks Harney? And why? Money? Jealousy? Drugs?
With Mother meddling, her father furious, and her date dragged downtown for questioning, turns out Ellison’s only confidante is Mr. Coffee.
“This series has become so enjoyable precisely because Ellison strives against the norms no matter how many times she is told how to behave. It is her sharp wit and humor that allows her to prevail, and attempting to teach the same to her daughter further cements her place as an admirable and extraordinarily likable heroine. As entertaining as it is for readers to romp through 1970s country club society, far more enthralling are the adventures of such a resilient and stalwart woman.” – Kings River Life Magazine
Related subjects include: cozy mysteries, women sleuths, murder mystery series, whodunit mysteries (whodunnit), amateur sleuth books, book club recommendations, humorous murder mysteries, historical mysteries.
Books in the Country Club Murders Humorous Mystery Series:
THE DEEP END (#1)
GUARANTEED TO BLEED (#2)
CLOUDS IN MY COFFEE (#3)
SEND IN THE CLOWNS (#4)
WATCHING THE DETECTIVES (#5)
Part of the Henery Press Mystery Series Collection, if you like one, you’ll probably like them all…
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This is the fourth installment of The Country Club Murder series. It is set in Kansas City, MO during the 1970’s
As I am from Kansas and spent alot of my youth in Kansas City, I really enjoy reading these books.
Alot of the places she describes, I have been to. She also uses some long gone places as backgrounds too.
The story itself is a fun read. It takes place during Halloween. The heroine is Ellison Russell, an artist. Her teenage daughter misses curfew and Ellison goes to the haunted house attraction to retrieve her. While there, she sees one clown kill another clown. Noone believes she actually saw a killing.
The story follows Ellison as she tries to keep from becoming embroiled in (another) murder investigation, playing bridge and golf at the Club and trying to choose between to suitors.
Lot’s of Kansas City and 70’s references for nostalgia.
I really enjoy this series and this one did not disappoint. Ellison visits a Haunted House looking for her daughter and instead finds a body. She calls Anarchy and together they set out to solve the crime. I really enjoy the characters and their relationships. The love triangle between Ellison and Anarchy and Hunter is still continuing. The author does a very good job of setting the scene and capturing the 70s. The mystery was good but it was easy to solve. This series should be read in order. Enjoy this fun light humorous cozy mystery
Love this series.
Liked it! Figured out who the murderer was but it took a little doing. Great read
Finished this and it didn’t disappoint. I’ve read the whole series and enjoy reading about Ellison Russell. She’s always finding dead bodies no matter where she is. I love that this series is set in the 70’s and in Kansas City. I enjoy reading books set in the Midwest. I laughed when it was mentioned that Charles Dix was from Moline or Peoria. That is my stomping grounds.
It’s good to read about a strong woman figure during that time where men were supposed to take care of them. Ellison’s two love interests are completely different types and I enjoy reading about the conflicts in feelings she has.
Julie Mulhern does a great job weaving this mystery throughout the book. Can’t wait for the next one in the series.
Send in the Clowns is another must read in Julie Mulhern’s Country Club Murders series. Loved the mystery, and the dynamics that our heroine, Ellison, shares with those around her. 5 stars!
Love this series!
Fast-Paced Murder Mystery
This fast-paced cozy mystery takes place against the high society found at the country club. The plot is exciting with more crimes and suspects jumping up out of nowhere. This is a really fun and engaging series to read. I bought this book and this is my honest review.
I never finished this book. After reading half-way I found I didn’t care who was the killer or what happened. I think there are too many books to enjoy to spend time reading one I don’t enjoy.
This is an enjoyable entry in a solid, reliable series.
A fuuny, mystery that keeps you guessing.
This is a solid cozy series, well-written, with interesting characters and decent plotting. The books are set in the late 60’s and early 70’s, and I enjoy the pop culture references from my youth, although they may be a distraction for younger readers. Happily, no irritating religious overtones Worth a read.