A bargain deal on a safari + one dead body = An adventure no one could plan for.Naomi and her estranged sister are off on a trip of a lifetime—an African safari, a bucket list trip for Naomi on which she got a last-minute deal. Naomi thinks traveling with her sister will be the worst part of her African safari until she finds one of their fellow travelers, the unlikable Dr. Higgins, dead. She … dead. She gets more adventure than she bargained for when she starts investigating what she thinks is murder but the luxury lodge says was a tragic accident. She only has a few vacation days, and a few game drives, to find the killer.
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Sleuth on Safari is the first book in a new series, A Traveler Cozy Mystery, by A R Kennedy. I became aware of this book through the Great Escapes Virtual Blog Tour website. When I find an interesting new series that I can pick up from the debut, I try to give them a chance. This one seemed quite intriguing, and now that I’ve finished it, I am glad I joined the blog tour next month. Let’s get into the review.
Naomi and her sister, both in their mid-20s, go on an African safari. They haven’t spent a lot of time together since their parents’ divorce fifteen years ago. Their relationship is slightly strained, but they make the best of it, especially when 1 of the 10 travelers in their group is found dead in the hotel. It appears like a wild animal got the victim, but Naomi thinks it was murder. As she investigates the organizers of the safari and the rest of the group, she solves the case… as well as catches all the major animals on her hunt.
Some cozy mysteries focus on the actual investigation. Others cater toward the small town setting and talk a lot about the side characters. This one has an in-between approach. While the murder doesn’t seem like a big deal to anyone else, Naomi slowly does her own investigation, but we mostly focus on the safari and getting to know the other cast members. I liked the approach, as it didn’t feel forced or weird. I also really enjoyed learning all about the rules of a safari, African setting, and various animals.
The writing is easy, direct, and funny at times. The characters are also easily visualized, and some were just mean. I found the relationship between the two sisters intentionally awkward, and I think it helped us like Naomi a lot more. She is smart and reserved, but she’s also pushy and assured. I enjoyed her approach to crossing a few lines to observe and study the clues. It was great that she didn’t have to worry about a real detective or cop, as on the safari, it looked like an accident and no one needed to investigate. A good change of pace.
It has a closed room / locked door type of feel, meaning we knew it had to be 1 of the 10 people on the safari… reminiscent of a Christie approach in how the story is told. Many cozy readers will enjoy this one, but so will animal lovers. I will definitely keep reading this series, as I’m interested to see what kind of travel these two sisters embark on… they’re ready to book a second trip at the end of this one. I wonder where it will be.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Pack your bags, we are escaping to Africa with Naomi and her sister Charlotte. Naomi has always wanted to go on a safari and she was able to get a great deal but with such short notice, she could only get her sister to go with her. The girls separated after their parent’s divorce. Naomi went with her dad while Charlotte went with her mom.
The girls arrive for their great adventure and meet the others in the group. Everyone seems nice except Dr. Higgens who is traveling by himself and as cantankerous as they come.
When Dr. Higgins fails to arrive for a game drive he is found dead in his room. It is a grisly scene that is quickly labeled a tragic animal attack, but Naomi doesn’t think there was anything accidental about it. She can’t convince even her sister that the man was murdered but she is going to use the rest of her vacation to prove it.
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I really enjoyed this story.
Naomi and Charlotte are both in their mid-20s but are as different as night and day. Charlotte is studying to be doctor, very driven and organized. Naomi is laid back, still trying to find herself, thrilled to be on a Safari but tuned out during the orientation talk and really didn’t follow the list they were given about what to pack for this adventure. She knew Charlotte would have whatever they needed. Charlotte is the apple of her mother’s eye, Naomi is happy to have little to no contact with the woman.
The tour group is diverse with a woman with a teenager and another man about Charlotte’s age, a couple of senior citizens, a middle-aged couple, Dr. Higgns, and the sisters. Upon arrival at the lodge they meet the manager Leticia, Sonny, who had picked them up at the airport, is their guide, and Ray their tracker. All the characters are strangers and develop over the course of the story. I really liked the camaraderie between Sonny and Ray and all their knowledge.
The lodge they were staying out sounded spectacular and scary at the same time. Much of it is open-air and the rooms have windows looking out over the lush landscape. The group sees something amazing too. I will never be able to do anything like an African Safari so it was fun to go along through the pages of this book on the several game drives looking for “the Big Five” — African Elephant, Lion, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, and Rhinoceros plus many other animals. Naomi also has an experience by herself that is absolutely fantastic.
Now the mystery is an unusual one. Only Naomi believes a crime has been committed, except for the killer of course, so everyone is a suspect and there are no police involved. She quickly rules her sister out but really has to twist Charlotte’s arm the few times she needs her help to do a little investigating. Naomi was a little pushy at times but she was determined did not give up. I must say having no police involved was a true breath of fresh air. Naomi was really on her own and it showed what a strong woman she truly is. Most people on vacation would accept what they are told about the death and move on, Naomi just couldn’t.
Sleuth on Safari is a real treat. Ms. Kennedy takes readers right there, on the scene, for some spectacular sights. She also gives us a tricky mystery to solve with plenty of suspects. The story flows naturally and the reveal is surprising.
This series is off to an excellent start. I want to get to know Naomi and Charlotte better. I am excited to see what adventure they take us on next.
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
Great start to a new series! We Naomi and her total opposite sister as they go on safari together. I had lots of fun with this set up. Between the eclectic group of travelers, the rules, and the animals we get a truly interesting story. One of their fellow travelers is found dead by what looks like an animal attack but Naomi thinks otherwise. While the others are occupied she starts investigating until she manages to solve it. A well written mystery with a balanced mix of characters, adventure, and mystery. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
I love the cover and traveling, so going on a safari with Naomi seemed like fun. Until….
Naomi found the prickly Dr Higgins with his throat ripped out by hyenas. It seemed like she was the only one that thought something was rotten in Denmark, so she decided to investigate.
I do enjoy a cozy. We have plenty of suspects, and some danger and mystery. It was fun being along for the ride, seeing the sights, spending a night alone with Naomi in the treehouse, and meeting all the quirky characters. A R Kennedy’s writing made it easy to visualize as we enjoyed seeing the animals and the wonderful scenery that is Africa.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Sleuth on Safari by A R Kennedy.
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This book was rich in detail about the setting of an upscale safari. Makes you feel as if you’re on the trip. Had some good characters and humor that added to the armchair travel.
I’ve always wanted to go to Africa so this book caught my eye and I’m glad it did. It was very entertaining and I hope there will be another one.
African Safari, I always wondered what it would be like. Naomi gets a last minute deal. She and her estranged sister Charlotte embark on what was supposed to be a trip of a lifetime – an African safari., but turns out to be so much more. Everything was fine until one of their fellow travelers ends up dead. Deemed a terrible accident, Naomi can’t let it go. She believes it murder and begins an investigation into what really happened. Everyone is a suspect.
The characters, animals and descriptions were wonderful. The reader experienced the sights, sounds, feelings, and smells of the adventure through the characters. kudo’s to the author for this. There are laugh out loud moments when Naomi chases down leads and questions suspects with chaotic results.
Over all I enjoyed Sleuth on Safari and highly recommend the book to readers who enjoy cozy mysteries.
This story was an interesting read. I loved Naomi’s creative imagination after the murder of Dr. Higgins as well as how she worked through the suspects. Her sister, Charlotte, and the other travelers were most entertaining as the story went on. The interactions between themselves and those around did give a few fun moments. The mystery took a bit for me to solve, but I enjoyed the journey.
I received a copy of this story through Goddess Fish Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.
What a fun start to a series– I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where the author goes with this.
I enjoyed the main character, Naomi, and it was great fun watching her interact with the rest of the characters on the safari trip she was able to score – especially with her sister as they are together for an extended time for the first time in many years (their dad “got Naomi” in the divorce while the sister stayed with Mom). They were not estranged as much as not as familiar with each other as sisters who are raised together can be. I really hope Charlotte plays a part in the rest of the series….she as a good foil for Naomi.
I can understand Naomi wanting to know what happened and not just brush things under the rug. Once she figured out that there had been a murder, her innate sense of justice would not just let it be swept under a rug. Besides, the internet was down…what else is a girl to do?
The descriptions of the safari itself were so much fun to read and, even though, it had never been on my bucket list before, I found myself wishing I could go on a trip like that (minus the murder…. I think).
I hope that some of the other characters also make appearances in future books– especially Jack. I have to admit, he was one of my favorites of the secondary characters.
I’m looking forward to seeing what other adventures Naomi and Charlotte get into. Well done, Ms. Kennedy.
Naomi and her sister, Charlotte are in for a vacation neither will soon forget. I thought the sisters had an entertaining dynamic through the book that was a lot of fun. The mystery had a lot of twists and turns. I thought I kew who the killer was, but I turned out to be wrong. I hope Naomi and Charlotte will entertain us with more adventures in the future.
Sleuth on Safari by A.R. Kennedy is a mystery with humor, great characters, and an impressive setting.
Was the terrible Dr. Higgins murdered or just careless?
Naomi and Charlotte embark on a South African safari. They are staying at an all-inclusive lodge, where they will go out on daily game drives to take pictures of animals. Ok, I seriously want to do this. It sounds amazing. Charlotte plays a game of guessing the story of the other guests. The two couples are easy enough to figure out, but then there is a woman with a young man and a teenage boy. Dr. Higgins was a jerk, but who would kill him? No one claims that they know him, and he didn’t speak to anyone as he knew them. But hyenas?
Oh, and to add fuel to Naomi’s case, the internet at the lodge is entirely out and has been since the morning after the death.
Naomi
She is the oldest of the two sisters. Naomi hasn’t found her calling in life yet, but she does read lots of mysteries. One the second night, Naomi finds the body of Dr. Higgins, and apparently, he was killed by hyenas. Seriously! In his room, sitting in a chair, killed by hyenas. Naomi doesn’t believe it. So, she starts investigating everyone at the lodge. Naomi enlists Charlotte’s assistance when possible. She clears as many as she can but still hasn’t solved the murder, until the final gathering when the internet is back up.
Four Stars
I enjoyed the characters and their relationship struggles, the scenery, and the mystery in Sleuth on Safari by A.R. Kennedy. The cover is beautiful, too. Therefore, I am giving it a rating of four stars. This book is the first in a new series, and I am looking forward to the next book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes 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 Sleuth on Safari by A.R. Kennedy.
This Guest Review is for Baroness’ Book Trove.
Until the next time,
~Jen
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
I went on a fun safari trip in reading this. The terrain was described well, and every animal was described well enough to picture it. Even more important, every character had his or her own unique personality. The interaction between all of them was really done well to make this story full of humor and a little quirky.
I did have a problem though. It seemed that Naomi felt she had to find the killer and yet, I couldn’t really figure out why. She wasn’t a news writer or a cop. No one threatened her sister Charlotte. Maybe she was scared which the story mentioned or maybe she was even just nosy. She was constantly planning ways to sneak around and look for clues, but it seemed as if she tried way too hard to explain why. Maybe she had previous experience. Her sister Charlotte touched upon her solving a murder or being nosy.
So what does all the above mean I thought about this book? I thought I read a really well written book by an author who writes descriptive writing as well as she does dialogue. She creates well-crafted characters too. None of the previous is easy to do. I think this seemed like the middle of a series rather than the first book that should have given us a little background. Hope we see some more in the series.
Sleuth on Safari is Book 1 of a series titled “The Traveler Cozy Mystery Series”. A.R. Kennedy has another series published which has great reviews.
“Sleuth on Safari” by A.R. Kennedy~Releasing March 24, 2020
“A.R. Kennedy’s books do not disappoint! This was my second book and I highly recommend both “A Sleuth on Safari” and “Saving Ferris” for your next reads!”-Green Gables Book Reviews
When Naomi finds a great deal on a last-minute trip, she can’t turn it down! She recruits her sister to go with her-hoping it will go alright since they are nothing alike. Naomi is a free spirit who doesn’t worry about details and Charlotte is super organized and studying to be a Doctor.
They arrive at their beautiful safari resort and try to figure out the other guests that are there. What are their stories?
They enjoy their surroundings and despite a few odd rules are enjoying their time. Until Naomi needs to make a quick wardrobe change and finds something disturbing on her way back to her room at the resort. Dr. Higgins, who no one liked, is dead.
Naomi embarks on a journey to find the killer. Everyone is a suspect-and she is ruling them out one by one. The resort is making things difficult and Naomi feels like there are things being hidden about the murder.
Will Naomi find the killer and stay safe while she is investigating?
Publication Date: March 24, 2020
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B082XKK3TD
Sleuth on Safari takes us deep into the heart of Africa, on a bucket list trip for Naomi – and, vicariously, for the readers too! While I’ve never been on a safari … and probably never will because a) I don’t fly and b) I’m not a fan of heat and c) I would be terrified the whole time … I very much enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the vista and the animals they encountered on their drives. And let me just say that if I’d had the kind of experience Naomi did in the treehouse, I would be heading home that instant. I like my rooms to have 4 intact walls. Just saying. Yep. I’m a wimp when it comes to the great outdoors lol.
The murder mystery is a bit gruesome for a cozy mystery but it lends itself nicely to a closed-door feel of a case to solve – a la Agatha Christie. Even though they are in the wide open of a safari, the suspect can only be one of the people on safari or one of the handful of staff at the lodge. Nobody comes in or out of the area easily, and that aspect ramps up the tension in this story and keeps it high throughout.
I also really liked Naomi. She’s an intriguing blend of impetuous and insecure – but also confident in who she is when it matters. The banter between she and her half-sister was entertaining and added some humor at the right moments … but there were also some sweet moments between them as well. None of the supporting characters were especially likable, though they all had their likable moments certainly, and all were quirky in their own rights. This kept the list of potential suspects long and ever evolving as Naomi took it upon herself to solve the case.
Bottom Line: Pack your bags and head on safari (vicariously, of course) with A.R. Kennedy and her plucky heroine Naomi. Layers of tension combine with vividly-drawn landscapes and wildlife to create a story that’s fraught with danger and suspense. The writing style is smooth and engaging, and you’ll find yourself eagerly turning the pages to see how it all plays out.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)