Smugglers on the hunt, a police chief on the run, lost loot and a dead wedding planner have the Mackinac Island regulars riding in circles After solving two murders, bike shop owner Evie Bloomfield thought life on Mackinac Island would settle into boredom until she finds out Nate Sutter, island police chief and once-upon-a-time under cover cop is on the run. Some badass guys from Nate’s Detroit … Nate’s Detroit days think he stole money from them in a champagne smuggling operation and now they’re headed to the island to get their loot. Evie is determined to help Nate because he’s a good cop, Nate is determined to keep interfering Evie and island locals out of harms way, and the crooks are determined to get their money.
To add to the island’s problems there’s a dead guy on the dock and the new wedding planner is more interested in playing bedroom bingo than ordering bridal bouquets.
With the help of Fiona, Evie’s BFF and local newspaper editor, Evie is determined to prove Nate innocent, figure out how champagne smuggling, bodies on the dock and a bad wedding planner are tied together and not wind up taking a long walk off a short pier herself.
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The premise for this book is ripe for a punchline. What do a cop, a wedding planner and a dock worker have in common? Unfortunately for the dock worker, it is death on a Wedding Paradise Island.
Toss in a woman who owns a bike shop but is hell on wheels to anyone near her when she HAS to ride a two wheeler… and you have the makings of a twisty, delightful cozy.
Mackinac Island (pronounced mak-in-aw, from Native American and French influences) is a tourist destination with old world charm. Except for emergencies, no motorized vehicles are allowed.
So the pace is slower and people must get along. It has the reputation for beauty and romance. It is romance that the locals, such as newspaper editor Fiona, would also like to find for themselves. We all know that the heart can muddy clear thinking.
Follow along this wild ride as danger flows across the island and our heroes barely avoid a disastrous ending.
Tandem Demise by Duffy Brown sends us to Mackinac Island where Evie Bloomfield co-owns Rudy’s Bikes. Evie and her friend, Fiona are down at the pier to pick up a delivery of kites when they find a dead man with a bottle of champagne in his arms. Nate Sutter, the chief of police, arrives on the scene and seems to recognize the dead guy. Evie has had success solving the last two murders on the island, and she does not hesitate to begin investigating this one. Wedding planner, Bladen Powers is causing disruptions because he is more focused on bedroom hopping than the details of his clients’ nuptials. Evie finds herself sleuthing without her sidekick, Fiona who has become preoccupied with Detroit cop, Finn McCabe. Finn is worried that an old smuggling case of Nate’s from when he worked undercover in Detroit is coming back to haunt him. The men involved believe Nate stole their money and they want it back. Nate has other worries when Bladen is killed, and the murder weapon belongs to Nate. Someone is framing Nate and Evie has no intention of letting him take the fall. With the islander’s help, Nate goes into hiding and Evie sets out to prove his innocence. Can Evie discover who is framing Nate before he is caught and arrested?
Tandem Demise is a humorous and engaging cozy mystery. I do not recommend reading Tandem Demise as a standalone. You do need to read the books in A Cycle Path Mystery in order (or you will be lost). Duffy Brown has writing style that I classify as easy breezy. It is light, has humor, good dialogue and steady pacing. Evie Bloomfield finds herself co-owning Rudy’s Bikes, but she cannot ride a bike (she has the scabs, scars and bruises to prove it). Evie, though, is a whiz at coming up with unique designs for the bikes and creating them. I loved the description of her Nancy Drew bicycle (I want it). The island is filled with quirky characters and charming shops (lots of fudge shops—yum). I enjoyed the banter between Evie and Nate. They are cute together and he is fully aware of her shenanigans. The mystery was interesting with smuggling, murder, good clues, a handful of suspects and misdirection. Avid cozy mystery readers, though, will have no problem in identifying the guilty party. Evie is determined to investigate the case and she is not about to let locks stand in her way. Thankfully, she has Angelo to teach her the fine art of lock picking. I had a hard time with Evie breaking into the evidence locker. This destroys the chain of custody if discovered and a guilty person could get away with the crime (I know it is fiction, but Mackinac Island is not a fantasy world). Settle into a cozy chair and prepare to laugh as read Tandem Demise. Duffy Brown fans will enjoy this fetching cozy mystery.
Duffy Brown in Tandem Demise takes us to real places and lets us meet some real people, soooo, if you have ever been to Mackinac Island, you will feel right at home, except for the dead guy.
I love these quirky characters and the mystery to die for.
Especially Eve. She is a real hoot. She fits the definition of a cozy character to a tee. A fumbling, amateur detective, a bit nosy and known for it by all. No place is safe from her prying eyes. She sees dead people. She believes she lives under a black cloud. Does it put her in danger? Of course.
The humorous, snappy dialogue kept the action moving and the entertainment at a high level with laugh out loud moments.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Tandem Demise by Duffy Brown.
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LOVE! LOVE! LOVED IT!!
Tandem Demise is the long awaited third book in the Cycle Path Mystery series by Duffy Brown, but it was soooo worth the wait!! My favorite in the series thus far! ( I do believe I have said that about every book, but they all really are phenomenal)
The book starts off with a a bang, when Evie and Fiona find a body on the docks clutching a champagne bottle, and it never lets up from there, not stop action till the very last page!
One of my favorite things about Duffy Brown’s writing is her sense of humor, I find myself literally laughing out loud!
While I always suggest reading books in order, this book could definitely be read and enjoyed as a stand alone if you chose to do so ( but the other books are so good, you should really read them too!)
Already anxiously awaiting the next book! Can’t wait to see what Evie and friends are up to next!
I was given a copy of this book in… I voluntarily reviewed it
Duffy Brown’s books are always entertaining! I loved this latest book. Evie and Fiona find a dead man on the docks. A little later, a wedding planner is murdered. Somehow this all connects to Nate’s past undercover work and Evie is determined to clear his name. I really hope there will be more books in this series. I want to read more about the relaxing life on Mackinac Island and read more stories with the great characters, such as Irish Donna, Fiona, Irma, Rudy, Nate, and Evie. I also want to see a relationship finally happen with Evie and Nate!
Tandem Demise is the much-awaited third novel in the Cycle Path Mystery Series and it is set at the very popular summer destination, Mackinac Island. It is now the end of the summer, and soon the last of the “fudgies” (tourists) will be gone with the warm weather. There are two kinds of year-round residents here. One is the “born here”, like Nate, the Chief of Police. The other is the “come here”, like Evie, who moved here from Chicago where she had been a grunt-level graphic designer.
Evie, who can’t ride a bicycle without a crash landing, is part owner of Rudy’s Rides, a bicycle rental shop. Cal is Mr. Bike Wizard, who does repairs on any of the bikes. He also has a huge crush on Evie’s best friend Fiona, but it is his and Evie’s secret. Cal came home from 4 tours in Iraq that set him up with a permanent date with a wheelchair. His day job is helping match up potential employers with qualified employees on the Island, where many, many positions are open each summer.
Evie and Fiona went to the dock to pick up a shipment of kites to sell in the bike shop. While there, they find a dead guy clutching a champagne bottle, and it looks like he has been bashed in the head with something. When they call for help, Police Chief Nate arrives, and it seems as if he knows the victim. As the days go by, Nate doesn’t protest as much as usual about Evie’s “help” with the investigation. A male wedding planner who frequently plans the brides-to-be into his lair, an angry, heartbroken groom, and a prior co-worker of Nate’s brings much humor into the story, as well as someone new who seems to genuinely appreciate Fiona. She is suddenly a happy young woman in love. This is a fast-paced cozy mystery that brings some favorite characters back to life while bringing the right amount of wit and romance from new characters. There is a bridezilla with wealth and connections who is in the middle of everything, especially when a second murder occurs hours before her wedding is scheduled.
The characters are well-defined, in particular Evie and Fiona. We even get to know Nate better, at least until he seems to be the chief murder suspect of at least the second victim, and possibly the first. I can almost picture everyone except the Bridezilla, who doesn’t sound like the kind of woman any self-respecting guy could whisper sweet nothings to, much less a proposal. Cal is a genuinely good guy, deserving of a very special lady.
One thing I appreciated is that most businesses in the mystery are real Mackinac Island shops, also the historic sites. The author’s trademark humor is evident throughout, and plot twists that change the face of the suspect many times over. So many suspicious events cast blame onto the police chief. I did guess who the killer was early on from some little clues here and there. Even though at times it seemed the person was more than innocent and had everyone fooled, something still didn’t seem right. The resolution left no loose ends. I recommend it to fans of the author and the series!
From a grateful heart: I received an e-Arc of this novel from the publisher and this is my honest review.
Tandem Demise is another wonderful adventure in the Cycle Path Mystery series which take place on Mackinac Island. Through Duffy’s wonderful story telling, the island as well as the mystery come alive off the page! Mackinac Island is located near Lake Huron in Northern Michigan. The story brings to life smugglers, murder, and a plot that puts the Police Chief Nate Sutter on the run. Once again Ellie will be challenged to solve the clues to the murder, and identities of the smugglers. Are they all tied together? Is Nate a “bad guy”, or is someone framing him? If you haven’t started this series, what are you waiting for? If you haven’t purchased this book – get it! You will be caught up in the intrigue of another cozy mystery!
I loved every minute of the story and hated to see it end. Filled with twists and turns that keep you guessing.
3.5 stars
TANDEM DEMISE is a charming, entertaining cozy mystery. Third in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone. The characters are quirky, the Mackinac Island setting idyllic, and the mystery well plotted and executed. I particularly like that the police chief Nate is the suspect in two murders. What a great twist! I did not figure it all out until right before Evie did, which is nice. The banter between Nate and Evie is my favorite part of the book, and I enjoyed all of the characters, even the rather unlikable ones. TANDEM DEMISE is fun reading. Recommended.
I received and ARC of this title from the author and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
I loved this book, for those who have been waiting for this third installment, you won’t be disappointed. It is filled with the same characters from previous books ranging from calm to a little zany and all lovable. The humor is great, I absolutely love the humor in this book, with the quick comments which had me laughing many times.
When Evie and Fiona find a body on the dock the adventure begins. From there we meet a wedding planner who seems to be doing everything but planning weddings, the body and planner tie into the Police Chief’s past, a police chief on the run and a bridezilla running around to mention a few of the problems. The mystery kept me guessing, I thought I had it and then figured it out right along with Evie. I will definitely continue on with this series and eagerly await the next in this series.
Author Duffy Brown, in the short time she’s been a writer, has truly earned the title, author. All you need to do is read one of her books to see what I mean. Her whodunits are a treat to read. My sister and I both are always thrilled when she releases a new book.
This third installment of the Cycle Path mysteries is the best so far. Intriguing, funny, and a wonderfully plotted mystery, TANDEM DEMISE has it all. There are more twists and turns than you’ll find on even the most winding of bike paths. As the story built to the climax, I was both excited to read who the killer was, and bummed that the book was almost over.
Duffy Brown fans, you can’t go wrong with TANDEM DEMISE. New to this author and/or series? Strap on your helmets, you’re in for a wonderfully bumpy ride!
Evie Bloomfield has created a life for herself on Mackinac Island. Her days are filled with renting out specialty bikes from her bike shop and solving crimes. Since her arrival on the island murder seems to be a bit more common than in the past.
When Evie and her best friend Fiona stumble across yet another body they have no idea that the island’s chief of police is going to be suspect number one.
This is the third book in the Cycle Path Mystery series. It has been a few years since I read the first two books but I was able to quickly identify characters and remember relevant information from Evie’s past. Having spent a lot of time on the island I always enjoy books with Mackinac as the setting. I was shocked that I identified the killer right away. I’m normally not that quick or correct. The plot moves steadily and kept me reading every chance I had to pick up the book. I recommend this book. It could stand alone, but I have to read a series in order.
I just couldn’t get interested. I was very disappointed in this book. I liked the others in the series. I doubt I will continue with the series.
What a ride! Tandem Demise is Duffy Brown’s 3rd Cycle Path Mystery (following Geared for the Grave and Braking for Bodies) and each and every book in this series makes me want to take off for Mackinac Island and look for all these crazy characters! Evie and Fiona discover a dead body on the docks, there are both a bridezilla and a wedding planner lothario on the island, and Nate Sutter’s forced to go on the lam when he’s suspected of a couple of murders! A laugh-a-minute page turner, Tandem Demise was a delight to read, and I highly recommend it to all lovers of cozy mysteries with a little bit of humor and romance! A+
Set against the backdrop of a tourist island with a great cast of characters, this book was thoroughly enjoyable – plenty of action going on. I like the irony of a bike shop owner who can’t ride a bicycle without injuring herself! My first read in the Cycle Path mystery series – will definitely go back and read the others.
This book definitely made up for the rather long wait there has been between book 2 and this one! It was everything we could hope for and more. Lots of action, funny moments of course, as Evie continues to try and ride a bike. The mystery was so well plotted and thought out and I was fooled a couple of times into almost changing my mind about who the killer was. I did guess, but sure had a lot of fun reading to find out how they would catch this person. The showdown was epic, the ending was sweet and I can’t wait for more in the series!
Even though each book could stand alone, for the most enjoyment of all of them, I really recommend starting with book one and working your way through. It’s so worth it!
Tandem Demise by Duffy Brown was totally entertaining. Ms. Brown writes characters that are quirky, fun and very likeable. If it wasn’t for the winters on Mackinac Island, I would move there so I could hang out with Evie and Fiona. Ms. Brown’s description of Mackinac Island has made this a number #1 spot on my bucket list of places to visit.
The story gripped me from the first page and I couldn’t put it down until the last page. I confess that I did get a little inkling of who might be behind the smuggling and murders but I wasn’t sure until the reveal. Plenty of twists and turns, a dramatic reveal that had me gripping my seat and a sweet little boost to the romance department for Evie made this one a perfect read for me.