Join Terri, Melanie, and Pru as they dive headfirst into a whole mess of trouble. Nothing’s stopping them from sticking their noses into the murder investigations, including the fact that they aren’t detectives and have no idea what they’re doing. Finders, Not KeepersWhen Terri finds a diamond and learns the owner’s murder remains unsolved, she decides to find a home for the necklace. Her … necklace. Her research quickly becomes dangerous, and she embarks on a quest to solve the murder herself. Luckily, her neighbor, Ryder, is prepared to take any measure necessary to keep her safe because someone is determined to stop her inquiries.
Picture Not Perfect
A picture tells a story. But is it the truth? Melanie becomes a murder suspect when the police find pictures of her hanging up at her murdered colleague’s house. No way is Mel taking the rap for a murder she didn’t commit, but will Mel find the real killer before the detectives arrest her for murder?
Hide Not Seek
Pru has a secret. After a woman is murdered and all clues point to her, she has no choice but to disclose her true identity. When her revelations help thwart the killer’s plan to frame Pru for the murder, the killer begins stalking her. Will Pru and her friends uncover her stalker before he turns his violence on Pru?
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The Not So Reluctant Detectives Cozy Mystery Series is great. It follows friends Terri, Melanie and Prudence as they investigate murders. I love that these books are tense but had me chuckling a few times, too. They are clean, fun and the characters are “normal” but have bursts of craziness.
Finders, Not Keepers – 4 stars
Terri is such a good person. When she found a diamond necklace, she was determined to get it back to the owners. How many people would do that? When she found out the owner had been murdered and her heirs didn’t want the necklace, she was in a tough spot. What should she do with it? It was decided that the necklace would be donated to a charity – one that meant something to the original owner. Somehow Terri was left to find the charity. But when she started asking around about the murdered woman so she could figure out what charity was important to her, Terri didn’t realize she was putting herself in danger.
This cozy mystery had quite diverse characters. They were either kind to a fault, over-the-top excited, scary and intimidating or extremely bossy. Terri was a helpful person, as librarians tend to be. As a librarian she knew how to find information and research things – the old fashioned way, not with Google. Quite unique today. Her best friend couldn’t have been more different. Melanie was loud, easily excited and very outgoing. The opposite to Terri who was laid-back and thought things out. “Hot neighbour dude” (Ryder) kept them in line. Ryder was a P.I. and was able to get information on the murder for Terri. Just getting divorced, Terri was surprised when Ryder asked her out. He was a likeable man but as a P.I. he was used to being in control so he was quite bossy.
I liked Melanie and her determination to solve Jessica’s murder. But Terri had promised Ryder she wouldn’t get involved in investigating it so she was trying to get Melanie to back-off. She wasn’t successful. This story kept me wondering what was going to happen to Terri and the necklace. Even with some tense times, this suspense had a few laugh-out-loud moments, too.
You’ll want to read this book if you like cozies with amateur sleuths, romance and a few chuckles.
Picture Not Perfect – 4 stars
Imagine being suspected of murdering someone just because they had a bunch of pictures of you. Mel didn’t even know Al had been watching her let alone that he was stalking her so why would she kill him? She wouldn’t, so she had to figure out who did before she was arrested. Knowing Mel was innocent, her best friend, Terri, jumped right in to help her with the investigation. Before they knew it, their co-worker, Pru, was part of the team.
There are plenty of colourful characters, numerous suspects and false leads. I found the way that Melanie was quick to jump to conclusions, going from one suspect to the next, hard to handle. She was a loveable, bullheaded, young woman who I wanted to cheer for and strangle both at the same time. I liked the way these 3 women worked so well together. And I especially liked Owen’s determination in convincing Mel he loved her and didn’t care about her having ADHD.
I enjoyed this laugh-out-loud mystery and recommend it.
Hide Not Seek – 4 stars
Hide Not Seek is the third installment in D.E.Haggerty’s awesome The Not So Reluctant Detectives Cozy Mystery Series. The books follow friends Terri, Melanie and Prudence in their investigative adventures.
Not only had Pru been set up for murder but a stalker had been leaving her notes. Pru was sure it had something to do with her past that her friends knew nothing about. Worried about them, the only thing she could think of doing to protect them was leaving town. But her new “friend” Ajax won’t let her leave. He’s sure he can keep her safe. And he had her friends’ P.I. boyfriend and police officer fiancé for backup. Ajax didn’t factor in Mel and Terri’s determination to find the stalker/murderer before something happened to Pru.
I love D.E. Haggerty’s books and was glad I was given an advanced reader copy to review if I wanted. Once again, Ms. Haggerty has written a well thought out and interesting mystery, with a great storyline and likable, diverse characters. That, people, is the makings of a really good mystery novel. I was glued to my seat and didn’t see the ending coming at all. Cozy mystery fans won’t want to miss this book.