FRAMED FOR MURDER by Marla A. White
Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Contemporary,
4****
Blurb:After a life-changing injury, Mel O’Rourke trades in her badge for bed sheets, running a B & B in the quirky mountain town of Pine Cove. Her peaceful life is interrupted when an old frenemy, the notorious and charismatic cat burglar, Poppy Phillips, shows up on her doorstep, claiming she’s been framed for murder. While she’s broken plenty of laws, Mel knows she’d never kill anyone. Good thing she’s a better detective than she is a cook as she sets out to prove Poppy’s innocence.The situation gets complicated, however, when the ruggedly handsome Deputy Sheriff Gregg Marks flirts with Mel, bringing him dangerously close to the criminal she’s hiding. And just when her friendship with café owner Jackson Thibodeaux blossoms into something more, he’s offered the opportunity of a lifetime in New Orleans. Should she encourage him to go, or ask him to stay? Who knew romance could be just as hard to solve as murder?
Thoughts: I enjoyed this story and it’s a follow-up story to “The Starlight Mint Surprise Murder”—a holiday novella that sets the series up. The setting and characters drew me in, as they did with the shorter story. I’m glad the author took my hint from that review and is turning this into a series. I loved Mel (Emmeline), her grandmother was a hoot, and Poppy (cat burglar turned friend) was perfect! Mel had a lot of issues that played well into the story. She’s an ex-cop turned innkeeper who, with her family, owns a B&B in a small tourist town. Oh, and she can’t cook—even coffee is beyond her skill set. Not a good recommendation for a B&B. And her new best friend (who can actually cook) is the cat burglar she was chasing when she got injured as a cop. I loved how she fights her issues with heights. I can sympathize. The mystery is set up nicely with a few red herrings thrown in to throw you (and Mel) off track, but I have to say, I pegged the culprit pretty early. Still, it was a fun read and I definitely look forward to more in this series.
Recommended.
Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
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