I’ve been a fan of this book since Book 1, and I’ve enjoyed each one either as much as or more than the first, which is a testament to the author’s talent. You often catch lulls in long-term series, but we’re definitely not hitting that!
About the Book
A reality show turns deadly when death rewrites the script.
Chaos breaks out in the quiet town of Seacastle when the cast and crew of the hit show Sloane Rangers descend upon it, stirring up drama both on and off the screen. Local sleuth and former investigative reporter, Tanya Bowe, is brought on board as a consultant, tasked with recommending perfect filming locations for the episode.
Tanya soon uncovers a tangled web of strained relationships and simmering tensions among the cast members. When one of the stars of the show is discovered unconscious in her room, Tanya finds herself at the heart of a complex murder investigation where everyone is a suspect. Unravelling the truth seems impossible when many of them have difficulty distinguishing real life from the scripted show.
As the case unfolds, several beloved cast members emerge as the prime suspects, sending shockwaves through Seacastle. With everyone playing a part and secrets buried deep, the murderer remains hidden in plain sight.
Can Tanya unravel the truth before someone else dies?
In this captivating British small-town cozy mystery, a maze of potential suspects, each with their own motives and secrets, will keep you guessing until the very end.
If you relish seaside settings, intricate mysteries, and a touch of wit, buy your copy now and join Tanya on her quest to unravel the truth.
My Thoughts
Both our lovely incidental detective Tanya and her fun cast of supporting characters are still going and showing us new and exciting developments alongside the unusually high body count in their small town. The author continues to explore important current economic and social issues through the lens of these now beloved characters. And, I mourned the frequent absence of my favorite side character, Mouse, right alongside his Mum, Tanya, and was so excited to see him come home for visits from university! But these celebrations of the continuation of life, including some I won’t spoil, are something I absolutely love about series like these. Standalones and short series give us a moment in someone’s life. In contrast, these long-term series allow us to have beloved characters with whole lives we can watch develop and enjoy.
My fellow crewbies who are better at judging say the books in this series are okay to be read as standalones if you happen to pick up Book 7 in the series by accident, not realizing. I’m really bad at judging that because I’m particularly good at picking up on that, and then it messes up the rest of the book for me, wondering what I don’t know. Some authors are better than others, but it’s just hard and impractical to make every book in a series feel like a standalone. And it’s not something I personally look for in a series. If you’re writing a series, you don’t need to tell me everything you’ve said before, and also, as a fellow reader and a reviewer, I’d encourage you to read the rest of the series, especially this one. There’s so much to love in this book and the six that come before it.
This particular story was quite fun. Tanya’s TV expertise finally came into play. While we’ve seen her journalism skills before, I don’t think we’ve seen her TV chops come out. And so many people love reality TV, I think this is a great addition to the storyline. It is exactly the sort of thing that a small town would do to try to boost revenue and their “profile,” and it is ripe with opportunity for things to go wrong. The mystery was laid out well, as always, and there were plenty of surprises!
I’m so grateful to the author and LBT to have been included on this tour, and the ones before. I absolutely can’t wait to see what Tanya and the crew get up to next!
Who’s It For?
If you love cozy mysteries, this series is a must. And this particular book in the series blends cozy mystery and reality TV, which are so many people’s guilty pleasures! I have been a fan of this series almost from day one, so I recommend starting from the beginning!
Content Warnings: This book contains topics that may disturb some readers, including, but not limited to, murder, death, violence, betrayal, infidelity, danger/fear, mental illness, and more.
About the Author
PJ Skinner is a geologist who has spent thirty years roaming the planet and collecting tall tales and real-life experiences. Most of her postings were in remote and dangerous sites which provide background settings for her novels. She now writes fact-based novels from the relative safety of London. She still travels worldwide collecting material for the series and having her own adventures.
Links
Amazon US: https://a.co/d/8USmbeo
Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/dZZWXhE
Bookshop US: https://bookshop.org/a/25511/9781913224554
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217534967-grave-reality
Author’s Website: https://pjskinner.com/
As a Bookshop.org (US) Affiliate, I may earn on qualifying purchases. Bookshop.org purchases support local, independent bookshops. My chosen affiliate bookshop is Tubby & Coo’s Traveling Bookshop, a local, queer-owned bookshop in New Orleans.
Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.