Author PJ Skinner takes us on another delightful visit to the Seacastle seaside and I am eager for another soon!
About the Book
How do you find the murderer, when every act is convincing?
Tanya Bowe, an ex-investigative journalist, agrees to interview the contestants of the National Talent Competition for the local newspaper but finds herself up to her neck in secrets, sabotage, and simmering resentment. The tensions increase when her condescending sister comes to stay next door for the duration of the contest. Several rising stars on the circuit hope to win the competition, but old stager, Lance Emerald, is not going down without a fight. When Lance is found dead in his dressing room, Tanya is determined to find the murderer but complex dynamics between the contestants and fraught family relationships make the mystery harder to solve.
Can Tanya uncover the truth before another murder takes center stage?
In this enthralling English, small-town, cozy mystery, Tanya finds herself out of her depth in the cut-throat world of Talent competitions. If you love a cozy whodunnit set at the seaside, with a cast of recurring characters, this is the series for you.
My Thoughts
I love a good cozy mystery, and PJ Skinner is fast becoming one of my favorites in the genre. She has written several other books, but this is her first cozy series. But she’s a natural. She takes the fabulous tropes that make up the cozy world and weaves in and out of them with expert finesse.
Being an ex-journalist myself, I always love an ex-journo. Though Tanya did have a foray into her old field this go-round. Sometimes it gives me a nice dose of nostalgia, and sometimes it gives me almost PTSD. This was a good case of nostalgia. Though, thankfully, even though I was a small-town journalist, small towns don’t usually have as many murders as most cozy mysteries would have you believe.
The quirky cast of characters is always key to a good cozy, and Skinner delivers in spades. This time they got even wilder with performers joining the bunch. I didn’t think I could love her stepson Mouse anymore or dislike his dad/her ex anymore. But Skinner managed to make me do both of those things with her engaging writing.
I am so grateful to the author and Love Books Tours for including me in this tour. I don’t know if there are more books planned, but I’d sure love to see what happens next.
Who’s It For
If you love cozy mysteries, you will love this series. It’s a great mystery and offers everything you love about cozy mysteries – a fantastic heroine, a pesky love triangle, a small town filled with quirky characters, and enough drama and intrigue to fill a book.
Content Warnings: Adult Language and Situations, Murder, Violence, Pregnancy, Adoption, Drug Use, Alcohol Use, Infidelity, 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.
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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.