Kristina A. reviewed on 5/4/2018 + 1528 more book reviews

Read Herring Hunt by V.M. Burns is the second installment in A Mystery Bookshop Mystery series. Samantha âSamâ Washington owns Market Street Mysteries in North Harbor, Michigan. Dawson Alexander works (and lives) at the shop as well as bakes delights for their customers. Dawson is also MISU (Michigan Southwest University) star quarterback. On Monday, Dawson's ex-girlfriend, Melody Hardwick is found dead by a jogger and Dawson is the police's primes suspect. Sam calls her sister and criminal defense lawyer, Jenna to defend Dawson. Jenna tells all of them (with a special look at Nana Jo) to not speak with the press. Unfortunately, Dawson's wayward father, Alex did not get the message. Dawson is suspended from school and the football team pending the outcome of the case. Sam, Nana Jo and the Sleuthing Seniors dig up dirt on Melody to see who could have wished her harm. They need to clear Dawson's name before the next big game or his future will be over before it begins.

Read Herring Hunt can be a read alone. All the information a reader needs is included. The case from The Plot is Murder is discussed three times and the background on the main characters is included. Read Herring Hunt is an easy to read cozy mystery. I like that the main story has a nice steady pace and an active murder investigation. I felt that Nana Jo overwhelmed the main character, Sam. Nana Jo has a lively personality, a variety of friends and a busy social life. Sam comes across as rather bland (she is also a blabbermouth). Sam is busy working on her second British cozy mystery and the chapters from it are included in the book (alternating chapters). I do not like that the author included the book Sam is writing into the story. It does not enhance the main story and it felt like filler. It also takes a reader out of the story. I wish the author had focused on improving her main story which could have used further development. I found it lacking in depth and complexity. All readers should be able to solve the murder mystery. One detail gives away the killer's identity (especially fans of Agatha Christie). I do appreciate that the investigation was hands-on. The Sleuthing Seniors and their connections are helpful in ferreting out details that aid in narrowing down their suspect list and pointing them in the direction of the evil doer. I could have done without the cliché nasty detective with the unfortunate nickname of Stinky Pitt (courtesy of Nana Jo). While A Mystery Bookshop Mystery series is not the right fit for me, I suggest you get a sample and see if it works for you. We all have different reading tastes!

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