My post wraps up this tour. It has been a fun one.
River City Dead (An Aggie Mundeen Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
Setting – Texas
Henery Press (January 17, 2017)
Paperback: 224 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1635111330
E-Book ASIN: B01MA6NALN
Synopsis
Aggie Mundeen, who advises readers in her column, “Stay Young with Aggie,” is pushing forty and determined to postpone a precipitous descent into middle-age. She plans to rendezvous with SAPD Detective Sam Vanderhoven at a hotel on the San Antonio River Walk…a vacation from crime and reset for their tumultuous relationship. In the midst of River City during Fiesta Week, what could go wrong?
Aggie’s new friends, the Fabulous Femmes, are holding their convention at the hotel. When hotel guests are murdered, Aggie discovers her friends have disturbing backgrounds. Evil surfaces at Fiesta events, and Aggie’s dancing debut at a Fiesta performance at Arneson River Theater is fraught with danger. Even in idyllic River City, crime complicates relationships.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Sam and Aggie had a grand plan for some time alone in San Antonio during Fiesta Week but there is just one small problem, there is a dead woman in their hotel suite. They hadn’t checked in yet but there are no more rooms to be found and Sam has been called back to work to investigate the case. He knows he is not going to be able to keep Aggie from butting her way into the investigation and she has a pretty good record for solving previous murders so he rather than fight her he embraces her help. Of course, she does nothing in moderation so he may be saving her yet again. This man has the patience of a saint.
I liked Aggie more in this book than any of the others. She wasn’t so immersed in the staying and looking young frame of mind as in past books. Of course, it was there a little bit, but now that her relationship with Sam is moving in a positive direction it is not consuming her life the way it was in previous stories. Even her column, “Stay Young with Aggie,” fan letters were requesting more relationship advice instead of ways to look and act younger.
In addition to the core characters we meet a whole new group of people, the Fabulous Femmes and their significant others. In fact, the dead woman is part of their group, making them all suspects. These ladies and their men are very unique. The men all have a military background and the woman love to party. I liked the way the accepted Aggie right into their group. Aggie has a way about her that people open up and tell her things that they probably wouldn’t share with anyone else. Sam knows this and encourages her to use it to help him.
This story is well written and the mystery sends Aggie off in several directions. She really has great observation techniques and hones in to important details.
The main thing this author does though is fill this story with so much humor and absolutely funny moments. A scene in a bookstore was hilarious.
If you like your mysteries full of comedy and quirky characters, look no further than Nancy G. West. They are sure to put a smile on your face.
More Praise For River City Dead
by Nancy G. WestThe book is a quick and easy read that will keep the reader engaged from for the first page. There is humor, sadness, suspense, and tragedy – a little something for everyone who loves a good cozy mystery.
~Sapphyria’s Book ReviewsThe descriptive writing is wonderful and the way we are included in the thought processes of those investigating delights a true cozy fan. I enjoyed the history I learned.
~Laura’s InterestsThis book is for sleuth lovers, fans of a good mystery and a little bit of love and fun! You will have a good time reading this book!
~VarietatsI loved the Fabulous Femmes and the subgroups and clicks and all the drama this group of women create.
~A Chick Who Reads
About This Author
I’ve been writing since age seven: poems back and forth with my mom. I had a real poem published in the Library Journal, Pegasus, at age fifteen. At eighteen, I wanted to study journalism and English literature, but friends who chose that college route were making minimum wage or selling lingerie. Being practical, I earned a business degree. After marriage and two children, I decided I HAD to study literature and write. I wrote non-fiction articles, a biography, and a suspense novel in 2004. That’s when whimsical Aggie Mundeen cut through the suspense, popped into my head and demanded her own series. The Aggie Mundeen mystery capers were born. Aggie must have been right: FIT TO BE DEAD is a LEFTY FINALIST 2013 for best humorous mystery, nominated by Left Coast Crime.
Chat with Aggie and Nancy on their blog here.
Author’s Webpage Author Page at Henery Press Author GoodReads
Purchase Links
Books in the Aggie Mundeen Humorous Mystery Series:
•FIT TO BE DEAD
•DANG NEAR DEAD
•SMART, BUT DEAD
•RIVER CITY DEAD
Amazon B&N
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I loved your review. I haven’t read any of the authors books but I will be checking her books out now. Great review
Thanks for a great post. I enjoyed your thoughts on this book & series.
Looking forward to reading this series.
Sounds like an awesome book. Thanks for the chance to win.
Since I’ve been to San Antonio numerous times, it would be fun to read a book set in that charming city.
Great review! This is a new author and series to me, can’t wait to read.
I really enjoy cozies. Thanks for this opportunity.
I love the titles of these books and am looking forward to reading them.
Thank you, Dollycas, for the wonderful review of RIVER CITY DEAD and a superfragilistic tour! You have Aggie and Sam pegged (but let’s not tell them.) I love writing about these two, especially on the San Antonio River Walk in the middle of Fiesta Week.
You would have heard from me sooner except for the flu.
Good luck to everyone in the drawing!
Nancy and Aggie