Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Missouri
Lyrical Underground (December 5, 2017)
Paperback: 208 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1516102112
Kindle ASIN: B06XJJ2ZJ9
The Tobias Ad Agency is in the running for the coveted Golden Storyboard, and Tobi couldn’t be more thrilled—until she discovers it’s literally an award to die for.
It’s an honor just to be nominated. But, let’s get real, Tobi wants to win. The St. Louis Advertising Awards are like the Oscars for her field, and Tobi is up for its most prestigious prize, Best Overall Ad Campaign. The competition is always fierce, but this year its killer … .
Despite her high hopes, Tobi isn’t exactly shocked when she doesn’t win. But she is shocked when the winner, Deidre Ryan, takes the stage only to plummet to her death as a platform suddenly gives way. After the police discover foul play, Tobi’s Grandpa Stu wastes no time in nominating suspects. But was Deidre the intended victim—or was someone else meant to take the fatal fall? Now it’s a race to catch a killer in the spotlight before another nominee gets the booby prize and Tobi gets trapped in a no-win situation.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Tobi is excited to have been nominated for the Golden Storyboard Award this year but the St. Louis Advertising Awards turn out to be not as advertised. They were not supposed to include a murder! Tobi is now thankful she didn’t win because the winner dies when she steps up to receive her award. The room is full of suspects, but was the woman who plunged to her death the actual target? Tobi and her Grandpa Stu are trying to find that out but their relationship strained due to something he overheard Tobi tell her boyfriend Andy Zander. Hopefully, the case can be solved and their relationship saved before anyone else is awarded a trip to the great beyond.
The characters really drew me into the story this time. Grandpa Stu has come to visit but he is spending most of his time with the neighbor that drives Tobi and everyone else in the neighborhood a little crazy. Apparently, Stu sees a totally different side of Martha Rapple. He even brings her to the advertising awards as his date. He later hears Tobi venting to Andy about their relationship and Stu completely shuts down around Tobi and her friends. I could so relate with Tobi, when my mother started seeing a man after my dad passed away, it drove me crazy. I probably said the same things Tobi said and worse.
I really enjoyed the fact that 16-year-old Sam was nominated for an award. He has a keen photographic eye and it was so nice to see him recognized for it.
We also met others in the advertising field as they were all on the list of suspects. Learning the history of the prestigious awards was very interesting too.
The description the author provided for the actual death was heartbreaking. The woman fell to her death in front of a room full of people. That horrible tragedy would be so hard to witness. I truly felt so bad for everyone in that room.
Ms. Bradford really twisted up things with this plot. I thought each of the suspects was the killer at one time or another. They all seemed to have motive and the opportunity to sabotage the platform. As the clues started to snap into place for the actual killer I still thought it was a ruse. To say I was surprised in an understatement.
Humor can be found at each stop to Mary Fran’s pet shop. That parrot always cracks me up.
Laura Bradford is one of my favorite authors. She can combine drama, life experiences, romance and humor in a delightful way. I loved spending time with these characters. I hope to have a return visit soon.
About The Author
While spending a rainy afternoon at a friend’s house more than thirty years ago, Laura Bradford (a.k.a. Elizabeth Lynn Casey) fell in love with writing over a stack of blank paper, a box of crayons, and a freshly sharpened number two pencil. From that moment forward, she never wanted to do anything else.
Today, Laura is the national bestselling author of the Amish Mysteries
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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.”
thanks for the write up. looking forward to the book.