My personal reading schedule was full when this book toured with Great Escapes.
All the great reviews had me dropping it into the first available space, today!
Broken Heart Attack (Braxton Campus Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Pennsylvania
Creativia (November 25, 2018)
Paperback: 270 pages
ISBN-10: 1731310501
ISBN-13: 978-1731310507
Digital ASIN: B07KGGJX1T
When an extra ticket becomes available to see the dress rehearsal of King Lear, Kellan tags along with Nana D and her buddies.
When one of them dies of an apparent heart attack in the middle of second act, Nana D raises her suspicions and asks Kellan to investigate the death. With family members suddenly in debt and a secret rendezvous between an unlikely pair, Kellan learns that the Paddingtons might not be as clean-cut as everyone thinks.
But can Kellan find the killer, or will he get caught up his own stage fright?
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Kellan has a wonderful relationship with his Nana D which means her friends, the Septuagenarian Club, are up in his business and he in theirs. Pushed into attending an early performance of King Lear with the group he finds himself seated to Gwendolyn Paddington. The matriarch of the Paddington family. Her family built the theater and she is now the family representative and very involved in all the facets. When her head topples to his shoulder he thinks she has fallen asleep, until he realizes she is dead and he calls for the performance to be stopped. It is assumed she has had a heart attack but she recently confessed to Nana D and Kellan that she thought someone in her family was trying to kill her. Her sister-in-law Eustacia begs Kellan to solve the murder as he had recently done at the college. Nana D accepts for him and he finds himself up to his ears with the Paddington family. The all have secrets and not everyone is happy about his continued presence. Hopefully, he can get to the bottom of the case before he ends up joining Gwennie at the pearly gates.
Kellan also has his hands full with family drama. He recently learned his deceased wife’s family was mobbed up and now that he has moved his daughter to Pennsylvania from California they are making his life miserable.
James J. Cudney has created such terrific characters. From his 6-year-old daughter, Emma, who just like my granddaughter is 6 going on 30, to the 70+-year-olds and everyone in between. We learn more about Kellan’s family and meet some new members. His relationship with his parents is evolving. They love have their granddaughter around. His deceased wife’s family, represented by his pushy, controlling mother-in-law got me fuming to say nothing of the mob element that really had my blood boiling. The Paddington family has so many issues. To says their lives are complex is an understatement. There are some good ones, but plenty of bad ones too. College life took a little bit of a backseat this time, but Kellan’s boss is not happy to have him in her department.
Mr. Cudney has jam-packed these pages absolutely full. Twists and turns on top of more twists and turns. Kellan is being pressed from so many different directions I am surprised at how he handles it all. The story keeps from getting too heavy by the antics of Nana D and the wonderful precocious Emma. Cudney sets a nice pace and his explanations and descriptions are tighter than in book one and the story flows like the breeze.
This story wraps up revealing Gwennie’s killer in a fantastic way. A little ice seems to be melting between two characters which was surprising. But hold on to your Kindle because there is a huge cliffhanger. A cliffhanger that has me super enthused for Book #3. Flower Power Trip
Read my review of Academic Curveball here.
About the Author
James is my given name, but most folks call me Jay. I live in New York City, grew up on Long Island, and graduated from Moravian College with a degree in English literature. I spent fifteen years building a technology career in the retail, sports, media, and entertainment industries. I enjoyed my job, but a passion for books and stories had been missing for far too long. I’m a voracious reader in my favorite genres (thriller, suspense, contemporary, mystery, and historical fiction), as books transport me to a different world where I can immerse myself in so many fantastic cultures and places. I’m an avid genealogist who hopes to visit all the German, Scottish, Irish, and British villages my ancestors emigrated from in the 18th and 19th centuries. I frequently blog and publish book reviews on everything I read at ThisIsMyTruthNow via WordPress.
Writing has been a part of my life as much as my heart, my mind, and my body. I decided to pursue my passion by dusting off the creativity inside my head and drafting outlines for several novels. I quickly realized I was back in my element growing happier and more excited with life each day. My goal in writing is to connect with readers who want to be part of great stories and who enjoy interacting with authors. To get a strong picture of who I am, check out my author website or my blog. It’s full of humor and eccentricity, sharing connections with everyone I follow—all in the hope of building a network of friends across the world.
When I completed the first book, Watching Glass Shatter
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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.”
Lori,
Thank you so much for this wonderful review. I kept smiling the whole time I read it… you understand the characters so well, it makes me feel like I’ve done a good job. You’ve truly made my morning a wonderful one.
J
You are so welcome!!