A Zoom with a View: A Mystery
Cozy Mystery/Romance
Setting – Texas
Publisher : Dutton
Publication date : May 5, 2026
Print length : 384 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-13 : 979-8217047444
ASIN : B0FLCRPNCW
Kindle
ISBN-13 : 979-8217047468
ASIN : B0FL9LQQXY
Audiobook
ASIN B0FPZ76DRH
A cozy murder mystery filled with hometown drama, social media influencers, an over-the-top mother, and two very attractive local men, A Zoom with a View will make you want to move to Blue Oak—if only the Fourth of July festivities didn’t end with a dead body.
Leo can’t believe she’s back in Blue Oak. Her small, quirky Texas hometown feels suffocating after trying to make it big as an English professor in New York—especially due to her strained relationship with her overly hair-sprayed mother, Karina. But with Leo’s career in academia in shambles, at least she’s able to work as a photographer for her godmother’s real estate business. And her best friend, Emily, is around to help her navigate through the mess—and maybe force her to reconnect with her old high school boyfriend, Mack.
But while at work, Leo makes a grisly discovery at one of her godmother’s properties: the dead body of rival real estate agent and social media influencer Chaz. Even worse, Leo and Emily have been secretly running a snarky Reddit page making fun of Chaz’s cringe-inducing advice and duck-faced selfies. When someone she loves is accused of the murder, Leo finds herself flung headfirst into a dangerous investigation, teaming up with a local detective who is a lot more attractive than she remembered when they were both teenagers. Meanwhile, Karina has been acting stranger and stranger, as if all her hair hides a big secret. . . .
A bold and hilarious introduction to a new sleuth who is looking to get her life back on track, but finds a man with his skull bashed in instead.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Leonora “Leo” Holloway’s career as an English professor in New York doesn’t go as planned, so she returns home to Blue Oak, Texas, and takes a job working for her Aunt Kay’s real estate business as her photographer. She is happy to have her BFF, Emily, by her side as she tries to get her life in order while reconnecting with her other Blue Oak friends.
After some despicable and dangerous acts at the 4th of July parade by Chaz Nickolson and Kymber Owens, Leo decides to find proof that they are the ones sabotaging Schneider Realty. Instead, she finds the social media influencer and competitive realtor, Chaz, dead in her Aunt Kay’s new listing. Sheriff Stan Quakenbush (boy, that name fits) decides Kay is guilty of the crime. An added element, Emily and Leo secretly host a Reddit page bashing Chaz. Plus, Leo’s mother is definitely up to something. Hopefully, Detective Jake Nguyen, who has grown into quite a handsome man, can help Leo zoom in on the real killer.
A Zoom with a View is what I assume to be the first book in a series. We meet Leonora “Leo” Holloway, a woman with her life in flux, typical for a cozy mystery. I liked her; she is an intelligent woman, relatable, and a little quirky. She also has a beautiful blue heeler named Derrida. That gives her major points, as I am a big blue/red heeler lover. I am dog mom to a beautiful red heeler named Daisy. The one thing I found off-putting was that a 33-year-old academic, wannabe college professor, hosts a Reddit page degrading someone. Doing something so childish, even though crucial to the plot, disappointed me. Leo’s mother, Karina, is out there and larger-than-life. I enjoyed her banter, but the woman has a huge secret. Emily and Leo are like sisters and the best of friends. Very quickly, Leo has two men in her life who could become true love interests. We have barely scratched the surface of what will be a romantic triangle.
The mystery was pretty straightforward to solve. It can be hard to introduce all the characters and the locale, and put forth a complicated mystery with a multitude of twists and turns. That being said, the story was still very entertaining. I had a good time following Leo through the mystery and all the additional subplots. While the murder mystery was wrapped up satisfactorily, the book ends with a cliffhanger and many questions.
In A Zoom with a View, Ms. Cannon has laid a nice foundation for the series to continue. I enjoy the author’s sense of humor and comedic timing, which was laced throughout the pages of this book. With Chaz dead, I hope we have heard the last of his Reddit page, and going forward, we can get to know Leo, Karina, and the other core characters better with a strong mystery or two to solve. I am rounding my rating up to 4 stars.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
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About the Author
Jess Cannon is the pseudonym of a failed academic who never made tenure but still manages to sleep great at night. She spends her days writing award-winning journalism and her nights plotting fictional murders. She lives with her family and an irascible blue heeler in Austin, Texas, where her funky community is a constant source of joy (and writing material). She has a PhD in literature from the University of Texas, teaches fiction and nonfiction at Wilkes University, and has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and Teen Vogue, among others. She also co-hosts “The Beautiful and Banned” podcast with Christine Renee Miller.
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.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.
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