Murder at the Agency: A Cassidy Blayne Mystery by Kylie Forsythe #Review #Giveaway #GreatEscapesBookTour @kylieforsythewrites

Murder at the Agency: A Cassidy Blayne Mystery
by Kylie Forsythe

About Murder at the Agency

Murder at the Agency: A Cassidy Blayne Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting: Fictional town of Brighton Lake, Wisconsin
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rowan Prose Publishing, LLC
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 11, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 244 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1961967944
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1961967946
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8230848561
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FMPGF53J

“ An irresistible start to what’s sure to be a binge-worthy series.”
-USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox

Who knew the marketing world could be so dangerous?

Just when it seems like everything in twenty-eight year old Cassidy Blayne’s life is falling apart, a thrilling coffee shop encounter leads to the opportunity of a lifetime. Landing her dream job as Creative Director with an elite advertising firm in a nearby lakeside town fills her with renewed purpose. She’s no longer going to allow herself to settle, and resolves to rebuild her life on her own terms.

But from the moment she steps foot out of the elevator, she senses things may not be as they seem at Turner & Nash Advertising. Despite her wariness, Cassie puts all her energy into landing her first big account. Arriving early on the day of the presentation, she’s shocked to find one of the owners dead and herself a suspect.

She embarks on a desperate search for answers, unknowingly putting her and the people she cares about in danger. As she pieces things together with some help from her spunky new roommate, twin childhood best friends, an uptight detective, and a gorgeous up-and-coming rock star, warnings and threats escalate. It’s clear the killer will stop at nothing to keep her quiet.

Cassie must risk everything to unravel the murder before someone takes her off the market for good.

Fans of “Olive You To Death” by Lynn Cahoon or “A Limited Edition Murder” by Lauren Elliott will enjoy “Murder At The Agency” by Kylie Forsythe.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

At 28 years of age, Cassidy (Cassie) Blayne’s life has given her “a big ol’ kick in the rear end”. A romantic breakup, a job loss, and a looming eviction all in one week were a lot to cope with. Her best friend Hope tries to convince her that change is good and opens the door for new opportunities. Who knew a new opportunity would be presented so quickly? Overhearing her plight, James Turner of Turner and Nash Advertising asks her to submit her resume for an open position at his agency. She does just that, is interviewed, hired, and starts working on her first campaign. But when she arrives early on the day of her presentation, she discovers the man who hired her dead, and her name topping the list of suspects.

Cassie starts to review things she witnessed in her short time at the agency. In the effort to clear her name, she learns people close to her are being targeted. She wants everyone to be safe, but her forever friends, Hope and her brother Mark, are soon joined by her new roommate and workmate, Lexi, a McDreamy upcoming lead singer of a rock band, Seth, and his friend Justin, who happens to be a detective; all jump on board to help her. With the threats continuing, they know they must move fast to uncover the killer, or Cassie will be the one to pay the ultimate price.

Cassidy Blayne was an easy protagonist to get behind. She started with a triple whammy of problems. Her boyfriend, now ex, was a real jerk; she got fired for finally speaking up for herself, and the bank now owned her apartment building because the landlord stopped paying the mortgage. Her BFF Hope has always been there for her and put her in the right place at the right time to be offered her dream job. Hope’s twin brother, Mark, was a blast from the past that Cassie needed. Lexi works at Turner and Nash, and she and Cassie become fast friends and then roommates. Lexi gets Cassie to go out and celebrate her new job, and that brings Seth McDreamy Justice into her orbit. The lead singer of the rock group Blacklist, they are drawn to each other immediately. As a lifelong resident of the Midwest, I can tell you Ms. Forsythe captures the heart of Wisconsin folks so well. Even James Turner, who died too soon, exhibited true state coffeeshop behavior, eavesdropping on conversations and approaching someone he didn’t know to offer advice and, in this case, a job. We always want to help and will butt in to do so.

The mystery was complex. Cassie didn’t know her colleagues well, but she had witnessed some sketchy behaviors and meetings. Things changed in the office after the murder too. There was a huge pressure to bring in new clients, questionable contracts signed, and a lack of follow-through. Cassie was awesome at her job and loved it, but she always had to be on her toes, not ask too many questions, and go with the flow. That doesn’t mean she wasn’t checking things out, seeing clues, and following them. The author plotted this story so well that it was very hard to put down. Twists, turns, and misdirections were impeccably placed. The reveal even had a twist. The takedown was exciting too. I had a grand time following along the entire way.

What a wonderful start for this series! Murder at the Agency is filled with characters I can’t wait to visit again. The small-town Wisconsin vibes ring true, and the entire story was very entertaining. I am enthusiastic about the continuation of this series; bring on book two!

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 the author for providing me with an ARC.

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About Kylie Forsythe 

Kylie Forsythe writes cozy mysteries with smart amateur sleuths, close-knit groups of friends, and a touch of romance. Kylie is also a fourth-grade teacher and resides in Illinois with her husband, two daughters, and a rambunctious Weimaraner. When she’s not teaching, you can find her spending time with the wonderful family and friends she’s been blessed with, cooking, enjoying a good book or Hallmark Mystery movie, or crafting her next story.

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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.” “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.