#TagMe for Murder Earns 5/5/ Hashtags … Engaging Entertaining Gem!
Coco’s latest graduate of her Center of Attention Consulting Services is opening a new wine bar to an eager crowd, but Coco and her friend Jasper disappointed to see their newest neighbors of Sunny Shores neighborhood. Larry and Rosalynn Dunmer recently moved and neither wasted any time before starting a barrage of nuisance complaints, spewing rude comments, being way too forward, and making wild accusations. The Dunmers are only renting until Larry’s city audit assignment concludes, but they would have challenged even Mr. Rogers’ neighborly manner. The greeting spirals into chaos with verbal attacks, demeaning retorts, and vicious threats to ruin Coco and Jasper, so who gets the last word? Karma does! Coco, but especially Jasper, still have a lot to explain when the police receive a “1054” … possible dead body!
Sarah E. Burr’s second book in her Trending Topic Mystery is an engaging read with karma serving up just desserts to Larry, neighbor from hell, but Jasper is the prime suspect, of course, due to his argument with the victim, early departure from the party, and a link to the murder weapon. Case closed, right? No. Sarah Burr may use the traditional cozy formula (I enjoy), revealing the crime early and putting the investigation at center stage, but it is a well-written journey with Coco’s realistic snooping, tech-savvy skills, enlistment of close friends and family, and collaboration with law enforcement, exposing a wide range of suspects with perfect rationales for murder. Whew! What a final twist!
Coco is a delightful young woman, smart and clever, a whiz with social media, and one with whom many “millennials” can identify. Her personal life has some interesting dilemmas she tries to handle from Hudson’s popularity as a handsome, television figure often overshadowing her own once popular image and a work-related incident cause lots of discord, yet an interesting wrap up was provided including a few surprising gigs for Coco, Hudson, and Jasper. Burr’s characters are realistically portrayed through their skills and personality, and add well as compadres or confidants. There were several fascinating peripheral events happening to engage the reader, too: Coco’s clientele, local businesses, and several town events. All in all smart writing!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Level Best Books thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.