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A Sour Note
On the heels of a public, broken engagement, Maeve Cleary returns to her childhood home in Hampton Beach, NH. When a dead body turns up behind her mother's music school, three old friends land on the suspect list. Licking her wounds soon takes a back seat to outrunning the paparazzi who spin into a frenzy, casting her in a cloud of suspicion. Maeve juggles her high school sweetheart, a cousin with a touch of clairvoyance, a no-nonsense detective, and an apologetic, two-timing ex-fiancé. Will the negative publicity impact business at the Music Box- the very place she'd hoped to make a fresh start?
- GenresCozy MysteryMystery
250 pages, Paperback
Published June 26, 2023
About the author
Jill Piscitello
3 books25 followersJill Piscitello is a teacher, author, and an avid fan of multiple literary genres. Although she divides her reading hours among several books at a time, a lighthearted story offering an escape from the real world can always be found on her nightstand.
A native of New England, Jill lives with her family and three well-loved cats. When not planning lessons or reading and writing, she can be found spending time with her family, trying out new restaurants, traveling, and going on light hikes.
A native of New England, Jill lives with her family and three well-loved cats. When not planning lessons or reading and writing, she can be found spending time with her family, trying out new restaurants, traveling, and going on light hikes.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 10, 2023
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Readers of cozy mysteries will enjoy finding their life reflected in Hampton as the original story delivers a unique whodunit not to be missed!
Read full review in the 2023 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Readers of cozy mysteries will enjoy finding their life reflected in Hampton as the original story delivers a unique whodunit not to be missed!
Read full review in the 2023 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
July 22, 2023
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Following a bad public break up Maeve Cleary has been wallowing at her mother’s home in Hampton Beach, NH. When she finally leaves the house she finds herself in Happy Beans owned by her high school sweetheart, Finn Keaton. Her best friend Paige gets her out of there and to The Music Box, Maeve’s mother’s music school where Paige works. Paige’s next appointment is with Trixie Bell, the woman now engaged to Ryan, Paige’s ex and Maeve’s friend, who wants to serenade Ryan at the wedding. Meeting “the Ice Queen” was enough for Maeve so she heads to the nearby bookstore while Paige takes care of the lesson. After meeting up, Paige realizes she forgot her phone so they head back to The Music Box where there make a frightening discovery. Trixie Bell has sung her last note and has been thrown away like trash.
Soon Maeve’s old friends top the suspect list and the body being found behind her mother’s school is sure to cost her students. She has no choice but to find the killer on her own. But will she be able to do that without getting killed herself?
Maeve wants a fresh start and wants to help her friends get off the hot seats they have found themselves on. Her heart is in the right place and in addition to helping her friends, she realizes her mother, Jules, needs her help on another front. We also meet Jules’ gossipy friends and they are a hoot. I really liked Maeve’s friends and how easily they fell back into their close friendships. We really have just scratched the surface on these characters but the author did an excellent job with their backstories for this first book of the series.
Ms. Piscitello has written a very well-plotted mystery. Our victim made a lot of enemies with her diva attitude which means there were plenty of suspects. I enjoyed the way Maeve took on the investigation. The author placed a couple of red herrings in the mix which gave me pause, but I did pick out the guilty party before Maeve. The motives were much more complex than I imagined. A simple thing set up an exciting showdown complete with a surprisingly unique weapon to hold Maeve at bay. Ms. Piscitello described that scene so well I was scooted right up to the edge of my seat reading it, clearly visualizing each second.
A Sour Note has set the Music Box Mystery Series off to a fabulous start. The author hit all the right notes with realistic characters and dialogue, an intriguing mystery with twists and turns, all set in a charming New England town. The final paragraph was so sweet and totally warmed my heart. I am very excited for this series to continue.
Following a bad public break up Maeve Cleary has been wallowing at her mother’s home in Hampton Beach, NH. When she finally leaves the house she finds herself in Happy Beans owned by her high school sweetheart, Finn Keaton. Her best friend Paige gets her out of there and to The Music Box, Maeve’s mother’s music school where Paige works. Paige’s next appointment is with Trixie Bell, the woman now engaged to Ryan, Paige’s ex and Maeve’s friend, who wants to serenade Ryan at the wedding. Meeting “the Ice Queen” was enough for Maeve so she heads to the nearby bookstore while Paige takes care of the lesson. After meeting up, Paige realizes she forgot her phone so they head back to The Music Box where there make a frightening discovery. Trixie Bell has sung her last note and has been thrown away like trash.
Soon Maeve’s old friends top the suspect list and the body being found behind her mother’s school is sure to cost her students. She has no choice but to find the killer on her own. But will she be able to do that without getting killed herself?
Maeve wants a fresh start and wants to help her friends get off the hot seats they have found themselves on. Her heart is in the right place and in addition to helping her friends, she realizes her mother, Jules, needs her help on another front. We also meet Jules’ gossipy friends and they are a hoot. I really liked Maeve’s friends and how easily they fell back into their close friendships. We really have just scratched the surface on these characters but the author did an excellent job with their backstories for this first book of the series.
Ms. Piscitello has written a very well-plotted mystery. Our victim made a lot of enemies with her diva attitude which means there were plenty of suspects. I enjoyed the way Maeve took on the investigation. The author placed a couple of red herrings in the mix which gave me pause, but I did pick out the guilty party before Maeve. The motives were much more complex than I imagined. A simple thing set up an exciting showdown complete with a surprisingly unique weapon to hold Maeve at bay. Ms. Piscitello described that scene so well I was scooted right up to the edge of my seat reading it, clearly visualizing each second.
A Sour Note has set the Music Box Mystery Series off to a fabulous start. The author hit all the right notes with realistic characters and dialogue, an intriguing mystery with twists and turns, all set in a charming New England town. The final paragraph was so sweet and totally warmed my heart. I am very excited for this series to continue.
July 30, 2023
A Sour Note kicks off a new cozy mystery series in a way that will keep you invested in the characters for the long term. Particularly when it comes to Maeve, the plucky protagonist who proves you can indeed go home again, in more ways than one.
Once upon a time, Maeve left Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, and her then-boyfriend – the swoony Finn – to pursue fame and fortune in the Big City. And for a while she found both in her engagement to a rich and handsome newscaster on a national morning show. But when he is famously caught cheating on her, Maeve is forced to return home to Hampton Beach with no fiance, no job, no apartment, and very little in her bank account. As such, A Sour Note not only follows Maeve’s attempts to clear her friends’ names in a local murder, it also spotlights her search for a fresh start. This allows the author to explore more layers to Maeve’s character as well as the potential for a new romance (which always makes me happy). But will she find love again with sweet Finn (the one who got away) or the hunky detective Spencer who definitely seems interested in Maeve? Or maybe her ex still has a chance to make amends & win her back after all. I like how the author tied up a little of these threads by the end of the book, as well as how she leaves the door open for further development in the next installment.
As far as the mystery goes, I thought it was very well crafted. The victim is easy to dislike, typical for the genre, and the list of plausible suspects seems to grow longer by the chapter. So do the clever misdirects and red herrings, which are mixed seamlessly with the truth and keep you turning the pages and puzzling through the possibilities. And bless her, Maeve is all of us if we decided to solve a case in real life – no matter how sincere our efforts or how many leads we tracked down, we would probably all just stumble into the right answer quite by accident. To me, this made Maeve all the more relatable, and I felt a kinship with her in the solving.
Bottom Line: A Sour Note by Jill Piscitello combines a quaint coastal town, complicated-but-ultimately-uplifting relationship dynamics, engaging characters, and a skillfully-plotted mystery into an entertaining story that’s just the right length for your weekend reading plans. Maeve is a heroine we can all get behind – and even see ourselves in – and the supporting cast is just as compelling. I’ll definitely be tuning in to see where Maeve’s ‘third chapter’ takes her next.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
Once upon a time, Maeve left Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, and her then-boyfriend – the swoony Finn – to pursue fame and fortune in the Big City. And for a while she found both in her engagement to a rich and handsome newscaster on a national morning show. But when he is famously caught cheating on her, Maeve is forced to return home to Hampton Beach with no fiance, no job, no apartment, and very little in her bank account. As such, A Sour Note not only follows Maeve’s attempts to clear her friends’ names in a local murder, it also spotlights her search for a fresh start. This allows the author to explore more layers to Maeve’s character as well as the potential for a new romance (which always makes me happy). But will she find love again with sweet Finn (the one who got away) or the hunky detective Spencer who definitely seems interested in Maeve? Or maybe her ex still has a chance to make amends & win her back after all. I like how the author tied up a little of these threads by the end of the book, as well as how she leaves the door open for further development in the next installment.
As far as the mystery goes, I thought it was very well crafted. The victim is easy to dislike, typical for the genre, and the list of plausible suspects seems to grow longer by the chapter. So do the clever misdirects and red herrings, which are mixed seamlessly with the truth and keep you turning the pages and puzzling through the possibilities. And bless her, Maeve is all of us if we decided to solve a case in real life – no matter how sincere our efforts or how many leads we tracked down, we would probably all just stumble into the right answer quite by accident. To me, this made Maeve all the more relatable, and I felt a kinship with her in the solving.
Bottom Line: A Sour Note by Jill Piscitello combines a quaint coastal town, complicated-but-ultimately-uplifting relationship dynamics, engaging characters, and a skillfully-plotted mystery into an entertaining story that’s just the right length for your weekend reading plans. Maeve is a heroine we can all get behind – and even see ourselves in – and the supporting cast is just as compelling. I’ll definitely be tuning in to see where Maeve’s ‘third chapter’ takes her next.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
April 21, 2023
You can't go home again? Hmmm...
When our heart-sick heroine returns to the small town where she grew up, she doesn't expect to find a dead body on the welcome mat. In order to save her Mom's music academy (and keep some old mates and ex-beaux out of jail), she reluctantly dons her Sherlock Holmes garb to track the village villain.
With "A Sour Note" Jill Piscitello delivers a sweetheart of a cozy mystery filled with outdoor concerts, too many suspects, and over-the-top sugary pastries.
It's definitely the book you want to bring on your summer vacation. Adored this ARC and already looking forward to the next 'Music Box' mystery.
When our heart-sick heroine returns to the small town where she grew up, she doesn't expect to find a dead body on the welcome mat. In order to save her Mom's music academy (and keep some old mates and ex-beaux out of jail), she reluctantly dons her Sherlock Holmes garb to track the village villain.
With "A Sour Note" Jill Piscitello delivers a sweetheart of a cozy mystery filled with outdoor concerts, too many suspects, and over-the-top sugary pastries.
It's definitely the book you want to bring on your summer vacation. Adored this ARC and already looking forward to the next 'Music Box' mystery.
July 21, 2023
A SOUR NOTE by Jill Piscitello
The First Music Box Mystery
After a humiliating breakup Maeve Cleary has returned to her mom's house in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire to wallow and hide. Finally taking the plunge to go out in public she's happy to meet up with her old friend Paige and not so happy to meet Trixie, the social media influencer and new fiancé of Paige's ex. A trip to the dumpster behind her mom's music school, The Music Box, where Paige works leads to the discovery of Trixie's dead body. Knowing her old friends will be suspects in the murder, Maeve decides to look into the crime herself, despite her old boyfriend and the hunky detective's objections. Maeve soon finds herself in the killer's sights. Refusing to back down, will she be able to determine who killed the insufferable influencer or will she wind up the next victim?
Redefining oneself and second chances are the keys to the first Music Box Mystery. How people react to circumstances, both good and bad, and how people deal with others are also important aspects. Maeve has had a rough go of things and at first she wallows, but then she has to make several decisions. Will she go back to an early love, start with someone new, or return to the love she just lost? Her relationship with her mother and cousin also add conflict, and love, to the mix as Maeve has to learn from her past mistakes and redefine herself...all with a killer on the loose!
I enjoyed the complex relationships found in A SOUR NOTE as much as I enjoyed the mystery itself...a mystery that gave Maeve the impetus to stop wallowing and get back to living while giving her a purpose. While not the most adept investigator, I give her credit for the methods she uses, clumsiness sometimes helping, sometimes hindering. Maeve's someone thorny relationship with her mother will be an interesting one to see progress as the series continues. Although Calista didn't get a lot of "screen time" I found her to be my favorite character and I hope to see a lot more of her in future books. One thing I disliked was that the author turned the killer, a very clever killer, into a maniacal one upon discovery. It is a particular pet peeve of mine that the killer is described as crazy when the actions all along belong to that of a rational person. Insanity isn't a prerequisite to murder.
Interesting characters with intriguing dynamics give A SOUR NOTE a solid start to this new mystery series.
The First Music Box Mystery
After a humiliating breakup Maeve Cleary has returned to her mom's house in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire to wallow and hide. Finally taking the plunge to go out in public she's happy to meet up with her old friend Paige and not so happy to meet Trixie, the social media influencer and new fiancé of Paige's ex. A trip to the dumpster behind her mom's music school, The Music Box, where Paige works leads to the discovery of Trixie's dead body. Knowing her old friends will be suspects in the murder, Maeve decides to look into the crime herself, despite her old boyfriend and the hunky detective's objections. Maeve soon finds herself in the killer's sights. Refusing to back down, will she be able to determine who killed the insufferable influencer or will she wind up the next victim?
Redefining oneself and second chances are the keys to the first Music Box Mystery. How people react to circumstances, both good and bad, and how people deal with others are also important aspects. Maeve has had a rough go of things and at first she wallows, but then she has to make several decisions. Will she go back to an early love, start with someone new, or return to the love she just lost? Her relationship with her mother and cousin also add conflict, and love, to the mix as Maeve has to learn from her past mistakes and redefine herself...all with a killer on the loose!
I enjoyed the complex relationships found in A SOUR NOTE as much as I enjoyed the mystery itself...a mystery that gave Maeve the impetus to stop wallowing and get back to living while giving her a purpose. While not the most adept investigator, I give her credit for the methods she uses, clumsiness sometimes helping, sometimes hindering. Maeve's someone thorny relationship with her mother will be an interesting one to see progress as the series continues. Although Calista didn't get a lot of "screen time" I found her to be my favorite character and I hope to see a lot more of her in future books. One thing I disliked was that the author turned the killer, a very clever killer, into a maniacal one upon discovery. It is a particular pet peeve of mine that the killer is described as crazy when the actions all along belong to that of a rational person. Insanity isn't a prerequisite to murder.
Interesting characters with intriguing dynamics give A SOUR NOTE a solid start to this new mystery series.
August 1, 2023
In Jill Piscitello’s latest cozy mystery novel, A Sour Note, we meet Maeve Cleary, a hero still in shock from the public reveal of her fiancé, Greyson Walker’s, infidelity with film siren Shannon Plum. Piscitello masterfully creates Maeve and a huge cast of realistic characters that leap off the page and into our imaginations as murder plays out on the quaint and cozy streets of Hampton Beach.
When Maeve’s life implodes, she moves back home to lick her wounds. But how can she show her face in public again with her humiliation splashed all over social media? When she finally decides to venture out, she lands in the middle of Trixie Bell’s murder, and her friends Paige and Seamus become the prime suspects.
Maeve knows they are innocent, but how can she prove it when she’s been sworn to secrecy? The other problem is how to narrow the list of suspects because who didn’t want to kill Trixie? Maeve goes on a sleuthing mission that soon puts her own life in danger, as she clashes with the local detective, Spencer Taylor, for messing with his crime scenes and tampering with witnesses.
Piscitello plots a murder that only Maeve can solve, but Maeve is distracted by the man she loved before Greyson, Finn, her high school sweetheart. Add to the mix the good detective, and we have instant rivals in what Maeve doesn’t want—or does she? All Maeve knows is another relationship so soon on the heels of her humiliating and public breakup with Greyson is the last thing she wants to think about right now. Her focus is on clearing the good name of her friends who won’t come forward with the truth because of their own secret.
So, who killed Trixie Bell? Piscitello keeps us turning pages, as she unfolds a crime scene filled with clues and a cast of suspects that keeps Maeve searching and interviewing until she ends up in the hospital. But nothing will stop Maeve from finding the truth. Piscitello’s A Sour Note will satisfy murder/mystery, romance, and cozy mystery readers alike, along with anyone who loves a great read. This is book 1 in the Music Box Mystery series, so keep your eye out for more from Jill Piscitell0! Five stars!
When Maeve’s life implodes, she moves back home to lick her wounds. But how can she show her face in public again with her humiliation splashed all over social media? When she finally decides to venture out, she lands in the middle of Trixie Bell’s murder, and her friends Paige and Seamus become the prime suspects.
Maeve knows they are innocent, but how can she prove it when she’s been sworn to secrecy? The other problem is how to narrow the list of suspects because who didn’t want to kill Trixie? Maeve goes on a sleuthing mission that soon puts her own life in danger, as she clashes with the local detective, Spencer Taylor, for messing with his crime scenes and tampering with witnesses.
Piscitello plots a murder that only Maeve can solve, but Maeve is distracted by the man she loved before Greyson, Finn, her high school sweetheart. Add to the mix the good detective, and we have instant rivals in what Maeve doesn’t want—or does she? All Maeve knows is another relationship so soon on the heels of her humiliating and public breakup with Greyson is the last thing she wants to think about right now. Her focus is on clearing the good name of her friends who won’t come forward with the truth because of their own secret.
So, who killed Trixie Bell? Piscitello keeps us turning pages, as she unfolds a crime scene filled with clues and a cast of suspects that keeps Maeve searching and interviewing until she ends up in the hospital. But nothing will stop Maeve from finding the truth. Piscitello’s A Sour Note will satisfy murder/mystery, romance, and cozy mystery readers alike, along with anyone who loves a great read. This is book 1 in the Music Box Mystery series, so keep your eye out for more from Jill Piscitell0! Five stars!
August 18, 2023
When murder provides a welcome distraction…
About the Book: After living out of state for the past ten years, event planner Maeve Cleary reluctantly returns to Hampton, NH, a charming beach community where she was raised. Living in her childhood home an iron-willed mother, Maeve struggles to rebuild her dismal financial situation while recovering from the destruction of her engagement to a nationally recognized news correspondent. Confronted by best friends, nosy neighbors, and unwelcomed relatives—who all seem to know what’s best for her—the discovery of a corpse outside her mother’s music school provides Maeve with not only a distraction but a reason to get out of bed and keep moving.
Our Review: Who, after suffering brutal disappointment, doesn’t want only to hide in the same and wallow in their grief? Who hasn’t been forced to rely on the kindness of others while recuperating from devastating blows to their ego? And who hasn’t suffered the well-meaning, unwelcomed advice and guidance with a smile and grace? Meet Maeve Cleary—a young woman every cozy mystery lover will recognize, then root for. Adding to this mix is a charming beach locale with cleverly named businesses, owned and operated by a host of unique, interesting characters, any one of whom had good reason to murder the thoroughly unlikeable victim. Author Piscitello hits every high note with this delightful story—we look forward to the next Music Box Mystery.
Based on a scale of 1-5, A Sour Note merits a 7.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
About the Book: After living out of state for the past ten years, event planner Maeve Cleary reluctantly returns to Hampton, NH, a charming beach community where she was raised. Living in her childhood home an iron-willed mother, Maeve struggles to rebuild her dismal financial situation while recovering from the destruction of her engagement to a nationally recognized news correspondent. Confronted by best friends, nosy neighbors, and unwelcomed relatives—who all seem to know what’s best for her—the discovery of a corpse outside her mother’s music school provides Maeve with not only a distraction but a reason to get out of bed and keep moving.
Our Review: Who, after suffering brutal disappointment, doesn’t want only to hide in the same and wallow in their grief? Who hasn’t been forced to rely on the kindness of others while recuperating from devastating blows to their ego? And who hasn’t suffered the well-meaning, unwelcomed advice and guidance with a smile and grace? Meet Maeve Cleary—a young woman every cozy mystery lover will recognize, then root for. Adding to this mix is a charming beach locale with cleverly named businesses, owned and operated by a host of unique, interesting characters, any one of whom had good reason to murder the thoroughly unlikeable victim. Author Piscitello hits every high note with this delightful story—we look forward to the next Music Box Mystery.
Based on a scale of 1-5, A Sour Note merits a 7.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
June 27, 2023
Maeve is a one-of-a-kind heroine. She doesn't have much to offer beyond her physical looks. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, she does manage to accomplish things in her own style. Her attempt to solve a murder mystery does make one think of how well a Kardashian would do so.
The mystery is the thing that raises this book above the competition. A true mystery aficionado will be kept guessing right to the end. The original and creative nature of the mystery keeps the reader turning the pages.
As for the romance in the book, it is much more introspective than active. I have never read a slow burn romance like this book. This slow burn had the kindling go out a few times and then people had to look for more matches and crumpled newspapers.
The character creation is remarkable. Even the secondary characters fill the book with depth and make the location come alive. If you are a fan of reality tv shows about shiny people, you may enjoy this book! If you are a fan of a good mystery, then this book is for you. There are not many people like Maeve which makes a character like her stand out.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it. My thoughts are unbiased and all my own.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
The mystery is the thing that raises this book above the competition. A true mystery aficionado will be kept guessing right to the end. The original and creative nature of the mystery keeps the reader turning the pages.
As for the romance in the book, it is much more introspective than active. I have never read a slow burn romance like this book. This slow burn had the kindling go out a few times and then people had to look for more matches and crumpled newspapers.
The character creation is remarkable. Even the secondary characters fill the book with depth and make the location come alive. If you are a fan of reality tv shows about shiny people, you may enjoy this book! If you are a fan of a good mystery, then this book is for you. There are not many people like Maeve which makes a character like her stand out.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it. My thoughts are unbiased and all my own.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
May 13, 2023
Heartbroken after a humiliating, public broken engagement, Maeve Cleary returns to her mother’s home in the small New England beach town where the young woman grew up to heal. But rather than recovering, Maeve’s life is turned inside out when a corpse is discovered behind her mother’s music school. Maeve dons her sleuthing hat to flesh out the real killer after several of her friends fall under suspicion for committing the murder.
A Sour Note is part mystery, part romance, part redemption with a second chance at life and love, with a dollop of paranormal thrown into the mix. Jill Piscitello has written a cleverly plotted tale that is driven by love, loss, trust, family ties, and the inner strength one must summon to face adversity created by both human fallibility and fate. The story moves at a comfortable pace with flawed, but believable characters who drive the plot. Piscitello creates enough conflict with a backstory to keep readers turning the pages to see how it all turns out.
A Sour Note will capture the imagination of readers who enjoy a mystery fueled by a love story and believe that things are not always what they appear to be. This terrific book has more than earned the five-star rating this reader has given it.
A Sour Note is part mystery, part romance, part redemption with a second chance at life and love, with a dollop of paranormal thrown into the mix. Jill Piscitello has written a cleverly plotted tale that is driven by love, loss, trust, family ties, and the inner strength one must summon to face adversity created by both human fallibility and fate. The story moves at a comfortable pace with flawed, but believable characters who drive the plot. Piscitello creates enough conflict with a backstory to keep readers turning the pages to see how it all turns out.
A Sour Note will capture the imagination of readers who enjoy a mystery fueled by a love story and believe that things are not always what they appear to be. This terrific book has more than earned the five-star rating this reader has given it.
April 28, 2024
Uncaged Review: This cozy mystery starts us out with Maive going back to her hometown after catching her high profile fiancé cheating on her. With no job, and no where to live, she goes back to live with her mom, who is a widow and owns a music store called The Music Box. She runs into an old flame, Finn, and her friends she’s known her whole life. It doesn’t take long before a body is found in a dumpster behind her mom’s shop, and two of Maive’s best friends are the prime suspects. Not wanting to see her friends taking a rap for something she knows they didn’t do, and to keep from more publicity from hurting her mom’s shop, Maive starts to snoop around to find out how it happened, much to the local detective’s annoyance. As Maive digs, more suspects keeping popping up and more motives for the very unliked person that was murdered.
This is a fun mystery, the cast of characters are easy to like, and the mystery takes some dangerous turns, but Maive isn’t backing down even when she herself becomes a target for her snooping. The pace is great, and I never really guessed in this one, there were too many ways it could go. A fun afternoon read and I hope the author continues with the characters and the town in future books. Reviewed by Cyrene 4.5 Stars
This is a fun mystery, the cast of characters are easy to like, and the mystery takes some dangerous turns, but Maive isn’t backing down even when she herself becomes a target for her snooping. The pace is great, and I never really guessed in this one, there were too many ways it could go. A fun afternoon read and I hope the author continues with the characters and the town in future books. Reviewed by Cyrene 4.5 Stars
August 24, 2024
There's something just so enjoyable about a good murder. In a book that is, when you can try and work out who is behind it all without endangering yourself at all. It's hardly surprising that when heroines such as Maeve in A Sour Note, can't help but try and get to the bottom of who the murder is, when faced with a mystery.
Maeve has recently returned to her home town, after the breakdown of her engagement. If she was hoping for a quiet life, then she is sadly disappointed. After discovering the dead body of a self-proclaimed local celebrity, the problem isn't that Maeve can't find out who might have killed Trixie, but rather that there are far too many candidates.
This was a fun cozy mystery. I didn't manage to solve it myself, although I think that I was heading in the right direction. Maeve is a headstrong character, who thinks nothing of putting herself in danger to try and find out what's going on and who might be behind the murder.
I enjoyed the setting of this book and the other characters that made up the pages. These are people that Maeve has known all of her life, but hasn't been around for quite some time.
I really enjoyed this murder mystery and I'd been keen to read more about Maeve and The Music Box in the future.
Maeve has recently returned to her home town, after the breakdown of her engagement. If she was hoping for a quiet life, then she is sadly disappointed. After discovering the dead body of a self-proclaimed local celebrity, the problem isn't that Maeve can't find out who might have killed Trixie, but rather that there are far too many candidates.
This was a fun cozy mystery. I didn't manage to solve it myself, although I think that I was heading in the right direction. Maeve is a headstrong character, who thinks nothing of putting herself in danger to try and find out what's going on and who might be behind the murder.
I enjoyed the setting of this book and the other characters that made up the pages. These are people that Maeve has known all of her life, but hasn't been around for quite some time.
I really enjoyed this murder mystery and I'd been keen to read more about Maeve and The Music Box in the future.
May 13, 2023
"Nothing like a murder to distract a woman from her broken heart"
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
A Sour Note by Jill Piscitello is a cozy mystery. It's the first book from the " A Music Box Mystery" series.
This book warmed my heart and piqued my curiosity. It's set in a pretty small town where everyone knows everyone. The main character is a woman who "got burnt" and came home to lick her wounds. Instead of laying low as she hoped she ended up playing investigator. The storyline
has a slow build-up with a few unexpected twists. The descriptions of places and people were very detailed and helpful for my imagination. The plot is very engaging which makes the book hard to put down. The characters were great. Even though we don't get to know them
in-depth, it's easy to understand that they are so different from each other. Except for the mystery part which was incredible, I liked the hint of romance. My favorite part was when Maeve decided to clear her friends' names. Can't wait to see what trouble she'll find herself
in next time.
I fell in love with this story and I highly recommend it. I will rate it with 5 stars.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
A Sour Note by Jill Piscitello is a cozy mystery. It's the first book from the " A Music Box Mystery" series.
This book warmed my heart and piqued my curiosity. It's set in a pretty small town where everyone knows everyone. The main character is a woman who "got burnt" and came home to lick her wounds. Instead of laying low as she hoped she ended up playing investigator. The storyline
has a slow build-up with a few unexpected twists. The descriptions of places and people were very detailed and helpful for my imagination. The plot is very engaging which makes the book hard to put down. The characters were great. Even though we don't get to know them
in-depth, it's easy to understand that they are so different from each other. Except for the mystery part which was incredible, I liked the hint of romance. My favorite part was when Maeve decided to clear her friends' names. Can't wait to see what trouble she'll find herself
in next time.
I fell in love with this story and I highly recommend it. I will rate it with 5 stars.
July 21, 2023
A Sour Note (A Music Box Mystery) by Jill Piscitello hits all the cozy mystery bases. First, we have an amateur sleuth with a personal reason for doing her own investigating. Not only does Maeve discover the body, but the crime happening around the back of her mother’s Music Box business draws unwanted media attention to their livelihood. Not to mention it adds fuel to the social media frenzy around Maeve’s broken engagement to a public figure. Next, there are suspects galore, both local and out-of-towners. Then, there are more than enough motives to keep Maeve and the reader guessing. Finally, as in all good cozies, the amateur sleuth finds herself in danger because she’s poking around.
The author has carefully built a believable setting in this small, seaside town and peopled it with an array of interesting residents with possibly contentious views. Maeve’s family and friends present more possibilities for a long-running series to follow this well-plotted, 5-star opener. Looking forward to more from this author.
The author has carefully built a believable setting in this small, seaside town and peopled it with an array of interesting residents with possibly contentious views. Maeve’s family and friends present more possibilities for a long-running series to follow this well-plotted, 5-star opener. Looking forward to more from this author.
October 10, 2023
Maeve comes back to her small town to lick her wounds after a celebrity romance goes awry in this sweet but scary mystery. She can't avoid the love she left behind when she went to NYC and Finn is more than happy to get reacquainted even if she isn't certain she's staying. She's living with her mom and cats that she's allergic to when she and her friend Paige discover the body of an internet celebrity wanna be wrapped in sequined material and stuffed in the dumpster behind her mother's music store. Much to the dismay of Finn and the policeman in charge of the investigation Maeve decides to help him ferret out the murderer. She gets a lot more than she bargained for and the adventure is nonstop action with lots of red herrings and excitement. I love that this is the first in a series and can't wait to read the next one!
March 17, 2024
A fun page-turning mystery!
A handsome cop, an old flame and a cheating ex-fiance. This cute little town is brimming with lots of colorful characters and a cozy little mystery that will keep you turning the pages.
A handsome cop, an old flame and a cheating ex-fiance. This cute little town is brimming with lots of colorful characters and a cozy little mystery that will keep you turning the pages.
April 21, 2024
A lovely setting in a small town. Blends in with today's need for doing what is needed to gain followers and what can happen when an influencer makes an enemy.
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