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Trending Topic Mysteries #2
#TagMe For Murder
When murder trends too close to home, social media influencer Coco Cline will have to swipe through a sea of trolls to tag a killer. After cracking her first case, Cordelia "Coco" Cline's life is finally getting back to normal-or as normal as life can be when you have over three million followers online. With a thriving business, a devoted boyfriend, and her two besties living right up the street, Coco is set to have the most fun summer of her life until Larry and Rosalynn Dunmer move into the condo next door. Coco and her friends do their best to avoid the confrontational duo, but when a party at a swanky new wine bar brings everyone together, things become less than neighborly faster than a celebrity-themed hashtag goes viral. Larry levels some super shady threats toward Coco and her BFF Jasper, which could have dire consequences for their multimedia empires. Just as Coco begins to wonder if she'll have to spend the rest of the summer looking over her shoulder, she gets a shocking request from police. As part of her PR gig with the Central Shores PD, they need her to come to the beach and keep the public at bay. A body has washed ashore. Thinking a poor swimmer drowned just before the Salute to Summer festival kicks off, Coco arrives to find Larry Dunmer, dead with a corkscrew sticking out of his neck. What's even more unbelievable is that Jasper quickly shoots to the top of Chief McInnis's suspect list. In full-on panic mode, Coco decides to use her tech-savvy sleuthing skills to clear her best friend's name before his rep is ruined. She soon discovers that Larry made quite a few enemies during his very short stay in town. But who hated him enough to kill him? Return to the beaches of Central Shores as Coco Cline and her squad assemble to catch a killer before they get canceled...permanently.
- GenresCozy Mystery
286 pages, Paperback
Published April 25, 2023
2 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Sarah E. Burr
27 books240 followersSarah E. Burr lives near New York City. Hailing from the small town of Appleton, Maine, she has been dreaming of being Nancy Drew since she was a little girl. After not finding any mysteries in corporate America, Sarah began creating some of her own.
She writes the award-winning Glenmyre Whim Mysteries, the Trending Topic Mysteries, the Book Blogger Mysteries, and the Court of Mystery series. "You Can’t Candle the Truth" was a 2022 NGIBA Best Mystery Finalist and a 2022 Silver Falchion Best Supernatural Mystery Finalist. "Too Much to Candle" was a 2023 NGIBA Best Paranormal Finalist, and "#TagMe for Murder" was a 2024 NGIBA Best Chick Lit Finalist.
Sarah is the co-host of "It's Bookish Time," a live-streamed web series featuring author interviews and book discussions. She writes on the Writers Who Kill blogging team and is a member of Sisters in Crime. When she’s not spinning up stories, Sarah sings Broadway show tunes, plays video games with her husband, and enjoys walks with her rescue dogs, Eevee and Itto.
Stay connected with Sarah and receive free stories, be the first to learn about book news, book deals, and more by signing up for her newsletter: https://bit.ly/saraheburrbookssignup.
She writes the award-winning Glenmyre Whim Mysteries, the Trending Topic Mysteries, the Book Blogger Mysteries, and the Court of Mystery series. "You Can’t Candle the Truth" was a 2022 NGIBA Best Mystery Finalist and a 2022 Silver Falchion Best Supernatural Mystery Finalist. "Too Much to Candle" was a 2023 NGIBA Best Paranormal Finalist, and "#TagMe for Murder" was a 2024 NGIBA Best Chick Lit Finalist.
Sarah is the co-host of "It's Bookish Time," a live-streamed web series featuring author interviews and book discussions. She writes on the Writers Who Kill blogging team and is a member of Sisters in Crime. When she’s not spinning up stories, Sarah sings Broadway show tunes, plays video games with her husband, and enjoys walks with her rescue dogs, Eevee and Itto.
Stay connected with Sarah and receive free stories, be the first to learn about book news, book deals, and more by signing up for her newsletter: https://bit.ly/saraheburrbookssignup.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
May 23, 2023
Dollycas's Thoughts
Social Media Influencer and PR Maven Coco Cline's business is booming with over three million followers online. Several businesses have requested her help with their online presence. Even the local police department has become one of her clients, as has a new beachside wine bar.
The only real strife in her life is her new neighbors Larry and Rosalynn Dunmer. He is a detestable human being and his wife believes every woman in town is after her man.
When Coco and her friends attend a party at Vine, the new wine bar, they are excited by the crowd and the buzz Coco created to get the place off to a fantastic start. Then she sees Larry and Rosalynn Dunmer are in attendance and good old Larry is hitting on a server. When Coco steps in to help the server escape Larry turns his wrath on Coco and her friends, especially Jasper.
The next day Coco is asked to assist the Central Shores PD with the public as they work the case of a body washed up on shore. She is shocked that the body is Larry Dunmer with a party favor from the night before protruding from his neck. The corkscrew is engraved with Jasper's name. This lands him at the top of the suspect list. That means Coco is on the case and she plans to use all her talents to prove his innocence and put the real guilty party behind bars.
_____
Another #murder comes to Central Shores and Coco Cline finds herself right in the middle of the drama. I really like Coco and that she is friendly, engaging, and tech-savvy. She definitely knows her way around the internet. I was unsure about her boyfriend Hudson after reading the first book #FollowMe for Murder, but I liked him much better this time. He does have an issue at work and was dealing with it okay but some "right place right time" moments put the trouble to rest. I was pleased with how it came to a head. Coco has great friends in Charlotte and Jasper and with Jasper in trouble Coco and Charlotte really pulled together to help him. I appreciate their strong friendship very much. All the characters Ms. Burr has created feel true to life. Even Larry and Rosalynn, you know neighbors you want to avoid, but I will admit Larry really was a swine.
Sarah E. Burr has taken a fresh and timely theme and tangled her characters into a marvelous mystery. There were several suspects, more than I first imagined, so it was a lot of fun working my way through them along with Coco. I enjoyed Coco getting an assist from her mother while pinning down some key clues that moved the investigation forward. These moments brought humor to the story too. The subplot of Hudson's work problem meshed nicely into the main plot. The story had a fast pace making the pages fly leading up to a "Holy Harry Styles!" surprise ending.
With #hashtags and @handles, a well-written mystery with some skilled twists and well-developed characters #TagMe For Murder is a hit! I was entertained from Chapter 1 through the epilogue. Things were trending well for Coco and her friends at the end. I am excited to see what the author has trending for them in book three as their stories continue.
Social Media Influencer and PR Maven Coco Cline's business is booming with over three million followers online. Several businesses have requested her help with their online presence. Even the local police department has become one of her clients, as has a new beachside wine bar.
The only real strife in her life is her new neighbors Larry and Rosalynn Dunmer. He is a detestable human being and his wife believes every woman in town is after her man.
When Coco and her friends attend a party at Vine, the new wine bar, they are excited by the crowd and the buzz Coco created to get the place off to a fantastic start. Then she sees Larry and Rosalynn Dunmer are in attendance and good old Larry is hitting on a server. When Coco steps in to help the server escape Larry turns his wrath on Coco and her friends, especially Jasper.
The next day Coco is asked to assist the Central Shores PD with the public as they work the case of a body washed up on shore. She is shocked that the body is Larry Dunmer with a party favor from the night before protruding from his neck. The corkscrew is engraved with Jasper's name. This lands him at the top of the suspect list. That means Coco is on the case and she plans to use all her talents to prove his innocence and put the real guilty party behind bars.
_____
Another #murder comes to Central Shores and Coco Cline finds herself right in the middle of the drama. I really like Coco and that she is friendly, engaging, and tech-savvy. She definitely knows her way around the internet. I was unsure about her boyfriend Hudson after reading the first book #FollowMe for Murder, but I liked him much better this time. He does have an issue at work and was dealing with it okay but some "right place right time" moments put the trouble to rest. I was pleased with how it came to a head. Coco has great friends in Charlotte and Jasper and with Jasper in trouble Coco and Charlotte really pulled together to help him. I appreciate their strong friendship very much. All the characters Ms. Burr has created feel true to life. Even Larry and Rosalynn, you know neighbors you want to avoid, but I will admit Larry really was a swine.
Sarah E. Burr has taken a fresh and timely theme and tangled her characters into a marvelous mystery. There were several suspects, more than I first imagined, so it was a lot of fun working my way through them along with Coco. I enjoyed Coco getting an assist from her mother while pinning down some key clues that moved the investigation forward. These moments brought humor to the story too. The subplot of Hudson's work problem meshed nicely into the main plot. The story had a fast pace making the pages fly leading up to a "Holy Harry Styles!" surprise ending.
With #hashtags and @handles, a well-written mystery with some skilled twists and well-developed characters #TagMe For Murder is a hit! I was entertained from Chapter 1 through the epilogue. Things were trending well for Coco and her friends at the end. I am excited to see what the author has trending for them in book three as their stories continue.
March 22, 2023
Rating: 4 stars ⭐️
This was such a fun murder mystery! I enjoyed reading this book and the suspense had me in a chokehold. 🔪
It’s the second book in The Trending Topic series and it follows Coco Cline and her friends. They live in the same neighborhood and have mutual enemies, Larry and Rosalynn Bunmer. The group saw them last at an event but only one of them returned alive..
I liked the small town aspect about it and I was invested in the characters.
This would be a good beach/summer read. ☀️
Thank you to Sarah E. Burr, Level Best Books and Netgalley for providing me with this arc. All opinions are my own.
This was such a fun murder mystery! I enjoyed reading this book and the suspense had me in a chokehold. 🔪
It’s the second book in The Trending Topic series and it follows Coco Cline and her friends. They live in the same neighborhood and have mutual enemies, Larry and Rosalynn Bunmer. The group saw them last at an event but only one of them returned alive..
I liked the small town aspect about it and I was invested in the characters.
This would be a good beach/summer read. ☀️
Thank you to Sarah E. Burr, Level Best Books and Netgalley for providing me with this arc. All opinions are my own.
December 27, 2023
This is definitely a fun series. I enjoy Coco and all of her friends. Her job and Hudson's give them definite access to information that comes in handy in these investigations. In this volume, Coco's best friend Jasper is the chief suspect in a murder after he and Coco confront the victim at the opening of a Wine Bar that is one of Coco's clients. The man was sexually harassing a waitress when the two step in and an ugly confrontation insues. When the man is found dead with a party favor corkscrew with Jasper's name engraved on it, the pursuit for answers begins! I was a little disappointed that Coco did a couple things on her own that were not too bright, but for the most part she is growing as a character and is mostly thoughtful, the take down of the murderer was awesome. Can't wait to come back and visit Central Shores again.
March 17, 2023
I received this advanced copy from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love cozy mysteries. They're always fun, and I fall in love with the cast of characters. Sarah E. Burr's #TagMe For Murder hit all the right notes for me. It was funny; it was light; the stakes were medium, and the characters were like having some friends over to hang out.
#TagMe is the second book in Burr's Trending Topic Mysteries series, which follows Coco Cline, a social media specialist and influencer as she plays amateur detective when she inadvertently finds herself in the middle of murder cases.
I have not read the first book in the series, #FollowMe For Murder, but I didn't feel lost. In fact, reading this one has made me want to go back and read the first book in the series!
#TagMe took me a little while to get into, but once we were sleuthing along with Coco, it became hard to put down. I needed to know "whodunit." Coco and Hudson are a delightful couple and I really enjoyed their interactions, as well as the interactions Coco had with Jasper. I felt there were just enough characters to make it interesting, but not too many to not remember who each character was.
The mystery was typical of a cozy, and I honestly did not know "whodunit" until Coco began putting the puzzle together near the end, which I loved. Usually, in some cozies, you can figure out who the perpetrator is early on. I loved that it kept me guessing.
If you're looking for a fun beach read, I highly recommend you check out this book. Maybe even start with the first book, I'm sure you won't regret spending more time with Coco and her crew.
I love cozy mysteries. They're always fun, and I fall in love with the cast of characters. Sarah E. Burr's #TagMe For Murder hit all the right notes for me. It was funny; it was light; the stakes were medium, and the characters were like having some friends over to hang out.
#TagMe is the second book in Burr's Trending Topic Mysteries series, which follows Coco Cline, a social media specialist and influencer as she plays amateur detective when she inadvertently finds herself in the middle of murder cases.
I have not read the first book in the series, #FollowMe For Murder, but I didn't feel lost. In fact, reading this one has made me want to go back and read the first book in the series!
#TagMe took me a little while to get into, but once we were sleuthing along with Coco, it became hard to put down. I needed to know "whodunit." Coco and Hudson are a delightful couple and I really enjoyed their interactions, as well as the interactions Coco had with Jasper. I felt there were just enough characters to make it interesting, but not too many to not remember who each character was.
The mystery was typical of a cozy, and I honestly did not know "whodunit" until Coco began putting the puzzle together near the end, which I loved. Usually, in some cozies, you can figure out who the perpetrator is early on. I loved that it kept me guessing.
If you're looking for a fun beach read, I highly recommend you check out this book. Maybe even start with the first book, I'm sure you won't regret spending more time with Coco and her crew.
April 23, 2023
Review #TagMe for Murder
I looked forward to reading #TagMe for Murder by Sarah E. Burr and I wasn’t disappointed!
The book brings us back to Central Shores and the cast of characters we met in Burr’s first book in the series (#FollowMe for Murder).
Coco is working for Central Shores PD as a PR consultant and winds up in the thick of another murder investigation.
This time, she’s out to clear her best friend, Jasper!
The victim was a nasty neighbor who did his best to alienate everyone around him.
Coco uses her skills both in tech and in talking to people to clear Jasper’s name.
This book was well written, characters were well developed and fun to meet. The Central Shores community is a great small town with everything you could ask for.
The plot is well executed and there are enough twists to keep the reader wondering who did it.
I would recommend this book! It’s an excellent read.
Well done, Ms. Burr!
Thanks to Level Best Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review posted on
I looked forward to reading #TagMe for Murder by Sarah E. Burr and I wasn’t disappointed!
The book brings us back to Central Shores and the cast of characters we met in Burr’s first book in the series (#FollowMe for Murder).
Coco is working for Central Shores PD as a PR consultant and winds up in the thick of another murder investigation.
This time, she’s out to clear her best friend, Jasper!
The victim was a nasty neighbor who did his best to alienate everyone around him.
Coco uses her skills both in tech and in talking to people to clear Jasper’s name.
This book was well written, characters were well developed and fun to meet. The Central Shores community is a great small town with everything you could ask for.
The plot is well executed and there are enough twists to keep the reader wondering who did it.
I would recommend this book! It’s an excellent read.
Well done, Ms. Burr!
Thanks to Level Best Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review posted on
June 17, 2023
#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.
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.
April 26, 2023
Well written mystery and lovable characters with good development. Coco is smart enough not to put herself into too many TSTL situations so the story flows nicely with minimal eye rolling and yelling at the MC. I love the emphasis on her running her business and the many different ways she handles work situations. The mystery was well plotted with just the right number of clues to keep you guessing until the end. I also like the story with her boyfriend at work and how that was resolved. Highly enjoyable and I look forward to the next in the series.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
April 9, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Cute, fun murder mystery! I thought it would be predictable murder but it wasn’t. Kept me guessing until the end. It was a very enjoyable, easy read.
I loved the character personalities and their friendships. I related with CoCo’s social media sleuthing skills and her love for Crime Junkie!
Cute, fun murder mystery! I thought it would be predictable murder but it wasn’t. Kept me guessing until the end. It was a very enjoyable, easy read.
I loved the character personalities and their friendships. I related with CoCo’s social media sleuthing skills and her love for Crime Junkie!
January 26, 2024
I wanted to read #TagMe for Murder, by Sarah E. Burr, last summer, but time got away from me. Now that the third one in the series is about to be released, I decided it was time to catch up. I'm typically a seasonal reader. I like to read books during the season in which they are set, whenever possible. #TagMe for Murder takes place around the 4th of July. I listened to it in January and I have to say, the warmth of a summer cozy was a nice reprieve from the cold weather we've been having. Weather is not a huge factor in the book, but it is set on the beaches of Central Shores, Delaware.
Coco Cline, a social media influencer and our amateur sleuth, and her friends attend a party to celebrate the grand opening of a new local wine bar. The morning after the party, a dead body is found at the beach. With the evidence strongly pointing towards Jasper as the culprit, Coco embarks on a quest to find the real killer in order to clear her best friend's name.
I read the first one in this series, whereas I listened to this second one. I wasn't sure if I would like the change in format, but it didn't bother me at all. The narrator, Laura Darrell, did a great job bringing the story and characters to life.
I really enjoyed the first one in the Trending Topic series, #FollowMe for Murder, but this second installment is even better. We are already familiar with the characters from book 1, so from the beginning, the story jumps right into the setup for the mystery. And this mystery is solid. There are plenty of viable suspects to consider and I had no idea whodunnit until it was revealed. I thought I had it figured out halfway through the book, but I was completely wrong. There are lots of twists and turns as Coco follows the clues to unravel this mystery.
While the mystery is strong, it doesn't take away from how well the characters are developed. Coco's relationship with her boyfriend is progressing and we also learn more about Jasper, Coco's best friend. There is a natural-feeling balance between moving forward with the mystery and developing subplots and characters. None of it felt overwhelming. I was invested in every aspect of this book.
I would describe this series as modern. There's no denying the fact that technology is a huge part of our everyday lives. Coco knows this, especially since she is a social media influencer, and technology is one of the ways she does her sleuthing.
One of my favorite scenes in the book happens when Coco addresses her mental health. Sometimes the definition of strength is addressing the fact that life is difficult, and I love the way Coco deals with this in such a realistic and relatable way. Her demonstration of strength in this way warmed my heart.
While #TagMe for Murder takes place around the 4th of July, it can certainly be read any time of the year. I do, however, recommend that you read #FollowMe for Murder first. There are subplots in book 2 that carryover from book 1. Besides that, they are both very enjoyable cozy reads.
Coco Cline, a social media influencer and our amateur sleuth, and her friends attend a party to celebrate the grand opening of a new local wine bar. The morning after the party, a dead body is found at the beach. With the evidence strongly pointing towards Jasper as the culprit, Coco embarks on a quest to find the real killer in order to clear her best friend's name.
I read the first one in this series, whereas I listened to this second one. I wasn't sure if I would like the change in format, but it didn't bother me at all. The narrator, Laura Darrell, did a great job bringing the story and characters to life.
I really enjoyed the first one in the Trending Topic series, #FollowMe for Murder, but this second installment is even better. We are already familiar with the characters from book 1, so from the beginning, the story jumps right into the setup for the mystery. And this mystery is solid. There are plenty of viable suspects to consider and I had no idea whodunnit until it was revealed. I thought I had it figured out halfway through the book, but I was completely wrong. There are lots of twists and turns as Coco follows the clues to unravel this mystery.
While the mystery is strong, it doesn't take away from how well the characters are developed. Coco's relationship with her boyfriend is progressing and we also learn more about Jasper, Coco's best friend. There is a natural-feeling balance between moving forward with the mystery and developing subplots and characters. None of it felt overwhelming. I was invested in every aspect of this book.
I would describe this series as modern. There's no denying the fact that technology is a huge part of our everyday lives. Coco knows this, especially since she is a social media influencer, and technology is one of the ways she does her sleuthing.
One of my favorite scenes in the book happens when Coco addresses her mental health. Sometimes the definition of strength is addressing the fact that life is difficult, and I love the way Coco deals with this in such a realistic and relatable way. Her demonstration of strength in this way warmed my heart.
While #TagMe for Murder takes place around the 4th of July, it can certainly be read any time of the year. I do, however, recommend that you read #FollowMe for Murder first. There are subplots in book 2 that carryover from book 1. Besides that, they are both very enjoyable cozy reads.
May 27, 2023
Coco Cline uses her social media and snooping skills to solve another murder.
The who gets killed and how is very obvious from the moment the victim is met. As is the first/main suspect.
Because the man seems to have two main activities: accosting women and threatening men, it’s actually a surprise he’s lasted this long in life. He must have always looked both ways before he crossed the street.
Because one of her best friends is questioned in this murder investigation, Coco decides to ask some questions here and there too. It seems the man has made quite a few people upset because every time he didn’t get what he wanted he made threats of cutting budgets.
Which seems rather an empty threat. He’s doing an audit. That means he checks whether people in charge of spending the budget can account for how they spent it. As an auditor he’s not in charge of determining how a budget is distributed. He doesn’t even get to advise on that matter.
It’s a good mystery, and I’m happy the police were not portrayed as incompetent. Though I find it hard to believe the police would stall a murder investigation for two days because they can’t find next of kin. But perhaps that was the perspective of Coco and were the police in actual fact hard at work.
I’m getting fed up with the “don’t leave town” malarkey. Detective Forester says it to Jasper and he then thinks he can’t even go to work because that is in the next town over. What’s wrong with having competent police officers say: “Please, remain available for questioning”?
I read an ARC through NetGalley.
The who gets killed and how is very obvious from the moment the victim is met. As is the first/main suspect.
Because the man seems to have two main activities: accosting women and threatening men, it’s actually a surprise he’s lasted this long in life. He must have always looked both ways before he crossed the street.
Because one of her best friends is questioned in this murder investigation, Coco decides to ask some questions here and there too. It seems the man has made quite a few people upset because every time he didn’t get what he wanted he made threats of cutting budgets.
Which seems rather an empty threat. He’s doing an audit. That means he checks whether people in charge of spending the budget can account for how they spent it. As an auditor he’s not in charge of determining how a budget is distributed. He doesn’t even get to advise on that matter.
It’s a good mystery, and I’m happy the police were not portrayed as incompetent. Though I find it hard to believe the police would stall a murder investigation for two days because they can’t find next of kin. But perhaps that was the perspective of Coco and were the police in actual fact hard at work.
I’m getting fed up with the “don’t leave town” malarkey. Detective Forester says it to Jasper and he then thinks he can’t even go to work because that is in the next town over. What’s wrong with having competent police officers say: “Please, remain available for questioning”?
I read an ARC through NetGalley.
February 1, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars - after listening to the second book in the series, I’m realizing I’m not the target audience for this series. Hate to hold that against the author since the writing is good and I assume a much younger audience would enjoy this.
June 8, 2023
Dnf I just couldn’t get into it and I just really didn’t like the writing style.
Thanks to netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy - all opinions are my own.
Thanks to netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy - all opinions are my own.
April 24, 2023
Review
#TagMe for Murder (Trending Topic Mysteries #2)
By Sarah E. Burr
Description
Cozy Mystery
Small town
Murder mystery
Social media influencer
Amateur sleuth.
This is the second book in the series but can be read as standalone.
This was a fun murder mystery based in small town Central Shores. Coco the social media blogger is at it again solving another murder.
Thanks, NetGalley and Sarah E. Burr for a digital copy of this book.
I gave this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#netgalley #tagmeformurder
#TagMe for Murder (Trending Topic Mysteries #2)
By Sarah E. Burr
Description
Cozy Mystery
Small town
Murder mystery
Social media influencer
Amateur sleuth.
This is the second book in the series but can be read as standalone.
This was a fun murder mystery based in small town Central Shores. Coco the social media blogger is at it again solving another murder.
Thanks, NetGalley and Sarah E. Burr for a digital copy of this book.
I gave this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#netgalley #tagmeformurder
June 20, 2023
This series is proving to be a modernized take on the cozy mystery genre by giving readers what they expect from a cozy murder (murder, not much gore, community, clever clues, some red herrings) but with modern twists (current lingo, social media).
I read the first book in the series when it came out and I admit I wasn't the biggest fan. I thought there was too much emphasis on dropping luxury brand names, which came across as braggy/product placement. I liked the second book a lot more and I will definitely read the next book in the series.
While the series is centred around Cordelia "Coco" Cline who is a national (maybe internationally?) known social media personality who has settled into a content life in a small seaside town, living with her boyfriend, Hudson, who is a local news anchor, and a few other friends. Coco now works as a PR/Social media consultant for small businesses but it seems that on the side, she solves murders. In this book, the victim is a distasteful lech of an auditor whom nobody except his wife seemed to like. But when one of Coco's best friends appears to have been framed for the murder, she jumps into action, determined to prove him innocent and identify the real killer.
What I liked about the book is the loyalty Coco has to her friends and her utter determination to uncover the truth. This loyalty results in her being willing to do things that she knows she shouldn't do (e.g., misrepresenting herself as a representative of the police, sneaking into offices, etc) in order to uncover information and clues.
I also like how the subplots are developed through the book, from Coco's self-consciousness and uncertainty about not being as famous as she used to be, as compared to her boyfriend's growing fame; figuring out how to manage her growing business and hiring an assistant; navigating her relationship with her family.
On the mystery front, I think the author did.a great job of dropping clues into the story so that once we reach the end and the killer is revealed, it makes sense. Alongside the clues are good red herrings and I honestly had no idea who the killer was until close to the end. And then the reveal itself takes advantage of Coco's social media expertise and 'celebrity' status, which is a fun approach to take.
I still think there was a bit too much brand name dropping but that could just be me. I just don't care about that stuff, but maybe other readers do?
All in all, a fun book. I'll be back for more!
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.
I read the first book in the series when it came out and I admit I wasn't the biggest fan. I thought there was too much emphasis on dropping luxury brand names, which came across as braggy/product placement. I liked the second book a lot more and I will definitely read the next book in the series.
While the series is centred around Cordelia "Coco" Cline who is a national (maybe internationally?) known social media personality who has settled into a content life in a small seaside town, living with her boyfriend, Hudson, who is a local news anchor, and a few other friends. Coco now works as a PR/Social media consultant for small businesses but it seems that on the side, she solves murders. In this book, the victim is a distasteful lech of an auditor whom nobody except his wife seemed to like. But when one of Coco's best friends appears to have been framed for the murder, she jumps into action, determined to prove him innocent and identify the real killer.
What I liked about the book is the loyalty Coco has to her friends and her utter determination to uncover the truth. This loyalty results in her being willing to do things that she knows she shouldn't do (e.g., misrepresenting herself as a representative of the police, sneaking into offices, etc) in order to uncover information and clues.
I also like how the subplots are developed through the book, from Coco's self-consciousness and uncertainty about not being as famous as she used to be, as compared to her boyfriend's growing fame; figuring out how to manage her growing business and hiring an assistant; navigating her relationship with her family.
On the mystery front, I think the author did.a great job of dropping clues into the story so that once we reach the end and the killer is revealed, it makes sense. Alongside the clues are good red herrings and I honestly had no idea who the killer was until close to the end. And then the reveal itself takes advantage of Coco's social media expertise and 'celebrity' status, which is a fun approach to take.
I still think there was a bit too much brand name dropping but that could just be me. I just don't care about that stuff, but maybe other readers do?
All in all, a fun book. I'll be back for more!
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.
April 7, 2023
Lifestyle blogger Coco Cline does it again in #TagMe for Murder, the second book in Sarah E. Burr's Trending Topic Murder series. In this story, Coco finds herself busier than ever when she and her friends attend an opening reception at Vine, a wine bar that is one of Coco's clients. Their grand evening is disrupted by an extremely rude man, who also happens to be a government official in town for business, is found murdered the next day.
Initially, fingers are pointed at Coco's best friend, Jasper, as the murderer. Intent on clearing Jasper's name, Coco launches her own investigation. As she follows clues she finds both on the Internet and in the real world, she uncovers a scheme that puts her own life in danger. Undaunted, she stays on the case, despite the concerns her friends have for her safety, until the final piece of the puzzle falls into place and she apprehends the murderer.
Burr's latest offering is an an absolute delight, full of twists, turns, and scheming that will leave you guessing who the murderer is right up until the end. Along the way, she gives us a closer look into Coco's life and the the wonderful relationship she has with her boyfriend Hudson, along with friends Jasper and Charlotte. She also tackles the issues of mental health and sexual harassment with a deft touch that will make you fall in love with Coco even more.
Do yourself a favor and pay a visit to Central Shores, Delaware as Coco Cline and her crew will take you along for a ride you'll not soon forget.
Initially, fingers are pointed at Coco's best friend, Jasper, as the murderer. Intent on clearing Jasper's name, Coco launches her own investigation. As she follows clues she finds both on the Internet and in the real world, she uncovers a scheme that puts her own life in danger. Undaunted, she stays on the case, despite the concerns her friends have for her safety, until the final piece of the puzzle falls into place and she apprehends the murderer.
Burr's latest offering is an an absolute delight, full of twists, turns, and scheming that will leave you guessing who the murderer is right up until the end. Along the way, she gives us a closer look into Coco's life and the the wonderful relationship she has with her boyfriend Hudson, along with friends Jasper and Charlotte. She also tackles the issues of mental health and sexual harassment with a deft touch that will make you fall in love with Coco even more.
Do yourself a favor and pay a visit to Central Shores, Delaware as Coco Cline and her crew will take you along for a ride you'll not soon forget.
May 17, 2023
What a fun, cozy read! I loved that I could just dive into this series without even reading the first book. In fact, one of the things that stood out to me most was how much the author clearly loves the world she's created. The whole story is full of lovely details about what the town and its residents are like. It really made starting on book two a walk on the beach (sans any dead bodies!), because the characters and settings are written in such rich detail.
Second, I really loved Hudson's arc in this book. While he mostly plays the part of loving boyfriend to our awesome leading lady, it was so interesting to see the pressure he was under as a man being sexually harassed by a woman in the workplace. His anxiety over people believing him, getting concrete proof, and even not being believed because he was a man was so heartfelt and added genuine emotion to the overall story.
Third, I just really enjoyed the mystery itself. Coco and her friends were all funny and likable, while the towns people felt real and interesting. The murder victim being such a truly terrible person made for a great mystery, because who WOULDN'T want to kill this guy? The reveal at the end felt properly set up without being predictable and let to a very satisfying conclusion.
All in all, this was a very fun cozy mystery set in a bubbly modern world. Definitely an uplifting read that I think most cozy mystery readers who enjoy.
Second, I really loved Hudson's arc in this book. While he mostly plays the part of loving boyfriend to our awesome leading lady, it was so interesting to see the pressure he was under as a man being sexually harassed by a woman in the workplace. His anxiety over people believing him, getting concrete proof, and even not being believed because he was a man was so heartfelt and added genuine emotion to the overall story.
Third, I just really enjoyed the mystery itself. Coco and her friends were all funny and likable, while the towns people felt real and interesting. The murder victim being such a truly terrible person made for a great mystery, because who WOULDN'T want to kill this guy? The reveal at the end felt properly set up without being predictable and let to a very satisfying conclusion.
All in all, this was a very fun cozy mystery set in a bubbly modern world. Definitely an uplifting read that I think most cozy mystery readers who enjoy.
May 28, 2023
With a glimmer of anticipation, I delved into the pages of this book, eager to experience the world of social media influencer Cordelia "Coco" Cline. And oh, how I fell in love with the fierce and fabulous FMC! This captivating tale had me both laughing and intrigued, creating a delightful reading experience.
The plot unfolded with a delightful twist as murder encroached upon Coco's seemingly normal life. Surrounded by her devoted boyfriend and two best friends, she reveled in her thriving online presence. However, the arrival of the dubious Larry and Rosalynn Dunmer as her new neighbors set off a chain of events that would challenge Coco's summer plans. A chance encounter at a wine bar escalated into a web of threats, putting her and her best friend, Jasper, in jeopardy.
Just as Coco's world teetered on the edge, an unexpected request from the police thrust her into the heart of the investigation. Utilizing her PR skills, she was tasked with maintaining order as a body washed ashore. Shockingly, it was Larry Dunmer, lifeless with a corkscrew protruding from his neck. The stakes escalated further as Jasper found himself at the top of the suspect list. Fueled by determination, Coco embarked on a tech-savvy sleuthing adventure to clear her friend's name, unearthing a multitude of enemies who held grudges against the ill-fated Larry.
The narrative painted a vivid picture of Central Shores, inviting readers to return to its sandy beaches. Coco's squad rallied together, their bond strengthening as they pursued the elusive killer. The race against time to prevent permanent cancellation wove a thread of suspense throughout the story, leaving me eager to uncover the truth.
As I immersed myself deeper into the pages of this enthralling book, I found myself captivated not only by the engaging plot and dynamic characters but also by the masterful narration and compelling writing style that brought the story to life. The author's skillful storytelling prowess truly shone through, creating an experience that was both immersive and delightful.
The narration skillfully balanced humor and intrigue, effortlessly drawing out laughter and keeping me thoroughly engaged in the unfolding events. The author's wit and clever wordplay injected moments of levity into even the most tense situations, allowing the story to flow seamlessly between light-hearted banter and heart-pounding suspense. It was a true testament to the author's ability to craft a narrative that kept me eagerly turning the pages, eager to uncover the next twist and turn.
The writing style itself was a treat to behold, adorned with vivid descriptions and evocative imagery that transported me straight into the heart of Central Shores. From the sun-drenched beaches to the buzzing wine bar, each setting was brought to life with such clarity that I could practically feel the sand between my toes and taste the tang of a crisp ocean breeze. The author's attention to detail painted a rich tapestry that served as the perfect backdrop for the unfolding mystery, enveloping me in a world that was as visually stunning as it was emotionally compelling.
Moreover, the author's seamless integration of technology and social media into the narrative added an extra layer of authenticity to the story. Coco's role as a social media influencer was expertly woven into the plot, providing unique insights into her investigative journey and adding a contemporary touch that resonated with the digital age in which we live. The incorporation of hashtags, viral trends, and Coco's tech-savvy sleuthing skills further deepened the connection between the story and the modern reader, making it all the more relatable and engrossing.
In the end, it was the masterful narration and impeccable writing style that elevated this book to new heights. The author's ability to seamlessly blend humor and intrigue, coupled with their evocative descriptions and skillful incorporation of technology, created a reading experience that was truly memorable.
The plot unfolded with a delightful twist as murder encroached upon Coco's seemingly normal life. Surrounded by her devoted boyfriend and two best friends, she reveled in her thriving online presence. However, the arrival of the dubious Larry and Rosalynn Dunmer as her new neighbors set off a chain of events that would challenge Coco's summer plans. A chance encounter at a wine bar escalated into a web of threats, putting her and her best friend, Jasper, in jeopardy.
Just as Coco's world teetered on the edge, an unexpected request from the police thrust her into the heart of the investigation. Utilizing her PR skills, she was tasked with maintaining order as a body washed ashore. Shockingly, it was Larry Dunmer, lifeless with a corkscrew protruding from his neck. The stakes escalated further as Jasper found himself at the top of the suspect list. Fueled by determination, Coco embarked on a tech-savvy sleuthing adventure to clear her friend's name, unearthing a multitude of enemies who held grudges against the ill-fated Larry.
The narrative painted a vivid picture of Central Shores, inviting readers to return to its sandy beaches. Coco's squad rallied together, their bond strengthening as they pursued the elusive killer. The race against time to prevent permanent cancellation wove a thread of suspense throughout the story, leaving me eager to uncover the truth.
As I immersed myself deeper into the pages of this enthralling book, I found myself captivated not only by the engaging plot and dynamic characters but also by the masterful narration and compelling writing style that brought the story to life. The author's skillful storytelling prowess truly shone through, creating an experience that was both immersive and delightful.
The narration skillfully balanced humor and intrigue, effortlessly drawing out laughter and keeping me thoroughly engaged in the unfolding events. The author's wit and clever wordplay injected moments of levity into even the most tense situations, allowing the story to flow seamlessly between light-hearted banter and heart-pounding suspense. It was a true testament to the author's ability to craft a narrative that kept me eagerly turning the pages, eager to uncover the next twist and turn.
The writing style itself was a treat to behold, adorned with vivid descriptions and evocative imagery that transported me straight into the heart of Central Shores. From the sun-drenched beaches to the buzzing wine bar, each setting was brought to life with such clarity that I could practically feel the sand between my toes and taste the tang of a crisp ocean breeze. The author's attention to detail painted a rich tapestry that served as the perfect backdrop for the unfolding mystery, enveloping me in a world that was as visually stunning as it was emotionally compelling.
Moreover, the author's seamless integration of technology and social media into the narrative added an extra layer of authenticity to the story. Coco's role as a social media influencer was expertly woven into the plot, providing unique insights into her investigative journey and adding a contemporary touch that resonated with the digital age in which we live. The incorporation of hashtags, viral trends, and Coco's tech-savvy sleuthing skills further deepened the connection between the story and the modern reader, making it all the more relatable and engrossing.
In the end, it was the masterful narration and impeccable writing style that elevated this book to new heights. The author's ability to seamlessly blend humor and intrigue, coupled with their evocative descriptions and skillful incorporation of technology, created a reading experience that was truly memorable.
April 24, 2023
#TagMe for Murder is the second novel in the Trending Topic Mysteries series. The series follow Cordelia “Coco” Cline, a social media influencer and lifestyle blogger turned amateur sleuth on the beaches of Central Shores. At first, I was not paying attention to realize this was the second novel in the series, but I found it easy enough to catch up. This novel also made me want to go back and read the first novel. As part of her work, Coco attends the opening reception of Vine, a wine bar owned by one of her clients. One of the attendees, a government official who was visiting on business, is found murdered the next day and fingers are initially pointed at Coco’s best friend, Jasper. This spurs Coco to begin her own investigation to find the real murderer.
The mystery was nice and cozy as the reader follows along with Coco as all the pieces are slowly placed together. I liked that I could not guess the murderer right away and I got to try and solve the mystery, too. There wasn’t as much foreshadowing as I thought, though, so I think it was missing the perfect balance in a mystery. It was still enjoyable, though, it just needed a few more clues. The small-town setting worked well for the story as it served as a great back drop, and it helped to limit the characters. Essentially, this novel had all the pieces of a great cozy mystery. Since social media is a huge part of Coco’s life, there is a lot present in the story. For me, it appeared a bit too much as it took away the focus from the mystery. The characters in this story are fun and the mystery was enjoyable, so I can see myself read more of this series in the future. Overall, this was a fun and interesting story and a great introduction to this author.
**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Level Best Books, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
The mystery was nice and cozy as the reader follows along with Coco as all the pieces are slowly placed together. I liked that I could not guess the murderer right away and I got to try and solve the mystery, too. There wasn’t as much foreshadowing as I thought, though, so I think it was missing the perfect balance in a mystery. It was still enjoyable, though, it just needed a few more clues. The small-town setting worked well for the story as it served as a great back drop, and it helped to limit the characters. Essentially, this novel had all the pieces of a great cozy mystery. Since social media is a huge part of Coco’s life, there is a lot present in the story. For me, it appeared a bit too much as it took away the focus from the mystery. The characters in this story are fun and the mystery was enjoyable, so I can see myself read more of this series in the future. Overall, this was a fun and interesting story and a great introduction to this author.
**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Level Best Books, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
May 11, 2023
Read my review on NovelsAlive.com by clicking the link below. It is also posted in full.
https://novelsalive.com/2023/05/11/4-...
#Tagme for Murder by Sarah E. Burr is a fast-paced, cozy mystery whodunnit that had me turning the pages to see who was the next suspect on amateur detective Coco’s list! It’s the second book in the Trending Topic Mysteries series, and I’m hoping to read #Followme for Murder to get some of the backstory and learn more about Coco, Hudson, and the rest of her friends and neighbors in their small town.
Set on the coast of Delaware, there are vivid descriptions that made me feel like I was there.
There was a good flow and several descriptions of the scenery, the businesses, the small town, and more. Clues are ferreted out by Coco, and the police aren’t always happy with her involvement. But what they don’t know won’t hurt them, will it?
As Coco continues to gather clues, tossing out those unimportant, chasing down potential suspects, and ruling them out when she deems them no longer suspect, we get a front-row seat. Coco is also trying to run all her businesses since she’s an influencer on social media and has a blog as well, all of which have to be timely. Social media is also brought into play along with hashtags. So twenty-first century!
Family, friends, and details on the first murder she solved are woven throughout. There’s closure with the reveal of Whodunnit, and it wasn’t someone on my radar. I can’t wait to meet up with Coco and the others over and over again. Ms. Burr is a new-to-me author, and I hope to read more of her books.
#Tagme for Murder is a lovely cozy mystery with incredible attention to detail as we try to find the murderer set on the stunning Delaware shore.
https://novelsalive.com/2023/05/11/4-...
#Tagme for Murder by Sarah E. Burr is a fast-paced, cozy mystery whodunnit that had me turning the pages to see who was the next suspect on amateur detective Coco’s list! It’s the second book in the Trending Topic Mysteries series, and I’m hoping to read #Followme for Murder to get some of the backstory and learn more about Coco, Hudson, and the rest of her friends and neighbors in their small town.
Set on the coast of Delaware, there are vivid descriptions that made me feel like I was there.
There was a good flow and several descriptions of the scenery, the businesses, the small town, and more. Clues are ferreted out by Coco, and the police aren’t always happy with her involvement. But what they don’t know won’t hurt them, will it?
As Coco continues to gather clues, tossing out those unimportant, chasing down potential suspects, and ruling them out when she deems them no longer suspect, we get a front-row seat. Coco is also trying to run all her businesses since she’s an influencer on social media and has a blog as well, all of which have to be timely. Social media is also brought into play along with hashtags. So twenty-first century!
Family, friends, and details on the first murder she solved are woven throughout. There’s closure with the reveal of Whodunnit, and it wasn’t someone on my radar. I can’t wait to meet up with Coco and the others over and over again. Ms. Burr is a new-to-me author, and I hope to read more of her books.
#Tagme for Murder is a lovely cozy mystery with incredible attention to detail as we try to find the murderer set on the stunning Delaware shore.
April 23, 2023
I received a gifted copy from Netgalley. These are my own opinion.
#TagMe for Murder is book two of the Trending Topic Mystery Series. The book can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading the first book to get a better understanding of the main and side characters.
The story starts with Coco and her friends attending a grand opening for a business that she helped with marketing. At this opening she runs into her annoying neighbor and again he’s harassing another woman. Coco and her best friend intervine and have words with her neighbor, Larry, and many are aware of the scene. The following day Coco gets to go to a crime scene as being part of the PR team for the local law enforcement agency unaware of what she’s walking into. Larry has been murder and the murder weapon has her best friends name on it.
This is cozy mystery series where we find Coco going undercover doing her own investigation to clear her best friends name. She doesn’t completely trust the police on getting the job done due to her previous experience with another murder investigation. There’s some funny moments in the story as well as unexpected turn of events that I didn’t see coming. If I would of read the first book I might of guessed who the murderer was.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read with enjoyable characters and very well written. If you’re looking for a fun cozy mystery look no further.
#TagMe for Murder is book two of the Trending Topic Mystery Series. The book can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading the first book to get a better understanding of the main and side characters.
The story starts with Coco and her friends attending a grand opening for a business that she helped with marketing. At this opening she runs into her annoying neighbor and again he’s harassing another woman. Coco and her best friend intervine and have words with her neighbor, Larry, and many are aware of the scene. The following day Coco gets to go to a crime scene as being part of the PR team for the local law enforcement agency unaware of what she’s walking into. Larry has been murder and the murder weapon has her best friends name on it.
This is cozy mystery series where we find Coco going undercover doing her own investigation to clear her best friends name. She doesn’t completely trust the police on getting the job done due to her previous experience with another murder investigation. There’s some funny moments in the story as well as unexpected turn of events that I didn’t see coming. If I would of read the first book I might of guessed who the murderer was.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read with enjoyable characters and very well written. If you’re looking for a fun cozy mystery look no further.
April 19, 2023
When I started this book, I didn't realize it was the second book in the series. Whoops! Even though I hadn't read the first book, I didn't feel like I was at a disadvantage or was missing anything. In fact, the author does a fantastic job of briefly recapping the previous book, but in a way that doesn't really give away much of the plot or the ending, so I could easily go back and read the first book without spoilers.
This book centers on Coco Cline, who is a social influencer and also runs a PR/marketing business. Without giving too much away, a person in her small town is murdered, and someone in her inner circle is a suspect, so she takes it upon herself to investigate.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I liked the small town, and enjoyed the characters. The mystery aspect had me hooked and I didn't predict the killer. The only tiny thing that I didn't like was the depiction of text messages - there was a lot of use of abbreviations like "running l8" and "we need 2 leave" and I don't feel like people in their late 20s text that way... but I could be wrong. That's a silly thing to care about, but for whatever reason, it took me out of the book a little bit. I think someone that enjoys The Hannah Swensen series or "cozy mysteries" would enjoy this book!
Thank you to Sarah E. Burr, Level Best Books and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
This book centers on Coco Cline, who is a social influencer and also runs a PR/marketing business. Without giving too much away, a person in her small town is murdered, and someone in her inner circle is a suspect, so she takes it upon herself to investigate.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I liked the small town, and enjoyed the characters. The mystery aspect had me hooked and I didn't predict the killer. The only tiny thing that I didn't like was the depiction of text messages - there was a lot of use of abbreviations like "running l8" and "we need 2 leave" and I don't feel like people in their late 20s text that way... but I could be wrong. That's a silly thing to care about, but for whatever reason, it took me out of the book a little bit. I think someone that enjoys The Hannah Swensen series or "cozy mysteries" would enjoy this book!
Thank you to Sarah E. Burr, Level Best Books and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
May 5, 2023
Coco Cline has a new neighbor, unfortunately. Larry Dunmer is in town to conduct an audit, and he has his wife has proved to be horrible neighbors, complaining about anything and everything. Still, Coco knows he will only be in town a few months. So she is surprised when he is killed on the beach one morning. Worse yet, her friend is accused of the crime. Can Coco wade through the suspects to figure out what is really going on?
This book does include some minor spoilers for the first book (nothing like who the killer is), so keep that in mind. However, I love how part of the character development in this book is watching Coco deal with the aftermath of that first case. The set up for this mystery was familiar, but the book didn’t spend a lot of time dwelling on that, instead moving into a strong mystery that kept me guessing until the end. This was helped by strong suspects. I also love how Coco uses in person interactions and the internet to solve the case. A sub-plot with Coco’s boyfriend also kept me turning pages. If you are looking for a great mystery, you’ll want this book to trend to the top of your to be read pile.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This book does include some minor spoilers for the first book (nothing like who the killer is), so keep that in mind. However, I love how part of the character development in this book is watching Coco deal with the aftermath of that first case. The set up for this mystery was familiar, but the book didn’t spend a lot of time dwelling on that, instead moving into a strong mystery that kept me guessing until the end. This was helped by strong suspects. I also love how Coco uses in person interactions and the internet to solve the case. A sub-plot with Coco’s boyfriend also kept me turning pages. If you are looking for a great mystery, you’ll want this book to trend to the top of your to be read pile.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
April 9, 2023
#TAGME FOR MURDER is the second book in the Trending Topic Mystery series by Sarah E. Burr. The author has found her stride in this newest release and the fast-paced plot held my interest throughout the story. The protagonist, Coco, is sure to appeal to not only well-versed readers of cozy mysteries, but should attract younger generations with her tech savvy and social media lifestyle. I also appreciated the close friendships she has and their efforts to work together to solve the death of Coco’s nasty, misogynistic next-door neighbor, after her best friend is accused of the murder. Some humor is interjected with the appearance of Coco’s mother and her attempts to help her daughter investigate, which I appreciate. Ms. Burr does an admirable job in portraying Coco’s skills as a social media marketing guru and how she combines those skills to find the killer. With plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing, the clues are sprinkled throughout for a sharp reader to follow. As the story concluded, all my questions were answered, and the pieces fell into place. #TagMe For Murder is a terrific addition to an entertaining series!
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 13, 2023
A fun, enjoyable cozy mystery read! Not having read the first book in the series, I was still fully immersed in Coco Cline’s world of social media influencing and amateur sleuthing.
In a small coastal town, the townspeople enjoy a pleasant life with their neighbors until auditor Larry Dunmer and his wife Roz move in to disrupt their friendly little community. Coco and her friends find their summer in danger of being ruined when Larry’s overt sexual harassment repulses female citizens, and his threat to cut town council budgets makes enemies. When he ends up the murder victim, it’s hard to feel sorry for him or to want justice served. What drives the murder story is Coco’s determination to clear her bestie, Jasper, who becomes the primary suspect when evidence points to him as the killer.
Added to the main storyline is Coco’s boyfriend’s personal trauma as he deals with sexual advances from a co-worker. Author Sarah E. Burr delivers a much needed expose of the issue of abusive behavior in our society as it affects both males and females, and the reluctance of men to report themselves as victims.
#TagMe for Murder blends modern technology and media with murder, sure to attract younger readers to the cozy mystery genre. A great book to take to the beach!
In a small coastal town, the townspeople enjoy a pleasant life with their neighbors until auditor Larry Dunmer and his wife Roz move in to disrupt their friendly little community. Coco and her friends find their summer in danger of being ruined when Larry’s overt sexual harassment repulses female citizens, and his threat to cut town council budgets makes enemies. When he ends up the murder victim, it’s hard to feel sorry for him or to want justice served. What drives the murder story is Coco’s determination to clear her bestie, Jasper, who becomes the primary suspect when evidence points to him as the killer.
Added to the main storyline is Coco’s boyfriend’s personal trauma as he deals with sexual advances from a co-worker. Author Sarah E. Burr delivers a much needed expose of the issue of abusive behavior in our society as it affects both males and females, and the reluctance of men to report themselves as victims.
#TagMe for Murder blends modern technology and media with murder, sure to attract younger readers to the cozy mystery genre. A great book to take to the beach!
March 20, 2023
Thanks to Level Best books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.
I read the first book in the Tag Me for Murder series last year, and was so excited to see all of our favorite characters back again.
This time Coco Cline our favorite influencer, marketing extraordinaire, and murder sleuth is back in action after another murder in their small beach town. Cocos new neighbor Larry moved in at the beginning of summer and has been causing havoc ever since. His job as a state auditor also didn’t earn him any fans. After an opening night event for one of Cocos clients, Larry is found dead on the beach. What begins as a murder mystery for local police, Coco soon inserts herself in the middle to try and find the killer; and also clear the name of her best friend Jasper.
Filled with fun and sweet moments between this large group of friends we’ve come to know and love makes this such a fun read. And of course the added bonus of seeing if Coco can solve another small time murder, kept me eagerly turning the pages.
I’m already hoping for a third book in this series!
I read the first book in the Tag Me for Murder series last year, and was so excited to see all of our favorite characters back again.
This time Coco Cline our favorite influencer, marketing extraordinaire, and murder sleuth is back in action after another murder in their small beach town. Cocos new neighbor Larry moved in at the beginning of summer and has been causing havoc ever since. His job as a state auditor also didn’t earn him any fans. After an opening night event for one of Cocos clients, Larry is found dead on the beach. What begins as a murder mystery for local police, Coco soon inserts herself in the middle to try and find the killer; and also clear the name of her best friend Jasper.
Filled with fun and sweet moments between this large group of friends we’ve come to know and love makes this such a fun read. And of course the added bonus of seeing if Coco can solve another small time murder, kept me eagerly turning the pages.
I’m already hoping for a third book in this series!
April 18, 2023
Thank you Sarah E. Burr and Level Best Books for the advanced reader copy of #TagMe for Murder.
This novel was an absolute joy of a who done it mystery. I, unfortunately, went into this novel without reading the first novel in this series, however, you do not need to read the first novel to enjoy this one. This story follows or FMC Coco who is a Social Media Engagement Manager, as well as a personal blogger and influencer. Her tenacity and flair is what made this novel so enjoyable.
Some people do not like bringing in social media to novels, as they can find it cringey and annoying, however, I found the social media influence throughout the novel to be the largest driving force of the story and the flow of the novel. My only criticism would be the repetitive nature of Coco’s struggle with her social media issue. I found it to be annoying after the first few mentions and it was the same topic appearing in almost every chapter till about 80% of the way through, where we finally focus on the mystery solely.
Overall, I found this novel to be engaging and creative. I was not able to guess the ending, which is always a plus to me!
This novel was an absolute joy of a who done it mystery. I, unfortunately, went into this novel without reading the first novel in this series, however, you do not need to read the first novel to enjoy this one. This story follows or FMC Coco who is a Social Media Engagement Manager, as well as a personal blogger and influencer. Her tenacity and flair is what made this novel so enjoyable.
Some people do not like bringing in social media to novels, as they can find it cringey and annoying, however, I found the social media influence throughout the novel to be the largest driving force of the story and the flow of the novel. My only criticism would be the repetitive nature of Coco’s struggle with her social media issue. I found it to be annoying after the first few mentions and it was the same topic appearing in almost every chapter till about 80% of the way through, where we finally focus on the mystery solely.
Overall, I found this novel to be engaging and creative. I was not able to guess the ending, which is always a plus to me!
May 7, 2023
Coco Cline is a social media influencer and accidental murder detective. After cracking her first case (in the first book in the series) she finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation after her rude neighbor is found with a corkscrew in his neck. I enjoyed the murder mystery aspect but I wasn't prepared going in how YA this would be. I think that's what threw me off a bit. There's a lot of pop culture references and immature communication between the friends, especially for characters in their late 20s (in my opinion.) For example, "Okay, what the name of Gaga is going on?" I think if you have YA mentality going on you may enjoy it more so keep that in mind.
I didn't realize this book was #2 in a series but it worked fine as a standalone. The author does a great job at giving us background and personalities of the characters so they felt well-rounded to me. Overall I recommend if you enjoy cozy mysteries. It would be the perfect beach or poolside read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for allowing me access to an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I didn't realize this book was #2 in a series but it worked fine as a standalone. The author does a great job at giving us background and personalities of the characters so they felt well-rounded to me. Overall I recommend if you enjoy cozy mysteries. It would be the perfect beach or poolside read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for allowing me access to an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 2, 2023
I was super excited to start this book, and was even more excited with the Only Murders in the Building vibes, and a T Swift shout out to start things off! While I really enjoyed my journey through the book, I was honestly disappointed with the final outcome... I felt like the "big reveal" was underwhelming and not as jaw dropping as I expected after the whole book being about what a shit Larry was. I was not able to guess the outcome, which I guess was a positive. But, there were so many better ending options, IMO. I still enjoyed the book and would read another by this author.
I would call this book a light hearted mystery and it was a very quick read. Rating 3.5 stars because I was pretty let down with the ending of the book.
I was given this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for choosing me to do so.
I would call this book a light hearted mystery and it was a very quick read. Rating 3.5 stars because I was pretty let down with the ending of the book.
I was given this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for choosing me to do so.
April 21, 2023
It’s fun to be back with Coco and her friends, in this newest entry in Burr’s Trending Topic Mysteries series. Not only are Burr’s characters likable and relatable but the mystery’s a nice balance of clues, red herrings and suspects that will keep you guessing. I’m always on the lookout for cozies that feature unique careers and Coco’s work in the social media sphere hits the spot. This cozy broaches some tougher topic so be sure to check the CWs. Since this is book two in the series, so be sure to check out #FollowMe for Murder, the first book.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Level Best Books, IBPA in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Level Best Books, IBPA in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
April 25, 2023
Coco is now running her empire and working with the local police as part of her CoA duties. When a state auditor, who was also her neighbor, is found murdered and Jasper is the main suspect, Coco adds her sleuthing hat into the rotation.
While NO ONE liked Larry Dunmer, Coco is certain Jasper did not do the man in, but who did? Needing more than just hearsay and gut feelings, Coco needs to find the murder and get the proof to save her life long friend, or she’ll be pulled under herself.
This is the second book in the series and it’s even better than the first! The author does a great job at using Social Media, User names/handle and such to build into the mysteries and her characters really come to life. This is a greatly enjoyable series based in the fictional seaside town of Central Shores, Delaware and a visit to the shore is ALWAYS a good thing!
While NO ONE liked Larry Dunmer, Coco is certain Jasper did not do the man in, but who did? Needing more than just hearsay and gut feelings, Coco needs to find the murder and get the proof to save her life long friend, or she’ll be pulled under herself.
This is the second book in the series and it’s even better than the first! The author does a great job at using Social Media, User names/handle and such to build into the mysteries and her characters really come to life. This is a greatly enjoyable series based in the fictional seaside town of Central Shores, Delaware and a visit to the shore is ALWAYS a good thing!
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