Whacked!

by Amy Corwin

Cassie is sure her gentle uncle didn’t murder anyone, but things look bad for him when a body is discovered on his property. He’s a convenient scapegoat for a town that has a lot of uncomfortable secrets to hide, but they don’t reckon with Cassie Edwards.

Sheriff Jim Fletcher would like nothing better than to solve Peyton’s first murder in decades. Unfortunately, he has doubts that Cassie’s uncle, a noted but loopy horticulturalist, could pull himself together long enough to kill a younger and much tougher man. But what little evidence he can find only muddies the water and before long, he has to buck his superiors and keep Cassie out of trouble long enough to solve this bizarre case.

Whacked is a funny, fast-paced mystery where nothing is what it seems and the lines between innocence and guilt are fuzzy at best.

278 pages, Hardcover

First published December 19, 2012

About the author

Amy Corwin is a charter member of the Romance Writers of America and recently joined Mystery Writers of America. She has been writing for the last ten years and managing a career as an enterprise systems administrator in the computer industry. She writes Regencies/historicals, mysteries, and contemporary paranormals. To be truthful, most of her books include a bit of murder and mayhem since she discovered that killing off at least one character is a highly effective way to make the remaining ones toe the plot line.
Amy’s books include the two Regency romances, SMUGGLED ROSE, and LOVE, THE CRITIC; three Regency romantic mysteries, I BID ONE AMERICAN, THE BRICKLAYER’S HELPER, and THE NECKLACE; and her first paranormal, VAMPIRE PROTECTOR.
WHACKED!, a contemporary mystery from Five Star, will be out in 2012, and her most current historical mysteries include THE VITAL PRINCIPLE--a Second Sons Mystery.

Reviews

[Georgie Wiebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I want to say thanks to goodreads first reads program and the author for my copy of Whacked!

This book was written in a way that made it an easy and pleasurable read. Cassie arrives to her Aunt and Uncle’s house to house sit only to discover her aunt is gone and her uncle stoned out of his mind trying to share a joint with a dead man that he doesn’t realize is dead. Cassie does her best to cover up her uncle being there but when the sheriff arrives it turns out that he is her best friend’s brother, Jim. And being that the last time they saw each other was her prom night and she threw up on him, Cassie is nervous and frustrated that he will be investigating her family. Cassie being a problem solver tries to help with the investigation and her closeness to Jim reminds her that she once had a huge crush on him. Well I’m not going to give away any more. And I definitely recommend this book it had a great story and loveable characters along with a murder that needs to be solved.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book from a giveaway and have to say I couldnt be happier. This was a great read, I couldnt put the book down, not because it was a edge of your seat suspence, but because I was just enjoying the book so much. I loved getting to know the main characters and the humor that was laced in their back and forth conversations. There were several times where I could relate to Cassie in her distrust of authority figures, though I was rooting for her an Jim to get together because of their history and their personalities seemed to work perfect together. I truly enjoyed this book as a murder suspence that was not filled with blood and gore that added humor and light heartedness making you really enjoy the characters and story line.

[Jaime K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.

Cassiopeia heads home to Peyton for a two-week vacation after her job in Raleigh leaves her so stressed she's developing ulcers. She finds her stoned uncle trying to smoke with a dead guy, and everything snowballs from there.

The big question is: Did Uncle Frank kill the guy, or is there something else going on?

It was a fun read without much romance (which is good, because I found that this was more of a comedic suspense, and the relationship stuff was just added material) and some crazy twists and turns. It was a different take on working-girl-come-home fiction and I enjoyed reading it.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as a First Reads book. I do have to say I totally loved it. I thought it was a great whodunnit with whimsical and firm characters. I loved the suspense and the splash of romance. Very good read.

[Cathy]

THIS WAS A FAST EASY READ. ENJOYED IT