Death By Lotto 5

Josiah Reynolds Mysteries #5

by Abigail Keam

Ethel Bradley thinks someone is trying to kill her, but doesn't know who or why. She enlists the help of her childhood friend, Lady Elsmere, but Lady Elsmere has troubles of her own in the form of a ne'er-do-well English nephew who's trying to steal her estate. Both women turn to Josiah Reynolds, who has just returned from New York. Josiah calls Detective Goetz who recommends a shamus named Walter Neff. Walter and Josiah scour the Bluegrass for answers that turn out to be deadly. To make matters worse for Josiah, Fred O'nan is a free man and gunning for her. Josiah, full of sass and vinegar, meets these challenges head on with the support of her friends, Franklin and Matt. Will Josiah be thwarted this time? Kentucky can be a cruel mistress to the those wanting justice and exacts a high price for it. Sometimes the "dark and bloody ground" demands double indemnity. This is something Josiah knows very well. Very well indeed.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Ebooks, Amazon, Suspense

174 pages, Paperback

First published February 12, 2013

About the author

Hello Gentle Reader,

I am Abigail Keam, the award-winning author of the Josiah Reynolds Mystery Series and the 1930s Mona Moon Mystery Series.

I am a professional beekeeper and have won 16 awards for my honey. I live in a metal house overlooking the Kentucky River. I have the great fortune to live near some of the most beautiful horse farms in the Bluegrass.

In addition to the Josiah Reynolds Mysteries, I also write the Princess Maura Tales (Epic Fantasy) and the Last Chance Motel Series (Sweet Romance).

I love animals, Kentucky bourbon, and chocolate. Now if they could combine bourbon and chocolate together, I would be in heaven.

I come from a family of storytellers, so it was only natural I would put my stories to paper. I do so hope my tales give you some pleasure and enjoyment. I would certainly love to hear from you. Signing off now to get back to writing. Yours truly,
Miss Abigail

AWARDS
2010 Gold Medal Award from Readers’ Favorite for Death By A HoneyBee: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery

2011 Gold Medal Award from Readers' Favorite for Death By Drowning: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery

2011 USA BOOK NEWS-Best Books List of 2011 as a Finalist for Death By Drowning: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery

2011 USA BOOK NEWS-Best Books List of 2011 as a Finalist for Death By A HoneyBee: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery

2017 Finalist from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Design: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery

2019 Honorable Mention from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Stalking: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery

2019 Murder Under A Blue Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Mystery voted top ten mystery reads by Kings River Life Magazine

2020 Finalist from Readers' Favorite for Murder Under A Blue Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Mystery

2020 Imadjinn Award for Best Mystery for Death By Stalking

2022 Finalist in Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Finalist for Best Historical Category - Murder Under A Full Moon

2022 Finalist the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award for Best Historical Category - Murder Under A New Moon

2022 Death By Chance: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Finalist for Best Cozy Mystery

Reviews

[Staci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this author's work and I enjoy this character and series of books. That being said, I didn't enjoy this effort. The plot seemed light and the ending abrupt and unsatisfying.

[Norma Johnson Prahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like to read series. This series is easy reading and good at the same time.

[Cissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book in the series was very short indeed! And despite the title, no one actually dies, though it's a close call.

The details on the lotto ticket did confuse me. On the one hand, Ethel fell asleep so did not discover her lotto ticket had won; on the other hand her nephew messed up the numbers- that she'd been using for years- so even if she had not fallen asleep she would likely not have checked the numbers on the ticket against the winners; she would have assumed that he had used the correct numbers, and that she had lost. So that was confusing, though since it was a "losing" ticket, her carelessness with it makes sense.

It did progress many of the characters, so I am happy to have read it. And after the grimness of the previous one, this was a relief.

I have headed straight into #6!

[Betty Melton · Rating 5 out of 5]

#5 and just gets better

Not only better but more Kentucky history as well. I assume the facts are accurate, but it not that is Ok. I'm reading for escapism and not education. Enjoy learning about bee keeping. Have never really read about them before this series.

[Donna Ann Sutcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love these books. The characters are so real and I almost feel I am in Lexington. Friends are an important part of these books. This was not an actual murder this time but attempted murder over a winning lotto ticket. Great reads to snuggle with a mug of coffee.

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just can’t stop reading these books

They’re so much fun and unput downable lol so not getting much done but loving these books so much they’re quite wonderful so dashing on to the chocolate feast that awaits me in the next instalment

[Glenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Josiah Reynolds Mysteries book 5. I love this cozy series about a beekeeper living in a wonderful home called The Butterfly. Looking forward to book 6 "Death by Chocolate" listed as coming soon.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as previous novels. It is short on plot, heavy on Kentucky history. The mystery is simple and doesn't grab you as well as previous novels.

[Janice Falvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the books by Abigail Keam, but this one ended so abruptly, it's as if she couldn't think of a good ending.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the first book of this series. Haven't read any since, but this was definitely not as good as the first one.

[jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

A good read with some twists, I even learned some things. My cat and i can't wait to start the next one.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've loved this series up until now. Sorry Abigail but you let us down on this one with shortcuts and triviality. Now I am hesitant to continue the series.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this lighthearted series until now. This book was a real let down. Short and predictable. Hopefully the next book in the series will be better.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable Josiah Reynolds mystery!!! A must read series!!!

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's a nice cozy mystery series with Josiah Reynolds, a financially struggling widow who owns a farm in Kentucky bluegrass country. She's a bit banged up in this one, still recovering from an attempt on her life by a former student-turned-cop who blames her for his getting kicked out of school for cheating.
There's a lovable cast of characters in this series and the plots are good. This one features a lost lottery ticket, the owner who doesn't remember what she did with it, a nephew who's in debt to a bookie, and a shamus who may not be on the up-and-up. Who finds the lottery ticket and how? How do the nephew and the detective fit in?
These are not long books and they don't make you think hard, but they're fun.

[Valorie Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Money is the root of all evil !!!!!!

I give this book 10 stars!!!!
Josiah had her hands full when she returned home.
Everyone was pulling her in different directions, and most were her two dear friends Lady Elsmere and Ethel, not to forget about Matt and Franklin.
The relatives that come out of the woodwork when large sums of money is to be had, the things people do to their families to get it.
Then a sleezy private detective gets hired and things get real bad. And Josiah's past is still running behind her and catching up fast, but she has people watching her back she knows nothing about.
You got to read this book, don't look for sleeping much.

[CatJuggler · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was definitely NOT one of her best.

I'm wondering if Ginny Yancey read the same book I did.
BTW, people, the"fillers" about Kentucky are there for two reasons; half the book is to teach us about Kentuck' history. The less of a story line, the greater amount of Kentucky history we get.

I wish she'd cut out the gratuitous blasphemy.
The less funny a comedian is, the more they swear. I guess the same can be said about authors with sex and blasphemy.

[Annette · Rating 1 out of 5]

Decided it wasn't worth my time. I will - perhaps to my discredit - put up with swearing and other immoral behavior, but when a mystery opens with all of these things before an interesting plot can even develop, and when I can tell the writing isn't all that good in the first place, I give up a few pages in.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For once Josiah doesn't get physically mauled in this book. Rotten relatives was much of the theme of this 5th book in the series. Best parts of the book surround baby and the kittens, very funny visuals!

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the character of Josiah. She is like the eccentric aunt we all love to visit. The only reason I did not give 5 stars is because I did get a bit confused with all the names thrown around. I am planning to go and buy more of these books as soon as I can.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was better than the last one. Also, I always learn something about bees in this series which is cool. No one died in this book - no murder. There were a couple of loose ends that she didn't close which always bugs me, but other than that it ended well.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad, not good. It wraps up suddenly wit no indication as to how they came to this conclusion. It also leave some dangling threads to entice you to continue the series. Didn’t work with me. I’m finished

[Chris Blackton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder for the winnings from a lottery ticket is cliche so this was not one of Ms. Keam’s better books. The sub plot about Lady Ellsmere’s nephew was also a subject that has been overused and did not have enough substance.

[Jill James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twists and turns

I just love how all the twists and turns come together. Very entertaining without being too confusing. On to the next one.

[Tani Garberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josiah always figures it out!

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little less melodramatic than usual.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Linda T · Rating 2 out of 5]

the writing is good that the characters are shallow. The good are very good. The bad very bad. Things are a little obvious.

[Barbara Creger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book

Easy read. Interesting story that kept my attention from start to finish. Good, short mystery. Entertaining from beginning to end.

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 4th Josiah Reynolds mystery I've read. They were all Kindle freebies. I don't think I'll read any more; very weak.