What do you think?
Rate this book
An Ashton Corners Book Club Mystery #2
Read and Buried
Hosting an award-winning novelist is quite a Christmas coup for the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straw Society. But when he’s murdered in Lizzie Turner’s house, she’s got a holiday homicide on her hands …For their very first guest author event, most of the book club members can’t wait to pull out all the stops in Southern hospitality. But for Lizzie, Derek Alton is nothing but trouble—from his massive ego to his smarmy moves. When he’s found murdered in her living room, it seems someone decided that this womanizing writer would be better off dead than read.
After suspicion falls on Lizzie’s friend, she and her fellow book club members discover that Derek wasn’t who he pretended to be. Cracking this case means going up against Lizzie’s boyfriend, police chief Mark Dreyfus, and unearthing a novel’s worth of nasty secrets. And as they get closer to uncovering Derek’s scandalous final manuscript, someone hiding in plain sight is out to write finis to Lizzie’s sleuthing for good…
After suspicion falls on Lizzie’s friend, she and her fellow book club members discover that Derek wasn’t who he pretended to be. Cracking this case means going up against Lizzie’s boyfriend, police chief Mark Dreyfus, and unearthing a novel’s worth of nasty secrets. And as they get closer to uncovering Derek’s scandalous final manuscript, someone hiding in plain sight is out to write finis to Lizzie’s sleuthing for good…
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 4, 2012
29 people are currently reading
690 people want to read
About the author
Erika Chase
5 books119 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Erika writes the Ashton Corners Book Club mysteries for Penguin/Berkley Prime Crime. In a parallel life Erika Chase is also known as Linda Wiken. A former mystery bookstore owner (Prime Crime Books in Ottawa, ON, Canada), Linda is also a short story writer. She is a member of those dangerous dames, The Ladies' Killing Circle.
Her short stories have appeared in the seven Ladies’ Killing Circle anthologies (three of which she co-edited), and in the magazines Mysterious Intent and Over My Dead Body. She has been short-listed for an Arthur Ellis Award, Best Short Story, from Crime Writers of Canada.
Before life in the world of mystery, she worked as an advertising copywriter, radio producer, journalist and community education worker. Besides writing and reading mysteries, her other passion is choral singing and she is a member of two choirs.
She shares her house with Keesha and Mojo, her two Siamese cats. Actually, they allow her to live there.
Erika writes the Ashton Corners Book Club mysteries for Penguin/Berkley Prime Crime. In a parallel life Erika Chase is also known as Linda Wiken. A former mystery bookstore owner (Prime Crime Books in Ottawa, ON, Canada), Linda is also a short story writer. She is a member of those dangerous dames, The Ladies' Killing Circle.
Her short stories have appeared in the seven Ladies’ Killing Circle anthologies (three of which she co-edited), and in the magazines Mysterious Intent and Over My Dead Body. She has been short-listed for an Arthur Ellis Award, Best Short Story, from Crime Writers of Canada.
Before life in the world of mystery, she worked as an advertising copywriter, radio producer, journalist and community education worker. Besides writing and reading mysteries, her other passion is choral singing and she is a member of two choirs.
She shares her house with Keesha and Mojo, her two Siamese cats. Actually, they allow her to live there.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
September 16, 2022
While at her favorite bookstore, Lizzie Turner gets maneuvered into inviting visiting author Derek Alton to the next meeting of Ashton Corners Mystery Readers & Cheese Straw Society. The smarmy, self-centered, womanizing author invites her to dinner--supposedly to talk about the book club appearance--but it soon becomes apparent that he has something very different in mind. She turns him down flat and leaves the restaurant. Undaunted, the man shows up the next day to "apologize" and "really, truly talk about the book club." Lizzie was in the middle of decorating for Christmas and he insists that she continue while they talk. She has her back to him...and the window...while hanging a bunch of mistletoe...when somebody decides to take a potshot at him. Somebody who has aimed to kill.
Lizzie's boyfriend, Police Chief Mark Dreyfus, is very perturbed at the incident. But Lizzie thinks he's more upset about the strange man in her living room than the fact that the strange man was murdered. And he and his side-kick Officer Craig seem intent on finding Lizzie's behavior suspicious. But they soon discover that there are plenty of suspects running around town. Because Derek Alton used to live in the area (under another name) and set his first, award-winning book in a small Southern town that seems a lot like Ashton Corners...and the secrets that made the book so interesting are thinly disguised versions of real incidents. And apparently he had a sequel planned that was going to spill even more dirt. So...who felt the need to kill before their secret made it into print?
A kindof decent cozy mystery that I just didn't connect with. I thought a mystery with a book club would be right up my alley. But Lizzie doesn't do much for me as a protagonist. Her answers when Mark and Officer Craig are taking her statement are daft. Why on earth doesn't she tell the straight story the first time? And, if Chase wasn't deliberately trying to make Lizzie look suspicious to the police....well, then that was just poor writing because Lizzie definitely sounds suspicious. And she shouldn't. Especially since the Chief is her boyfriend. There are suspects crawling out of the woodwork, we don't need our main character looking suspicious for no good reason.
And...Lizzie as an amateur detective doesn't really work well either. She spends most of her time running errands and just plain running (every morning come slush or shine). And she goes to work. Sure, she asks questions here and there and digs up a few clues. But it just doesn't feel like a real mystery investigation. And while I spotted the culprit early on--I couldn't give you a good reason why that was so. No real clues come along--there are a few odd conversations that set my suspect radar off, but even when everything gets tidied up at the end, there aren't a list of clues that I could point to and say "See, this and this and that all point to X." Oh...and the ending is a bit rushed and convenient. The culprit just comes along and threatens Lizzie and the cops conveniently show up and cuff them. End of mystery.
Definitely not as good as anticipated.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
Lizzie's boyfriend, Police Chief Mark Dreyfus, is very perturbed at the incident. But Lizzie thinks he's more upset about the strange man in her living room than the fact that the strange man was murdered. And he and his side-kick Officer Craig seem intent on finding Lizzie's behavior suspicious. But they soon discover that there are plenty of suspects running around town. Because Derek Alton used to live in the area (under another name) and set his first, award-winning book in a small Southern town that seems a lot like Ashton Corners...and the secrets that made the book so interesting are thinly disguised versions of real incidents. And apparently he had a sequel planned that was going to spill even more dirt. So...who felt the need to kill before their secret made it into print?
A kindof decent cozy mystery that I just didn't connect with. I thought a mystery with a book club would be right up my alley. But Lizzie doesn't do much for me as a protagonist. Her answers when Mark and Officer Craig are taking her statement are daft. Why on earth doesn't she tell the straight story the first time? And, if Chase wasn't deliberately trying to make Lizzie look suspicious to the police....well, then that was just poor writing because Lizzie definitely sounds suspicious. And she shouldn't. Especially since the Chief is her boyfriend. There are suspects crawling out of the woodwork, we don't need our main character looking suspicious for no good reason.
And...Lizzie as an amateur detective doesn't really work well either. She spends most of her time running errands and just plain running (every morning come slush or shine). And she goes to work. Sure, she asks questions here and there and digs up a few clues. But it just doesn't feel like a real mystery investigation. And while I spotted the culprit early on--I couldn't give you a good reason why that was so. No real clues come along--there are a few odd conversations that set my suspect radar off, but even when everything gets tidied up at the end, there aren't a list of clues that I could point to and say "See, this and this and that all point to X." Oh...and the ending is a bit rushed and convenient. The culprit just comes along and threatens Lizzie and the cops conveniently show up and cuff them. End of mystery.
Definitely not as good as anticipated.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
March 15, 2019
AUTHOR Chase, Erika
TITLE Read and Buried
DATE READ 03/14/19
RATING 4/B
FIRST SENTENCE "Lizzie Turner, you'd like a signed copy of Derek Alton's award-winning book, wouldn't you?"
GENRE/ PUB DATE/PUBLISHER / # OF Cozy Mystery/2012/Berkley Crime/287 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE #2 Ashton Corners Book Club
CHALLENGE Good Reads 2109 Books Read 38/111; US States & DC - AL12/51
GROUP READ WIM
CHARACTERS Lizzie Turner/reading specialist
TIME/PLACE 2012/Ashton Corners, Alabama
COMMENTS A nice cozy read … my 1st time for this author and series. Lizzie Turner is a reading specialist and also member/leader of the Ashton Corners Book Club. She meets Derek Alton at the local bookstore and he wants to come to her bookclub. They have dinner to discuss his visit to the bookclub… the next day he stops by her home for more information … this would be his final stop in Ashton Corners … he was shot and killed in Lizzie's living room. I enjoyed the town and the residents. Although there were many viable suspects … I was leaning towards one.
TITLE Read and Buried
DATE READ 03/14/19
RATING 4/B
FIRST SENTENCE "Lizzie Turner, you'd like a signed copy of Derek Alton's award-winning book, wouldn't you?"
GENRE/ PUB DATE/PUBLISHER / # OF Cozy Mystery/2012/Berkley Crime/287 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE #2 Ashton Corners Book Club
CHALLENGE Good Reads 2109 Books Read 38/111; US States & DC - AL12/51
GROUP READ WIM
CHARACTERS Lizzie Turner/reading specialist
TIME/PLACE 2012/Ashton Corners, Alabama
COMMENTS A nice cozy read … my 1st time for this author and series. Lizzie Turner is a reading specialist and also member/leader of the Ashton Corners Book Club. She meets Derek Alton at the local bookstore and he wants to come to her bookclub. They have dinner to discuss his visit to the bookclub… the next day he stops by her home for more information … this would be his final stop in Ashton Corners … he was shot and killed in Lizzie's living room. I enjoyed the town and the residents. Although there were many viable suspects … I was leaning towards one.
July 10, 2018
A Clever Cozy
Read and Buried is the second in author Erica Chase's Ashton Corners Book Club series. Readers continue to learn about characters from the first novel in a new murder investigation.
This book was a fun, quick read. The book list at the end was a cherry on top for a bookworm like me.
Read and Buried is the second in author Erica Chase's Ashton Corners Book Club series. Readers continue to learn about characters from the first novel in a new murder investigation.
This book was a fun, quick read. The book list at the end was a cherry on top for a bookworm like me.
December 28, 2017
really enjoyed this cosy mystery one of my favourite genres especially during winter. 5 star rating
January 5, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I had my guess on the murderer but kept second guessing myself after a new suspect was brought to light. I am happy to say I was correct! I look forward to the next book in this series.
November 25, 2016
There is a writing term called a “Mary Sue.” It stands for a “perfect” character in a novel which is often clearly modeled after the author. Yes, it’s an obvious and unprofessional thing to do, but it still happens. In Read and Buried, the second cozy in the Ashton Corners Book Club Mystery series, club organizer meets a best-selling author in a bookstore. Pressured by the store owner to invite him to speak at the next club meeting, Lizzie begins a journey which suggests author Derek Alton has placed himself as something quite different than a “Mary Sue” in his most famous novel.
Now, nearly every novelist uses the people she or he has observed or known as composite characters in their work. It is, however, not usually considered good form to put the real persons in as characters—especially with only a thin veneer of disguise. With Alton, his narcissism was so strong that he intended to drag real people from his life into his novel. And he didn’t intend to pretend that the term “Mary Sue” fit them, either. And then, as anyone who reads the cover synopsis knows, Alton is killed in Lizzie Turner’s living room. I’ll give you a cheap spoiler. Lizzie didn’t do it. Of course, you could probably figure that out. Otherwise the whole series would probably end right there (although, I suppose other members of the club could pick up the banner—it just wouldn’t be as fun).
Naturally, having a celebrity killed in her home didn’t particularly endear her to her law enforcement boyfriend nor his by-the-book deputy. Officer Craig has always seemed to have it out for Lizzie and that makes for some tense moments in our story. One part of that interaction proves not to be what I was expecting. The mystery itself is relatively straightforward. I was reasonably certain of the perpetrator from early on, but was utterly fascinated with the way the plot unfolded.
These novels by Erika Chase are interesting in that Lizzie tends to solve the murders and other mysteries with more procedural diligence than the professionals. On the other hand, there is clearly an amateurish naivete to her procedures. She often confronts people too directly and she really has no leverage with which to winch the information out of them. So, she ends up putting herself in danger more than would strictly be necessary. Of course, that’s part of the charm of these stories.
It also seems as if there is another mystery to be solved besides the central murder in these novels. I really like that. The pattern in the first two books is that these side-quest mysteries, usually solved in parallel with the murder mysteries are significant to understanding the background of the story, but doesn’t necessarily help solve it. In this case, it illuminates more of the character of the victim, but doesn’t really solve anything. Even when one understands the relationship of this ancillary character, it really only lets you write off one more “red herring” suspect. Frankly, there are plenty of suspects to go around. Of course, the police procedural investigation does bear some results, but not until things get way too dangerous for Lizzie.
If you read this volume, you’ll be satisfied with discovering the culprit—but you may find that the culprit is almost as much victim as Alton himself. If you’re like me, you certainly won’t feel able to gloat about the solution—even if you’re right from early on as I was. I was pulled into these by the delightful puns in the titles, but I’m sticking with it because I enjoy hanging out with the characters. If you’re looking for fast, satisfying cozy mystery with characters you’d like to know--Read and Buried and its predecessor, A Killer Read, are perfect escapes for an afternoon or two.
Now, nearly every novelist uses the people she or he has observed or known as composite characters in their work. It is, however, not usually considered good form to put the real persons in as characters—especially with only a thin veneer of disguise. With Alton, his narcissism was so strong that he intended to drag real people from his life into his novel. And he didn’t intend to pretend that the term “Mary Sue” fit them, either. And then, as anyone who reads the cover synopsis knows, Alton is killed in Lizzie Turner’s living room. I’ll give you a cheap spoiler. Lizzie didn’t do it. Of course, you could probably figure that out. Otherwise the whole series would probably end right there (although, I suppose other members of the club could pick up the banner—it just wouldn’t be as fun).
Naturally, having a celebrity killed in her home didn’t particularly endear her to her law enforcement boyfriend nor his by-the-book deputy. Officer Craig has always seemed to have it out for Lizzie and that makes for some tense moments in our story. One part of that interaction proves not to be what I was expecting. The mystery itself is relatively straightforward. I was reasonably certain of the perpetrator from early on, but was utterly fascinated with the way the plot unfolded.
These novels by Erika Chase are interesting in that Lizzie tends to solve the murders and other mysteries with more procedural diligence than the professionals. On the other hand, there is clearly an amateurish naivete to her procedures. She often confronts people too directly and she really has no leverage with which to winch the information out of them. So, she ends up putting herself in danger more than would strictly be necessary. Of course, that’s part of the charm of these stories.
It also seems as if there is another mystery to be solved besides the central murder in these novels. I really like that. The pattern in the first two books is that these side-quest mysteries, usually solved in parallel with the murder mysteries are significant to understanding the background of the story, but doesn’t necessarily help solve it. In this case, it illuminates more of the character of the victim, but doesn’t really solve anything. Even when one understands the relationship of this ancillary character, it really only lets you write off one more “red herring” suspect. Frankly, there are plenty of suspects to go around. Of course, the police procedural investigation does bear some results, but not until things get way too dangerous for Lizzie.
If you read this volume, you’ll be satisfied with discovering the culprit—but you may find that the culprit is almost as much victim as Alton himself. If you’re like me, you certainly won’t feel able to gloat about the solution—even if you’re right from early on as I was. I was pulled into these by the delightful puns in the titles, but I’m sticking with it because I enjoy hanging out with the characters. If you’re looking for fast, satisfying cozy mystery with characters you’d like to know--Read and Buried and its predecessor, A Killer Read, are perfect escapes for an afternoon or two.
October 13, 2013
There is a nice cast and once again, Erika Chase's mystery portion is something you could believe would drive people to crime. However most of the journey is filler. Someone who loves mystery didn't know how to carry it off. It is understandable for a new writer. I get the sense she thought-out a crime story but didn't know how to travel from introduction to conclusion. Lizzy Turner investigates almost nothing until near the end. Readers watch her run errands. Erika’s ‘beta readers’ squandered the opportunity to help her.
The flavour of a protagonist’s lifestyle is fine if it doesn’t dominate the action. Endless appointments might entertain hectic people. I winces at people with anything more than a career scheduling life away. This book made me dizzy. I also noticed repetitive 'devices': frequently saying "totally frustrated" and Lizzy "runs to answer the phone on the final ring, before going to the answering machine". Could she occasionally just pick up a phone? Need there be frenzy the few hours she is home? Even there, a call or knock jolts the already rare peace, as if the author thought this was how to create incidents. It's fine to let moments simmer.
She abbreviated interesting scenes: dinner with Mark, meeting Stephanie's baby.... but elaborated on the mundane of jogging and her job! Chapters end on no cliff-hangers or drama but on whichever routine she was highlighting! Had she hinted at the mystery along the way, it would be explosive. It was like a concert with too many unfamiliar songs. By the time the band unrolls a hit the impact is dull, the momentum missed. This is a worthwhile series, if the author makes the majority of events chip away at the plot. Otherwise it is general fiction, failing the electricty that should permeate.
The flavour of a protagonist’s lifestyle is fine if it doesn’t dominate the action. Endless appointments might entertain hectic people. I winces at people with anything more than a career scheduling life away. This book made me dizzy. I also noticed repetitive 'devices': frequently saying "totally frustrated" and Lizzy "runs to answer the phone on the final ring, before going to the answering machine". Could she occasionally just pick up a phone? Need there be frenzy the few hours she is home? Even there, a call or knock jolts the already rare peace, as if the author thought this was how to create incidents. It's fine to let moments simmer.
She abbreviated interesting scenes: dinner with Mark, meeting Stephanie's baby.... but elaborated on the mundane of jogging and her job! Chapters end on no cliff-hangers or drama but on whichever routine she was highlighting! Had she hinted at the mystery along the way, it would be explosive. It was like a concert with too many unfamiliar songs. By the time the band unrolls a hit the impact is dull, the momentum missed. This is a worthwhile series, if the author makes the majority of events chip away at the plot. Otherwise it is general fiction, failing the electricty that should permeate.
March 26, 2013
Guess what Lizzie was doing when the victim was shot. She was hanging mistletoe, that's what. How do I know? Because she says it about ten frigging times in the recounting of what happened in the first few chapters. It was like hanging the mistletoe was a bigger crime than the man getting killed, like she was leading him on or having a relationship with a stranger because she was hanging a sprig of the stuff. I have to say, a good editor should've pointed out that once, maybe twice was enough. It was incredibly annoying.
That's not the only repetition in the book, either. I'm only giving it a two because I did like a few of the characters. Even so, I doubt I'll be looking up number one of this series.
That's not the only repetition in the book, either. I'm only giving it a two because I did like a few of the characters. Even so, I doubt I'll be looking up number one of this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2013
Saved this one for a holiday read. I love cozies in December, especially holiday themed cozies that take place in the South. Holiday themed cozies that take place in the South and encompass books in the story, either library, book selling or book club. This is the latter and it's a mystery book club...I'd join a mystery book club.
Lizzie is the main character and is hosting the book club this time around. She gets finagled into inviting a visiting mystery author, one who's last book won some award lo, these many years ago...he's still coasting on this one...and thinks quite highly of himself. Then gets himself killed in Lizzie's home. Or was she the intended victim?
Smooth transition into amateur sleuth, nicely done.
I look forward to reading more of this series.
Lizzie is the main character and is hosting the book club this time around. She gets finagled into inviting a visiting mystery author, one who's last book won some award lo, these many years ago...he's still coasting on this one...and thinks quite highly of himself. Then gets himself killed in Lizzie's home. Or was she the intended victim?
Smooth transition into amateur sleuth, nicely done.
I look forward to reading more of this series.
March 7, 2017
So while I enjoyed the story and characters n general, it left me dissatisfied. The book didn't resolve all the storylines it opened as part of its ruse to get you thinking maybe this person was the guilty party. The biggest issue though was the ending. It just seemed rushed and convenient. It was like the author hit her word count/page number quota (or maybe her deadline) and decided to wrap it all up at once. It was just too easy and flat. I'll read book three but if it has the same lackadaisical (nicest way I can phrase it as it really felt more smashed together in a quick writing spurt that wasn't reviewed or read by anyone before being published (aka half-assed)) approach, I won't finish the series.
January 20, 2020
This series is the poster child for "If you must set a book in a place you've never lived, do lots of research and have someone (maybe several someones) from the region help you with cultural references and language". Chase, a Canadian, has set this series in Alabama and continues to demonstrate her total ignorance about the region. For the record, Alabamians do not eat cornbread "buns" and azaleas do not bloom in December.
Then there is the poorly written plot, which is full of holes and makes no sense regarding what the amateurs (Lizzie) discovers and what one would expect the police to accomplish.
A very poorly written book.
Then there is the poorly written plot, which is full of holes and makes no sense regarding what the amateurs (Lizzie) discovers and what one would expect the police to accomplish.
A very poorly written book.
September 20, 2016
Not bad. I like the mix of characters, and the group approach to the mystery, but it gets rather repetitive in places, and seems to have quite a lot of diversions along the way.
December 30, 2016
A little light "fluff" reading as I like to call it. Entertaining and interesting characters. I'll read more in this series.
November 30, 2019
Read 100+ pgs and skimmed - same old same old. Getting more picky with my cozies.
January 6, 2024
Hosting an award-winning novelist is quite a Christmas coup for the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straw Society. But when he's murdered in Lizzie Turner's house, she's got a holiday homicide on her hands . . . For their very first guest author event, most of the book club members can't wait to pull out all the stops in Southern hospitality. But for Lizzie, Derek Alton is nothing but trouble - from his massive ego to his smarmy moves. When he's found murdered in her living room, it seems someone decided that this womanizing writer would be better off dead than read. After suspicion falls on Lizzie's friend, she and her fellow book club members discover that Derek wasn't who he pretended to be. Cracking this case means going up against Lizzie's boyfriend, police chief Mark Dreyfus,andunearthing a novel's worth of nasty secrets. And as they get closer to uncovering Derek's scandalous final manuscript, someone hiding in plain sight is out to write finisto Lizzie's sleuthing for good . . . Praise for the Aston Corners Book Club Mysteries'Southern charm, excellent reading suggestions, and an engaging amateur sleuth.' Miranda James, New York Times bestselling author of the Cat in the Stacks Mysteries'Books, cats, and a tenderhearted sleuth, a perfect combination!' Krista Davis, national bestselling author of the Domestic Diva Mysteries'A terrific debut!' Mary Jane Maffini'Readers should have high hopes for this series.' Avery Aames
March 22, 2020
Renowned author Derek Alton dropped into Lizzie Turner's house unannounced to ask about the members of the book club he would be speaking to. While in Lizzie's living room, Derek is stuck by a bullet shot through the window and killed instantly. This kind of crime does not happen in Ashton Corners, Alabama. Lizzie and the members of the book club are determined to find out who killed the author. Their questions do not always meet with the approval of the local police. They discover Derek Alton was a man of mystery. No biographical information exists of his life before winning a prestigious book award 18 years earlier. Then Lizzie learns, he once lived in Ashton Corners. She receives several strange phone calls from women who will not identify themselves but want to know if the author discussed his new book with Lizzie. Then another shot is fired through Lizzie's kitchen window. The police give her round-the-clock protection. Lizzie doubles her efforts to discover why Derek Alton was in Ashton Corners and who are these women who are so concerned about what is in his next book. Interesting characters, although so many it 1s difficult to keep track of all of them. Sometimes drifts into soap-opera territory, but still a satisfying page-turner.
July 5, 2023
Lizzie’s schedule is full of holiday plans, helping her students reach their goals and participating in the various holiday related events, like caroling, concerts, and pageants, so she didn’t need an extra event inserted into her life, but can’t seem to say no when her friend Jensey Pollard asks her to have the author Derek Alton attend the book club, to talk to the members about his writing and books. Agreeing, she’s not impressed by his supercilious, egotistical personality, and does not appreciate when he appears on her doorstep as she’s decorating her house, but her southern manners won’t let her tell him no. When he’s shot to death from a rifle fired into the room while Lizzie’s back was turned, her holiday spirit flees in the face of his death, the disruption to her home, and Mark’s sudden aloofness at the situation. Wrapping up the school tasks before the holiday break, rehearsing with the choir, and finding clues to who would have wanted to kill the man and why keep Lizzie busy, not to mention all the usual hectic hustling of the season. Can she keep her spirits up, or will the killer, like the Grinch, ruin her plans?
February 29, 2024
This is the second book of a 5 book series. I have not read any of the other books. The Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society is an interesting group of six people ranging from a high school girl to a retired police chief. They are friends who enjoy discussing mystery novels --- and keeping up on the happenings in their small
Southern town. The leader of the group, Lizzie Turner, a late 20s/early 30s young woman, is also the reading specialist for the local school district.....and her boyfriend is the current police chief! ....Derek Alton, author of a prize-winning mystery, happened to be visiting the town and gets invited to discuss his writing at the next meeting of the club. .... Unfortunately, he is shot to death while visiting Lizzie's home. --- Why was Alton visiting Ashton Corners? Did Alton live in town at one time? Why would someone want him dead? What was his new book about? Would secrets of the town be revealed in the new book? Of course, the book club members --and especially Lizzie want to help in finding the killer!! -- Interesting characters and a good story.
Southern town. The leader of the group, Lizzie Turner, a late 20s/early 30s young woman, is also the reading specialist for the local school district.....and her boyfriend is the current police chief! ....Derek Alton, author of a prize-winning mystery, happened to be visiting the town and gets invited to discuss his writing at the next meeting of the club. .... Unfortunately, he is shot to death while visiting Lizzie's home. --- Why was Alton visiting Ashton Corners? Did Alton live in town at one time? Why would someone want him dead? What was his new book about? Would secrets of the town be revealed in the new book? Of course, the book club members --and especially Lizzie want to help in finding the killer!! -- Interesting characters and a good story.
March 1, 2020
#2 - Ashton Corners (Alabama) Book Club Mysteries
Okay. Sequel to A Killer Read.
Small, but culturally active southern small town reading specialist Lizzie Turner is in the local book shop and asked if she’d like an autographed mystery, and oh would she like the author Derek Alton to meet with Lizzie’s book group next week? He invites her out to dinner to learn more about the members of the book group, but is totally self centered, and comes on strong, drunk and lecherous. Alton arrives on her doorstep to apologize and is shot dead in her living room.
Lizzie’s man friend, Mark Dreyfus, happens to be chief of Police, and jealous about her romantic dinner with Alton. Many women are very concerned about what/who is in Alton’s projected sequel to his award winning first novel of 20 years before. The book club members are all eager to help solve the murder. A second shot splinters Lizzies kitchen window and Mark assigns police protection to her as she defies him to pursue her own investigations, identify anonymous callers, and decode clues to Alton’s past.
Okay. Sequel to A Killer Read.
Small, but culturally active southern small town reading specialist Lizzie Turner is in the local book shop and asked if she’d like an autographed mystery, and oh would she like the author Derek Alton to meet with Lizzie’s book group next week? He invites her out to dinner to learn more about the members of the book group, but is totally self centered, and comes on strong, drunk and lecherous. Alton arrives on her doorstep to apologize and is shot dead in her living room.
Lizzie’s man friend, Mark Dreyfus, happens to be chief of Police, and jealous about her romantic dinner with Alton. Many women are very concerned about what/who is in Alton’s projected sequel to his award winning first novel of 20 years before. The book club members are all eager to help solve the murder. A second shot splinters Lizzies kitchen window and Mark assigns police protection to her as she defies him to pursue her own investigations, identify anonymous callers, and decode clues to Alton’s past.
December 11, 2020
This was an enjoyable read. When Derek Alton, a famous author, comes to town, the owner of the local bookstore suggests that he attend the next meeting of the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straw Society to give a talk about his work. The head of the group, Lizzie Turner decides that it's OK, but after a dinner with him, realizes he's somewhat of a sleaze. When he visits her the next day to apologize while she is decorating for Christmas, a gunshot goes through the window of her living room and kills him.
So as if that isn't bad enough, a few days later, another shot is fired, this time as Lizzie is standing in her kitchen making breakfast. Fortunately, she is just grazed by the bullet, but it makes her determined to find out what is going on.
Not great literature, but a good mystery and fun to read.
So as if that isn't bad enough, a few days later, another shot is fired, this time as Lizzie is standing in her kitchen making breakfast. Fortunately, she is just grazed by the bullet, but it makes her determined to find out what is going on.
Not great literature, but a good mystery and fun to read.
December 11, 2018
I almost couldn't read this book. I was so annoyed at the main character Lizzie (and the author Chase) that I had to stop reading. Then I gave it another chance and was glad I did, but I still can't rate it higher than "Okay" because the book never really addressed the problem that I had.
July 18, 2019
The mystery was suspenseful and complex. When a hot-shot author is killed in Lizzie's living room, her and her friends have to piece together his secret past and scandals. I was able to predict the killer, but I had some doubts and other suspicions as well. I also love the changes the book club characters are going through. My only issue at the moment is with the quotes. Some of them are unique and compliment the chapter contents well enough, but too many are vague cliche phrases like "tomorrow was looking much brighter" that anyone might say in their daily life. These just don't work as well.
August 15, 2019
Read and Buried by Eva Gates, the latest book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series, continues as Lucy, a librarian at the Lighthouse Library, finds herself solving another mystery. She had promised herself, her boyfriend and local law enforcement she wouldn’t get involved. This cozy mystery doesn’t take long to read, but the characters are well developed and it’s easy to like them...or not! If you’ve been reading this series, don’t miss this book. If you haven’t, consider starting with the first book and reading the entire series
September 21, 2019
Book 2 and enjoying the series. Lizzie is a reading and curriculum teacher in the school district. I like that she has a job that she puts first before trying to solve murders. In the first and this second book, she doesn't solve the crime as much as ticks off the murderer who then tries to kill her. Cozy mysteries. Gotta love them. 😊
February 1, 2020
Enjoyed the book and will read the rest of the series but no continuity at the very end. Sally Jo is stressing through the entire book about her family staying with her for Christmas and then in the last chapter she and Jacob are at Molly's house for Christmas dinner. Maybe the real mystery is what happened to Sally Jo's family.
Read
June 28, 2022Nice cozy. I guessed at the murderer and was correct but the climax was well done. I liked the setting of the heroine with a full-time job, family, friends, activities that keep her busy. Trope with a boyfriend who is the police chief, but I'll give this author 2 thumbs up and look for her other titles.
August 13, 2017
A murder, a novel, secrets galore, and lots of amateur sleuths are just what the police need!
The second book in this series will delight repeat readers. Best of all, the characters are always reading and talking about books.
A perfect read for book lovers and cozy addicts.
The second book in this series will delight repeat readers. Best of all, the characters are always reading and talking about books.
A perfect read for book lovers and cozy addicts.
March 24, 2019
Okay addition to this series. I liked Lizzie well enough as well as her friends. There were some threads left undone...not a cliffhanger (which would have been annoying) but just not finished out.
June 30, 2022
Lizzie and the book club members get involved with solving a visiting author's murder. Character arcs are interesting to see from the first to second books in the series. The Christmas setting is nice and also juxtaposes the gunshots and sleaziness of the victim.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews