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Mackenzie Owens Mysteries #1
Dead to Rights
Mackenzie—Mack—Owens was supposed to live out every millennial’s dream, but instead it turned into a nightmare. Inheriting a house and bookstore, she was going to leave the New York City rat race after getting fired from her job and start a new life on the coast of Cornwall, in England. No more fourteen-hour work days and rats the size of small toddlers. Hello turquoise waters, white sand beaches and cobblestone streets.
Unfortunately, things don’t exactly go as planned.
Not only does she have to share this new home with an eccentric grandmother she's never met, but when she opens the bookstore to find a dead body on the ground, the police immediately hone in on Mack and her grandmother as the prime suspects. This move wasn’t supposed to mean a life spent in prison making toilet wine.
Instead of spending her days eating scones with jam and cream and selling books by the sea, she’s now got to work with her grandmother to find the killer and clear her own name. Sounds simple, right? Armed with nothing more than her wits and snarky attitude, Mack is about to find out that the charming coastal town has a secret dark side. And the aggravating private investigator with the sexy smile she keeps running into has something to hide, but what?
As she gets closer to finding the killer, Mack realizes she’s next on the hit list. Will she get to the bottom of this case before she finds herself at the bottom of the sea?
Unfortunately, things don’t exactly go as planned.
Not only does she have to share this new home with an eccentric grandmother she's never met, but when she opens the bookstore to find a dead body on the ground, the police immediately hone in on Mack and her grandmother as the prime suspects. This move wasn’t supposed to mean a life spent in prison making toilet wine.
Instead of spending her days eating scones with jam and cream and selling books by the sea, she’s now got to work with her grandmother to find the killer and clear her own name. Sounds simple, right? Armed with nothing more than her wits and snarky attitude, Mack is about to find out that the charming coastal town has a secret dark side. And the aggravating private investigator with the sexy smile she keeps running into has something to hide, but what?
As she gets closer to finding the killer, Mack realizes she’s next on the hit list. Will she get to the bottom of this case before she finds herself at the bottom of the sea?
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2023
1158 people are currently reading
2045 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
October 1, 2023
This was such a fantastic cozy mystery! This is the first book in the A Mackenzie Owens Mystery series and I’m hooked! This was such a fun read and I absolutely loved Mack and her grandmother’s personalities and interactions with one another. They mystery itself was interesting and I loved the setting and the small town feel. The fact that Mack inherited a bookstore was just an added fun touch. I really can’t recommend this one enough, I laughed a lot while reading this book.
November 9, 2023
It's a cozy and fun mystery book that I also found easy to read! The characters were entertaining, and because it's around 200 pages, I used it as a pallet cleanser/fun read in-between some of the longer books I've been reading recently! I'll definitely be adding the second book to my tbr!
Thank you to the NerdFam for the copy 💜
Thank you to the NerdFam for the copy 💜
September 27, 2023
3.5⭐️
This book was cute! I’d consider this a cozy mystery and it was enjoyable but did get a bit slow in the middle and wasn’t overly believable. Still a fun read!
This book was cute! I’d consider this a cozy mystery and it was enjoyable but did get a bit slow in the middle and wasn’t overly believable. Still a fun read!
May 12, 2024
no. just no.
The blurb for this book made it sound entertaining, perhaps funny, eclectic and interesting enough to read.
However what I found on the first page made me stop there and read no further. ‘F’ bomb went boom.
The blurb for this book made it sound entertaining, perhaps funny, eclectic and interesting enough to read.
However what I found on the first page made me stop there and read no further. ‘F’ bomb went boom.
October 13, 2023
This was a laugh out loud, putting my head down in secondhand embarrassment, mystery solving book. The first in a series, I absolutely fell in love with Mackenzie Owens. I want to binge this series as fast as I can. With a sarcastic and witty millennial that is just trying to live her best life and a sassy grandma that tries to kill her in the opening scene, how could I not love it? I want to live in this town. I’m jealous that Mack gets to open up a cozy bookstore, and that there is a coffee shop near it called the Ugly Mug. I want to move to this village asap. I mean, maybe not though with the murders that seem to be happening. I’ll put that move on pause. At least until I read more 🤣
Mackenzie Owens was let go from her job and she received a letter informing her of her inheritance from a father she never met. Sure it’s in a different country, but what millennial wouldn’t fly to the UK from America for a fully paid for house AND bookstore?! When she arrives, there is someone in the house who tries to kill her. Unfortunately it’s not the last time either. And she is immediately Suspect #1 for a murder. Guess she’ll have to solve it herself, because nothing is going to stop her from opening her own bookstore.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the copy, all thoughts are my own.
Mackenzie Owens was let go from her job and she received a letter informing her of her inheritance from a father she never met. Sure it’s in a different country, but what millennial wouldn’t fly to the UK from America for a fully paid for house AND bookstore?! When she arrives, there is someone in the house who tries to kill her. Unfortunately it’s not the last time either. And she is immediately Suspect #1 for a murder. Guess she’ll have to solve it herself, because nothing is going to stop her from opening her own bookstore.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the copy, all thoughts are my own.
September 3, 2024
Idek what just happened.
October 18, 2023
This cozy mystery was so much fun! The charming small English coastal town setting, the hilarious banter between Mack Owens and her cranky grandmother, and the twisty suspense of solving the murder of the man found dead in Mack's newly inherited bookstore. Mack and her grandmother make the perfect amateur sleuthing team with their no-nonsense approach to taking justice into their own hands! I LOL's so many times, and this fun book has amazing tropes including found family, a cute town hiding dark secrets, and a budding romance between Mack and the former cop, turned private investigator who has arrived to also solve the case. I adored this story and look forward to continuing the series. Thank you to Jasmine Webb and The Nerd Fam for my adorable PR box, including a physical copy of the book, sticker swag, and a signed postcard from the author!
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July 16, 2024Written by a young author for young readers.
September 26, 2023
*ARC Review*
This book was fun and I laughed a bit while reading it. The premise is somewhat outlandish, but I think that just added a level of humor to this book.
I loved the relationship between Mack and her grandma is wonderful. The mystery they are solving feels a little under developed though. It is clear the focus in this book was the set up Mack as a crime solver. This book felt very much like the pilot episode of a 2000s crime sitcom (Think Psych), and I am not mad about that. Was this a fabulous book? Not really. But did I smile and enjoy myself while reading it? Yes I did.
This book was fun and I laughed a bit while reading it. The premise is somewhat outlandish, but I think that just added a level of humor to this book.
I loved the relationship between Mack and her grandma is wonderful. The mystery they are solving feels a little under developed though. It is clear the focus in this book was the set up Mack as a crime solver. This book felt very much like the pilot episode of a 2000s crime sitcom (Think Psych), and I am not mad about that. Was this a fabulous book? Not really. But did I smile and enjoy myself while reading it? Yes I did.
May 8, 2024
It was okay
Even though this had very familiar cozy mystery themes, I just didn’t connect to the mystery or the characters like I was hoping to. It was an interesting setup for sure, but even that wasn’t really enough for me to latch onto the story. It was just okay for me.
Even though this had very familiar cozy mystery themes, I just didn’t connect to the mystery or the characters like I was hoping to. It was an interesting setup for sure, but even that wasn’t really enough for me to latch onto the story. It was just okay for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2024
A binge worthy cozy mystery
Grandma Maggie is a hoot and honestly takes this book to the next level
Can’t wait to continue and see what Maggie and Mack get into this time- oh and Aksel? I NEED to know more about him
Grandma Maggie is a hoot and honestly takes this book to the next level
Can’t wait to continue and see what Maggie and Mack get into this time- oh and Aksel? I NEED to know more about him
September 26, 2023
Tropes:
Cozy mystery
Found family
Cute town hiding dark secrets
This was a cute cozy mystery. We follow Mack as she is known as, as she lost her job in New York and she finds out her father has passed away and she inherited his house and his book store in England so she packs up and moves. When she gets there she finds out she only got half of it because her grandmother got the other half. Her plan is to reopen her fathers book store that her grandmother wants nothing to do with but there is a problem… someone was murdered in the book store.. Mack and Maggie set on a quest to find the killer since Mack is the main suspect! Who did it?
This book reminds me of clue in a way. Maggie and Mack’s relationship is so funny! That’s what kept me going in the book. I did find the book repetitive at times and in my opinion I would have liked someone else to be the killer. But if you like cozy mysteries it is a good read!
Thank you to the nerd fam and jasmine webb for this advanced reader copy of dead to rights!
Cozy mystery
Found family
Cute town hiding dark secrets
This was a cute cozy mystery. We follow Mack as she is known as, as she lost her job in New York and she finds out her father has passed away and she inherited his house and his book store in England so she packs up and moves. When she gets there she finds out she only got half of it because her grandmother got the other half. Her plan is to reopen her fathers book store that her grandmother wants nothing to do with but there is a problem… someone was murdered in the book store.. Mack and Maggie set on a quest to find the killer since Mack is the main suspect! Who did it?
This book reminds me of clue in a way. Maggie and Mack’s relationship is so funny! That’s what kept me going in the book. I did find the book repetitive at times and in my opinion I would have liked someone else to be the killer. But if you like cozy mysteries it is a good read!
Thank you to the nerd fam and jasmine webb for this advanced reader copy of dead to rights!
June 16, 2024
simplistic and trite
Unless you are a fan of simply written cozy mysteries, skip this one. Far fetched with plot holes big enough to drive a car through.
Unless you are a fan of simply written cozy mysteries, skip this one. Far fetched with plot holes big enough to drive a car through.
September 26, 2023
📚ARC REVIEW📚
Dead to Rights by Jasmine Webb
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice level: 0/3
Genres: humorous fiction, cozy mystery
Tropes: small town, bookstore owner, incompetent police, unfamiliar setting
Mackenzie receives a letter saying her estranged father has passed, and left her a house and bookstore in England. Having just been fired from her marketing job in New York, she takes this as a sign and packs up her belongings and moves to Cornwall, England.
Things do not go as planned when she finds out that she is only half owner of both the bookstore and the house; her grandmother (the mother of the father she never met) owns the other halves. To make matters worse, she finds a dead body inside the bookstore when she opens it the first time (making her and her grandmother the prime suspects).
Mackenzie and her grandmother decide to solve the case (they don’t have much faith in the police), but Mackenzie quickly realizes she has become the new target for the killer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was a cute, quick, cozy mystery. Definitely a fun book for the beginning of fall!
I appreciated all of the descriptions of the scenery and the town. It sounds super pretty and picturesque; makes me want to take a trip there.
The relationship that blooms between Mackenzie and her grandmother (Maggie) is really wholesome. They’re both pretty snarky/sarcastic, which makes for a pretty cute and funny dynamic between them. It doesn’t take long before Mackenzie (and the reader) can start to see the resemblance between the two.
Mackenzie finds a cat later in the book, and there is discussion of the “universal cat distribution system” and I appreciate that reference.
I do have a few issues. The dialogue is meant to be funny, but it feels so over the top in places that it ends up being more cringey than funny. Some of the analogies that were used are so obscure/out of pocket that I couldn’t even understand what I was supposed to be picturing. Overall, these both caused the humor to feel a bit forced in places.
I’m not sure how much of this is due to England law being different, but there were a lot of crime related things that made very little sense. They say the police are incompetent, but I don’t think that is a strong enough excuse for some of the things that happen. Especially since they brought in a detective from a (bigger) neighboring city.
The topic of gambling is prevalent in this story before it is relative to the murder motive, but the amount it is talked about feels weird. Each suspect they talk to goes through a monologue of how they ended up in $2k-$15k in debt from gambling, and it almost feels like an anti-gambling advertisement or a “get help for your addiction” commercial.
A lot of the reactions of the characters to things going on do not seem realistic. Mackenzie finds a dead body, but does not seem fazed at all. Same with when she was almost killed, she was not nearly as concerned as she should be. It just felt kind of unbelievable.
Overall, I think this was a very cute read. If you like cozy mysteries, definitely give this one a try.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for a copy of this to read ✨
‼️‼️book specific notes, may contain spoilers ‼️‼️
-mack and Maggie are worried that the police will come to the false conclusion that they killed the guy. But they have alibis? How would that even hold up in court? It would be so easy to dispute. Is England law that bad?
-them using that as a reason for coming to the conclusion that they need to solve the murder feels like a stretch
-they just let mack back into the bookstore less than 24 hrs after the murder happened, and didn’t even clean up the blood? I don’t think that’s how it works
-Mack and Maggie break into the apartment of the murdered person (without gloves!) before the police have even investigated it. They’re the prime suspects; do they not realize that it’ll be way worse for them if some sort of trace or DNA is found?
-Mack is supposed to be pretty smart but is convinced that the PI is the murderer. She believes that just because he seems cocky, he would break in to the apartment of the victim and also return to the scene after Mack is almost killed. I feel like that is such an unrealistic conclusion to jump to
-so Greg (the murder victim) screwed the local bank out of $100k. The bank employee he bamboozled didn’t even lose his job, and Greg just got to go free and live in the same town? Why would the bank not go after Greg for the fraudulent documents he used?
-the dynamic in this town is super weird. Maggie is just able to point blank ask people if they murdered Greg and they answer her? I feel like the logical response would be “GTFO of here, I’m not talking to you”
Dead to Rights by Jasmine Webb
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice level: 0/3
Genres: humorous fiction, cozy mystery
Tropes: small town, bookstore owner, incompetent police, unfamiliar setting
Mackenzie receives a letter saying her estranged father has passed, and left her a house and bookstore in England. Having just been fired from her marketing job in New York, she takes this as a sign and packs up her belongings and moves to Cornwall, England.
Things do not go as planned when she finds out that she is only half owner of both the bookstore and the house; her grandmother (the mother of the father she never met) owns the other halves. To make matters worse, she finds a dead body inside the bookstore when she opens it the first time (making her and her grandmother the prime suspects).
Mackenzie and her grandmother decide to solve the case (they don’t have much faith in the police), but Mackenzie quickly realizes she has become the new target for the killer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was a cute, quick, cozy mystery. Definitely a fun book for the beginning of fall!
I appreciated all of the descriptions of the scenery and the town. It sounds super pretty and picturesque; makes me want to take a trip there.
The relationship that blooms between Mackenzie and her grandmother (Maggie) is really wholesome. They’re both pretty snarky/sarcastic, which makes for a pretty cute and funny dynamic between them. It doesn’t take long before Mackenzie (and the reader) can start to see the resemblance between the two.
Mackenzie finds a cat later in the book, and there is discussion of the “universal cat distribution system” and I appreciate that reference.
I do have a few issues. The dialogue is meant to be funny, but it feels so over the top in places that it ends up being more cringey than funny. Some of the analogies that were used are so obscure/out of pocket that I couldn’t even understand what I was supposed to be picturing. Overall, these both caused the humor to feel a bit forced in places.
I’m not sure how much of this is due to England law being different, but there were a lot of crime related things that made very little sense. They say the police are incompetent, but I don’t think that is a strong enough excuse for some of the things that happen. Especially since they brought in a detective from a (bigger) neighboring city.
The topic of gambling is prevalent in this story before it is relative to the murder motive, but the amount it is talked about feels weird. Each suspect they talk to goes through a monologue of how they ended up in $2k-$15k in debt from gambling, and it almost feels like an anti-gambling advertisement or a “get help for your addiction” commercial.
A lot of the reactions of the characters to things going on do not seem realistic. Mackenzie finds a dead body, but does not seem fazed at all. Same with when she was almost killed, she was not nearly as concerned as she should be. It just felt kind of unbelievable.
Overall, I think this was a very cute read. If you like cozy mysteries, definitely give this one a try.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for a copy of this to read ✨
‼️‼️book specific notes, may contain spoilers ‼️‼️
-mack and Maggie are worried that the police will come to the false conclusion that they killed the guy. But they have alibis? How would that even hold up in court? It would be so easy to dispute. Is England law that bad?
-them using that as a reason for coming to the conclusion that they need to solve the murder feels like a stretch
-they just let mack back into the bookstore less than 24 hrs after the murder happened, and didn’t even clean up the blood? I don’t think that’s how it works
-Mack and Maggie break into the apartment of the murdered person (without gloves!) before the police have even investigated it. They’re the prime suspects; do they not realize that it’ll be way worse for them if some sort of trace or DNA is found?
-Mack is supposed to be pretty smart but is convinced that the PI is the murderer. She believes that just because he seems cocky, he would break in to the apartment of the victim and also return to the scene after Mack is almost killed. I feel like that is such an unrealistic conclusion to jump to
-so Greg (the murder victim) screwed the local bank out of $100k. The bank employee he bamboozled didn’t even lose his job, and Greg just got to go free and live in the same town? Why would the bank not go after Greg for the fraudulent documents he used?
-the dynamic in this town is super weird. Maggie is just able to point blank ask people if they murdered Greg and they answer her? I feel like the logical response would be “GTFO of here, I’m not talking to you”
September 16, 2024
Dead to Rights by Jasmine Webb is a delightful blend of mystery, humor, and surprises, set against the charmingly quaint backdrop of Cornwall. Mackenzie "Mack" Walters, the protagonist, makes a life-altering decision to leave behind her fast-paced New York life to take over her late father’s quaint bookshop. The allure of living this dream quickly turns complex, as Mack not only discovers a grandmother she never knew—a feisty, no-nonsense woman who adds plenty of spice to the story—but also stumbles upon a dead body, dragging her into a web of intrigue.
The novel offers much more than just a cozy mystery. At its heart, Dead to Rights is about self-discovery and the courage it takes to start over when everything seems to have fallen apart. Mack’s decision to trade the chaos of New York for the slower rhythms of Cornwall is a leap of faith, and Webb captures the mix of excitement and uncertainty that comes with such a dramatic change. Would you give up everything you have to take a chance at building a new life far away from all you've known? For Mack, it seems like a no-brainer, but as the plot unfolds, we realize that even chasing a dream can come with unexpected challenges.
The mystery aspect of the novel is nicely paced, and Webb’s witty writing keeps the tensions simmering. Mack’s budding relationships with her grandmother, friends and Aleks, are a highlight, providing both comic relief and emotional balance. Their interactions, filled with banter and wit, form the core of the story’s warmth.
Dead to Rights is the perfect sweet vacation read, ideal for those who enjoy a mix of cozy mystery and a heartfelt tale of new beginnings. With ornery characters, a picturesque setting, and a few unexpected twists, Jasmine Webb has crafted a charming and engaging story that keeps you hooked until the last page. A nice-read for anyone dreaming of a fresh start or simply looking to escape into a world where second chances are possible—even if they come with a side of murder.
The novel offers much more than just a cozy mystery. At its heart, Dead to Rights is about self-discovery and the courage it takes to start over when everything seems to have fallen apart. Mack’s decision to trade the chaos of New York for the slower rhythms of Cornwall is a leap of faith, and Webb captures the mix of excitement and uncertainty that comes with such a dramatic change. Would you give up everything you have to take a chance at building a new life far away from all you've known? For Mack, it seems like a no-brainer, but as the plot unfolds, we realize that even chasing a dream can come with unexpected challenges.
The mystery aspect of the novel is nicely paced, and Webb’s witty writing keeps the tensions simmering. Mack’s budding relationships with her grandmother, friends and Aleks, are a highlight, providing both comic relief and emotional balance. Their interactions, filled with banter and wit, form the core of the story’s warmth.
Dead to Rights is the perfect sweet vacation read, ideal for those who enjoy a mix of cozy mystery and a heartfelt tale of new beginnings. With ornery characters, a picturesque setting, and a few unexpected twists, Jasmine Webb has crafted a charming and engaging story that keeps you hooked until the last page. A nice-read for anyone dreaming of a fresh start or simply looking to escape into a world where second chances are possible—even if they come with a side of murder.
October 23, 2024
I liked the premise of this book, but unfortunately I really didn't like the execution. It feels like the author once went on holiday to the UK and ended up in Cornwall, or found it on Google and then transplanted America there. The characters did not speak British English, didn't use any colloquialisms (and the Cornish have many), and even the older ones spoke like young Americans with their expressions, which was most odd. Also, she moved around with remarkable ease at a time the county is usually heaving with tourists!
The book could also have done with a good editor to catch a number of inconsistencies, such as the ages of the main character, her father and her grandmother. Given that she'd worked for a few years before the book started, she must have been late 20s, but at one point her grandmother is described as being in her 60s, and I think the father is referred to has having died in his 50s. The maths did not add up. It would also have been helpful if that editor was British to catch the Americanisms - we do not graduate high school, we graduate uni, for example, we just leave school.
Perhaps her US based books work better, but I'm not convinced I want to find out right now.
The book could also have done with a good editor to catch a number of inconsistencies, such as the ages of the main character, her father and her grandmother. Given that she'd worked for a few years before the book started, she must have been late 20s, but at one point her grandmother is described as being in her 60s, and I think the father is referred to has having died in his 50s. The maths did not add up. It would also have been helpful if that editor was British to catch the Americanisms - we do not graduate high school, we graduate uni, for example, we just leave school.
Perhaps her US based books work better, but I'm not convinced I want to find out right now.
October 18, 2023
Who wouldn’t love to find out they’ve inherited a house and bookshop near the sea in Cornwall? And from a relative they didn’t even know? Sign me up. It’s not going so great for Mack, though. First, someone else is living in her house – a grandmother she never knew. Then, there’s a dead body in her bookstore, and somehow the police have settled on her as a main suspect.
I liked a lot of things about Dead to Rights. Mack is a good character – funny, tenacious, a bit snarky. Her grandmother is a hoot. The two make a good team and even their bickering is funny. I like the town with the bookstore, Ugly Mug coffee shop, and amazing hiking trails. I even like the cat.
I didn’t like how stupid the cops seem to be. Yes, the detectives in cozy mysteries tend to be a bit bumbling, but this was over the top. I didn’t like how Mack trusted a couple of women in town with the whole story of her investigation, even though she really knew nothing about them. I also didn’t love who the killer ended up being.
This was the first in the series. I liked the characters and setting enough to give the second a chance, I’m hoping the mystery itself is a little better.
I liked a lot of things about Dead to Rights. Mack is a good character – funny, tenacious, a bit snarky. Her grandmother is a hoot. The two make a good team and even their bickering is funny. I like the town with the bookstore, Ugly Mug coffee shop, and amazing hiking trails. I even like the cat.
I didn’t like how stupid the cops seem to be. Yes, the detectives in cozy mysteries tend to be a bit bumbling, but this was over the top. I didn’t like how Mack trusted a couple of women in town with the whole story of her investigation, even though she really knew nothing about them. I also didn’t love who the killer ended up being.
This was the first in the series. I liked the characters and setting enough to give the second a chance, I’m hoping the mystery itself is a little better.
May 10, 2024
I found myself enjoying this cozy, even though I'm really not sure why. Perhaps it was because the relationship between Maggie and Mack reminded me slightly of Stephanie Plum and her grandmother, which has always been fun. I enjoyed the fact that they were both sassy, strong women, and I laughed out loud over the "Universal Cat Distribution System". I also didn't find any egregious errors in spelling, punctuation or sentence structure, which is, in books these days, always a relief. Of course, the story just had to toss in the requisite handsome and difficult detective (or, in this case, PI), for a "lust interest", which is so formulaic that it's almost laughable. (Mr. Rochester, where are you when we need you?) BUT...it's obvious the writer is more the age of her character Mack than Maggie, because HOW MANY TIMES can one write "old" or "old lady" in one book?! I gave up after counting the 17th repetition. Uh, way to alienate your readers who are past the first flush of youth, dear writer!
September 18, 2023
Dead to Rights is Book 1 in the Mackenzie Owens Mystery series by Jasmine Webb.
I really love this author's writing and I was excited for a new series.
We meet Mackenzie (Mack) Owens who has just inherited a house and bookstore from her father. This is located in Cornwall, England. Turns out her grandmother Maggie also inherited the same house and bookstore. OOOPS. Bad lawyer!
The two agree to try and work together and when they go to check out the bookstore, they find a body and Mack is the prime suspect, OOOPS again! Mack and Maggie set out to solve the murder.
These characters are fantastic, I really loved their interactions. I was laughing so much.
There is also a YUMMY PI who is also trying to solve the murder.
The mystery is perfectly paced and well written. The characters are so well fleshed out.
I love the setting in England. This was such a great mystery.
I can't wait for the next book in the series!
I really love this author's writing and I was excited for a new series.
We meet Mackenzie (Mack) Owens who has just inherited a house and bookstore from her father. This is located in Cornwall, England. Turns out her grandmother Maggie also inherited the same house and bookstore. OOOPS. Bad lawyer!
The two agree to try and work together and when they go to check out the bookstore, they find a body and Mack is the prime suspect, OOOPS again! Mack and Maggie set out to solve the murder.
These characters are fantastic, I really loved their interactions. I was laughing so much.
There is also a YUMMY PI who is also trying to solve the murder.
The mystery is perfectly paced and well written. The characters are so well fleshed out.
I love the setting in England. This was such a great mystery.
I can't wait for the next book in the series!
September 26, 2023
This is my first book by Jasmine Webb and it will definitely not be my last. This is book 1 in the Mackenzie Owens Mystery series. Each book will be a standalone with the same characters attempting to solve a mystery.
As I said earlier, this is a mystery series but it is so much more. The story begins with Mackenzie "Mack" Owens receiving and inheritance from her father. She has been given a home and bookstore that just so happens to be sited in Cornwall, England. Lucky for Mack, she has just been fired from her job and needs a place to work and stay. Off to England she goes but it turns out her grandmother Maggie has also been given the home.....And the fireworks begin. Maggie is definitely a spitfire and takes no guff from anyone. When they go to check out the bookstore, they find a body.....The police hone in on Mack as the suspect and both Maggie and Mack must work together to solve the mystery in order to keep Mack out of Jail. Oh did I mention Aksel...The handsome PI who is also trying to solve the murder and keeps showing up wherever Mack is....Here is to hoping for a bit of romance as well.
This book was such a fun read. Not only do you have a mystery but the banter and antics of both Maggie and Mack had me rolling in laughter while reading. This was one of the funniest books I have read in awhile and Maggie...She was a hoot. You can tell they they are related because each of them gave and good as they got..... from one situation to another, they each worked together to find the actual murderer. I can't wait for the next in the series to come out because this was such a fabulous read.
As I said earlier, this is a mystery series but it is so much more. The story begins with Mackenzie "Mack" Owens receiving and inheritance from her father. She has been given a home and bookstore that just so happens to be sited in Cornwall, England. Lucky for Mack, she has just been fired from her job and needs a place to work and stay. Off to England she goes but it turns out her grandmother Maggie has also been given the home.....And the fireworks begin. Maggie is definitely a spitfire and takes no guff from anyone. When they go to check out the bookstore, they find a body.....The police hone in on Mack as the suspect and both Maggie and Mack must work together to solve the mystery in order to keep Mack out of Jail. Oh did I mention Aksel...The handsome PI who is also trying to solve the murder and keeps showing up wherever Mack is....Here is to hoping for a bit of romance as well.
This book was such a fun read. Not only do you have a mystery but the banter and antics of both Maggie and Mack had me rolling in laughter while reading. This was one of the funniest books I have read in awhile and Maggie...She was a hoot. You can tell they they are related because each of them gave and good as they got..... from one situation to another, they each worked together to find the actual murderer. I can't wait for the next in the series to come out because this was such a fabulous read.
September 29, 2023
I haven’t read a cozy mystery in a while now except a lot of dark mystery and I have to say that I enjoyed this one. It was very well written and I loved how Webb wrote the story in this one. We follow Mackenzie’s perspective of her plans all going down whenever she discovers a dead body. I have to say that I did not expect a granddaughter and her grandmother bring to solve a mystery together. It was cute and I loved their dynamic. I do have to say some of their actions were questionable as I believe they would have been caught as murderers with the way they were acting. Also, this book takes place in England so I’m guessing things are a bit different. Overall it was a great, fun read with some humor to keep readers entertained in the book.
*this arc was sent to me by the Nerd Fam to give an honest review in return*
*this arc was sent to me by the Nerd Fam to give an honest review in return*
May 26, 2024
The book was cute but a bit juvenile (perhaps it only seemed that way because I'm years removed from "juvenile"). I agree with the reviewer who complained about the "F***" bombs. Since they were only used in the first chapter or two, I wonder if the author thought they added something. She (or her editors) would have done a better job if they had gone back and found a non-expletive way to express what the character was feeling or (and hopefully not) continued using the word through the rest of the book.
The search for the murderer was interesting but there were too many suspects and the book dealt quite superficially with all of them. I was entertained but not impressed or overwhelmed.
The search for the murderer was interesting but there were too many suspects and the book dealt quite superficially with all of them. I was entertained but not impressed or overwhelmed.
July 3, 2024
An entertaining start to a humorous cozy series! Love the author’s voice — lots of actual laugh-out-loud moments as well as charming English village descriptions, which make for a successful cozy mystery.
Mack and her grandma are hilarious & total smart asses. I appreciated Mack’s realistic outlook; she was definitely NOT your typical Mary Sue, which I very much appreciated. This first book does an excellent job of introducing you to Mack and the townsfolk, as well as hooking you in so you’re compelled to see what trouble Mack and Maggie get up to next.
I’m looking forward to reading book 2!
Mack and her grandma are hilarious & total smart asses. I appreciated Mack’s realistic outlook; she was definitely NOT your typical Mary Sue, which I very much appreciated. This first book does an excellent job of introducing you to Mack and the townsfolk, as well as hooking you in so you’re compelled to see what trouble Mack and Maggie get up to next.
I’m looking forward to reading book 2!
September 18, 2023
What a great cozy mystery! As a millennial, this book hit perfectly: Mack inherited a house and bookstore in a little town in England, but she hit some hilarious problems along the way with a grandma trying to kill her and a dead body in the bookstore. She and her grandma take the law into their own hands and try to solve this mystery without getting killed themselves! The story kept me interested, the writing was great, and it was a fast read! I didn’t see the killer coming! Can’t wait to read more by Webb in the near future!
November 17, 2024
Your next cozy read. Ever dreamed of moving to Europe and taking over a bookstore with a dabble of True Crime? Well, this book is for you. I LOVED this book. It was such a funny, cozy read. The female main character is hysterical, bubbly, and fun to listen to as she works through this murder mystery. I will be listening to the rest in this series. I need to hear more of the adventures of Mackenzie, Maggie, and Toast. Brittany Pressley is ABSOLUTELY one of my favorite narrators. 10/10 with all her characters.
December 9, 2024
Parts of this book were amusing but as a mystery it failed. I liked the relationship between Mack and her grandmother because that was the amusing part, but I found the fact that Mack and her grandmother went around questioning the suspects of murder to be ridiculous. If someone is a murderer one can assume s/he is potentially dangerous but I did not get a feeling of danger anywhere in the book. All a suspect needed to do in this story was say they didn't commit the crime and they were basically off the hook. I was bored early into the book and it did not get much better.
October 2, 2023
4.5
Hilarious, engaging, Murder Mystery.
The banter in this book had me laughing out loud. I loved the modern twist Mack brought to the dialogue as well as the quirky Grandma. Along with the humor I absolutely loved the mystery aspect and it definitely had me engaged and stumped until the end. Great writing made it quick and easy to read. You will absolutely love this book.
Tropes:
Found Family
Cozy Murder Mystery
Small Town / Big secrets.
Hilarious, engaging, Murder Mystery.
The banter in this book had me laughing out loud. I loved the modern twist Mack brought to the dialogue as well as the quirky Grandma. Along with the humor I absolutely loved the mystery aspect and it definitely had me engaged and stumped until the end. Great writing made it quick and easy to read. You will absolutely love this book.
Tropes:
Found Family
Cozy Murder Mystery
Small Town / Big secrets.
January 23, 2024
The Nicest are Murder
Mack n Maggie at first are at odds with each other, but find they work well together when they are both accused of murder by the local cop much like Liam in her other books. It's a fun romp as Mack gets to know the people in town and gets to know her way around. Jasmine couldn't have a greatcstory without the handsome man on the edges. A very enjoyable book that deserves the five stars.
Mack n Maggie at first are at odds with each other, but find they work well together when they are both accused of murder by the local cop much like Liam in her other books. It's a fun romp as Mack gets to know the people in town and gets to know her way around. Jasmine couldn't have a greatcstory without the handsome man on the edges. A very enjoyable book that deserves the five stars.
June 1, 2025
Cute story about a woman who moved from the U.S. after her deceased father who she never knew left her a house and bookstore in the U.K. After selling her home in the U.S. and moving halfway around the world, Mack meets her grandmother she never knew. A murder takes place and Mack and her grandmother Maggie attempt to solve it. Some very funny dialogue between Mack and her grandmother. Nice change of pace from my normal psychological thrillers.
August 16, 2025
2.5 marked it down to 2.
It was cute, a fast read. Admittedly I put it aside for weeks forgetting I was reading it and when I picked it back up again I didn’t even need a refresher because it was so simple. It was too hard to believe a foreigner walking around a cozy town pointing fingers at all the locals would get any answers or make any friends, so the abrasiveness of the MC was unrealistic for me. All together it was just too far fetched for me, definitely more of a YA vibe.
It was cute, a fast read. Admittedly I put it aside for weeks forgetting I was reading it and when I picked it back up again I didn’t even need a refresher because it was so simple. It was too hard to believe a foreigner walking around a cozy town pointing fingers at all the locals would get any answers or make any friends, so the abrasiveness of the MC was unrealistic for me. All together it was just too far fetched for me, definitely more of a YA vibe.
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