Shadows

Travel Writer #2

by Kelly Young

Everyone has woken to see that creepy shadow in the corner. But what happens when dawn sheds light on its cause? This tale will send shivers down your spine and keep you awake at night.

Genres: Mystery

6 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2019

About the author

Kelly Young has lived all over the great province of Ontario. A graduate of the English literature program at the University of Waterloo, she moved to a small town on the shores of Lake Huron in southwestern Ontario with her husband, and together they raised two sons and a clowder of cats.

Kelly worked as a freelance reporter for many years, switching to full time reporting for the local paper briefly before taking herself to a much quieter bookstore. An avid swimmer and former swim team coach who tries to swim 2 1/2 kilometres at least two times a week, she has recently retired from a position as swimming instructor at her local pool.

Kelly currently rules over an empty nest in a small southwestern Ontario city with her husband and two new kittens.


*Not to be mistaken for the OTHER Kelly Young of "Sex with the Lawyer" fame, whose books continually get listed as mine, no matter how many times I ask for them to be removed.*

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I chose to read this book on my own, and all opinions expressed are my own. Thank you to Kelly Young for the ARC**

I can't remember when I have laughed so hard while reading a book!! (Unless it was while reading the first book in this series!) Truly hilarious!
Casey and her husband Jim are at the Pumpkinfest in Port Elgin, Ontario for her to write her second article as the Klutzy Traveller this time around. And boy, is she klutzy! Casey is immediately enmeshed in a mystery within the first hours of her booking into their Bed and Breakfast. Casey uncovers clues as only she can...through mostly really funny accidents. But will her accidental detection skills serve her well this time? And will Jim survive all the pumpkin references and food!?
Joining Casey and Jim on this excursion are the cast from the last book, plus a few more! I am really enjoying all the characters, which are detailed more in this installment, and I can hardly wait for their next adventure!
Highly recommend!

[Kelly Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this second book in the series more challenging to write, as I am not as familiar with the setting as I am with that of the first book. But I am pleased with the end result, and hope the readers enjoy it. (less)

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked book 1, The Piper Sniper. While I liked this book enough to give 4 stars, I would like to see in future books that the characters have gained some maturity as well as respect for the detective's position. The main characters are likable, and the story was engaging.

[J. Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

URGENT QUEST at PUMPKINFEST is part of the Travel Writer Cozy Mystery series, but is easily read as a standalone mystery. As I'm from Ontario originally, I enjoyed reading a good book in a familiar setting. Young does an extraordinary job balancing humour, suspense, touristy details and architectural descriptions in with her excellent ratio of narrative to dialogue. And there's even some unique pumpkin recipes at the back of the book! Casey as the klutzy protagonist is so like my own partner that I laughed out loud on several occasions; slipping on a pair of silk underwear, for instance, can only be believed if you've got a true-blue (and black!) klutz in your family. Her long-suffering, handsome husband Jim is a perfect foil to her character - but then so is the well-named Detective Wolsey. Like his sixteenth century namesake(?), this Wolsey thinks highly of himself but makes himself very unpopular, and while his position is to 'bring peace to all the land', he is unable to do so - at least without Casey's help!
Young's style follows all the generally accepted 'rules' for cozy mystery series of a contemporary age BUT she goes above and beyond. Her writing is both whimsical yet informative, her pacing is quick yet gentle, her characters are believable but eccentric, and their dialogue is equally as witty as it is occasionally sardonic. I plan to read another in this series very soon. So entertaining! Having read this right in the weeks of the year in which the book is set was an added bonus to help me feel well-immersed and I expect I'll be lapping up her Christmas Tree Mystery next, come December!

[R Hammann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the first book in the series was funny. This continued in the same vein. Casey along with Jim and her friend Casey are back in the middle of missing woman search. I found myself laughing constantly at her situations. Looking forward to the next one.

[AnnMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really enjoyed this short piece! I had to keep reading to find out just what was in the shadow she was seeing! Very good ending!!

[Dawn Beecroft Teetzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Urgent Quest at Pumpkinfest is the second book in Kelly Young's three-part travel mystery series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first, The Piper Sniper, and the second did not disappoint.

After reading the first, it was great to spend time again with Casey, a lovable, klutsy, retired journalist, her devoted husband, Jim, and her many sidekids, many from the first book. It seems wherever Casey is on assignment, she not only reunites with old friends, but makes new, who show up in the next book. Although Casey is on assignment in Port Elgin to simply write and take photographs for an article with Our Ontario magazine, with the help of her many friends, Casey assists in solving the kidnapping of a local young woman.

I enjoy how the chapters are divided by the travelogue clips. I have visited Port Elgin on a few occasions, however, I have never spent enough time there to fully appreciate what it has to offer. Once again, Young's description of the town (through these travelogues) has inspired me to check it out for myself.

With Young's well-written, well-plotted, and well-developed characters, I look forward to reading the third book in this series.

[Debbie Borthwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am new to Kelly Young's books and I can't wait to read another one. I loved that this book took place in my home province, in an area we love to travel around. We've lived all over the southern/south-western areas of Ontario and now I want to go visit Port Elgin to see more of the places talked about in this book.
I admit, I was a little tired of the klutz Casey at first, but she sort of grew on me. I must read the first book in the series to get more of a feel for the dynamics of the characters. By the end, I was looking forward to the next in the series, too!
I love reading books that take place in areas I know and have been to.

[Jean Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seemed like it would be an interesting book, but there were so many references to sex, which while not overt didn't add anything to the story and weren't necessary. I kept trying to keep reading but finally gave up. There were some funny parts and good descriptions as well as interesting characters.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Same fun set of quirky characters set in a different small Ontario town. Love how much I learn about Canada while ready Kelly Young's travel mystery series.