Crisis in Crestwood

by Simone Avory

Hometown girl Sarah Thompson is not only the pampered pug Bloom’s faithful food giver, but she is also a novice investigator.

Crestwood County’s serenity was sucking the life out of her.

Sarah answered a call on the emergency line that never seemed to ring. She suspected it was just another bored prankster.

To her surprise she recognized the voice that cried, “The mayor is dead!"

“Wait; please, repeat that.”

Sometimes even small towns are not as safe as its residents want to believe.

She had to figure out why anyone would hurt her friends and neighbors in this sleepy little town.

Can she trust her instincts to help solve this crime spree and restore the tranquility of her hometown before the murderer attacks much closer to home?

84 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2023

Reviews

[Lise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Who killed the Mayor? Sarah Thompson, a police officer in a small community, loses sleep as she tracks down a killer.

While I liked the story, the execution is very flawed. Characters are misidentified, procedure is ignored, and logic goes out the window. The plot needs revision, and the actual copy requires editing. The most glaring error of all is the timing. Sarah is clearly at the start of her career. According to the story, her mother was born around 1954. In order to make all this work, Sarah would have been born early-2000ish when her mother was in her late 40s or early 50s. It's not impossible, but this timeline is highly improbable. Authenticity is missing. The entire work calls for a good polishing.

[Sapphyria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crisis in Crestwood is a cozy mystery about a police officer in a small town. The town is basically crime-free (which is a good thing), however it makes Sarah Thompson’s career stagnant. When an emergency call comes through about a suspicious death, Sarah is both dismayed and thrilled to have something to investigate.

This cozy mystery had an excellent plot and plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. However, there are a lot of inconsistencies regarding the death and other events that take place surrounding the mystery. Also, having never worked around the police, I’m not sure about protocol, but to me, if the FBI is involved, a little more respect is shown during an investigation. It’s okay to not want them there or feel like you don’t need assistance, but full-blown rudeness seems a bit far-fetched.

I also feel like a lot of procedures weren’t really followed. For example, Sarah followed a suspect’s blood trail but didn’t bother to call anyone to come collect a sample. Everything worked out in the end, but it seemed like the characters in this book took the long, and sometimes wrong, path to get there.

The book did pull me in and keep me engaged. I couldn’t put it down because I had to know the who and why behind the murder.

[Ayezu Tamarapreye Okoko · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEWER -OKOKO AYEZU TAMARAPREYE

BOOK:-CRISIS IN CRESTWOOD COUNTY BY KISMET KAYE

The fictional prose looks at a young man's venture into being a cop in his hometown Crestwood County and his later regrets.He had ventured into being a cop to solve crimes in a town where being a cop(core ops with ops for for operative) was easy task due to lack and absence of crimes.It also looks at the story of a merger gone bad raising questions whether marriage or company ownership is a crime and suicide especially partnership in a merger which can go wrong;what a merger , business is and what is expected on merger;attack on yore care providers in marriages in symbolistic use of language as an attack on companies or married;FBI intervention in crime and whether as F be I/Err or Air-Fee-Be -I ,it solved or deteriorated the crime situation in a core ops environment or did both solve and deteriorate the situation in a Police or Pole-is world of coitus

[Don Lentz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crisis in Crestwood written by Simone Avory. What an awesome book the characters & story line wow. This story was different from what I read and it got you from start to finish. The story was written about a small town where everyone knew everyone. There is a serial killer’s out & about. Chief Thompson & Detective Sarah and team were looking for a killer. The killer was killing one at a time. You will be surprised at who the killer is and to find out you are going to have to the book. I do have the book and I’m doing a review of it. You won’t regret getting the book.

Written by
Edith L 🐈‍⬛🐈

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new series is introduced through an array of small town drama the drama wheels you in during the first chapter with the intrigue of murder during one event with a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat with memories of past days and present through differing characters while one lone police officer fallows a separate line of enquiries.In this short but impactfull mystery it will become apparent to you that the small town of Crestwood isn't where on detective is ment to be. Acquire " Crisis in Crestwood " so you yourself can enjoy it. Kat

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarah is a small town cop. She has wanted to solve mysteries all her life. She has spent hours reading mysteries and solving them before the protagonist does. She finally had the opportunity to prove herself in solving a murder case in her quiet sleepy town of Crestwood. Will she and the chief figure it out before more people die?

This was a nice story. I would have loved to see more meat to the story. More depth to the descriptions and character development. Which would have taken a nice story to an even better story.

[Ingrid Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice novella, written in the first person.
This is not really a 'cozy' mystery, but I loved that it started with a short view of the crime being committed, that added to the mystery.
The crime in itself is well-thought through for a novella.

What irked me a bit is that the author set this story in Great Britain, but still used FBI agents and described some of the people concerned as 'Brits', both of which aren't correct as it played in Great Britain.

But it was a nice read, so still 3 stars.

[Eveie Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sara has always dreamt of being a cop since she was a young girl, even staying in the her home town after she qualified. Crestwood is a sleepy town where not much happens when at a Mayoral party the mayor suddenly dies from poisoning. Sara decides to try and solve the case. But before she can afew more bodies turn up and then her mother gets attacked, now it becomes personal, and there is a link to her mother and old school friends who seem to be dying. Who has done this it’s not who you think , it at least it secures Sara two years in London learning her craft.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Thompson is a small town girl with a knack for solving crimes and an Investigator.
Then she is manning the phones and gets a strange call for help and a message saying the mayor is dead, it's not a prank call as she recognises the mayor's wife.
For a small town with little crime this is a biggie.
Then there is another murder and also an attempt that is very close to home.
Someone is targeting specific people, but who and why?
This is what Sarah intends to find out before it's too late...
An exciting murder mystery that keeps you guessing.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah Thompson has realized her dream of becoming a detective, the only problem is that it is in Crestwood where nothing ever happens. Until the mayor is murdered and Sarah takes the call. Discovering the victim has many long term ties to the community Sarah begins putting the pieces together. Soon so learns that the past is more important to some than to others. When her own mother is in danger Sarah solves the murder and realizes her life long dream. I really like the character development that is taking place with Sarah and hope to see her in more stories.

[L KQ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crestwood Mystery

First of all, don't think of Crestwood as a real location or set with rules and law enforcement that is realistic. In this fictional world, a blend of British and U.S. lifestyles, customs, and government systems come together in a small town murder mystery that was quite entertaining. Sarah, who is an officer, is still considered an amateur detective but is very determined to solve the case, which was fun to read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story had possibilities.
But, while dealing with a murder, the poison used was Fentanyl.
The Chief of Police instructed his detective to go to all the pharmacies to find out about this 'Fentanyl thing'.
I believe in some form of realism in the mysteries I read.
There's NO way a Chief of Police would NOT know about this 'Fentanyl thing"!
And I'm not even touching the typos that were in the story.
Too many to count.

I'm done with this series and probably the author also.

[Priscilla King · Rating 3 out of 5]

When people named Richard, Endnick, and Vincente are murdered, a wild intuitive leap warns local police that the murderer is spelling out REVENGE. Dorothy Sayers' level of whimsy, it's not. Nor, with so many murders, would I call this mystery novel particularly cozy. What the murderer is seeking revenge for is childhood bullying of a kind that may trigger or simply nauseate readers. But I did chortle, and the story did keep me guessing up to the end.

[fred jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

A good short story with some decent twists and turns. The writing is good but is just missing something to take it up that extra level. I liked the lead character who is intelligent and insightful and it has a good ending. I received a ARC copy from the Author and am leaving a honest voluntary review

[Ruth McDaniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really don't understand all these rave reviews. This book was so riddled with rookie-writer's errors it wasn't even funny.
And it would be great if the writer actually KNEW anything about police or investigations.
Sorry, but I can't give this a good review.
I received this book as a free download, not as an ARC.

[Julie Angstadt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah is a young detective in Crestwood county. The Chief of Police has acted as her father for most of her life. Her mother and the chief are friends. Then the mayor dies. It turns out he was poisoned. Who is doing this? What is the reason someone would poison people? How can she help solve this case? Great read.

[Jenia Tortora · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small town has its first murder and with the murder of the mayor….it’s a doozy. This short mystery has twists and turns aplenty. While searching for the killer we learn more about the towns sordid history and the suspects and victims start to multiply. Loved it a great short mystery read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sabrina Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short story. It is very detailed, the characters are written very well with it being a short story. The story is fast with investigating a murder but that there is also more murders. I feel like this book is just a start.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenny Coyne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I DNFd this novella. It definitely needs to be gone over by an editor. There are so many inconsistencies including mixing up the names and titles of characters. I also had a hard time with the writing style. The main character speaks to herself in her thoughts a lot, but dialogue is very juvenile for someone who has been a police officer for over 3 years.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crisis in Crestwood by Simone Avory is a well-written cozy misery. It a very exciting story with very interesting characters. The book keeps you captivating until the end. Was pleasantly surprised by the book

[mary arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you grow up in a small town, everyone knows everyone else, so when a murder( or two) is committed, you don’t want to believe that it is anyone you know. Sarah, the protagonist, keeps after the clues until it all comes together to bring the investigation to a close. Good rainy day read.

[Marsha Asquith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crestwood

Even though it's short, it is fast paced and packed with twists and turns. People dying and no clues to who is responsible. Love the characters and storyline. Want a fun book to read, I recommend this one!

[Dianne Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining cozy mystery.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery about Sarah and her dog as they investigated the murders in their small, normally tranquil town. This is a fun to read mystery that I recommend.

I read this book as part of an advance reader team and am providing my honest opinion.

[Sophy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun small town mystery following a young girl with a dream to be a cop and promises to come work in the small town she grew up in. When something big happens in the town, she is ready to help, but soon finds out it's not as easy as the mystery books she's read.

[Janie Graybeal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah has always loved to solve puzzles, solve mysteries and take charge of finding things out on her own. When she gets a call stating that the Mayor is dead, can she figure out the truth or will the truth find her first?.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murders In A Sleepy Town

This is a good mystery story. There are plenty of suspects and potential victims. Near the end I was riveted, breathless with anticipation at finding out who the killer was.

[R Hammann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is well written and keeps you guessing until the very end.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who killed his father and why??? They were all guilty of everything he said, weren't they??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.

[Lizz Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable mystery with a very twisty plot. This is a short book but there is a lot packed into the pages. Very twisty with a satisfying ending. I hope this is a prequel to a series.

[JOAN SALLEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely not the ending I expected. Interesting plot and characters made this book a quick read!

I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review.