The Monastery Murder: Cozy Mystery

by Jennifer Christianson

In The Monastery Murder, Jennifer Christianson spins a highly suspenseful and humorous mystery with intriguing twists and turns that get more intense as the story draws to a close. - Reader's Favorite

In this thrilling and humorous mystery, Linny Scout is the fresh and feisty heroine we didn’t know we needed.

Linny has discovered a taste for adventure. When her ex-boyfriend is murdered, she sets out to find his killer.

As a thirtysomething Midwesterner having a quarter life crisis, Linny leaves behind her American career and life, finding a new home in Romania. Here, she falls in love with the country and its charm. Linny makes ends meet writing a travel blog and teaching English to a group of quirky retirees.

Victor, Linny’s ex-boyfriend, is killed and Linny is determined to uncover the truth. She enlists her larger-than-life Romanian landlord and best friend, a handsome police detective named Ethan, and her sexy and mysterious neighbor Rico to help her find Victor’s killer.

As Linny uncovers a larger conspiracy surrounding Victor’s death, she must stay one step ahead the men responsible. As she inches closer to finding the truth, danger lurks around every corner. Can she stay alive long enough to bring down a major crime operation, uncover a killer, find love, and discover her own life’s purpose?

261 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 11, 2023

About the author

Jennifer Christianson is an American currently living in Cluj, Romania. Always an avid reader, Jennifer has a soft spot for comedic mysteries and thrillers. Growing up in the Midwest, she developed a passion for travel and global cultures. She has visited to over 40 countries on 5 continents and is planning to see many more. Her professional career has spanned engineering, marketing, and teaching before taking up creative writing. Her debut novel combines her love of mysteries with her passion for culture.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this writers voice. She shows a story happening so vividly that it’s impossible not to get caught up in the action and feel all the emotions of the characters. There’s diversity in so many ways that make the book colorful and the Romanian cultural tidbits add great flavor to the read. I did run into some plot questions / issues towards the end of the book, and this unfortunately negatively impacted the overall rating for the book. I enjoyed the book for the most part, so much so that I really wanted to overlook the plot issues, but in the end, I felt it was important to stick to my objective strategy for rating. It was hard though because in this case I felt emotionally torn, because I truly enjoyed this book from the very beginning and was so invested in the characters and their stories. I look forward to seeing what this author brings to the table when she publishes her next book.

[Katherine Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This murder mystery was such a great read! Unlike most serious crime stories, it's got an interesting mix of friendship, romance, and family woven in. The characters are a likable, intriguing bunch, and the story unfolds in a charming city in Romania (definitely makes we want to visit!). Linny, the main character, keeps finding herself in tricky situations, and with the help of her friends, she uses her smarts to figure things out. Ms. Christianson's descriptions of the characters and the city of Cluj make the book really enjoyable, and I look forward to her next book!