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Rocky Start #2
Very Nice Funerals
From the authors of Agnes and the Hitman and the Liz Danger series.
Rose Malone is doing all right except that her daughter is struggling with PTSD, her lover is leaving her for the Appalachian Trail, and there’s a rumor that there’s a million bucks in the building she inherited which has inspired every money-hungry man in her weird little town to bring her cheap flowers and offer to search the place for her.
Max Reddy needs to get back to the Appalachian Trail; it’s hard to recover from a life of covert operations when you’re in a community of ex-agents. But that community also has a woman and her daughter he cares about more than he thought possible. If he hadn’t made it his mission to finish walking the Trail, he might stay, but he always finishes what he starts.
Then Max finds one of Rocky Start’s citizens dead in a coffin, and suddenly Max and Rose are after a killer in a town where a large percentage of the population is retired assassins. There’s the funeral director, the exterminator, the postmaster, the postmistress, the honey store owner, and the femme fatale, not to mention the handsome outsider journalist poking around for a story about serial killers.
And now the killer is aiming at new Rose and Max.
Very Nice Send flowers. Express your sympathy. Duck.
Rose Malone is doing all right except that her daughter is struggling with PTSD, her lover is leaving her for the Appalachian Trail, and there’s a rumor that there’s a million bucks in the building she inherited which has inspired every money-hungry man in her weird little town to bring her cheap flowers and offer to search the place for her.
Max Reddy needs to get back to the Appalachian Trail; it’s hard to recover from a life of covert operations when you’re in a community of ex-agents. But that community also has a woman and her daughter he cares about more than he thought possible. If he hadn’t made it his mission to finish walking the Trail, he might stay, but he always finishes what he starts.
Then Max finds one of Rocky Start’s citizens dead in a coffin, and suddenly Max and Rose are after a killer in a town where a large percentage of the population is retired assassins. There’s the funeral director, the exterminator, the postmaster, the postmistress, the honey store owner, and the femme fatale, not to mention the handsome outsider journalist poking around for a story about serial killers.
And now the killer is aiming at new Rose and Max.
Very Nice Send flowers. Express your sympathy. Duck.
426 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2024
637 people are currently reading
489 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Crusie
80 books7,837 followersJennifer Crusie is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author of twenty-three novels, one book of literary criticism, miscellaneous articles, essays, novellas, and short stories, and the editor of three essay anthologies.
She was born in Wapakoneta, a small town in Ohio, and then went on to live in a succession of other small towns in Ohio and New Jersey until her last move to a small town in Pennsylvania. This may have had an impact on her work.
She has a BS in Art Education, an MA in literature, an MFA in fiction, and was ABD on her PhD when she started reading romances as part of her research into the differences between the ways men and women tell stories. Writing a romance sounded like more fun than writing a dissertation, so she switched to fiction and never looked back. Her collaborations with Bob Mayer have pretty much proved everything she was going to say in her dissertation anyway, so really, no need to finish that.
For more information, see JenniferCrusie.com and her blog, Argh Ink.
She was born in Wapakoneta, a small town in Ohio, and then went on to live in a succession of other small towns in Ohio and New Jersey until her last move to a small town in Pennsylvania. This may have had an impact on her work.
She has a BS in Art Education, an MA in literature, an MFA in fiction, and was ABD on her PhD when she started reading romances as part of her research into the differences between the ways men and women tell stories. Writing a romance sounded like more fun than writing a dissertation, so she switched to fiction and never looked back. Her collaborations with Bob Mayer have pretty much proved everything she was going to say in her dissertation anyway, so really, no need to finish that.
For more information, see JenniferCrusie.com and her blog, Argh Ink.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
January 24, 2025
The writing team of Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer is a total hit. They write with a unity, but each has a separate and distinct voice. Jennifer does the girl chapters and Bob does the boy chapters. Together they make a wonderful team. The middle book of a trilogy often has challenges, but this one is a homerun. I loved the book, couldn't put it down and can't wait for May to get my hands on the next one.
The unique town of Rocky Start is a home to retired covert agents and others from the world of black ops. Rose Malone isn't a retired spook, but she and her daughter, Poppy, were adopted by Oz, who was a large part of Rocky Start and a resident spook with a million-dollar secret. When Oz died, he left a large hole in the community and Max Reddy wandered in off the Appalachian Trail and filed that hole both in the community and in Rose's life. But Max is on a personal mission to walk the entire AT and even though he has deep feelings for Rose, Poppy and the offbeat residents of Rocky Start, he is going to complete his mission.
Rose is having a tough time coming to terms with Oz's death and the rumors of millions of dollars that he left behind. If Oz left millions, Rose has no idea where it is, but that isn't stopping the parade of money-grubbing men from hitting on her in an effort to grab the money everyone thinks she has. Since everyone knows that Max plans to hit the Trail, it's open season on Rose and her millions. In addition to her unwanted suitors, Rose has to come to terms with Max leaving and maybe not returning, her daughter, Poppy, is going through a rough patch and a murder.
With so much going on Max is having second thoughts about leaving, especially when even his dog is reluctant to go. The discover of one of the town's funeral directors dead and posed in one of her coffins is not what Max needs right now and the suspects are just about everyone in Rocky Start. When a hot, suave journalist shows up chasing a story about seral killers and hits on Rose, Max is about at his maximum for all the strange happenings in this town, then there are the strange accidents that keep happening to him. Getting back on the AT is looking better and better, but he can't help but think he will be leaving a part of his heart behind when he goes.
The unique town of Rocky Start is a home to retired covert agents and others from the world of black ops. Rose Malone isn't a retired spook, but she and her daughter, Poppy, were adopted by Oz, who was a large part of Rocky Start and a resident spook with a million-dollar secret. When Oz died, he left a large hole in the community and Max Reddy wandered in off the Appalachian Trail and filed that hole both in the community and in Rose's life. But Max is on a personal mission to walk the entire AT and even though he has deep feelings for Rose, Poppy and the offbeat residents of Rocky Start, he is going to complete his mission.
Rose is having a tough time coming to terms with Oz's death and the rumors of millions of dollars that he left behind. If Oz left millions, Rose has no idea where it is, but that isn't stopping the parade of money-grubbing men from hitting on her in an effort to grab the money everyone thinks she has. Since everyone knows that Max plans to hit the Trail, it's open season on Rose and her millions. In addition to her unwanted suitors, Rose has to come to terms with Max leaving and maybe not returning, her daughter, Poppy, is going through a rough patch and a murder.
With so much going on Max is having second thoughts about leaving, especially when even his dog is reluctant to go. The discover of one of the town's funeral directors dead and posed in one of her coffins is not what Max needs right now and the suspects are just about everyone in Rocky Start. When a hot, suave journalist shows up chasing a story about seral killers and hits on Rose, Max is about at his maximum for all the strange happenings in this town, then there are the strange accidents that keep happening to him. Getting back on the AT is looking better and better, but he can't help but think he will be leaving a part of his heart behind when he goes.
July 1, 2025
Very Nice Funerals is the second book in the Rocky Start series by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer. The audio version is narrated by Cris Dukehart and Eric G. Dove. After her kidnapping ordeal, eighteen-year-old Poppy Malone is suffering from PTSD and reevaluating her life choices: college is out, and making something of their Oddities shop is in, but not everyone agrees.
Meanwhile, her mom, Rose is plagued by suitors: men of Rocky Start who mostly are interested because she now owns Oddities, and there are rumours that millions are hidden somewhere within. Max did find Ozzie’s go-bag with fifty thousand dollars, but Rose is convinced that was a one-off, until another couple of $50K caches turn up in unusual spots. There’s talk of gold, too, but no sign of it so far. And then there are the creepy texts…
Max Reddy needs to get back on the AT, and is doing daily short hikes, but now his dog, Maggs is refusing to join in, he catches a rotten cold when the rope bridge over the Little Melvin is cut and he falls in the river, and one of the town’s former players is found posed in a coffin in her own undertaking shop. He’s going to have to hang around and sort this out: he can’t go back to the AT unless he knows Rose and Poppy are safe.
And then some guy in a cyber-truck turns up, who turns out to be an investigative journalist, author of a book about serial killers: what does he want in Rocky Start? Three redhead sisters driving up in the dead of night in a pink Cadillac, in a town that doesn’t like strangers, also ring alarm bells. There are several more murders after the first one, and it seems that each one, frustratingly for Max and Luke and Pike, eliminates another suspect for the killings.
This second visit to the small Smoky Mountains town with its quirky population is at least as enjoyable as the first, although this is a series that definitely needs to be read in order, as making sense of the plot is contingent on having read earlier books, although why anyone would deny themselves the pleasure of doing that is a mystery.
Again three narratives (Rose, Max and Poppy) tell the story, and their internal monologues are very entertaining; Max’s, in particular, is often hilarious, as he continues to refer to the warped sense of humour of “the entity that runs the simulation controlling my life” whenever some mishap occurs; and there’s Rose with her “cheery-boost” smiles. Wolf-like Maggs and Fernanda the llama both have starring moments. Another fun instalment of this crime/spy thriller in The Honey Pot Plot is eagerly anticipated.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing.
Meanwhile, her mom, Rose is plagued by suitors: men of Rocky Start who mostly are interested because she now owns Oddities, and there are rumours that millions are hidden somewhere within. Max did find Ozzie’s go-bag with fifty thousand dollars, but Rose is convinced that was a one-off, until another couple of $50K caches turn up in unusual spots. There’s talk of gold, too, but no sign of it so far. And then there are the creepy texts…
Max Reddy needs to get back on the AT, and is doing daily short hikes, but now his dog, Maggs is refusing to join in, he catches a rotten cold when the rope bridge over the Little Melvin is cut and he falls in the river, and one of the town’s former players is found posed in a coffin in her own undertaking shop. He’s going to have to hang around and sort this out: he can’t go back to the AT unless he knows Rose and Poppy are safe.
And then some guy in a cyber-truck turns up, who turns out to be an investigative journalist, author of a book about serial killers: what does he want in Rocky Start? Three redhead sisters driving up in the dead of night in a pink Cadillac, in a town that doesn’t like strangers, also ring alarm bells. There are several more murders after the first one, and it seems that each one, frustratingly for Max and Luke and Pike, eliminates another suspect for the killings.
This second visit to the small Smoky Mountains town with its quirky population is at least as enjoyable as the first, although this is a series that definitely needs to be read in order, as making sense of the plot is contingent on having read earlier books, although why anyone would deny themselves the pleasure of doing that is a mystery.
Again three narratives (Rose, Max and Poppy) tell the story, and their internal monologues are very entertaining; Max’s, in particular, is often hilarious, as he continues to refer to the warped sense of humour of “the entity that runs the simulation controlling my life” whenever some mishap occurs; and there’s Rose with her “cheery-boost” smiles. Wolf-like Maggs and Fernanda the llama both have starring moments. Another fun instalment of this crime/spy thriller in The Honey Pot Plot is eagerly anticipated.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing.
July 14, 2025
The story was enjoyable and entertaining, and I can’t wait to read the third and final book in this trilogy. As with their other books, the characters really add to the overall experience. I don’t remember if we got Poppy’s POV in the first book, but having it here added a fresh and fun younger voice to the story. I loved the contrast between Poppy’s and Rose’s perspectives—both brought emotional depth and different generational angles that worked really well.
Max’s point of view, on the other hand, had that very classic “guy logic” tone, and it was interesting to see him come to grips with how much his plans and expectations were shifting. His arc added a grounded, emotional thread to balance out some of the chaos.
The small town of Rocky Start couldn’t have had a more fitting setup—retired spooks and dead bodies? It’s the perfect quirky backdrop, and it ties beautifully into the theme of the series.
Audiobook Quality:
I’ve listened to hundreds of audiobooks over the years, and one thing that consistently trips me up is when narrators don’t clearly differentiate between narration and dialogue. Unfortunately, both narrators here struggled with that. The characters’ lines blended too much with the rest of the narration, making it genuinely hard to tell when people were actually speaking. It was confusing and, honestly, frustrating.
Personal Pet Peeve:
Okay, maybe it’s just me—but does the dog have the same name as the hero?? Every time someone said “Max,” I had no idea whether they meant the guy or the dog. Apparently, the dog’s name is Maggs, but to my ears, it kept sounding like Max. Either way, it drove me a little nuts.
___________________________________
Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.
Max’s point of view, on the other hand, had that very classic “guy logic” tone, and it was interesting to see him come to grips with how much his plans and expectations were shifting. His arc added a grounded, emotional thread to balance out some of the chaos.
The small town of Rocky Start couldn’t have had a more fitting setup—retired spooks and dead bodies? It’s the perfect quirky backdrop, and it ties beautifully into the theme of the series.
Audiobook Quality:
I’ve listened to hundreds of audiobooks over the years, and one thing that consistently trips me up is when narrators don’t clearly differentiate between narration and dialogue. Unfortunately, both narrators here struggled with that. The characters’ lines blended too much with the rest of the narration, making it genuinely hard to tell when people were actually speaking. It was confusing and, honestly, frustrating.
Personal Pet Peeve:
Okay, maybe it’s just me—but does the dog have the same name as the hero?? Every time someone said “Max,” I had no idea whether they meant the guy or the dog. Apparently, the dog’s name is Maggs, but to my ears, it kept sounding like Max. Either way, it drove me a little nuts.
___________________________________
Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.
October 25, 2024
VERY NICE FUNERALS is a funny, witty, surprising, action packed swoon fest. I was entirely charmed not just by Max and Rose but the surprising developments of the kids subplot while ex-players die all around them. And I love when characters have to answer the question, I love you, and now what? Just an all around good time.
And yeah, I called it 😎
Heat level: 3
And yeah, I called it 😎
Heat level: 3
June 19, 2025
Die Verehrer
Rocky Start ist ein besonderer Ort, der eigentlich überhaupt nicht auffallen soll. Seit neunzehn Jahren lebt Rosi Malone hier, ist quasi untergetaucht. Nach dem Tod ihres Ziehvaters Oz müssen Rose und ihre Tochter Poppy sich neu sortieren. Dabei könnte Max Reddy ihnen helfen. Doch der möchte seine Wanderung auf dem Appalachian Trail beenden. Denn allerdings wird eine Bestattungsunternehmerin des Ortes tot aufgefunden. Offensichtlich war es kein natürlicher Tod und auch um Rose zu schützen, beschließt Max noch länger zu bleiben. Irgendwie schient es auch auf Mex jemand abgesehen zu haben.
Mit diesem zweiten Band einer Trilogie geht die Geschichte von Rose und Max weiter. In Rocky Start, diesem eigenartigen Ort wo eigenartige Menschen leben, versuchen sie ein normales Leben zu führen. Das erweist sich als nicht so einfach, denn etliche der Einwohner haben eine turbulente Vergangenheit. Max will zwar nicht auf seine Wanderung verzichten, doch wenn im Ort ein Mörder umgeht, muss es doch eine Weile länger bleiben. Vielleicht braucht Rose auch Schutz vor ihren aufdringlichen Verehrern, die unbedingt dem Gerücht nachgehen wollen, sie habe in ihren geerbten Haus viel Geld gefunden. Diese Idioten, zum Glück ist Max noch da.
Die Handlung des Buches ist abgeschlossen genug, um den vorherigen Band nicht unbedingt kennen zu müssen. Dennoch ist davon auszugehen, dass die Bände dieser Trilogie aufeinander aufbauen. Wenn man also alle drei bände lesen möchte, sollte man vielleicht mit dem ersten Band beginnen. Wer einfach eine Gelegenheit wahrnimmt, kann diesen Band auch einzeln lesen. Das Autoren-Duo Crusie/Mayer versteht es sehr gut zu unterhalten. Hin und wieder sind Beschreibungen etwas zu plakativ. Wenn man sich an dem ein wenig surrealen Setting nicht stört, ist die Geschichte jedoch berührend und gleichzeitig spannend. Max und Rose sind ein cooles Paar und die Geschichten um sie herum haben etwas Spezielles. Eine gelungene Mischung aus Romantik und Thriller.
Rocky Start ist ein besonderer Ort, der eigentlich überhaupt nicht auffallen soll. Seit neunzehn Jahren lebt Rosi Malone hier, ist quasi untergetaucht. Nach dem Tod ihres Ziehvaters Oz müssen Rose und ihre Tochter Poppy sich neu sortieren. Dabei könnte Max Reddy ihnen helfen. Doch der möchte seine Wanderung auf dem Appalachian Trail beenden. Denn allerdings wird eine Bestattungsunternehmerin des Ortes tot aufgefunden. Offensichtlich war es kein natürlicher Tod und auch um Rose zu schützen, beschließt Max noch länger zu bleiben. Irgendwie schient es auch auf Mex jemand abgesehen zu haben.
Mit diesem zweiten Band einer Trilogie geht die Geschichte von Rose und Max weiter. In Rocky Start, diesem eigenartigen Ort wo eigenartige Menschen leben, versuchen sie ein normales Leben zu führen. Das erweist sich als nicht so einfach, denn etliche der Einwohner haben eine turbulente Vergangenheit. Max will zwar nicht auf seine Wanderung verzichten, doch wenn im Ort ein Mörder umgeht, muss es doch eine Weile länger bleiben. Vielleicht braucht Rose auch Schutz vor ihren aufdringlichen Verehrern, die unbedingt dem Gerücht nachgehen wollen, sie habe in ihren geerbten Haus viel Geld gefunden. Diese Idioten, zum Glück ist Max noch da.
Die Handlung des Buches ist abgeschlossen genug, um den vorherigen Band nicht unbedingt kennen zu müssen. Dennoch ist davon auszugehen, dass die Bände dieser Trilogie aufeinander aufbauen. Wenn man also alle drei bände lesen möchte, sollte man vielleicht mit dem ersten Band beginnen. Wer einfach eine Gelegenheit wahrnimmt, kann diesen Band auch einzeln lesen. Das Autoren-Duo Crusie/Mayer versteht es sehr gut zu unterhalten. Hin und wieder sind Beschreibungen etwas zu plakativ. Wenn man sich an dem ein wenig surrealen Setting nicht stört, ist die Geschichte jedoch berührend und gleichzeitig spannend. Max und Rose sind ein cooles Paar und die Geschichten um sie herum haben etwas Spezielles. Eine gelungene Mischung aus Romantik und Thriller.
November 6, 2024
I loved this book!! I have always liked the writing team of Crusie and Mayer, but they have hit it out of the park this time. This is book two of a trilogy, and they just keep getting better. Rocky Start, in case you missed the first book, is a small town on the NC/TN border (which actually runs right through the town, and some of the buildings) which has been established and occupied by retired spies. This time around there is a serial killer on the loose, and citizens are turning up dead all over town. Can Rose, Max, and company find and stop the killer before one of them joins the death list?
As I said, this is book #2 in the trilogy. I can't wait for the final one, which comes out shortly after the New Year!
As I said, this is book #2 in the trilogy. I can't wait for the final one, which comes out shortly after the New Year!
July 25, 2025
Another fantastic creation from this great author duo! I love all of the characters (except Herc, but he’s not supposed to be likable)
October 27, 2024
Great Read!
Crusie and Mayer make a really great writing team, and I've read and loved all of their books, but the Rocky Start books are special. The quirky cast of characters make for a wonderful blend and excellent reading. Twists and turns keep the story flowing and pages moving. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute and sincerely hope for more from this duo and this series in particular. 5 stars and highly recommend if you like your murder mysteries with quirky characters, snappy dialogue, and lots of heart.
Crusie and Mayer make a really great writing team, and I've read and loved all of their books, but the Rocky Start books are special. The quirky cast of characters make for a wonderful blend and excellent reading. Twists and turns keep the story flowing and pages moving. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute and sincerely hope for more from this duo and this series in particular. 5 stars and highly recommend if you like your murder mysteries with quirky characters, snappy dialogue, and lots of heart.
November 20, 2024
5.0 fun stars! I love this secretly strange little town and its cast of odd characters. But somebody's killing them off. Book 2 just gets better, more mystery and suspense. And with this crew, there's no telling "who done it" until the very end. I adore Max/Rose, Poppy, Maggs, and Marley. I especially love Max's sarcasm and his thoughts to himself when it comes to these oddballs. Several definite LOL moments were had. I'm happy there's more to come. Book 3 out next year. Already marked my calendar.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2024
Funny and dealt with very serious subjects like PTSD! It can actually be done!!!
July 28, 2025
Enjoyed the bits with Fernanda the llama a lot!
October 26, 2024
5 Stars plus
As always, a stellar performance by the masterful duo of Crusie/ Mayer! Witty repartee, tight plot, and surprises until the end! I loved Rocky Start and this one was better! Thanks
As always, a stellar performance by the masterful duo of Crusie/ Mayer! Witty repartee, tight plot, and surprises until the end! I loved Rocky Start and this one was better! Thanks
November 4, 2024
At first I DNFed it. Then I decided to give it one more try and finished the story. Nope, I still didn't like it. It is more an adventure flick than a romance novel. Every emotion is suppressed in favor of action. Every personality - all the characters, both leading and supporting - are flat and painted in black and white. No development, no colors, no nuances. Just 2-dimentional gray mannequins, names printed on their foreheads to distinguish them from each other, running around and getting in trouble. And to add insult to injury, the dialog is banal. I suspect the entire book is much more Mayer than it is Crusie, and I miss Crusie's complex, multifaceted characters and the subtlety of her old romantic comedy plots.
July 21, 2025
The third novel in the Rocky Start series jumps right in with more mayhem leaving Rose and Max to try to bring back some peace in their little corner of the world.
This read more like a mild murder mystery with just a touch of romantic elements. The promise of a good plot was there, but at times it felt a little bit all over the place. I miss Crusie’s writing of fun and quirky characters and felt her voice was missing here.
Although, this was not my favorite read thus far, I still stay true to my love for Jennifer Cruise and her standalone novels as I have loved her writing for years now.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for this Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for an honest review.
This read more like a mild murder mystery with just a touch of romantic elements. The promise of a good plot was there, but at times it felt a little bit all over the place. I miss Crusie’s writing of fun and quirky characters and felt her voice was missing here.
Although, this was not my favorite read thus far, I still stay true to my love for Jennifer Cruise and her standalone novels as I have loved her writing for years now.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for this Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2024
Very Nice Funeral review
I received my Kindle copy of Very Nice Funerals today and already finished it. As I have pretty much done with every Crusie/Mayer book written. Once I start reading one I can't put it down, they are just that good. Now I have to wait patiently for the 3rd book of the trilogy coming out in 2025. Loved how the Damned egg cups made their way into the story, how bits and pieces of your life and experiences make it into your stories. Makes me wonder if Bob has ever done the Appalachian Trail himself. Thank you both for another great story. BTW, Fernanda Llama is my favorite character.
I received my Kindle copy of Very Nice Funerals today and already finished it. As I have pretty much done with every Crusie/Mayer book written. Once I start reading one I can't put it down, they are just that good. Now I have to wait patiently for the 3rd book of the trilogy coming out in 2025. Loved how the Damned egg cups made their way into the story, how bits and pieces of your life and experiences make it into your stories. Makes me wonder if Bob has ever done the Appalachian Trail himself. Thank you both for another great story. BTW, Fernanda Llama is my favorite character.
October 28, 2024
Great sequel!
Love the growth of the characters. Max and Rose continue to work on their relationship while searching for money caches and a possible serial killer. Poppy is really coming into her own and must find a way to her future. Great action and humor but recommend reading A Rocky Start for the most enjoyment.
Love the growth of the characters. Max and Rose continue to work on their relationship while searching for money caches and a possible serial killer. Poppy is really coming into her own and must find a way to her future. Great action and humor but recommend reading A Rocky Start for the most enjoyment.
February 5, 2025
What a fun story. A great followup to Rocky Start. You can bet I will be reading the 3rd one when it is published. I love the off beat characters. This is just begging to be a series on Max or Netflix. The tone Of the books is what draws you in as reader.
October 26, 2024
Great addition to series
The parallel lines about Rose and Poppy added depth to the story and emphasized the importance of the characters needing to decide their own paths. Max growing into the new Oz and his Romance with Rose was well crafted. Add in all the quirky townspeople and this book is another winner for Mayer and Crusie.
The parallel lines about Rose and Poppy added depth to the story and emphasized the importance of the characters needing to decide their own paths. Max growing into the new Oz and his Romance with Rose was well crafted. Add in all the quirky townspeople and this book is another winner for Mayer and Crusie.
October 26, 2024
Love the Rocky Start series!
Oh, man! I want more! I love this book. It was easily as good as the first in the series, Rocky Start. First, it is cleverly funny. Then it has a smart, quick plot. Finally, the characters are tremendous. I'm looking forward to the next book The Honey Pot Plot.
Oh, man! I want more! I love this book. It was easily as good as the first in the series, Rocky Start. First, it is cleverly funny. Then it has a smart, quick plot. Finally, the characters are tremendous. I'm looking forward to the next book The Honey Pot Plot.
April 28, 2025
Rose doesn't know what she wants to do and Poppy is dealing with PTSD when a new murder pops up.
What I enjoyed:
* Betty is the best. She dropped some hard truths on Rose.
* Maggs the dog and Fernanda the llama are heroes
* Rowan was an interesting addition
What could have been better:
*
*
* It was annoying that Max keeps focusing on completing the hike instead of settling down and being happy
What I enjoyed:
* Betty is the best. She dropped some hard truths on Rose.
* Maggs the dog and Fernanda the llama are heroes
* Rowan was an interesting addition
What could have been better:
*
*
* It was annoying that Max keeps focusing on completing the hike instead of settling down and being happy
January 12, 2026
Things are getting darker in this little number. I had set it aside for a while but once I picked it up again it was a quick read.
October 25, 2024
Great story
I loved the two books in this series. Cruise and Mater are great writing partners. Love all the characters and the town. I hope there are more stories to come. It's hard to find good books starring people in their fifties and older. I'm glad I found these.
I loved the two books in this series. Cruise and Mater are great writing partners. Love all the characters and the town. I hope there are more stories to come. It's hard to find good books starring people in their fifties and older. I'm glad I found these.
June 17, 2025
I wasn't sure what to expect with this series but the book covers looked fun and the titles sounded quirky, so I gave it a go and I must say I am really enjoying this series. The story is told by three characters Rose the mother who is hiding out from the police and just wants a quite life. Her daughter, Poppy who after the last book is going through some stuff . This book is well worth a read or listen too, it also gives you the back story of the characters and how they ended up in town. Max is the other characters perspective you are treated to, he's the strange who breezed into town and just wants to get back on the road but people keep dying and his dog doesn't want to go. This makes the story enjoyable because you as the listener know everything that is going on, well except why people keep getting killed and posed but don't worry it's not gruesome and this is no ordinary town, the killer is unmasked. I must admit I had no clue who was responsible. There are so many great characters in this series. I usually get fed up of home life drama and just wish the author would get back to the investigation but that is not the case with this book. The murders and lives are so well connected and weaved together that it wouldn't work if you just focussed on one part. Off to start the next book.
Max is preparing to get back to walking the trail again with his dog by his side now that things has quieten down. Before he can set off the bridge he is crossing collapses and he takes an unexpected and cold swim. When he returns to town it's to find the body of the funeral director dead and posed in her shop window. He should have left sooner but now he can't leave Rose, Poppy or the town with just a llama to protect them. Max struggling with a cold must help Rose fend off suitors who can't wait for him to go and are only looking for the gold everybody thinks is in the shop Rose inherited, a nosy reporter in town looking for the next big story and a killer who isn't afraid to kill again.
Like the story the author uses two narrators to bring things to life and they work well as a team. With each of them having there own chapters to work there magic.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Max is preparing to get back to walking the trail again with his dog by his side now that things has quieten down. Before he can set off the bridge he is crossing collapses and he takes an unexpected and cold swim. When he returns to town it's to find the body of the funeral director dead and posed in her shop window. He should have left sooner but now he can't leave Rose, Poppy or the town with just a llama to protect them. Max struggling with a cold must help Rose fend off suitors who can't wait for him to go and are only looking for the gold everybody thinks is in the shop Rose inherited, a nosy reporter in town looking for the next big story and a killer who isn't afraid to kill again.
Like the story the author uses two narrators to bring things to life and they work well as a team. With each of them having there own chapters to work there magic.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
June 26, 2025
Very Nice Funerals is back in Rocky Start, the tiny Appalachian town where everyone has a gun, a secret, and at least one fake passport. Max is trying to get back to the Appalachian Trail. Rose is trying to survive another wildly bad week. And then there’s the small problem of someone getting murdered and displayed in a funeral parlor before anyone even had time to book the service. Charming.
The town is still full of retired assassins playing small-town bingo, but now people are dropping like flies, and nobody’s entirely sure which one of their suspicious neighbors is behind it. It’s like Murder, She Wrote, except if Jessica Fletcher used to work for the CIA and everyone in town could kill you with a paperclip.
Rose is hanging on by sheer force of will. She’s trying to help Poppy crawl her way through the PTSD mess she’s drowning in, while also swatting away a constant parade of men who keep showing up with cheap flowers and big plans for her rumored inheritance. Max is torn between finishing his little Appalachian Trail mission and admitting that maybe he accidentally caught feelings and doesn’t want to leave. Spoiler, Max, buddy... you’ve already been adopted by this town. Just stay.
Also, we need to talk about Betty. Queen. Icon. Unbothered. She drops hard truths like she's flinging knives and somehow makes every scene better. Maggs the dog remains the smartest character in the room. Fernanda the llama deserves her own Netflix deal. The side cast is so good, I would absolutely read a spinoff where half of these retirees just run a wildly illegal HOA.
The mystery is a fun ride. Sure, occasionally I had to stop and remind myself who was threatening who, and which weapon they were brandishing at that particular moment. The plot’s a little overstuffed in places, but that’s kind of the charm. This town is aggressively extra. The serial killer reveal was creepy enough to keep me engaged, even if I did keep wondering how a town full of trained assassins somehow missed having a murderer camping out in their neighborhood. But honestly, the real mystery is how Max has any intention of leaving, like sir, look around you, you’re home.
Cris Dukehart and Eric G. Dove crush the audiobook narration again. The way they deliver the banter, the awkward emotions, and the creeping tension is honestly half the reason I inhaled this book in record time. They’re already locked in for book three and you better believe I’ll be listening the second it drops.
Four stars. No notes. Just pure, cozy-murder-espionage-retirement-community chaos. And yes, I am fully ready for this to become a long running series because this town is unhinged in the best way.
Whodunity Award: For Delivering Small Town Chaos, Secret Pasts, And Just A Casual Amount Of Murder
Huge thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook and for letting me visit Rocky Start again a little early. And extra love to Cris Dukehart and Eric G. Dove for once again making the spy shenanigans even more addictive.
The town is still full of retired assassins playing small-town bingo, but now people are dropping like flies, and nobody’s entirely sure which one of their suspicious neighbors is behind it. It’s like Murder, She Wrote, except if Jessica Fletcher used to work for the CIA and everyone in town could kill you with a paperclip.
Rose is hanging on by sheer force of will. She’s trying to help Poppy crawl her way through the PTSD mess she’s drowning in, while also swatting away a constant parade of men who keep showing up with cheap flowers and big plans for her rumored inheritance. Max is torn between finishing his little Appalachian Trail mission and admitting that maybe he accidentally caught feelings and doesn’t want to leave. Spoiler, Max, buddy... you’ve already been adopted by this town. Just stay.
Also, we need to talk about Betty. Queen. Icon. Unbothered. She drops hard truths like she's flinging knives and somehow makes every scene better. Maggs the dog remains the smartest character in the room. Fernanda the llama deserves her own Netflix deal. The side cast is so good, I would absolutely read a spinoff where half of these retirees just run a wildly illegal HOA.
The mystery is a fun ride. Sure, occasionally I had to stop and remind myself who was threatening who, and which weapon they were brandishing at that particular moment. The plot’s a little overstuffed in places, but that’s kind of the charm. This town is aggressively extra. The serial killer reveal was creepy enough to keep me engaged, even if I did keep wondering how a town full of trained assassins somehow missed having a murderer camping out in their neighborhood. But honestly, the real mystery is how Max has any intention of leaving, like sir, look around you, you’re home.
Cris Dukehart and Eric G. Dove crush the audiobook narration again. The way they deliver the banter, the awkward emotions, and the creeping tension is honestly half the reason I inhaled this book in record time. They’re already locked in for book three and you better believe I’ll be listening the second it drops.
Four stars. No notes. Just pure, cozy-murder-espionage-retirement-community chaos. And yes, I am fully ready for this to become a long running series because this town is unhinged in the best way.
Whodunity Award: For Delivering Small Town Chaos, Secret Pasts, And Just A Casual Amount Of Murder
Huge thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook and for letting me visit Rocky Start again a little early. And extra love to Cris Dukehart and Eric G. Dove for once again making the spy shenanigans even more addictive.
June 19, 2025
Rose is reevaluating her life, Max is trying to leave town to finish the Appalachian Trail, Poppy is traumatized, and it turns out that Rocky Start may just be home to a serial killer in this second installment of the Rocky Start Trilogy.
I heavily criticized the first book in this trilogy for starting with poor writing and character development. Thankfully, that book was much better on the back end and finished rather strong. I'm pleased to say that the momentum continued and this second book is a solid example of mystery fiction. Rose is personable and relatable as she evaluates her life post-Ozzie. Poppy is processing trauma as a teenager in such a realistic way that it's actually somewhat scary. She's acting right for her age without being overly whiny which is so refreshing compared to a lot of 18-year-old fictional characters. Max is the weak link as he is still a bit one-dimensional and overly stubborn but he does make some progress towards acting human this time. The plot is engaging and suspenseful, with twists and turns that kept me guessing the entire way through.
I am a little mad though. One of my favorite periphery characters from the first book is the first victim found in this book. That's just rude.
The audiobook problems I had with the first book in the series are completely gone here. The editing is still adequate and now the accents are done well. Highly recommend listening to this one on audio.
I received this audiobook through NetGalley as an ARC/ALC. Opinions are my own; many thanks to BrillianceAudio for the read.
I heavily criticized the first book in this trilogy for starting with poor writing and character development. Thankfully, that book was much better on the back end and finished rather strong. I'm pleased to say that the momentum continued and this second book is a solid example of mystery fiction. Rose is personable and relatable as she evaluates her life post-Ozzie. Poppy is processing trauma as a teenager in such a realistic way that it's actually somewhat scary. She's acting right for her age without being overly whiny which is so refreshing compared to a lot of 18-year-old fictional characters. Max is the weak link as he is still a bit one-dimensional and overly stubborn but he does make some progress towards acting human this time. The plot is engaging and suspenseful, with twists and turns that kept me guessing the entire way through.
I am a little mad though. One of my favorite periphery characters from the first book is the first victim found in this book. That's just rude.
The audiobook problems I had with the first book in the series are completely gone here. The editing is still adequate and now the accents are done well. Highly recommend listening to this one on audio.
I received this audiobook through NetGalley as an ARC/ALC. Opinions are my own; many thanks to BrillianceAudio for the read.
January 15, 2026
Good golly, Miss Molly these books are so freaking good! I don’t know why these aren’t more known or posted about but they are so freaking good. It felt so good to be reading about Rocky start and it’s quirky residence again I will say I believe book number one, “Rocky start”, is better than, “very nice funerals.” However, that does not mean that this book is not a five star, five coffee cup, five dog paws book.
This book picks up where Rocky start leaves off. And now you have to deal with a set of murders in town and figuring out who done it. The romance story continues on for Poppy and Max and you figure out where they’re gonna go next. Book one had about a paragraph of a spicy scene (very very mild) and this book had maybe a sentence or two.
This is written from multiple POVs Rose, Max, and poppy(the daughter of rose) I think this book had more poppy in it than the first and I wasn’t the biggest fan of that. If I had to nitpick this book, I would say I got a little annoyed with the repetitive of “I’m a manly man.“ I also was not a huge fan of how Pike’s character was written because this book picks up exactly where the first left off in time. His character does almost an entire 180 from the first book and it was only a two week period of time In the first. So that gave me pause.
Third. The TYPO CALLING THE NISSAN PATHFINDER A JEEP. (As a jeep driver.) not okay 😂
Lastly, SPOILER!!!!!!!
The name of the book is stupid. It gave the whole book away before you even open it… because Nice isn’t in the book at all….. so cool.
But oh well nitpicking or not. The enjoyment I got from this book is still 5 stars.
This book picks up where Rocky start leaves off. And now you have to deal with a set of murders in town and figuring out who done it. The romance story continues on for Poppy and Max and you figure out where they’re gonna go next. Book one had about a paragraph of a spicy scene (very very mild) and this book had maybe a sentence or two.
This is written from multiple POVs Rose, Max, and poppy(the daughter of rose) I think this book had more poppy in it than the first and I wasn’t the biggest fan of that. If I had to nitpick this book, I would say I got a little annoyed with the repetitive of “I’m a manly man.“ I also was not a huge fan of how Pike’s character was written because this book picks up exactly where the first left off in time. His character does almost an entire 180 from the first book and it was only a two week period of time In the first. So that gave me pause.
Third. The TYPO CALLING THE NISSAN PATHFINDER A JEEP. (As a jeep driver.) not okay 😂
Lastly, SPOILER!!!!!!!
The name of the book is stupid. It gave the whole book away before you even open it… because Nice isn’t in the book at all….. so cool.
But oh well nitpicking or not. The enjoyment I got from this book is still 5 stars.
January 10, 2026
This is the least favorite in the series, mostly because of the whining from Poppy's POV. I understand that experiencing a kidnapping can be traumatic, and under some other circumstances, I'm open to exploring how teenagers change and grow when their surroundings shift. However, this is a story about adventure and romance, and I really don't care to hear Poppy repeating over and over again how her world has changed and how she doesn't want to go to college. I think her breakup with her previous boyfriend is a good call (although I do not approve of his ignoring her in the first book, there was no hint that this actually mattered to Poppy at that point), but it's written in such an uninteresting way that I don't have the patience for. Maybe it's more for people who like reading about teenage angst...
The murders themselves are also not gripping. I guessed the killer from the start, but the most annoying thing is that the main characters, Rose and Max, do not do anything that really helps solve the puzzle until the very end. Just like the first book, they sort of stumble over the solution after aimless running around.
It's also a shame that so many characters are killed off without meaning. I understand not all of the spies residing in this town are amiable, but they are described in such a way that doesn't elicit any attachment towards them. Melissa's death is never properly explained either. She's used as a tool to start all of the killings.
The murders themselves are also not gripping. I guessed the killer from the start, but the most annoying thing is that the main characters, Rose and Max, do not do anything that really helps solve the puzzle until the very end. Just like the first book, they sort of stumble over the solution after aimless running around.
It's also a shame that so many characters are killed off without meaning. I understand not all of the spies residing in this town are amiable, but they are described in such a way that doesn't elicit any attachment towards them. Melissa's death is never properly explained either. She's used as a tool to start all of the killings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2025
Very Nice Indeed.
4.5🌟
This series has really reeled me in, and I’m loving it. As I don’t like spoilers, I didn’t read the synopsis of this book and went in blind. I assumed wrongly that it might be different main characters, others from the town but was extremely delighted that it was Rose and Max again leading the pack. They work in perfect harmony to solved the latest crimes happening in Rocky Start.
There are a few different categories listed for these novels, mystery and small town romance which I agree with but it doesn’t add the clever wit and banter that’s apart of these stories. There’s times I’m snorting at a Max quip, or laughing at some Rose’s lines, as well as tearing up over them working through their relationship and dealing with Ozzie’s death. But I’m a softie, so that’s a given.
I was going to say I love all the characters of Rocky Start but then again, no I don’t! Some are very weird and not in a good quirky way. So I’ll say I love most of the characters and their antics.
These authors write so well together, very cohesive, that they had me guessing back and forth who the killer might be. Moreover, I was simply enjoyed the whole thing and can’t wait to start the next book.
4.5🌟
This series has really reeled me in, and I’m loving it. As I don’t like spoilers, I didn’t read the synopsis of this book and went in blind. I assumed wrongly that it might be different main characters, others from the town but was extremely delighted that it was Rose and Max again leading the pack. They work in perfect harmony to solved the latest crimes happening in Rocky Start.
There are a few different categories listed for these novels, mystery and small town romance which I agree with but it doesn’t add the clever wit and banter that’s apart of these stories. There’s times I’m snorting at a Max quip, or laughing at some Rose’s lines, as well as tearing up over them working through their relationship and dealing with Ozzie’s death. But I’m a softie, so that’s a given.
I was going to say I love all the characters of Rocky Start but then again, no I don’t! Some are very weird and not in a good quirky way. So I’ll say I love most of the characters and their antics.
These authors write so well together, very cohesive, that they had me guessing back and forth who the killer might be. Moreover, I was simply enjoyed the whole thing and can’t wait to start the next book.
December 4, 2024
2.5 stars.
Rounded down because middle of series blandness. Rounded back up due to favorite author’s voice(s).
Rounded down because I found the mystery/solution/high body count distasteful.
Rounded down because although a contemporary story set in a town on the TN/NC border in “November”, there is no acknowledgement of Hurricane Helene. Rounded back up in recognition that the reference might date the story to 2024. But still, each and every reminder broke my ability to suspend disbelief.
~ SPOILERS BELOW ~
Rounded down again, because although The Goodbye Girl is one of my favorite movies, I was disappointed to read that final scene inserted into VNF instead of reading an original ending.
Noted the use of llama, and the appearance of the demonic egg cups.
But the handling of the mix-and-match dating of the children seemed callous to me. As did the handling of the town residents (murder victims, villains, survivors). If the authors don’t like most of those people, then why would we readers want to spend our time with them in this book …or the next one?
I wanted to like this book, but what has remained with me is the unpleasantness, so that’s the final round down.
Rounded down because middle of series blandness. Rounded back up due to favorite author’s voice(s).
Rounded down because I found the mystery/solution/high body count distasteful.
Rounded down because although a contemporary story set in a town on the TN/NC border in “November”, there is no acknowledgement of Hurricane Helene. Rounded back up in recognition that the reference might date the story to 2024. But still, each and every reminder broke my ability to suspend disbelief.
~ SPOILERS BELOW ~
Rounded down again, because although The Goodbye Girl is one of my favorite movies, I was disappointed to read that final scene inserted into VNF instead of reading an original ending.
Noted the use of llama, and the appearance of the demonic egg cups.
But the handling of the mix-and-match dating of the children seemed callous to me. As did the handling of the town residents (murder victims, villains, survivors). If the authors don’t like most of those people, then why would we readers want to spend our time with them in this book …or the next one?
I wanted to like this book, but what has remained with me is the unpleasantness, so that’s the final round down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2025
𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗞
Rose Malone’s life is chaos - her daughter’s suffering with PTSD, thirsty men are after her inheritance, and her beau Max Reddy wants to go off and hike the Appalachian Trail. But when Max finds a body in a coffin, and realizes a serial killer’s targeting their quirky town of retired spies, he puts his hiking adventure on pause.
𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡
I loved jumping back into this series - same great narrators, and it picks up where book one finished.
It’s less romance, more mystery this time with fewer sexy moments and more focus on the serial killer, which I liked. It was nice meeting more of the town (Hermione especially) but I wish it went a little deeper, though there were quite a few characters, and the book isn’t short.
Poppy’s coming of age story felt really grown up and thoughtful, and I really liked the direction it took. I also loved how more loose ends were tied up from the series arc.
𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
I don’t know how well this would work as a standalone but as book two it’s just as much fun as one and now I’m just excited for the finale!
Thanks to @BrilliancePublishing and @Netgalley for access to this advance listening copy
Rose Malone’s life is chaos - her daughter’s suffering with PTSD, thirsty men are after her inheritance, and her beau Max Reddy wants to go off and hike the Appalachian Trail. But when Max finds a body in a coffin, and realizes a serial killer’s targeting their quirky town of retired spies, he puts his hiking adventure on pause.
𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡
I loved jumping back into this series - same great narrators, and it picks up where book one finished.
It’s less romance, more mystery this time with fewer sexy moments and more focus on the serial killer, which I liked. It was nice meeting more of the town (Hermione especially) but I wish it went a little deeper, though there were quite a few characters, and the book isn’t short.
Poppy’s coming of age story felt really grown up and thoughtful, and I really liked the direction it took. I also loved how more loose ends were tied up from the series arc.
𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
I don’t know how well this would work as a standalone but as book two it’s just as much fun as one and now I’m just excited for the finale!
Thanks to @BrilliancePublishing and @Netgalley for access to this advance listening copy
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