Murder and The Old Barn: Taco Truck Mysteries - Book 2

Taco Truck Mysteries #2

by Dennis Shock

After Zoey is forced to take on a new identity, she heads to Dublin, Ohio to help U.S. Marshal Ray Stark with a murder investigation involving his close friend. Ray suspects the murder is part of an elaborate art heist and is confident that Zoey – now Kiera Glass – has the expertise to crack the case.
With her newly adopted dog, Cody, by her side, Kiera must tap into her past skills to discover the plot behind the theft. As she encounters mysterious neighbors and uncovers unsettling clues, Kiera starts to feel the heat as the investigation intensifies.
Will Kiera be able to find the stolen art and solve the murder before danger finds her? Can an ex-thief uncover the truth in a golf course community to solve the mystery and find both a murderer and a missing masterpiece?

181 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 27, 2025

Reviews

[Julie Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. This continues on from the last book, with Zoey taking up her new name change and location. However this does work as a standalone because with the new location and name change the only consistency of characters is Zoey aka kiera, Ray the us marshal and her dog Cody. You do learn more of how involved Kiera was in what landed her in witness protection than you do in the first book, where it was all a mystery. I like the characters and how the author can take the story in any direction he likes. In this book Ray is asking for Kiera's help and while I think it was pretty obvious who was responsible, I still enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next book.
When the husband of an ex girlfriend is murdered Marshal Ray Stark turns to Kiera for her expertise in solving the case. Was he killed in the process of a robbery? With a valuable painting missing, Kiera will have to carefully get back in touch with her contacts but doing so could put her back on the map. Can she help Ray get to the bottom of the murder or will she just become a target?
I liked the narrator. He might not have a great repertoire of voices but he still manages to keep the story flowing nicely and make it entertaining.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterpieces and Mysteries

This is another great story in the Taco Truck series. We find out it really is tough being in the Winters Protection Program, but now there's a new partner! Cody the dog. What fun.
The writing is great, the mystery is intriguing, and I just love Dennis Shock stories.

[Marianne Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got to beta read this and it's really good! Looking forward to the next one!

[Tambi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Kiera Glass, previously known as Zoey from Dennis Shock's Murder and Tacos: Taco Truck Mystery, Book 1. In the thrilling sequel, Murder and the Old Barn, Kiera must fully embrace her new identity as she gets ready to confront a chilling mystery in the charming town of Dublin, Ohio.
Summoned by U.S. Marshal Ray Stark, Kiera is charged with investigating the murder of Stark's close friend. However, this is no ordinary murder—it's intricately linked to a sophisticated art heist within a luxurious golf course community. With her shadowy past looming closer and her unique "expertise" the possible key, Kiera must plunge into a world of deception and peril to uncover the truth. As secrets surface and suspects arise, Kiera must outsmart those intent on burying this mystery. Accompanied by her loyal dog, Cody, she navigates treacherous paths, questions elusive neighbors, and pieces together the complex puzzle before time runs out and she becomes the next target.
Murder and the Old Barn serves as the second installment in the Taco Truck Mystery series by Dennis Shock. This quick read is packed with excitement from start to finish. The narrative features mysterious neighbors with dubious alibis, individuals concealing their true identities, and a backdrop of suspicion, forgery, lies, deceit, and so much more. Although the story started off a bit slow as I familiarized myself with the characters, it rapidly gained momentum for the most part. The dialogue is abundant—perhaps more than average—and at times, I found myself needing to reread sections to keep track of who was speaking. This distraction was minor and likely a personal quirk rather than a common issue.
Despite these slight setbacks, the numerous twists and array of suspects kept me eagerly turning the pages. The conclusion was satisfying, providing closure while sparking my curiosity for what comes next. While I adored the first installment, Murder and Tacos, I also found Murder and the Old Barn to be enjoyable, despite my minor distractions. If you’re a fan of mysteries brimming with intrigue, deception, and thrilling danger, Murder and the Old Barn is an excellent pick. It promises excitement and delivers an engaging narrative that will leave you eagerly awaiting its sequel, Murder and the Backyard. Dennis Shock has crafted a captivating tale that is sure to delight any cozy mystery enthusiast.

Overall, Murder and the Old Barn serves up a delectable salsa of secrets and spicy alibis, with a plot as thick and rich as molten queso. Enveloped in a burrito of lies and deceit, the story unfolds with tangy pico de plot twists that catch you off guard. The tale concludes with a triumph as satisfying as biting into a perfectly crafted taco. This is certainly nacho average mystery; it offers a flavorful blend of intrigue and suspense that is sure to delight cozy mystery fans.
Personal Book Rating:
Originality: 4.75/5.0
Plot Structure: 5.0/5.0
Pacing: 4.5/5.0
Dialogue: 4.5/5.0
Personal Enjoyment: 4.5/5.0
Cover Design: 4.75/5.0 (Not averaged in the overall rating.)
Overall Rating: 4.65/5.0 (Rating will be rounded up due to platforms not allowing partial ratings.)

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoey is given a new identity as Kiera Glass. Her move to the new town of Dublin, Oh does not start out well. The apartment she planned to move into doesn't accept pets and there is no way she is giving up her dog, Cody. And her permits to operate her taco truck are taking awhile to come through. She's living in a hotel in the meantime. Marshall Ray Stark asks her to help him solve the murder of a friends husband, a murder he is unofficially investigating. It involves a stolen piece of art and that's right up Kiera's alley. In her investigation she uncovers more than stolen art. She finds sketchy neighbors, employees and family members and one of them doesn't like the questions she's asking.
Another enjoyable book in a series I really enjoy.

[Siobhan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great narration from Jeff Moon

Zoe again finds herself in the middle of a murder. This is a fast paced murder mystery. Zoe is trying to help her US Marshall friend Ray. Who is trying to solve the murder of an old girlfriend’s husband. While doing so their discover an old master that had gone missing.

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this series but it can be read as a standalone, but reading it as series gives you more depth to the characters. It is a nice easy listen, the narration really suits the style of the book. I loved the preview of the next book. As always there were recipes which I like to try.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery with lots of twists.