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Ellen McKenzie #1
Dying for a Change
Change can be exciting, invigorating, fun, but murder is more than Ellen McKenzie bargains for when she returns to her small hometown of Santa Louisa to start a new career and a new life.
182 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
22 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Delaney
16 books37 followersKathleen Delaney has recently moved from CA to S Carolina to write full time. She found a wonderful old historic house with a wonderful wrap around porch, which both she and her dogs put to good use. She will be on tour during August, Sept and October, signing her latest myster, And Murder For Dessert. "
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 11, 2013
"Dying for a Change" by Kathleen Delaney, will keep you turning the pages. Ellen McKenzie has moved back to her home town after going through a difficult divorce. She hopes that her return to Santa Louisa, the peaceful, small town where she grew up, will be the start of a new life for her. And it is, but not in any of the ways she could have predicted. Politics and murder have disrupted the town and Ellen, determined to find the killer, places her own life in jeopardy.
May 29, 2018
Ellen MacKenzie has moved back home after a divorce and recently gotten a job as a real estate broker. But when she goes to show her first home she discovers the bloody corpse of Hank Sawyer, a local contractor, in the closet. Once the police arrive she finds out that the chief turns out to be the boy she grew up to next door, Dan Dunham.
While she has no plans to even investigate the murder, she finds out that the main suspect is another broker that she knows just wouldn't commit this crime. So she decides to ask a few questions and see if she can find a more likely suspect. But while it appears that Hank didn't have any real enemies, there were a few feathers he ruffled in the process of a new store coming to town, one that would have changed things in their little burg. Did one of those against this development kill him? Ellie will have to put her life on the line to find out...
This is an older book and since it's been sitting on my bookshelf for awhile I decided to read it, and I'm glad I did. It was done nicely, with a good plot line and no real 'evil' people, which was a change. Although the actual killer wasn't that hard to figure out, the process behind it was a delight to read.
There was plenty of intrigue, although not a lot of 'action' and I liked the fact that the police weren't bumbling idiots; even though we knew that Ellie and Dan would eventually 'connect' he actually acted like a police chief and didn't involve her in the case (asking her to help as others do, hint, hint) nor would he discuss it with her (much). So that was a welcome change.
Another thing I liked is that Ellie actually wears makeup instead of "throwing on a little lip gloss" and thinking she looks great. All lip gloss does is make you look like you haven't wiped your mouth after drinking a glass of water. It doesn't count as makeup. (Don't get me wrong; I get that some women wear minimal makeup, and that's fine as it's their choice; but lip gloss doesn't count as minimal makeup; it's non-existent). Just my opinion.
That being said, there were enough likable characters in the book that I will read the next in the series and see where it goes, as Ellie is a smart woman who isn't invasive in her questioning, and that's nice to see. It was a quick read but a pleasant mystery where even though you could pretty much see the end, was still entertaining. Recommended.
While she has no plans to even investigate the murder, she finds out that the main suspect is another broker that she knows just wouldn't commit this crime. So she decides to ask a few questions and see if she can find a more likely suspect. But while it appears that Hank didn't have any real enemies, there were a few feathers he ruffled in the process of a new store coming to town, one that would have changed things in their little burg. Did one of those against this development kill him? Ellie will have to put her life on the line to find out...
This is an older book and since it's been sitting on my bookshelf for awhile I decided to read it, and I'm glad I did. It was done nicely, with a good plot line and no real 'evil' people, which was a change. Although the actual killer wasn't that hard to figure out, the process behind it was a delight to read.
There was plenty of intrigue, although not a lot of 'action' and I liked the fact that the police weren't bumbling idiots; even though we knew that Ellie and Dan would eventually 'connect' he actually acted like a police chief and didn't involve her in the case (asking her to help as others do, hint, hint) nor would he discuss it with her (much). So that was a welcome change.
Another thing I liked is that Ellie actually wears makeup instead of "throwing on a little lip gloss" and thinking she looks great. All lip gloss does is make you look like you haven't wiped your mouth after drinking a glass of water. It doesn't count as makeup. (Don't get me wrong; I get that some women wear minimal makeup, and that's fine as it's their choice; but lip gloss doesn't count as minimal makeup; it's non-existent). Just my opinion.
That being said, there were enough likable characters in the book that I will read the next in the series and see where it goes, as Ellie is a smart woman who isn't invasive in her questioning, and that's nice to see. It was a quick read but a pleasant mystery where even though you could pretty much see the end, was still entertaining. Recommended.
October 21, 2020
Loved the book. Great author. Now to find the second book in this series (since it is out of print I see). Mind you, somehow I do have the third book in the series. And I just checked out the first book of her later series from the library.
Wonderful storyline. Flowed quite well. I did figure out the culprit before Ellen did, and had one other twist solved myself, but didn't have it all figured out! Great story!
Wonderful storyline. Flowed quite well. I did figure out the culprit before Ellen did, and had one other twist solved myself, but didn't have it all figured out! Great story!
July 4, 2017
A quick little book, rather well plotted, about small town returns of childhood friends and how they get mixed up in a series of murders. The romance part is rather repetitious and drawn out, but the gossipy take on it is delicious. A lovely quick read for an afternoon between naps or on the beach.
March 22, 2018
Never finished it. Mediocre writing and saccharin story.
March 23, 2020
This was a fun (quick) read that kept me interested all the way. Part whodunit, part romance, part drama in a charming small town. Good plot development for a short book!
March 26, 2020
New author for me. It was a good story and I am starting the next in the series.
November 28, 2025
It was cute. I could see this as a super easy beach read. Would recommend for that reason.
October 27, 2013
Ellen is divorced and has moved back to her small home town. She is living in her parent's home since they have moved to Arizona. She is learning the real estate business. And slowly but surely she is making a new place for herself.
Her first showing of a home is on a rainy and grey Sunday afternoon. As she goes through the house turning on lights to make it more welcoming, she discovers a dead man.
The most interesting aspect of the investigation into the murder, the chief of police is an old and dear friend. Dan was her best friend when they were children. He lived next door and they grew up together.
So, there is murder, there is possible romance waiting in the wings and there are many people from Ellen's past who know everything that happens in town, nearly before things happen. Except in this case, no one seems to know exactly why the man was killed or exactly who killed him.
There are candidates for murderer. Hank, the victim, was a "ladies man" who also was a successful contractor. He had offended some women with his over the top flirting. He was supporting a new store coming to town and the new store could possibly kill off the local businesses which had been in town forever.
The book is well written. Ellen and all the other characters are well rounded people who will remind the reader of people they know. The motives for the murder are varied but in a small town where the economy is limited it seems realistic to think that the threat of a new business would be reason to kill.
Over all at times the plot is slow moving but once all the characters have been introduced things pick up in the action department.
I think that any reader who enjoys a cozy mystery set in a small town will enjoy this book.
Ellen is a strong woman who at times asks questions that are a little unrealistic. I would recommend that she become a little less rude and a little more subtle.
This is the first in a series, and I plan to read more of them. The author is new to me and I look forward to reading more of her books.
Her first showing of a home is on a rainy and grey Sunday afternoon. As she goes through the house turning on lights to make it more welcoming, she discovers a dead man.
The most interesting aspect of the investigation into the murder, the chief of police is an old and dear friend. Dan was her best friend when they were children. He lived next door and they grew up together.
So, there is murder, there is possible romance waiting in the wings and there are many people from Ellen's past who know everything that happens in town, nearly before things happen. Except in this case, no one seems to know exactly why the man was killed or exactly who killed him.
There are candidates for murderer. Hank, the victim, was a "ladies man" who also was a successful contractor. He had offended some women with his over the top flirting. He was supporting a new store coming to town and the new store could possibly kill off the local businesses which had been in town forever.
The book is well written. Ellen and all the other characters are well rounded people who will remind the reader of people they know. The motives for the murder are varied but in a small town where the economy is limited it seems realistic to think that the threat of a new business would be reason to kill.
Over all at times the plot is slow moving but once all the characters have been introduced things pick up in the action department.
I think that any reader who enjoys a cozy mystery set in a small town will enjoy this book.
Ellen is a strong woman who at times asks questions that are a little unrealistic. I would recommend that she become a little less rude and a little more subtle.
This is the first in a series, and I plan to read more of them. The author is new to me and I look forward to reading more of her books.
Read
March 17, 2013Change can be exciting, invigorating, fun, but murder is more than Ellen McKenzie bargains for when she returns to her small hometown of Santa Louisa to start a new career and a new life.
Ellie discovers a body in a closet of the first house she shows as a realtor. She discovers a second body in the home of one of her colleagues from the realty office. The best part of her return to her home town - somewhere inland from CA's Central Coast - is reuniting with her childhood friend, Dan, who is the police chief.
The murderer is the real estate broker from her office who was fraudulently setting up a corporation to buy land.
Dan and Ellie get together with her daughter's approval.
Ellie discovers a body in a closet of the first house she shows as a realtor. She discovers a second body in the home of one of her colleagues from the realty office. The best part of her return to her home town - somewhere inland from CA's Central Coast - is reuniting with her childhood friend, Dan, who is the police chief.
The murderer is the real estate broker from her office who was fraudulently setting up a corporation to buy land.
Dan and Ellie get together with her daughter's approval.
November 4, 2012
Cute book: A corpse in a closet spoils real estate broker Ellie McKenzie's first ever sale. The victim, Hank Sawyer, a local hot-shot contractor, wasn't known for his upstanding business practices. In fact, he'd been pushing forward a controversial land deal to build a discount store. Ellie had just moved back to her hometown and this wasn't the way she wanted to start her new career in real estate!
September 6, 2013
Ellen McKenzie returns to her childhood home town after divorcing her husband. She gets a job as the new real estate agent in town. At her first showing, she stumbles onto the dead body of the local developer. Dan, her childhood friend is now the police chief. A land deal, a suspicious partnership and small town gossip grape vine roots out the killer. It slows to a crawl for several chapters before getting back on track as Ellen slowly puts the pieces together.
September 3, 2015
Ellen returns to her home town with her divorce decree and her new real estate degree, only to find that the boy next door has also returned and is the chief of police. That comes in handy when she discovers a dead body in the first house she's showing. This book also introduces her aunt Mary, who has just started in a cozy series of her own. Not much "mystery" but a lot of atmosphere.
January 24, 2014
This book was entertaining and fun. Not too long, but lots of action and I didn't figure it out until about the last 10 pages. Maybe it's just me. Seems like I should have figured it out way before hand, but I'm glad I didn't.
Want to read
December 7, 2008This book will carry over into 2009, since my TBR is high.
April 7, 2014
for a mystery this is a light read but I found it enjoyable and even humorous.
February 14, 2012
Par for the course murder mystery. A divorcee, a widower friend from childhood, and a couple of bodies. A light read, but without much substance.
June 3, 2013
I liked this cozy mystery featuring a realtor turned sleuth. Parts were a bit corny but it kept my interest. Of course, a romance was involved. Small town - happy ending. A good beach read.
May 29, 2015
2 and 3/4 stars. Cute enough, and I enjoyed the real estate setting, but nothing new or interesting.
January 21, 2016
Great characters! I want to read more!!
June 17, 2016
Loved this mystery, Ellen finds more than she bargained for when she goes to show her first house to prospective clients, a dead body!
Read
December 27, 2014Category: Mystery
February 22, 2014
Pretty dull writing but a decent mystery.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews