Money is Murder

McKinley Mysteries #3

by Carolyn Arnold, Lisa Dawn Martinez (Editor)

Old Man Quinn left Sean more than his billions-he left him a murder to solve. Inside the chest given to him from the executor of Quinn's Will, Sean finds a key and implicit instructions that the contents are for his eyes only. After Sean discovers where the key fits, he finds another letter-Quinn wants a closed case reopened, and Sean is shocked to learn who the victim was. As Sean and his wife, Sara, uncover clues, it leads them from the back rooms of Quinn's corporation to the streets of New York City, but they will stop at nothing to get to the truth.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

154 pages, ebook

First published May 12, 2014

About the author

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has nearly thirty published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief visit with the two police detectives turned amateur sleuths.
You will enjoy this book more if you have read previous books in the series.
Sean and Sara are back from their honeymoon trip but still in honeymoon mode.
They are ready to check out a successful business they inherited but are surprised to have also inherited a mystery, of the dangerous and deadly variety.
I like the interactions between Sara and Sean. It reminds me a bit of Hart to Hart as well as the close partnerships seen on Blue Bloods.

[Chris Blackton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the first two books in the McKinley series and enjoyed them very much. I did not have this one (number three in the series) and I like to read them in sequence so I bought it for more money then I usually like to spend. I am disappointed. It is more of a novella and I read it in six hours. More importantly it was lacking in areas -- Sean and Sara have a fight with a man, they take his gun away from him, they let him go, they show up at his apartment to find him dead of gun shots, they call the police, the police let them go without questioning whether they shot him not to mention did they still have his gun since they went directly to his apartment after taking his gun from him. I know maybe they left it in the cab they used to get to his apartment. Some people would probably gloss over that but it bothered me.

This book was not up to the standard I expect from Carolyn Arnold. I have already loaded some of her other books to my Kobo so I will probably read them when I have finished some of my other books.

I must be jaded because it has been a while since I have really enjoyed a book. Where are all the good authors with interesting stories?

[Sapphyria · Rating 4 out of 5]

After returning home from Cancun, Sean knows it's time to open the chest given to him by Quinn's executor. Found inside is a key with instructions help prove his daughter Cindy's suicide was actually a homicide. Sean had plans to visiting a company he inherited and this new revelation just shot the visit to the top of his to-do-list. As Sean and Sarah become more involved in the death of Cindy, their belief she was murdered also increases. Who would want Cindy dead and why? Money really can be the root of all evil.

Money is Murder is another short, cute novella in Carolyn Arnold's multi-book novella series. The story is simple, easy to read, and fast paced. Sean and Sarah gather a multitude of suspects as they wind their way through Universal and Cindy's living area, meeting many who have the means and the motive. The revelation of the murderer was a surprise and I never saw it coming. The mystery is well-written and contains just the right amount of suspense. I was engaged from the beginning and couldn't put the book down.

I look forward to reading the next novella.

I was provided this book to read.

[Paula Ratcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows right where the last one took off in this one Sara and Sean are accepting things from Mr. Quinn's will including a note asking Sean to investigate the death of his daughter Cindy Quinn. Supposedly Cindy died of suicide but the question remains why would an asthmatic take sleeping pills knowing it would hurt them? As they investigate they learn that she was married to Robert who is the most likely suspect even though he says he's innocent. Will Sara and Sean get to the bottom or will their time run out?

This is such a great cozy series with so much going on. The mysteries are right there waiting for them to solve and they seem to have an incredible knack at solving them. It's like being on a ride right along with Sara and Sean and watching as they put the pieces together. Can't wait to see what is next!

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author gift
Money is Murder is the #3 in the McKinley Mysteries and a fine addition to the romance and sluthing of young Seth and Sara in this series. No longer employed with the Albany Police, our newlyweds spend most of their time in NYC as Seth acclimates himself to his new responsibilities to his inherited business, Universal Acquisitions Corporation, and the twosome accept their first PI assignment - from Quinn beyond the grave - as they will attempt to discover the truth behind the death of Quinn's 25-year-old daughter, Cindy, six month's ago. The mystery - and the inherited business - is much more complex than our twosome had assumed it could be.
REVIEWED on December 14, 2024, at Goodreads and AmazonSmile.

[Fee (Ebook Addicts) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Home from honeymoon Sara and Sean are now ready to check out the successful business they inherited. Only they didn't bank on also having to solve a murder mystery at the same time! They discovered that the death of Quinn's daughter might not have been suicide and from beyond the grave he wants the pair to investigate and find the truth.

This was a good little mystery, one that I thought I had culprit figured out only to be proved wrong! 

[Valancy Stirling]

Part of series collection McKinley Mysteries Box Set

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quinn left them billions, and a case he wants solved, the murder of his daughter. It takes them to New York, and the headquarters of the business the man had, a quick easy murder to solve,

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finally done with this series. That's all I have to say about that.

[Nada Sobhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"So, this guy's asking you from the grave to solve his daughter's murder?"

Money is Murder Money Is Murder by Carolyn Arnold is the third book in the McKinley Murder Mysteries. The books are connected by the characters but can easily be read as standalones. My first read in the series was book 6, Coffee is MurderCoffee Is Murder and my second was book 8, Halloween is MurderHalloween Is Murder.

The book opens with the star couple Sara and Sean McKinley coming back from their honeymoon, which wasn't mystery-free. We learn that they were murder detectives but Sean inherited billions, which allowed him and Sara to quit their jobs and get married.

In Money Is Murder, we are told more about the benefactor who left Sean his wealth, a Mr. Douglas Quinn. Quinn leaves Sean a secret key and later a note asking him to look into his late daughter's death, which had been ruled a suicide.

"Situations around her death are intriguing and we don’t' even know a lot yet."

Now Sean and Sara are set to meet up with employees and management from Quinn's mega-company Universal Acquisitions Corporation. From there they begin to take notes and share their intuitions about the people they meet.

There's a bit of romance in Money Is Murder, considering the couple just married and returned from their honeymoon. A little surprising, especially at the beginning, since I'm not used to that in cozy mysteries. But it's not over the top.

I loved how Sean and Sara would always sit together, bounce ideas, and discuss their findings and how they feel about the people they meet. Sara is sweet and astute; her mind picks up details quickly and easily lays them out when it's time to talk about the murder.

I felt like I needed to know why Quinn left Sean his money a little early on in the novel. It was a missing piece for me.

"No, I think she was murdered and it's likely someone from within these walls is behind it. And, if you ask me, I think it's her death that killed Mr. Quinn."

On the other hand, one of the things I liked about Money Is Murder is the quick pace made even more so by the short chapters. I enjoyed the mystery and the overall read. I liked getting into Sara's head.

Another thing was the action, there was a lot of it in Money Is Murder and I loved the thrill!

Overall, I think Carolyn Arnold's Money Is Murder is a fun and exciting read. I liked the financial aspect and how each book in the series comes with a theme.

[Nancy Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The McKinleys Find The Villain Again"

Sean and Sara McKinley have just returned from their Cancun honeymoon. Old Mr. Quinn has left billions to Sean. Sean and Sara are anxious to get on with their new life together. However, there's a bit of work Sean must take care of for the deceased Mr. Quinn. The old man wants a closed case reopened and Sean is shocked when he realizes who the victim was. Clues lead them to New York City and the headquarters of Quinn's corporate headquarters. This is a cozy thriller which will definitely entertain you. It's excellently written and the characters are well defined. I love all Carolyn's mystery stories as well as her FBI series. You will, too!

[Ken Finlay · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Money is Murder", book three in 'McKinley' series, sees Sean McKinley and Sara Cain back from an eventful honeymoon in Cancun and exploring their new business empire, Universal Acquisition Corporation.
And the man who left a fortune in his will to Sean has also left a mystery for him to solve - who killed his daughter?
They solve it! The end.
I've read this far to see if the books get any better, they don't.
The writing is still awkward, the characters never develop, and the plots are run of the mill.
Despite the somewhat sordid storyline “Money is Murder” is about as cosy as it gets.
It's an easy, completely unchallenging read.
I'm off to greener pastures (hopefully!)
2 Stars