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Trending Topic Mysteries #1
#FollowMe for Murder
Murder is about to go viral for social media influencer Coco Cline.
After selling a tech startup to Facebook in a multimillion-dollar deal, blogger Coco Cline has returned to her hometown of Central Shores, Delaware, to launch her own social media consulting firm. Her new clients, Sean and Olivia Chen, are ten days away from the grand opening of their specialty consignment shop when Coco stumbles across their assistant Stacy dead behind the register.
Worried that a cloud of suspicion will ruin their chances of a successful business launch, the Chens ask Coco to work alongside the inexperienced Central Shores police to speed up the investigation. Using her celebrity status and social media savviness, Coco discovers Stacy’s seemingly ordinary life was all an act. Following a trail of cryptic online posts, confusing time lines, and muddied gossip, Coco and her friends realize Stacy’s questionable relationships just might be the reason for her untimely demise.
After selling a tech startup to Facebook in a multimillion-dollar deal, blogger Coco Cline has returned to her hometown of Central Shores, Delaware, to launch her own social media consulting firm. Her new clients, Sean and Olivia Chen, are ten days away from the grand opening of their specialty consignment shop when Coco stumbles across their assistant Stacy dead behind the register.
Worried that a cloud of suspicion will ruin their chances of a successful business launch, the Chens ask Coco to work alongside the inexperienced Central Shores police to speed up the investigation. Using her celebrity status and social media savviness, Coco discovers Stacy’s seemingly ordinary life was all an act. Following a trail of cryptic online posts, confusing time lines, and muddied gossip, Coco and her friends realize Stacy’s questionable relationships just might be the reason for her untimely demise.
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Published November 22, 2022
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About the author
Sarah E. Burr
27 books240 followersSarah E. Burr lives near New York City. Hailing from the small town of Appleton, Maine, she has been dreaming of being Nancy Drew since she was a little girl. After not finding any mysteries in corporate America, Sarah began creating some of her own.
She writes the award-winning Glenmyre Whim Mysteries, the Trending Topic Mysteries, the Book Blogger Mysteries, and the Court of Mystery series. "You Can’t Candle the Truth" was a 2022 NGIBA Best Mystery Finalist and a 2022 Silver Falchion Best Supernatural Mystery Finalist. "Too Much to Candle" was a 2023 NGIBA Best Paranormal Finalist, and "#TagMe for Murder" was a 2024 NGIBA Best Chick Lit Finalist.
Sarah is the co-host of "It's Bookish Time," a live-streamed web series featuring author interviews and book discussions. She writes on the Writers Who Kill blogging team and is a member of Sisters in Crime. When she’s not spinning up stories, Sarah sings Broadway show tunes, plays video games with her husband, and enjoys walks with her rescue dogs, Eevee and Itto.
Stay connected with Sarah and receive free stories, be the first to learn about book news, book deals, and more by signing up for her newsletter: https://bit.ly/saraheburrbookssignup.
She writes the award-winning Glenmyre Whim Mysteries, the Trending Topic Mysteries, the Book Blogger Mysteries, and the Court of Mystery series. "You Can’t Candle the Truth" was a 2022 NGIBA Best Mystery Finalist and a 2022 Silver Falchion Best Supernatural Mystery Finalist. "Too Much to Candle" was a 2023 NGIBA Best Paranormal Finalist, and "#TagMe for Murder" was a 2024 NGIBA Best Chick Lit Finalist.
Sarah is the co-host of "It's Bookish Time," a live-streamed web series featuring author interviews and book discussions. She writes on the Writers Who Kill blogging team and is a member of Sisters in Crime. When she’s not spinning up stories, Sarah sings Broadway show tunes, plays video games with her husband, and enjoys walks with her rescue dogs, Eevee and Itto.
Stay connected with Sarah and receive free stories, be the first to learn about book news, book deals, and more by signing up for her newsletter: https://bit.ly/saraheburrbookssignup.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
July 3, 2023
This book caught my eye because it's set in Delaware. It's a rare enough location to come across and I'm on something of a jag right now of wanting to read books about places I know by having lived there.
This started off doubly fun because my husband is from the state and we vacation at the Delaware Beaches every summer (and visit family regularly). So for every local reference, I read them out to him. Honestly, some of them didn't fit but that part was fun anyway (he appreciated but seriously doubted the beach communities PDs would be in awe of Dover PD (classed as a city but... no). I've been in Dover enough to have quirked an eye at the mention of a fourteen-storey building in town. Not even on Route 13 unless it's the casino hotel (I don't think it's that tall). My husband smiled and chuckled at all these mentions with a self-deprecating "Nice... but no. Appreciate the recognition of Dover's existence though."
The descriptions of the beachy locale and its environs did ring true and had me checking my calendar for how long until next we head that way. So far, so good. The murder victim is found just 11% of the way into the story and that was to the good because that left so much of the book for the investigation. The killer was pretty easy to suss out but I still had fun working that part out. And just beyond those thing is where things started to fall apart.
The setup of the mystery was pretty well done and I liked Coco's determination to investigate to clear her clients and also on behalf of the victim. I liked Coco's friends and her family. I even liked Coco's boyfriend. I did not, however, like Coco. Like at all. I allow for all kinds of first book in a series quirks but I could not stand this main character and worse, I didn't care about her or her success. Not good. Coco is so self-involved that she routinely begrudged her boyfriend for being more locally recognized than she (before all was said and done, he went national, btw). This is a person she is hoping will ask her to marry him for the whole darned book but she's jealous of his successes. What even is that?! I can't root for that. He hypes her and is basically a decent person and she's envious. She never worked through this flaw in the book. It was pretty much her hallmark and nothing made up for her jealousy. I mean, she acknowledges it often so it's not a blind spot. And that is pretty much why 2 stars. The reader has to spend so much time with Coco, that there's no way for escape velocity to kick in for all the rest of the things that work to make this a fun time overall.
I bought this on Kindle and if by any chance I could be persuaded to read the next (because, location), it'd have to be on Kindle Unlimited because I shan't be buying it outright. YMMV.
This started off doubly fun because my husband is from the state and we vacation at the Delaware Beaches every summer (and visit family regularly). So for every local reference, I read them out to him. Honestly, some of them didn't fit but that part was fun anyway (he appreciated but seriously doubted the beach communities PDs would be in awe of Dover PD (classed as a city but... no). I've been in Dover enough to have quirked an eye at the mention of a fourteen-storey building in town. Not even on Route 13 unless it's the casino hotel (I don't think it's that tall). My husband smiled and chuckled at all these mentions with a self-deprecating "Nice... but no. Appreciate the recognition of Dover's existence though."
The descriptions of the beachy locale and its environs did ring true and had me checking my calendar for how long until next we head that way. So far, so good. The murder victim is found just 11% of the way into the story and that was to the good because that left so much of the book for the investigation. The killer was pretty easy to suss out but I still had fun working that part out. And just beyond those thing is where things started to fall apart.
The setup of the mystery was pretty well done and I liked Coco's determination to investigate to clear her clients and also on behalf of the victim. I liked Coco's friends and her family. I even liked Coco's boyfriend. I did not, however, like Coco. Like at all. I allow for all kinds of first book in a series quirks but I could not stand this main character and worse, I didn't care about her or her success. Not good. Coco is so self-involved that she routinely begrudged her boyfriend for being more locally recognized than she (before all was said and done, he went national, btw). This is a person she is hoping will ask her to marry him for the whole darned book but she's jealous of his successes. What even is that?! I can't root for that. He hypes her and is basically a decent person and she's envious. She never worked through this flaw in the book. It was pretty much her hallmark and nothing made up for her jealousy. I mean, she acknowledges it often so it's not a blind spot. And that is pretty much why 2 stars. The reader has to spend so much time with Coco, that there's no way for escape velocity to kick in for all the rest of the things that work to make this a fun time overall.
I bought this on Kindle and if by any chance I could be persuaded to read the next (because, location), it'd have to be on Kindle Unlimited because I shan't be buying it outright. YMMV.
January 10, 2022
Psst. There are some annoying characters. Ignore them like you ignore real annoying people in your life.
Thank you, Level Best Books and the author, for the advance reading copy.
Pretty easy to dive into with outspoken characters, specially the main character from whose POV the story is being written with.
Easy to understand and follow, a very much up-to-date plot with a very relatable "blogger" character the book is fairly fast-paced and crazy enough to enjoy reading in one sitting.
A murder mystery to solve and a plot much to do with today's internet/social media era as a part of the detective work? I mean why is there too less of this?
Love the romance element. I wasn't sure about it when the characters were introduced but then things worked out pretty good and things wrapped up well in the end.
Worked out fine for me. An enjoyable read. I was waiting for a big surprise or a twist towards the end. Am I disappointed? I only know.
Thank you, Level Best Books and the author, for the advance reading copy.
Pretty easy to dive into with outspoken characters, specially the main character from whose POV the story is being written with.
Easy to understand and follow, a very much up-to-date plot with a very relatable "blogger" character the book is fairly fast-paced and crazy enough to enjoy reading in one sitting.
A murder mystery to solve and a plot much to do with today's internet/social media era as a part of the detective work? I mean why is there too less of this?
Love the romance element. I wasn't sure about it when the characters were introduced but then things worked out pretty good and things wrapped up well in the end.
Worked out fine for me. An enjoyable read. I was waiting for a big surprise or a twist towards the end. Am I disappointed? I only know.
April 15, 2022
Coco Cline is a social media influencer who now works with other to help them master social media for their businesses. Her latest clients are Sean and Olivia Chen, who are hoping to open a store in Coco’s native Central Shores, Delaware. When Coco arrives early for a meeting with them, she finds their assistant, Stacy, dead in a back room. With the police looking at the Chens as suspects, Coco starts looking at Stacy’s life to try to figure out what really happened. Can she solve the case and still help her clients open their store?
This book got off to a slow start, thanks partially to a data dump first chapter that gave us lots of background on Coco. After that, it began to build, and by the end, I was hooked, wanting to see how Coco would piece everything together. The clues she gathered along the way helped make the ending logical. I absolutely loved the characters. Everyone was strong, and I can’t wait to hang out with Coco and her friends again. I am curious where Coco’s relationship with her boyfriend is going – I feel like they both have some maturing to do. I love the way that the internet and social media were used in the story without overwhelming it. I even laughed at how it was included a time or two. I will be following this series to see what happens to Coco next.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This book got off to a slow start, thanks partially to a data dump first chapter that gave us lots of background on Coco. After that, it began to build, and by the end, I was hooked, wanting to see how Coco would piece everything together. The clues she gathered along the way helped make the ending logical. I absolutely loved the characters. Everyone was strong, and I can’t wait to hang out with Coco and her friends again. I am curious where Coco’s relationship with her boyfriend is going – I feel like they both have some maturing to do. I love the way that the internet and social media were used in the story without overwhelming it. I even laughed at how it was included a time or two. I will be following this series to see what happens to Coco next.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
January 5, 2022
To be honest, I didn't think this was going to work out. Because Coco is an influencer and famous blogger, I was afraid that if she helped the cops solve Stacy's case, she would absolutely screw it up and possibly jeopardize the investigation. I'm relieved to report that I was mistaken! Although she does assist the police, she does so in a professional manner. It was, without a doubt, a fantastic read.
Sean and Olivia, who are Coco clients, are getting ready to establish their speciality consignment shop. One day, Sean and Olivia were running late and ordered Coco to go ahead and open the shop, which she did. However, when Olivia went to the break room to get napkins for the lunch she had brought for them, she discovered Stacy, the store clerk, dead. She was undoubtedly questioned and assumed to be a suspect because she was the first to find her, but she was later proven innocent. They must now pursue Sean and Olivia as suspects. Coco will go to any length to get them declared innocent because she believes they are. But are they really? Is it possible that someone close to her is her assassin? What will happen when they discover what Stacy was doing these past few months?
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
Sean and Olivia, who are Coco clients, are getting ready to establish their speciality consignment shop. One day, Sean and Olivia were running late and ordered Coco to go ahead and open the shop, which she did. However, when Olivia went to the break room to get napkins for the lunch she had brought for them, she discovered Stacy, the store clerk, dead. She was undoubtedly questioned and assumed to be a suspect because she was the first to find her, but she was later proven innocent. They must now pursue Sean and Olivia as suspects. Coco will go to any length to get them declared innocent because she believes they are. But are they really? Is it possible that someone close to her is her assassin? What will happen when they discover what Stacy was doing these past few months?
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
March 17, 2022
3.5 stars
Coco is a lovable heroine who keeps her friend group close, loves her family, and is still dealing with the side effects of overnight fame and wealth. I could have done without all the descriptions of her getting dressed / putting on makeup, but that’s not really my scene anyway. Someone who is fashion savvy & beauty conscious will probably appreciate those details. I did, however, love her knack at hunting down clues & using social media to her benefit (in fact, there’s one particular twist near the end that had me cheering). She sleuths smartly, as far as being careful and not butting into the police investigation unrealistically as any self-respecting Nancy Drew fan would have lol. Her friends make fabulous partners in Coco’s own investigating adventures and any scene that involved Jasper in particular had me smiling. It was well-plotted too, with plenty of suspects and surprising turns, and I was only just starting to definitely think the culprit was the culprit when all was revealed even though I briefly suspected this person early on.
Coco’s boyfriend Hudson is the main point of contention for me with this book. I couldn’t get a good read on his character (metaphorically and literally), and while he does seem to love Coco there were some red flags that made me worry about his faithfulness a little bit. Even when Hudson appears to prove himself, the author built in just enough uncertainty (whether on purpose or not) to keep me giving him the side eye. I’ll be interested to see where their relationship goes in future books and if I was worried for nothing.
Bottom Line: #FollowMe for Murder by Sarah E. Burr starts a trendy new cozy mystery series perfect for the social media savvy crowd & those who want to be. Coco – our intrepid heroine – will draw readers easily into the setting, the relationships, and the whodunnit (which isn’t as easy to guess as you may first think). There are a few elements that I wish had been done differently but overall this is definitely a series to watch!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
Coco is a lovable heroine who keeps her friend group close, loves her family, and is still dealing with the side effects of overnight fame and wealth. I could have done without all the descriptions of her getting dressed / putting on makeup, but that’s not really my scene anyway. Someone who is fashion savvy & beauty conscious will probably appreciate those details. I did, however, love her knack at hunting down clues & using social media to her benefit (in fact, there’s one particular twist near the end that had me cheering). She sleuths smartly, as far as being careful and not butting into the police investigation unrealistically as any self-respecting Nancy Drew fan would have lol. Her friends make fabulous partners in Coco’s own investigating adventures and any scene that involved Jasper in particular had me smiling. It was well-plotted too, with plenty of suspects and surprising turns, and I was only just starting to definitely think the culprit was the culprit when all was revealed even though I briefly suspected this person early on.
Coco’s boyfriend Hudson is the main point of contention for me with this book. I couldn’t get a good read on his character (metaphorically and literally), and while he does seem to love Coco there were some red flags that made me worry about his faithfulness a little bit. Even when Hudson appears to prove himself, the author built in just enough uncertainty (whether on purpose or not) to keep me giving him the side eye. I’ll be interested to see where their relationship goes in future books and if I was worried for nothing.
Bottom Line: #FollowMe for Murder by Sarah E. Burr starts a trendy new cozy mystery series perfect for the social media savvy crowd & those who want to be. Coco – our intrepid heroine – will draw readers easily into the setting, the relationships, and the whodunnit (which isn’t as easy to guess as you may first think). There are a few elements that I wish had been done differently but overall this is definitely a series to watch!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
January 3, 2022
#FollowMe for Murder is a refreshing take on the cozy mystery genre and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
One of my biggest complaints with cozy mysteries is that many of them draw on the same tropes, character types, and settings. I loved how this book clearly drew and built on the genre while also standing out from it.
The main character Coco is a blogger, Instagram influencer, and owner of a consulting company that helps businesses improve their social media presence. While the mystery is set in a small town like many other cozies, there's big money involved - Coco herself was part of a startup that was bought out by Facebook for nearly $50 million! There are multiple characters of colour in the mystery who felt like fully-formed and real people, which is unfortunately still very rare in cozies.
Characters, including the police, routinely use the Internet, social media, and new technologies to help solve the mystery. This isn't shocking in the real world as this happens all the time in investigations, yet it's extremely uncommon to see in cozies. I'm always on the lookout for cozies that incorporate tech and I was impressed by how this one did it.
Truly, this book is bringing cozies into the 21st century. It feels modern, bright, and with the times.
The mystery itself was also very enjoyable. There were a few shocking moments that kept me on the edge of my seat. I was so compelled, I kept on reading until 4am! I didn't see the ending coming, but after considering all the clues, the solve made a lot of sense.
Some readers might not be the biggest fan of Coco and her friends because they can come off as a bit self-centered or shallow at times. I personally didn't mind. It's natural for characters to have flaws and these flaws were not so annoying that it made me want to put down the book, but I know others might not feel the same way.
Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
One of my biggest complaints with cozy mysteries is that many of them draw on the same tropes, character types, and settings. I loved how this book clearly drew and built on the genre while also standing out from it.
The main character Coco is a blogger, Instagram influencer, and owner of a consulting company that helps businesses improve their social media presence. While the mystery is set in a small town like many other cozies, there's big money involved - Coco herself was part of a startup that was bought out by Facebook for nearly $50 million! There are multiple characters of colour in the mystery who felt like fully-formed and real people, which is unfortunately still very rare in cozies.
Characters, including the police, routinely use the Internet, social media, and new technologies to help solve the mystery. This isn't shocking in the real world as this happens all the time in investigations, yet it's extremely uncommon to see in cozies. I'm always on the lookout for cozies that incorporate tech and I was impressed by how this one did it.
Truly, this book is bringing cozies into the 21st century. It feels modern, bright, and with the times.
The mystery itself was also very enjoyable. There were a few shocking moments that kept me on the edge of my seat. I was so compelled, I kept on reading until 4am! I didn't see the ending coming, but after considering all the clues, the solve made a lot of sense.
Some readers might not be the biggest fan of Coco and her friends because they can come off as a bit self-centered or shallow at times. I personally didn't mind. It's natural for characters to have flaws and these flaws were not so annoying that it made me want to put down the book, but I know others might not feel the same way.
Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
January 5, 2022
An ok read. I realize the main character is a social media influencer but it was tiresome to read about all her accounts and she had her nose in her phone the entire time. I also didn’t particularly care for Coco. She was very self absorbed and not all that likable. I’ll pass on this series. Thanks to Level Best Books and NetGalley for the advance read.
March 10, 2022
My Recommendation
#FollowMe for Murder was a light-hearted romp that really caught my attention because it had a plot that depended on the use of social media. It's a very updated cozy mystery since the main character, Coco Cline, is a media consultant and an influencer. Not sure I've ever read a cozy with those elements. I really enjoyed it.
Coco is just starting her career as a social media consultant and her first customers are Sean and Olivia Chen whose china store will be having a grand opening soon. Who knew Coco would arrive first for a meeting and find the dead body of their assistant, Stacy, in the store? This would take some amazing spin to keep Coco's career from beginning with a disaster. Their grand opening is only a week away. Not sure "no publicity is bad publicity" works in this case.
Burr uses an intriguing group of friends to help Coco investigate this homicide since her career depends on it. Even her worst enemy from high school, who made her life miserable back then, appears in the wealthy but fake country club world of Coco's clientele. Reminds one of how wonderful other peoples' lives look on social media. The snippy undertones of their conversations are hilarious. Investigating the murder victim via social media leads to some startling discoveries.
A subplot involves Coco's relationship with a boyfriend named Hudson, who is an anchor on a local television network. I would have liked to have seen a bit more about their relationship since it seemed like a great possibility as subplots go. He kept a second apartment while he lived with Coco, and it didn't seem to make a lot of sense. But perhaps he will have a bigger role in the next book in the series.
I felt this mystery was well-written, and I loved the social media angle. Glad to see Burr will be writing more books in this series. It is a refreshing concept that I haven't encountered before. Fun, light read that will keep you turning the pages.
Thanks to NetGalley and Level Best Books for allowing me to read this book and give an honest review.
#FollowMe for Murder was a light-hearted romp that really caught my attention because it had a plot that depended on the use of social media. It's a very updated cozy mystery since the main character, Coco Cline, is a media consultant and an influencer. Not sure I've ever read a cozy with those elements. I really enjoyed it.
Coco is just starting her career as a social media consultant and her first customers are Sean and Olivia Chen whose china store will be having a grand opening soon. Who knew Coco would arrive first for a meeting and find the dead body of their assistant, Stacy, in the store? This would take some amazing spin to keep Coco's career from beginning with a disaster. Their grand opening is only a week away. Not sure "no publicity is bad publicity" works in this case.
Burr uses an intriguing group of friends to help Coco investigate this homicide since her career depends on it. Even her worst enemy from high school, who made her life miserable back then, appears in the wealthy but fake country club world of Coco's clientele. Reminds one of how wonderful other peoples' lives look on social media. The snippy undertones of their conversations are hilarious. Investigating the murder victim via social media leads to some startling discoveries.
A subplot involves Coco's relationship with a boyfriend named Hudson, who is an anchor on a local television network. I would have liked to have seen a bit more about their relationship since it seemed like a great possibility as subplots go. He kept a second apartment while he lived with Coco, and it didn't seem to make a lot of sense. But perhaps he will have a bigger role in the next book in the series.
I felt this mystery was well-written, and I loved the social media angle. Glad to see Burr will be writing more books in this series. It is a refreshing concept that I haven't encountered before. Fun, light read that will keep you turning the pages.
Thanks to NetGalley and Level Best Books for allowing me to read this book and give an honest review.
January 20, 2022
The combination of the hashtag title and series name drew me to investigate reading this novel and I'm so glad I did! I loved it! I'm also very excited as I think this series has the potential to bring new readers to the delight of cozy mysteries that I've enjoyed since reading Nancy Drew books in the 4th grade.
After early career beginnings with friends developing a LiveIT smartphone application that included a lifestyle blog, Coco Cline is continuing the blog independently as part of an acquisitions deal. Coco has also started a new consulting business and is passionate to assist small business owners navigate their presence in the world of social media. But Coco never anticipated that her new role would include investigating a murder to protect her newest clients from negativity prior to their business launch and grand opening.
There was one outcome that was easy to foresee but the investigation has some unexpected twists and turns that add to the freshness of this cozy offering. Friendship and romance 21th century style, and a surprise and savvy nod to Montecito’s newest high-profile residents give a contemporary lift and sparkle to the author’s storytelling. Small business owners or anyone new to creating a social media presence might want to consider this cozy required reading as sprinkled throughout the storyline Coca Cline shares innumerable tips for success.
I’m looking forward to reading future mysteries in this series!
My sincere thanks to Sarah E. Burr, and Level Best Books for my complimentary digital copy of this title, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
#FollowMeforMurder #NetGalley
After early career beginnings with friends developing a LiveIT smartphone application that included a lifestyle blog, Coco Cline is continuing the blog independently as part of an acquisitions deal. Coco has also started a new consulting business and is passionate to assist small business owners navigate their presence in the world of social media. But Coco never anticipated that her new role would include investigating a murder to protect her newest clients from negativity prior to their business launch and grand opening.
There was one outcome that was easy to foresee but the investigation has some unexpected twists and turns that add to the freshness of this cozy offering. Friendship and romance 21th century style, and a surprise and savvy nod to Montecito’s newest high-profile residents give a contemporary lift and sparkle to the author’s storytelling. Small business owners or anyone new to creating a social media presence might want to consider this cozy required reading as sprinkled throughout the storyline Coca Cline shares innumerable tips for success.
I’m looking forward to reading future mysteries in this series!
My sincere thanks to Sarah E. Burr, and Level Best Books for my complimentary digital copy of this title, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
#FollowMeforMurder #NetGalley
February 26, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Coco Cline has been a blogger and Instagram influencer for quite a while. She is now adding social media consultant to her resume. Her first clients are opening a consignment store and want their grand opening to be a rousing success. They are banking on Coco to boost their online presence. Sean and Olivia Chen have also hired a clerk to help them get everything set up and to help them man the store after it opens.
Coco has done a lot of work for the couple and when she arrives at the store for yet another meeting her clients are running late. She lets herself in with a key they provided and finds Stacy, their clerk dead on the floor. The Chens seem to be more worried about how the murder will affect their grand opening than they are about their dead employee. They ask Coco to work with the police to get the store cleared as quickly as possible so they will be ready to open as planned.
The Central Shores police have never really handled a crime like this and call in county reinforcements but they don’t seem to have much of a clue either. This leads Coco to use all her assets to investigate the murder herself. It isn’t long before she learns Stacy has some interesting relationships that just may have led to her death. Now Coco just needs to follow the clues to nab the culprit that made murder go viral in quiet Central Shores.
I love Coco Cline. She is an internet maven and can dig through social media threads to get the information she needs to track down a killer and the truth about the victim. It is amazing what she can find but she needs to use her keen intellect to put all the clues together. She is very relatable, professional, and understanding, so much so it could get her in trouble. She is like a breath of fresh air in the cozy world.
The author has also surrounded Coco with a great supporting cast. Charlotte and Jasper are true friends that have her back. They have their flaws but felt true to life. I am a little concerned about Coco’s boyfriend, Hudson though. The romance was the only part of this story that really didn’t work for me. I hope there is more to Hudson under the surface or Coco moves on.
The author has taken on a fresh theme. Police use the internet to solve crimes but these officers and staff have nowhere near the knowledge and capability of Coco. She does try to share everything she can with the cops but are they really following through.
Ms. Burr has plotted out a very convincing mystery with plenty of twists and turns to keep us readers on our toes. The story was well-paced leading up to a very exciting reveal. I made the mistake of starting this book late one night and only made it through about 20% when I had to put it down. I was excited to get back to it the next evening and I never left my seat until I read the last word. The reveal and ending were fabulous and surprising.
I found #FollowMe for Murder to be a very entertaining read and a nice debut for this series. With so many people glued to their phones and social media accounts, this series is so timely. Even though I really enjoyed this book I may not be the perfect demographic for it. I think millennials will love it and maybe it will be their introduction to cozy mysteries and I am all for that!
Coco Cline has been a blogger and Instagram influencer for quite a while. She is now adding social media consultant to her resume. Her first clients are opening a consignment store and want their grand opening to be a rousing success. They are banking on Coco to boost their online presence. Sean and Olivia Chen have also hired a clerk to help them get everything set up and to help them man the store after it opens.
Coco has done a lot of work for the couple and when she arrives at the store for yet another meeting her clients are running late. She lets herself in with a key they provided and finds Stacy, their clerk dead on the floor. The Chens seem to be more worried about how the murder will affect their grand opening than they are about their dead employee. They ask Coco to work with the police to get the store cleared as quickly as possible so they will be ready to open as planned.
The Central Shores police have never really handled a crime like this and call in county reinforcements but they don’t seem to have much of a clue either. This leads Coco to use all her assets to investigate the murder herself. It isn’t long before she learns Stacy has some interesting relationships that just may have led to her death. Now Coco just needs to follow the clues to nab the culprit that made murder go viral in quiet Central Shores.
I love Coco Cline. She is an internet maven and can dig through social media threads to get the information she needs to track down a killer and the truth about the victim. It is amazing what she can find but she needs to use her keen intellect to put all the clues together. She is very relatable, professional, and understanding, so much so it could get her in trouble. She is like a breath of fresh air in the cozy world.
The author has also surrounded Coco with a great supporting cast. Charlotte and Jasper are true friends that have her back. They have their flaws but felt true to life. I am a little concerned about Coco’s boyfriend, Hudson though. The romance was the only part of this story that really didn’t work for me. I hope there is more to Hudson under the surface or Coco moves on.
The author has taken on a fresh theme. Police use the internet to solve crimes but these officers and staff have nowhere near the knowledge and capability of Coco. She does try to share everything she can with the cops but are they really following through.
Ms. Burr has plotted out a very convincing mystery with plenty of twists and turns to keep us readers on our toes. The story was well-paced leading up to a very exciting reveal. I made the mistake of starting this book late one night and only made it through about 20% when I had to put it down. I was excited to get back to it the next evening and I never left my seat until I read the last word. The reveal and ending were fabulous and surprising.
I found #FollowMe for Murder to be a very entertaining read and a nice debut for this series. With so many people glued to their phones and social media accounts, this series is so timely. Even though I really enjoyed this book I may not be the perfect demographic for it. I think millennials will love it and maybe it will be their introduction to cozy mysteries and I am all for that!
November 22, 2023
This was an interesting new read for me. Coco is an interesting character with lots of bravo but also vulnerablity, it was interesting to learn about her life as an influencer, social media personality and her new company using all of the above. Returning to her small town as a successful businesswoman, and launching a new company helping her clients use social media to their advantage Coco has the world by the tail, that is until she walks into a client's business to find a dead body. Horrified to see a young woman she has been seeing regularly murdered, Coco starts to look for answers so her clients can get their business opened, but then it becomes personal as she realizes Stacey deserves justice. With the help of her news anchor boyfriend, reporter friend and another friend who own the town meeting place/coffeehouse can this young tech savvy group figure out what really happened? Come along for an interesting adventure.
February 21, 2022
I received a free copy through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review
I enjoyed the story but it hasn’t blown me away. I really did like the idea of an influencer also being an amateur sleuth, it’s definitely different from, let’s say, a bookshop owner. But in the end Coco was a bit too self-centered for my liking. A lot of her actions were only because she could also benefit from it. She sometimes did seem too realize this but she didn’t do anything to prevent it from happening again. As for the plot, I did want to know who was the murderer and while I didn’t see the reveal coming, it didn’t give me the major plot twist vibes either.
I enjoyed the story but it hasn’t blown me away. I really did like the idea of an influencer also being an amateur sleuth, it’s definitely different from, let’s say, a bookshop owner. But in the end Coco was a bit too self-centered for my liking. A lot of her actions were only because she could also benefit from it. She sometimes did seem too realize this but she didn’t do anything to prevent it from happening again. As for the plot, I did want to know who was the murderer and while I didn’t see the reveal coming, it didn’t give me the major plot twist vibes either.
March 12, 2022
I loved this refreshing new category in cozy mysteries - the social media influencer. Coco and her friend were fun and I learned a lot about marketing yourself through social media (and common sense). The mystery was interesting and kept me guessing until the very end. Bonus points for setting the book in Delaware, only the second cozy that I can think of that was set here (making the Read the USA challenge difficult). I look forward to reading more of these in the future.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
February 15, 2022
#FollowMe for Murder, the first book in the brand-new Trending Topics Mystery series by Sarah E. Burr, is a fun-filled social media-centric cozy mystery. With today’s society obsessed with celebrities, cellphones, and tablets, and constantly checking their social media sites, Ms. Burr successfully weaves that obsession into a murder mystery. The protagonist, celebrity blogger Coco Cline, has launched a social media consulting firm and her very first clients end up with a murder victim in their store right before their grand opening. Talk about a PR nightmare! The store owners beg Coco to assist the local police in getting through the investigation so they can open their business on time. I loved that Coco uses social media pages to find suspects and clues, while learning more about the victim…who might not have been the sweet, upstanding citizen she purported to be. This only makes Coco more curious, so she delves deeper into the mystery instead of just giving some assistance to the police. With a tightly woven plot, there are suspects sussed out and red herrings thrown in to keep the reader guessing.
Ms. Burr writes great descriptions, so the reader feels like they’re right alongside Coco. She also captures Coco’s voice: young and enthusiastic. The characters surrounding Coco are well-developed. Although one in particular, Coco’s boyfriend, I felt detracted from the story with the amount of jealousy he inspired. All I can say is, I think Coco can do better for herself. Rounding out the supporting characters are Coco’s friends, Jasper and Charlotte. Their banter adds lightness to the mystery and their willingness to help Coco out solidifies their friendship. In addition to a well-thought-out mystery, great setting, and unique characters, Ms. Burr drops in tips for social media usage for businesses, which shows her thorough research into the field. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens to Coco and her fledgling business next!
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ms. Burr writes great descriptions, so the reader feels like they’re right alongside Coco. She also captures Coco’s voice: young and enthusiastic. The characters surrounding Coco are well-developed. Although one in particular, Coco’s boyfriend, I felt detracted from the story with the amount of jealousy he inspired. All I can say is, I think Coco can do better for herself. Rounding out the supporting characters are Coco’s friends, Jasper and Charlotte. Their banter adds lightness to the mystery and their willingness to help Coco out solidifies their friendship. In addition to a well-thought-out mystery, great setting, and unique characters, Ms. Burr drops in tips for social media usage for businesses, which shows her thorough research into the field. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens to Coco and her fledgling business next!
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 14, 2022
When I first started this book I wasn’t completely seeing how all the pieces would fit together or how Coco could pull this off without jeopardizing everything. But trust me, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that my initial thoughts were very much wrong.
Meet Coco Cline - influencer, blogger and advisor. When Coco finds her clients, Olivia and Sean Chen, store clerk employee Stacy murdered in their store, she must work fast to clear her clients names in order to make sure the grand opening of their store can still happen on time. As the police investigation begins Coco can’t seem to relax her mind until the killer is apprehended and the truth gets revealed. With the police force not working hard enough, Coco takes matters into her own hands. She recruits her two best friends, Charlotte and Jasper, and her boyfriend, Hudson. As their private investigation progresses and secrets about Stacy’s life gets revealed, how will they piece the puzzle together? How far will Coco go when she feels like the police won’t listen to the things she’s found out, and how will she react when the killer turns out to be someone she never thought of?
This book got me hooked when I got further into the story and learned more about the characters. I loved the mystery and how we got to see Coco’s detective skills. Definitely a good read.
*Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
Meet Coco Cline - influencer, blogger and advisor. When Coco finds her clients, Olivia and Sean Chen, store clerk employee Stacy murdered in their store, she must work fast to clear her clients names in order to make sure the grand opening of their store can still happen on time. As the police investigation begins Coco can’t seem to relax her mind until the killer is apprehended and the truth gets revealed. With the police force not working hard enough, Coco takes matters into her own hands. She recruits her two best friends, Charlotte and Jasper, and her boyfriend, Hudson. As their private investigation progresses and secrets about Stacy’s life gets revealed, how will they piece the puzzle together? How far will Coco go when she feels like the police won’t listen to the things she’s found out, and how will she react when the killer turns out to be someone she never thought of?
This book got me hooked when I got further into the story and learned more about the characters. I loved the mystery and how we got to see Coco’s detective skills. Definitely a good read.
*Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
January 9, 2022
This was a very light mystery that I woudn't really call a thriller.
It's fast paced and a fun ride trying to find out along with the main character who the killer is.
Some things that didn't work for me tho:
The main character is a social media consultant which sounds interesting and fresh at first but she goes on to have these lengthy internal monologues about every little technical aspect of her job + combined with the fact she's always using or thinking about using social media, turns out it's just not very interesting to read about. To me at least.
I also didn't enjoy the pointless relationship problems.
In the beginning I thought they might have been crucial to the plot but they weren't so I don't get why they're brought up so often.
They're a lot of characters introduced where we have to read about awkward small talk that doesn't add anything to the plot and reads like they're just fillers.
It will certainly be interesting to see how this series and each character develops moving forward.
Thank you NetGalley & Level Best Books for the digital ARC.
It's fast paced and a fun ride trying to find out along with the main character who the killer is.
Some things that didn't work for me tho:
The main character is a social media consultant which sounds interesting and fresh at first but she goes on to have these lengthy internal monologues about every little technical aspect of her job + combined with the fact she's always using or thinking about using social media, turns out it's just not very interesting to read about. To me at least.
I also didn't enjoy the pointless relationship problems.
In the beginning I thought they might have been crucial to the plot but they weren't so I don't get why they're brought up so often.
They're a lot of characters introduced where we have to read about awkward small talk that doesn't add anything to the plot and reads like they're just fillers.
It will certainly be interesting to see how this series and each character develops moving forward.
Thank you NetGalley & Level Best Books for the digital ARC.
June 19, 2023
This was interesting, I went into this without expectations but hoping I’d like it and I liked it, though Coco was annoying at times. She’s a bit self centered and her feelings of insecurities at Hudson’s fame eclipsing hers was her selfishness and immaturity showing it’s head. Coco is a social media influencer and building a business profiling new businesses in social media. When one of her client’s employee’s is murdered just before opening and Coco finds the body, she is determined to find suspects to clear her clients. This was a cool book, modernized and using social media as the imputes for the crime.
March 17, 2022
#FollowMe for Murder is a fun cozy romp that plops this genre right into today's world. Coco, the protagonist and amateur sleuth, is a social media influencer with her nose buried in her phone. She's recently sold her mobile app to Facebook for a cool three million and has kept the flagship blog, Trending Topics, going. With three hundred thousand followers all over the country, she's quickly becoming a household name. When a woman is killed in a new client's store, Coco takes it on herself, with some help from her friends, to solve the crime.
With a fresh and fun hook, this one kept me entertained and turning the pages at a fast clip.
With a fresh and fun hook, this one kept me entertained and turning the pages at a fast clip.
June 17, 2023
#FollowMe For Murder Earns 5/5 Twitter Posts … Clever Cozy Gem!
A social media influencer. A new consulting service. A dead body. Coco Cline’s new business, Center of Attention Consulting Services, is embroiled in a mystery. Her latest client, Olivia and Sean Chen, owners of a new consignment shop called Once Used, Twice Buy, regrettably, has become the center of a murder investigation with the discovery of a dead body. It’s not an experience Coco wants to repeat, but her business is in jeopardy of being negatively linked to the murder, so she’s compelled to uncover the truth of what happened to the young woman. Clever. Engaging. Contemporary treat. Sarah E. Burr has created a unique theme around which she devises an entertaining cozy mystery: a rebranded social media influencer. She’s also created a savvy, strong female in Coco Cline who partners with a diverse set of friends and family in a realistic, yet amateur investigation. Stuck in the middle of a murder mystery, the clues are steadily revealed with some interesting details exposing secret affairs, abuse, and money issues leading to a surprise arrest. Great introduction to a clever series!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Level Best Books thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
A social media influencer. A new consulting service. A dead body. Coco Cline’s new business, Center of Attention Consulting Services, is embroiled in a mystery. Her latest client, Olivia and Sean Chen, owners of a new consignment shop called Once Used, Twice Buy, regrettably, has become the center of a murder investigation with the discovery of a dead body. It’s not an experience Coco wants to repeat, but her business is in jeopardy of being negatively linked to the murder, so she’s compelled to uncover the truth of what happened to the young woman. Clever. Engaging. Contemporary treat. Sarah E. Burr has created a unique theme around which she devises an entertaining cozy mystery: a rebranded social media influencer. She’s also created a savvy, strong female in Coco Cline who partners with a diverse set of friends and family in a realistic, yet amateur investigation. Stuck in the middle of a murder mystery, the clues are steadily revealed with some interesting details exposing secret affairs, abuse, and money issues leading to a surprise arrest. Great introduction to a clever series!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Level Best Books thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
June 29, 2024
This fast-paced read is a fun start to this series!
October 18, 2020
"Stacy Lockner was killed with an eighty-thousand-dollar teapot."
Trending Topic #Murder is the first book in the Trending Topic Mysteries by Sarah E. Burr.
I picked up the book for personal reasons like exploring how a digital marketer would handle a business AND be a sleuth. :D So in addition to a great mystery, I got to do some research and see a live example (sort of).
Coco Cline is an entrepreneur, who with several friends sold their app to Facebook and came out with millions of dollars. Coco cut her profit to $2 million so she can keep her blog Your Way Today.
Coco goes back to her hometown of Central Shores, Delaware, where she launches her social media and consulting firm Center of Attention Consulting Services aka COA. She also continues to write for and manager her blog Your Way Today, which has over a million followers.
"I had the good business sense to ensure that my blog, still one of the main attractions to long time users of the LiveIt app, remained my intellectual property."
In Trending Topic #Murder, Coco begins working with the Chens who are going to launch their luxury shop Once Used, Twice Buy. However, one morning as Coco enters the store to meet with the Chens, she discovers the Chens' clerk Stacy murdered in the back of the store.
Coco then begins her PR mission to ensure the Chens' reputation isn't tarnished as the police investigate, while Olivia Chen seeks to keep her grand opening on schedule.
In her attempt to clear the Chens of suspicion, Coco goes above and beyond to discover who could have wanted Stacy dead. In the process, she unearths many secrets to the believed-to-be-angelic clerk.
"Up until now, I'd been mainly –and selfishly– concerted with saving Once Used, Twice Buy and the Chens' reputation. But the more I got tangled up in Stacy's life, the more determined I felt to make whoever did this to her pay."
With her besties Charlotte and Jasper, and while brushing up on her former investigative skills, Coco's investigation brings in a flood of potential suspects and uncovers a ton of secrets Stacy had been expertly covering.
In Trending Topic #Murder, Coco is a celebrity blogger so the lifestyle is quite unique, interesting, and fun in a way. It appears that Coco is perfect, but as author Sarah E. Burr mentions in her interview, below, Coco does have insecurities.
This becomes clear when her news anchor hottie of a boyfriend becomes the new focus of the town's ladies and as his stardom seems to exceed hers.
"Whoever said knowledge was power must never have been tangled up in a murder investigation."
I loved the characters in Trending Topic #Murder. For some reason, I imagined Charlotte as Stephanie Borden (portrayed by Kaylee Evans) in the series The Good Witch. She, too, was perfect in many ways, struggled to find a boyfriend, and ran café.
There's a ton of humor in the book, especially from the trio: Coco, Jasper, and Charlotte.
"Suspects with no apparent motive are better than no suspects at all, Coco."
One of the things I liked about Trending Topic #Murder is Coco's social media knowledge shared throughout the book. Like how Instagram metrics involve likes but they aren't 100% the case for everything.
Plus, Coco uses her social media skills to discover Stacy's and other characters' secrets.
I enjoyed this personally though because I work in the field as a copywriter and email marketer. Even more so because I could finally see a slight representation of me in a book.
I'm no celebrity blogger but it still feels I could relate to Coco's character, especially the maintaining a blog part – minus the 2 million followers!
Overall I enjoyed reading Trending Topic #Murder by Sarah E. Burr. I'm definitely curious to see what the other Trending Topics will be.
Note: I got a free copy of Trending Topic #Murder by Sarah E. Burr via Lori Great Escapes Blog tours. This did not affect my review in anyway.
Trending Topic #Murder is the first book in the Trending Topic Mysteries by Sarah E. Burr.
I picked up the book for personal reasons like exploring how a digital marketer would handle a business AND be a sleuth. :D So in addition to a great mystery, I got to do some research and see a live example (sort of).
Coco Cline is an entrepreneur, who with several friends sold their app to Facebook and came out with millions of dollars. Coco cut her profit to $2 million so she can keep her blog Your Way Today.
Coco goes back to her hometown of Central Shores, Delaware, where she launches her social media and consulting firm Center of Attention Consulting Services aka COA. She also continues to write for and manager her blog Your Way Today, which has over a million followers.
"I had the good business sense to ensure that my blog, still one of the main attractions to long time users of the LiveIt app, remained my intellectual property."
In Trending Topic #Murder, Coco begins working with the Chens who are going to launch their luxury shop Once Used, Twice Buy. However, one morning as Coco enters the store to meet with the Chens, she discovers the Chens' clerk Stacy murdered in the back of the store.
Coco then begins her PR mission to ensure the Chens' reputation isn't tarnished as the police investigate, while Olivia Chen seeks to keep her grand opening on schedule.
In her attempt to clear the Chens of suspicion, Coco goes above and beyond to discover who could have wanted Stacy dead. In the process, she unearths many secrets to the believed-to-be-angelic clerk.
"Up until now, I'd been mainly –and selfishly– concerted with saving Once Used, Twice Buy and the Chens' reputation. But the more I got tangled up in Stacy's life, the more determined I felt to make whoever did this to her pay."
With her besties Charlotte and Jasper, and while brushing up on her former investigative skills, Coco's investigation brings in a flood of potential suspects and uncovers a ton of secrets Stacy had been expertly covering.
In Trending Topic #Murder, Coco is a celebrity blogger so the lifestyle is quite unique, interesting, and fun in a way. It appears that Coco is perfect, but as author Sarah E. Burr mentions in her interview, below, Coco does have insecurities.
This becomes clear when her news anchor hottie of a boyfriend becomes the new focus of the town's ladies and as his stardom seems to exceed hers.
"Whoever said knowledge was power must never have been tangled up in a murder investigation."
I loved the characters in Trending Topic #Murder. For some reason, I imagined Charlotte as Stephanie Borden (portrayed by Kaylee Evans) in the series The Good Witch. She, too, was perfect in many ways, struggled to find a boyfriend, and ran café.
There's a ton of humor in the book, especially from the trio: Coco, Jasper, and Charlotte.
"Suspects with no apparent motive are better than no suspects at all, Coco."
One of the things I liked about Trending Topic #Murder is Coco's social media knowledge shared throughout the book. Like how Instagram metrics involve likes but they aren't 100% the case for everything.
Plus, Coco uses her social media skills to discover Stacy's and other characters' secrets.
I enjoyed this personally though because I work in the field as a copywriter and email marketer. Even more so because I could finally see a slight representation of me in a book.
I'm no celebrity blogger but it still feels I could relate to Coco's character, especially the maintaining a blog part – minus the 2 million followers!
Overall I enjoyed reading Trending Topic #Murder by Sarah E. Burr. I'm definitely curious to see what the other Trending Topics will be.
Note: I got a free copy of Trending Topic #Murder by Sarah E. Burr via Lori Great Escapes Blog tours. This did not affect my review in anyway.
January 10, 2022
#follow Me for Murder written by Sarah E Burr tells the story of social media influencer Coco Cline who's finds herself in middle of murder investigation of her Client's assistant, just days before the store launch. The book shows the investigation done by Coco along with her best friends regarding the murder.
Here are my opinion regarding the book :
The good
Incorporation of modern technology
I have read quite a few thrillers and unfortunately I haven't seen any which balances the use of modern technology along with old school deduction in a thriller book. The author had had incorporated the use of social media as a relevant part of the plot
The pace
I love a good reading a fast paced thriller book. It keeps me at the edge of my seat and motivates me to read the book in one sitting and that's what I did. I started the book in mid-morning and by early evening I was done reading the book.
The Reveal
I'm glad that the baddie in the book wasn't someone obvious. While reading I had my suspicions regarding some characters and I was positively suprised when I read who the murderer was, even though that person was in plain sight also there were some red flags about them, now to think about it, I didn't even guess that person was the one who killed Stacy
The underwhelming aspects
Relationship problems
According to me The commitment issues of Coco's boyfriend Hudson wasn't relevant for the plot. A brief information about the issue like it being addressed once would have sufficed but the number of times Coco thought about it felt unnecessary.
Beginning
I found the beginning to be quite dull and boring. Reading the long passages had me bored at times and I definately skimmed through some paragraph in the beginning but luckily the book caught up to it soon.
The fillers
There were certain plots that didn't add anything to the book, but just acted as fillers. They just increased the length of the book and lead to some awkward communication between the character's.
Overall if you are looking for a cozy, fast paced thriller i would suggest you read this book. And thank you Net Galley for providing the arc.
Here are my opinion regarding the book :
The good
Incorporation of modern technology
I have read quite a few thrillers and unfortunately I haven't seen any which balances the use of modern technology along with old school deduction in a thriller book. The author had had incorporated the use of social media as a relevant part of the plot
The pace
I love a good reading a fast paced thriller book. It keeps me at the edge of my seat and motivates me to read the book in one sitting and that's what I did. I started the book in mid-morning and by early evening I was done reading the book.
The Reveal
I'm glad that the baddie in the book wasn't someone obvious. While reading I had my suspicions regarding some characters and I was positively suprised when I read who the murderer was, even though that person was in plain sight also there were some red flags about them, now to think about it, I didn't even guess that person was the one who killed Stacy
The underwhelming aspects
Relationship problems
According to me The commitment issues of Coco's boyfriend Hudson wasn't relevant for the plot. A brief information about the issue like it being addressed once would have sufficed but the number of times Coco thought about it felt unnecessary.
Beginning
I found the beginning to be quite dull and boring. Reading the long passages had me bored at times and I definately skimmed through some paragraph in the beginning but luckily the book caught up to it soon.
The fillers
There were certain plots that didn't add anything to the book, but just acted as fillers. They just increased the length of the book and lead to some awkward communication between the character's.
Overall if you are looking for a cozy, fast paced thriller i would suggest you read this book. And thank you Net Galley for providing the arc.
August 24, 2022
#FollowMe for Murder is the first book in Sarah E. Burr’s Trending Topic Mystery series. It’s actually the only book in the series right now, but I’m hoping there are more on the way.
Coco (Cordelia) Cline is a young entrepreneur and the savvy owner of a social media consulting business in her hometown of Central Shores, Delaware. She got her start as part of a small team of people who sold their lifestyle-centric tech startup to Facebook, netting millions of dollars apiece. She kept the rights to her lifestyle blog, though, and continues to post to hundreds of thousands of social media followers who hang on her every word.
Sean and Olivia Chen are the owners of a high-end consignment shop in town and they’ve hired Coco to handle the social media campaign associated with the shop’s grand opening. Coco has lots of great ideas, if only Olivia would quit posting impulsively (and to no effect) on social media. Coco and the Chens agree to meet at the shop to discuss the online ramp-up before the big day, but the Chens are late. Coco has her own key to the shop, and when she lets herself in she finds the dead body of the Chens’ assistant, a young woman named Stacy.
Suspicion, naturally, focuses on Coco almost immediately. After all, she found the body. And the police are looking at the Chens, too, since Stacy’s body was found in their shop. Coco needs to clear her name for obvious reasons, but she has to clear the Chens’ name, too, or else their shop is going to fail before it even gets up and running. With the help of her boyfriend and two of her best friends, Coco sets out to find the killer. Along the way she finds that Stacy was hiding some secrets and behavior that could be potentially explosive in the little town of Central Shores.
I loved that this cozy mystery has a lot going on. Besides the mystery of who killed Stacy, there are also hints of political intrigue going on in the little town and Coco’s insecurity about the state of her relationship with her boyfriend of four years, Hudson, whose star is rising quickly as a local television news personality. There’s the high school enemy-turned-voracious follower of Coco’s blog, and a new relationship between one of Coco’s best friends, Charlotte, and a guy working for the county crime lab.
The pacing of the book was spot-on. It moves just as quickly as a cozy should. The characters were fun, too—Coco’s friend Jasper was one of my favorites. And the idea of an amateur sleuth using social media to dig for clues in the case is great. Why? Because it’s a double-edged sword, just like social media in real life: Coco is trying to keep people in town and her minions of followers from finding out she’s the person who discovered the body, so she has to watch everything she says and does. She has to be careful about appearing in photographs that will find their way onto social media. On the other hand, she is a social media expert, so being able to find clues buried in suspects’ profiles and elsewhere online is a great asset for someone with her skill set.
This was a fun read and I’m eager for the second book in the series to come out. I would highly recommend #FollowMe for Murder to anyone who likes a good cozy, mysteries set in beach towns, anyone with a love-hate relationship with social media *raises hand*, and anyone who likes a great cast of characters.
Coco (Cordelia) Cline is a young entrepreneur and the savvy owner of a social media consulting business in her hometown of Central Shores, Delaware. She got her start as part of a small team of people who sold their lifestyle-centric tech startup to Facebook, netting millions of dollars apiece. She kept the rights to her lifestyle blog, though, and continues to post to hundreds of thousands of social media followers who hang on her every word.
Sean and Olivia Chen are the owners of a high-end consignment shop in town and they’ve hired Coco to handle the social media campaign associated with the shop’s grand opening. Coco has lots of great ideas, if only Olivia would quit posting impulsively (and to no effect) on social media. Coco and the Chens agree to meet at the shop to discuss the online ramp-up before the big day, but the Chens are late. Coco has her own key to the shop, and when she lets herself in she finds the dead body of the Chens’ assistant, a young woman named Stacy.
Suspicion, naturally, focuses on Coco almost immediately. After all, she found the body. And the police are looking at the Chens, too, since Stacy’s body was found in their shop. Coco needs to clear her name for obvious reasons, but she has to clear the Chens’ name, too, or else their shop is going to fail before it even gets up and running. With the help of her boyfriend and two of her best friends, Coco sets out to find the killer. Along the way she finds that Stacy was hiding some secrets and behavior that could be potentially explosive in the little town of Central Shores.
I loved that this cozy mystery has a lot going on. Besides the mystery of who killed Stacy, there are also hints of political intrigue going on in the little town and Coco’s insecurity about the state of her relationship with her boyfriend of four years, Hudson, whose star is rising quickly as a local television news personality. There’s the high school enemy-turned-voracious follower of Coco’s blog, and a new relationship between one of Coco’s best friends, Charlotte, and a guy working for the county crime lab.
The pacing of the book was spot-on. It moves just as quickly as a cozy should. The characters were fun, too—Coco’s friend Jasper was one of my favorites. And the idea of an amateur sleuth using social media to dig for clues in the case is great. Why? Because it’s a double-edged sword, just like social media in real life: Coco is trying to keep people in town and her minions of followers from finding out she’s the person who discovered the body, so she has to watch everything she says and does. She has to be careful about appearing in photographs that will find their way onto social media. On the other hand, she is a social media expert, so being able to find clues buried in suspects’ profiles and elsewhere online is a great asset for someone with her skill set.
This was a fun read and I’m eager for the second book in the series to come out. I would highly recommend #FollowMe for Murder to anyone who likes a good cozy, mysteries set in beach towns, anyone with a love-hate relationship with social media *raises hand*, and anyone who likes a great cast of characters.
January 12, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for sharing this ARC with me!
This is my first read for this author and I was entertained. It follows influencer and celebrity blogger Coco Cline as she navigates a murder mystery in her small town. The story was easy to follow and easy to get into though Coco wasn't the most likable MC. Her success is great but it did get very tiresome to keep reading about all the things she did on a daily basis and what she accomplished. I think the writing style did too much telling vs showing; there were too many lengthy monologues and it made Coco really annoying, real fast.
The romance drama felt pointless? In fact, I didn't see a point in her having a boyfriend at all. I thought it would add to the plot later on but it didn't. Four years and he still has his own apartment across town he won't let go? Babes, pls. If he wasn't going to give it up and propose to her by the end, which is something she clearly wanted and he "loved" her, what was the point of Hudson? Sure, he was supportive but idk, I found him fishy but I'm unsure if that will be elaborated on in future books.
I liked the idea behind the story. I think with social media being the way it is and weaving it in with a murder mystery is fun but I thought it would go differently. I wasn't too disappointed as the mystery kept me going but I find that I will likely not continue with the series. The characters didn't leave too lasting of an impression on me.'
Overall, fun and easy read but won't be continuing with the series.
This is my first read for this author and I was entertained. It follows influencer and celebrity blogger Coco Cline as she navigates a murder mystery in her small town. The story was easy to follow and easy to get into though Coco wasn't the most likable MC. Her success is great but it did get very tiresome to keep reading about all the things she did on a daily basis and what she accomplished. I think the writing style did too much telling vs showing; there were too many lengthy monologues and it made Coco really annoying, real fast.
The romance drama felt pointless? In fact, I didn't see a point in her having a boyfriend at all. I thought it would add to the plot later on but it didn't. Four years and he still has his own apartment across town he won't let go? Babes, pls. If he wasn't going to give it up and propose to her by the end, which is something she clearly wanted and he "loved" her, what was the point of Hudson? Sure, he was supportive but idk, I found him fishy but I'm unsure if that will be elaborated on in future books.
I liked the idea behind the story. I think with social media being the way it is and weaving it in with a murder mystery is fun but I thought it would go differently. I wasn't too disappointed as the mystery kept me going but I find that I will likely not continue with the series. The characters didn't leave too lasting of an impression on me.'
Overall, fun and easy read but won't be continuing with the series.
January 3, 2022
With #FollowMe for Murder, Sarah Burr takes another buzz-worthy step forward in the cozy mystery world. Protagonist Coco Cline is a popular lifestyle blogger and social media influencer. But when a young woman is murdered at the shop one of Coco's clients owns, she adds detective to her list of job qualifications. With the help of Hudson, her hunky boyfriend, who may or may not have a commitment problem, and her friends Jasper and Charlotte, Coco takes a look behind the curtain on the seemingly peaceful beachfront town of Central Shores, Delaware and finds not all is what it seems.
In ways both bad and good.
Ms. Burr has her finger right on the pulse of the generation who grew up with technology and with the Internet a single click away. Coco uses her phone and tablet hand in hand with her keen intellect and sharp eye for detail to unearth clues and identify suspects. Who knew you could learn so much about people by digging into their social media footprints? Coco sure does, and she uses that skill to find clues, spot liars, and bring the murderer to justice.
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced read and lost a lot of sleep because I didn't want to put it down at the end of the day. I can't wait to find out what's next for Coco and her crew. Treat yourself to a visit to Central Shores. Just be careful about what kind of social media trail you leave behind, especially if you’re up to something you’d rather keep under wraps!
In ways both bad and good.
Ms. Burr has her finger right on the pulse of the generation who grew up with technology and with the Internet a single click away. Coco uses her phone and tablet hand in hand with her keen intellect and sharp eye for detail to unearth clues and identify suspects. Who knew you could learn so much about people by digging into their social media footprints? Coco sure does, and she uses that skill to find clues, spot liars, and bring the murderer to justice.
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced read and lost a lot of sleep because I didn't want to put it down at the end of the day. I can't wait to find out what's next for Coco and her crew. Treat yourself to a visit to Central Shores. Just be careful about what kind of social media trail you leave behind, especially if you’re up to something you’d rather keep under wraps!
May 21, 2022
This falls under the category of lighter cozy mysteries. We have a young, good looking and self-made woman who finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation when it occurs in her client's shop.
Coco is an enterprising woman. She has found a niche that I would have otherwise poo-poohed if not for the presentation here. For a job that adds frills to the presentation of other companies/organizations, her work ethic is shown as streamlined and effective. She has ideas, and she ensures that they are implemented. More than the mystery part of the narrative, I think it was this presentation of the surrounding lifestyle that helped me read this in a few short sittings.
Coco is trying to boost one part of her job. Her client is a couple who want to start a fancy store with unique items, and Coco is helping them get it off the ground. The wife tends to lose control and go manic, while the husband is a foil to her mood swings. At this point, I must admit that they later tell us that she is undergoing fertility sessions which obviously would have impacted her moods. Although this nugget is dropped, the author continues to treat her as a crazy person with bad mood swings without connecting the two, which left a sour taste in my mouth.
The mystery itself begins in a straightforward manner. The investigators are local, as is Coco, and she has to help wrap things up so that her clients can have the grand opening they want.
I guessed the culprit quite early on, and I would comment on why the others in the storyline didn't, but that would give away a lot more than I want to. On the positive side, the relationship between Coco and her boyfriend was quite unique (even with the jealousy angle rearing up one too many times). She wants him to propose, mostly because it is the thing to happen, but what he does or doesn't do fits in with the plotline.
Overall, I might read the next book in the series before making up my mind. I am giving this one three stars out of five with hopes of reading the next.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
Coco is an enterprising woman. She has found a niche that I would have otherwise poo-poohed if not for the presentation here. For a job that adds frills to the presentation of other companies/organizations, her work ethic is shown as streamlined and effective. She has ideas, and she ensures that they are implemented. More than the mystery part of the narrative, I think it was this presentation of the surrounding lifestyle that helped me read this in a few short sittings.
Coco is trying to boost one part of her job. Her client is a couple who want to start a fancy store with unique items, and Coco is helping them get it off the ground. The wife tends to lose control and go manic, while the husband is a foil to her mood swings. At this point, I must admit that they later tell us that she is undergoing fertility sessions which obviously would have impacted her moods. Although this nugget is dropped, the author continues to treat her as a crazy person with bad mood swings without connecting the two, which left a sour taste in my mouth.
The mystery itself begins in a straightforward manner. The investigators are local, as is Coco, and she has to help wrap things up so that her clients can have the grand opening they want.
I guessed the culprit quite early on, and I would comment on why the others in the storyline didn't, but that would give away a lot more than I want to. On the positive side, the relationship between Coco and her boyfriend was quite unique (even with the jealousy angle rearing up one too many times). She wants him to propose, mostly because it is the thing to happen, but what he does or doesn't do fits in with the plotline.
Overall, I might read the next book in the series before making up my mind. I am giving this one three stars out of five with hopes of reading the next.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
January 5, 2022
Thank you NetGalley & Level Best Books for the digital ARC.
#FollowMe for Murder is a light-hearted, cozy, small-town mystery — 28-year old influencer, Coco Cline plays detective as she hunts a murderer on loose after finding someone dead in her client’s store. She must save the newly established business’ reputation while saving herself from the dangerous killer.
Coco is smart, beautiful and funny but fairly short-sighted for a person who is the sole witness of the corpse. But, her friends & boyfriend have her covered. It was interesting to watch the gang solve the mystery together & having Coco’s back. The kinda friendship we live for.
Just wish the killer was someone less predictable (despite all the red herrings) but nonetheless, the pace & revelations kept me on the edge.
P.S: Brownie points for Jaspers’ wits — easily my favorite character from the book & also all the bookish & show/movie references 🙌🏻
#FollowMe for Murder is a light-hearted, cozy, small-town mystery — 28-year old influencer, Coco Cline plays detective as she hunts a murderer on loose after finding someone dead in her client’s store. She must save the newly established business’ reputation while saving herself from the dangerous killer.
Coco is smart, beautiful and funny but fairly short-sighted for a person who is the sole witness of the corpse. But, her friends & boyfriend have her covered. It was interesting to watch the gang solve the mystery together & having Coco’s back. The kinda friendship we live for.
Just wish the killer was someone less predictable (despite all the red herrings) but nonetheless, the pace & revelations kept me on the edge.
P.S: Brownie points for Jaspers’ wits — easily my favorite character from the book & also all the bookish & show/movie references 🙌🏻
February 22, 2022
Coco Cline is an influencer and blogger. She has her own consulting firm for Public Relations. Her clients, the Chens, as opening a consignment shop and she is helping them with the launch. However, the launch is put to a stop when Coco stumbles across their newly hired clerk, Stacy, dead behind the counter. Worried about the business launch, the Chens encourage Coco to work with the police in finding the murderer.
This book was so engaging. The plot really kept me going and I could not put the book down once I got into it. It was a fast and easy read, a little scary because of the anticipation, but that's what kept it thrilling. It was very predictable for me, since I guessed who did within the first few chapters.
Thank you, Net Galley, for a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book was so engaging. The plot really kept me going and I could not put the book down once I got into it. It was a fast and easy read, a little scary because of the anticipation, but that's what kept it thrilling. It was very predictable for me, since I guessed who did within the first few chapters.
Thank you, Net Galley, for a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 21, 2022
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my review!
I really enjoyed this book! It was fun in a few different ways - main character is a famous blogger, lots of focus on social media, a murdee mystery, amateur sleuths... this was an entertaining read!
I enjoyed most of the characters! There were a few I didn't like but I think that was the point haha.
The murder mystery was probably pretty obvious to people who guess endings lol I can never guess an ending so I personally didn't know where it was going but I wasn't super surprised either. Still thought it was interesting though and I really liked the detective work happening throughout the story!
I would definitely suggest this if you need a lighter read and want something that is kind of cute and funny but also has mystery!
I really enjoyed this book! It was fun in a few different ways - main character is a famous blogger, lots of focus on social media, a murdee mystery, amateur sleuths... this was an entertaining read!
I enjoyed most of the characters! There were a few I didn't like but I think that was the point haha.
The murder mystery was probably pretty obvious to people who guess endings lol I can never guess an ending so I personally didn't know where it was going but I wasn't super surprised either. Still thought it was interesting though and I really liked the detective work happening throughout the story!
I would definitely suggest this if you need a lighter read and want something that is kind of cute and funny but also has mystery!
March 21, 2022
This book is too empty to be hated on. Nothing here caught my attention, and if it weren’t enough, despite my utter disinterest, I solved the case around 35% in. As you might imagine, it wasn’t so thrilling to sit through the rest of the novel knowing everything. The story tried to misguide the reader a lot of times, and though they were all useless, I need to praise the author for failing this many times.
The thing is, this book is probably supposed to be a cozy, predictable read with none of the tension I’d look for in a murder mystery. Just not for me, I guess.
Thanks to the author & publisher for providing me an ARC.
The thing is, this book is probably supposed to be a cozy, predictable read with none of the tension I’d look for in a murder mystery. Just not for me, I guess.
Thanks to the author & publisher for providing me an ARC.
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