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Ruthless-the-Killer Mysteries #2
Mostly Dead
Murder and romance. What could go wrong?
Ruth Smythe is still getting used to small-town life when she stumbles on a body at Pelican Bay’s annual Easter egg hunt.
Two bodies in just a few weeks is bad enough—but it gets worse when Dan Rivers is arrested for murder.
Sure, Dan’s a little guarded and hard to read sometimes. But a killer?
No way. He’s kind. Loyal. Brave.
And possibly her almost-boyfriend.
(Not that she’s admitting it.)
As the case against him builds—and her reputation as Ruthless-the-Killer roars back to life—Ruth throws herself into the investigation.
With loyal friends, a cockatoo with no filter, and more at stake than she dares to admit, she’s determined to clear Dan’s name.
Because Dan could lose everything.
She could lose… him.
And the real killer? Still out there.
this book may cause snorting, swooning, and the unshakable memory of one pocketknife, two flustered humans, and zero personal space.
Fans of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, and Veronica Speedwell will feel right at home reading this series.
Each book has its own whodunit to solve, but a series-long meta mystery runs beneath the surface—so start at Book 1, Dead Ahead, for the best experience. The romance will absolutely have a HEA but not until later in the series.
Ruth Smythe is still getting used to small-town life when she stumbles on a body at Pelican Bay’s annual Easter egg hunt.
Two bodies in just a few weeks is bad enough—but it gets worse when Dan Rivers is arrested for murder.
Sure, Dan’s a little guarded and hard to read sometimes. But a killer?
No way. He’s kind. Loyal. Brave.
And possibly her almost-boyfriend.
(Not that she’s admitting it.)
As the case against him builds—and her reputation as Ruthless-the-Killer roars back to life—Ruth throws herself into the investigation.
With loyal friends, a cockatoo with no filter, and more at stake than she dares to admit, she’s determined to clear Dan’s name.
Because Dan could lose everything.
She could lose… him.
And the real killer? Still out there.
this book may cause snorting, swooning, and the unshakable memory of one pocketknife, two flustered humans, and zero personal space.
Fans of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, and Veronica Speedwell will feel right at home reading this series.
Each book has its own whodunit to solve, but a series-long meta mystery runs beneath the surface—so start at Book 1, Dead Ahead, for the best experience. The romance will absolutely have a HEA but not until later in the series.
426 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 10, 2026
2 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Susan J. Bruce
5 books11 followersSusan J Bruce is a former veterinarian, turned award-winning author, seasoned copywriter and animal artist. Susan’s veterinary background invades her writing and animals run, fly, or crawl into nearly all of her tales. When Susan’s writing group challenged her to write a story that didn’t mention any animals—she failed! Susan lives in sunny South Australia with her husband, Marc, and their furred and feathered family. This currently includes an obstreperous rescue cockatiel and an irrepressible ShiChi (Shih Tzu x Chihuahua) who thinks her mission in life is to stop Susan writing.
'Dead Ahead' is Susan’s second novel and the first in her new 'Ruthless-the-Killer' lighthearted mystery series. Her first novel, 'Running Scared' was awarded the 2018 Caleb Prize for an unpublished manuscript.
Visit Susan at www.susanjbruce.com.
'Dead Ahead' is Susan’s second novel and the first in her new 'Ruthless-the-Killer' lighthearted mystery series. Her first novel, 'Running Scared' was awarded the 2018 Caleb Prize for an unpublished manuscript.
Visit Susan at www.susanjbruce.com.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 16, 2026
I enjoyed reading Mostly Dead, the second book in Susan J Bruce’s Ruthless-The-Killer romcom animal cozy mystery series set in a small coastal town in South Australia. The story opens a few weeks after book 1, Dead Ahead, finishes with Ruth and half the town heading to church for a christening. Easter is a few weeks away and the town is planning a big Easter Egg Hunt event.
Ruth and Dan’s relationship status is the talk of the town. When Ruth is involved in the discovery of a dead body, her undeserved reputation as a jinx resurfaces. Dan becomes the prime suspect in the murder investigation and Ruth is convinced he’s innocent.
A wild ride ensues for Ruth and Dan as they work to solve the mystery and clear his name. A series mystery deepens and leaves Ruth with more questions than answers. Doug the cockatoo is LOL funny in how he mimics various characters and he epitomises the irreverent Aussie larrikin sense of humour.
Ruth and Dan’s cute and hilarious romance heats up and fits the category two ‘fade to black’ romance spice level.
I recommend Mostly Dead to readers who like animal cozy mystery romcoms with an amateur sleuth, a murder to solve, a charming ensemble cast of quirky characters, Easter themes, and a mouthy cockatoo.
Many thanks to the author for the advanced reader copy.
Ruth and Dan’s relationship status is the talk of the town. When Ruth is involved in the discovery of a dead body, her undeserved reputation as a jinx resurfaces. Dan becomes the prime suspect in the murder investigation and Ruth is convinced he’s innocent.
A wild ride ensues for Ruth and Dan as they work to solve the mystery and clear his name. A series mystery deepens and leaves Ruth with more questions than answers. Doug the cockatoo is LOL funny in how he mimics various characters and he epitomises the irreverent Aussie larrikin sense of humour.
Ruth and Dan’s cute and hilarious romance heats up and fits the category two ‘fade to black’ romance spice level.
I recommend Mostly Dead to readers who like animal cozy mystery romcoms with an amateur sleuth, a murder to solve, a charming ensemble cast of quirky characters, Easter themes, and a mouthy cockatoo.
Many thanks to the author for the advanced reader copy.
April 17, 2026
Doug the cockatoo steals the show from page one, squawking town secrets at the worst possible moments.
Pets, delicious food, kind friends, funny moments, chocolate and an egg hunt with clues create a comforting vibe. Yet I couldn't put it down. I had to know who the next suspect was, whether Ruth and Dan would finally get romantic, and why was everyone in town keeping so many secrets? I felt like the book grabbed hold of my eyeballs.
Shona was witty and made me want to think in an accent for each of her comments. She's got her own goals but shows up for her friends when it matters most.
Ruth's no perfect detective either, which is hilarious—you never know if her Private Investigation attempts will succeed with panache or she'll fall flat on her face. I appreciated seeing several strong capable women, not just the men.
There’s brilliant hacker Kat with her stray cats, and special mention goes to the local pottery group. Where would we be without them?
Pelican Bay seems idyllic, though I’m wary of the gossip grapevine. I would love to see the coastal scenery, check out the strangely-named Wharf-Biters Brewing Co and taste Joe’s delicious food at the cafe.
If this book had a theme song, well, I’m torn! Maybe it’s both "I Get By With a Little Help from My Friends" and The Muppet Show Theme Song. Ruth’s friends always seem to turn up just when needed and she constantly meets adorable pets who get up to comic antics. In fact Ruth and Co really make me laugh most of the time.
I felt comforted but engaged while reading it. It would be a great distraction for when you don’t want to read something too heavy, it has plenty to think about, and I kept wondering how the folk in Pelican Bay were getting on when I was not reading it. The mystery kept me guessing the whole way through. It’s great for people who love a tricky murder mystery puzzle, with a good dose of clean romance and plenty of humour.
By the end, I was satisfied that some of the loose ends were wrapped up. But there are still mysteries waiting for Book 3, I absolutely can’t wait.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving an honest, voluntary review.
Pets, delicious food, kind friends, funny moments, chocolate and an egg hunt with clues create a comforting vibe. Yet I couldn't put it down. I had to know who the next suspect was, whether Ruth and Dan would finally get romantic, and why was everyone in town keeping so many secrets? I felt like the book grabbed hold of my eyeballs.
Shona was witty and made me want to think in an accent for each of her comments. She's got her own goals but shows up for her friends when it matters most.
Ruth's no perfect detective either, which is hilarious—you never know if her Private Investigation attempts will succeed with panache or she'll fall flat on her face. I appreciated seeing several strong capable women, not just the men.
There’s brilliant hacker Kat with her stray cats, and special mention goes to the local pottery group. Where would we be without them?
Pelican Bay seems idyllic, though I’m wary of the gossip grapevine. I would love to see the coastal scenery, check out the strangely-named Wharf-Biters Brewing Co and taste Joe’s delicious food at the cafe.
If this book had a theme song, well, I’m torn! Maybe it’s both "I Get By With a Little Help from My Friends" and The Muppet Show Theme Song. Ruth’s friends always seem to turn up just when needed and she constantly meets adorable pets who get up to comic antics. In fact Ruth and Co really make me laugh most of the time.
I felt comforted but engaged while reading it. It would be a great distraction for when you don’t want to read something too heavy, it has plenty to think about, and I kept wondering how the folk in Pelican Bay were getting on when I was not reading it. The mystery kept me guessing the whole way through. It’s great for people who love a tricky murder mystery puzzle, with a good dose of clean romance and plenty of humour.
By the end, I was satisfied that some of the loose ends were wrapped up. But there are still mysteries waiting for Book 3, I absolutely can’t wait.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving an honest, voluntary review.
April 19, 2026
It’s Easter in Pelican Bay, which means it’s time for the Easter Egg treasure hunt. When Ruth Smythe teams up with her new friends, she’s hoping to find the treasure, not another dead body. This time, the victim is Theo, who is none too popular around town.
Unfortunately for Ruth, the main suspect is Dan, her not-so-secret crush.
Add in an incompetent ring-in police inspector, and it’s clear Ruth has another mystery to solve to clear Dan’s name. Dan is a popular man around the small town, which means she has help … except that help isn’t always helpful. This leads to several awkward and funny situations that somehow come across as completely plausible despite being completely unrealistic in real life.
Doug isn’t the only non-human character. Susan J Bruce is an animal lover, and that comes through in lines like this:
It was a universal truth that the more you disliked cats, the more they wanted to sit on your lap.
As any cat lover knows, they are characters in their own right, and something I always enjoy. I loved the town of Pelican Bay, with it’s quirky characters (human, bird and feline), endless banter, and a true community spirit—especially when it comes to solving a murder.
Mostly Dead is the second book of the Ruthless the Killer Mysteries, following Dead Ahead. It’s an excellent cozy mystery in a fun Australian setting, complete with Doug the cockatoo, who delights in embarrassing the locals by repeating their secrets at the most inopportune times.
If you prefer strictly Christian fiction, Mostly Dead may not be the book for you. Having said that, it would still be G-rated if it was a book (or perhaps PG, given there is a rather nasty murder).
But if you’re a cozy mystery fan who doesn’t mind the odd murder in your fiction (along with a little not-quite-Christian content), you’ll enjoy Mostly Dead.
Recommended for fans of cozy mystery authors such as Heather Gilbert and Amanda Ashby.
Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.
Unfortunately for Ruth, the main suspect is Dan, her not-so-secret crush.
Add in an incompetent ring-in police inspector, and it’s clear Ruth has another mystery to solve to clear Dan’s name. Dan is a popular man around the small town, which means she has help … except that help isn’t always helpful. This leads to several awkward and funny situations that somehow come across as completely plausible despite being completely unrealistic in real life.
Doug isn’t the only non-human character. Susan J Bruce is an animal lover, and that comes through in lines like this:
It was a universal truth that the more you disliked cats, the more they wanted to sit on your lap.
As any cat lover knows, they are characters in their own right, and something I always enjoy. I loved the town of Pelican Bay, with it’s quirky characters (human, bird and feline), endless banter, and a true community spirit—especially when it comes to solving a murder.
Mostly Dead is the second book of the Ruthless the Killer Mysteries, following Dead Ahead. It’s an excellent cozy mystery in a fun Australian setting, complete with Doug the cockatoo, who delights in embarrassing the locals by repeating their secrets at the most inopportune times.
If you prefer strictly Christian fiction, Mostly Dead may not be the book for you. Having said that, it would still be G-rated if it was a book (or perhaps PG, given there is a rather nasty murder).
But if you’re a cozy mystery fan who doesn’t mind the odd murder in your fiction (along with a little not-quite-Christian content), you’ll enjoy Mostly Dead.
Recommended for fans of cozy mystery authors such as Heather Gilbert and Amanda Ashby.
Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was fun!
It’s got a central mystery, but it’s got others. It could’ve easily gotten convoluted, but there’s enough room given to all them, so they breathe and don’t cloud each other. Some stuff gets solved in this book, but clearly some of it will continue throughout the series, so there’s room for even more development.
I love how both the mystery arc and the romance thread are written. The balance of the breakneck pace of the frantic murder investigation, with the introspection and uncertainty and warmth of a budding romance, meant that this book was both exciting and cozy. The red herrings are also so well developed, and I love that I couldn’t see a certain twist (two, actually) coming.
I loved the crazy crew of sleuths. The friends, the almost-boyfriend, the family, the quirky older folk. Ruth’s a proactive, intelligent heroine, and I enjoyed how it’s shown that some people love her and others just can’t stand her. It’s realistic enough that you don’t know where her next jab is going to come from, but you know someone’s going to be around to hug her eventually.
There is some spice, but it’s fade to black, and doesn’t overwhelm the mystery at all.
Yeah this is nice! I like it.
I received a free ARC of this book, and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It’s got a central mystery, but it’s got others. It could’ve easily gotten convoluted, but there’s enough room given to all them, so they breathe and don’t cloud each other. Some stuff gets solved in this book, but clearly some of it will continue throughout the series, so there’s room for even more development.
I love how both the mystery arc and the romance thread are written. The balance of the breakneck pace of the frantic murder investigation, with the introspection and uncertainty and warmth of a budding romance, meant that this book was both exciting and cozy. The red herrings are also so well developed, and I love that I couldn’t see a certain twist (two, actually) coming.
I loved the crazy crew of sleuths. The friends, the almost-boyfriend, the family, the quirky older folk. Ruth’s a proactive, intelligent heroine, and I enjoyed how it’s shown that some people love her and others just can’t stand her. It’s realistic enough that you don’t know where her next jab is going to come from, but you know someone’s going to be around to hug her eventually.
There is some spice, but it’s fade to black, and doesn’t overwhelm the mystery at all.
Yeah this is nice! I like it.
I received a free ARC of this book, and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really, really enjoyed MOSTLY DEAD. The mystery is complex with lots of red herrings and lots of unexpected threads that lead all over the murder board. There’s incredible love and support from friends and family along with a lovely slow burn romance and a nasty bad guy to hate. Doug the cockatoo is absolutely hilarious!
I reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book with no strings attached.
I reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book with no strings attached.
April 13, 2026
Ruth, Dan and her friends are being pulled into another death. An amazing cozy mystery with slightly quirky characters that are just fun. A tight knit community that makes you feel like home. And a storyline that has lots of surprises and twists. This book will make you laugh out loud while you can't put it down.
I received a copy of this book from the author. I am leaving a voluntary and honest review.
I received a copy of this book from the author. I am leaving a voluntary and honest review.
April 12, 2026
I enjoyed spending time with Ruth and her band of loyal friends. This was a suspenseful, twisty mystery that had some pretty intense moments that were lightened up by a hilarious talking bird. It was a real page turner.
May 1, 2026
Great story and great characters. Enjoyed both the mystery and the romance. Can't wait for the third book. Strongly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Amazing Descriptions! Wonderful voice-mimicking cockatoo! The reader is able to “see” what the author is describing. Suspenseful! Mystery uncovered within mystery. Who are the suspects? Exactly what did they do? Who will solve it? Maybe Doug has already solved it—just needs you to listen to what he says and who he mimics. Little too much slang for me. I read an ARC of Mostly Dead.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews