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A Pinch of Assault
Not yet published
Expected 25 Aug 26
Welcome to the Sunny Side Up Diner, where the jukeboxes jive and the secrets thrive...
With things at her Sunny Side Up Diner sailing along smoothly for once, Jax Tapman has turned her attention to her personal life. It’s time to meet the boyfriend’s mother in person. And while Jax isn't totally certain she’s up to the challenge, she agrees to show Eliot’s mom around a local retirement home. It sounds innocent enough, and it shouldn’t be too difficult to sell the woman on the idea of moving to be closer to her son. But instead of making her case, when Jax enters the model apartment, she and her potential in-law find one dead body and a whole lot of secrets!
Suddenly it’s up to Jax to discover who the retirement home killer is—a task that only gets harder when someone from Eliot's past shows up and might know far more about the crime than she’s letting on.
The Sunny Side Up Diner is jumping with gossip, Jax and her best friend Dani are running interference, and Eliot’s mom is calling all the shots. But sorting out chaos and minimizing damage is something Jax has grown accustomed to, if she can only get a clue.
"This new series is off to a great start. Misty does an excellent job showing readers all the details of the small town, the diner, and a cast of entertaining characters."
~ Kings River Life Magazine
"Readers cannot help but fall in love with this first book!!! Simon has you laughing out loud... I, for one, look forward to more books in the series!!!!"
~ Cozy Mystery Book Reviews
With things at her Sunny Side Up Diner sailing along smoothly for once, Jax Tapman has turned her attention to her personal life. It’s time to meet the boyfriend’s mother in person. And while Jax isn't totally certain she’s up to the challenge, she agrees to show Eliot’s mom around a local retirement home. It sounds innocent enough, and it shouldn’t be too difficult to sell the woman on the idea of moving to be closer to her son. But instead of making her case, when Jax enters the model apartment, she and her potential in-law find one dead body and a whole lot of secrets!
Suddenly it’s up to Jax to discover who the retirement home killer is—a task that only gets harder when someone from Eliot's past shows up and might know far more about the crime than she’s letting on.
The Sunny Side Up Diner is jumping with gossip, Jax and her best friend Dani are running interference, and Eliot’s mom is calling all the shots. But sorting out chaos and minimizing damage is something Jax has grown accustomed to, if she can only get a clue.
"This new series is off to a great start. Misty does an excellent job showing readers all the details of the small town, the diner, and a cast of entertaining characters."
~ Kings River Life Magazine
"Readers cannot help but fall in love with this first book!!! Simon has you laughing out loud... I, for one, look forward to more books in the series!!!!"
~ Cozy Mystery Book Reviews
Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 25, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Pinch of Assault is a delightful cozy mystery that combines an intriguing whodunit with plenty of humor and memorable characters. One of the things I enjoyed most was the mystery itself. The clues are cleverly woven throughout the story, making it fun to follow along and try to solve the case before the final reveal.
The characters are another highlight. As the story unfolds, readers get to know them better, and their relationships add warmth and depth to the plot. The main character is engaging and relatable, and the supporting cast brings plenty of charm and personality to every scene.
What truly sets this book apart is its sense of humor. The witty dialogue and amusing situations keep the story light and entertaining, even as the mystery becomes more complicated. The balance of suspense and comedy makes for a very enjoyable reading experience.
Overall, A Pinch of Assault is a charming cozy mystery that offers an engaging puzzle, lovable characters, and lots of laughs. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries with a touch of humor and a strong sense of community.
Thanks to the author for allowing me to be an early reader and to review this book
The characters are another highlight. As the story unfolds, readers get to know them better, and their relationships add warmth and depth to the plot. The main character is engaging and relatable, and the supporting cast brings plenty of charm and personality to every scene.
What truly sets this book apart is its sense of humor. The witty dialogue and amusing situations keep the story light and entertaining, even as the mystery becomes more complicated. The balance of suspense and comedy makes for a very enjoyable reading experience.
Overall, A Pinch of Assault is a charming cozy mystery that offers an engaging puzzle, lovable characters, and lots of laughs. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries with a touch of humor and a strong sense of community.
Thanks to the author for allowing me to be an early reader and to review this book
Review of advance copy received from Author
Zing! Jax already happy life is filling up and getting better by the moment! She and her best friend, Dani own the diner of her dreams, she is happily seeing her Mr. Perfect, Eliot and now that she has not just met his perfect mother-in-law candidate, Dot; Jax learns that Dot owns her dream car, a VW Thing...and she is letting Jax drive it! The fact that while they are visiting the community where Dot is considering moving in, they run into Eliot's childhood best friend and former police partner, Maureen, then stumble over a dead body, does not compromise the fact that her life is still looking pretty darn good. Dot and Maureen add a fun new high energy dimension to Jax and Dani's investigative team, Dot is the master organizer and delegator, while Maureen brings the professional investigation abilities to the team. Keep in mind, this is all taking place in a quiet senior community where lots of other crimes are happening, all while the long-time owner is in the process of selling to a corporation that manages lots of senior communities. Change is underway all around. Suspects and motives abound and it is up to this intrepid team to whittle down the possibilities and identify the killer before someone else dies.
This was a high energy romp with Jax and the rest of the gang doing their best to make Dot's new home the safest and best it can be.
This was a high energy romp with Jax and the rest of the gang doing their best to make Dot's new home the safest and best it can be.
Review of advance copy received from Author
THOUGHTS: Except for the occasional murder, I want to live here! I want to go to Jax and Dani’s diner. I want to have some of Eliot’s waffles. And I really want to meet the entire family! In this story, we get to meet Dot, Eliot’s mother. Yes, Jax gets to meet the future Mother-in-Law – and she’s a hoot! When they go to look at a retirement community model apartment and find a body, Dot goes into “investigator” mode to Jax’s surprise. After all, Dot spent years working for the police so she knows all about procedure. The group all comes together to figure out suspects and Dot gets them organized better than ever with a murder board that is amazing in its organization. I love that they’re still using the “spindle” for clues in the diner. Oh, and Jax is totally in love with Glenda, the Thing (Dot’s vehicle). I find it funny that Stella Luna (the cat) steals Eliot’s clothes and now Maureen’s too in order to make a nest.
If you like your cozy mysteries with a touch of humor and shenanigans, you won’t be disappointed here. And though you don’t need to, I suggest you read the entire series so you get to know the participants even better.
Definitely recommended.
If you like your cozy mysteries with a touch of humor and shenanigans, you won’t be disappointed here. And though you don’t need to, I suggest you read the entire series so you get to know the participants even better.
Definitely recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
An enjoyable mystery in this series about the murder of a popular worker at a retirement home. As usual, Jax and Dani jump in to help solve a murder there. However this time they are joined by Elliott's mom, Dot, and his former police partner, Maureen. While their addition to the process adds more professionalism as an ex-cop and an exp- police clerk, it made attention split into more directions which was a distraction for the reader at times.
Dot was a delight from her quirky vehicle choice to her unexpected enthusiasm to investigate. Of course being Elliott's mother was also a huge effect on Jax.
Maureen was more guarded as her police officer background was more ridged than Dot, a police clerk who had no direct law enforcement authority.
In spite of extra sleuths, almost too many trips to the retirement village resulting in too little information made the book seem to go slowly. However all is well as conclusion results were excitingly shared along with unexpected news at the Diner.
Dot was a delight from her quirky vehicle choice to her unexpected enthusiasm to investigate. Of course being Elliott's mother was also a huge effect on Jax.
Maureen was more guarded as her police officer background was more ridged than Dot, a police clerk who had no direct law enforcement authority.
In spite of extra sleuths, almost too many trips to the retirement village resulting in too little information made the book seem to go slowly. However all is well as conclusion results were excitingly shared along with unexpected news at the Diner.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I enjoyed reading A Pinch of Assault. It was well written and kept my attention from start to finish. Although I haven’t read the first two books in this series yet, the author provided enough background information to make this book work as a standalone. Jax Tapman and her bestie Dani own/operate Sunny Side Up Diner in Pennsylvania. Her boyfriend of almost a year is Eliot, the head chef at her Aunt Hildy’s Poplarsville Inn. Eliot’s mom Dottie is coming to town to check out a possible move to The Jolly Oaks Retirement Village. Jax is happy that Dottie is easy to get along with, but then they happen upon the dead body of housekeeper, Honey Walton. I liked seeing how well Jax and her amateur sleuth team went about solving the murder. I liked the easy going relationships she has with Dani and with Eliot. The book ends with a hint of what’s to happen next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love this book series, and the latest installment A Pinch of Assault does not disappoint. Familiar characters offer insight into where they are in their lives now, while the newly introduced characters open up exciting new avenues to explore. The mystery is engaging and will keep you guessing right up until the very end.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews