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Novel Idea #5
Off the Books
Literary agent and amateur sleuth Lila Wilkins is back to seal the deal in the New York Times bestselling Novel Idea Mystery series.
Lila is showcasing some of her biggest authors at a bridal expo. But when the joyous event turns deadly, she’ll have to figure out who penned the perfect crime...
The Novel Idea Literary Agency has planned a wedding-themed week for Inspiration Valley, celebrating not only North Carolina’s best vendors but also some of the agency’s most popular bridal books. The fact that Lila can use the event to plan her own impending nuptials is just the icing on the cake.
But wedding bells turn to warning bells when Lila finds a dead man facedown in the frosting. Soon it’s discovered that the victim was connected to several Novel Idea authors, all of whom quickly become suspects in the case. It’s up to Lila and her fellow agents to find the real killer before one of their clients winds up scribbling stories from behind bars...
Lila is showcasing some of her biggest authors at a bridal expo. But when the joyous event turns deadly, she’ll have to figure out who penned the perfect crime...
The Novel Idea Literary Agency has planned a wedding-themed week for Inspiration Valley, celebrating not only North Carolina’s best vendors but also some of the agency’s most popular bridal books. The fact that Lila can use the event to plan her own impending nuptials is just the icing on the cake.
But wedding bells turn to warning bells when Lila finds a dead man facedown in the frosting. Soon it’s discovered that the victim was connected to several Novel Idea authors, all of whom quickly become suspects in the case. It’s up to Lila and her fellow agents to find the real killer before one of their clients winds up scribbling stories from behind bars...
273 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 2, 2016
33 people are currently reading
1303 people want to read
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January 31, 2016
The delightful Novel Idea mysteries get better and better with every installment!
Author Lucy Arlington aka Susan Furlong has such a fluid way of writing. Her words let you glide through a book at a pleasant pace.
OFF THE BOOKS takes readers back to Inspiration Valley, NC where our favorite literary agent, Lila Wilkins is busy showcasing her authors at a bridal expo. Nothing could go wrong with that, right? Oh so wrong. Lila comes across a body who was killed in a way not often (if ever) mentioned in a cozy. Well played, Ms. Arlington!
OFF THE BOOKS is a marvelous whodunit of page turning, unpredictable intrigue and fun. Each chapter brought more questions that really kept me guessing. I did not see the ending of this on coming. Wow.
The Novel Idea series is a must read for mystery fans!
Make sure to check out the back of the book for an excerpt of, REST IN PEACH, Book 2 in the Georgia Peach Mysteries by Susan Furlong!
Author Lucy Arlington aka Susan Furlong has such a fluid way of writing. Her words let you glide through a book at a pleasant pace.
OFF THE BOOKS takes readers back to Inspiration Valley, NC where our favorite literary agent, Lila Wilkins is busy showcasing her authors at a bridal expo. Nothing could go wrong with that, right? Oh so wrong. Lila comes across a body who was killed in a way not often (if ever) mentioned in a cozy. Well played, Ms. Arlington!
OFF THE BOOKS is a marvelous whodunit of page turning, unpredictable intrigue and fun. Each chapter brought more questions that really kept me guessing. I did not see the ending of this on coming. Wow.
The Novel Idea series is a must read for mystery fans!
Make sure to check out the back of the book for an excerpt of, REST IN PEACH, Book 2 in the Georgia Peach Mysteries by Susan Furlong!
August 29, 2018
Lila and her fellow agents are arranging a Wedding expo, teaming up with a team of people who set up bridal fairs, Makayla is happy as she can get some ideas for her wedding to Ray and Lila can also get some ideas (now that Sean has popped the question - although still no ring!). Lila is somewhat stressed mind out, the wedding fair organiser gets on people's nerves, Lila has found another body!, her Mama is being secretive (oh and is also at the Wedding Expo in her Amazing Althea mode) and Trey ends up dropping a bombshell of major proportions.
Now Lila needs to rein in Zach (and try and stop him calling her the Murder Magnet), figure out what is happening with her Mama, figure out what to do with Trey, solve a murder, solve the problem with Vicky (the office manager) and stay safe. No problems then!
Now Lila needs to rein in Zach (and try and stop him calling her the Murder Magnet), figure out what is happening with her Mama, figure out what to do with Trey, solve a murder, solve the problem with Vicky (the office manager) and stay safe. No problems then!
February 1, 2016
Off The Books is the fifth book in the A Novel Idea Mystery series.
Lila Wilkins is looking forward to the upcoming event that The Novel Idea Literary Agency has planned, as it couldn't have come at a better time. Novel Idea is having a wedding themed week. The event will have many vendors covering all facets the bride-to-be will need for her wedding. Also in attendance, will be the agencies author's wedding related books.
As the event is about to begin, a repairman, Chuck Richards, to repair a refrigerator before the wedding cakes that are inside are ruined. When Lila, the “murder magnet” as her co-workers call her, goes to check on the repairs, she finds Richards face down in one of the wedding cakes, dead. The prime suspect is Lila's soon to be published author, Lynn Werner, the ex-wife of Richards. Lila soon learns that Richards, wasn't the handiest of handymen and begins to wonder if possibly a former customer was so upset with his work and got their revenge by killing Richards.
I always enjoy spending some time In Inspiration Valley and with the staff of Novel Idea, who may have some difference from time to time, but it's at a time of need they will put their differences aside and work together.
Would love to see more of the staff at Novel Idea and the enjoyable residents of Inspiration Valley.
Lila Wilkins is looking forward to the upcoming event that The Novel Idea Literary Agency has planned, as it couldn't have come at a better time. Novel Idea is having a wedding themed week. The event will have many vendors covering all facets the bride-to-be will need for her wedding. Also in attendance, will be the agencies author's wedding related books.
As the event is about to begin, a repairman, Chuck Richards, to repair a refrigerator before the wedding cakes that are inside are ruined. When Lila, the “murder magnet” as her co-workers call her, goes to check on the repairs, she finds Richards face down in one of the wedding cakes, dead. The prime suspect is Lila's soon to be published author, Lynn Werner, the ex-wife of Richards. Lila soon learns that Richards, wasn't the handiest of handymen and begins to wonder if possibly a former customer was so upset with his work and got their revenge by killing Richards.
I always enjoy spending some time In Inspiration Valley and with the staff of Novel Idea, who may have some difference from time to time, but it's at a time of need they will put their differences aside and work together.
Would love to see more of the staff at Novel Idea and the enjoyable residents of Inspiration Valley.
February 22, 2016
This is the fifth book in The Novel Idea Mystery Series.
Wedding fever has hit Inspiration Valley as Novel Idea Literary Agency is hosting a bridal expo with their authors for book signings and loads of trimmings. Cakes, dresses, decorating ideas and murder!?
The local handyman is found dead on a wedding cake and several authors become the prime suspects.
This is a fun read that kept me guessing till the very end.
I an looking forward to the next book.
Wedding fever has hit Inspiration Valley as Novel Idea Literary Agency is hosting a bridal expo with their authors for book signings and loads of trimmings. Cakes, dresses, decorating ideas and murder!?
The local handyman is found dead on a wedding cake and several authors become the prime suspects.
This is a fun read that kept me guessing till the very end.
I an looking forward to the next book.
February 3, 2016
This fifth entry in the popular Novel Ideas Mystery series, the second since author Susan Furlong took over the series from its initial co-authors writing as Lucy Arlington, is another winner. I promise to stop hearkening back to the original co-authors in the future; Ms. Furlong has proven her mettle and is now the secure owner and proprietor of the Lucy Arlington franchise. In my experience, 99 percent of the time a new author takes over another author’s mystery series, the result is an unsatisfying shadow of the real thing. This instance, however, is the one percent exception that proves the rule. Susan Furlong’s two books in this series carry the characters and situations forward seamlessly and accurately. Her books might even be better than the first three. So…enough about that. We can all be happy that Ms. Furlong is now running the show.
And a show it is. If you work at a literary agency in the small North Carolina town of Inspiration Valley, one of the best ways to get a new cast of potential murderers and murder victims into town is to have an exposition or show. In the last two books we had a cookbook show and a combined gardening-landscaping expo. In this one, it’s a wedding planning and bridal exposition set to take a week highlighting all aspects of wedding planning while showing off many of the agency’s best authors and books.
Lila Wilkins, the book’s viewpoint character, is one of the literary agents charged with organizing and running the event. She is also engaged to be married at some as-yet undetermined date in the near future to a local detective, Sean Griffiths. Their romance has been percolating through the previous four books and is now approaching its logical next step. Lila hopes to enjoy planning her own wedding as she learns from the many facets of the exposition.
Unfortunately, the characters in the book don’t know—as we readers certainly do—that there will soon be a murder. Sure enough, a local handyman with a reputation for shoddy work and a less-than-sterling character is offed by a nail-gun shot to the skull in the kitchen of the exposition hall. Lila, the poor dear, finds him while the fatal injury is still fresh.
As the plot unfolds, two of the agency’s authors become suspects. One, Lila’s new client whose first romance novel is soon to be released, is an abused ex-wife of the victim. The other author’s recent book describes a murder done with—you’ll never guess—a carpenter’s nail gun. What police detective could resist arresting her?
Our beloved cast of characters, familiar from the previous books, works through challenging, pleasant, and satisfying events in their lives interwoven with the emergence of new clues leading eventually to the real murderer. Making this happen is a real challenge to most authors. For the series to go on for many books, the characters need to move forward in their lives, endure happy and sad changes, and grow and develop. In some books from less talented authors, their efforts to do this get in the way of the real story and frustrate me. Often, I truly don’t care what’s going on with the sister or other relative, the best friend, or other peripheral character. It seems to be annoying filler. Not so here. Susan Furlong is a master at making us care about those characters.
Those who could be nominated for Best Supporting Character include Lila’s mother, who as The Amazing Althea reads tarot cards; Lila’s son Trey, who has a change of heart in his first year of college; best friend Makayla, the local barista, who is also planning her wedding; and the whole crew at the literary agency. There’s also an interesting bit of byplay with the agency’s big boss adopting a problem dog that upsets the agency’s long-time cat mascot and other more human folks.
The balance between these subplots and our primary concern, the murder, is exquisitely maintained such that we never notice that the author isn’t talking about the murder for a while. All of it is interesting, fresh, and natural. This balance is one of the hallmarks of a truly well-crafted story; it sets this story head and shoulders above most of the competition.
Then finally at the end, all of the disparate threads come together in a satisfying revelation of who done it. The solution of this story has a different feel from most cozy mysteries. I can’t tell you exactly why without spoiling the story for you, so you’ll have to take my word for it and maybe think about it a little when you get to that point in the story yourself. I can tell you that I really like the difference.
When I finished the book, I sat back with a sigh of happy satisfaction. How nice to learn what’s been going on with Lila, her family, and her friends. How nice to have a series of problems large and small solved with ingenuity and compassion. How nice to have the guilty securely in jail. How nice to know that in a year or so, there will be another installment in this series.
Get the book. Read it. Then you can share in that happy sigh of satisfaction at the end. What more could you ask?
(This review originally written for BookPleasures.com and was done after receiving a free copy from the author, which did not affect my opinion in any way.)
And a show it is. If you work at a literary agency in the small North Carolina town of Inspiration Valley, one of the best ways to get a new cast of potential murderers and murder victims into town is to have an exposition or show. In the last two books we had a cookbook show and a combined gardening-landscaping expo. In this one, it’s a wedding planning and bridal exposition set to take a week highlighting all aspects of wedding planning while showing off many of the agency’s best authors and books.
Lila Wilkins, the book’s viewpoint character, is one of the literary agents charged with organizing and running the event. She is also engaged to be married at some as-yet undetermined date in the near future to a local detective, Sean Griffiths. Their romance has been percolating through the previous four books and is now approaching its logical next step. Lila hopes to enjoy planning her own wedding as she learns from the many facets of the exposition.
Unfortunately, the characters in the book don’t know—as we readers certainly do—that there will soon be a murder. Sure enough, a local handyman with a reputation for shoddy work and a less-than-sterling character is offed by a nail-gun shot to the skull in the kitchen of the exposition hall. Lila, the poor dear, finds him while the fatal injury is still fresh.
As the plot unfolds, two of the agency’s authors become suspects. One, Lila’s new client whose first romance novel is soon to be released, is an abused ex-wife of the victim. The other author’s recent book describes a murder done with—you’ll never guess—a carpenter’s nail gun. What police detective could resist arresting her?
Our beloved cast of characters, familiar from the previous books, works through challenging, pleasant, and satisfying events in their lives interwoven with the emergence of new clues leading eventually to the real murderer. Making this happen is a real challenge to most authors. For the series to go on for many books, the characters need to move forward in their lives, endure happy and sad changes, and grow and develop. In some books from less talented authors, their efforts to do this get in the way of the real story and frustrate me. Often, I truly don’t care what’s going on with the sister or other relative, the best friend, or other peripheral character. It seems to be annoying filler. Not so here. Susan Furlong is a master at making us care about those characters.
Those who could be nominated for Best Supporting Character include Lila’s mother, who as The Amazing Althea reads tarot cards; Lila’s son Trey, who has a change of heart in his first year of college; best friend Makayla, the local barista, who is also planning her wedding; and the whole crew at the literary agency. There’s also an interesting bit of byplay with the agency’s big boss adopting a problem dog that upsets the agency’s long-time cat mascot and other more human folks.
The balance between these subplots and our primary concern, the murder, is exquisitely maintained such that we never notice that the author isn’t talking about the murder for a while. All of it is interesting, fresh, and natural. This balance is one of the hallmarks of a truly well-crafted story; it sets this story head and shoulders above most of the competition.
Then finally at the end, all of the disparate threads come together in a satisfying revelation of who done it. The solution of this story has a different feel from most cozy mysteries. I can’t tell you exactly why without spoiling the story for you, so you’ll have to take my word for it and maybe think about it a little when you get to that point in the story yourself. I can tell you that I really like the difference.
When I finished the book, I sat back with a sigh of happy satisfaction. How nice to learn what’s been going on with Lila, her family, and her friends. How nice to have a series of problems large and small solved with ingenuity and compassion. How nice to have the guilty securely in jail. How nice to know that in a year or so, there will be another installment in this series.
Get the book. Read it. Then you can share in that happy sigh of satisfaction at the end. What more could you ask?
(This review originally written for BookPleasures.com and was done after receiving a free copy from the author, which did not affect my opinion in any way.)
February 2, 2016
Wedding bells are in the air in Inspiration Valley, North Carolina. The Novel Idea Literary Agency has sponsored a bridal expo, highlighting various vendors, but also some of their best authors. Lila hopes that she will have the opportunity to pick up a few ideas for own upcoming nuptials along with promoting her clients, but things go awry when she finds local handyman Chuck face down in a wedding cake. It looks like her reputation as a “murder magnet” is well deserved. She is horrified to learn that the manner of death mimics one of the agency’s author’s plots, and more than one of the agency’s authors had ties to the victim. Lila and her coworkers kick it into high gear to solve the crime and save both the fair and the agency’s reputation.
With its fresh take on the murder, complex motivations, and a surprise perpetrator, Off the Books is the best book yet in the Novel Idea Mystery series. Lila is a likable, intelligent heroine with a dream job. She, her coworkers, family, and friends are all well developed, dimensional characters who continue to grow and evolve with each book. Lila faces real life situations that readers can relate to with maturity and a level head. Lucy Arlington (an alias of Susan Furlong) writes with an easy, flowing style, but it does not lack suspense. I was compelled to keep reading to see how the plot threads unraveled and get to the climactic end.
I really enjoyed Off the Books and eagerly await the next installment in the series. I recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries, especially those with a “bookish” emphasis.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are my own.
With its fresh take on the murder, complex motivations, and a surprise perpetrator, Off the Books is the best book yet in the Novel Idea Mystery series. Lila is a likable, intelligent heroine with a dream job. She, her coworkers, family, and friends are all well developed, dimensional characters who continue to grow and evolve with each book. Lila faces real life situations that readers can relate to with maturity and a level head. Lucy Arlington (an alias of Susan Furlong) writes with an easy, flowing style, but it does not lack suspense. I was compelled to keep reading to see how the plot threads unraveled and get to the climactic end.
I really enjoyed Off the Books and eagerly await the next installment in the series. I recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries, especially those with a “bookish” emphasis.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are my own.
January 22, 2016
This is the fifth book in The Novel Idea Mystery series by Lucy Arlington and it is amazing! I love this series and didn't want to put it down. We are back in Inspiration Valley where wedding fever is all around. Novel Idea Literary Agency is hosting a bridal expo full of their authors and all the trimmings including cakes, dresses, and murder??? Yep, the "murder magnet" Lila finds a body face down in a wedding cake. Then to make it even worse she finds out that one of her author friends is the prime suspect! Everyone is not only in bridal mode, they are in murder solving mode. Bentley is determined to clear her client and is having all the agents keep their eyes and ears open. She wants to hear of any leads to help her author as well as the reputation of the agency. Sean, Lila's fiancé and police detective is not happy with her being involved in the investigation and asks her to stay out. Will Lila stay clear of the case or will she find out more than just wedding ideas?
In every book that I have read by Lucy Arlington/Susan Furlong I have loved the characters. Each book in the series delves deeper into each of the characters and it makes them feel like family. I was shocked at the end of the book. I didn't see it coming! I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Can't wait to see what Lila and the agency get into next.
I recommend this book to all those out there that like a great mystery.
In every book that I have read by Lucy Arlington/Susan Furlong I have loved the characters. Each book in the series delves deeper into each of the characters and it makes them feel like family. I was shocked at the end of the book. I didn't see it coming! I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Can't wait to see what Lila and the agency get into next.
I recommend this book to all those out there that like a great mystery.
January 18, 2016
If you have been following this series, you are going to love this book too. If you have never read this series I encourage you to pick up a copy of this book. I promise you will not be disappointed. Here you have a murder, but it is none like you have ever thought about. It is a very clever idea by the author for the setting of this murder. This is what you will thoroughly enjoy. I like the part where it takes Lila and the staff at Novel Idea to solve this murder. Now that is teamwork even though it has put a little damper on the wedding expo. Then you have a robbery at the local coffee shop that puts the icing on the cake to solving this murder. Then it blends in a wedding for Lila. That is what I like about this book. You have these series of events that ties one another together. Lucy really knows how to tie all of it together. Unlike some book series the characters change from book to book. I will commend this series. The author has stayed with the same setting and the same characters. I love that in a book series. What is sad when you get to the last chapter in the book. I thought I want to read some more. This book is very impressive. If you don’t pick you up a copy of this, there is something wrong with you and you don’t know a good story when you see it.
January 18, 2016
I was thrilled to be back in Inspiration Valley with Lila and the gang! Her literary agency is hosting a bridal event, complete with cakes, authors, and books. When Lila discovers the body of the local handyman, killed in a very unusual way ( I giggled, but that's ok, right, Its a cozy mystery, and they are supposed to be fun!), she jumps right into the investigation when one of the agency's authors becomes a suspect. Poor Lila, she already has a reputation around town as being a "murder magnet", can she help her new author friend before she ends up behind bars?
This book is full of surprises!!! I was completely shocked at the end, I never would have guessed what happens. I had so much fun reading it, I finished it in two nights. I think this series gets better and better with each new book. I am already looking forward to the next one, I cant wait to see what Lila gets herself into next time!
This book is full of surprises!!! I was completely shocked at the end, I never would have guessed what happens. I had so much fun reading it, I finished it in two nights. I think this series gets better and better with each new book. I am already looking forward to the next one, I cant wait to see what Lila gets herself into next time!
February 26, 2016
Inspiration Valley is one of my favorite fictional places to visit, and I was thrilled to get back there in OFF THE BOOKS, #5 in the Novel Idea series. Lila Wilkins is a down-to-earth, relatable protagonist/amateur sleuth, and she’s lucky to have a book nerd’s dream job — literary agent.
Poor Lila, unfortunately, is known around town as the “murder magnet” for her uncanny ability to stumble across murder victims. Lila finds the latest victim during the craziness of a bridal expo, hosted by the literary agency she works for.
I enjoyed OFF THE BOOKS very much. This was a difficult mystery to figure out, which makes it more fun. The whodunit was as surprising as the why!
Author Susan Furlong took over the writing duties of Novel Idea starting with book four, and I think she’s done a fantastic job with this smart and entertaining series.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Poor Lila, unfortunately, is known around town as the “murder magnet” for her uncanny ability to stumble across murder victims. Lila finds the latest victim during the craziness of a bridal expo, hosted by the literary agency she works for.
I enjoyed OFF THE BOOKS very much. This was a difficult mystery to figure out, which makes it more fun. The whodunit was as surprising as the why!
Author Susan Furlong took over the writing duties of Novel Idea starting with book four, and I think she’s done a fantastic job with this smart and entertaining series.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2017
Another "novel" plot, but this one was too transparent as to who the murderer was. I hope the next one in the series provides a more complicated plot.
February 3, 2016
Lila Wilkins has the unfortunate nickname of 'murder magnet' in the picturesque town of Inspiration Valley, North Carolina. Having stumbled upon several murder scenarios, Lila would much prefer to focus on her job as literary agent at the Novel Idea agency and plan her upcoming wedding to her handsome police Detective Sean. But there would not be much of a story if Lila, her co-workers, and family were not thrust into another mystery while the agency hosts a week-long festival. This year's theme? Weddings!!!
When a handyman is found violently murdered and one of the agency's authors is the focus of the police investigation Lila and company become entwined in another entertaining tale. Weaving established characters with new, author Lucy Arlington keeps the reader interested and guessing until the very end. The fifth installment of the Novel Idea series does not disappoint!
When a handyman is found violently murdered and one of the agency's authors is the focus of the police investigation Lila and company become entwined in another entertaining tale. Weaving established characters with new, author Lucy Arlington keeps the reader interested and guessing until the very end. The fifth installment of the Novel Idea series does not disappoint!
January 21, 2016
I have been waiting (not so patiently, I might add) for the newest adventures of Lila and the Novel Idea Literary Agency to come out and Lucy Arlington didn't disappoint. I loved this book. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I loved the way she portrays Lila as very human...she's not perfect, but we wouldn't want her to be. I love the development of the secondary characters in the series and the way you realize that even though Lila has only been there for a short time, her friends have known each other for longer. It was a fantastic continuation of the series and I can't wait for the next one!
February 2, 2016
Off The Books is another hit in this enjoyable series. Fans of intelligent and well written mysteries will love this one. The characters are wonderful and fully developed, even the minor ones. Going back to Inspiration Valley, North Carolina is like visiting with good friends. Lila Wilkins is an intelligent protagonist. Her friends and coworkers are a diverse group - from her fortune telling mother to her type-A boss. A wedding expo is the site of most of the action in this one. Enjoy this incredible new release, then do yourself a favor and read the first ones as well!!
August 26, 2016
The 5th in her Novel Idea books. The book agency is throwing a big bridal expo, and Lila and Makayla figure they will find a lot of ideas for their own weddings. Big downer...Lila once again stumbles across a body in the kitchen, a man dead of a nail (from a nail gun) in his head. One of their own authors is suspected, and everyone tries to help clear her. A new animal character in the way of a dog named Olive is introduced as a temporary pet of Bentley's. Will the ensuing commotion have Ms. Crump leaving the agency?
January 29, 2016
I love visiting Inspiration Valley and catching up with Lila and her coworkers, friends and family. Off The Books was another great cozy read! Lucy Arlington creates characters that I'd enjoy having as friends.
March 4, 2016
Reading Off the Books by Lucy Arlington was like returning home to visit friends. As always it was full of activity from page one. I felt like we were apart of the Novel Idea team through out the book as if I were apart of the story actively not just along for the ride!
February 5, 2016
Great book. Love this series. Can't wait for the next one.
June 9, 2016
An enjoyable read while on the bus. A predictable plot, so there is no need to pay close attention and miss your stop.
February 25, 2024
Literary agent Lila Wilkins is excited to be part of the bridal expo that her agency, Novel Idea Literary Agency, has arranged to host. The plan is for several authors who have wedding or bridal themed books to have booths, along with the more traditional offerings of caterers, photographers, etc. Things are going well until a local handyman is found murdered behind the scenes, and the police are convinced that one of the authors is the culprit. Lila's boss, Bentley, goes into damage control mode, and she asks Lila and the other agents to do some subtle sleuthing in an effort to prove their author is innocent. Lila knows there are far more suspects because it seemed everyone had a grudge with the victim. Now all she needs to do is prove it.
In addition to the main plot, there were several subplots going on involving Lila's fiancé Sean, her son Trey, her mother Althea, and a naughty little dog named Olive. I'm tempted to say it was too much, but even though Lila was being pulled in several different directions the plot was never confusing. I couldn't help but notice that none of the men in the story seemed to be doing Lila any favors. Her fiancé has yet to give her a ring and won't commit to a date, her son has dropped out of college and didn't tell her, her mother's new "boyfriend" accused Lila of the murder, another agent (Jude) keeps aggressively flirting with her (and her lady bits like it), while Zach (another agent) reminds me of that coked-out idiot in Die Hard (the one who got himself killed for being a coked-out idiot). It's just...can she have one decent male in her life? Meh.
I wasn't all that enamored of this story. It was okay, but I'm not sure I'd seek out others in the series. Three stars.
In addition to the main plot, there were several subplots going on involving Lila's fiancé Sean, her son Trey, her mother Althea, and a naughty little dog named Olive. I'm tempted to say it was too much, but even though Lila was being pulled in several different directions the plot was never confusing. I couldn't help but notice that none of the men in the story seemed to be doing Lila any favors. Her fiancé has yet to give her a ring and won't commit to a date, her son has dropped out of college and didn't tell her, her mother's new "boyfriend" accused Lila of the murder, another agent (Jude) keeps aggressively flirting with her (and her lady bits like it), while Zach (another agent) reminds me of that coked-out idiot in Die Hard (the one who got himself killed for being a coked-out idiot). It's just...can she have one decent male in her life? Meh.
I wasn't all that enamored of this story. It was okay, but I'm not sure I'd seek out others in the series. Three stars.
July 31, 2023
I like shopping on my shelves of books, aka Mt Git'r'Read, that have been waiting to be read. I made a stack of books on the nightstand and have been choosing from the stack as the mood for a particular genre hits. I was in the mood for a cozy.
I like this series and I'm sad that this is the last one in it. There is one more that I haven't read yet, so I can hold on to the premise for a bit longer. I reckon that since this was the last in the series, there were some things to tie up as well as present a nifty story and mystery. I was startled with the whodunit but it made absolute sense and was perfectly done.
The loose ties aren't really loose so much as relationships explained and character development looks completed. I like Lila and how she's portrayed. She's a mother, a daughter, a woman with a job she loves. She wants to do the best for herself, her son, her mother, her fiance, and the book publishing company she works for. It's a juggle and she is human. She's unhappy with her mother, her son, her fiance, aspects of her job, but she listens to her friends and other loved ones and works through things. I like seeing that.
I can absolutely recommend this book, series and author.
I like this series and I'm sad that this is the last one in it. There is one more that I haven't read yet, so I can hold on to the premise for a bit longer. I reckon that since this was the last in the series, there were some things to tie up as well as present a nifty story and mystery. I was startled with the whodunit but it made absolute sense and was perfectly done.
The loose ties aren't really loose so much as relationships explained and character development looks completed. I like Lila and how she's portrayed. She's a mother, a daughter, a woman with a job she loves. She wants to do the best for herself, her son, her mother, her fiance, and the book publishing company she works for. It's a juggle and she is human. She's unhappy with her mother, her son, her fiance, aspects of her job, but she listens to her friends and other loved ones and works through things. I like seeing that.
I can absolutely recommend this book, series and author.
September 20, 2022
Its beautiful flowers, tasty wedding cake samples, satin and lace bridal dresses and wedding planners with ideas galore in Inspiration Valley North Carolina when the Novel Idea Literary Agency brings together vendors from all over the state and couples them with some of their bridal book and mystery authors for a wedding themed week.
For literary agent Lila Wilkins it’s a win-win situation. The event presents an opportunity to introduce some of her authors/clients to the public as well as get ideas for her own approaching marriage to the local detective. What could possibly go wrong? How about finding the local handyman murdered. Seems that the victim was an unpleasant fellow who did shoddy work and who had a “connection” to several of the agencies authors as well as some of the local business proprietors.
Suspects abound, keeping Lila on her toes as she attempts to deflect suspicion from her clients, who seem to occupy the top positions on the suspect list.
Liberally peppered with an interesting supporting cast, OFF THE BOOKS offers a perfect beach read for cozy aficionados.
For literary agent Lila Wilkins it’s a win-win situation. The event presents an opportunity to introduce some of her authors/clients to the public as well as get ideas for her own approaching marriage to the local detective. What could possibly go wrong? How about finding the local handyman murdered. Seems that the victim was an unpleasant fellow who did shoddy work and who had a “connection” to several of the agencies authors as well as some of the local business proprietors.
Suspects abound, keeping Lila on her toes as she attempts to deflect suspicion from her clients, who seem to occupy the top positions on the suspect list.
Liberally peppered with an interesting supporting cast, OFF THE BOOKS offers a perfect beach read for cozy aficionados.
May 29, 2017
Lots of subplots a gruesome murder, and a misunderstood pooch made this a fun and exciting read. The murder was done just the way it was in some of the books by authors of the Novel Idea Agency. The underlying theme of domestic violence was thought-provoking. I thought the "Booked for a Wedding" them was unique, especially since some of the "wedding" books mentioned in the event were murder mysteries. I could definitely understand the reason for the murder! What a surprise about Mama and Trey! Can't wait to see these characters develop. Will the next story be about a murder at a double wedding??
August 20, 2017
The Novel Idea Literary Agency has planned a wedding themed week featuring their authors' best bridal books as well as North Carolina's greatest vendors. Lila is thrilled because she can also use the event to plan her own upcoming wedding. However, Lila discovers a murdered man and must use her sleuthing skills to find the culprit who did the deed. In addition to trying to solve a murder, Lila watches as her boss, Bentley, decides to foster a dog named Olivia who provides her own brand of intrigue.
My only problem with this book is that it's evidently the end of the series but it left some questions unanswered such as Lila's relationship with Sean. Their future is mentioned but it doesn't go into whether or not he breaks her heart as Lila's mother predicted.
My only problem with this book is that it's evidently the end of the series but it left some questions unanswered such as Lila's relationship with Sean. Their future is mentioned but it doesn't go into whether or not he breaks her heart as Lila's mother predicted.
July 21, 2020
The crew at Novel Literary Agency is setting up for a Wedding Expo. Amateur sleuth and dubbed "murder magnet", Lila Wilkins, gets into the thick of it when a towns member is murdered and agency authors are accused of the murder.
Will the crew help solve the mystery in time? Will Lila's police officer boyfriend and she get wedding bell ideas from the Expo? Does the Amazing Althea find love at long last? So much more.
This final installment in the Novel Idea series concludes this cozy mystery / Hallmark movie style series.
Will the crew help solve the mystery in time? Will Lila's police officer boyfriend and she get wedding bell ideas from the Expo? Does the Amazing Althea find love at long last? So much more.
This final installment in the Novel Idea series concludes this cozy mystery / Hallmark movie style series.
February 7, 2024
I knew that the series switched authors after the first book. I wondered how obvious it would be. By the end of the first chapter I had a bad feeling which proved correct. The finely nuanced supporting characters had become stereotypes, and annoying ones at that. The friendship and respect was gone. Had I not already known and loved the characters, I would have pegged this as a pretty standard, unmemorable cozy and been done with it. As it is, it registers as a dreadful disappointment. I'll read the last one written by the original author duo but I'll pass on any others.
May 31, 2024
Literary agent Lila Wilkins is busy along with her colleagues with a Bridal and Book expo when Lila discovers the body of the handyman called to repair a freezer at the expo site. What's worse, two of the agency's popular authors are under suspicion for the murder.
Between that whole thing, dealing with her son Trey's decision to leave college, and her boss Bentley taking on a high-energy untrained rescue puppy, Lila doesn't know if she's coming or going.
The identity of the killer was a real surprise to me. Wasi not paying attention, or was it that well hidden?
Between that whole thing, dealing with her son Trey's decision to leave college, and her boss Bentley taking on a high-energy untrained rescue puppy, Lila doesn't know if she's coming or going.
The identity of the killer was a real surprise to me. Wasi not paying attention, or was it that well hidden?
November 21, 2024
Loved this series. But I love most of the series by this author (Ellery Adams co-writing with another author). Yes, I think before I retired (and now read a lot more), I would have loved to be a Literary Agent. Getting to read all day would be the dream job, just like it is for Lila. Of course, I would prefer to just read mysteries rather than finding dead bodies, trying to solve cases, being threatened with murder! Armchair detective here; and it's a good thing because I rarely have the culprit pegged!
March 25, 2018
Another good installment in this series! I enjoyed the wedding theme of this one. Lila is back with her "family" and this time they all decide to solve the crime together all while putting on a wedding expo/author signing. It was nice how it all came together. I did figure out the killer early on (although I didn't guess the right reason). There was a little twist at the end that I didn't see coming. Good book and I hope there is more! I like the dog idea at the end ☺
January 23, 2020
Lila is getting ready with some other authors and friends for the Bridal Show that will be going on. She represents some of the authors and get them ready for their preview and help sale their books. In the meantime a person is found dead in a cake. So while they are looking for the person who killed the person and getting the Bridal Show Running in the meantime. Lucy does a good job of throwing a mystery along with a Bridal Show.
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