Third Time's a Crime

A Love Or Money Mystery #3

by Diana Orgain

Ex-detective Georgia Thornton returns to reality TV in the third mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of A Second Chance at Murder—

POOL YOUR RESOURCES...

After two hit reality TV shows brought ex-detective Georgia Thornton into America’s living rooms, audiences can’t get enough of her quest for love and justice. Now producers have come up with an all-new show set in a haunted castle in Golden, California. Georgia and nine other contestants will need to solve the mystery of a young woman who disappeared at the castle in 1960.

Except there’s one rather substantial problem waiting for everyone when they arrive: a groundskeeper is found drowned at the bottom of the castle’s empty pool. Now Georgia and the other contestants will need to work together, because there’s a different sort of game afoot—and it’s not one they can afford to lose...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Romance, Cozy, Fiction

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 3, 2017

About the author

Diana Orgain is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Maternal Instincts Mystery Series. She is also the Author of the Love or Money Mystery series and The Roundup Crew Mysteries (Yappy Hour and Trigger Yappy).
Diana is the New York Times Bestselling co-author of the Scrapbooking Mystery Series with Laura Childs.
Diana's latest release is 4 Sleuths and a Bachelorette, a fun collaboration with USA Today Bestselling Authors, Leslie Langtry, Traci Andrighetti, and Arlene Mcfarlane. Right now she's working on the next release in the Maternal Instincts Mystery, Murder Comes Crawling.
To keep up to date with the latest releases visit Diana at www.dianaorgain.com

Series:
* Maternal Instincts Mystery

Reviews

[Lisa Ks Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reality TV is at its best worst can be found once again in the latest installment of the Love or Money Mysteries.

People . . . step away from your televisions and read a book! A mystery book! A mystery book about . . . well . . . television!  Trust me when I tell you, reading about a TV show is even more entertaining than watching one, as long as it’s written by author Diana Orgain.

THIRD TIME’S A CRIME is book three in the Love or Money Mysteries. And let me tell you, the third time certainly is the charm!

I watch Big Brother and Survivor, but other really shows don’t really appeal to me. Even the two I mentioned don’t thrill me. Now, if we could lift the show, Cold Case in the Castle, out of THIRD TIME’S A CRIME, I’d be glued to my TV. Diana Orgain captured the feel of reality TV, as well as giving readers a behind the scenes look that felt so believable! She masterfully blended the cold case in the story with the present death and investigation, and delivered a wonderful cozy mystery that readers with truly enjoy.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Georgia and Scott are appearing on their 3rd reality show, Cold Case in the Castle, where the task is to solve an old murder in a creepy, old, dilapidated castle. Each day a couple is eliminated and hopefully at the end the winning couple solves the cold case. Of course the producers never imagined some new murders would take over the show and place the contestants in danger. Georgia finds herself trying to solve them all.

Fans of realty shows will be delighted with this series. In the first book, A First Date with Death, it was like The Bachelorette. The second, A Second Chance at Murder, was like The Amazing Race, this time it is like the short lived series, Whodunnit?, with a little bit of Ghost Hunters thrown in.

Diana Orgain has given cozy readers another fun story. At first I was a little tentative about the setting but this mansion/castle with its interesting and at times dangerous floors, rooms, and hiding spaces turned out to be a perfect place. The grounds also added some interesting areas.

She has brought back Becca, Cheryl, Kyle, and Georgia’s father, Gordon, and introduced a variety of new characters in the cast and crew. We also meet the head of the historical society who is not happy to have all these people traipsing around “her” property. Each person’s personality comes through clearly and realistically.

In addition to the murder mysteries to solve, Scott and Georgia are having a bit of trouble in their relationship, Becca meets someone new, and Cheryl and Gordon are still an item.

I really enjoy the way Ms. Orgain writes. All these books in this series have a brisk pace and there is always something happening. This one was a little bit shorter but readers are not shortchanged. She has packed these pages full. She takes us behind the scenes of reality television and beyond in a refreshing way.

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Georgia Thornton is back for a third round on a reality TV show – this time working with her boyfriend Scott to solve a cold case. The castle where this show is set is super spooky, but things get very scary when Georgia finds a dead body in the empty swimming pool. Even weirder, the victim drowned. What’s going on?

Between the reality TV show and the case, there is always something happening, although I did feel the other happenings overwhelmed the main mystery a bit at times. Still, the mystery builds to a logical conclusion. The author does a great job of helping us keep all the characters straight while growing Georgia, Scott, and some of the other series regulars. And the reality TV setting is just lots of fun.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Main character gets cast in a murder solving reality TV show.

Read my review at A Cozy Girl Reads.

[Alyssa White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the idea behind this instalment on the series, but it ran slow for me. That made disappointed me because I really love this collection. Overall, the book was really good and I loved the feel it had. I wish there was more to it.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Georgia Thornton is a former San Francisco police officer and nobody is more surprised than she is that she has become a reality TV star. She and her boyfriend Scott are competing against others, ranging from a ghost hunter to an FBI profiler, to solve a cold case. This newest reality show on which Georgia will appear is set in a haunted castle in Golden, California. The goal is to solve the case involving Jane Reiner, who disappeared from the castle in 1960. However, before the competition even begins, a current murder adds an immediate sense of danger for Georgia and the other contestants. Even as Georgia deals with a strain in the relationship between her and Scott with constant cameras following her steps, she is more determined than ever to solve the new murder as well as find out what really happened to Jane Reiner.

"Third Time’s a Crime" is author Diana Orgain’s third book in the "Love or Money" mysteries. I’ve enjoyed reading all three books, but new readers will be able to jump right in and enjoy this installment without reading the prior books. While not quite as good as the first book in the series, this is a strong installment and is enjoyable on its own as well as for those who have been following the entire series. One thing that has improved as the books have continued is that Georgia is happier, which makes her more likeable. She has gotten over the shock of losing her job and is getting used to the peculiarities of reality TV and the ups and downs of being a reality “star.” Although things are less than perfect with Scott, she is happier in her personal life as a whole and gets along well with her father and her best friend Becca who keeps getting her mixed up in the various realty shows throughout the series.

The solving of a cold case provides a unique take on the reality show premise of the series and getting to see all of the contestants try to out-do each other in solving the decades-old case is suspenseful and entertaining. I enjoyed watching Georgia try to solve the case, as well as deal with some underhanded competitors as she seems to be getting closer to a solution. Georgia’s background as an ex-cop is a perfect fit for the reality show featured in this book. It’s interesting to see Georgia and Scott working together on the case, while trying to keep their personal life hidden from the other contestants and the cameras. I love the surprising twists that occur on the reality show within the book as well as in the overall storyline, and I found the conclusions on both to be very satisfying. I recommend this book to fans of the author or someone looking for a unique take on the cozy mystery.

This review was originally written for Smitten by Books blog and website. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

[SJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mushy and fake. Ugh!

Poorly written and easy to guess. Not good. I would not recommend this book. I won't be reading any of the other books. So lame!

[Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ghost ridden castle – five couples are asked to stay in to solve a 30 year old murder. The couples include: Dr. Arch (a forensic archaeologist) and his partner, Karen Kenley (an FBI profiler). An Ivy college historian, Martha and her brother a priest, Father Gabriel. Professional ghost hunter, Jack and his partner Bert, a psychic. A docent of the castle, Ashley and her partner, Jessica whom is the great niece of the murder victim. Finally, there is Georgia and Scott; whom have won several previous shows and are struggling with their relationship.

While trying to solve the old murder, some new ones happen. Will Georgia and Scott survive and find out who has committed the murders? Where will their relationship go during the process? Do you have the guts to stay in a haunted castle with old and new murders? Great read! Best in the series so far!!!

[Sapphyria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Georgia and Scott are now part of a new show set in a haunted California castle. All the contestants will be trying to solve the 1960 disappearance of a young woman. As the production begins and each person is sent out on a quest, the body of the groundskeeper is found dead in the empty pool. Between the squabbling of the contestants, the red herrings, and the intentional misguiding, something foul is afoot. The contestants and the crew must work together to figure out who among them is involved before another life is lost.

I'll be honest, Third Time's a Crime is not my favorite of the three. There was too much drama between Georgia and Scott, especially since this appears to be the final book in the series. The mystery itself was fine. I enjoyed trying to figure out exactly what was going on and how the death of the girl from 1960 tied into the death of the groundskeeper. The author certainly did a good job rounding all of that out.

The author presents a solid mystery with solid characters. While this is book 3 of a series, a reader could hop into the series with this book and not be completely lost. I do, however, recommend beginning the series with book 1. It's too bad there isn't a 4th book.

[Diane Thiel]

Did any one proof read this novel? I read all three in the series because I enjoyed the whole previous baby series!

In the second book I also experienced this issue but thought I messed up on my Kindle so on this third book I paid attention. One 3 different occasions in the book it repeated several chapters before continuing on with the story. It’s like someone did a copy and paste and stuck previous chapters further along in the story so I’d have to skip through until the story restarted from where it left off. There were also many misspelled words! Please get a proofreader and not be in a rush to release a book before it’s been proofed as a finished product.

[C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light, enjoyable distraction. Somewhat disconcerting to realize that events that happened in the sixties are now far enough in the dim and distant past to count as the background for gothics/mysteries/what have you.
Looking forward to living long enough to read a novel in which events that took place in the unfathomable past known as the 80s are key to the crime. Ha.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series, but this third installment fell flat for me. I have never been enthralled with Scott and this book felt rushed and soulless. I think that the idea of cozy mysteries is more appealing than the reality, because these books all just feel the same. I would prefer a little more ingenuity and uniqueness.

[Lisa Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like this series. It’s a great cozy mystery even though I knew who the killer was from the beginning. What I didn’t like was the relationship that was a mess due to the accident from the previous story. I didn’t buy it. They were wishy-washy and distracted from the story. The mystery was great. The relationship is not very believable.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...


Third Time’s a Crime
A Love or Money Mystery, Book #3
By Diana Orgain
ISBN 9780425271704
Author’s Website: dianaorgain.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Synopsis:

After two hit reality TV shows brought ex-detective Georgia Thornton into America’s living rooms, audiences can’t get enough of her quest for love and justice. Now producers have come up with an all-new show set in a haunted castle in Golden, California. Georgia and nine other contestants will need to solve the mystery of a teenage girl who disappeared at the castle in 1968.

Except there’s one rather substantial problem waiting for everyone when they arrive: one of the groundskeepers is found drowned at the bottom of the castle’s empty pool. Now Georgia and the other contestants will need to work together, because there’s a different sort of game afoot—and it’s not one they can afford to lose.

Review:

Third Time’s A Crime is, in my opinion, the best so far in Diana Orgain’s series, A Love or Money Mystery. Diana has another hit with this setting and the mysteries within. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Georgia and Scott figure out who the bad guy/ gal, especially when it appears that somebody is going after Georgia and her loved ones. The author’s description of the setting, including the beauty of the area and the gardens contrasted with the dark, cold interior of the castle, the living quarters, kitchen, “solitary”, and the corridors and stairs has enough detail to be enticing.

Georgia and Scott have been invited to participate in a new reality TV show, Cold Case in the Castle, that is filmed on location in a haunted castle that was originally a reform school for boys. Georgia and Scott are one of five pairs of people who are attempting to solve a mystery from about 50 years earlier, the murder of a young woman who was the librarian at the castle. She was one of only a handful of women who worked and lived there. Other pairs include a forensic anthropologist and an FBI profiler who were well known on the show, Hunting Bones. one pair includes a priest, one a psychic who looked like a lumberjack, and one the niece of the murdered librarian.

As with other reality programs, the couples rely on the votes of their fans; one couple would be eliminated per day. Some had fans from previous shows, such as the couple from Hunting Bones, as well as Scott and Georgia. As the games begin, they have to surrender their phones, tablets, and laptops. Each pair would receive one item to help them on the search, and they could form alliances with other teams to maximize use of whatever item they had.

The creep-out factor began before the filming did with an impending storm and hundreds of blackbirds flocking to the property from the ocean, crashing into the castle, breaking windows. Georgia found the body of a groundskeeper is found in the long-empty, abandoned pool. She didn’t share her vision with anyone in which Jane came seeking her help to get justice for her murder. It just gets better and better, and could be a setting for one of Scott’s horror stories!

The characters are so well-defined that they could step off the pages and into the castle. The author’s skill with dialog, wit and humor shine and highlight our favorite and our one-time characters. The other four teams of folks on Cold Case are each uniquely eccentric: at times they are more competitive than a tennis player at Wimbledon and at other times as creepy as the castle seemed to be. Yet they all fit together into the whole of the novel, each contributing to the sometimes wacky world of Hollywood filming.

The stakes are higher than ever for Georgia. If she and Scott are able to stay in the game through to the final two couples, a big-time reality show, Global Tracker, has expressed interest in hiring her. If they were prepared to make an offer to her, they would be equally interested in the team with the forensic anthropologist and the FBI profiler, giving Georgia a secondary interest in solving the crime. To her credit, her primary interest was to get justice for the Jane.

The plot keeps a reader’s attention; it drew me in from the first page through to the end. There were more twists and turns than the staircases, bringing continual change to the landscape of the story. There is more than one mystery, adding to the intrigue at any given time. Does Jane’s spirit – or those of boys who died there – haunt the castle? Father Gabriel seems to think so, as he wants to release all the spirits trapped inside, even though it conflicts with his purpose of being there. While I might appreciate seeing a castle like this in the daylight, when I think about sleeping there at night, I am very content with being an armchair sleuth! I did not figure out who the bad guy/ gal was, but found the ending and resolutions to be very satisfying. I highly recommend Third Time’s a Crime and the first two books in the series to anyone who enjoys creepy settings and reality TV with a bit of romance in their cozy mysteries.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read, better than the second in the series, for me at least. This time the reality show is solving a real murder mystery from some years back. Of course not everyone is who they look like and not everyone plays fair but Georgia manages to work it out.

[Sarah Sonn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this as well as the first two. Don't like reality TV, so not sure why I read this series. This book seemed to be missing character connections, and was all over the place. Just didn't connect.

[Shirley Hindman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story was fun. Read on Kindle. Chapter 6 was repeated and found typo errors in chapters 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, and 17. Is this common when reading books on Kindle? If printed in books this way, may need a new proof reader prior to printing.

[Susan Moxley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story that keeps you guessing to the very end of the book.

[Patricia Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the writing stilted and plot unrealistic...especially since the theme was a Reality Show. It was o.k. to read when stuck in an airport.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. It's a fun twist on the murder genre where it's all done in game show format. Very fun.

[Meredith Gibraltar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting plot. The end was too abrupt.

[Monica W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. I've read the other 2 in this series and this was the final one. Very good mystery, fast read.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book. Another murder mystery. I think the author had some good parts, and some parts that I wondered about. I liked this series because I learned some new things along the way.

[Jenell Klinedinst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the characters, love the story. Glad Georgia and Scott stayed together.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fluff...but it is the darkest days of the year with no presents till Valentine's Day, so a piece of fluff is just a bit of alright.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really 4.5 ⭐️ but I rounded up

[Karen Fan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my fave in the series, but the mystery portion was solid; zippy and plenty of red herrings.

[Broughps · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice stories, but forgettable.

[Janine Miki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. Characters okay but not engaging or interesting enough to read the other books in the series.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5