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Writer's Apprentice Mystery #2
Death in Dark Blue
An aspiring suspense author finds herself writing mysteries by day and solving them by night in the second Writer s Apprentice Mystery by the author of A Dark and Stormy Murder and the Undercover Dish Mysteries.
In the quaint town of Blue Lake, Indiana, Lena London is settling into her dream job, but someone is making her life a nightmare
Things are beginning to go right for Lena. She s got a new job assisting suspense novelist and friend, Camilla Graham. She lives rent-free in Camilla s beautiful, Gothic house. She even has a handsome new boyfriend, Sam West.
After being under attack by the media and his neighbors, Sam has recently been cleared of suspicion for murder. Journalists and townsfolk alike are remorseful, and one blogger would even like to apologize to him in person. But when she s found dead behind Sam s house, Lena must dodge paparazzi as she unravels the many mysteries that threaten to darken the skies of her little town and her newfound love with Sam."
In the quaint town of Blue Lake, Indiana, Lena London is settling into her dream job, but someone is making her life a nightmare
Things are beginning to go right for Lena. She s got a new job assisting suspense novelist and friend, Camilla Graham. She lives rent-free in Camilla s beautiful, Gothic house. She even has a handsome new boyfriend, Sam West.
After being under attack by the media and his neighbors, Sam has recently been cleared of suspicion for murder. Journalists and townsfolk alike are remorseful, and one blogger would even like to apologize to him in person. But when she s found dead behind Sam s house, Lena must dodge paparazzi as she unravels the many mysteries that threaten to darken the skies of her little town and her newfound love with Sam."
276 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 2, 2017
194 people are currently reading
1412 people want to read
About the author
Julia Buckley
31 books800 followersJulia Buckley is a Chicago-area writer. She has written three mystery series with Berkley Prime Crime, including the best-selling Writer's Apprentice Series, which Mystery Scene calls "engaging, enjoyable, and surprising," while Kirkus dubs it "pleasantly old-fashioned." The Library Journal called Buckley "a writer to watch."
Buckley is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Chicago Writers Association. She blogs about writing and mysteries at Mysterious Musings, where she has interviewed almost 200 other mystery writers about their work.
She teaches high school English and enjoys reading, playing Words With Friends, and spending time with her husband and two sons, along with their menagerie of animals.
Buckley is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Chicago Writers Association. She blogs about writing and mysteries at Mysterious Musings, where she has interviewed almost 200 other mystery writers about their work.
She teaches high school English and enjoys reading, playing Words With Friends, and spending time with her husband and two sons, along with their menagerie of animals.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews
November 2, 2019
Death in Dark Blue by Julia Buckley is a 2017 Berkley publication.
Good, solid mystery with a side of romance!
I have been trying to fit this second installment of the 'Writer’s Apprentice' series into my reading schedule for a very long time. After realizing there were now four books in the series, I thought I'd better get busy before I fall too far behind!
As the story opens, things are really looking up for Lena. She’s living rent free in a gorgeous Gothic mansion, working as an apprentice for her favorite author, Camilla Graham, and her new boyfriend, Sam West, was finally cleared of murdering his estranged wife, Victoria.
As it turns out, Victoria is alive, but she’s still missing. Sam must find Victoria so they can properly divorce, but as time passes, it becomes clear that something isn’t quite right about Victoria’s disappearance and Lena is convinced she's in danger.
With some members of the press feeling contrite after accusing Sam of murder, one blogger, in particular, has offered to travel to Blue Lake and give Sam a personal apology face to face. No one believed she would really do that, but apparently, she intended to make good on her promise-
However, she never got the chance to follow through. Unfortunately, she was found dead in back of Sam’s property and Lena was the unlucky soul who discovered her body.
Now Sam and Lena are back in the spotlight as once again, as they try to discover who the murderer is while dodging the ever -present paparazzi.
I love the atmosphere surrounding Blue Lake and of course I love that Gothic house featured in the book. The pets, especially that lovely cat, is a great bonus- but they aren’t as prominently featured as one may think based on the book cover.
This is not your usual cozy style mystery and I think any pure mystery lover might enjoy this series. The romance is a bit more front and center than some would like, perhaps, but of course, that certainly doesn’t bother me. I liked it!
If I had to complain about something, it would be the heavy- handedness in which the press is portrayed. While certainly realistic, the theme was hammered on to the point I started to think the author had a personal agenda going on.
Other than that, the mystery is a good one and I never even suspected who the murderer was! Because this is a series, there are some developments that will have to be addressed and explored in upcoming installments and I’m looking forward to seeing how everything plays out.
4 stars
Good, solid mystery with a side of romance!
I have been trying to fit this second installment of the 'Writer’s Apprentice' series into my reading schedule for a very long time. After realizing there were now four books in the series, I thought I'd better get busy before I fall too far behind!
As the story opens, things are really looking up for Lena. She’s living rent free in a gorgeous Gothic mansion, working as an apprentice for her favorite author, Camilla Graham, and her new boyfriend, Sam West, was finally cleared of murdering his estranged wife, Victoria.
As it turns out, Victoria is alive, but she’s still missing. Sam must find Victoria so they can properly divorce, but as time passes, it becomes clear that something isn’t quite right about Victoria’s disappearance and Lena is convinced she's in danger.
With some members of the press feeling contrite after accusing Sam of murder, one blogger, in particular, has offered to travel to Blue Lake and give Sam a personal apology face to face. No one believed she would really do that, but apparently, she intended to make good on her promise-
However, she never got the chance to follow through. Unfortunately, she was found dead in back of Sam’s property and Lena was the unlucky soul who discovered her body.
Now Sam and Lena are back in the spotlight as once again, as they try to discover who the murderer is while dodging the ever -present paparazzi.
I love the atmosphere surrounding Blue Lake and of course I love that Gothic house featured in the book. The pets, especially that lovely cat, is a great bonus- but they aren’t as prominently featured as one may think based on the book cover.
This is not your usual cozy style mystery and I think any pure mystery lover might enjoy this series. The romance is a bit more front and center than some would like, perhaps, but of course, that certainly doesn’t bother me. I liked it!
If I had to complain about something, it would be the heavy- handedness in which the press is portrayed. While certainly realistic, the theme was hammered on to the point I started to think the author had a personal agenda going on.
Other than that, the mystery is a good one and I never even suspected who the murderer was! Because this is a series, there are some developments that will have to be addressed and explored in upcoming installments and I’m looking forward to seeing how everything plays out.
4 stars
March 13, 2017
Suspenseful entertainment and dazzling plotting make this cozy a page-turner! Immerse yourself in this gripping mystery that will leave your heart pounding at the end!
Nestled atop a bluff in picturesque Blue Lake, Indiana, is bestselling mystery author, Camilla Graham's Gothic-like home. Writer apprentice, Lena London, now lives with Camilla and their pets, 2 German Shepard guard dogs, and Lena's cat, Lestrade. For Lena, a long-time aspiring writer, this is the job of a lifetime. The two women quickly bond over their love of writing, researching, hot tea, and animals, just to name a few of their common interests.
Picking up where book one ended, Sam West, Camilla's neighbor and Lena's romantic interest, returns from New York as the search for his missing wife, Victoria, continues. The media is in a frenzy with Sam being suspected of wrongdoing, and the paparazzi are watching him day and night.
Several great new characters are introduced into the storyline along with a few not-so-great ones. I really liked the energy the young research librarian, Belinda Frailey, brings to the pages. One of the reporters is also a champion for the underdog, and I found myself cheering for him. The mysterious and continued absence of Victoria West is centerfold and the location of her current whereabouts becomes even more important as bits and pieces about the reclusive Greek businessman, Nikon, are revealed and concern mounts that her safe return could be at risk. A man with his wealth and power could be very dangerous. A greedy murderer will be revealed. A secret will be stolen. I would give this story far more than 5 Stars, if I could.
A Writer's Apprentice series is absolutely awesome and I'd love to see it made into TV movies!
I voluntarily reviewed an advance readers copy for NetGalley.
Nestled atop a bluff in picturesque Blue Lake, Indiana, is bestselling mystery author, Camilla Graham's Gothic-like home. Writer apprentice, Lena London, now lives with Camilla and their pets, 2 German Shepard guard dogs, and Lena's cat, Lestrade. For Lena, a long-time aspiring writer, this is the job of a lifetime. The two women quickly bond over their love of writing, researching, hot tea, and animals, just to name a few of their common interests.
Picking up where book one ended, Sam West, Camilla's neighbor and Lena's romantic interest, returns from New York as the search for his missing wife, Victoria, continues. The media is in a frenzy with Sam being suspected of wrongdoing, and the paparazzi are watching him day and night.
Several great new characters are introduced into the storyline along with a few not-so-great ones. I really liked the energy the young research librarian, Belinda Frailey, brings to the pages. One of the reporters is also a champion for the underdog, and I found myself cheering for him. The mysterious and continued absence of Victoria West is centerfold and the location of her current whereabouts becomes even more important as bits and pieces about the reclusive Greek businessman, Nikon, are revealed and concern mounts that her safe return could be at risk. A man with his wealth and power could be very dangerous. A greedy murderer will be revealed. A secret will be stolen. I would give this story far more than 5 Stars, if I could.
A Writer's Apprentice series is absolutely awesome and I'd love to see it made into TV movies!
I voluntarily reviewed an advance readers copy for NetGalley.
June 15, 2017
Book 2 did continue the storyline from Book 1 of the Writer's Apprentice, A Dark and Stormy Night. Unfortunately, part of the mystery is solved but it immediately transitions into what will be in the next book or perhaps book 4. What happened seemed too hurried to already be happening. That is not a good thing for this reader, because I am okay with a 2 part cliffhanger but not more than that. I am finding it difficult to even like the 2 main characters who just seem off to me.
June 6, 2021
***2021 Dog Days of Summer***
It's summer and this year I have chosen to read books that include canine companions. This series includes two German Shepherds, Rochester and Heathcliff. They don't feature as much here in book 2 as they did in the first volume, but they are still very much in evidence.
Cozy mysteries usually feature amateur sleuths who should really butt out of any murder investigation, but somehow Buckley makes Lena and Camilla more respectable than most cozy heroines. After all, it is this duo who manage to dredge up information on Sam's missing ex-wife that the FBI doesn't seem to be able to find. I think that was the most unrealistic part—imagining that you or I could find out more with Google than FBI analysts would be able to uncover.
Nevertheless, Buckley managed to managed to mess with my head enough that I started to doubt many of my previous conclusions! She toyed with my emotions mercilessly and even when the perpetrators were revealed, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. Not many authors can shake my certainty like that. Not only that, she has set the hook--I'll be glad to read on to see where she takes Lena next. Though the big issues are resolved, there is something hinky going on with two newly introduced characters and I hope my suspicions will be addressed in book 3.
Like a combination of small town mysteries and a gothic romance, this is an entertaining series and I plan to binge it this summer.
Cross posted at my blog:
https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...
It's summer and this year I have chosen to read books that include canine companions. This series includes two German Shepherds, Rochester and Heathcliff. They don't feature as much here in book 2 as they did in the first volume, but they are still very much in evidence.
Cozy mysteries usually feature amateur sleuths who should really butt out of any murder investigation, but somehow Buckley makes Lena and Camilla more respectable than most cozy heroines. After all, it is this duo who manage to dredge up information on Sam's missing ex-wife that the FBI doesn't seem to be able to find. I think that was the most unrealistic part—imagining that you or I could find out more with Google than FBI analysts would be able to uncover.
Nevertheless, Buckley managed to managed to mess with my head enough that I started to doubt many of my previous conclusions! She toyed with my emotions mercilessly and even when the perpetrators were revealed, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. Not many authors can shake my certainty like that. Not only that, she has set the hook--I'll be glad to read on to see where she takes Lena next. Though the big issues are resolved, there is something hinky going on with two newly introduced characters and I hope my suspicions will be addressed in book 3.
Like a combination of small town mysteries and a gothic romance, this is an entertaining series and I plan to binge it this summer.
Cross posted at my blog:
https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...
May 29, 2019
A very good second entry in the series.
May 13, 2017
Death in Dark Blue was filled heartfelt romance and love. Lena's love of writing shines through when recieving Advanced Reader Copies of her' and Camilla's first book the Salsburg Train but the writing theme was written as an afterthought to me unlike the first book in the series which I missed.
Author Julia Buckley captured Crime, intrigue and suspense with every page. The plot was slow-moving but steady and the plot twist at the end of this story has me wanting to read the next book in the series.
September 1, 2018
I really enjoyed Death in Dark blue,It is a well-written,suspenseful cozy mystery with an intriguing plot,a dash of romance and delightful,quirky characters.It was such a pleasure to be back in Blue lake and seeing what the characters are up to. We follow Lena as she tries to solve a new murder in town,figure out what happened to Victoria west, spend time with Sam away from the prying eyes of the media while helping Camilla write her new book which I loved seeing the snippets of.Overall I highly recommend this series to anyone who like their cozies with a dash of romance.I will be be picking up any future books for this series.
May 19, 2017
If there were one author that has started being published (traditionally) in the last two years that I would have to call my favorite, it would be Julia Buckley. I am caught up on both of her series, and every book I've read of hers has been high-quality, solid mysteries with stand-out characters and engaging plots.
In Death in Dark Blue Lena has once again found herself in the middle of a mystery. Lena is the perfect MC; she isn't shy about investigating, but she isn't sneaky or obnoxious about it, either. Sam, Camilla, and Doug were all outstanding once again, though I wish we'd learn more about Camilla. We also met a new semi-major character, Belinda, who I hope will return in the next book in a larger role.
As with the first in this series, A Dark and Stormy Murder, there are two mysteries going on. One is confined to this book, and is wrapped up nicely at the end. The other is a direct continuation from the first book. The second mystery, however, is the most intriguing.
Normally I hate cliffhangers and, like the first book, this one ended on one. However, this book was so enjoyable I didn't mind it one bit, and I absolutely can not wait for the next one! Highly recommend!
In Death in Dark Blue Lena has once again found herself in the middle of a mystery. Lena is the perfect MC; she isn't shy about investigating, but she isn't sneaky or obnoxious about it, either. Sam, Camilla, and Doug were all outstanding once again, though I wish we'd learn more about Camilla. We also met a new semi-major character, Belinda, who I hope will return in the next book in a larger role.
As with the first in this series, A Dark and Stormy Murder, there are two mysteries going on. One is confined to this book, and is wrapped up nicely at the end. The other is a direct continuation from the first book. The second mystery, however, is the most intriguing.
Normally I hate cliffhangers and, like the first book, this one ended on one. However, this book was so enjoyable I didn't mind it one bit, and I absolutely can not wait for the next one! Highly recommend!
May 15, 2017
Loved it! This book is as good as the first. One of the best cozy series out there!
August 7, 2021
Avevo letto il primo libro di questa serie e mi era piaciuto, tanto che ho comprato i successivi, ma poi sono finiti sommersi da tutti gli altri che compongono la mia TBR. Ora ho ripreso in mano la serie dopo diversi anni e devo dire che, grazie anche ai vari riferimenti presenti nella storia, non ho avuto problemi a rituffarmi nella storia della scomparsa della moglie di Sam. Peccato che nel finale rimanga ancora in parte in sospeso: speravo che si concludesse. Per quanto riguarda l'omicidio che è al centro del libro, non è stata una sorpresa scoprire chi era il colpevole, sebbene speri che il motivo sia un po' irrealistico perché in caso contrario ci sarebbe da preoccuparsi.
September 15, 2017
Just not written in an enjoyable fashion
For a book about writers this is just not written well. I think I figured out what this issue is though. the book is,written as though it's a movie. The narrative works better as voice-over narration. The dialogue that is just overwrought, overworked, and frankly over the top on the page would work better on the big or small screen. Although the elements of language and dialogue fail on the page, I can see how they would almost work on screen. Think Sinead O'Conner in Wuthering Heights. Unfortunately, it is a book.
As to the plot, the book picks up the pins that were knocked down in the previous book (and then knocks down two pins for the next book. Really the author like to telegraph exactly what the plot of the next book series will be.) Unfortunately the mystery is weak. The narrative has no ficus on clues this time around. The solutions to both of the mysteries come about without anyone actually doing anything to solve them and without any real clues.
On more nitpicky points - the book throws some real shade on step-parents in what is just an unneeded throw-away remark. Also, the narrator has a Masters in English, makes allusions to Dickenson, Jane Eyre, Greek mythology, and Dickenson but doesn't know Lennon and Ono because she's "too young"? Yeah, nope.
For a book about writers this is just not written well. I think I figured out what this issue is though. the book is,written as though it's a movie. The narrative works better as voice-over narration. The dialogue that is just overwrought, overworked, and frankly over the top on the page would work better on the big or small screen. Although the elements of language and dialogue fail on the page, I can see how they would almost work on screen. Think Sinead O'Conner in Wuthering Heights. Unfortunately, it is a book.
As to the plot, the book picks up the pins that were knocked down in the previous book (and then knocks down two pins for the next book. Really the author like to telegraph exactly what the plot of the next book series will be.) Unfortunately the mystery is weak. The narrative has no ficus on clues this time around. The solutions to both of the mysteries come about without anyone actually doing anything to solve them and without any real clues.
On more nitpicky points - the book throws some real shade on step-parents in what is just an unneeded throw-away remark. Also, the narrator has a Masters in English, makes allusions to Dickenson, Jane Eyre, Greek mythology, and Dickenson but doesn't know Lennon and Ono because she's "too young"? Yeah, nope.
May 8, 2017
I am seriously annoyed. I enjoyed 90% of this book, and was prepared to review it by saying that although it isn't a typical cozy mystery, it was intriguing and a good read. However, instead of stopping when the mystery is solved and the characters have resolved most of their difficulties, the author adds a had-I-but-known moment, followed by the amateur sleuth behaving in a reprehensible manner, leading up to the start of a brand new mystery that, one supposes, will be solved in the next book in the series. Since that book won't be out for some time, at least six months and probably a year, this was extremely frustrating to me as a reader. I've seen this trick used more than once lately and I dislike it more every time. The appeal of a traditional mystery novel is that all the loose ends are wrapped up at the end of the story, the bad guys are punished, and the amateur sleuth succeeds in his or her quest for justice. If an author (or her publisher) wants to set up the next in the series, far better to do it in an excerpt after the end of the current novel.
December 18, 2017
Once upon a time, cozy mysteries used to be just pieces of fluff with little effort in characterization. No more.
This is only the second book in the series and already I'm hooked. Ms Buckley does a great job of not tying all her loose ends up at the end of the book. Yes, we know whodunnit at the end but there is so much more to these little books.
They're great fun with all the things you expect in a cozy. A main character who has a habit of stumbling upon bodies and can't let the mystery go (i.e., leave it to the professionals). A quirky cast of secondary characters. Romance.
But Ms Buckley adds so much more. Character development in the secondary characters. People actually have sex in these books. (It's not spelled out, but we do know it's happening.) Many separate plotlines. She actually has a story arc that connects the books, but each book has a separate murder mystery.
Much fun!
This is only the second book in the series and already I'm hooked. Ms Buckley does a great job of not tying all her loose ends up at the end of the book. Yes, we know whodunnit at the end but there is so much more to these little books.
They're great fun with all the things you expect in a cozy. A main character who has a habit of stumbling upon bodies and can't let the mystery go (i.e., leave it to the professionals). A quirky cast of secondary characters. Romance.
But Ms Buckley adds so much more. Character development in the secondary characters. People actually have sex in these books. (It's not spelled out, but we do know it's happening.) Many separate plotlines. She actually has a story arc that connects the books, but each book has a separate murder mystery.
Much fun!
May 8, 2017
Julia Buckley has delivered an engaging and suspenseful second installment in the Writer's Apprentice Mystery series with a gothic feel, a touch of romance and a complex and layered mystery that is woven throughout the story. I am one of those readers who has to read a series in order, even if they can be read as a stand alone. That is not the case with this series. I would highly suggest that you read book one first. I, personally, don't feel like these are stand alone books as there is a secondary mystery that is woven throughout both stories. Lena London, our protagonist, is joined by Sam, Camilla and the cast of characters from the first book. We are introduced to some new characters that round out the team nicely. The mystery is layered and complex while being woven throughout the entire story. The ending of this one, I think, sets up book three nicely.
I can't wait to see what the author has in store for the next book.
I can't wait to see what the author has in store for the next book.
May 2, 2017
Death In Dark Blue is the second book in the A Writer’s Apprentice series.
Another enjoyable visit to Blue Lake, IN, and chance to spend some time with Lena and her employer and author Camilla Graham.
Sam West, their neighbor, is back in Blue Lake after having been arrested for allegedly murdering his wife. Lena had been instrumental in getting his release. Lena and Sam continue their quest to find gather more information as to where his wife might be.
Then mysteriously Taylor Bland post on her blog that she wants to apologize to Sam for accusing him of killing his wife and that she also want to come to Blue Lake and do it in person. Bland arrives and the next day Lena finds her lifeless body in a snowdrift in West’s side yard, she had evidently fallen from a bluff. With this event, the reporters and paparazzi once again come crawling out of the woodwork and Sam are now both in the limelight.
Then with the help of Belinda Frailey, a research librarian, and with help of postcard that Bland had with her and which was recovered from a reporter who had stolen it from the cottage she was staying in. Now Lena and Sam feel they have the clue that they have been hoping for. Then Lena and Sam get help from an unexpected source-a reporter-Jake Elliott. He writes a couple stories for the AP which takes some of the pressure off Lena and Sam from the hounding press.
The book finishes with an exciting and surprising ending. Overall, it’s a well-plotted and well-written story. There aren’t a lot of characters to get bogged down with and they all are believable and enjoyable.
I can see a couple of direction the next book can take and am anxiously waiting for the next to see what happens next in Blue Lake.
Another enjoyable visit to Blue Lake, IN, and chance to spend some time with Lena and her employer and author Camilla Graham.
Sam West, their neighbor, is back in Blue Lake after having been arrested for allegedly murdering his wife. Lena had been instrumental in getting his release. Lena and Sam continue their quest to find gather more information as to where his wife might be.
Then mysteriously Taylor Bland post on her blog that she wants to apologize to Sam for accusing him of killing his wife and that she also want to come to Blue Lake and do it in person. Bland arrives and the next day Lena finds her lifeless body in a snowdrift in West’s side yard, she had evidently fallen from a bluff. With this event, the reporters and paparazzi once again come crawling out of the woodwork and Sam are now both in the limelight.
Then with the help of Belinda Frailey, a research librarian, and with help of postcard that Bland had with her and which was recovered from a reporter who had stolen it from the cottage she was staying in. Now Lena and Sam feel they have the clue that they have been hoping for. Then Lena and Sam get help from an unexpected source-a reporter-Jake Elliott. He writes a couple stories for the AP which takes some of the pressure off Lena and Sam from the hounding press.
The book finishes with an exciting and surprising ending. Overall, it’s a well-plotted and well-written story. There aren’t a lot of characters to get bogged down with and they all are believable and enjoyable.
I can see a couple of direction the next book can take and am anxiously waiting for the next to see what happens next in Blue Lake.
August 1, 2018
4.5! Love this series!!!
October 27, 2021
Just on the fence about this series. First person, which often times…most times is just fine with me. I have a friend who will never! read first person. I don’t like the alliterative name… Lena London. Also she has a very high opinion of herself. Again the book ended suddenly.
May 2, 2017
As winter settles over Blue Lake, Lena London is thrilled to have her new boyfriend Sam West back in town. He’s still trying to keep their relationship a secret so the press won’t start hounding Lena. However, that becomes more difficult when Lena finds the body of a woman who had come to town to apologize to Sam. The press are quick to believe Sam was involved. Can Lena prove them wrong?
I was thrilled to return to this series. The new murder often takes a back seat to a storyline introduced in the first book, but I didn’t mind because I found the entire thing entertaining. Lena may be our viewpoint character, but there is a large stable of characters, some of whom often bring the clues to the group. I love this group, and they all are interesting. With how this book ends, I already can’t wait to find out what happens next to these characters.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I was thrilled to return to this series. The new murder often takes a back seat to a storyline introduced in the first book, but I didn’t mind because I found the entire thing entertaining. Lena may be our viewpoint character, but there is a large stable of characters, some of whom often bring the clues to the group. I love this group, and they all are interesting. With how this book ends, I already can’t wait to find out what happens next to these characters.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
December 16, 2017
I cannot WAIT for the next book!
May 16, 2017
http://openbooksociety.com/article/de...
Death in Dark Blue
A Writer’s Apprentice Mystery, Book #2
By Julia Buckley
ISBN 9780425282618
Author’s website: www.juliabuckley.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
An aspiring suspense author finds herself writing mysteries by day and solving them by night in the second Writer’s Apprentice Mystery by the author of A Dark and Stormy Murder and the Undercover Dish Mysteries.
In the quaint town of Blue Lake, Indiana, Lena London is settling into her dream job, but someone is making her life a nightmare…
Things are beginning to go right for Lena. She’s got a new job assisting suspense novelist and friend, Camilla Graham. She lives rent-free in Camilla’s beautiful, Gothic house. She even has a handsome new boyfriend, Sam West.
After being under attack by the media and his neighbors, Sam has recently been cleared of suspicion for murder. Journalists and townsfolk alike are remorseful, and one blogger would even like to apologize to him in person. But when she’s found dead behind Sam’s house, Lena must dodge paparazzi as she unravels the many mysteries that threaten to darken the skies of her little town and her newfound love with Sam.
Review:
Death in Dark Blue is the second wonderfully exciting novel in A Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series, and it can be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed it, and plan to read the first one to find out what I missed. The setting sounds gorgeous, a snowy winter in Blue Lake, Indiana, a climate that Lena, collaborator with and editor for Camilla Graham, is not used to. It would seem at first that the mystery Camilla and Lena are pursuing is the whereabouts of Victoria West, estranged wife of Sam West, who had been suspected of her murder for a year until Lena found a recent photo of Vic, very alive.
Lena and Camilla’s work to exonerate Sam is part of the first novel, A Dark and Stormy Murder. Sam moved from New York City to Blue Lake during the investigation into Victoria’s disappearance. Camilla met Sam and as they became friends, she believed in his innocence. Camilla has been a romantic suspense author for over 40 years. The day that Lena, a recent college graduate, answered Camilla’s ad to edit her work was the start of one of the best adventures of her life. She has a job I would enjoy if I were younger; she lives in Camilla’s home with her cat, Lestrade and Camilla’s German Shepherds, Heathcliff and Rochester.
Camilla just finished her next novel, Death on the Danube, and it was time for Lena to begin her comments. The Advance Reading Copies of the first book Lena was collaborator on, The Salzburg Train, arrived. Lena walked to Sam’s to give him a copy, and saw what looked like a sleeping animal west of his home. She discovered the broken body of a woman. Not just any woman, but Taylor, one of Victoria’s best friends who had finally, after a year, stopped blaming Sam for his wife’s disappearance. It was time for the media frenzy to begin again.
This is a most fortuitous group of neighbors and friends! One could hunt through small towns around the country and not find such great neighbors. With proof that Sam’s ex-wife was indeed alive, the town accepted him, and continued to even after finding Taylor. Camilla and Lena are very complex characters, with others defined perfectly in tune with their role. I like Camilla, Lena, and Belinda, the research librarian best; not only because of the unique careers they have but for the personalities each embodies to do what they do best. They each are comfortable with work that is often solitary, seeing each new research project, novel, and editing, blogging, or co-writing task as a challenge. To imagine that a woman who has been a best-selling novelist for many years could still have enthusiasm and ideas to fuel a new mystery and romance boggles the mind! I confess that I am most envious of Belinda, researching and aiding in research for the public through the library. Ah, if the world wide web had only been available a few decades ago, I would want to be her when I grew up!
This is an exciting read! I enjoyed most of the characters with the exception of the sensationalist news writers. There are twists that kept this reader on her toes! The killer never met up with the likes of Camilla, Lena, and their friends. Camilla and Lena have an unshakable bond that goes beyond their working relationship. One thing I enjoyed was to see, at the start of each chapter, a passage from Camilla’s current book in progress that related to something that would occur to a character in this novel, so it was something to think about while reading the chapter. I enjoy the cover art that includes a manual typewriter and a mid 20th century telephone. It invites the reader to read the description, then purchase it. Finding the bad guy/ gal, and finding Victoria, was exciting and suspenseful. The end is very satisfactory, and I am looking forward to the next in series – especially with the teaser of what we can look forward to! I highly recommend Death in Dark Blue; the writing is excellent, the mystery is well planned and executed, and the characters have careers that pique the imagination and invite the reader to come back and stay for another visit.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Death in Dark Blue
A Writer’s Apprentice Mystery, Book #2
By Julia Buckley
ISBN 9780425282618
Author’s website: www.juliabuckley.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
An aspiring suspense author finds herself writing mysteries by day and solving them by night in the second Writer’s Apprentice Mystery by the author of A Dark and Stormy Murder and the Undercover Dish Mysteries.
In the quaint town of Blue Lake, Indiana, Lena London is settling into her dream job, but someone is making her life a nightmare…
Things are beginning to go right for Lena. She’s got a new job assisting suspense novelist and friend, Camilla Graham. She lives rent-free in Camilla’s beautiful, Gothic house. She even has a handsome new boyfriend, Sam West.
After being under attack by the media and his neighbors, Sam has recently been cleared of suspicion for murder. Journalists and townsfolk alike are remorseful, and one blogger would even like to apologize to him in person. But when she’s found dead behind Sam’s house, Lena must dodge paparazzi as she unravels the many mysteries that threaten to darken the skies of her little town and her newfound love with Sam.
Review:
Death in Dark Blue is the second wonderfully exciting novel in A Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series, and it can be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed it, and plan to read the first one to find out what I missed. The setting sounds gorgeous, a snowy winter in Blue Lake, Indiana, a climate that Lena, collaborator with and editor for Camilla Graham, is not used to. It would seem at first that the mystery Camilla and Lena are pursuing is the whereabouts of Victoria West, estranged wife of Sam West, who had been suspected of her murder for a year until Lena found a recent photo of Vic, very alive.
Lena and Camilla’s work to exonerate Sam is part of the first novel, A Dark and Stormy Murder. Sam moved from New York City to Blue Lake during the investigation into Victoria’s disappearance. Camilla met Sam and as they became friends, she believed in his innocence. Camilla has been a romantic suspense author for over 40 years. The day that Lena, a recent college graduate, answered Camilla’s ad to edit her work was the start of one of the best adventures of her life. She has a job I would enjoy if I were younger; she lives in Camilla’s home with her cat, Lestrade and Camilla’s German Shepherds, Heathcliff and Rochester.
Camilla just finished her next novel, Death on the Danube, and it was time for Lena to begin her comments. The Advance Reading Copies of the first book Lena was collaborator on, The Salzburg Train, arrived. Lena walked to Sam’s to give him a copy, and saw what looked like a sleeping animal west of his home. She discovered the broken body of a woman. Not just any woman, but Taylor, one of Victoria’s best friends who had finally, after a year, stopped blaming Sam for his wife’s disappearance. It was time for the media frenzy to begin again.
This is a most fortuitous group of neighbors and friends! One could hunt through small towns around the country and not find such great neighbors. With proof that Sam’s ex-wife was indeed alive, the town accepted him, and continued to even after finding Taylor. Camilla and Lena are very complex characters, with others defined perfectly in tune with their role. I like Camilla, Lena, and Belinda, the research librarian best; not only because of the unique careers they have but for the personalities each embodies to do what they do best. They each are comfortable with work that is often solitary, seeing each new research project, novel, and editing, blogging, or co-writing task as a challenge. To imagine that a woman who has been a best-selling novelist for many years could still have enthusiasm and ideas to fuel a new mystery and romance boggles the mind! I confess that I am most envious of Belinda, researching and aiding in research for the public through the library. Ah, if the world wide web had only been available a few decades ago, I would want to be her when I grew up!
This is an exciting read! I enjoyed most of the characters with the exception of the sensationalist news writers. There are twists that kept this reader on her toes! The killer never met up with the likes of Camilla, Lena, and their friends. Camilla and Lena have an unshakable bond that goes beyond their working relationship. One thing I enjoyed was to see, at the start of each chapter, a passage from Camilla’s current book in progress that related to something that would occur to a character in this novel, so it was something to think about while reading the chapter. I enjoy the cover art that includes a manual typewriter and a mid 20th century telephone. It invites the reader to read the description, then purchase it. Finding the bad guy/ gal, and finding Victoria, was exciting and suspenseful. The end is very satisfactory, and I am looking forward to the next in series – especially with the teaser of what we can look forward to! I highly recommend Death in Dark Blue; the writing is excellent, the mystery is well planned and executed, and the characters have careers that pique the imagination and invite the reader to come back and stay for another visit.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
June 22, 2022
I love this series! The main character and I share the same name and similar interests so I related to her immediately. Several mysteries get solved in this book. The main murder mystery is solved with quite a bit of the book to go, normally I don't like that but in this case it worked (lots of bombshells yet to come and it STILL ends on a cliffhanger).
I didn't care for all the lovey dovey stuff with Sam. They haven't known each other long enough to be exchanging "I love you"'s and having sleep overs, in a romance novel it would work (and maybe I'm just a prude when it comes to my cozy MCs) but I just felt like it was too much too soon for Lena.
Another thing I didn't like was when I found out that the winter wonderland that is Blue Lake, Indiana, is actually in southern Indiana. For some reason, the cozies I've read that take place in southern Indiana all make it out to be practically arctic. I've lived in Indiana all my life. It doesn't get that cold and it doesn't snow that much. A blizzard of 5-10" of snow would be an apocalypse south of Indianapolis (or north of Indianapolis for that matter) and people would be losing their minds, buying out the stores of milk, eggs, and bread before everything shut down. But Lena and Camilla and Sam were like "just another day here in frigid southern Indiana." I probably need to let that go :)
I didn't care for all the lovey dovey stuff with Sam. They haven't known each other long enough to be exchanging "I love you"'s and having sleep overs, in a romance novel it would work (and maybe I'm just a prude when it comes to my cozy MCs) but I just felt like it was too much too soon for Lena.
Another thing I didn't like was when I found out that the winter wonderland that is Blue Lake, Indiana, is actually in southern Indiana. For some reason, the cozies I've read that take place in southern Indiana all make it out to be practically arctic. I've lived in Indiana all my life. It doesn't get that cold and it doesn't snow that much. A blizzard of 5-10" of snow would be an apocalypse south of Indianapolis (or north of Indianapolis for that matter) and people would be losing their minds, buying out the stores of milk, eggs, and bread before everything shut down. But Lena and Camilla and Sam were like "just another day here in frigid southern Indiana." I probably need to let that go :)
January 26, 2018
Welcome to Blue Lake, Indiana where Lena London is enjoying working as assistant and co-writer to suspense writer, Camilla Graham. Camilla has become more than just her employer, she is her friend. Lena recently helped to clear her new love interest, Sam West, from being a suspect in the disappearance and probable murder of his wife. Now the paparazzi and townsfolk are trying to make amends for their previous behavior including the blogger who was particularly vicious in her treatment of Sam. Lena and Sam are happy to meet the woman in person. Then the nightmare starts all over again when Lena finds the woman's body in Sam's backyard.
This cozy series is filled with suspense and dark secrets! It kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't stop turning the pages. This is the second book in the series and you do need to start with first one to get everything straight. I can't wait to read the next installment when it comes out! I enjoyed how lifelike the characters became and how intensely riveting the murder and mystery plot. A wonderful suspenseful cozy!
This cozy series is filled with suspense and dark secrets! It kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't stop turning the pages. This is the second book in the series and you do need to start with first one to get everything straight. I can't wait to read the next installment when it comes out! I enjoyed how lifelike the characters became and how intensely riveting the murder and mystery plot. A wonderful suspenseful cozy!
January 23, 2020
This was excellent- After completing this second book and already getting almost 100 pages into book #3, I think I would class these "Writer's Apprentice Mysteries" as just a half a step above a typical cozy mystery- they have an exciting element of suspense in them and there is an overall continuing mystery hovering above the series even though each book has their own mystery.
Julia Buckley is an excellent writer! I love this series! I love the characters and the setting of Blue Lake, Indiana!
I loved that this book took place during the month of January and a lovely cold and snowy January. I happened to read this book during January but my weather was all over the place and not pretty and snowy so I really liked being able to read about a proper January :-)
I liked the new character of Belinda, the research librarian.
Sam West - I find him a bit annoying..... I am sure I am in the minority :-)
Julia Buckley is an excellent writer! I love this series! I love the characters and the setting of Blue Lake, Indiana!
I loved that this book took place during the month of January and a lovely cold and snowy January. I happened to read this book during January but my weather was all over the place and not pretty and snowy so I really liked being able to read about a proper January :-)
I liked the new character of Belinda, the research librarian.
Sam West - I find him a bit annoying..... I am sure I am in the minority :-)
November 19, 2020
This is the second book in the writers apprentice series. I really enjoyed the first book and was eager to read the next. This book takes place shortly after the first. Sam is still looking for his missing wife , Victoria, with Lena. When one of Victoria's friends is murdered not long after she asked to meet with Sam, he becomes under suspicion again. Victoria had been in contact with her friend and that is presumably why she was killed. Now Sam and Lena work together to not only find Victoria but solve her friends murder.
I really enjoyed the mystery surrounding Victoria. It was suspenseful enough to hold my interest. I enjoyed watching Sam and Lena interact with each other and grow closer to one another as the book went along. My one negative is this book ends on a cliffhanger of sorts and I now have to read the next book immediately.
I really enjoyed the mystery surrounding Victoria. It was suspenseful enough to hold my interest. I enjoyed watching Sam and Lena interact with each other and grow closer to one another as the book went along. My one negative is this book ends on a cliffhanger of sorts and I now have to read the next book immediately.
December 2, 2020
After more than a year of trying to find out what happened to his wife, Sam is almost there. But first, there is yet another murder, his wife's friend who manages to be found dead in his own back yard. By now the town is starting to rally behind him, and he throws a party which ends in someone shooting in his window after guests depart. Is someone trying to kill him, or just keep the stories going? There is quite a surprise waiting for the group when Sam's wife is finally found. No spoilers, but of course something bad happens which leads into the next book. Will Sam and Lena ever get to be happy together?
August 4, 2018
This second book in this gothic cozy mystery series is even better than the first!
The story picks up from where the first book left off so I strongly suggest you read them in order.
The characters I enjoyed so much in the first book return along with some new intriguing ones.
From the first page this story grabbed me and what a ride!
It had an intriguing plot, colourful and interesting characters, a fabulous small town location, romance, and a whodunit filled with twists.
I hope this series continues and I look forward to reading the next book!
The story picks up from where the first book left off so I strongly suggest you read them in order.
The characters I enjoyed so much in the first book return along with some new intriguing ones.
From the first page this story grabbed me and what a ride!
It had an intriguing plot, colourful and interesting characters, a fabulous small town location, romance, and a whodunit filled with twists.
I hope this series continues and I look forward to reading the next book!
May 3, 2024
2.57⭐️
The plot was weaker than the first book, but still a nice cozy mystery ♥️
The plot was weaker than the first book, but still a nice cozy mystery ♥️
October 29, 2017
Gripping story filled with twists and turns
Lena London is a strong, determined character who will stop at nothing for those she cares about.
Sam West has won Lena's heart and after a year of being looked at as a murderer, it's time for Sam to let Lena into his heart.
Digging deeply into the mysterious disappearance of Sam's wife leads Lena into a investigation so bizarre, it will leave the reader breathless.
A Greek millionaire, hidden yachts, and his obsessive behaviors are just a few things that Lena uncovers.
I'm a huge fan of this series and I am eagerly awaiting the next book.
Lena London is a strong, determined character who will stop at nothing for those she cares about.
Sam West has won Lena's heart and after a year of being looked at as a murderer, it's time for Sam to let Lena into his heart.
Digging deeply into the mysterious disappearance of Sam's wife leads Lena into a investigation so bizarre, it will leave the reader breathless.
A Greek millionaire, hidden yachts, and his obsessive behaviors are just a few things that Lena uncovers.
I'm a huge fan of this series and I am eagerly awaiting the next book.
December 21, 2017
Oh my! What a sequel to A Dark and Stormy Murder! I'm so glad that the author didn't leave us haning with what happened to Victoria; she picked up where she left off in the first book.
There were so many twists and turns but it wasn't hard to keep up. I can't believe how slimy a newsman Ted Strayer was! He killed Taylor to keep the story going about Sam and Victoria West! And, he tried to kill Jake and Lena.
This is a great book and ZI recommend it to anyone who loves mysteries. But I advise you to read A Dark and Stormy Murder first; because that's where the story started.
There were so many twists and turns but it wasn't hard to keep up. I can't believe how slimy a newsman Ted Strayer was! He killed Taylor to keep the story going about Sam and Victoria West! And, he tried to kill Jake and Lena.
This is a great book and ZI recommend it to anyone who loves mysteries. But I advise you to read A Dark and Stormy Murder first; because that's where the story started.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2018
This is definitely a sequel to the underlying sub-plot to A Dark and Stormy Murder, which is a good mystery, but means that this isn't really a truly stand-alone book. Moreover, given the blatant cliff-hanger ending, book three will probably end up as part of this unofficial "trilogy". Hopefully she'll finish this plot line then and give the characters somewhere new to go, as they have plenty of potential. I also like the fact that for the most part, they do actually let the policeman do his job, rather than assume they're smarter than he is.
All in all, I enjoyed it, but I'm afraid it loses a star for bad editing. For example, Sam's age is wrong in one place (it says he was eighteen when his sister, also said to be eighteen, died - but elsewhere it says he was at college, implied he was older, and there was certainly no suggestion that they were twins); while in another it sounds like Lena is getting into her car at Camilla's house, when a few pages before she'd left it at Sam's house; and in places, the amount of time that Sam's wife has been missing varies from a year to eighteen months. Most annoying was the inconsistency between the CIA and the FBI on who's looking for the Sam's missing wife (why would the CIA be looking for a missing person? So I imagine the author means the FBI). Sloppy editing is a bit off-putting in a book featuring a pair of writers.
The other thing that bothered me was that the stated two months since ADASM also doesn't seem enough time for the book they were writing then to have been through the publisher and reached the ARC stage, and for their next book to have got to the stage where the first draft would be sent to their editor. Plus, why would Camilla send the first draft to their editor, when her collaborator, Lena, hasn't read it through yet? But it definitely mentions Camilla putting in the editor's comments. But that might just be because I don't really understand how long it takes to write a book, and what the order of doing things is.
All in all, I enjoyed it, but I'm afraid it loses a star for bad editing. For example, Sam's age is wrong in one place (it says he was eighteen when his sister, also said to be eighteen, died - but elsewhere it says he was at college, implied he was older, and there was certainly no suggestion that they were twins); while in another it sounds like Lena is getting into her car at Camilla's house, when a few pages before she'd left it at Sam's house; and in places, the amount of time that Sam's wife has been missing varies from a year to eighteen months. Most annoying was the inconsistency between the CIA and the FBI on who's looking for the Sam's missing wife (why would the CIA be looking for a missing person? So I imagine the author means the FBI). Sloppy editing is a bit off-putting in a book featuring a pair of writers.
The other thing that bothered me was that the stated two months since ADASM also doesn't seem enough time for the book they were writing then to have been through the publisher and reached the ARC stage, and for their next book to have got to the stage where the first draft would be sent to their editor. Plus, why would Camilla send the first draft to their editor, when her collaborator, Lena, hasn't read it through yet? But it definitely mentions Camilla putting in the editor's comments. But that might just be because I don't really understand how long it takes to write a book, and what the order of doing things is.
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