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Sophie Kimball Mystery #1
Booked 4 Murder
Sophie "Phee" Kimball is not a cop. She s a divorced, middle-aged mom who works as an account clerk for the police department in a small city in Minnesota. But her retired mother, Harriet Plunkett, is convinced Phee is the only one who can solve the mystery of a cursed book. According to Harriet, four members of her book club have already succumbed to the deadly curse. Harriet insists Phee catch the next plane to her retirement community in Sun City West, Arizona, to investigate.
Is her mother just bored and lonely? She does have a new pet a long-haired chiweenie (half Chihuahua, half Dachshund) for company and a host of pals (although that number is admittedly dwindling). Phee is certain that their book club selection isn t cursed, but is somebody really knocking off the ladies? As Phee starts to uncover dark secrets hidden in plain sight under the blazing Arizona sun, she ll need to read between the lines before it s someone else s final chapter....
Is her mother just bored and lonely? She does have a new pet a long-haired chiweenie (half Chihuahua, half Dachshund) for company and a host of pals (although that number is admittedly dwindling). Phee is certain that their book club selection isn t cursed, but is somebody really knocking off the ladies? As Phee starts to uncover dark secrets hidden in plain sight under the blazing Arizona sun, she ll need to read between the lines before it s someone else s final chapter....
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2017
244 people are currently reading
1841 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Eaton
31 books344 followersAnn I. Goldfarb
New York native Ann I. Goldfarb spent most of her life in education, first as a classroom teacher and later as a middle school principal and professional staff developer. Writing as J. C. Eaton, along with her husband, James Clapp, they have authored the Sophie Kimball Mysteries (Kensington), The Wine Trail Mysteries (Kensington Lyrical Underground), and coming in August 2018, The Marcie Rayner Mysteries (Camel). In addition, Ann has nine published YA time travel mysteries under her own name. Visit the websites at:
www.jceatonmysteries.com
www.facebook.com/JCEatonauthor/
www.timetravelmysteries.com
James E. Clapp
When James E. Clapp retired as the tasting room manager for a large upstate New York winery, he never imagined he’d be co-authoring cozy mysteries with his wife, Ann I. Goldfarb. Non-fiction in the form of informational brochures and workshop materials treating the winery industry were his forte along with an extensive background and experience in construction that started with his service in the U.S. Navy and included vocational school classroom teaching. Visit the website at www.jceatonauthor.com
New York native Ann I. Goldfarb spent most of her life in education, first as a classroom teacher and later as a middle school principal and professional staff developer. Writing as J. C. Eaton, along with her husband, James Clapp, they have authored the Sophie Kimball Mysteries (Kensington), The Wine Trail Mysteries (Kensington Lyrical Underground), and coming in August 2018, The Marcie Rayner Mysteries (Camel). In addition, Ann has nine published YA time travel mysteries under her own name. Visit the websites at:
www.jceatonmysteries.com
www.facebook.com/JCEatonauthor/
www.timetravelmysteries.com
James E. Clapp
When James E. Clapp retired as the tasting room manager for a large upstate New York winery, he never imagined he’d be co-authoring cozy mysteries with his wife, Ann I. Goldfarb. Non-fiction in the form of informational brochures and workshop materials treating the winery industry were his forte along with an extensive background and experience in construction that started with his service in the U.S. Navy and included vocational school classroom teaching. Visit the website at www.jceatonauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 242 reviews
June 2, 2017
Sophie Phee Kimball works in accounting at the police department so of course her retired mother thinks that should make her perfect to investigate a series of deaths in her retirement community. Sophie's mother is sure that her book club has been reading a cursed book when several of the club's members suddenly die. Sophie does her best to explain to her mother there is no such thing as curses but her mother won't let the matter go.
After speaking with a detective friend at work Sophie decides the best thing to do is take some time off and go visit her mother, asking a few questions here and there wouldn't hurt, would it? After arriving Sophie begins to look into the deaths of the book club members and finds herself getting deeper and deeper into a plot that she never expected and trying to prove that there is no book curse.
Booked 4 Murder is the first book in the new Sophie Kimball Mystery series by J.C. Eaton. This first edition to the series had all the great ingredients to a cozy mystery that I enjoy, a down to earth main character that follows the clues and questions those involved but with some connection to law enforcement to help with the harder aspects, likable characters and a fun environment for the story to take place.
I thought Sophie and her mother had a great relationship and often found myself chuckling at their interactions. The retirement community in Sun City West, Arizona is exactly how I'd imagine it to actually be, the residents having their own way of doing things and quite set in their ways while keeping track of everyone else. Just a fun read with fun characters and would look forward to seeing what the author has in store in the future for Sophie and friends.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
After speaking with a detective friend at work Sophie decides the best thing to do is take some time off and go visit her mother, asking a few questions here and there wouldn't hurt, would it? After arriving Sophie begins to look into the deaths of the book club members and finds herself getting deeper and deeper into a plot that she never expected and trying to prove that there is no book curse.
Booked 4 Murder is the first book in the new Sophie Kimball Mystery series by J.C. Eaton. This first edition to the series had all the great ingredients to a cozy mystery that I enjoy, a down to earth main character that follows the clues and questions those involved but with some connection to law enforcement to help with the harder aspects, likable characters and a fun environment for the story to take place.
I thought Sophie and her mother had a great relationship and often found myself chuckling at their interactions. The retirement community in Sun City West, Arizona is exactly how I'd imagine it to actually be, the residents having their own way of doing things and quite set in their ways while keeping track of everyone else. Just a fun read with fun characters and would look forward to seeing what the author has in store in the future for Sophie and friends.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
July 2, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Oh my word! This is a wonderful debut!
Sophie “Phee” Kimball works for the police department in Minnesota in the office. The only detecting she does is hunting down receipts for expense reports but her dear mother assumes that she can kill the curse that is killing members of her book club. She begs her daughter to come to Sun City West, Arizona before another member ends up dead. Phee tries to calm her mother and put her off until the holidays but Harriet demands her presence immediately. After to talking to one of the local detectives she decides to head to Arizona, knowing he will be able to sort out any details she does find. Hopefully she can close the book on this mystery and get back to her own life in the “star of the north”.
I liked Phee right away but it took a bit for Harriet to grow on me. The way she expected her daughter to drop everything to do something she had no experience in was a little off putting but truthfully there are many moms in the world that expect their children to do the same, maybe not solve murders but handle many other issues. After the first couple of chapters some of Harriet’s requests were pretty funny. But that woman is PUSHY and extremely demanding.
Sun City West, Arizona is a retirement community and made for a very interesting setting. The early dinners, bingo games, clubs, and movies all ring true to the lives of the some senior citizens I know. It also gave Phee places to meet the suspects on her growing list as she tried to disprove all her mother’s theories. I found it delightful that she came up with her own version of a “murder board” to keep tracks of everyone and how they were connected as she tried to figure out what was really going on.
The story was very well written with a plethora of red herrings. I figured out a tiny part of the mystery early on but I uncovered the rest right along with Phee. I appreciated the fact that she knew she needed help to tie all the loose ends together and reached out to the detective and his techy friend back home. Even long distance the three of them made a great team. This story took several different tangents in the route to the big reveal and it truly was a very big public reveal.
The authors have laid a great foundation for this series. Plenty of room for the main characters to become more fully defined. The setting also gives the possibility of many supporting characters and mysteries.
A fine mystery filled with captivating characters and just enough humor to tickle your funny bone. I am very excited for the next installment, Ditched 4 Murder will be out November 28, 2017.
Oh my word! This is a wonderful debut!
Sophie “Phee” Kimball works for the police department in Minnesota in the office. The only detecting she does is hunting down receipts for expense reports but her dear mother assumes that she can kill the curse that is killing members of her book club. She begs her daughter to come to Sun City West, Arizona before another member ends up dead. Phee tries to calm her mother and put her off until the holidays but Harriet demands her presence immediately. After to talking to one of the local detectives she decides to head to Arizona, knowing he will be able to sort out any details she does find. Hopefully she can close the book on this mystery and get back to her own life in the “star of the north”.
I liked Phee right away but it took a bit for Harriet to grow on me. The way she expected her daughter to drop everything to do something she had no experience in was a little off putting but truthfully there are many moms in the world that expect their children to do the same, maybe not solve murders but handle many other issues. After the first couple of chapters some of Harriet’s requests were pretty funny. But that woman is PUSHY and extremely demanding.
Sun City West, Arizona is a retirement community and made for a very interesting setting. The early dinners, bingo games, clubs, and movies all ring true to the lives of the some senior citizens I know. It also gave Phee places to meet the suspects on her growing list as she tried to disprove all her mother’s theories. I found it delightful that she came up with her own version of a “murder board” to keep tracks of everyone and how they were connected as she tried to figure out what was really going on.
The story was very well written with a plethora of red herrings. I figured out a tiny part of the mystery early on but I uncovered the rest right along with Phee. I appreciated the fact that she knew she needed help to tie all the loose ends together and reached out to the detective and his techy friend back home. Even long distance the three of them made a great team. This story took several different tangents in the route to the big reveal and it truly was a very big public reveal.
The authors have laid a great foundation for this series. Plenty of room for the main characters to become more fully defined. The setting also gives the possibility of many supporting characters and mysteries.
A fine mystery filled with captivating characters and just enough humor to tickle your funny bone. I am very excited for the next installment, Ditched 4 Murder will be out November 28, 2017.
September 20, 2017
At first, I wondered if I would like this book because the plot seemed really different, however; new author, J.C. Eaton, skillfully maneuvered the plot with a strong, logically thinking protagonist, Sophie 'Phee' Kimball, making the story irresistible for me. The clues are interspersed with humor making this a swiftly moving read.
March 6, 2020
BOOKED 4 MURDER is a mystery too good to 4get!
Starting a new book can be hard. When that book is the first in a new series? Well, it can be even harder. So, I started reading BOOKED 4 MURDER with high hopes, mixed with a bit of trepidation. My worries were for nothing. Author J. C. Eaton has created a great new mystery series. I was completely hooked from the first chapter. If this first installment in the series is an example of what is to follow, this series is going to run for a long time.
I made a quick connection with series protagonist and namesake, Sophie Kimball. Sophie is middle aged, so I could relate better with her in some situations than I can a very young heroine. Her mother, Harriet is such a fun character. A lot of the scenes with her had me laughing. And Harriet’s dog, Streetman . . . well, I have a Chiweenie of my own, so author Eaton scored there with me.
A wonderful mystery, BOOKED 4 MURDER had twists and turns, red herrings, and an all-round cleverness that had me guessing my way through this fast paced book. When the reveal came, I was surprised, even though I had guessed it earlier in the story, only to reject it.
Give this new series a try. Pick up a copy of BOOKED 4 MURDER. When you’re finished, you’ll be waiting for book two, DITCHED 4 MURDER as anxiously as I am!
Starting a new book can be hard. When that book is the first in a new series? Well, it can be even harder. So, I started reading BOOKED 4 MURDER with high hopes, mixed with a bit of trepidation. My worries were for nothing. Author J. C. Eaton has created a great new mystery series. I was completely hooked from the first chapter. If this first installment in the series is an example of what is to follow, this series is going to run for a long time.
I made a quick connection with series protagonist and namesake, Sophie Kimball. Sophie is middle aged, so I could relate better with her in some situations than I can a very young heroine. Her mother, Harriet is such a fun character. A lot of the scenes with her had me laughing. And Harriet’s dog, Streetman . . . well, I have a Chiweenie of my own, so author Eaton scored there with me.
A wonderful mystery, BOOKED 4 MURDER had twists and turns, red herrings, and an all-round cleverness that had me guessing my way through this fast paced book. When the reveal came, I was surprised, even though I had guessed it earlier in the story, only to reject it.
Give this new series a try. Pick up a copy of BOOKED 4 MURDER. When you’re finished, you’ll be waiting for book two, DITCHED 4 MURDER as anxiously as I am!
March 2, 2021
This is such a fun series!! Love the sarcastic/witty dialogue, that never fails to make me laugh out loud! This is the third book in the series I have read and I just cant get enough of Streetman! I love how Phee's mom coddles him. I would like to see him go on more adventures and help Phee in her crime solving. 'Course, considering he runs and hides under the couch when the doorbell rings....he might not make such a great partner lol.
May 29, 2017
An entertaining mystery the first in the Sophia Kimball series. I had trouble at first getting into the story. Part way into the book I got involved in the story and found myself turning the pages to see the answer. However,
I found the characters one-dimensional and not very interesting. This makes the book hard to rate. My rating is 3.5 stars.
Phee works for the police department as an accountant in her hometown. Her Mother lives in Sun City West, Arizona and belongs to a book club. The monthly book selection rumor that there is a curse on anyone reading it. Four members of the club have died after reading it. Phee's Mother pleaded with her to come out and investigate the curse. Phew arrives to find the fifth member recovering from carbon monoxide poisoning. She had read the book. Phee is looking for answers to these questions: Were the deaths natural or are they murder? (Evidence suggested they might be murder). Who manipulate the book from almost no sales to a number one seller? Phee has a number of adventures before she finds the answer. For dog lovers, there are few adventures at a dog park. The ending is creative and it will surprise you. The actual perpetrator surprised me. I will read the next book.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kensington Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
I found the characters one-dimensional and not very interesting. This makes the book hard to rate. My rating is 3.5 stars.
Phee works for the police department as an accountant in her hometown. Her Mother lives in Sun City West, Arizona and belongs to a book club. The monthly book selection rumor that there is a curse on anyone reading it. Four members of the club have died after reading it. Phee's Mother pleaded with her to come out and investigate the curse. Phew arrives to find the fifth member recovering from carbon monoxide poisoning. She had read the book. Phee is looking for answers to these questions: Were the deaths natural or are they murder? (Evidence suggested they might be murder). Who manipulate the book from almost no sales to a number one seller? Phee has a number of adventures before she finds the answer. For dog lovers, there are few adventures at a dog park. The ending is creative and it will surprise you. The actual perpetrator surprised me. I will read the next book.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kensington Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
June 27, 2017
For complete review check out my blog at https://booksaplentybookreviews.blogs...
July 15, 2018
I can't believe I waited so long to read this book! I was sucked in from the very beginning and could barely put it down. Phee and her mom were such great characters together, yeah maybe her mom is a tad annoying but isn't everyone's a little that way? The person I guessed was not the perp, and I even went for a kind of obscure person.
Sophia "Phee" Kimball got a call from her mom, frantically saying that the book their book club was reading was cursed since three people had already died after reading it. Phee tried to reason with her mom but she knew early on she'd end up down in Arizona from Minnesota. Phee's good friend, Nate, a detective with the police department where she was in accounts receivable, encouraged her to go. He said she always did such a good job of tracking down receipts and things like that, she'd be a natural for investigating. Phee didn't really know where to begin, but with Nate's guidance, she soon had a lot of good information, including what her mother had written down for her before she got there.
I loved how Nate and Phee would share info and how he'd get the tech guy helping her. It was kind of refreshing not to have the main character worrying about which guy she likes, and instead have the male character she's interacting with be 20 years older and more her mentor. That gave her time to be more concerned with finding out the answer to what ended up being a whole trail of secrets and puzzles that led to the senior ladies' deaths. Was it murder or was someone using the supposed-curse to their advantage? Who would want to off these sweet old ladies? You'll have to read and find out. You'll be surprised and pleased with the ending. Phee somewhat got to Miss Marple and Poirot her findings, but that final book meeting/reveal was pretty hilarious at times.
I really like what happened at the very end of the book when she returned to her office job. You'll know if you read book blurbs, but I don't want to be responsible for spoiling it for someone. All I know is, book 2 here I come.
Sophia "Phee" Kimball got a call from her mom, frantically saying that the book their book club was reading was cursed since three people had already died after reading it. Phee tried to reason with her mom but she knew early on she'd end up down in Arizona from Minnesota. Phee's good friend, Nate, a detective with the police department where she was in accounts receivable, encouraged her to go. He said she always did such a good job of tracking down receipts and things like that, she'd be a natural for investigating. Phee didn't really know where to begin, but with Nate's guidance, she soon had a lot of good information, including what her mother had written down for her before she got there.
I loved how Nate and Phee would share info and how he'd get the tech guy helping her. It was kind of refreshing not to have the main character worrying about which guy she likes, and instead have the male character she's interacting with be 20 years older and more her mentor. That gave her time to be more concerned with finding out the answer to what ended up being a whole trail of secrets and puzzles that led to the senior ladies' deaths. Was it murder or was someone using the supposed-curse to their advantage? Who would want to off these sweet old ladies? You'll have to read and find out. You'll be surprised and pleased with the ending. Phee somewhat got to Miss Marple and Poirot her findings, but that final book meeting/reveal was pretty hilarious at times.
I really like what happened at the very end of the book when she returned to her office job. You'll know if you read book blurbs, but I don't want to be responsible for spoiling it for someone. All I know is, book 2 here I come.
April 30, 2020
Sophie “Phee” Kimball is annoyed when her mother keeps calling to talk about a cursed book. It seems that several members of her book club have died after starting their current month’s selection. Even though Phee is an accountant, Harriet is sure she is the one who can stop the curse, so Phee gives in and takes some vacation to go visit her mother in Arizona. Once she arrives, Phee quickly determines that something strange is going on. But is it from a cursed book? Or is a killer using the curse to hide his or her tracks?
I’ve been hearing about this series for a couple of years, and I can see why. This is a fun debut. The mystery is something different for a cozy, and I really enjoyed it. I was a little ahead of Phee in piecing things together, but only a little, and there were still some surprises when I reached the climax. I was worried that Harriet would be annoying, but I found her fun. The same goes for the rest of the cast. There were quite a few characters, but I was able to keep them all straight, which shows how well developed they were. The book made me chuckle and laugh, especially at the climax, which was a bit over the top but fit the story perfectly. I will definitely be visiting Phee again soon.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I’ve been hearing about this series for a couple of years, and I can see why. This is a fun debut. The mystery is something different for a cozy, and I really enjoyed it. I was a little ahead of Phee in piecing things together, but only a little, and there were still some surprises when I reached the climax. I was worried that Harriet would be annoying, but I found her fun. The same goes for the rest of the cast. There were quite a few characters, but I was able to keep them all straight, which shows how well developed they were. The book made me chuckle and laugh, especially at the climax, which was a bit over the top but fit the story perfectly. I will definitely be visiting Phee again soon.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
February 24, 2021
I really enjoyed this cozy. It was super fun to figure things out along side Phee & her mom! I am looking forward to what is next for them.
July 7, 2017
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from Kensington and Netgalley*
A winning first book in a series, Booked 4 Murder is the start to a series that i am sure to continue reading!
Sophie was an absolutely wonderful character. She wasn't young, there was no love interest at all (which was amazing!), and she blatantly investigated. Three things that are atypical, but that--combined together--worked! Sophie's mother wasn't sassy or crotchety, another deviation from the typical cozy mold.
The mystery was good, but the reveal felt rushed and just a bit over the top. I loved the setting, and I am so excited for the ending an what the next book will bring. Overall a wonderful mystery, and a great start to a new series. This series will be a breath of fresh air in the cozy market. Highly recommend!
A winning first book in a series, Booked 4 Murder is the start to a series that i am sure to continue reading!
Sophie was an absolutely wonderful character. She wasn't young, there was no love interest at all (which was amazing!), and she blatantly investigated. Three things that are atypical, but that--combined together--worked! Sophie's mother wasn't sassy or crotchety, another deviation from the typical cozy mold.
The mystery was good, but the reveal felt rushed and just a bit over the top. I loved the setting, and I am so excited for the ending an what the next book will bring. Overall a wonderful mystery, and a great start to a new series. This series will be a breath of fresh air in the cozy market. Highly recommend!
July 6, 2017
Booked 4 Murder, by J C Eaton has everything I like in a cozy - a mystery that keeps you guessing, humor (Mother and the book club crew were hoots!), a relatable heroine who had life experience and of course, a wonderfully crabby little dog!
Phee Kimball is a good daughter. When her mother calls Phee with the news that her book club has started reading a cursed book and the members are dropping like flies, Phee is on the way to sunny Arizona to find out what's happening. The final showdown in the library was classic and the Helen of Troy reference to a curse victim, made me snort!
I can't wait to see what happens next! What a great series!!
Phee Kimball is a good daughter. When her mother calls Phee with the news that her book club has started reading a cursed book and the members are dropping like flies, Phee is on the way to sunny Arizona to find out what's happening. The final showdown in the library was classic and the Helen of Troy reference to a curse victim, made me snort!
I can't wait to see what happens next! What a great series!!
October 2, 2019
I found this to be extremely amusing in a dry, comical way that mothers can be with their children, pets and friends. I loved the protagonist's mother in this story. She is a hoot. Her relationship with her daughter consists of a good-natured bossiness that cracked me up. Her relationship with her dog, Streetman, (a chiweenie), is making hilarious excuses for his behavior to her daughter. Rest assured she would never tolerate the same behavior from her daughter. Her relationship with her friends is loyal and yet she tells herself (and her daughter) her suspicions about them no matter if there is any basis in fact. I can't wait to read more of this series and I hope the mother is as heavily featured as she was here because she is one of those characters in which you can't get enough. I was gifted this book by a good friend and I am very appreciative that she thought I would like it. It's quickly become one of my favorite series!
June 6, 2017
Booked 4 Murder is the first book in a new cozy mystery series!
Sophie Kimball, at almost 45, is enjoying her life. She works for the Mankato, MN Police Department in accounts receivable. Her daughter is in college and her mother has moved to Arizona. Her life is pretty well set. Peaceful. Until......members of her mother's book club start dropping dead after reading their book selection for the month, a little known self-published tragic romance, The Twelfth Arrondissement. Sophie's mother, Harriet, immediately calls her daughter, demanding she come to Sun City West to investigate. The book must be cursed! Can Sophie discover what happened the four book club members who died? Is the book really cursed? Or were they victims of foul play?
I love this book! The relationship between Sophie and her mother is a hoot! Sophie keeps saying she isn't a detective that she handles accounts receivable not investigations, but her mother keeps demanding that if she can hunt down receipts that she can solve the mystery of the cursed book. Both women are intelligent,independent and stubborn! And they love each other, despite a bit of grousing. The side characters in this story are quirky and charming. I love the retirement village setting where residents fight over bingo, wreck golf carts and vie for the best sun chairs at the pool. I had to look up the definition of arrondissement...but I didn't feel bad because characters in the story admitted they didn't know what it means either.
The mystery portion of the plot is interesting and different. There are several suspects and scenarios that keep the reader wondering, and plenty of action to keep the suspense going. I enjoyed reading about a middle-age sleuth....no romance with a local cop or other overdone tropes. This story was new, refreshing and different. Plenty of humor. Great side characters. All in all, a fun read and a great start to a new series!
J.C. Eaton is the pen-name for this collaborative effort between writers Ann I. Goldfarb and James E. Clapp.
I will definitely be reading more of this new series! Luckily, the second book in the Sophie Kimball Mysteries series, Ditched 4 Murder, will be available in December 2017! Not long to wait!!
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington Via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. **
Sophie Kimball, at almost 45, is enjoying her life. She works for the Mankato, MN Police Department in accounts receivable. Her daughter is in college and her mother has moved to Arizona. Her life is pretty well set. Peaceful. Until......members of her mother's book club start dropping dead after reading their book selection for the month, a little known self-published tragic romance, The Twelfth Arrondissement. Sophie's mother, Harriet, immediately calls her daughter, demanding she come to Sun City West to investigate. The book must be cursed! Can Sophie discover what happened the four book club members who died? Is the book really cursed? Or were they victims of foul play?
I love this book! The relationship between Sophie and her mother is a hoot! Sophie keeps saying she isn't a detective that she handles accounts receivable not investigations, but her mother keeps demanding that if she can hunt down receipts that she can solve the mystery of the cursed book. Both women are intelligent,independent and stubborn! And they love each other, despite a bit of grousing. The side characters in this story are quirky and charming. I love the retirement village setting where residents fight over bingo, wreck golf carts and vie for the best sun chairs at the pool. I had to look up the definition of arrondissement...but I didn't feel bad because characters in the story admitted they didn't know what it means either.
The mystery portion of the plot is interesting and different. There are several suspects and scenarios that keep the reader wondering, and plenty of action to keep the suspense going. I enjoyed reading about a middle-age sleuth....no romance with a local cop or other overdone tropes. This story was new, refreshing and different. Plenty of humor. Great side characters. All in all, a fun read and a great start to a new series!
J.C. Eaton is the pen-name for this collaborative effort between writers Ann I. Goldfarb and James E. Clapp.
I will definitely be reading more of this new series! Luckily, the second book in the Sophie Kimball Mysteries series, Ditched 4 Murder, will be available in December 2017! Not long to wait!!
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington Via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. **
June 23, 2017
Booked 4 Murder is the first book in the A Sophie Kimball Mystery series.
Booked 4 Murder is a very enjoyable beginning to, what I think, will be an entertaining series. If you like a good helping of humor with your mysteries, this is definitely a book that should go to the top of your to-read list. A fast paced book with a wonderful cast of characters. The book is set in Sun City, AZ, a retirement community with a group of retired seniors, who are set in their ways but still are alert enough to watch out for their friends. The story, along with the characters, makes me want to call this a combination of Columbo and the Keystone Cops.
Sophie finally gives in to her mother’s request, putting it mildly, to come to Sun City to investigate the deaths of three members of her mom’s book club. He mom is sure that deaths are the result them reading a “cursed” book. As Sophie arrives at her mother’s there is a police presence across the street. It is soon learned that there was carbon monoxide poisoning, but it was found early enough that the homeowner survived.
Sophie works in the accounting department of the Mankato Police Department, so she has no real investigative skills, but she does have common sense which she uses to look into te suspicious deaths. She feels that at least two of the deaths are simply accidents, But the death of one the members from a bee sting and the attempted death by carbon monoxide poisoning have her stymied. In addition, Sophie is also perplexed that she can find anything about the book or it’s author. Sophie contacts Nate Williams, a detective with the Mankato PD to asks procedure questions and whatever information he might be able to get to help find the killer.
I will be anxiously waiting for November 28, 2017, when the second book, Ditched 4 Murder comes out, to see what further adventures Sophie Kimball has.
Booked 4 Murder is a very enjoyable beginning to, what I think, will be an entertaining series. If you like a good helping of humor with your mysteries, this is definitely a book that should go to the top of your to-read list. A fast paced book with a wonderful cast of characters. The book is set in Sun City, AZ, a retirement community with a group of retired seniors, who are set in their ways but still are alert enough to watch out for their friends. The story, along with the characters, makes me want to call this a combination of Columbo and the Keystone Cops.
Sophie finally gives in to her mother’s request, putting it mildly, to come to Sun City to investigate the deaths of three members of her mom’s book club. He mom is sure that deaths are the result them reading a “cursed” book. As Sophie arrives at her mother’s there is a police presence across the street. It is soon learned that there was carbon monoxide poisoning, but it was found early enough that the homeowner survived.
Sophie works in the accounting department of the Mankato Police Department, so she has no real investigative skills, but she does have common sense which she uses to look into te suspicious deaths. She feels that at least two of the deaths are simply accidents, But the death of one the members from a bee sting and the attempted death by carbon monoxide poisoning have her stymied. In addition, Sophie is also perplexed that she can find anything about the book or it’s author. Sophie contacts Nate Williams, a detective with the Mankato PD to asks procedure questions and whatever information he might be able to get to help find the killer.
I will be anxiously waiting for November 28, 2017, when the second book, Ditched 4 Murder comes out, to see what further adventures Sophie Kimball has.
January 24, 2019
"I'm telling you, Phee, they were all murdered."
Sophie "Phee" Kimball is an accountant for a small Minnesota police department. Her mom convinces Phee to come to Sun City West, Arizona to help her discover who is killing off book club members.
This book has a ton of characters. I almost needed a spread sheet to keep up with them. The book club is reading an obscure book that seems to relate to several recent deaths. Phee starts picking up real clues which lead back to a dastardly plot.
This was just an ok book for me. There was too much going on for it to be cohesive. I did enjoy Phee's willingness to find the answers. Everything else was just too over the top.
I'm not sure that I would read the next book in the series.
2.5 stars
Sophie "Phee" Kimball is an accountant for a small Minnesota police department. Her mom convinces Phee to come to Sun City West, Arizona to help her discover who is killing off book club members.
This book has a ton of characters. I almost needed a spread sheet to keep up with them. The book club is reading an obscure book that seems to relate to several recent deaths. Phee starts picking up real clues which lead back to a dastardly plot.
This was just an ok book for me. There was too much going on for it to be cohesive. I did enjoy Phee's willingness to find the answers. Everything else was just too over the top.
I'm not sure that I would read the next book in the series.
2.5 stars
February 25, 2018
Fantastic cozy!~
An excellent first book in the series. I loved how well written this was. A ton of action and mystery. Loved the characters and the creative title and story. Love that gorgeous cover, I mean its one of the best Ive seen in a while!
5 stars from me!
An excellent first book in the series. I loved how well written this was. A ton of action and mystery. Loved the characters and the creative title and story. Love that gorgeous cover, I mean its one of the best Ive seen in a while!
5 stars from me!
July 24, 2018
Fun start to a new series! I will definitely be reading more books by this author.
January 30, 2018
The relationship between the main character Sophie and her mum Harriet is so much fun! I found myself chuckling along at their interactions and not wanting the story to end.
Any book involving books will always be on my list of books I WILL get to very soon and I thoroughly enjoyed this wander to Arizona, settling in to pretend I'm with them in the warmth but knowing I ain't gonna get murdered and if I am, they can help find the killer.
Book 2 is waiting on my kindle, yay!
*Huge thanks to J.C. Eaton, Kensington Books and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own*
Any book involving books will always be on my list of books I WILL get to very soon and I thoroughly enjoyed this wander to Arizona, settling in to pretend I'm with them in the warmth but knowing I ain't gonna get murdered and if I am, they can help find the killer.
Book 2 is waiting on my kindle, yay!
*Huge thanks to J.C. Eaton, Kensington Books and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own*
October 11, 2017
Book #79 Read in 2017
Booked 4 Murder by J C Eaton
This is the first book in a cozy mystery series. Phee does accounts payable for a police department. Her mother calls her from Arizona and tells her that she needs to come out there and look into this book curse--members of her mother's book club have died under suspicious circumstances since beginning their group read. Phee heads out and tries her hand at being Nancy Drew. This was a good mystery which kept me guessing until the end. I will continue the series. I borrowed this book from the public library.
Booked 4 Murder by J C Eaton
This is the first book in a cozy mystery series. Phee does accounts payable for a police department. Her mother calls her from Arizona and tells her that she needs to come out there and look into this book curse--members of her mother's book club have died under suspicious circumstances since beginning their group read. Phee heads out and tries her hand at being Nancy Drew. This was a good mystery which kept me guessing until the end. I will continue the series. I borrowed this book from the public library.
August 5, 2017
Bel libro, con uno stile frizzante: più di una volta mi sono ritrovata col sorriso sulle labbra. Non male la storia gialla. Poi, forse per le temperature estreme di questi giorni, mi sono veramente immedesimata nella protagonista che dal fresco del Minnesota si ritrova nell'assolata Arizona: fra l'altro, il libro è ambientato in una cittadina vicino a Phoenix e durante il mio bellissimo viaggio nei parchi americani ho patito veramente il caldo solamente nella mezza giornata che abbiamo passato in quella città...
July 27, 2017
A great kickoff to a new series! This story written by husband and wife, James E. Clapp and Ann I. Goldfarb is set in a senior community in Sun City West, Arizona, and is often laugh out loud funny. The rest of my time was spent [figuratively] shaking my head at the antics of these characters.
I can't wait to see what happens next in book #2 in this series, Ditched for Murder!!
I can't wait to see what happens next in book #2 in this series, Ditched for Murder!!
July 29, 2018
I read this book for a facebook bookclub I am in, and am so glad I did. Sophie, aka Phee, gets a frantic call from her mother. The book they are reading for their bookclub is cursed and she wants Sophie to come out to Arizona and help her find out what is going on. Sophie is not a cop, but works for the Mankao Minnesota police department. With reluctance, off she goes. Phee didn't really know where to begin, but using the information her mother has already gathered, she was able to make a plan. Occasionally getting help from her friend Nate, who is a police detective, she stumbles onto clues, and begins to figure out what is going on.
I loved the relationship between Phee and her mom, Harriet. They still had the mom/daughter thing going on, some times with her mom treating her like a child. Harriet was a senior who had moved to Arizona and all the stereotypes of retirees moving south were there. She lived in a community with other seniors, ate early, had a schedule that she did not want to change, and knew everything about everyone else. She was a hoot. I loved how Nate and Phee would share information long distance and that he would be the one to pull in his contacts. He was also 20 years older and a mentor, not a love interest, in fact, there is no romantic overtones in the book at all, which was refreshing. The end of the book where the reveal came about was pretty funny in itself and not the person I though was involved, in fact, not the person Phee thought either. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series. If you like cozy mysteries with quirky characters and humor, then you will enjoy this book.
I loved the relationship between Phee and her mom, Harriet. They still had the mom/daughter thing going on, some times with her mom treating her like a child. Harriet was a senior who had moved to Arizona and all the stereotypes of retirees moving south were there. She lived in a community with other seniors, ate early, had a schedule that she did not want to change, and knew everything about everyone else. She was a hoot. I loved how Nate and Phee would share information long distance and that he would be the one to pull in his contacts. He was also 20 years older and a mentor, not a love interest, in fact, there is no romantic overtones in the book at all, which was refreshing. The end of the book where the reveal came about was pretty funny in itself and not the person I though was involved, in fact, not the person Phee thought either. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series. If you like cozy mysteries with quirky characters and humor, then you will enjoy this book.
April 14, 2018
Booked 4 Murder was a delightful read. I loved every page. The characters were likable and entertaining. The mystery plot was humorous, but also well crafted. The surprise ending blew me away. I quickly started the second book, Ditched 4 Murder. Treat yourself to a fun book and read Booked 4 Murder.
September 2, 2019
Upgraded to 1.5 stars. I thought it was very realistic that the heroine admitted that she wasn’t a detective and didn’t know how to investigate things; and that she didn’t believe in the idea of a book curse. However the plot line was ridiculous and I felt the character’s relationship with her mother was extremely stereotypical. The actual writing was fairly good.
OF COURSE, in the second book (excerpt), the author has her moving to Arizona, which is where her mother lives, so I’m sure she’s going to become a recurring character.
OF COURSE, in the second book (excerpt), the author has her moving to Arizona, which is where her mother lives, so I’m sure she’s going to become a recurring character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2017
I absolutely enjoyed this book. It was a cute, quick read that kept me guessing until the very end. I loved all the twists and turns.
September 1, 2017
I enjoyed Booked 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton. The book was funny and entertaining. I look forward to reading more in this series.
September 21, 2017
What a FUN book and I laughed a few times. The ending was a little convoluted to me but it didn't take away from the enjoyment
June 28, 2017
I've been on a roll with fantastic cozies this year but the last few have been a little flat. However, as soon as I started this one I knew my luck was changing. This mystery was so much fun! Phee is not your typical amateur detective. She's a little bit older than usual and while she does work for the police department her primary investigations involve tracking down receipts and she likes it that way. She has no interest in solving a mystery that she's pretty sure is amazing until a friend (who happens to be a police detective) convinces her that there might really be something more than a combination of boredom and a vivid imagination.
Phee puts some serious legwork into the investigation and it was really fun to watch as she figures out who to talk to and how to talk to them in a way that isn't too big of a lie but that will make people answer her questions.She's a smart investigator though not flawless and chases down some dead ends and false leads. It was a ton of fun following all the clues right along with her. The community of Sun City West is not the sleepy little retirement community that Phee thinks it is in the beginning. There's all kinds of gossip and politics and the dynamics for events is seriously complicated but very entertaining. The mystery itself is well done and while I had guessed bits and pieces the way everything came together was a surprise.
This is one of my favorite cozies of the year so far. It's on the light side but not silly and I really enjoyed the characters. It was a very quick read and kept me entertained. There's a little setup for the rest of the series at the end and I'm super excited to see where the next book goes.
Full Review: http://iwishilivedinalibrary.blogspot...
*Received copy in exchange for honest review
Phee puts some serious legwork into the investigation and it was really fun to watch as she figures out who to talk to and how to talk to them in a way that isn't too big of a lie but that will make people answer her questions.She's a smart investigator though not flawless and chases down some dead ends and false leads. It was a ton of fun following all the clues right along with her. The community of Sun City West is not the sleepy little retirement community that Phee thinks it is in the beginning. There's all kinds of gossip and politics and the dynamics for events is seriously complicated but very entertaining. The mystery itself is well done and while I had guessed bits and pieces the way everything came together was a surprise.
This is one of my favorite cozies of the year so far. It's on the light side but not silly and I really enjoyed the characters. It was a very quick read and kept me entertained. There's a little setup for the rest of the series at the end and I'm super excited to see where the next book goes.
Full Review: http://iwishilivedinalibrary.blogspot...
*Received copy in exchange for honest review
July 13, 2022
Booked 4 Murder is the first book I’ve read by author J.C. Eaton. It’s also the first book in the Sophie Kimball Mystery series. The story is of a 40 something police department accountant in Minnesota that goes to Sun City West, Arizona to help her mother’s book club with a “cursed” book. Four book club members have died in less than a month and someone is spreading the rumor that their deaths are because of the obscure book they were all reading. Sophie (aka Phee) needs to find a logical explanation to ease her mother’s mind and those of the other book club members. She takes vacation time to go to Arizona to help her mom.
I enjoyed this book so much I read it in one day. The plot was good and the story moved forward effortlessly. The characters were fun, residents of a retirement community. They were witty and supportive of each other. I would recommend it!
I enjoyed this book so much I read it in one day. The plot was good and the story moved forward effortlessly. The characters were fun, residents of a retirement community. They were witty and supportive of each other. I would recommend it!
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