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Writer's Retreat Mystery #1
First Case
The fact that Katrina Pomeroy had been murdered was in and of itself a newsworthy event. The fact that she had been murdered on Friday October 13th exactly eleven years after she’d been one of five teenagers to survive the Friday The 13th Massacre, made her passing worthy of notice by the national news agencies Jillian Hanford used to work for. When an old editor of Jillian's offered her the chance to write a human interest piece about Katrina’s life and subsequent death, she jumped at the chance to re-launch her currently defunct career. Of course in order to make the sort of impact she was after, she’d not only need to write about Katrina’s unusual life, but she’d need to answer the question of who was responsible for her death. She knew she'd need help so she decided to enlist the help of the five writers currently living at the writer's retreat on Gull Island. Jillian would soon discover a decade old secret covering a shocking truth that was better left unrevealed.
201 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2017
1208 people are currently reading
858 people want to read
About the author
Kathi Daley
353 books1,782 followersKathi lives with her husband, kids, grandkids, and dogs in beautiful Lake Tahoe. When she isn't writing, Kathi likes to read (preferably at the beach or by the fire), cook (preferably something with chocolate or cheese,) and garden (planting and planning not weeding). She also enjoys spending time on the water when she's not hiking, biking, or snowshoeing, the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home.
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.
Join me on Facebook at Kathi Daley Books (www.facebook.com/kathidaleybooks) for updates on my books, photos of life in Lake Tahoe, recipes, contests, and giveaways. For weekly updates and contests sign up for The Daley Weekly Newsletter (http://eepurl.com/NRPDf).
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.
Join me on Facebook at Kathi Daley Books (www.facebook.com/kathidaleybooks) for updates on my books, photos of life in Lake Tahoe, recipes, contests, and giveaways. For weekly updates and contests sign up for The Daley Weekly Newsletter (http://eepurl.com/NRPDf).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
May 8, 2017
Author Kathi Daley debuts an exciting new series with a gripping, edge-of-your-seat plot line. More intense and suspense filled than any of Daley's previous books, FIRST CASE takes readers along on a chilling rehashment of a multi-murder scene that took place 11 years ago on a Friday, the 13th. My eyes were practically glued to the screen of my Kindle in this fast-moving mystery. Alarmingly, no one was ever arrested for the murders. My emotions churned as I read that the traumatized witnesses all told different versions of what happened that fateful night.
The story introduces Jill Hanford, half-sister to Garrett, the resort owner who had a stroke in Treasure In Paradise (T.J. Jensen #7). Jill is a freelance writer and former news reporter, and she's taken charge of Turtle Cove Resort and gathered a group of writers together to fill the renovated cottages. In a meeting, they muse about the unsolved case which they find fascinating. The story culminates in a flood of survivor confessions and a twist that left me stunned! The main cast of characters stem from all walks of life, and I look forward to following their journeys in future stories.
The story introduces Jill Hanford, half-sister to Garrett, the resort owner who had a stroke in Treasure In Paradise (T.J. Jensen #7). Jill is a freelance writer and former news reporter, and she's taken charge of Turtle Cove Resort and gathered a group of writers together to fill the renovated cottages. In a meeting, they muse about the unsolved case which they find fascinating. The story culminates in a flood of survivor confessions and a twist that left me stunned! The main cast of characters stem from all walks of life, and I look forward to following their journeys in future stories.
January 29, 2018
Although I liked the idea behind the mystery, I felt the writing wasn't as well done as some of her other series. The story's ending was rather implausible.
May 11, 2017
Meet Jillian Hanford, a former investigative reporter for a big city paper. She now lives on Gull Island, in the dilapidated resort owned by her much older brother, who is recovering from a stroke. Jill is supervising the renovation of the resort while housing and entertaining five writers who have taken up residence in the main house while the individual cabins are being redone. Restyling the resort as the perfect writer's retreat, brings together a group determined to solve the eleven year old mystery of the murder of three local teens. The group of eight had taken shelter on an adjoining island while a storm blew thru. During the night one girl and two boys died. Katrina Pomeroy was one of the five survivors. When she returns to Gull Island on the eleventh anniversary of the Friday the Thirteenth Massacre, her body is found on the rocks below a pier. Jill and all the characters are nicely developed but with lots of room to grow. The southern island setting is the perfect backdrop for a diverse group of writers and friends. The murder plots were extremely well done and led us to a shock of an ending. This debut of a new series by a popular author is a "Must Read" for any cozy fan. I am anxious to read the next book.
May 2, 2017
First Case is the first book in the Writers Retreat Southern Mystery series. The beginning of this story grabbed me in its grips so fast that that I couldn't break free. Not that I wanted to. A group of writers get together to try to solve a mystery that happened 11 years ago, on Friday, October 13. This is the first year that October 13 has occurred on a Friday since that time, and a body has been found. Was it murder? Are the cases connected? This is one fantastic new series!
June 15, 2017
Eleven years ago, three teenagers were killed on a deserted island near Gull Island South Carolina on Friday the 13th. No one was ever arrested for this murder. Now, one of the surviving five victims has returned to Gull Island and died on the anniversary. Jill Hanford, former investigative reporter from Charleston, has come to Gull Island to manage her brother's resort and she feels this story could get her back into the good graces of the newspaper industry.
This cozy mystery deserves a five star rating and is the best book I've read so far by Kathi Daley. The ending has a great twist that I didn't see coming. I like the concept of the old never-solved mystery. I felt the horror and creepiness of the crime as I read the survivor's tales of the attack. I also like the 10 bedroom mansion being filled with writers who act as a sounding board for Jill's investigation. She works methodically to interview the surviving victims and she has formed a good liaison with the local deputy. There's a bit of romance in the book plus the parrot Blackbeard adds to the story. By the end of the book, all the secondary characters feel like old friends already. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in this series. Author Kathi Daley has lots of room to take this series in many different directions.
Lots of characters have been introduced in this book so I really appreciate the descriptions of the writers, the townspeople and the eight teenagers given at the start of the book. This made my reading so much easier!
I received a copy of this book for free from the author but I'm not under any obligation to write a review. I've chosen to do so and my opinions are my own.
This cozy mystery deserves a five star rating and is the best book I've read so far by Kathi Daley. The ending has a great twist that I didn't see coming. I like the concept of the old never-solved mystery. I felt the horror and creepiness of the crime as I read the survivor's tales of the attack. I also like the 10 bedroom mansion being filled with writers who act as a sounding board for Jill's investigation. She works methodically to interview the surviving victims and she has formed a good liaison with the local deputy. There's a bit of romance in the book plus the parrot Blackbeard adds to the story. By the end of the book, all the secondary characters feel like old friends already. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in this series. Author Kathi Daley has lots of room to take this series in many different directions.
Lots of characters have been introduced in this book so I really appreciate the descriptions of the writers, the townspeople and the eight teenagers given at the start of the book. This made my reading so much easier!
I received a copy of this book for free from the author but I'm not under any obligation to write a review. I've chosen to do so and my opinions are my own.
October 9, 2023
Enjoyable, but I felt there wasn't that much to it. I also felt that I was coming in part-way through the story, and was supposed to already know the characters. Trouble is, I haven't read Treasure in Paradise, which as far as I can tell is the book where these characters came from. I did like the more "cold case" focus. I'll probably try another couple in this series to see if it fills out a bit.
January 4, 2018
Mesmerizing Story
I was hooked just from the description. Kathy Daley is an extraordinary woman with so much talent. I'm thrilled she shares her talent through her words and in her books.
I was hooked just from the description. Kathy Daley is an extraordinary woman with so much talent. I'm thrilled she shares her talent through her words and in her books.
February 8, 2019
A great start to this series. A little tendency towards repetition but otherwise an easy read. Have the second one ready on the TBR mountain.
January 11, 2021
Rounding 3.5 rating up to 4 stars.
May 6, 2017
“First Case” earns 5/5 Cryptic Notes!
Jillian Hanford has temporarily agreed to take over her half-brother’s resort on Gull Island and turn it into a writer’s retreat. Several authors have already moved in with long-term leases taking advantage of the conducive environment for writing and unique collaborations. Today’s collaboration is on the recent death of Katrina Pomeroy suspiciously occurring on the eleventh anniversary of the Friday the Thirteenth Massacre. Learning she is one of five survivors of the massacre and the killer had never been caught makes this story a hot topic. Jillian is a freelance investigative reporter hoping to turn this into a ‘human interest’ story, and use it to get back to the life she left in New York. She sets off to interview the remaining survivors to verify events and try to reach a conclusion about what happened eleven years ago and why Katrina is the latest victim. With assistance from the authors at the resort, romantic possibility Jackson Jones, and reluctant Sheriff Savage, Jill gets more questions than answers which is further complicated when she receives a cryptic note, “Leave well enough alone.”
This just may be Kathi Daley’s best ever! My first glimpse of Gull Island and some of its inhabitants came from reading “Treasure in Paradise” from the Tj Jenson Paradise Lake Mystery series, but newbies need not shy away because, although “Treasure in Paradise” is a book I highly recommend, it is in no way a prequel to this series. Fans and newbies start out equal brought up to speed with the background provided about the characters in a prologue-style introduction: The Writers, Townsfolk, The Victims and Suspects.
This first book is thrilling! I greatly enjoyed the camaraderie between the authors (millennials to retirees) gathering together to map out the clues, notes, and news articles relying on their individual strengths. And what a great character twist having Blackbeard the parrot in a clue-revealing role! He provided such clues in a puzzling manner…ya know, bird speak. I was racking my brain trying to uncover what all the squawking could mean. The mystery brilliantly wove together the two murder investigations: the eleven-year old cold case dubbed the Friday the Thirteenth Massacre and the current suspicious death of one of the survivors. The links had me looking closely at the characters until…”Oh, no! I didn’t see that coming!” end.
Jillian Hanford has temporarily agreed to take over her half-brother’s resort on Gull Island and turn it into a writer’s retreat. Several authors have already moved in with long-term leases taking advantage of the conducive environment for writing and unique collaborations. Today’s collaboration is on the recent death of Katrina Pomeroy suspiciously occurring on the eleventh anniversary of the Friday the Thirteenth Massacre. Learning she is one of five survivors of the massacre and the killer had never been caught makes this story a hot topic. Jillian is a freelance investigative reporter hoping to turn this into a ‘human interest’ story, and use it to get back to the life she left in New York. She sets off to interview the remaining survivors to verify events and try to reach a conclusion about what happened eleven years ago and why Katrina is the latest victim. With assistance from the authors at the resort, romantic possibility Jackson Jones, and reluctant Sheriff Savage, Jill gets more questions than answers which is further complicated when she receives a cryptic note, “Leave well enough alone.”
This just may be Kathi Daley’s best ever! My first glimpse of Gull Island and some of its inhabitants came from reading “Treasure in Paradise” from the Tj Jenson Paradise Lake Mystery series, but newbies need not shy away because, although “Treasure in Paradise” is a book I highly recommend, it is in no way a prequel to this series. Fans and newbies start out equal brought up to speed with the background provided about the characters in a prologue-style introduction: The Writers, Townsfolk, The Victims and Suspects.
This first book is thrilling! I greatly enjoyed the camaraderie between the authors (millennials to retirees) gathering together to map out the clues, notes, and news articles relying on their individual strengths. And what a great character twist having Blackbeard the parrot in a clue-revealing role! He provided such clues in a puzzling manner…ya know, bird speak. I was racking my brain trying to uncover what all the squawking could mean. The mystery brilliantly wove together the two murder investigations: the eleven-year old cold case dubbed the Friday the Thirteenth Massacre and the current suspicious death of one of the survivors. The links had me looking closely at the characters until…”Oh, no! I didn’t see that coming!” end.
May 2, 2017
After being introduced to this resort and Blackbeard, the amazing parrot, in a TJ Jensen novel by Kathi Daley, I was excited for this new series. I am also sort of a writers' retreat geek and appreciate getting to know more about the way writers' minds work. This series shows much promise.
Darker than some of Kathi Daley's other story lines, this mystery involves an unsolved multiple death incident from eleven years prior seemingly tied to a present day possible homicide. The main trouble is untangling all the conflicting clues and accounts from witnesses. The characters are developed but with enough shadow to provide doubt about who is telling the truth.
Initially those involved were all teenagers, teeming with hormones and angst. Mature topics are touched upon, although not graphically.
I am a fan of the setting and the secondary characters who play important roles in discovering leads. Clara is an especially intriguing character I am looking forward to learning more about.
Besides the mystery aspect, this series also promises a good share of romantic elements. If this first novel is anything to go by, that romance will not move forward smoothly or quickly.
As mentioned, the tone is darker than Kathi's other series, but the process of discovering clues, leads and even red herrings is equally as intriguing as her other series we enjoy.
Overall, a very well crafted beginning to an interesting amateur sleuth/writer/reporter series.
This is emotionally charged and the reader may find themselves thinking about choices made.
While I enjoy jumping into a Kathi Daley mystery, this one was a quick read. I finished it in one sitting and am eager for the next book.
Darker than some of Kathi Daley's other story lines, this mystery involves an unsolved multiple death incident from eleven years prior seemingly tied to a present day possible homicide. The main trouble is untangling all the conflicting clues and accounts from witnesses. The characters are developed but with enough shadow to provide doubt about who is telling the truth.
Initially those involved were all teenagers, teeming with hormones and angst. Mature topics are touched upon, although not graphically.
I am a fan of the setting and the secondary characters who play important roles in discovering leads. Clara is an especially intriguing character I am looking forward to learning more about.
Besides the mystery aspect, this series also promises a good share of romantic elements. If this first novel is anything to go by, that romance will not move forward smoothly or quickly.
As mentioned, the tone is darker than Kathi's other series, but the process of discovering clues, leads and even red herrings is equally as intriguing as her other series we enjoy.
Overall, a very well crafted beginning to an interesting amateur sleuth/writer/reporter series.
This is emotionally charged and the reader may find themselves thinking about choices made.
While I enjoy jumping into a Kathi Daley mystery, this one was a quick read. I finished it in one sitting and am eager for the next book.
May 14, 2017
This new series of Ms. Daley's is off to a great start. As with all her books, I love the characters, they are real and people that I would love to hang around with. The mystery was excellent while researching an old case of a massacre on Friday the 13th Jill wonders if it ties in with the recent murder/suicide that happened. The twists and turns in this story kept me guessing even with help from the clues Blackbeard the parrot dropped. I was totally surprised at the who, I didn't see it coming. I will definitely continue on with this series.
February 14, 2018
First Case by Kathi Daley is the first book in this series and was an enjoyable afternoon read. This book is completely different from her other cozy series in that this book has a different voice and feel as you read it. The characters are introduced but not fully developed yet but I found them to be likable. The plot is smoothly paced, the mystery is very complex and the resolution was somewhat heartbreaking and compassionate. I definitely will be reading the next one in this series.
April 9, 2018
Pretend you're sitting around a campfire and Kathi Daley is telling you a story about a Friday the 13th massacre that occurred 11 years ago. The killer is never found and the five survivors (at the time teenagers) all had differing accounts of what happened that fateful night. Add to the story that one of the survivors returns to Gull Island after 11 years and is found dead on the anniversary of the massacres. This gripping story drew me in from page one. Trying to piece together what happened through Ms. Daley's investigative reporter Jill Hanford ,who is new to the island, is pure genius. Cleverly written mystery with a shocking ending. Warning once I started it I couldn't put it down.
August 13, 2018
So, so good!!! Loved it!!
May 28, 2017
First Case is the inaugural book in Kathi Daley’s A Writer’s Retreat Southern Mystery series. More novel than short story, this book is long on plot which I expect will thicken as this series progresses. Ms. Daley did what prolific authors do best: the backward glance, a salute to history and other sources of wisdom. The characters, setting, and background are introduced quickly and flow smoothly throughout the book making this book enjoyable for the reader. Readers who are acquainted with the Tj Jensen series will recognize the setting on Gull Island and some of the characters from Treasure In Paradise. The process of turning a resort into a writers’ retreat seems like a great idea. Who better to solve a mystery then a group of authors? This book meets the criteria of a cozy mystery but is definitely more intense with the addition of suspense and thrill. The book delves into an old, unsolved murder involving high school students. That murder occurred on Friday the 13th. Blackbeard the parrot and a busy-body who talks to ghosts are delightful additions to this series and add to the intrigue.
Ms. Daley has written a page turning a clean, delightful read, well developed characters, and a captivating mystery to solve. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading superbly-crafted cozy mystery, or traditional, clean mystery with suspense, thrill and a hint of romance which will not move forward smoothly. Kathi Daley’s new series is a winner and I’m looking forward to the next book in this series
Ms. Daley has written a page turning a clean, delightful read, well developed characters, and a captivating mystery to solve. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading superbly-crafted cozy mystery, or traditional, clean mystery with suspense, thrill and a hint of romance which will not move forward smoothly. Kathi Daley’s new series is a winner and I’m looking forward to the next book in this series
May 4, 2017
First Case
Writer’s Retreat Mystery, #1
Kathi Daley
5 Stars
Synopsis:
The fact that Katrina Pomeroy had been murdered was in and of itself a newsworthy event. The fact that she had been murdered on Friday October 13th exactly eleven years after she’d been one of five teenagers to survive the Friday The 13th Massacre, made her passing worthy of notice by the national news agencies Jillian Hanford used to work for. When an old editor of Jillian's offered her the chance to write a human interest piece about Katrina’s life and subsequent death, she jumped at the chance to re-launch her currently defunct career. Of course in order to make the sort of impact she was after, she’d not only need to write about Katrina’s unusual life, but she’d need to answer the question of who was responsible for her death. She knew she'd need help so she decided to enlist the help of the five writers currently living at the writer's retreat on Gull Island. Jillian would soon discover a decade old secret covering a shocking truth that was better left unrevealed. (Goodreads)
Review:
Although this is a brand new series for this author, fans of her books will recognize a few thing from other series. All of her books have great character development, a great small town setting, great mysteries and lovable animals. And this one is no exception.
The characters are well rounded, well developed and three dimensional. Jillian is a reporter who has returned to Gull Island to help run her brother’s retreat after he suffered a stroke. She is smart, feisty and inquisitive and has never backed down from a mystery. Jackson is a very successful writer of mysteries who has moved to Gull Island to run the newspaper. He has a very active imagination, and like Jillian, he loves to have a mystery to solve. Clara is a psychic who loves to write paranormal mysteries. She is able to look at people’s behavior in a different way than most people. Working together to solve a eleven year old mystery that may have ties to present day keeps the three of them very busy. The secondary characters add a lot to the story and I am sure they will continue to be important in future books. And of course, Blackbeard, the parrot, stole the show. He is able to communicate with Jillian and is instrumental in helping to solve the mysteries.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there on Gull Island, watching all the action taking place and eavesdropping in on conversations. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. I was drawn into the action from the beginning of the book and dragged along until the conclusion.
As is usual for this author, there are a couple of mysteries to solve and they are woven together perfectly to make the reader really have to think in order to solve them. There are enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through that I was unable to decide who the culprit was until it was revealed at the end. I kept changing my mind as new clues were revealed. The ending surprised me.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Kathi Daley has penned many great cozy series and you can add a Writer’s Retreat Mystery series to that list.
Writer’s Retreat Mystery, #1
Kathi Daley
5 Stars
Synopsis:
The fact that Katrina Pomeroy had been murdered was in and of itself a newsworthy event. The fact that she had been murdered on Friday October 13th exactly eleven years after she’d been one of five teenagers to survive the Friday The 13th Massacre, made her passing worthy of notice by the national news agencies Jillian Hanford used to work for. When an old editor of Jillian's offered her the chance to write a human interest piece about Katrina’s life and subsequent death, she jumped at the chance to re-launch her currently defunct career. Of course in order to make the sort of impact she was after, she’d not only need to write about Katrina’s unusual life, but she’d need to answer the question of who was responsible for her death. She knew she'd need help so she decided to enlist the help of the five writers currently living at the writer's retreat on Gull Island. Jillian would soon discover a decade old secret covering a shocking truth that was better left unrevealed. (Goodreads)
Review:
Although this is a brand new series for this author, fans of her books will recognize a few thing from other series. All of her books have great character development, a great small town setting, great mysteries and lovable animals. And this one is no exception.
The characters are well rounded, well developed and three dimensional. Jillian is a reporter who has returned to Gull Island to help run her brother’s retreat after he suffered a stroke. She is smart, feisty and inquisitive and has never backed down from a mystery. Jackson is a very successful writer of mysteries who has moved to Gull Island to run the newspaper. He has a very active imagination, and like Jillian, he loves to have a mystery to solve. Clara is a psychic who loves to write paranormal mysteries. She is able to look at people’s behavior in a different way than most people. Working together to solve a eleven year old mystery that may have ties to present day keeps the three of them very busy. The secondary characters add a lot to the story and I am sure they will continue to be important in future books. And of course, Blackbeard, the parrot, stole the show. He is able to communicate with Jillian and is instrumental in helping to solve the mysteries.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there on Gull Island, watching all the action taking place and eavesdropping in on conversations. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. I was drawn into the action from the beginning of the book and dragged along until the conclusion.
As is usual for this author, there are a couple of mysteries to solve and they are woven together perfectly to make the reader really have to think in order to solve them. There are enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through that I was unable to decide who the culprit was until it was revealed at the end. I kept changing my mind as new clues were revealed. The ending surprised me.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Kathi Daley has penned many great cozy series and you can add a Writer’s Retreat Mystery series to that list.
May 13, 2017
This is the debut novel in a new series from Kathi Daley. If you've been reading her TJ Jensen series, you'll recognize the setting of Gull Island (as well as some of the characters) from the most recent book in that series, Treasure In Paradise. And if you haven't read that series, you can still jump right into this series.
While this is still a cozy series, I found it to be more intense and suspenseful than some of her others--which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. The older unsolved murder mystery involving several dead teens (which took place on Friday the 13th) gets a lot of coverage, and the scene is described in harrowing detail (but still without being TOO gory or violent).
The present day death of one of the survivors of that massacre has Jillian Hanford, our main character, trying to solve both cases and write a newspaper story that could get her back in the good graces of her former boss. She recruits the writers who are living at the resort she is managing for her half-brother, Garrett, as well as the editor of the Gull Island newspaper, to investigate with her. Garrett's parrot, Blackbeard, also plays a role in providing clues, as he did in the TJ Jensen story (I love him!)
When we get a full confession about the older murder, I actually found myself feeling sorry for the person who confessed, which virtually never happens. And the twist involving the more current case was a TOTAL surprise.
Highly recommend this to all cozy readers, and all lovers of southern mysteries.
While this is still a cozy series, I found it to be more intense and suspenseful than some of her others--which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. The older unsolved murder mystery involving several dead teens (which took place on Friday the 13th) gets a lot of coverage, and the scene is described in harrowing detail (but still without being TOO gory or violent).
The present day death of one of the survivors of that massacre has Jillian Hanford, our main character, trying to solve both cases and write a newspaper story that could get her back in the good graces of her former boss. She recruits the writers who are living at the resort she is managing for her half-brother, Garrett, as well as the editor of the Gull Island newspaper, to investigate with her. Garrett's parrot, Blackbeard, also plays a role in providing clues, as he did in the TJ Jensen story (I love him!)
When we get a full confession about the older murder, I actually found myself feeling sorry for the person who confessed, which virtually never happens. And the twist involving the more current case was a TOTAL surprise.
Highly recommend this to all cozy readers, and all lovers of southern mysteries.
January 15, 2018
I am a devoted fan of this author and have read all of her books. This book is written in a different style from the author's other series - more investigative centered as a team, not as "warm and fuzzy" as friends or family in her other books. I didn't feel any personal connection to the characters, I felt I was an outsider looking in - not that it was bad, just different. The mystery is well-crafted, the book well-written as I would expect coming from this author. I am a fast reader (which occasionally translates to missing some detail) and there always seems to be outside distraction when I am reading, so I did struggle a bit initially with the amount of characters (good thing there's a key in the front) because you really have to concentrate, but eventually I got it straight and found the story interesting and enjoyable enough to continue on with the series.
June 28, 2018
First Case is a cosy mystery set on the small island community of Gull Island.
I picked up references to a previous work whilst reading this book, but can confirm that it works perfectly as a stand-alone and series-starter without any fore-knowledge.
Personally I am a big Agatha Christie fan, and I picked up her influence in this story: from the gathering of amateur sleuths (each with their own special knowledge base) to the small pool of suspects, and the group confrontation. However this was not a ‘cover’ or pastiche, but rather a fresh mystery book making respectful nods to an elderly ancestor.
The gathered writers were somewhat underutilised in this plot, in favour of ‘Captain’ Jack and Deputy Savage, however this story served as a useful introduction to their individual talents and there is so much potential for their future input. My personal favourite character was, of course, Blackbeard the parrot. I loved his cryptic clues and felt they added a really interesting puzzle angle to the mystery (‘Pickles and cream’?!). Along with Mortie the maybe-ghost and Clara the possibly-psychic I felt that Blackbeard’s sentience was very cleverly presented to allow the reader to draw their own preferred conclusions.
The plot was well-paced and intriguing, providing plenty of opportunities for the reader to attempt to solve the mystery alongside Jill. Only the ending was somewhat abrupt and rushed (I actually assumed it was a red herring on the way to the final reveal and was startled to realise that it WAS the reveal!), which was a little bit anticlimactic after such a balanced story.
Overall though I thoroughly enjoyed First Case and look forward to reuniting with Jill and Blackbeard in Second Look in due course. A very promising series for fellow Christie fans!
“Rayleen Oswald was the first to die,” George shared in a raspy voice as thunder rumbled in the distance. “She was stabbed thirteen times and then propped against a tree that, eerily enough, would be struck by lightning before the horrific night had come to an end.”
– Kathi Daley, First Case
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
I picked up references to a previous work whilst reading this book, but can confirm that it works perfectly as a stand-alone and series-starter without any fore-knowledge.
Personally I am a big Agatha Christie fan, and I picked up her influence in this story: from the gathering of amateur sleuths (each with their own special knowledge base) to the small pool of suspects, and the group confrontation. However this was not a ‘cover’ or pastiche, but rather a fresh mystery book making respectful nods to an elderly ancestor.
The gathered writers were somewhat underutilised in this plot, in favour of ‘Captain’ Jack and Deputy Savage, however this story served as a useful introduction to their individual talents and there is so much potential for their future input. My personal favourite character was, of course, Blackbeard the parrot. I loved his cryptic clues and felt they added a really interesting puzzle angle to the mystery (‘Pickles and cream’?!). Along with Mortie the maybe-ghost and Clara the possibly-psychic I felt that Blackbeard’s sentience was very cleverly presented to allow the reader to draw their own preferred conclusions.
The plot was well-paced and intriguing, providing plenty of opportunities for the reader to attempt to solve the mystery alongside Jill. Only the ending was somewhat abrupt and rushed (I actually assumed it was a red herring on the way to the final reveal and was startled to realise that it WAS the reveal!), which was a little bit anticlimactic after such a balanced story.
Overall though I thoroughly enjoyed First Case and look forward to reuniting with Jill and Blackbeard in Second Look in due course. A very promising series for fellow Christie fans!
“Rayleen Oswald was the first to die,” George shared in a raspy voice as thunder rumbled in the distance. “She was stabbed thirteen times and then propped against a tree that, eerily enough, would be struck by lightning before the horrific night had come to an end.”
– Kathi Daley, First Case
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
September 6, 2021
I have enjoyed cozy mysteries by Kathi Daley prior to selection of this title and thoughts of a Writer's Retreat sounded interesting. I was even more intrigued as Jillian (Jill) Hanford had a conversation with Barbara Jean, owner of the local bike rental and repair shop, describing the resort renovations and path forward as follows:
I continued reading the next night and then became engrossed in trying to solve the puzzles of the investigation. This is the 2nd cozy I've read recently that had a parrot in residence and I thought this one named Blackbeard had a style all his own although I don't know the point of calling him Blackbird in some places. I never warmed up to Jill or her friend Victoria Vance. At 38 and 37 respectively, both women are very immature. I anticipate giving the remainder of this series a pass and am thankful it wasn't my introduction to Kathi Daley's writing.
“That’s my plan. I guess we’ll see how it goes. I have five writers living in the main house at the moment who plan to move into cabins as they’re ready. They’re planning to live there full-time. Once the others are ready I’m planning to lease them to writers who need a place to work in solitude on a month-to-month basis.However, after I stopped reading the 1st night I wasn't sure if I'd continue reading the mystery. It felt as blurry as a car windshield during pelting rain and wind when the windshield wipers can't keep up only this time it was a story with so many characters introduced in swift succession totaling 7 writers, 6 townsfolk, and 8 victims and suspects.
I continued reading the next night and then became engrossed in trying to solve the puzzles of the investigation. This is the 2nd cozy I've read recently that had a parrot in residence and I thought this one named Blackbeard had a style all his own although I don't know the point of calling him Blackbird in some places. I never warmed up to Jill or her friend Victoria Vance. At 38 and 37 respectively, both women are very immature. I anticipate giving the remainder of this series a pass and am thankful it wasn't my introduction to Kathi Daley's writing.
May 13, 2017
In questo libro la storia gialla è molto più presente di quanto succeda nell'altra serie di questa autrice che sto seguendo: la cosa non mi dispiace affatto. Fra le due serie ci sono molte somiglianze: ambientazione in una piccola isola, gruppo di amici che si ritrovano per risolvere un mistero (c'è la lavagna per prendere gli appunti in entrambi), un po' di romance, la tipa sensitiva, un animale che da una mano a risolvere il giallo (lì un gatto che di volta in volta appare magicamente, qui un pappagallo... Comunque, anche in questo libro appare all'improvviso un gatto...), la protagonista ha a che fare coi libri (là possiede una libreria, qui organizza un resort-ritrovo per scrittori), ci sono l'aiuto-sceriffo e il possessore del giornale locale...
L'unica cosa che mi ha un po' infastidito è stata la sensazione che ci fosse stato altro prima di questo, che è pur il primo libro della serie... Mi è sembrato di capire che un libro di un'altra serie sia stato ambientato qui, ma l'impressione è che ci sia anche altro... Mah...
L'unica cosa che mi ha un po' infastidito è stata la sensazione che ci fosse stato altro prima di questo, che è pur il primo libro della serie... Mi è sembrato di capire che un libro di un'altra serie sia stato ambientato qui, ma l'impressione è che ci sia anche altro... Mah...
September 8, 2017
I really enjoyed Kathi Daley's book, the first in a series, about a group of writers solving mysteries on an island off the coast of South Carolina. It was a great read & very suspenseful. I had no idea who thkiller was, & the truth was not what I expected, although I felt it was a bit over-the-top, & personally, I'm not sure it was entirely believable, but others may feel differently. I felt the writing could be tighter. It was a bit repetitive at times, & packed a little too much information into a semtence sometimes, which can be spread out into a few shorter sentences. Overall, though, I enjoyed the mystery, & am looking forward to reading more of the series. I especially liked Claire, the psychic, paranormal author, who was looking for her cat (despite Jill's assertion that they didn't have a cat). So hilarious! I hope she plays a bigger role in the rest of the series. :) I read First Case as a part of the Summer Whodunnits 6-book boxed set.
August 22, 2021
Messy Mash Up of Murder She Wrote & bad Teen Horror Flicks
A reporter with a secret tries to stay in the mix as she oversees the renovations of her ill brother's island resort. A chance to write about a massacre that saw three teens mysteriously slaughtered on a neighboring island comes her way. When one of the witnesses returns and is found drowned the reporter knows she has the way back. With the help of her writers group and s grumpy deputy she explores the massacre and the more recent death.
This is an unsatisfying match up of Murder She Wrote and those cheesy teen horror flicks. It opened with a cast describing all the characters. Big turn off. Isn't that why you read the book, not the Cliff Notes edition? It picked up a bit but was weighed down by small town minutiae, too many characters and fairly inane dialogue. The ending is the absolute worst, unbelievable, implausible and ridiculous. Not scary, entertaining orr interesting. Pass
A reporter with a secret tries to stay in the mix as she oversees the renovations of her ill brother's island resort. A chance to write about a massacre that saw three teens mysteriously slaughtered on a neighboring island comes her way. When one of the witnesses returns and is found drowned the reporter knows she has the way back. With the help of her writers group and s grumpy deputy she explores the massacre and the more recent death.
This is an unsatisfying match up of Murder She Wrote and those cheesy teen horror flicks. It opened with a cast describing all the characters. Big turn off. Isn't that why you read the book, not the Cliff Notes edition? It picked up a bit but was weighed down by small town minutiae, too many characters and fairly inane dialogue. The ending is the absolute worst, unbelievable, implausible and ridiculous. Not scary, entertaining orr interesting. Pass
May 13, 2017
First Case is the first book in a new series by Kathi Daley. Having read some of Kathi's other books, I thought I knew what to expect but
found this book provided me with a great new avenue. The concept of Jillian Hanford, former reporter from New York, meeting a brother she didn't know about along with being asked to run his resort, provides a different concept in Kathi's book. When Katrina, a survivor from the Friday 13th massacre is found dead, and Jillian's old editor asks her to write a human interest story about Katrina, a artist who is known for her dark work, it sparks Jillian's interest to not just write the story but also to try and solve the identity of who killed the three students who died on that fateful day. The story was set in a wonderful place with the resort being converted to a writer's retreat. I am anxiously waiting for the second book to be released.
found this book provided me with a great new avenue. The concept of Jillian Hanford, former reporter from New York, meeting a brother she didn't know about along with being asked to run his resort, provides a different concept in Kathi's book. When Katrina, a survivor from the Friday 13th massacre is found dead, and Jillian's old editor asks her to write a human interest story about Katrina, a artist who is known for her dark work, it sparks Jillian's interest to not just write the story but also to try and solve the identity of who killed the three students who died on that fateful day. The story was set in a wonderful place with the resort being converted to a writer's retreat. I am anxiously waiting for the second book to be released.
October 13, 2017
This was a fantastic book in a new series by Kathi Daley! I have read 2 of her other series and l I loved them but this book was more exciting and faster paced without causing nightmares :-) This is everything I love in a cozy mystery- great characters, an interesting mystery, and a potential for romance. The book opens with Jillian who is writing an article and is looking into a case from 11 years ago. A recent death appears to be tied to the case. The details of the deaths in the old case are slightly disturbing but not too graphic or gory and won't cause nightmares. It takes place on Fri the 13th afterall. I like that Jillian works with several other writers and the local detective to solve the case. It has a fantastic ending! This is the best cozy mystery I have read in a long time and I read a lot!
October 18, 2018
This is the first book that I have read by Kathi Daley, but it definitely won't be my last. Gull Island, off the coast of Charleston, sounded like a beautiful island and someplace that I would like to visit. I felt that the characters were well developed and interesting and I loved Blackbeard. I liked the idea of the writers living at the writer's retreat and getting together for meals and to discuss the mystery of what happened to Katrina Pomeroy one of the survivors of the Friday the 13th massacre that occurred 11 years ago. I was a little confused when the story referred to a mystery that the group had helped solve in the past and was wondering if I had the first book in the series or not, but it is. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series and seeing how the characters progress.
December 4, 2017
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
May 8, 2017
The first book in a new series and what a series its going to be if this book is an indication of what's to come. The main character, Jill, along with a newspaper owner/writer and a group of writers put their sleuthing hats on to solve a recent death and a cold case that might have a connection. In this book while you try to solve the case yourself, you will get an introduction to all the characters and interactions of the town and discover clues along with them as they do their sleuthing. The plot is thoroughly interesting and engaging along with the characters and you will find it hard to put down till you finish as I did.
May 28, 2017
Fantastic
This is so different from what I expected.
Jill has moved to Gull Island to help her half brother Garrett manage his resort after he has a stroke. And the timing is perfect because she was fired from her job in NYC and needs a place to regroup.
Eleven years to the day after three teens were murdered on a neighboring island one of the survivors dies.
Jill, being an ex reporter decides to investigate.
I found myself drawn into this story like a moth to a flame is the only way I can describe it.
And the ending which I still find a little hard to believe lends itself perfectly to the new series and the new characters.
This is so different from what I expected.
Jill has moved to Gull Island to help her half brother Garrett manage his resort after he has a stroke. And the timing is perfect because she was fired from her job in NYC and needs a place to regroup.
Eleven years to the day after three teens were murdered on a neighboring island one of the survivors dies.
Jill, being an ex reporter decides to investigate.
I found myself drawn into this story like a moth to a flame is the only way I can describe it.
And the ending which I still find a little hard to believe lends itself perfectly to the new series and the new characters.
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