What do you think?
Rate this book
Tallie Graver Mystery #1
Cremains of the Day
There's no reverse on the hearse . . .
For Tallulah Graver, marrying wealthy Waldo Phillips seemed like the best way out of the family business, the Graver Funeral Home. But when her marriage falls apart and Tallie is left with next to nothing, she turns to cleaning houses to make ends meet. As humbling as it is to tidy the mansions of the snobby socialites she used to call friends, at least she doesn't have to be around dead bodies. Until . . .
She discovers one of her employers lying in a closet with a knife sticking out of her chest. This unpleasant shock seems to be part of a web of weird experiences: Tallie's friend Gina's shop is broken into, her ex is stun-gunned where it hurts the most, and now she's receiving flowers from the dead woman. Granted the deliveryman is handsome, but seriously, that's enough to cast a pall over anyone's day. Now Tallie needs to dig deep to clean up this mess--before she finds herself in a grave situation.
For Tallulah Graver, marrying wealthy Waldo Phillips seemed like the best way out of the family business, the Graver Funeral Home. But when her marriage falls apart and Tallie is left with next to nothing, she turns to cleaning houses to make ends meet. As humbling as it is to tidy the mansions of the snobby socialites she used to call friends, at least she doesn't have to be around dead bodies. Until . . .
She discovers one of her employers lying in a closet with a knife sticking out of her chest. This unpleasant shock seems to be part of a web of weird experiences: Tallie's friend Gina's shop is broken into, her ex is stun-gunned where it hurts the most, and now she's receiving flowers from the dead woman. Granted the deliveryman is handsome, but seriously, that's enough to cast a pall over anyone's day. Now Tallie needs to dig deep to clean up this mess--before she finds herself in a grave situation.
293 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2017
70 people are currently reading
1284 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
October 25, 2017
Tallulah Graver never wanted to go into the family business of running the Graver Funeral Home. Instead Tallie choose to marry a wealthy man and was living rather well until her marriage fell apart. Picking herself up after the divorce Tallie found in order to avoid the family business and still pay her bills she took a job cleaning the homes of the same wealthy people that she once called friends.
Things were going well and Tallie was adjusting to being downgraded to the hired help until the day she walks into a friends shop and finds a woman tied up and her ex laying unconscious. Then to make matters worse for Tallie as she returns to her job of cleaning she finds a body in the closet of the home she's working. Tallie finds herself right in the middle of everything and needs to find out just how all these events connect before the danger finds her next.
Cremains of the Day by Misty Simon is the first book in the new cozy Tallie Graver Mystery series. With the creepy hearse on the cover this one seemed to be one that would be perfect for a Halloween read. But that would lead to my only real complaint with this new series, the cover is a bit misleading as the family funeral home barely plays any part in the story as Tallie is spending the majority of the book cleaning instead. I just felt it could have been played up a bit more to give this series a nice unique spin.
As for the rest of this story it was a solid beginning to a new cozy series. There were plenty of suspicious activities and shadiness to keep a reader guessing. Tallie was also a strong lead to follow with her hard working ethic and determination to continue onward despite her circumstances. I will certainly be interested in seeing what is in store for the series next and whether the author syncs up the use of the funeral home in more than just a nice cover to draw readers into the series.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Things were going well and Tallie was adjusting to being downgraded to the hired help until the day she walks into a friends shop and finds a woman tied up and her ex laying unconscious. Then to make matters worse for Tallie as she returns to her job of cleaning she finds a body in the closet of the home she's working. Tallie finds herself right in the middle of everything and needs to find out just how all these events connect before the danger finds her next.
Cremains of the Day by Misty Simon is the first book in the new cozy Tallie Graver Mystery series. With the creepy hearse on the cover this one seemed to be one that would be perfect for a Halloween read. But that would lead to my only real complaint with this new series, the cover is a bit misleading as the family funeral home barely plays any part in the story as Tallie is spending the majority of the book cleaning instead. I just felt it could have been played up a bit more to give this series a nice unique spin.
As for the rest of this story it was a solid beginning to a new cozy series. There were plenty of suspicious activities and shadiness to keep a reader guessing. Tallie was also a strong lead to follow with her hard working ethic and determination to continue onward despite her circumstances. I will certainly be interested in seeing what is in store for the series next and whether the author syncs up the use of the funeral home in more than just a nice cover to draw readers into the series.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
October 25, 2017
Tallulah (or Tallie) Graver has just gotten divorced. Although her finances are pretty bad following the break-up, she is glad to be rid of her wealthy, pompous, jerk of a husband. She's embarrassed about her behavior while she was married to him, so she's trying to rebuild friendships and put her life back together. Putting her pride aside, she starts cleaning houses for some of the wealthy residents of her hometown, and also helps out at her family's funeral home. Just as the hometown gossip about her is dying down and her life seems to be improving, there is a bit of a fracas. Her ex-husband is found in an alley way after being tazed in the unmentionables. The town police chief immediately suspects her because she is Waldo's ex-wife. Tallie soon discovers another member of her former social circle murdered. Suddenly the entire situation is more dangerous than just her jerk ex being shocked in the jumblies. Tallie decides to do some sleuthing to prove that she had nothing to do with the attack, the murder, or any criminal activity. Can she discover the truth before someone else is dead on a slab at Gravers Funeral Home?
This cozy mystery is a bit PG-13. There are a lot of jokes about the ex-husband's privates. It never gets crude or inappropriate, but it is a bit of adult humor. Also there are a few minor curse words...readers who are offended by any cursing (even if it's minor) might want to pass this one by. I wasn't offended. Most of what she said is probably pretty close to the quips I would make if I found out my ex had been tazed in the balls.....once I was able to stop laughing.
The mystery moved along at a good pace, and the story line was interesting. I would have liked a bit more background on the town/location and a bit more action at the family funeral business....but it wasn't really necessary to the plot. For the most part I liked the characters. I think the wealthy snobs Tallie was forced to clean house for were a bit overdone at times....almost stereotype upper class twits. The ex husband was a royal ass....but the character needed to be a total jerk as part of the plot. I did feel like hopping into the story a few times just to punch him. What a jerk! :) There were plenty of suspects and some unexpected twists and turns before the end. All in all, a nice start to a new cozy series.
The next book in the series, Grounds for Remorse, will be coming out soon.
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
This cozy mystery is a bit PG-13. There are a lot of jokes about the ex-husband's privates. It never gets crude or inappropriate, but it is a bit of adult humor. Also there are a few minor curse words...readers who are offended by any cursing (even if it's minor) might want to pass this one by. I wasn't offended. Most of what she said is probably pretty close to the quips I would make if I found out my ex had been tazed in the balls.....once I was able to stop laughing.
The mystery moved along at a good pace, and the story line was interesting. I would have liked a bit more background on the town/location and a bit more action at the family funeral business....but it wasn't really necessary to the plot. For the most part I liked the characters. I think the wealthy snobs Tallie was forced to clean house for were a bit overdone at times....almost stereotype upper class twits. The ex husband was a royal ass....but the character needed to be a total jerk as part of the plot. I did feel like hopping into the story a few times just to punch him. What a jerk! :) There were plenty of suspects and some unexpected twists and turns before the end. All in all, a nice start to a new cozy series.
The next book in the series, Grounds for Remorse, will be coming out soon.
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
November 18, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
The Graver family business is funerals, how appropriate, but Tallulah Graver wanted out so she married Waldo Phillips III. While staying married to him kept her in a nice lifestyle and away from dead people she could stand Waldo one more minute and left him with almost everything and moved into the apartment over her family’s funeral home. To survive on her own she works there part time and now cleans houses like the one she used to live in. That is until she finds one of her clients stabbed to death. Add to that she finds her ex tasered behind her friend Gina’s shop and there is a flower delivery man following her everywhere. Tallie has not had a good week. The bumbling police have her at the top of their suspect list for both Waldo’s attack and the murder. The only way to prove them wrong is sweep the clues together herself and hand them to the police on a silver platter or in an open casket, whichever works best.
Misty Simon has given readers a great mystery to start off this series. Tallulah Graver (Tallie) is a strong protagonist. She does her best to shake off her old life and get on with her new one. How she ever stayed with that jerk of a husband as long as she did is beyond me. He deserved to be tasered or worse. His actions put Tallie in a very precarious situation. A first class jackass! Yes, there is a bit of course language in the book and considering where Waldo was tasered an adult theme. It didn’t bother me a bit because the language fits the situations and the other added some timeless humor.
The primary and secondary characters were well written and there is plenty of room for growth in the main characters. The dialogue was realistic and engaging. The flower delivery man was such a clever twist to the story and I will not say more because I do not want to ruin the story for you. I really liked it.
The book sets a nice pace and the mystery unfolds very nicely with some exciting twists. There were several suspects and some very interesting discoveries. I was very entertained by the way it all played out.
For the first book in the series I was very impressed. I could easily picture the funeral home and Tallie’s apartment as well as the mansion where the murder took place. I hope to see more development in the setting, getting to know the town and more of its residents better in future installments. The ending left me very happy and looking forward to the next book in the series. Grounds of Remorse is “coming soon” according to the final page of my e-copy.
The Graver family business is funerals, how appropriate, but Tallulah Graver wanted out so she married Waldo Phillips III. While staying married to him kept her in a nice lifestyle and away from dead people she could stand Waldo one more minute and left him with almost everything and moved into the apartment over her family’s funeral home. To survive on her own she works there part time and now cleans houses like the one she used to live in. That is until she finds one of her clients stabbed to death. Add to that she finds her ex tasered behind her friend Gina’s shop and there is a flower delivery man following her everywhere. Tallie has not had a good week. The bumbling police have her at the top of their suspect list for both Waldo’s attack and the murder. The only way to prove them wrong is sweep the clues together herself and hand them to the police on a silver platter or in an open casket, whichever works best.
Misty Simon has given readers a great mystery to start off this series. Tallulah Graver (Tallie) is a strong protagonist. She does her best to shake off her old life and get on with her new one. How she ever stayed with that jerk of a husband as long as she did is beyond me. He deserved to be tasered or worse. His actions put Tallie in a very precarious situation. A first class jackass! Yes, there is a bit of course language in the book and considering where Waldo was tasered an adult theme. It didn’t bother me a bit because the language fits the situations and the other added some timeless humor.
The primary and secondary characters were well written and there is plenty of room for growth in the main characters. The dialogue was realistic and engaging. The flower delivery man was such a clever twist to the story and I will not say more because I do not want to ruin the story for you. I really liked it.
The book sets a nice pace and the mystery unfolds very nicely with some exciting twists. There were several suspects and some very interesting discoveries. I was very entertained by the way it all played out.
For the first book in the series I was very impressed. I could easily picture the funeral home and Tallie’s apartment as well as the mansion where the murder took place. I hope to see more development in the setting, getting to know the town and more of its residents better in future installments. The ending left me very happy and looking forward to the next book in the series. Grounds of Remorse is “coming soon” according to the final page of my e-copy.
September 27, 2017
Release Date: October 31, 2017
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Cremains of the Day is a good start to a brand new cozy mystery series. Misty Simon is a talented author and this is clearly shown through her writing style and storytelling abilities. I enjoyed her characters- especially our sleuth, Tallulah Graver. She's a fun piece of work and her ability to overcome such adversary in her life post divorce is commendable. The mystery was also very good- I couldn't figure out "who-dun-it" until the very end. However, I wish Tallulah's family funeral parlor was used more in the story. From looking at the cover and the title, one would think the story would revolve around or at least be a bit more tuned into her families business but it wasn't. The main conflict of the story had almost nothing to do with it making me feel a bit let down. In all honestly, having a funeral home as a setting would be really unique in terms of the books that are out there in the genre. So this part bummed me out. Other than that, I will certainly be looking for the next one in the series because I did like this one.
I recieved an ARC of this novel via the publishers in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Cremains of the Day is a good start to a brand new cozy mystery series. Misty Simon is a talented author and this is clearly shown through her writing style and storytelling abilities. I enjoyed her characters- especially our sleuth, Tallulah Graver. She's a fun piece of work and her ability to overcome such adversary in her life post divorce is commendable. The mystery was also very good- I couldn't figure out "who-dun-it" until the very end. However, I wish Tallulah's family funeral parlor was used more in the story. From looking at the cover and the title, one would think the story would revolve around or at least be a bit more tuned into her families business but it wasn't. The main conflict of the story had almost nothing to do with it making me feel a bit let down. In all honestly, having a funeral home as a setting would be really unique in terms of the books that are out there in the genre. So this part bummed me out. Other than that, I will certainly be looking for the next one in the series because I did like this one.
I recieved an ARC of this novel via the publishers in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
January 31, 2018
A bit of a different type of "cozy" mystery, but I absolutely loved it! The main character Tallie, is a hoot!! I laughed all the way through the book, and am looking forward to the next one!
June 1, 2018
This book had enough twists and turns to keep me entertained but the main character was annoying. She seemed to rattle on most of the time.
July 18, 2018
Fun first in series!
October 30, 2017
What a great read. This is the first book in a new series and if this book is any indication there will be many more to come. Once I started reading, I just couldn't stop. The characters are great and the story is fantastic. Don't miss out on this one.
Want to read
November 14, 2017A mystery like no other I have read. I look forward to the book from author Misty Simon.
February 9, 2018
In compliance with FTC guidelines -- I received this book from Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review. The content of this review is not influenced by that fact. The feelings expressed are solely mine. A big thank you goes out to the author and publisher, I enjoyed the chance to read and review this book prior to publication.
I really liked this book! My first attempt at reading a cozy mystery did not go as well. That book was not bad, it simply was not my cup of tea. However, this one was right up my alley. I think if I had to dilute it down to one reason it would be that this book just felt more realistic. The main character, Tallie, seemed to act more like a real live person would act and react to the circumstances in the book. While she is not a trained detective, she also is not so naïve that she doesn't have a few episode of CSI under her belt. She made decisions I feel real people might make. However, I was slightly disappointed that the funeral home that figures in the title and description appears to be a ploy to attract readers. In reality, most of the action and central location was the town coffee shop owned by Tallie's best friend. Also, the character made mention several times that she hopes to open a tea shop. I wonder if the author thought the funeral home would be a hook and definitely not as overdone as a coffee house set cozy mystery. I certainly hope not. I plan to continue with the series but probably not if it takes that direction.
**Fair warning to those who are sensitive to sexual situations and/or foul language. This book has a bit of both. However, it was not so perverse that in harmed my enjoyment of the story. I'm pretty thick skinned! But I do know that many readers choose to read cozy mysteries because they are generally clean and wholesome. I would hate for someone to be mislead from my review and pick this book up without a mention of the language.
I really liked this book! My first attempt at reading a cozy mystery did not go as well. That book was not bad, it simply was not my cup of tea. However, this one was right up my alley. I think if I had to dilute it down to one reason it would be that this book just felt more realistic. The main character, Tallie, seemed to act more like a real live person would act and react to the circumstances in the book. While she is not a trained detective, she also is not so naïve that she doesn't have a few episode of CSI under her belt. She made decisions I feel real people might make. However, I was slightly disappointed that the funeral home that figures in the title and description appears to be a ploy to attract readers. In reality, most of the action and central location was the town coffee shop owned by Tallie's best friend. Also, the character made mention several times that she hopes to open a tea shop. I wonder if the author thought the funeral home would be a hook and definitely not as overdone as a coffee house set cozy mystery. I certainly hope not. I plan to continue with the series but probably not if it takes that direction.
**Fair warning to those who are sensitive to sexual situations and/or foul language. This book has a bit of both. However, it was not so perverse that in harmed my enjoyment of the story. I'm pretty thick skinned! But I do know that many readers choose to read cozy mysteries because they are generally clean and wholesome. I would hate for someone to be mislead from my review and pick this book up without a mention of the language.
October 13, 2017
This is the first book I have read by this author and I found it to be very enjoyable. Tallie Graver is a character whose personality just jumps off the page. She is a woman who had money and status but is now rebuilding her life after a divorce. She is doing it on her own terms, which I think readers will like. She is spunky, independent but not foolish. She decides to solve two murders because she is the top suspect and the chief of police holds a grudge because of her actions and attitude during the years she was married. There is a nice case of secondary characters that include Tallie's best friend Gina, Tallie's parents and Max, who is a potential romantic interest for Tallie down the road.
I thought the mystery was well done. There was a lot of intrigue, gossip, jealousy, twists and turns. I thought the author did a very nice job in weaving the mystery throughout the entire story keeping me engaged and guessing until the very end. I was pleasantly surprised by the the identity of the killer.
Tallie's language in this book is colorful and there is some instances of swearing so if you are sensitive to that type of language you may want to keep that in mind. It wasn't a lot and didn't bother me but I know some readers don't care for it.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley.
I thought the mystery was well done. There was a lot of intrigue, gossip, jealousy, twists and turns. I thought the author did a very nice job in weaving the mystery throughout the entire story keeping me engaged and guessing until the very end. I was pleasantly surprised by the the identity of the killer.
Tallie's language in this book is colorful and there is some instances of swearing so if you are sensitive to that type of language you may want to keep that in mind. It wasn't a lot and didn't bother me but I know some readers don't care for it.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley.
October 6, 2017
Cremains of the Day by Misty Simon is the first book in a new cozy series and I thought it was a great start.
The protagnoist is Tallie Graver a divorced woman in her late 20's who married a rich man who turned out to be a creep. Tallie is strong, smart and determined to make it on her own. She got very little from her divorce but she has turned herself around after acting like a snobby witch while married. Ms. Simon did an admirable job of introducing this small town and the characters in great detail without bogging down the pacing of the story. There were plenty of twists and turns as Tallie tried to figure out who "did it" as she searched for clues, ducked the Sheriff who had put her at the top of the suspect list, and weeded through gossip. Max Bennet was a character of note as he was at first suspicious but then revealed as an IRS agent on the trail of her ex-husband's tax fraud. All of this kept me turning the pages so that I finished this book in an afternoon. I definitely want to read the next one in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
The protagnoist is Tallie Graver a divorced woman in her late 20's who married a rich man who turned out to be a creep. Tallie is strong, smart and determined to make it on her own. She got very little from her divorce but she has turned herself around after acting like a snobby witch while married. Ms. Simon did an admirable job of introducing this small town and the characters in great detail without bogging down the pacing of the story. There were plenty of twists and turns as Tallie tried to figure out who "did it" as she searched for clues, ducked the Sheriff who had put her at the top of the suspect list, and weeded through gossip. Max Bennet was a character of note as he was at first suspicious but then revealed as an IRS agent on the trail of her ex-husband's tax fraud. All of this kept me turning the pages so that I finished this book in an afternoon. I definitely want to read the next one in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
August 14, 2017
ARC review:
I really enjoy and relate to the premise of a woman trying to rebuild her life after a disastrous relationship. Tallie is eating a lot of crow, but it's worth it to her to stand on her own and do what she wants, instead of just falling into the roles other people prepare for her.
I don't know how she ended up married to her ex-husband in the first place, since he seemed to be an unrelenting asshole at every turn (to be fair, the book takes place post-divorce and they don't get along at that point, but presumably he was charming at some point, as Tallie isn't a golddigger), but perhaps more of Tallie's past will be explored in future books in the series and we can learn exactly what led to her marriage.
I believe future books will also address more of the relationships between the various characters - for example there is beef hinted at between Tallie's family and the police, but nothing is explained fully here. The unspoken history does go towards explaining why Tallie does so much research on her own and attempts to hide certain details from the police, though naturally doing so only makes her seem more guilty. I would be interested in the exploration of town/family history in future mysteries.
The mystery at the heart of Cremains of the Day is engaging, with continually raised stakes, and Tallie is likable. I was much less invested in the romantic subplot than the mystery, but Max's presence in the story does have plot relevance, so that's just a personal preference rather than a critique per se. I generally prefer just a straight mystery, but those who like romance elements in their mysteries will surely enjoy Max.
Bottom line: I'm interested to see more in this series! I'm rooting for Tallie to run her life the way she wants, and I'm sure future installments will have her on the way to her dreams.
I really enjoy and relate to the premise of a woman trying to rebuild her life after a disastrous relationship. Tallie is eating a lot of crow, but it's worth it to her to stand on her own and do what she wants, instead of just falling into the roles other people prepare for her.
I don't know how she ended up married to her ex-husband in the first place, since he seemed to be an unrelenting asshole at every turn (to be fair, the book takes place post-divorce and they don't get along at that point, but presumably he was charming at some point, as Tallie isn't a golddigger), but perhaps more of Tallie's past will be explored in future books in the series and we can learn exactly what led to her marriage.
I believe future books will also address more of the relationships between the various characters - for example there is beef hinted at between Tallie's family and the police, but nothing is explained fully here. The unspoken history does go towards explaining why Tallie does so much research on her own and attempts to hide certain details from the police, though naturally doing so only makes her seem more guilty. I would be interested in the exploration of town/family history in future mysteries.
The mystery at the heart of Cremains of the Day is engaging, with continually raised stakes, and Tallie is likable. I was much less invested in the romantic subplot than the mystery, but Max's presence in the story does have plot relevance, so that's just a personal preference rather than a critique per se. I generally prefer just a straight mystery, but those who like romance elements in their mysteries will surely enjoy Max.
Bottom line: I'm interested to see more in this series! I'm rooting for Tallie to run her life the way she wants, and I'm sure future installments will have her on the way to her dreams.
August 13, 2019
I needed that hearse on the cover. After examining the hearses on other book covers, I decided that this was the most pleasing. Wrong decision. Should have stuck with my first choice: Laura Bradford’s Hearse and Buggy. I quite like the Amish. Overly snotty, argumentative women (and for that matter, men), not so much. Unfortunately, Tallulah is overly argumentative. And snotty. And a person who stumbles into clues and hoards them without handing them over to the nearest officer of the law (I don’t fully blame her, given that the chief wants to pin everything on her, but one of the assistants or deputies or something is her cousin).
It bugged me that this is a very short book and I kept looking at how many chapters, pages, lines and words remained. I’m also not entirely sure if this brassy lady is brassier than other brassy ladies of cozy mysteries, but she bothered me a lot more than others. I usually read a couple of books before definitively giving up on a series, but I’m close on this one.
It bugged me that this is a very short book and I kept looking at how many chapters, pages, lines and words remained. I’m also not entirely sure if this brassy lady is brassier than other brassy ladies of cozy mysteries, but she bothered me a lot more than others. I usually read a couple of books before definitively giving up on a series, but I’m close on this one.
January 26, 2018
2 stars and that’s being generous. The setting was nonexistent. So her family owns a funeral home. It didn’t play any role in the story. They could have owned a Taco Bell for the same price.
Burton was a buffoon and Tallie was just too sarcastic. After a while, it became less amusing and more tedious to read. I actually wanted to see her arrested.
Overall, not a very fun read. Not enough of one aspect and too much of another.
Burton was a buffoon and Tallie was just too sarcastic. After a while, it became less amusing and more tedious to read. I actually wanted to see her arrested.
Overall, not a very fun read. Not enough of one aspect and too much of another.
August 18, 2017
Not usually a genre I would pick up, I devoured this book!!! Started it at an airport, read the first 13ish chapters from Dallas to Baltimore and finished it the very next day. A quick read for me, but a great and fun story. Can't wait to read about Tallie's next adventure.....or rather, the next big thing to happen to Tallie. ;)
April 3, 2018
A middling mystery in this 1st in a new series. Tallie was likable enough, but her ex-husband was a major dick. One of the high points in the story was when he got tased in the family jewels. Anyway, I would probably read another, but would pick up used and not new.
May 1, 2021
I found books 1 - 3 for this series on the free library shelf. I was not very impressed with #1. Tallie was trying to get away from working in her parents funeral home and married some rich guy. He was a sleaze ball and after six years she divorced him and started cleaning houses for a living. It all went to hell when she found one of her clients dead in a closet. This book seemed like it took awhile to get going, and I really did not care much for the main character, who was pretty whiny and suspicious of everyone. Don't know when/if I will read the next one.
May 19, 2024
3.5 round up. Fun cosy mystery
October 23, 2017
Synopsis:
There's no reverse on the hearse . . .
For Tallulah Graver, marrying wealthy Waldo Phillips seemed like the best way out of the family business, the Graver Funeral Home. But when her marriage falls apart and Tallie is left with next to nothing, she turns to cleaning houses to make ends meet. As humbling as it is to tidy the mansions of the snobby socialites she used to call friends, at least she doesn't have to be around dead bodies. Until . . .
She discovers one of her employers lying in a closet with a knife sticking out of her chest. This unpleasant shock seems to be part of a web of weird experiences: Tallie's friend Gina's shop is broken into, her ex is stun-gunned where it hurts the most, and now she's receiving flowers from the dead woman. Granted the deliveryman is handsome, but seriously, that's enough to cast a pall over anyone's day. Now Tallie needs to dig deep to clean up this mess--before she finds herself in a grave situation. (Goodreads)
Review:
I thought Tallie was a strong smart woman who is not afraid of making her own way in the world. After her marriage to wealthy Waldo falls apart she knows that she cannot rely on anyone but herself to find true happiness. Marrying for money is not the way to go, which she found out the hard way. When she finds a dead body, she feels like she has to figure out the killer before she gets sent to jail for a crime she did not commit.
The characters are well developed and well rounded. I liked the interaction between Tallie and her family. I also liked the relationship between her and Max, an old friend from her youth. Their relationship led to some very funny moments. The cast of secondary characters added a lot to the story.
I felt that the writing style was a little choppy and did not flow as smoothly as it could have. That is only my opinion and others may not agree with me. There is a little more harsher language in this book than is normally in a cozy, but it is in no way offensive. To me it just made the book seem more realistic.
I thought the author did a great job with the mystery in this book. There were enough twists and turn, suspects to consider and clues to sift through that it was not an easy one to solve.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. It is a good start to a new series and I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read and review this book.
There's no reverse on the hearse . . .
For Tallulah Graver, marrying wealthy Waldo Phillips seemed like the best way out of the family business, the Graver Funeral Home. But when her marriage falls apart and Tallie is left with next to nothing, she turns to cleaning houses to make ends meet. As humbling as it is to tidy the mansions of the snobby socialites she used to call friends, at least she doesn't have to be around dead bodies. Until . . .
She discovers one of her employers lying in a closet with a knife sticking out of her chest. This unpleasant shock seems to be part of a web of weird experiences: Tallie's friend Gina's shop is broken into, her ex is stun-gunned where it hurts the most, and now she's receiving flowers from the dead woman. Granted the deliveryman is handsome, but seriously, that's enough to cast a pall over anyone's day. Now Tallie needs to dig deep to clean up this mess--before she finds herself in a grave situation. (Goodreads)
Review:
I thought Tallie was a strong smart woman who is not afraid of making her own way in the world. After her marriage to wealthy Waldo falls apart she knows that she cannot rely on anyone but herself to find true happiness. Marrying for money is not the way to go, which she found out the hard way. When she finds a dead body, she feels like she has to figure out the killer before she gets sent to jail for a crime she did not commit.
The characters are well developed and well rounded. I liked the interaction between Tallie and her family. I also liked the relationship between her and Max, an old friend from her youth. Their relationship led to some very funny moments. The cast of secondary characters added a lot to the story.
I felt that the writing style was a little choppy and did not flow as smoothly as it could have. That is only my opinion and others may not agree with me. There is a little more harsher language in this book than is normally in a cozy, but it is in no way offensive. To me it just made the book seem more realistic.
I thought the author did a great job with the mystery in this book. There were enough twists and turn, suspects to consider and clues to sift through that it was not an easy one to solve.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. It is a good start to a new series and I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 6, 2018
Cremains of the Day has one of the freshest characters I've read - the complicated, stubborn, smart, suspicious and loyal - Tallie Graver!
Tallie finds herself in the middle of a dangerous situation thanks to her ex. Everyone wants the money her ex has hidden away - the girlfriend, a killer and the IRS. Tallie has to find it first before she becomes either a victim of is sent to jail for tax evasion.
The character of Tallie has a dry wit that keeps you laughing and you root for her to make the transition from disliked high society wife to a hard-working woman struggling to make in spite of her past mistakes. I liked her because she takes responsibility for her past but doesn't let it define her present.
The supporting characters are lovable and play off Tallie's personality - Max, the "knight in shining armor" who realizes Tallie is one tough cookie, her mother who brings cookie baking to a whole new level, her best friend Gina who is the kind of person who will help you and ask questions later! Oh, and who could forget the mischievous Mr. Fleefer's the baddest cat of them all!
The book was full of originality and I loved it! Can't wait for Grounds for Remorse, the second book in the series!
Tallie finds herself in the middle of a dangerous situation thanks to her ex. Everyone wants the money her ex has hidden away - the girlfriend, a killer and the IRS. Tallie has to find it first before she becomes either a victim of is sent to jail for tax evasion.
The character of Tallie has a dry wit that keeps you laughing and you root for her to make the transition from disliked high society wife to a hard-working woman struggling to make in spite of her past mistakes. I liked her because she takes responsibility for her past but doesn't let it define her present.
The supporting characters are lovable and play off Tallie's personality - Max, the "knight in shining armor" who realizes Tallie is one tough cookie, her mother who brings cookie baking to a whole new level, her best friend Gina who is the kind of person who will help you and ask questions later! Oh, and who could forget the mischievous Mr. Fleefer's the baddest cat of them all!
The book was full of originality and I loved it! Can't wait for Grounds for Remorse, the second book in the series!
October 2, 2017
Cremains of the Day by Misty Simon is a well told story. As a first in a new series, it didn't have the awkwardness that some firsts do.
It wasn't overwhelmed with information, the story flowed smoothly and made sense from beginning to end.
Tallulah Graver was a rich, spoiled wife. Now she is divorced, not rich and certainly not spoiled. Cleaning houses for some of her past friends isn't her dream, but it's enough to get by.
Unfortunately for Tallie, stumbling over a client isn't her dream either, especially when it lands her in the middle of a murder investigation.
What does Darla have in common with Tallie's ex Waldo?
As Tallie becomes determined to find the truth, the secrets begin to unravel, leaving Tallie in the middle of tax evasion, embezzlement and so much more.
Is Max really on her side or is he leading her to a deadly confession?
This author weaves an interesting tale and she portrayed Max with just enough charm to leave me guessing about his intentions until the very end.
Cremains of the Day releases on October 31 by Kensington Books.
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
It wasn't overwhelmed with information, the story flowed smoothly and made sense from beginning to end.
Tallulah Graver was a rich, spoiled wife. Now she is divorced, not rich and certainly not spoiled. Cleaning houses for some of her past friends isn't her dream, but it's enough to get by.
Unfortunately for Tallie, stumbling over a client isn't her dream either, especially when it lands her in the middle of a murder investigation.
What does Darla have in common with Tallie's ex Waldo?
As Tallie becomes determined to find the truth, the secrets begin to unravel, leaving Tallie in the middle of tax evasion, embezzlement and so much more.
Is Max really on her side or is he leading her to a deadly confession?
This author weaves an interesting tale and she portrayed Max with just enough charm to leave me guessing about his intentions until the very end.
Cremains of the Day releases on October 31 by Kensington Books.
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
October 7, 2017
This is the first in a new series and I think it was a pretty good start. The mystery was very well done, with enough twists and misdirects to keep me guessing right till the end. I also found the characters themselves to be relatable. My disappointment lies with the lack of a sense of place to they story. Most cozies center around a business and a definable geographical location. I thought this book had neither. The cover led me to believe this cozy centered in a funeral home, which it didn't, the MC just lives above one. There are several references to the MC wanting to own a tea shop and the story line will definitely benefit from that. But what it also needs is a geographic location. There was one quick mention of only being able to use outdoor pools four months of the year and another of being close to D.C. Other than that I had no grounding while reading the story. So, a really great start to a series -
just really seems to need some roots. Many thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy.
just really seems to need some roots. Many thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy.
October 9, 2017
Great start to a new series. Tallie Graver has moved back into the top floor of her family's funeral home after divorcing her mistake of an ex-husband. Her family really wants her to join the family business but she has no interest. She is now cleaning houses of her former rich friends to make ends meet. When she starts stumbling on bodies and clues, it is all she can do to try to point the police chief in the right direction, which is not her as a prime suspect.
Although looking at the book and reading the description you would think the funeral home would be central to the storyline, it isn't. Tallie's cleaning business takes more of the story. This was a nice start to a new series though, it introduced you to the main characters and plotted out their relationships while still solving a mystery.
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
Although looking at the book and reading the description you would think the funeral home would be central to the storyline, it isn't. Tallie's cleaning business takes more of the story. This was a nice start to a new series though, it introduced you to the main characters and plotted out their relationships while still solving a mystery.
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
November 16, 2020
In Cremains of the Day by Misty Simon there is no way that readers will not be drawn to main character Tallulah "Tallie" Graver and cannot help but feel sorry for her. Tallie is recently divorced and is living above the family business which is a funeral parlor. When she was married she was in the "rich, stuck up crowd", now she is cleaning the houses of those so called friends. She is also rebuilding her friendship with her best friend Gina who she wasn't very nice to when she was married.
In Cremains of the Day Tallie is helping Gina with the food for after a funeral and stumbles upon Gina's cousin Katie tied up in Gina's shop and her ex-husband unresponsive in the alley behind the shop. Luckily he is not dead, just stun gunned. While Tallie is trying to wrap her head around all that, she goes to the house of one of her ex-friends who has become unbearable to clean for and finds her dead body in a closet !!
All Tallie wants to do is rebuild her life and open up a tea shop next door to her friend's cafe so that she can stop cleaning houses and helping out at her family's funeral parlor. Unfortunately that is not going to happen when Max, an old friend of her brother returns to town and tells her that her life is in danger and that her ex-husband hasn't been completely honest with a lot of things. While Tallie tries to figure things out, she finds it harder and harder to trust anyone....especially Max.
Cremains of the Day is the first book in the Tallie Graver Mystery series and it is full of page turning excitement. Like I said readers cannot help but want to root for Tallie and hope that she can get out of the trouble that her ex put her in. Simon's writing will have you captivated in the story and not want to leave....even when it gets scary !!!
In Cremains of the Day Tallie is helping Gina with the food for after a funeral and stumbles upon Gina's cousin Katie tied up in Gina's shop and her ex-husband unresponsive in the alley behind the shop. Luckily he is not dead, just stun gunned. While Tallie is trying to wrap her head around all that, she goes to the house of one of her ex-friends who has become unbearable to clean for and finds her dead body in a closet !!
All Tallie wants to do is rebuild her life and open up a tea shop next door to her friend's cafe so that she can stop cleaning houses and helping out at her family's funeral parlor. Unfortunately that is not going to happen when Max, an old friend of her brother returns to town and tells her that her life is in danger and that her ex-husband hasn't been completely honest with a lot of things. While Tallie tries to figure things out, she finds it harder and harder to trust anyone....especially Max.
Cremains of the Day is the first book in the Tallie Graver Mystery series and it is full of page turning excitement. Like I said readers cannot help but want to root for Tallie and hope that she can get out of the trouble that her ex put her in. Simon's writing will have you captivated in the story and not want to leave....even when it gets scary !!!
March 10, 2024
I loved the protagonist, Tallie Graver. Not only is her last name a hoot, considering her parents own a funeral home, but she is laugh out loud funny as she gets herself in and out of situations. Add in a handsome guy from her past, her nasty ex, a police chief who doesn’t like you, and the fact that she can’t quit finding dead bodies, and you have a story that will keep you in stitches. The conclusion was satisfying as everyone seems to get what they deserve.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
November 23, 2017
Tallie Graver's family owns a funeral home, and after a messy divorce from a wealthy man, she decides that it's better to clean the homes of people she socialized with rather than take a job working for her family, even though she lives above the funeral parlor. One evening while helping her friend Gina with catering the meal after a funeral, she rushes to Gina's restaurant to retrieve some items and finds Gina's cousin Katie in the shop, tied up with her mouth duct-taped. She also finds her ex-husband Walden (whom she calls Waldo) behind the shop, and he's been tased where no man wants to be.
Detective Burton thinks Tallie might be lying - he thinks she tased Walden on purpose, and tied Katie up to cover her tracks. Burton doesn't like her - supposedly because when she was married, her husband's money got her out of parking tickets, and he had also been called to their house on numerous occasions for noise disturbance. Then, the next day when one of her employers is found dead, Burton also thinks she's the prime suspect.
When a mysterious man named Max shows up and is everywhere Tallie is, she finds out that he's an old friend of her brother's who now is on Waldo's trail because he owes a lot of unpaid taxes and is suspected of embezzlement. Max is there to try and keep Tallie out of it, since she's not married anymore and trying to stay away from her old life.
But it's not easy when things keep happening to her; things that keep her in Waldo's vicinity; so she decides to find the killer herself rather than be put in jail, with or without Burton's help. All she has is the fact she's a maid and that she's still able to access her old home - that and Max, who may be more of a help than she realizes...
I get that she's attracted to Max, but in practically every other paragraph she kept talking about it in one way or another. Man, she was so concerned with him that I wondered how she could keep her thoughts straight during the investigation. There was so much about this that I think it took time away from the mystery. There also wasn't any geographical info. What does the town look like? Is it historic? New buildings? Old? It was hard to get a feel for place.
So, while I would really have liked to enjoy this book more, I just couldn't get past these points. Hopefully in the next book she's able to realize her dream of a tea shop, and perhaps we'll learn more about the town and get to know her family. A nice, quick read, although with a heads up, there is some cursing throughout.
Detective Burton thinks Tallie might be lying - he thinks she tased Walden on purpose, and tied Katie up to cover her tracks. Burton doesn't like her - supposedly because when she was married, her husband's money got her out of parking tickets, and he had also been called to their house on numerous occasions for noise disturbance. Then, the next day when one of her employers is found dead, Burton also thinks she's the prime suspect.
When a mysterious man named Max shows up and is everywhere Tallie is, she finds out that he's an old friend of her brother's who now is on Waldo's trail because he owes a lot of unpaid taxes and is suspected of embezzlement. Max is there to try and keep Tallie out of it, since she's not married anymore and trying to stay away from her old life.
But it's not easy when things keep happening to her; things that keep her in Waldo's vicinity; so she decides to find the killer herself rather than be put in jail, with or without Burton's help. All she has is the fact she's a maid and that she's still able to access her old home - that and Max, who may be more of a help than she realizes...
I get that she's attracted to Max, but in practically every other paragraph she kept talking about it in one way or another. Man, she was so concerned with him that I wondered how she could keep her thoughts straight during the investigation. There was so much about this that I think it took time away from the mystery. There also wasn't any geographical info. What does the town look like? Is it historic? New buildings? Old? It was hard to get a feel for place.
So, while I would really have liked to enjoy this book more, I just couldn't get past these points. Hopefully in the next book she's able to realize her dream of a tea shop, and perhaps we'll learn more about the town and get to know her family. A nice, quick read, although with a heads up, there is some cursing throughout.
October 24, 2017
Cremains of the Day is the debut book in Misty Simon’s Tallie Graver Mystery series. The mystery is interesting, the characters developed, and there’s some humor mixed in, however, there is more adult language than usually found in cozies.
Tallulah ‘Tallie’ Graver is recently divorced from Walden ‘Waldo’ Phillips III, who is a wealthy investment banker. She didn’t fare well during the settlement process and is working part-time cleaning the houses of wealthy people she used to socialize with, and begrudgingly working in the family business, the Graver Funeral Home, and living in an apartment above the funeral home. Things aren’t going well for Tallie. First, she discovers her best friend, Gina Laudermilch’s, diner, Bean There, Done That, is broken into with Gina’s cousin, Katie Mitchner, tied up, and Waldo in the back alley. At first, she thought Waldo was deceased, but when she saw his chest move, she rushed to him and found a weak pulse. It turns out that someone took a Taser to his manhood. He says he can’t identify his attacker and Tallie appears to be the prime suspect. Tallie cleaned Darla Hackersham’s house the next morning, but forgot her vacuum and had to go back to retrieve it before going to her next cleaning job. As she was leaving, she saw a closet door ajar and when she went to investigate, found Darla inside with a butcher knife sticking out of her chest. A person from her past, Max Bennett, shows up warning her that she’s in danger and saying he wants to protect and help her. She believes Chief of Police, James Burton, doesn’t like her and has it in for her and she’s determined to prove her innocence.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Tallulah ‘Tallie’ Graver is recently divorced from Walden ‘Waldo’ Phillips III, who is a wealthy investment banker. She didn’t fare well during the settlement process and is working part-time cleaning the houses of wealthy people she used to socialize with, and begrudgingly working in the family business, the Graver Funeral Home, and living in an apartment above the funeral home. Things aren’t going well for Tallie. First, she discovers her best friend, Gina Laudermilch’s, diner, Bean There, Done That, is broken into with Gina’s cousin, Katie Mitchner, tied up, and Waldo in the back alley. At first, she thought Waldo was deceased, but when she saw his chest move, she rushed to him and found a weak pulse. It turns out that someone took a Taser to his manhood. He says he can’t identify his attacker and Tallie appears to be the prime suspect. Tallie cleaned Darla Hackersham’s house the next morning, but forgot her vacuum and had to go back to retrieve it before going to her next cleaning job. As she was leaving, she saw a closet door ajar and when she went to investigate, found Darla inside with a butcher knife sticking out of her chest. A person from her past, Max Bennett, shows up warning her that she’s in danger and saying he wants to protect and help her. She believes Chief of Police, James Burton, doesn’t like her and has it in for her and she’s determined to prove her innocence.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
November 5, 2017
Tallie Graver use to be a part of the “inner circle” of rich folks in her small town, until she left her awful husband, Waldo, and now finds herself living above her father’s funeral home and cleaning the houses of those she used to gossip with. When her ex is found in an alley, knocked out by a stun-gun blast to the balls, Tallie finds herself the prime suspect. In an effort to clear her name, Tallie keeps finding herself in more trouble with every turn. Tallie just wants to get back on her feet and re-establish herself post-Waldo, but bad things keep happening, and Tallie keeps finding herself in the middle of it.
I found this book entertaining most of the time, somewhat jumbled at other times, but overall was an enjoyable story. Tallie was a likeable character for me, and this is the reason I kept reading; nothing kills a story like an unlikeable lead. She’s sassy, ballsy, and trying to rebuild her life. However, sometimes she just isn’t too sharp. There were a few times where Tallie just fails to see what was far too obvious to me as the reader. Other times she jumps to conclusions with no clear/logical path, so it felt jumbled a bit. Then there were the seemingly never ending references to the tingles and twinges she felt around Max, including the first time she sees him in the story, thinking him a complete stranger. I don’t really need to know you’re tingling looking at this dude, and I definitely don’t need to be reminded of it multiple times. Sorry, just not what I’m looking for in a cozy mystery.
That being said, I’m still interested enough to see where Tallie goes from here. The characters are likeable and for that alone I’m curious to see what comes next for them.
I found this book entertaining most of the time, somewhat jumbled at other times, but overall was an enjoyable story. Tallie was a likeable character for me, and this is the reason I kept reading; nothing kills a story like an unlikeable lead. She’s sassy, ballsy, and trying to rebuild her life. However, sometimes she just isn’t too sharp. There were a few times where Tallie just fails to see what was far too obvious to me as the reader. Other times she jumps to conclusions with no clear/logical path, so it felt jumbled a bit. Then there were the seemingly never ending references to the tingles and twinges she felt around Max, including the first time she sees him in the story, thinking him a complete stranger. I don’t really need to know you’re tingling looking at this dude, and I definitely don’t need to be reminded of it multiple times. Sorry, just not what I’m looking for in a cozy mystery.
That being said, I’m still interested enough to see where Tallie goes from here. The characters are likeable and for that alone I’m curious to see what comes next for them.
November 5, 2017
I want to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I appreciate this opportunity!
Synopsis: Tallie is married to a wealthy man and is happy with her lifestyle. She never wanted to have to be running her family business, The Graver Funeral Home. She felt that she made the right decision by marrying up in the world. Suddenly when Tallie is divorced she has to find a way to make ends meet. She has to find a way to not go back to the family business!
giphy (4)
Tallie picks up the pieces after her divorce and winds up working as a cleaner for socialites that once were her friends. Even though it’s a huge step down on the social ladder she will do anything to make ends meet and not end up at the funeral home.
When Tallie finally starts to get adjusted, she walks into a friend’s shop to find her ex and a woman unconscious. With her ex stun gunned in just the right place and finding dead bodies, Tallie finds herself smack dab in the middle of one crazy experience after another. Tallie has no choice but to get to the bottom of things in hopes of avoiding danger.
giphy (1)
Review: I give Cremains of the Day 5 out of 5 stars! This was just the fun cozy I was looking for to lighten my mood. I loved Tallie’s characterization and felt I could sympathize with her. This book definitely shows how social status can affect someone and their life. This was a fun book and a great start for a new series. I highly recommend this book!
Synopsis: Tallie is married to a wealthy man and is happy with her lifestyle. She never wanted to have to be running her family business, The Graver Funeral Home. She felt that she made the right decision by marrying up in the world. Suddenly when Tallie is divorced she has to find a way to make ends meet. She has to find a way to not go back to the family business!
giphy (4)
Tallie picks up the pieces after her divorce and winds up working as a cleaner for socialites that once were her friends. Even though it’s a huge step down on the social ladder she will do anything to make ends meet and not end up at the funeral home.
When Tallie finally starts to get adjusted, she walks into a friend’s shop to find her ex and a woman unconscious. With her ex stun gunned in just the right place and finding dead bodies, Tallie finds herself smack dab in the middle of one crazy experience after another. Tallie has no choice but to get to the bottom of things in hopes of avoiding danger.
giphy (1)
Review: I give Cremains of the Day 5 out of 5 stars! This was just the fun cozy I was looking for to lighten my mood. I loved Tallie’s characterization and felt I could sympathize with her. This book definitely shows how social status can affect someone and their life. This was a fun book and a great start for a new series. I highly recommend this book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews