Checked Out

Ricki Rydell #1

by Abby Matthews

When bored romance writer, Ricki Rydell, discovers a body in the bathroom of the Unionville Public Library, she jumps at the chance to solve the mystery behind the woman’s death. No one in Unionville had nice things to say about the victim when she was alive, but now that she’s dead everyone is hush-hush, sort of like they’re hiding something. While the living may have stopped talking, the deceased certainly hasn’t. The victim left behind a trail of cryptic clues leading Ricki to a seedier side of her beloved hometown and its residents. Feeling she’s in over her head, Ricki longs for her boring old life as a reclusive writer. But it’s too late to back out now, especially after receiving a death threat telling her to stop the investigation or else she’s next. Now, she has to solve a murder and save herself before it’s too late.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

174 pages, Paperback

Published April 17, 2017

Reviews

[Avigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a reader that has to read a couple of books at the same time. That means I have to read a physical book, an audiobook, an e-book. As I finished my e-book on Friday, I went to my Kindle app to pick up my next read. I was in the mood to read something short. One of my shortest books was a cozy mystery named Checked Out.
Checked Out is a cozy mystery with a sleuth that is an author for the sake to get out of her author block, she volunteers in her library, and a murder happens.
I liked the idea the sleuth is an introvert that investigates the murder. For me, it is very innovative. Checked Out is the cleanser pallet that I needed to read this weekend.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ricki Rydell is a successful romance author, but, lately, she’s burnt out. The well is dry. She’s tired of writing the same thing over and over again, and she wants to try something else, like mystery. Unfortunately, she has three more romance books in her contract.

To shake up her boredom, Ricki volunteers at the library, where she encounters a hyperactive fan/aspiring writer. Oy!

On her first day as a volunteer, her overeager fan has a heart attack and dies enroute to the hospital. The first thing Ricki notes is how hateful everyone seemed toward the deceased. Could her death have anything to do with her manuscript? Could the victim have left clues in the books?

This was an okay mystery. The pace was somewhat lagging, yet carried a casual and easy-going tone. It still held interest, but I wasn’t too taken by it. The conclusion wasn’t very satisfactory.

[Mike Heyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

I chose this book hoping to find a worthy successor to Jo Dereske’s Miss Zukas mysteries, which I enjoyed very much. I don’t expect cozy mysteries to be great literature, but I do expect a likable, believable protagonist and proper use of verb tenses. Sadly, this book has neither.

[Lisa Neal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have scored this a 3.5 if I felt Ricki was a little bit more consistent, however, I did enjoy this book.

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romance author Ricki Rydel isn't thrilled when another library volunteer tries to trap her into reading a manuscript that the novice author is sure she will love. In spite of trying to avoid the young woman Ricki ends up with a copy of the book just before the woman collapses so the author feels compelled to read the work to see if it holds any clue to the possible attempt on the woman's life. Too many people are acting suspiciously and she gets no help from the police, including her highway patrolman twin brother but Ricki refuses to give up until she has the answers.

I enjoyed Ricki's friends and family and will read another book in this series.

[Marisa]

Amazon - 26/04/2017

[Chantel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just feel like it should have been written in first person because the narrator was constantly justifying Ricki's feelings and actions which was annoying to me! I ended up not liking Ricki at all.the rest was just boring and I don't know, I don't get why the killer did it. It just didn't make sense to me. I'm not at all curious about what will happen in the next books and that's a first!! If you liked this book don't be offended by my comment. It's just my opinion