Whiskey Kills

Top Shelf #2

by Lolli Powell

Whiskey with a murder chaser!

Big cities are known to be dangerous, but former New Yorker and bar owner Ricki Fontaine is finding the small town of Waterton, Ohio, is proving to be the murder capital of the world—well, at least her world. The new Top Shelf is open for business, but business as usual for Ricki and the Shelf translates to another dead guy.

Ricki’s friend, Ruby Fogarty, is charged with murdering her boyfriend by clubbing him to death with a bottle of whiskey. The police consider the case closed, but Ricki is convinced Ruby is innocent and sets out to find the real murderer.

Although Waterton police detective Gabriel Russell is crazy about Ricki, he isn’t too crazy about her trying to do his job. The killer’s not too happy about it either.

2017 WISHING SHELF INDEPENDENT BOOK AWARDS BRONZE WINNER!

Genres: Cozy

371 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 29, 2017

About the author

I'm retired from the nine-to-five life and live with my husband and two cats on private land inside Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky. (The handsome dog with me in the picture went to the Great Dog Park in the Sky March 1, and we miss him a lot!)

I have loved fiction since before I could read (Mom said I made up stories based on the pictures in books). Now that I no longer have the excuse of not enough time, I'm fulfilling my lifelong dream of writing novels.

Over the years, I've paid the bills by being a dancer, a bartender, a police officer, a registered nurse and a technical writer. Now I'm drawing on that life experience and my two English degrees to create stories I enjoy writing and hope readers will enjoy reading.

My Top Shelf cozy mystery series is set in a small fictitious town on the Ohio River halfway between Indiana and the West Virginia border. There are currently six books in the series: The Body on the Barstool, Whiskey Kills, Name Your Poison, Double Shot, Bottoms Up, and On the Rocks. The Top Shelf series features Ricki Fontaine, a New Yorker who moves to small-town Ohio after inheriting a dive bar from her black sheep uncle.

I have two books, The Ghost Wears A Badge and Dead Men Don't Retire, in my Spirit of the Law cozy series. Dead End, the third book in the series, should be out late 2025.

I've also published a contemporary romance, The Boy Next Door, and a standalone romantic suspense novel, The Wrong Kind of Man. I have two books, Death Notice and Undercover in my Kisses and Killers Thriller series. My novella, The Gift, is a holiday romance with a hint of the paranormal.

I also write grittier mysteries and thrillers under the name Laurel Heidtman.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Reviews

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really don't rate every book four stars, and seldom do so lightly...so heed this clarion call: 99¢ is effin' CHEAP for this fun entertainment! Today, 23 November 2019, you can get this great deal at Amazon.

Fun follow-up to The Body on the Barstool. A very satisfying way to spend some hours being entertained.

I will note one subplot bothered me: The evangelist megachurch founders are way too caricature for me, and I'm as anti-christian as it's possible to be. All's well that ends well, I suppose, but their twirling-mustachio "I'll get you, my pretty" OTT evillenesse detracted from my otherwise spotless love for the story.

[Connie Lacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun read. One of the main reasons is the central character and narrator – Ricki Fontaine. There’s also the whodunit, which is well done – I had no idea who the murderer was. But it’s Ricki’s lusty, funny, sarcastic comments that reeled me in. While she’s trying to prove a girlfriend didn’t murder her boyfriend by whacking him with a whiskey bottle, Ricki also has to juggle running her just opened bar, a visit from her parents and the attentions of a gorgeous cop. Said cop doesn’t like it that she’s putting her safety at risk by poking her nose in where he doesn’t think it belongs. Likable characters and an interesting plot combine to make this one a winner.

[K.T. Munson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Characters

Ricki is fantastic. She is charming and stubborn. Her antics should get her into more trouble than they do, which tells me she is lucky. She touch and warm and so many things that all seem to fit! Gabe is...*fans self*...adorable. I love their relationship together and I hope they make it for the long haul. I'm a little iffy on how good of a detective he is during parts of the book but that was minor. The supporting characters are varied and vivid. Adam is just the greatest - so much love for him. Not to mention Ricki's mom and stepdad! All around great characters. 

Plot

At its heart this is a sleuthing novel - a whodunnit if you will. Yet it is so much more. It touches on social issues, family, grief, and greed. There is even romance - although I don't get her obsession with eyebrows! Following Ricki as she fumbles around trying to help her friend out was nail biting and entertaining. Who killed Frank? That's the first question and boy do you go on a journey to get that answer. As she digs deeper into the truth, even she is surprised by the ending! Plus she learns a bit about herself and how awesome Jasper (her cat) is. Good luck figuring out all the angles, because I missed some! 

Overall

This book just grabbed on a wouldn't let go. Despite its few drawbacks and some unrealistic moments, I just loved it. This is a book that you overlook its pitfalls because overall it was such fun and just pure entertainment. Plus it felt like you were with Ricki at times, and she was telling you what happened - recounting the events rather than reading a book which was amazing! This is what a good book is supposed to do. One I started I just had to know the ending and I have to say, I loved even that! I was surprised by the ending (no who did it), but by the accidental way in which Ricki stumbles upon the truth. I thought the book could have gone one of two ways and although I guessed who the killer was (mostly) I was in for a surprise! Things are not always what they seem. 

Downside was this was book 3 in a series. I wish I had read the first two books before this one because this book does give away what happens in the first two books so I can't go back now. If the first two books are as good as this one, they are worth reading! 

Rating 

5 stars

Such a fun read! I was completely absorbed and just had to finish it! It took me quite a bit longer to figure everything out and even then I missed some things. A great mystery read for sure!

This review is voluntary. More reviews at creatingworldswithwords.wordpress.com

[E.M. Swift-Hook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think Female PI Noir But Better

‘If the entire world had been able to move information as fast as the citizens of Waterton moved it, there would have been no need to invent the telegraph, telephone, or the Internet.’

Erica ‘Ricki’ Fontaine is not unfamiliar with murder in her bar ‘The Top Shelf’ in the quiet town of Waterton, Ohio. her husband was murdered and left on a bar-stool there. Well, not exactly there as that place was destroyed and now she has a new, improved Top Shelf. But the murder thing hasn’t gone away. This time it is one of her customers Frank Bascomb and the main suspect is another of her customers Ruby Fogarty. But Ricki is sure that Ruby is innocent, even if Ricki’s boyfriend, Gabriel Russell, of the local police, has arrested Ruby for the crime. The only problem is proving it…

This is a fabulous romp of a book, with murder, mystery, friendship, pathos, romance and humour. It is very well written and thoroughly engaging from the off. The characters are all interesting and believable people and the personality of Ricki shines through above all. the pace is perfect, keeping the reader turning pages to find out what will happen next and the murder mystery is believable and works well.

‘Laughing is usually a good thing, but guffaws are explosive—and not really appropriate in this situation considering there was a dead human being inside the house.’

There were only two minor points I found that got in the way of an otherwise fabulous read. One was the author’s tendency to over-describe. The opening chapters include a detailed, room by room description of the Top Shelf, most of which was utterly irrelevant to the rest of the story and was just a little bit much to plough through. The other was the tendency now and then to force the humour. Most of the time it flowed well and was very well done, but there were occasions when the humour just didn’t work, for me at least. Needless to say, these did not get in the way of my enjoyment of the book too much.

A great book I can thoroughly recommend for anyone who enjoys murder mysteries or who wants a thundering good read!

[Samantha Burnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good old mystery with some unusual twists. This is a real settle back into your favourite chair and enjoy a read kind of book. The chapters are well drawn and when you get the end of the one and were about to decide to put it down for the night you find yourself instead just taking a sneaky look at the opening of the next one and before you know it you are hooked and half way through. The dialogue is excellent and there is plenty of humour along the way to lighten the book and amuse the reader. I highly recommend you add this to you summer time reading list.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmmm

So this is difficult. I am struggling with Ricki. On the one hand, I like her loyalty and wanting to help her friend. On the other, she could do with a personality upgrade. She's a magnet for trouble and she ignores good advice. But I will say that her faith in Ruby and her need to prove that Ruby did not murder her boyfriend even if the evidence points to that, was sweet. How she treats Gabe stinks. Although I do find it funny that she finds the killer thanks to her mom's interference, and ironic that she almost dies due to those circumstances as well.

[Mary Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whiskey Kills
A Top Shelf Mystery, Book #2
Lolli Powell
5 Stars


Synopsis:

Big cities are known to be dangerous, but former New Yorker and bar owner Ricki Fontaine is finding the small town of Waterton, Ohio, is proving to be the murder capital of the world—well, at least her world.

The new Top Shelf is open for business, but business as usual for Ricki and the Shelf translates to another dead guy. Ricki’s friend, Ruby Fogarty, is charged with murdering her boyfriend by clubbing him to death with a bottle of whiskey. The police consider the case closed, but Ricki is convinced Ruby is innocent and sets out to find the real murderer. Although Waterton police detective Gabriel Russell is crazy about Ricki, he isn’t too crazy about her trying to do his job.

The killer’s not too happy about it either. (Goodreads)


Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. I really like Ricki, she is very down to earth and a no-nonsense kind of woman. I found myself laughing through much of the book because of her sarcastic sense of humor and her wit. She can hold her own with her detective boyfriend, Gabe, and I enjoyed their bickering and banter. I really liked the way that Ricki is a supportive friend and she is willing to do whatever it takes to help her friend in need.

The mystery was well plotted and intriguing. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through that even the most experienced armchair detective would have a hard time figuring out the culprit.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is very talented in creating suspense and tension with the written word. She is also very talented in creating a setting that is warm and cozy. It was a place that I would like to visit, especially because it is in my home state.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written cozy mystery. If you like great characters, lots of humor and a mystery that will keep you guessing, this is the book for you. I am already looking forward to reading the next book. I hope the author writes fast.

[Bruce Perrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Satisfying Mystery Driven by Its Humor

Whiskey Kills is a cozy mystery, the second in the Top Shelf Mystery series. With the absence of sex and violence that marks a cozy, the story features humor in their place. Erica (Ricki) Fontaine’s sarcastic wit on everything from mothers to men will keep you chuckling to the last page. As a bonus, those quips are woven into a substantial whodunit.

The mystery contained in the pages of Whiskey Kills is solid. The author introduces us to enough well-developed characters with possible motives to keep almost anyone guessing. In fact, it seems like the author could have written most of the book, then flipped a coin to decide who gets nailed in the big reveal – the field was that well populated. And the suspense is maintained skillfully, as Ms. Powell continues to peel back layers of the mystery onion, revealing new connections and unanticipated motivations to the last page.

But as good as the mystery is, the crux is the humor. And since Ricki’s investigation often puts her at odds with her police detective boyfriend, Gabriel (Gabe) Russel, a lot of that sarcasm is directed at the opposite sex, e.g., “I've noticed that men have trouble concentrating on more than one thing at a time, and he was already doing two. Asking him to also think was probably expecting too much.” (Potential male readers be forewarned!) But no one escapes her caustic view, including herself, making Ricki a very likeable character.

In the true spirit of back-seat writing (e.g., being a book reviewer), I’ll pick one nit. For me, Ricki pushed the ‘ignore common sense’ theme somewhat too far. In this regard, the book was a bit like a YA, with a protagonist ignoring authority, parents, and sometimes, even friends. Would it really be out of character if Ricki didn’t do everything that people told her to avoid? She can be frustrating…but maybe that was the author’s intent. The heroine you love to fret about?

Overall, I recommend that you read Whiskey Kills because it’s a satisfying mystery. And then, if your sense of humor is like mine, you’ll love it for the laughs.

[Connie P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really do like this series, but...

I like Ricci. I like that she's a smart, successful businesswoman. I like that she was accepting of her ex-husband's marriage to Adam, that she actually kept being friends with Michael when they divorced and that she's kind of taken Adam under her wing after Michael was murdered. I even like that she has a bit of an attitude. She is also loyal to her friends, like Ruby. She knows that Ruby is what some of the townspeople call a "lush", but Ricci sees more than that in Ruby. She sees a good person. When Ruby is arrested for murder, others, including Gabe, believe Ruby killed her male friend, and she's arrested for murder. Ricci doesn't believe Ruby did it, so she tries to find the real murderer. What I don't like about the book is the constant snark that is Ricci. Much of it is funny, but a little bit of snark can go a long way; otherwise, it can get out of control and feels overdone. At times, it sounds like Ricci is acting like she's trying to be 16 again with her snark and her "look at me, boys, aren't I cute" attitude. And having 2 "hot" men fighting over her might be exciting, but Ricci doesn't seem to want an adult relationship with either of them. When she disagrees with hottie #1, Gabe, she refuses to answer her phone when he calls, like she's going to punish him for disagreeing with her. And then hottie #2, Logan, comes along and the 2 hotties start chest thumping and the book is no longer a murder mystery- it's a romance with a murder that happens somewhere in between the snark and the smoldering. It's just a bit exhausting, and I feel like I'm back in the 60s watching Connie Francis in "Where The Boys Are". It's cute and sweet until you start feeling nauseated. Another pet peeve is a grown man calling the woman he cares about "babe". It makes me think he can't remember her name. I really, really do like this series, and I want to read more, but I wish Ricci would grow up just a bit.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Whiskey Kills
Author: Lolli Powell

Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 23
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 23 readers:
23 would read another book by this author.
23 thought the cover was good or excellent.
23 felt it was easy to follow.
23 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
13 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
22 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
23 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
‘It was fun to try to work out who the murderer is. There are plenty to pick from. Well-written and easy to follow, I enjoyed this light read very much.’ Male reader, aged 43
‘Ricki is a very likeable character. Although the mystery is excellently written, I enjoyed the light humour running through the story. A page-turner.’ Female reader, aged 59
‘The setting is well described, and the characters are fully formed, and develop as the story is ambling along. Twists aplenty with a good, solid ending. The author is talented and capable of offering readers a breezy thriller with a little sexual tension thrown in.’ Female readers, aged 41
‘A thoroughly satisfying mystery.’ Male reader, aged 66
‘Writing style perfect for a novel of this genre: simple, pacey with strong dialogue.’ Male reader, aged 62

To Sum It Up:
‘A fast-paced mystery. A BRONZE MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[David Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Amusing Cozy Mystery.

A quick and easy read, this story is a murder mystery with elements of romance mixed in and takes place in a small town in Ohio. The author catches the atmosphere of the county-town setting and the characteristics of the local denizens well. The cast of characters is skilfully developed and keeps the story amusing. The narration is in the first person and seen through the eyes of Ricki, a bartender and private sleuth, who is the girlfriend of the local detective. She is a no-nonsense, no holds barred, dominant type of woman with a cheeky and ambivalent attitude to men and relationships. She drives the story along from behind her bar.

The style of writing is light-hearted, chatty, amusing. The humour is well-intentioned but, mostly, comes over as forced. Though it does go to warn the reader not to takes things too seriously. However, there are long stretches of descriptive narrative, even during dialogue scenes, which slow down the pace and – even when making allowance for the slow, cosy mystery genre – dilute the suspense.

Despite these shortcomings, there is a lot going on in this well-crafted story. There are twists and suspects galore. It's a novel you'll either love or find overdone. But worth the read.

[Allyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, Lolli Powell delivers a fun, yet intriguing read. Don't let the sass and lighthearted banter fool you, this is a mystery with many twists and surprises.
I loved visiting Ricki again in Waterton and following her sassy self around as she gets tangled up in another mystery. Gabe, the sexy cop is one of my favorite love interests of Lolli's. He is yummy for sure.
Having bartended in my distinguished, but colorful past, I love the setting and the bar references, Lolli nails it again, from the late nights to the customers than can try your patience, to the small town with nosiness as a badge of honor.
I am forever amazed at the skill the author has in her ability to bring to life characters with such varying, colorful personalities with just a few words or some choice dialogue. Such an artist!
I will continue to follow Lolli Powell and recommend her, what a great way to spend a rainy season, curled up with the perfect cozy mystery!
Great job :)

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another series that I started and enjoyed enough to read more but keep skipping over when choosing books to read. I like the MC, Ricki, and her friends and co-workers, and in this book, we got to spend more time with her mother and step-father than in the first book. They’re a good support system for Ricki, although her mother appears to be a bit over-protective, but I guess that’s a mother’s prerogative.

The mystery here started right on page one, and there were plenty of suspects to think about, with the ‘most likely’ list changing as the story progressed. Once clues and background information started to emerge, the motive seemed fairly obvious. I had the right culprit in mind for some of the solution, but not all of it, and the part I was wrong about took me totally by surprise. I look forward to reading the next book in the series to see what Ricki, Gabe, Adam and the rest get up to next.

[Ellie Midwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of a good murder mystery, and “Whiskey Kills” now ranks among the best ones I’ve read. I instantly connected with the main character, Ricki, who won me over with her personality, unorthodox thinking, and witty remarks. After a man is found killed in a park near her bar, “Top Shelf,” and one of her customers is accused of his murder, Ricki sets out conducting her own investigation, and the deeper she digs, the more metaphorical skeletons start to emerge from the town inhabitants’ closets. Intrigue, blackmail, suspicious new church leaders, gold-digging wives, secret journals - you’ll be so caught up in the plot you won’t be able to put the story down. Really enjoyable! I’ll definitely be reading more from the author.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really had issues with the way Ricki continually found (and hid) evidence to "confirm it was good info" before giving it - or not - to the police or just Gabe. It was pretty satisfying to have Gabe actually interrogate her about illegal entry into Frank's trailer - that was beyond dumb. She just kept pushing and pushing whether she was right or not. I was all for her loyalty to Ruby, but somethings she did were just Wrong. I didn't like the way she was treating Gabe either. The "hot feelings" with Logan? I liked the mystery but I'm not so certain I'll keep with the series since I just don't like the Main character and the way they seem to feel entitled to do whatever they want to prove their point.

[Rajamayyoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting murder mystery

A man is murdered near a local bar in Waterton. Everyone is sure who the killer is, except the owner of the bar, 'Ricki', who feels differently. The story is about how Ricki works to figure out who the actual murderer is and what was the true motive behind it.

It is a breezy murder mystery, with a well developed cast of characters and a well paced plot. The writing is simple and witty. It isn't like a typical murder mystery, where the author usually takes great pains to make the atmosphere intense and heavy. Lolli keeps you interested while keeping the read fun and light. Definitely worth a read.

[Genevieve Raas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic cozy mystery!

I am a lover of mysteries, and this one had me on the edge of my seat! The plot was solid, and the clues well placed. I enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery along with the characters. Very well done!

The characters themselves were also exceptional. Each had a motive, and the author took time to develop each individual character to bring them even more to life.

This was a great, fun read with a marvelous mystery to solve to boot! Five stars!

[Vickie Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read. I haven’t read that many cozy mysteries, but if this is an example of how they are I will quickly become a fan. The large cast of characters were entertaining, especially Ricki Fontaine. The twist and turns along with the humor of this mystery will keep you turning the pages. I never guessed who the killer was until he revealed himself. I really thought it was someone else. This is the first book I have read of Lolli Powell but it won't be the last.

[Celest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Was an Amazing Adventure That Kept on Giving

What a wonderful mystery, I loved this book as much as book one. I've had Lolli Powell's books in my library for a while now, but you know what they say, so many books, so little time. The characters in A Top Shelf Mystery are very unique and fun to read about. I love Riki and Adam as well as Gabe and the rest of the bar staff. The ending caught me off guard, it was fantastic. Can't wait to read another book in this series.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is almost a slapstick mystery comedy as Ricki tries to prove her friend Ruby innocent of murder. She has to get around her policeman boyfriend who does not want her to do any investigating--Then there is her Mom-who came for a visit and is trying to figure out what Ricki is up to and how to stop her. At least her cat is on her side!!

[Marge Burglund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely Worth Reading!

This is the second book in the series and I enjoyed it just as much as the first one. The characters are fun and interesting. The author keeps you guessing as to what will happen next.

[Peggy S. Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

just a fun read

Like the author says, this is a cozy mystery. This book won’t win a Pulitzer, but it is entertaining and enjoyable. I would recommend it as a vacation or beach read.

[Sharron Fortener · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must Read!

I fell in love with this book by Lolli Powell.
It has it all. Mystery, suspense, intrigue, laughter, down home humor, and so much more!
It is a fantastic read. Don't pass it up.
I was gifted this book.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ricki is a little too nostalgic for capital punishment at the end, and she says something homophobic about lesbians. She’s also way less mature in this book than the first. Too bad—I enjoyed book 1 in the series.

[Jacqui Letran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little mystery filled with fun dialogues and wit. The characters were well written and it's easy to connect with them. The plot was great. Overall a quick fun read!

[Jeannie Sharpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I so enjoyed this book. From the start to the end it was a great read. I would recommend this author. Great job.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second in the series. This one was as good as the first. A great mix of mystery with the heroine having a bit of a smart mouth. I recommend the series, for an enjoyable read.

[Karen Thurecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laugh out loud funny and kept me on my toes until the end

[Patricia H. Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one even more than the first one

Cozy mysteries are great, especially when there is humor. Can't wait to see if the next book is funny, too!

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who killed Frank and why??? We know it wasn’t Ruby because Ricki said so!!! I enjoyed the story and recommend the book