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Crime and Retribution
It’s an important day for Saffron Diffley. First day at the office. First day collaborating with her brothers in the family firm of Diffley Insurance. And first day as an agent for Karma Corps, the mysterious agency tasked with balancing crime and punishment in our world. A transgender woman has been murdered in Happy Bays, and it’s up to Saffron and her brothers to find out who’s behind the murder, and serve the culprit the proper retribution. Unfortunately, new cop in town Logan Munroe is also adamant to apprehend the killer, and doesn’t like a young and inexperienced insurance claims adjuster inserting herself into his investigation. Soon he’s not just arresting criminals, but looking to place the handcuffs on Saffron’s slender wrists as well—at least when they’re not verbally sparring while out collecting clues and interviewing a colorful cast of suspects. And then there’s Saffron’s little brother Rodrick trying to prove their neighbor is a witch, Dalton throwing his weight around, Calvin being his usual obnoxious self, Lucien wanting to become a woman, Brice dreaming of becoming a Hollywood star, and Jerome, the family’s aged French Mastiff, spreading a particularly noxious odor wherever he goes. In other words, chaos as usual at Diffley Manor, with Grandma trying to stay on top of things. Will Saffron serve justice in spite of Detective Logan Munroe’s objections? Will Logan survive the scrutiny of the Diffley brood? And will Saffron be able to resist a sudden and powerful attraction to the burly cop? Find out in Crime and Retribution, the first installment in the new humorous paranormal cozy mystery series Saffron Diffley. Expect a riveting mystery, a hint of the paranormal, a touch of romance, and a lot of laughs.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2017
85 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Nic Saint
268 books312 followersSign up for Nic's newsletter for news, releases and giveaways: nicsaint.com/newsletter
Nic has a background in political science and before being struck by the writing bug worked odd jobs around the world (including but not limited to massage therapist in Mexico, gardener in Italy, restaurant manager in India, and Berlitz teacher in Belgium).
When he’s not writing he enjoys curling up with a good (comic) book, watching British crime dramas, French comedies or Nancy Meyers movies, sampling pastry (apple cake!), pasta and chocolate (preferably the dark variety), twisting himself into a pretzel doing morning yoga, going for a run, and spoiling his big red tomcat Tommy.
He lives with his wife (and aforementioned cat) in a small village smack dab in the middle of absolutely nowhere and is probably writing his next ‘Mysteries of Max’ book right now.
www.nicsaint.com
www.facebook.com/nicsaintauthor
www.twitter.com/nicsaintauthor
Nic has a background in political science and before being struck by the writing bug worked odd jobs around the world (including but not limited to massage therapist in Mexico, gardener in Italy, restaurant manager in India, and Berlitz teacher in Belgium).
When he’s not writing he enjoys curling up with a good (comic) book, watching British crime dramas, French comedies or Nancy Meyers movies, sampling pastry (apple cake!), pasta and chocolate (preferably the dark variety), twisting himself into a pretzel doing morning yoga, going for a run, and spoiling his big red tomcat Tommy.
He lives with his wife (and aforementioned cat) in a small village smack dab in the middle of absolutely nowhere and is probably writing his next ‘Mysteries of Max’ book right now.
www.nicsaint.com
www.facebook.com/nicsaintauthor
www.twitter.com/nicsaintauthor
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 23, 2017
Nice Nice Saint
When I want a little smile and a quick pleasant read, I look for a Nic Saint. There are enough of them to choose from and many are connected in some way--spinoffs set in the same world and featuring a character you have met before. Any of the series will supply you with a pleasant afternoon beach read or something to read in front of a roaring fire in the winter. They are the comfort food of paranormal cozies. Nothing too shocking or disturbing, just a nice mystery with characters you know. This current entry is vintage Nic Saint, with quarreling siblings, a pleasant heroine and a hint of romance. The author does take a risk entering the world of transgender and since I am not transgender, I have no idea if it is sensitively or accurately done.
Keep in mind that this writer's characters are ALWAYS "characters"--caricatures of real people painted with broad comic strokes in the fine tradition of Charles Dickens. (Think "Martin Chuzzlewit" ). If you keep that in mind, you will enjoy Nic Saint.
When I want a little smile and a quick pleasant read, I look for a Nic Saint. There are enough of them to choose from and many are connected in some way--spinoffs set in the same world and featuring a character you have met before. Any of the series will supply you with a pleasant afternoon beach read or something to read in front of a roaring fire in the winter. They are the comfort food of paranormal cozies. Nothing too shocking or disturbing, just a nice mystery with characters you know. This current entry is vintage Nic Saint, with quarreling siblings, a pleasant heroine and a hint of romance. The author does take a risk entering the world of transgender and since I am not transgender, I have no idea if it is sensitively or accurately done.
Keep in mind that this writer's characters are ALWAYS "characters"--caricatures of real people painted with broad comic strokes in the fine tradition of Charles Dickens. (Think "Martin Chuzzlewit" ). If you keep that in mind, you will enjoy Nic Saint.
September 16, 2017
Sometimes, when books indulge in "inclusivity", I feel as if I've been beaten with the diversity bat. This one was all about transgenders. Enough so as to distract from the rest of the story (there must have been a story, right?)
The other problem is one common to cozies in general...it is hard to find any real justification for amateurs to insert themselves into police homicide investigations. We no longer live in Miss Marple's little village. Police take their jobs pretty seriously. There is little reason for these people, who use being insurance brokers as a cover story, to investigate the death of their clients. It skirts the limit of my ability to suspend reality.
The authors do a nice job with nice, clean, humorous stories. I want to like their work. This book just didn't really ring all the bells for me.
The other problem is one common to cozies in general...it is hard to find any real justification for amateurs to insert themselves into police homicide investigations. We no longer live in Miss Marple's little village. Police take their jobs pretty seriously. There is little reason for these people, who use being insurance brokers as a cover story, to investigate the death of their clients. It skirts the limit of my ability to suspend reality.
The authors do a nice job with nice, clean, humorous stories. I want to like their work. This book just didn't really ring all the bells for me.
June 29, 2018
Too naive and too trusting
Good read but felt that a chance was missed to make this really funny with the dialogue between sister and brothers. Being her first case as an agent for Karma had jer trying her hardest to not only solve the case but to prove her worth. A death, brothers who push her to her limits and a antagonistic detective have Saffron going all out to prove that she is a good agent. Using an Insurance front she tries to question all the suspects. Can she solve the case? Thought she was a bit too trusting and naive in her approach. Also that the banter between her and the brothers could have been used to better effect. However using a transgender setting was very sympathetically done.
Good read but felt that a chance was missed to make this really funny with the dialogue between sister and brothers. Being her first case as an agent for Karma had jer trying her hardest to not only solve the case but to prove her worth. A death, brothers who push her to her limits and a antagonistic detective have Saffron going all out to prove that she is a good agent. Using an Insurance front she tries to question all the suspects. Can she solve the case? Thought she was a bit too trusting and naive in her approach. Also that the banter between her and the brothers could have been used to better effect. However using a transgender setting was very sympathetically done.
January 25, 2018
I really enjoy Nic Saint's books, but this one had me laughing Out Loud! Set in the familiar community of Happy Bays but with a different set of characters than the Bell and Whitehouse series. This story is that of Saffron Diffley and her family who are Karma Agents. Her brothers are all different personality types and their interactions are hysterical!! Looking forward to the next book in the series.
February 11, 2021
Saffron's first case for Karma is a very funny story. The interaction between her brothers and with Saffron is typical brother sister relationship. Each brother is unique in his own way and she is going to push things her way as much as possible. The new detective is a typical male police detective who never wants to listen and has to do things his way. It's a race to find the killer.
July 14, 2019
Cute mystery
Good cast of characters though there might be few too many for one story line. Really like The small town location where everyone knows everyone.
Good cast of characters though there might be few too many for one story line. Really like The small town location where everyone knows everyone.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews