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Tallie Graver Mystery #3
Deceased and Desist
Window of opportunity . . .
Most housecleaners don’t do windows, but Tallie Graver loves leaving a pane of glass streak-free and sparkling. After a dirty divorce from a filthy-rich jerk, she's started her own cleaning business to make ends meet. On her latest job, prepping a renovated bed and breakfast for a grand re-opening, she's standing outside on a ladder, wiping off a grimy pane, when she spies a man on a bed through the glass. But the B&B isn't open for business yet—and the man's not sleeping. Her family owns the Graver Funeral Home, so Tallie knows a corpse when she sees one.
The victim is a shady building inspector with a reputation for handing out passing grades for a greased palm. With the local police resistant, Tallie launches her own investigation, before she gets a rep as a town crank. But it's going to take more than a squirt bottle and a squeegee to clean up this mess. With the help of her gal pal Gina, Tallie searches for a killer's motive. But she'd better be careful, or it'll be curtains for this window cleaner . . .
“An amusing new series with an engaging, spirited sleuth.”—Library Journal
Most housecleaners don’t do windows, but Tallie Graver loves leaving a pane of glass streak-free and sparkling. After a dirty divorce from a filthy-rich jerk, she's started her own cleaning business to make ends meet. On her latest job, prepping a renovated bed and breakfast for a grand re-opening, she's standing outside on a ladder, wiping off a grimy pane, when she spies a man on a bed through the glass. But the B&B isn't open for business yet—and the man's not sleeping. Her family owns the Graver Funeral Home, so Tallie knows a corpse when she sees one.
The victim is a shady building inspector with a reputation for handing out passing grades for a greased palm. With the local police resistant, Tallie launches her own investigation, before she gets a rep as a town crank. But it's going to take more than a squirt bottle and a squeegee to clean up this mess. With the help of her gal pal Gina, Tallie searches for a killer's motive. But she'd better be careful, or it'll be curtains for this window cleaner . . .
“An amusing new series with an engaging, spirited sleuth.”—Library Journal
- GenresCozy MysteryMysteryCozy
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 27, 2018
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220 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
November 26, 2018
Deceased and Desist by Misty Simon is the third book of the cozy A Tallie Graver Mystery series. Each book in the series features it’s own mystery to be solved so they can be read and understood as a standalone. Of course though there are details to the story that carries over book to book so it’s always best to enjoy the series from the beginning.
Tallie Graver had married her rich ex-husband as a way out of working in her family’s business, the Graver Funeral Home. However, now that Tallie is divorced she has had to return to the family business but also took on a side job of cleaning homes to help gain her independence.
As Tallie is up on a ladder cleaning windows at a soon to be opening bed and breakfast she sees a man lying in bed in one of the rooms. Tallie hopes she doesn’t disturb the man until she notices his eyes are open and there’s something not quite right with his neck. Being in the funeral business Tallie knows a dead body when she sees one but after calling the police Tallie finds the new chief isn’t onboard with calling this a murder so Tallie decides to begin investigating herself.
Being the third book of this cozy mystery series one might guess that if I’m still reading them that this is one that I do enjoy which is true. Deceased and Desist was another solid mystery to add to the series with plenty of secrets and suspects for Tallie to uncover. I’ve liked Tallie from the beginning but it’s good to see her learning from her mistakes and growing into her sleuthing role with each read. Looking forward to seeing what happens next in the series.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Tallie Graver had married her rich ex-husband as a way out of working in her family’s business, the Graver Funeral Home. However, now that Tallie is divorced she has had to return to the family business but also took on a side job of cleaning homes to help gain her independence.
As Tallie is up on a ladder cleaning windows at a soon to be opening bed and breakfast she sees a man lying in bed in one of the rooms. Tallie hopes she doesn’t disturb the man until she notices his eyes are open and there’s something not quite right with his neck. Being in the funeral business Tallie knows a dead body when she sees one but after calling the police Tallie finds the new chief isn’t onboard with calling this a murder so Tallie decides to begin investigating herself.
Being the third book of this cozy mystery series one might guess that if I’m still reading them that this is one that I do enjoy which is true. Deceased and Desist was another solid mystery to add to the series with plenty of secrets and suspects for Tallie to uncover. I’ve liked Tallie from the beginning but it’s good to see her learning from her mistakes and growing into her sleuthing role with each read. Looking forward to seeing what happens next in the series.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
October 3, 2020
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Tallie Graver is doing her part to make the grand reopening of a local B&B a huge success in hopes the owners will hire her on for more cleaning duties. For now, she just needs to finish washing the windows. Up the ladder she goes but when she starts to squeegee down a window she notices a man on the bed inside. The B&B hasn’t opened yet so it can’t be a guest and the man is lying in a strange position. Tallie’s family owns the local funeral home so she has seen plenty of dead bodies and she knows now she is looking at another one.
The police don’t suspect foul play but Tallie does. She enlists the help of her bestie Gina to get a crystal clear picture of who killed the man and why. She also gets help from a surprising person. Together they bring down more than a killer.
I loved this story. So much happens within these pages.
The characters continue to evolve with Tallie growing stronger in her convictions, especially when her father wants her to a larger role in the family business. I love the way Max supports her through thick and thin. Gina and Tallie make a great team, but this time there is a third Muskateer and that adds to the fun. A new character pushed all buttons which is what I now know is exactly what the author intended.
The story has a slow build as clues are slow coming at first but the pace really picks up as things start to fall into place. The twists were perfectly placed. Like Tallie, who even ot her dad involved in her snooping this time, I thought I was on the right path when a plot twist proved me wrong. I am always entertained by a story that tests me.
Well written and plotted, with humor infused in all the right places Deceased and Desist was a captivating cozy and a stellar addition to this series. I can’t wait to visit these characters again. Carpet Diem is impatiently waiting on my Kindle.
Tallie Graver is doing her part to make the grand reopening of a local B&B a huge success in hopes the owners will hire her on for more cleaning duties. For now, she just needs to finish washing the windows. Up the ladder she goes but when she starts to squeegee down a window she notices a man on the bed inside. The B&B hasn’t opened yet so it can’t be a guest and the man is lying in a strange position. Tallie’s family owns the local funeral home so she has seen plenty of dead bodies and she knows now she is looking at another one.
The police don’t suspect foul play but Tallie does. She enlists the help of her bestie Gina to get a crystal clear picture of who killed the man and why. She also gets help from a surprising person. Together they bring down more than a killer.
I loved this story. So much happens within these pages.
The characters continue to evolve with Tallie growing stronger in her convictions, especially when her father wants her to a larger role in the family business. I love the way Max supports her through thick and thin. Gina and Tallie make a great team, but this time there is a third Muskateer and that adds to the fun. A new character pushed all buttons which is what I now know is exactly what the author intended.
The story has a slow build as clues are slow coming at first but the pace really picks up as things start to fall into place. The twists were perfectly placed. Like Tallie, who even ot her dad involved in her snooping this time, I thought I was on the right path when a plot twist proved me wrong. I am always entertained by a story that tests me.
Well written and plotted, with humor infused in all the right places Deceased and Desist was a captivating cozy and a stellar addition to this series. I can’t wait to visit these characters again. Carpet Diem is impatiently waiting on my Kindle.
October 3, 2018
I loved it! I don't know if there is anything more to mention other than this was a great start to a new series. I enjoyed the characters, the conversational flow of the writing and the novel story-line. Tallie Graver was a well-to-do housewife who finds herself in the cleaning business after a nasty divorce. She doesn’t let that get her down, however. She maintains her joie de vivre and gets on with life. Unfortunately, she spies a lifeless body through the window of a B&B she is cleaning. Tallie and her good friend Gina decide to get to the bottom of the mystery.
October 15, 2018
Tallie Graver is tired of dead bodies. Whether they are being buried by her families funeral home, or Tallie has found one, she is just tired of dead bodies.
With the launch of her new cleaning business, Tallie is doing what she loves best, cleaning the windows for the grand re-opening of the local b & b. As she wipes the window to finish off, she spots someone through the window, and is sure he is dead. Why is someone in the b & b in the first place?
How did they get in without the owner knowing? Surely this is some kind of mistake. As Tallie asks questions, local law enforcement becomes agitated, leaving Tallie to turn to her friends for help.
I really enjoy this series. Tallie is a fun character and I have enjoyed getting to know her.
I am looking forward to reading more in this series.
I volunteered to read and review an ARC of this book offered by the publisher and NetGalley.
With the launch of her new cleaning business, Tallie is doing what she loves best, cleaning the windows for the grand re-opening of the local b & b. As she wipes the window to finish off, she spots someone through the window, and is sure he is dead. Why is someone in the b & b in the first place?
How did they get in without the owner knowing? Surely this is some kind of mistake. As Tallie asks questions, local law enforcement becomes agitated, leaving Tallie to turn to her friends for help.
I really enjoy this series. Tallie is a fun character and I have enjoyed getting to know her.
I am looking forward to reading more in this series.
I volunteered to read and review an ARC of this book offered by the publisher and NetGalley.
January 12, 2019
My first book by this author and I really liked it, it was a bit different read to me as in I have never read a cleaning lady sleuth before so it was quite enjoyable. I liked Tallie she didn’t let anyone stop her from doing what she does best snooping and finding the murder. The author kept me guessing all the way so kudos to her on creating a great mystery.
The only downside is a few of the characters in the story really seems to pick on Tillie and her getting involved with this being the third book this leaves me to wonder if they don’t do it all the time and if they do, this would get my goat.
This being my first book from the series I never found I was missing anything important enough to have to go back and read the first of the series.
The only downside is a few of the characters in the story really seems to pick on Tillie and her getting involved with this being the third book this leaves me to wonder if they don’t do it all the time and if they do, this would get my goat.
This being my first book from the series I never found I was missing anything important enough to have to go back and read the first of the series.
November 12, 2018
Short Review: This book seemed smaller than the previous two but I still enjoyed reading it and following Tallie as she cracked a new case! While I wish there was a bit more buildup in the beginning (everything happened so fast) this is an enjoyable cozy mystery with a cute cast of characters. I will certainly be looking for the next one when it's released.
October 18, 2018
In this, the third installment of the series, we find Tallie Graver cleaning windows at a renovated bed and breakfast. As she’s cleaning that last streak, she realizes there is someone looking back at her. No reason to be embarrassed about earning a peeping-tom status, though, because Tallie soon realizes those eyes belong to a dead man. The interim police chief says it was a heart attack, but does a heart attack cause the victim’s head to turn almost all the way around? Tallie knows what she saw and is determined not to let the interim-chief’s shoddy work ethic brush a murder under the rug, so she begins to investigate, even though no one in town believes her.
I so enjoy this series. Tallie is likeable and easy to relate to. Her family loves her but that doesn’t stop them from rolling their eyes when she lands in yet another murder mystery. Her best friend, Gina, is her partner in crime and is thrilled to be along for the ride during this mystery investigation. The book is well-written and humorous. The end comes to a good conclusion but still leaves you wanting more of the series. I can’t wait to read the next installment! I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.
I so enjoy this series. Tallie is likeable and easy to relate to. Her family loves her but that doesn’t stop them from rolling their eyes when she lands in yet another murder mystery. Her best friend, Gina, is her partner in crime and is thrilled to be along for the ride during this mystery investigation. The book is well-written and humorous. The end comes to a good conclusion but still leaves you wanting more of the series. I can’t wait to read the next installment! I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.
June 28, 2019
The third book in the Tallie Graver Mystery series is a quick, fun and enjoyable read. I've liked Tallie from the very first book. She has spunk and is doing a great job at finding her footing post-divorce. The author has done a wonderful job showing Tallie's growth allowing the reader to root for her. Unfortunately, she has the uncanny knack of finding dead bodies no matter how hard she tries not to. The cast of secondary characters is solid and they provide Tallie with challenges to solving the crime but she also gets some help from an unexpected source. Her romance with Max is progressing nicely and while he is not in this particular story a lot, I really like that he isn't always discouraging her sleuthing but encouraging her to act with caution. The mystery was well done and kept me guessing until the end. I had a few suspects on my list but fell for some red herrings so I was a bit surprised during the reveal.
I will definitely be back to see where the author takes Tallie in future books.
I will definitely be back to see where the author takes Tallie in future books.
March 23, 2019
Thanks to #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for the opportunity to read this one. Opinions are my own. I read the first book in this series some time back and while the mystery was pretty good, I found Tallie somewhat off-putting. The same holds true with this one. Tallie was married to a wealthy man, but the marriage goes south and she's left with pretty much nothing. Now she cleans the homes and businesses of the society women she used to hobnob with. In this one she discovers the body of a dead man while cleaning the windows of a new B&B that isn't even open yet. Decent mystery, but heroine I'm not that crazy about. If you've read the others, you'll want to be in for this one and if you haven't, you could do far worse for something to read!
November 5, 2018
Tallie is busy getting her cleaning business running smoothly, if only she would stop finding dead bodies. This time she finds one in the window of the room she is cleaning. But the bodies and secrets don't stop there. The bodies pile higher as the secrets grow deeper and Tallie has to figure it all out before she becomes part of the body count herself.
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
December 18, 2020
Tallie Graver divorced her wealthy husband and left her old life behind to move back home. She lives above her parents' mortuary, where she also works part-time, but the job she loves doing is cleaning homes - sometimes for the people she used to socialize with. While cleaning windows for a local inn, she looks in one of them and sees a dead man. She knows he must have been murdered, because his head was cocked at an unnatural angle. But since her sometimes-friend Police Chief Burton has been out of commission due to an accident, she now has to deal with Detective Hammond, an unlikable man from another precinct who is taking over for awhile.
Detective Hammond dislikes Tallie on sight, and seems to know an awful lot about her even though they've never met. He tells her it was a heart attack, and she doesn't believe him, nor does anyone else -- except her best friend Gina. When Tallie decides to look into the murder - as she's convinced it was one - she finds out that the man was an unscrupulous home inspector who was into more than inspecting homes. And with support from an unlikely and surprising source, Tallie and Gina are on the tail of a killer. Now if Tallie can just stay alive long enough to find out who it is...
This is the third book in the series, and I must say that I really enjoyed it. Tallie is coming more into her own in this book, and not whining about what could have been. She's happy in her job, has a new boyfriend that she's falling in love with, and even though she's not rich, she's doing what she wants, and that counts for a lot. Unfortunately, her father wants her to quit cleaning houses and come to work at the mortuary full time, which is causing a tad bit stress as she tries to put off coming to a decision in that quarter.
When she starts digging, she comes in contact with the dead man's secretary, who seems to be hiding things of her own, and may know more than she's telling. Tallie and Gina - who's also having problems on her own end - refuse to stop looking, and therefore come into close contact again with Hammond, who unreasonably (as Tallie believes) hates her. But then Tallie begins to wonder why that's so, and how he knows everything about her.
What ensues is a very nice mystery that soon turns into more than that, and while Tallie doesn't walk into dangerous situations, sometimes things just seem to find her to cause more problems. But there are a few turns, and more than a few surprises, to bring us to the motive for murder and how we may have been off the mark just a little in that area. At any rate, when the ending comes, it was worth the read and I plan to continue with this series. Recommended.
https://joannesbooks.blogspot.com/201...
Detective Hammond dislikes Tallie on sight, and seems to know an awful lot about her even though they've never met. He tells her it was a heart attack, and she doesn't believe him, nor does anyone else -- except her best friend Gina. When Tallie decides to look into the murder - as she's convinced it was one - she finds out that the man was an unscrupulous home inspector who was into more than inspecting homes. And with support from an unlikely and surprising source, Tallie and Gina are on the tail of a killer. Now if Tallie can just stay alive long enough to find out who it is...
This is the third book in the series, and I must say that I really enjoyed it. Tallie is coming more into her own in this book, and not whining about what could have been. She's happy in her job, has a new boyfriend that she's falling in love with, and even though she's not rich, she's doing what she wants, and that counts for a lot. Unfortunately, her father wants her to quit cleaning houses and come to work at the mortuary full time, which is causing a tad bit stress as she tries to put off coming to a decision in that quarter.
When she starts digging, she comes in contact with the dead man's secretary, who seems to be hiding things of her own, and may know more than she's telling. Tallie and Gina - who's also having problems on her own end - refuse to stop looking, and therefore come into close contact again with Hammond, who unreasonably (as Tallie believes) hates her. But then Tallie begins to wonder why that's so, and how he knows everything about her.
What ensues is a very nice mystery that soon turns into more than that, and while Tallie doesn't walk into dangerous situations, sometimes things just seem to find her to cause more problems. But there are a few turns, and more than a few surprises, to bring us to the motive for murder and how we may have been off the mark just a little in that area. At any rate, when the ending comes, it was worth the read and I plan to continue with this series. Recommended.
https://joannesbooks.blogspot.com/201...
November 27, 2018
Deceased and Desist by Misty Simon is the 3rd book in A Tallie Graver Mystery series, and another great book. Tallulah, Tallie, Graver returned home to the family business the Garver Funeral Home, but she also cleans houses since her divorce left her broke. When Tallie was up on a ladder cleaning windows, a job she loves, she sees a dead body, even though no one should be there, The dead man, who the interim sheriff says died of natural cause, even though Tallie knows what a broken neck looks like. The dead man is a shady building inspector, with a lot of enemies, but the sheriff won't listen to her, and closes the case. When weird things start happening around her, she is determined to get to the bottom of how and why he really died. I started this book, I could not stop reading it until I was done. Not only is this book an exciting mystery but also very refreshing and a quick read. If you love fun cozy mysteries, which are my favorite, I recommend this book.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 26, 2018
Tallie Graver is rebuilding her life and is making the transition from being a not well liked society wife to being a hard-working owner of a cleaning company.
While cleaning the windows at a local B & B, Tallie discovers the body of a building inspector who was known to take bribes for fraudulent inspections. Unlike law enforcement, Tallie can't believe he died of natural causes and along with her best friend Gina, she's determined to find the truth. The mystery kept me guessing and I loved it!
Tallie is one of the most relatable new mystery characters I've read. She is independent, smart, complex and is a person you'd love to have as a best friend! Tallie's friends and family are quirky and lovable - the relationship with her parents and brother is funny and touching, her best friend Gina is sweet but tough and the handsome Max Bennett along with the aloof feline Mr. Fleefers adds a little romance and fun to the series!
As always, waiting for the next visit with Tallie! I received an ARC and gave an honest review of the book.
While cleaning the windows at a local B & B, Tallie discovers the body of a building inspector who was known to take bribes for fraudulent inspections. Unlike law enforcement, Tallie can't believe he died of natural causes and along with her best friend Gina, she's determined to find the truth. The mystery kept me guessing and I loved it!
Tallie is one of the most relatable new mystery characters I've read. She is independent, smart, complex and is a person you'd love to have as a best friend! Tallie's friends and family are quirky and lovable - the relationship with her parents and brother is funny and touching, her best friend Gina is sweet but tough and the handsome Max Bennett along with the aloof feline Mr. Fleefers adds a little romance and fun to the series!
As always, waiting for the next visit with Tallie! I received an ARC and gave an honest review of the book.
November 16, 2020
The Tallie Graver Mystery series by Misty Simon is a MUST READ !! The main story line is enough of a story but when there is a new murder in every book and with the story behind that murder, readers cannot help but love it !!
Tallie Graver has a pretty good life. She lives above the family business that her father keeps trying to get her to commit to full time. She doesn't want to work at the Graver's Funeral Home for the rest of her life, she is happy with her small cleaning business.....and solving murders. She has her boyfriend, Max, who lives in Washington D.C. currently and her best friend, Gina, who lives across the street. She is pretty contend with her life and readers would totally enjoy reading about all of that without Tallie getting involved when there is a murder in her town......but it does add speed to our page turning !!
In Deceased and Desist, the third book in the series, Max is in Hawaii for work and he did ask Tallie to go with him but because of her cleaning business, she was unable to go.....but once she sees a dead body laying on a bed in the inn that she is cleaning windows for, I'm sure she regretted that decision. When the coroner rules the death a heart attack but Tallie remembers clearly that the head looked wrong and the neck had to have been broken, she knows that she has to investigate. And to make matters worse or better (depends on the readers idea of it) Police Chief Burton is out on medical leave due to an injury so he has a replacement, Hammond, that dislikes Tallie from the very beginning. Those two butt heads worse that Tallie and Burton !! And when Burton calls Tallie and asks her to look into things, she can not believe it !!!
With Max out of town Tallie looks to Gina to be her side kick and Gina couldn't be happier until her new boyfriend, Tallie's brother, gets upset with her !! Readers will love that Gina and Jeremy are dating and we can only hope that maybe there will be a double wedding in the series ??
Deceased and Desist is an explosive story !! Blackmailing, secrets, murder, love, commitment, lies, family.....this story has it all and more !! And Tallie and Gina are right there in the middle of it !! I really like the Tallie and Max duo but Tallie and Gina working together is also a good fit !!
There is no way that readers will not love this series and with every book they read they fall deeper and deeper in love with Tallie and her life !! I cannot wait to see what trouble she gets into next....how about you ??
Tallie Graver has a pretty good life. She lives above the family business that her father keeps trying to get her to commit to full time. She doesn't want to work at the Graver's Funeral Home for the rest of her life, she is happy with her small cleaning business.....and solving murders. She has her boyfriend, Max, who lives in Washington D.C. currently and her best friend, Gina, who lives across the street. She is pretty contend with her life and readers would totally enjoy reading about all of that without Tallie getting involved when there is a murder in her town......but it does add speed to our page turning !!
In Deceased and Desist, the third book in the series, Max is in Hawaii for work and he did ask Tallie to go with him but because of her cleaning business, she was unable to go.....but once she sees a dead body laying on a bed in the inn that she is cleaning windows for, I'm sure she regretted that decision. When the coroner rules the death a heart attack but Tallie remembers clearly that the head looked wrong and the neck had to have been broken, she knows that she has to investigate. And to make matters worse or better (depends on the readers idea of it) Police Chief Burton is out on medical leave due to an injury so he has a replacement, Hammond, that dislikes Tallie from the very beginning. Those two butt heads worse that Tallie and Burton !! And when Burton calls Tallie and asks her to look into things, she can not believe it !!!
With Max out of town Tallie looks to Gina to be her side kick and Gina couldn't be happier until her new boyfriend, Tallie's brother, gets upset with her !! Readers will love that Gina and Jeremy are dating and we can only hope that maybe there will be a double wedding in the series ??
Deceased and Desist is an explosive story !! Blackmailing, secrets, murder, love, commitment, lies, family.....this story has it all and more !! And Tallie and Gina are right there in the middle of it !! I really like the Tallie and Max duo but Tallie and Gina working together is also a good fit !!
There is no way that readers will not love this series and with every book they read they fall deeper and deeper in love with Tallie and her life !! I cannot wait to see what trouble she gets into next....how about you ??
February 6, 2019
This is the first of the series I have read, though I didn't find this a detriment. I chose this ARC from NetGalley because the plot sounded interesting and it definitely lived up to it.
In this book, Tallie Graver is thinking about how much she likes cleaning windows as she cleans the windows of a B&B in her town. She looks in the window and sees a dead body, promptly falling off the ladder. When the police get there, they say it's a heart attack but considering how much Tallie had seen, she doubts this and goes on to investigate. Along the way, we see Tallie dealing with her family, her reputation in the town, her past marriage and incredibly irritating police officers.
I liked the twists and turns of this plot as there weren't any incredibly obvious clues Tallie was missing and she wasn't sticking with one suspect against all evidence, both of which I find irritating in cosy mysteries. Tallie's investigation felt very realistic because part of the clues came from her being lucky or tracking down the right people but others were found by research, especially useful when the victim had such a complicated line of work. And she was needed to work out the mystery due to what was going on with the police.
What I really liked about this was Tallie herself and the other side characters. We saw her family and her best friend, Gina, as well as their opinion on the work she was doing and it was well integrated with the rest of the plot. Tallie had a full life outside of her investigation and the mentions of her past made me really want to read the first two novels in this series.
4.5 stars!
In this book, Tallie Graver is thinking about how much she likes cleaning windows as she cleans the windows of a B&B in her town. She looks in the window and sees a dead body, promptly falling off the ladder. When the police get there, they say it's a heart attack but considering how much Tallie had seen, she doubts this and goes on to investigate. Along the way, we see Tallie dealing with her family, her reputation in the town, her past marriage and incredibly irritating police officers.
I liked the twists and turns of this plot as there weren't any incredibly obvious clues Tallie was missing and she wasn't sticking with one suspect against all evidence, both of which I find irritating in cosy mysteries. Tallie's investigation felt very realistic because part of the clues came from her being lucky or tracking down the right people but others were found by research, especially useful when the victim had such a complicated line of work. And she was needed to work out the mystery due to what was going on with the police.
What I really liked about this was Tallie herself and the other side characters. We saw her family and her best friend, Gina, as well as their opinion on the work she was doing and it was well integrated with the rest of the plot. Tallie had a full life outside of her investigation and the mentions of her past made me really want to read the first two novels in this series.
4.5 stars!
January 14, 2019
My first book by this author and I really liked it, it was a bit different read to me as in I have never read a cleaning lady sleuth before so it was quite enjoyable. I liked Tallie she didn’t let anyone stop her from doing what she does best snooping and finding the murder. The author kept me guessing all the way so kudos to her on creating a great mystery.
The only downside is a few of the characters in the story really seems to pick on Tillie and her getting involved with this being the third book this leaves me to wonder if they don’t do it all the time and if they do, this would get my goat.
This being my first book from the series I never found I was missing anything important enough to have to go back and read the first of the series.
The only downside is a few of the characters in the story really seems to pick on Tillie and her getting involved with this being the third book this leaves me to wonder if they don’t do it all the time and if they do, this would get my goat.
This being my first book from the series I never found I was missing anything important enough to have to go back and read the first of the series.
November 18, 2018
Tallie has picked up her life and is running her own cleaning business in this third installment in a delightful cozy series (but go ahead and read it if you haven't read the earlier ones!). She's cleaning windows in a B&B which is about to reopen when she spies a corpse. The dead man, a building inspector who is disliked by pretty much everyone in town, should not have been inside much less, let's admit it, murdered. Tallie and her friend Gina investigate and of course find the murderer after some good twists and turns. Tallie's family always have things to say about her activities and this time out is no exception - but they are a hoot. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a quick, good read.
September 28, 2018
Tallie Graver left behind the rich life when she divorced her ass of a husband. She started her own cleaning business.
I have been reading a lot of thrillers lately and it was a nice change of pace to read a cozy mystery. Tallie is someone who you would want to be friends with, and she has the bad habit of finding dead bodies so you would get to help solve mysteries. Such a enjoyable series!
I have been reading a lot of thrillers lately and it was a nice change of pace to read a cozy mystery. Tallie is someone who you would want to be friends with, and she has the bad habit of finding dead bodies so you would get to help solve mysteries. Such a enjoyable series!
October 16, 2018
This series has really hit its stride and gets more and more enjoyable. This latest installment finds the main character stumbling into a murder once again. With new characters, and a partnering between two characters that are usually at odds makes for a story that you cannot put down. Everything flowed so nicely throughout, every chapter just leading you deeper and deeper into the story. With just enough humor to keep things light, this was a well thought out story that will not disappoint.
September 4, 2023
This book in the series could have been left out. It was not as good as her first 2 books.
January 4, 2019
You can find this review and all of my others over at www.readbookrepeat.wordpress.com
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Kensington Books, and the author via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Tallie Graver has settled back into her life of being the help, and she's enjoying it to no end. She especially loves doing windows. So while she's out at the local inn cleaning the windows in preparation for the grand re-opening this coming weekend, she spots a man in one of the upstairs rooms, even though there's not meant to be anyone there yet. At first she thinks nothing of it, until the window gets a bit cleaner and she realises that 1. he hasn't blinked the whole time, and 2. his neck is at an extremely odd angle. Just as she notices this, she sees the bedroom door close as someone walks out. Once again she's landed herself a dead body, one that she really didn't want. This throws her into a mystery of epic proportions, along with a stand in police chief who really does not like her one bit. With no one believing her that it was murder, instead preferring to buy into the dodgy coroner's report about it being death by heart attack, she is determined to prove to everyone that she was right, as well as find the killer and make her little town safe once more.
This was a really fast paced cosy mystery, and I absolutely loved it. Tallie is a really likeable character, even though she comes across as incredibly naive at times, like with Burton's hand signals. I especially rolled my eyes at her daftness when Burton mentions that Tallie took sign language when she was in primary school. But other than that, I really enjoyed her character. And I wish I enjoyed washing windows as much as she does!
This is actually the third book in the Tallie Graver Mystery series, and I haven't read the previous two, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I'm going to be looking for them now! I really enjoyed the fast paced mystery, it was such an easy and engrossing read that I had no problems sitting down and plowing through this book in a day.
The mystery was well thought out, and I actually had no sure idea on whodunit, I had a couple of inklings, but I didn't have it worked out until right before the big reveal. Anyone who has read any of my previous reviews knows that I love a mystery that I don't have worked out within the first third of the book, it's never as fun as when you're finding out things when the characters are.
The writing was lovely and had a great flow to it. Simon's ability at writing distinctly different characters is fantastic and there's not one character I can pick fault with. I loved and hated them all as they were, and wouldn't have changed a thing.
I'm eager to see whether Tallie takes up her father's offer on joining the mortuary full time and as a partner. And I cannot wait to see how her cat and new dog's relationship blossoms. I found it saw adorable that her cat, who hates nearly everyone but Gina, really connected with Peanut. It had definite "aww" factor and made me smile.
If you want a quick and easy read with a satisfying story line and likeable characters, then I definitely suggest you check out this book.
Unfortunately there's honestly not much more for me to say about it, other than it was an enjoyable cosy mystery :)
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Kensington Books, and the author via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Tallie Graver has settled back into her life of being the help, and she's enjoying it to no end. She especially loves doing windows. So while she's out at the local inn cleaning the windows in preparation for the grand re-opening this coming weekend, she spots a man in one of the upstairs rooms, even though there's not meant to be anyone there yet. At first she thinks nothing of it, until the window gets a bit cleaner and she realises that 1. he hasn't blinked the whole time, and 2. his neck is at an extremely odd angle. Just as she notices this, she sees the bedroom door close as someone walks out. Once again she's landed herself a dead body, one that she really didn't want. This throws her into a mystery of epic proportions, along with a stand in police chief who really does not like her one bit. With no one believing her that it was murder, instead preferring to buy into the dodgy coroner's report about it being death by heart attack, she is determined to prove to everyone that she was right, as well as find the killer and make her little town safe once more.
This was a really fast paced cosy mystery, and I absolutely loved it. Tallie is a really likeable character, even though she comes across as incredibly naive at times, like with Burton's hand signals. I especially rolled my eyes at her daftness when Burton mentions that Tallie took sign language when she was in primary school. But other than that, I really enjoyed her character. And I wish I enjoyed washing windows as much as she does!
This is actually the third book in the Tallie Graver Mystery series, and I haven't read the previous two, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I'm going to be looking for them now! I really enjoyed the fast paced mystery, it was such an easy and engrossing read that I had no problems sitting down and plowing through this book in a day.
The mystery was well thought out, and I actually had no sure idea on whodunit, I had a couple of inklings, but I didn't have it worked out until right before the big reveal. Anyone who has read any of my previous reviews knows that I love a mystery that I don't have worked out within the first third of the book, it's never as fun as when you're finding out things when the characters are.
The writing was lovely and had a great flow to it. Simon's ability at writing distinctly different characters is fantastic and there's not one character I can pick fault with. I loved and hated them all as they were, and wouldn't have changed a thing.
I'm eager to see whether Tallie takes up her father's offer on joining the mortuary full time and as a partner. And I cannot wait to see how her cat and new dog's relationship blossoms. I found it saw adorable that her cat, who hates nearly everyone but Gina, really connected with Peanut. It had definite "aww" factor and made me smile.
If you want a quick and easy read with a satisfying story line and likeable characters, then I definitely suggest you check out this book.
Unfortunately there's honestly not much more for me to say about it, other than it was an enjoyable cosy mystery :)
December 25, 2018
Deceased and Desist by Misty Simon
Book #3: A Tallie Graver Mystery
Source: NetGalley and Purchase
My Rating: 3½/5 stars
General Thoughts:
1) I like Tallie, Max, Gina, and the fur babies, but I’ve about had it with all the other regular characters.
2) With regards to the above, all the other regular characters are still beating the same “You have to stop doing this/getting involved, Tallie” drum. Three books in and that same drum beat is getting very old and keeping me from really liking some of the regular characters.
3) With regards to the above, if anyone would take the time to listen to Tallie, they would realize she has yet to go looking for trouble! Outside of solving crimes and cleaning houses, Tallie has a serious talent for stumbling into trouble and over dead bodies. It’s one of her finest talents 😊
4) I’m still liking the general flow of each book and how Tallie goes about solving each crime. She isn’t a trained detective, but she is highly intelligent, organized, logical, personable enough that people open up to her, and highly determined. Tallie is one of my favorite character types which is part of the reason I keep coming back for more.
5) I am liking the evolution being shown between Max and Tallie and Tallie and Sheriff Burton. Max is such a sweet and endearing man and I sincerely hope he will be around for a good long time. As to Sheriff Burton and Tallie, I’m very much liking what went down between them in this particular installment of the series. Burton may just be coming around to Tallie’s way of thinking and doing things 😊
The Bottom Line: While I am still liking this series in general, there is the quite annoying issue of some of the regular characters still harping on Tallie about her involvement in the various crimes she has stumbled upon. For myself, this is really becoming an issue and I sincerely feel it needs to change or I’m going to have to part ways with the series. Yeah, it bothers me that much. With that being said, there are still other aspects of this book and series I quite enjoy. I do like Tallie, Max, Gina, and the furries so much and the plot of all three books have kept me guessing and totally interested. I want to keep enjoying and reading this series, but I need to see some serious evolution in some of the other regular characters. I suspect, the fourth book will be the one that decides my fate on this issue once and for all.
Book #3: A Tallie Graver Mystery
Source: NetGalley and Purchase
My Rating: 3½/5 stars
General Thoughts:
1) I like Tallie, Max, Gina, and the fur babies, but I’ve about had it with all the other regular characters.
2) With regards to the above, all the other regular characters are still beating the same “You have to stop doing this/getting involved, Tallie” drum. Three books in and that same drum beat is getting very old and keeping me from really liking some of the regular characters.
3) With regards to the above, if anyone would take the time to listen to Tallie, they would realize she has yet to go looking for trouble! Outside of solving crimes and cleaning houses, Tallie has a serious talent for stumbling into trouble and over dead bodies. It’s one of her finest talents 😊
4) I’m still liking the general flow of each book and how Tallie goes about solving each crime. She isn’t a trained detective, but she is highly intelligent, organized, logical, personable enough that people open up to her, and highly determined. Tallie is one of my favorite character types which is part of the reason I keep coming back for more.
5) I am liking the evolution being shown between Max and Tallie and Tallie and Sheriff Burton. Max is such a sweet and endearing man and I sincerely hope he will be around for a good long time. As to Sheriff Burton and Tallie, I’m very much liking what went down between them in this particular installment of the series. Burton may just be coming around to Tallie’s way of thinking and doing things 😊
The Bottom Line: While I am still liking this series in general, there is the quite annoying issue of some of the regular characters still harping on Tallie about her involvement in the various crimes she has stumbled upon. For myself, this is really becoming an issue and I sincerely feel it needs to change or I’m going to have to part ways with the series. Yeah, it bothers me that much. With that being said, there are still other aspects of this book and series I quite enjoy. I do like Tallie, Max, Gina, and the furries so much and the plot of all three books have kept me guessing and totally interested. I want to keep enjoying and reading this series, but I need to see some serious evolution in some of the other regular characters. I suspect, the fourth book will be the one that decides my fate on this issue once and for all.
March 6, 2019
Tallie Graver, a self-employed housekeeper, was cleaning the windows of a local inn when she spied a dead body in one of the rooms. Tallie was sure the man had been murdered because it was obvious to her (her family operates the local funeral home) that his neck had been broken. Tallie called the police station to report the crime. When the acting police chief, Hammond, arrived he was quick to rule that the man had died from a heart attack. Tallie tried to explain why she disagreed, but Hammond stood firm by his assessment. He not only refused to listen to her, but he also threatened to throw her in jail if she interfered. Tallie decided though that she couldn’t let a murder go unsolved, and she stepped in to investigate herself.
Right from the get-go, I felt like Tallie seemed ready for a fight before the fight even found her. I was a little put off by this. However, after Hammond’s gruff conversation with her, those feelings seemed justified. He neither wanted the police to investigate the death nor did he want Tallie to become involved. Tallie is multifaceted and is not only an amateur sleuth, she is also a best friend, girlfriend, daughter, and housekeeper. All of these roles round out her character. For me, the pressure Tallie received from her dad to join the family business made her very relatable. How many of us haven’t been pressured by a love one to do something, and all we want to say is no, but we don’t want to hurt them?
The author did a good job building this story. In the beginning, Tallie didn’t have much to go on and so her investigation was slow. This seemed realistic to me, as you have to find pieces of the puzzle before you can begin to put it together. Then as she gets more pieces, the momentum begins to build, and the suspense escalates. Even once Tallie (and the reader) thinks she has gotten things figured out, there are pieces that just don’t fit.
Anyone who enjoys strong female leads and amateur sleuths will enjoy this story.
Thanks to Net Galley and Kensington Books for an ARC of this book. #NetGalley #DeceasedAndDesist
December 5, 2018
Poor Tallie, she can't get away from dead bodies. It's one thing to have to keep fending off her father's pleas to have her join the family undertaking business, working for both her father and her brother but Tallie is a dead body magnet all over town. In this, the third mystery, she finds a body when she is happily washing the upstairs windows of a local B&B. Her cleaning business is just getting started and the last thing she needs is to land in another murder investigation. How does she know that the man lying "peacefully" on the bed is not simply taking an afternoon nap? Like, what's wrong with this picture, she thinks. She realizes that she shouldn't be able to see both his back and his face at the same time. The man staring back at her has had his neck broken. Just as this occurs to her, the ladder she is perched upon goes down for the count taking her with it. Lucky to land on soft mushy ground, her statement that there is a dead man upstairs falls on deaf ears. Silly woman, he just had a heart attack in his sleep. End of story, case closed. Not so fast, especially when another body turns up. The killer never should have pissed her off. It just made her bound and determined to prove that it was premeditated murder.
In the previous cases, Tallie was at odds with Burton, the police chief but, surprise, this time he is out on sick leave and he asks her to be his eyes and ears on the investigation as he doesn't trust his temporary replacement. Tallie accepts the challenge and gets way more than she bargained for. As well as unmasking the killer, she didn't expect to end up caring for a very big, but very sweet, dog.
This mystery can be read as a stand alone but, to get the most out of Tallie's backstory, by all means, read them in order.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
In the previous cases, Tallie was at odds with Burton, the police chief but, surprise, this time he is out on sick leave and he asks her to be his eyes and ears on the investigation as he doesn't trust his temporary replacement. Tallie accepts the challenge and gets way more than she bargained for. As well as unmasking the killer, she didn't expect to end up caring for a very big, but very sweet, dog.
This mystery can be read as a stand alone but, to get the most out of Tallie's backstory, by all means, read them in order.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
November 27, 2018
Deceased and Desist is the third book in the Tallie Graver Mystery series! We meet up again with Tallie Graver, and she’s prepping a renovated bed and breakfast for a grand re-opening. While doing that, she stumbles upon the dead body of a shady building inspector.
I’ve followed this series from the very beginning and I have to say that it’s gotten so much better with every installment! From the writing to the characters, this series has really improved overall. I liked the first book, but it had many flaws. And the second book was much better, but still had some flaws for me. This one was amazing! I literally have nothing bad to say. I enjoyed every word of it.
The characters have all really grown on me, and I find them all delightfully amusing, and very interesting. Every single recurring character has grown in some shape or form, which I really enjoyed. I love Tallie! I think she’s a wonderful main character—very smart and spunky. I love her character voice, and I could definitely see myself in her. She’s very relatable.
The mystery itself was really fun. It was plotted very well, and it really captured my attention. It hooked me in from the beginning and kept me reading until the end. It was a very unpredictable and bumpy ride, but I loved every second of it.
Overall, a great addition to a wonderful series! I can’t wait to read the next installment.
** I received an ARC via the publisher in exchange for my honest review **
I’ve followed this series from the very beginning and I have to say that it’s gotten so much better with every installment! From the writing to the characters, this series has really improved overall. I liked the first book, but it had many flaws. And the second book was much better, but still had some flaws for me. This one was amazing! I literally have nothing bad to say. I enjoyed every word of it.
The characters have all really grown on me, and I find them all delightfully amusing, and very interesting. Every single recurring character has grown in some shape or form, which I really enjoyed. I love Tallie! I think she’s a wonderful main character—very smart and spunky. I love her character voice, and I could definitely see myself in her. She’s very relatable.
The mystery itself was really fun. It was plotted very well, and it really captured my attention. It hooked me in from the beginning and kept me reading until the end. It was a very unpredictable and bumpy ride, but I loved every second of it.
Overall, a great addition to a wonderful series! I can’t wait to read the next installment.
** I received an ARC via the publisher in exchange for my honest review **
January 7, 2019
Princess Fuzzypants here: Tallie Graver knows change. Going from the heights of Society to cleaning their houses, she’s been able to rebuild her life and find great satisfaction in jobs well done. She has also been a thorn in the side of the local police chief as she “helped” him find murderers. So one can understand her suspicions when said cop asks her to investigate a death that she says was murder but the fellow filling in for the chief, who is on leave, insists was natural causes.
Her job is to find out why the corrupt civil servant was killed but also why the acting head cop is so eager to sweep it under the rug. She must do this without the acting cop knowing she is working at her usual nemesis’ behest and without getting herself thrown into jail or worse.
Oh yes, and she also has to do this while “babysitting” a Saint Bernard puppy whose owner ended up in the hospital. Luckily, Mr. Fleefers, her cat, adopts the pooch. The interactions between the species, human, feline, and canine adds to the charm of the story. The fact is Tallie is a great heroine. She has learned and grown from her comeuppance into a heroine with depth and character. Like most cozy heroines, she can be stubborn but she is never dumb. In fact, she is a smart cookie.
I have enjoyed this series and this book is no exception. I give it five purrs and two paws up.
Her job is to find out why the corrupt civil servant was killed but also why the acting head cop is so eager to sweep it under the rug. She must do this without the acting cop knowing she is working at her usual nemesis’ behest and without getting herself thrown into jail or worse.
Oh yes, and she also has to do this while “babysitting” a Saint Bernard puppy whose owner ended up in the hospital. Luckily, Mr. Fleefers, her cat, adopts the pooch. The interactions between the species, human, feline, and canine adds to the charm of the story. The fact is Tallie is a great heroine. She has learned and grown from her comeuppance into a heroine with depth and character. Like most cozy heroines, she can be stubborn but she is never dumb. In fact, she is a smart cookie.
I have enjoyed this series and this book is no exception. I give it five purrs and two paws up.
November 28, 2018
Deceased and Desist by Misty Simon is the third book in Tallie Graver Mystery series but can be read as a standalone.
Even though I haven't read two previous books I had no problem getting into the story. Short description seamed interesting so I decided to give it a go. And I am so glad I did. Now I have to go back and read other stories as well.
Tallie is in a cleaning business after a bad divorce from an even worse husband, when she spots a dead body in a still unopened bed and breakfast where she is cleaning windows. But when a local chief refuses to admit there has been a murder, Tallie has no choice but to start her own investigation.
With a help from her trusted friend Tallie is asking questions right and left and annoying some people in the process.
Fun and entertaining read, with many twists and turns. I liked Tallie's colorful past and how she learns from her mistakes and getting better and better in her side job of sleuthing.
I also liked that there was a lots of humor and fun along the way. Clever and well written story will keep readers guessing while having fun ferreting out the truth.
I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review.
Even though I haven't read two previous books I had no problem getting into the story. Short description seamed interesting so I decided to give it a go. And I am so glad I did. Now I have to go back and read other stories as well.
Tallie is in a cleaning business after a bad divorce from an even worse husband, when she spots a dead body in a still unopened bed and breakfast where she is cleaning windows. But when a local chief refuses to admit there has been a murder, Tallie has no choice but to start her own investigation.
With a help from her trusted friend Tallie is asking questions right and left and annoying some people in the process.
Fun and entertaining read, with many twists and turns. I liked Tallie's colorful past and how she learns from her mistakes and getting better and better in her side job of sleuthing.
I also liked that there was a lots of humor and fun along the way. Clever and well written story will keep readers guessing while having fun ferreting out the truth.
I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2018
This is the 3rd installment in the Tallie Graver mystery series. Tallie is cleaning the windows at the Inn and when looking in one of the windows she sees a dead body. She falls from her ladder and when she comes too she calls the police but no one seems to believe her that the victim’s neck appeared to be broken. Chief Burton is off on medical and a new temporary in charge detective Hammond refuses Tallie’s interference and threatens to put her in jail. He says it was a heart attack and end of story. Everyone in town keeps telling Tallie she needs a hobby. Tallie has made it her mission to clear her name and prove it was a murder. She enlists Gina’s help and this makes her brother mad. The victim was a home inspector and private investigator. Tallie also is working with his secretary to find out what his secrets were. This was a good and entertaining read with lots of twists and turns. Nice to see more of the other characters in this story.
November 27, 2018
This is book 3 in “ A Tallie Graver Mystery” Series. Tallie has a keen eye for when something is just not right , and while working one day she has the misfortune to come across a dead body it quickly becomes apparent that the police are completely useless and it’s up to her to put things right much to the disgust and anger of stand in Police Detective Hammond .
I really enjoyed this story , Tallie does not really care who she annoys as long as she gets to the truth and I kind of love that about her , she has a strong determination to get a job done while also managing her work , family, love life , oh and her dogsitting . There was some really twisted bad guys in this that had me urging Tallie on , I really wanted to see her get justice so sleep was abandoned until I read the very last page . I loved it , especially the surprising end .
I received this book to review from the lovely people over at Netgalley .
I really enjoyed this story , Tallie does not really care who she annoys as long as she gets to the truth and I kind of love that about her , she has a strong determination to get a job done while also managing her work , family, love life , oh and her dogsitting . There was some really twisted bad guys in this that had me urging Tallie on , I really wanted to see her get justice so sleep was abandoned until I read the very last page . I loved it , especially the surprising end .
I received this book to review from the lovely people over at Netgalley .
October 23, 2018
This book was comical. I found myself chuckling throughout most of the story. After her divorce, Tallie Graver starts her own cleaning business. While she is cleaning windows at the bed & breakfast, she sees a man dead on a bed, his neck broken. She's convinced the man was murdered. However, the authorities are convinced the man died from a heart attack. Thus begins an entertaining mystery with Tallie, a lovable sleuth and her best friend, Gina. Tallie's family own a funeral home and they drive her nuts, but she manages to investigate around them. This is a fun mystery with likable characters and plenty of entertaining situations.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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