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Elliott Lisbon Mystery #0.5
Switch Back
SWITCH BACK is a novella (about 1/3 of a full-length novel, about 4-5 times longer than a short story) and takes place prior to BOARD STIFF (Elliott Lisbon Mystery #1).
After inheriting an entire town, Ballantyne Foundation Director, Elliott Lisbon, travels to Texas to thank them. She quickly learns they don’t want her gratitude, they want their town back. And they’re willing to kill for it.
Trapped in a small town full of big suspects, Elliott must unlock their secrets, or she’ll never get out alive.
After inheriting an entire town, Ballantyne Foundation Director, Elliott Lisbon, travels to Texas to thank them. She quickly learns they don’t want her gratitude, they want their town back. And they’re willing to kill for it.
Trapped in a small town full of big suspects, Elliott must unlock their secrets, or she’ll never get out alive.
- GenresCozy MysteryMystery
78 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 28, 2012
155 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Kendel Lynn
12 books224 followersKendel Lynn is a Southern California native who now parks her flip-flops in Dallas, Texas. She read her first Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators at the age of seven and has loved mysteries ever since. Her debut novel, Board Stiff, was an Agatha Award nominee for Best First Novel. It features Elliott Lisbon, a mostly amateur sleuth who has a slight aversion to all things germy and is only five thousand hours away from getting her PI license. Along with writing, she spends her days editing, designing, and figuring out ways to avoid the gym but still eat cupcakes for dinner.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 14, 2020
Daphne is missing. She never arrived at her best friend and roommate Juliette’s wedding shower and she is the maid of honor. Everyone is worried that something bad has happened to Daphne, but she has previously disappeared for a few days when she wanted clear her head. As the hours turn to days, the worry machine ramps up.
Enter Elliott Lisbon, PI-in-training and the director of the Ballantyne Big House. In addition to the private quarters, the Ballantyne is known for the charitable events it hosts. Now Elliot – known to her friends as Elli, has a huge event to orchestrate, Juliette’s wedding the following day and a new case – she has to find the missing maid of honor.
There is an interesting twist in the case involving Juliette, Daphne and Tucker, the groom-to-be. They are former contestants on a reality show, Down the Isle. That is where the trio met and Juliette “won” when Tucker chose her from all of the eligible young ladies on the show to marry. What are the odds of a TV reality show creating a happily ever after for two people who didn’t know each other before filming starts? Some of the relationships may work out, but others could turn deadly.
Sea Pine Island, South Carolina is the perfect setting for this cozy mystery. The small island feel as well as the nod to the preservation of sea turtle nests added depth to this cozy mystery. The twists and turns in the case were neatly wrapped up by the end of the book, which I really like even when it is part of a series.
As the fifth one in The Elliott series, the plot was easily a read-alone mystery. I was confused in the first few chapters because I couldn’t figure out if Elliott was a man or a woman. And her best friend Sid also confused me gender wise until I came upon the pronouns identifying them both as female. I can only assume other avid readers get a picture in their heads of the characters which is not easily done if you don’t know if they are men or women.
I am a true fan of cozy mysteries and Shake Down ticks all the boxes. The characters, setting and plot are engaging and interesting. I didn’t see the twist at the very end, so kudos to Ms. Lynn for her plotting expertise; delivering an “aha!” moment for her readers. This is the first book in the series and the first book written by Ms. Lynn that I have read.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2019 Laura Hartman
Enter Elliott Lisbon, PI-in-training and the director of the Ballantyne Big House. In addition to the private quarters, the Ballantyne is known for the charitable events it hosts. Now Elliot – known to her friends as Elli, has a huge event to orchestrate, Juliette’s wedding the following day and a new case – she has to find the missing maid of honor.
There is an interesting twist in the case involving Juliette, Daphne and Tucker, the groom-to-be. They are former contestants on a reality show, Down the Isle. That is where the trio met and Juliette “won” when Tucker chose her from all of the eligible young ladies on the show to marry. What are the odds of a TV reality show creating a happily ever after for two people who didn’t know each other before filming starts? Some of the relationships may work out, but others could turn deadly.
Sea Pine Island, South Carolina is the perfect setting for this cozy mystery. The small island feel as well as the nod to the preservation of sea turtle nests added depth to this cozy mystery. The twists and turns in the case were neatly wrapped up by the end of the book, which I really like even when it is part of a series.
As the fifth one in The Elliott series, the plot was easily a read-alone mystery. I was confused in the first few chapters because I couldn’t figure out if Elliott was a man or a woman. And her best friend Sid also confused me gender wise until I came upon the pronouns identifying them both as female. I can only assume other avid readers get a picture in their heads of the characters which is not easily done if you don’t know if they are men or women.
I am a true fan of cozy mysteries and Shake Down ticks all the boxes. The characters, setting and plot are engaging and interesting. I didn’t see the twist at the very end, so kudos to Ms. Lynn for her plotting expertise; delivering an “aha!” moment for her readers. This is the first book in the series and the first book written by Ms. Lynn that I have read.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2019 Laura Hartman
October 20, 2023
Fun Elliott Lisbon Novella with Mysteries and Mixed-Up Luggage!
Elliot works for a foundation that has been gifted a small Texas town as part of an estate, and she is sent to the town (along with an elderly member of the board) to attend their annual ball. Of course there are issues at the airport and her suitcase (which she thought was unique) ends up being lost. The wife of the recently departed gets arrested for murder and the adult children are fighting like cats and dogs over their pet projects. Elliott is stuck in the middle trying to placate those who are upset that the town was gifted to her foundation, solve the murder to exonerate the wife, and deal with suitcase contents that are definitely not her own!
This book was my first experience reading this author's work, and served as my introduction to Elliott Lisbon. I found this book by reading Midnight Ice, which was another part of the Other People's Baggage collection published years ago. Because the character in Midnight Ice was stuck with Elliott's suitcase, I was intrigued and searched out this book to read. I really enjoyed this fast-paced novella and will be picking up the other books in this series.
Elliot works for a foundation that has been gifted a small Texas town as part of an estate, and she is sent to the town (along with an elderly member of the board) to attend their annual ball. Of course there are issues at the airport and her suitcase (which she thought was unique) ends up being lost. The wife of the recently departed gets arrested for murder and the adult children are fighting like cats and dogs over their pet projects. Elliott is stuck in the middle trying to placate those who are upset that the town was gifted to her foundation, solve the murder to exonerate the wife, and deal with suitcase contents that are definitely not her own!
This book was my first experience reading this author's work, and served as my introduction to Elliott Lisbon. I found this book by reading Midnight Ice, which was another part of the Other People's Baggage collection published years ago. Because the character in Midnight Ice was stuck with Elliott's suitcase, I was intrigued and searched out this book to read. I really enjoyed this fast-paced novella and will be picking up the other books in this series.
August 11, 2018
This was part of a three novella set ("Other People's Baggage" has the all in one), but I tried to read them separately. One never got published standalone;"Fool's Gold" by Gigi Pandian. I've read two, and the book that has all three isn't available on kindle or paper at the libraries I use. Poop.
Hopefully, it will come out later.
This was a good introduction to the Elliot Lisbon series. I've had the first book waiting in my kindle for about a year. I like Kendel Lynn's writing style, and the way she turns a phrase. I'm sure I'll get to "Board Stiff", sooner than I would have done.
Update: One of my libraries had it to read "in browser", which feels weird, but at least I can finish the trilogy. Woot woot!
Hopefully, it will come out later.
This was a good introduction to the Elliot Lisbon series. I've had the first book waiting in my kindle for about a year. I like Kendel Lynn's writing style, and the way she turns a phrase. I'm sure I'll get to "Board Stiff", sooner than I would have done.
Update: One of my libraries had it to read "in browser", which feels weird, but at least I can finish the trilogy. Woot woot!
July 13, 2019
Cute novella introducing Elliott Lisbon, involving murder, misplaced luggage, and quirky townspeople.
I love the Elliott Lisbon books,vans enjoyed this novella with Elliott stuck in a small town, in someone else's clothes, trying to solve a murder she didn't expect to be involved in.
Ms. Lynn is an excellent writer, bringing wit and charm to each book. I love the recurring characters, and the humor she injects into each book.
I love the Elliott Lisbon books,vans enjoyed this novella with Elliott stuck in a small town, in someone else's clothes, trying to solve a murder she didn't expect to be involved in.
Ms. Lynn is an excellent writer, bringing wit and charm to each book. I love the recurring characters, and the humor she injects into each book.
October 17, 2023
A fast paced short story
Elliot works for the Ballantine Foundation. The foundation was recently left a small Texas town in the will of the founder. She is sent down to Texas to attend the town’s annual ball. From the time she arrived the action starts. It is fast paced and holds your attention with lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending. A fun read.
Elliot works for the Ballantine Foundation. The foundation was recently left a small Texas town in the will of the founder. She is sent down to Texas to attend the town’s annual ball. From the time she arrived the action starts. It is fast paced and holds your attention with lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending. A fun read.
March 25, 2020
fun, but too short. I'd have liked to have learned more about what the Ballentynes would have done with the ranch. The murderer seemed to be revealed in an awkward manner.
I love this series - I've read them all before I found this one. Now on to book #5!
I love this series - I've read them all before I found this one. Now on to book #5!
July 26, 2018
Short but sweet prequel to the Elliott series...I like her as a character and will look for the 2nd book soon.
May 21, 2020
Nice short story
While I really enjoyed reading this book, I was hoping for more earlier background info on Elli. Maybe that will come in a different novella.
While I really enjoyed reading this book, I was hoping for more earlier background info on Elli. Maybe that will come in a different novella.
March 6, 2024
interesting start of the series...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews