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Starfire #1
Murder on Lot B
Los Angeles, 1923. The land of movie stars and perpetual sunshine has a stylish new force to be reckoned with—
Poppy Starfire, Private Investigator
.
Poppy recently moved out on her own and is eager for a taste of independence and to prove to her retired Uncle Sherman that she is capable of running the Starfire Detective Agency. Her brother Jasper has also joined the agency. Poppy prides herself on being a skilled investigator but so far the cases have been scarce and to say the least uninspiring. But that all changes when Anna Colton walks through the door. Anna’s brother Roger, a famous stuntman for the local movie studio has died in a well publicized accidental fall. Only Anna’s not convinced it was an accident. It’s up to Poppy and Jasper to peel away the layers and uncover the truth. Who killed Roger ‘Rowdy’ James?
Transport yourself back to the golden age of Hollywood in book 1 of London Lovett's brand new historical Starfire Cozy Mystery series.
Poppy recently moved out on her own and is eager for a taste of independence and to prove to her retired Uncle Sherman that she is capable of running the Starfire Detective Agency. Her brother Jasper has also joined the agency. Poppy prides herself on being a skilled investigator but so far the cases have been scarce and to say the least uninspiring. But that all changes when Anna Colton walks through the door. Anna’s brother Roger, a famous stuntman for the local movie studio has died in a well publicized accidental fall. Only Anna’s not convinced it was an accident. It’s up to Poppy and Jasper to peel away the layers and uncover the truth. Who killed Roger ‘Rowdy’ James?
Transport yourself back to the golden age of Hollywood in book 1 of London Lovett's brand new historical Starfire Cozy Mystery series.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 8, 2019
354 people are currently reading
502 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
January 2, 2023
This was such a fun and different book from London! The characters were fun and I loved the brother/sister bond between the main characters. The historical time period and location was great and different from most cozies I’ve read. I can’t wait to read more of this series!
June 30, 2021
Really enjoyed reading this.
The humour was so good and had me smiling throughout the entire thing. The characters were so loveable, I especially loved Jasper. Poppy’s and Jasper’s bond actually felt like a proper sibling bond. I loved how it was shown how much they enjoy each other’s company and being partners, from the way they respect each other in work and to the way they still tease each other endlessly, and to showing concern when the other is in possible danger.
Poppy’s relationship with her other family members was so sweet, but so is her friendship with her best friend Birdie. The way she continued to boast her and in general holding her with so much pride warmed my heart.
That being said I was let down by the ending. The twist in the plot with the culprit, I accepted that, but I didn’t like how for the previous suspects they investigated them a lot while barely any investigation was done here. The ending felt rushed and I wish we would have gotten at least one more scene with them investigating their final suspect to collect some solid proof.
Overall, the book was good. Has very good humour and dialogue (I highlighted so much of it!) and the investigation and all the mishaps occurred were enjoyable to read and well written.
The humour was so good and had me smiling throughout the entire thing. The characters were so loveable, I especially loved Jasper. Poppy’s and Jasper’s bond actually felt like a proper sibling bond. I loved how it was shown how much they enjoy each other’s company and being partners, from the way they respect each other in work and to the way they still tease each other endlessly, and to showing concern when the other is in possible danger.
Poppy’s relationship with her other family members was so sweet, but so is her friendship with her best friend Birdie. The way she continued to boast her and in general holding her with so much pride warmed my heart.
That being said I was let down by the ending. The twist in the plot with the culprit, I accepted that, but I didn’t like how for the previous suspects they investigated them a lot while barely any investigation was done here. The ending felt rushed and I wish we would have gotten at least one more scene with them investigating their final suspect to collect some solid proof.
Overall, the book was good. Has very good humour and dialogue (I highlighted so much of it!) and the investigation and all the mishaps occurred were enjoyable to read and well written.
November 28, 2020
Cute, fun mystery in an era gone by
Really enjoyed the quick and cute mystery set in the 1920’s. Really liked Poppy, who was “girl boss” before it was cool!
Really enjoyed the quick and cute mystery set in the 1920’s. Really liked Poppy, who was “girl boss” before it was cool!
March 12, 2019
This was such a wonderful start to a new historical cozy series! I loved the two main characters Poppy and Jasper, they were so quirky and they kept you on your toes. What I loved most about this novel was that for the first time in London Lovett's series, the main character was an actual "detective," which was a wonderful surprise! London Lovett truly captured the 1920's. I cannot wait for the second book of the series!
June 27, 2019
3.5
Fun start to a new cozy series - I really liked Jasper and Poppy's relationship; they were a fun duo to follow around.
I didn't really feel this shouted 20's to me (with the exception of a few vocab choices and speakeasys being a thing) and Poppy came across immature/privileged at times. I am okay with the immaturity as she is coming into her own from being in her Uncle's shadow and is trying to prove herself. But sometimes she seemed entitled...in the way she was "on her own" yet she somehow got the funds to start a PI business and can name drop her family with the cops and used her looks to play with men. Obvi gotta do what you gotta do to solve mysteries, but she did it with a couple of her male suitors too. Still, I had an overall fun time with this and am looking forward to the second one!
Fun start to a new cozy series - I really liked Jasper and Poppy's relationship; they were a fun duo to follow around.
I didn't really feel this shouted 20's to me (with the exception of a few vocab choices and speakeasys being a thing) and Poppy came across immature/privileged at times. I am okay with the immaturity as she is coming into her own from being in her Uncle's shadow and is trying to prove herself. But sometimes she seemed entitled...in the way she was "on her own" yet she somehow got the funds to start a PI business and can name drop her family with the cops and used her looks to play with men. Obvi gotta do what you gotta do to solve mysteries, but she did it with a couple of her male suitors too. Still, I had an overall fun time with this and am looking forward to the second one!
December 5, 2020
Light read ...entertaining from beginning to end! loved the atmosphere of the era!
February 26, 2021
Tinsel town romp.
Thoroughly enjoyed the light mystery . Poppy is a delightful character and appears so real. I plan to read more.
Thoroughly enjoyed the light mystery . Poppy is a delightful character and appears so real. I plan to read more.
March 12, 2019
I loved this new cozy mystery series by London Lovett. This takes place during the early part of the twentieth century, in the 1923, and this mystery takes place at a Movie Studio in Los Angeles!
The main characters are Poppy Starfire and her brother Jasper. Pappy runs the Starfire Detective Agency, which she was given by her Uncle Sherman, who knew she would be a good investigator! Up to now their work has been small insignificant work really, until Anna Colton a young woman walks in and tells Poppy that she thinks that her brother Roger, a stuntman's death was not an accident. Anna asks Poppy to look into what happened after the police ruled it an accident and did not even look into it.
The book is awesome, we watch while Poppy and her brother look into the case and near the end the plot takes a quick turn! I also liked that there were other characters in the book like Poppy's neighbor who she is getting to know through letters!
Their search takes them everywhere and at one point, a dangerous situation, which makes the book so interesting from start to finish! I can't wait for more of this new cozy series and it will be an automatic buy, and it will be fun to read about these characters again!
I gave this book 5 Stars and now will impatiently wait for the next one!
The main characters are Poppy Starfire and her brother Jasper. Pappy runs the Starfire Detective Agency, which she was given by her Uncle Sherman, who knew she would be a good investigator! Up to now their work has been small insignificant work really, until Anna Colton a young woman walks in and tells Poppy that she thinks that her brother Roger, a stuntman's death was not an accident. Anna asks Poppy to look into what happened after the police ruled it an accident and did not even look into it.
The book is awesome, we watch while Poppy and her brother look into the case and near the end the plot takes a quick turn! I also liked that there were other characters in the book like Poppy's neighbor who she is getting to know through letters!
Their search takes them everywhere and at one point, a dangerous situation, which makes the book so interesting from start to finish! I can't wait for more of this new cozy series and it will be an automatic buy, and it will be fun to read about these characters again!
I gave this book 5 Stars and now will impatiently wait for the next one!
March 21, 2019
4.5 stars
Poppy Starfire and her brother Jasper have taken over their Uncle Sherman's detective agency. Sherman Starfire had a good reputation as a detective in L.A., but so far all Poppy is getting are lost pets and stolen garden gnomes. Then wealthy socialite Anna Colton comes in to hire Sherman to look into the death of her brother Roger. Roger is a Hollywood stuntman who died in a fall during a stunt gone bad. Poppy and Jasper have their first big case. What adds to the charm of this cozy is it's setting: the Roaring 20's. There aren't any gangsters though there is some bootlegged whiskey. Poppy doesn't get beaten like V.I. Warshawski, or have a gun pointed at her every other chapter like Phillip Marlowe. She goes quietly about the business of running down leads and questioning witnesses and suspects. She heads down a couple of blind alleys but just moves on to a new line of inquiry. Along the way she banters with Jasper, attends a Friday night dance and downs a couple of cherry phosphates. This is not a dark mystery. It is a fast paced, rather charming, straight forward story. Perhaps Poppy solves the mystery a bit too easily, but it's a cozy. I had fun with it and I recommend it for a couple nights breezy fun.
Poppy Starfire and her brother Jasper have taken over their Uncle Sherman's detective agency. Sherman Starfire had a good reputation as a detective in L.A., but so far all Poppy is getting are lost pets and stolen garden gnomes. Then wealthy socialite Anna Colton comes in to hire Sherman to look into the death of her brother Roger. Roger is a Hollywood stuntman who died in a fall during a stunt gone bad. Poppy and Jasper have their first big case. What adds to the charm of this cozy is it's setting: the Roaring 20's. There aren't any gangsters though there is some bootlegged whiskey. Poppy doesn't get beaten like V.I. Warshawski, or have a gun pointed at her every other chapter like Phillip Marlowe. She goes quietly about the business of running down leads and questioning witnesses and suspects. She heads down a couple of blind alleys but just moves on to a new line of inquiry. Along the way she banters with Jasper, attends a Friday night dance and downs a couple of cherry phosphates. This is not a dark mystery. It is a fast paced, rather charming, straight forward story. Perhaps Poppy solves the mystery a bit too easily, but it's a cozy. I had fun with it and I recommend it for a couple nights breezy fun.
December 31, 2020
I like poppy and her brother Jasper a lot of the book makes me feel almost like it’s from the 20s but than again sometimes it doesn’t. I feel the clothing and bootlegging parts are relatable to the 20s. Now I do feel the fact she is running a private investigator business feels unrealistic for their era mainly cuz she is a young female and I feel at that time you would be pressured to get married but I could be wrong. To be fair if she didn’t run a private investigator office their would be no story. In the first book she is hired by Rowdy’s sister who does not believe his death is a accident I will say half way through the book I didn’t know the killer until certain people had a excuse to not be the killer than I realized the killer over all I’m interest to read the next book and see what happens to Poppy
May 10, 2020
I know London Lovett is into another outrageous cozey murder mystery sereise , this in the 192o's .A fabulous time for women entering the world once only known by men,such as the detective business . Miss.Starfire's uncle has retired lieveing his private detective agency in her capable hands. Full of drama entwined in secretes and intreage dusted with humor carried away with flamboyant caracters, Miss.Starfire is sure to win your heart. Time for you to aquier a copy of "Murder on Lot B"so you to may start enjoying it as much as I have. 🤔🙄😀😉😏😊Kat
November 25, 2020
A cute entry in the genre, with its 1920s setting. Too soon to see if Poppy is out of place as a woman business owner, or whether she can realistically carry it off. We already see stereotypes being permitted in the attention of her beaux. Despite hearing Jasper's story several times in the novel, it still seems contrived -- perhaps that will grow in future installments.
I got this book on a "free from Amazon" day. I wasn't intrigued enough to buy the next volume, but will probably look for it in a lending library.
I got this book on a "free from Amazon" day. I wasn't intrigued enough to buy the next volume, but will probably look for it in a lending library.
May 19, 2021
Awesome
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and could not put it down even for a moment. It's a sweet adorable cosy mystery. I loved Poppy Starfire's noble intention of reaching out to her neighbor Mrs. Dewberry who seems to be reticent. She never gave up even though her detective agency didn't get any cases. Her adopted brother Jasper is her able assistant who shares her adventures in solving an accidental death which turns out to be a murder. Plenty of twists with ever changing suspects until the climax. Brilliant work.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and could not put it down even for a moment. It's a sweet adorable cosy mystery. I loved Poppy Starfire's noble intention of reaching out to her neighbor Mrs. Dewberry who seems to be reticent. She never gave up even though her detective agency didn't get any cases. Her adopted brother Jasper is her able assistant who shares her adventures in solving an accidental death which turns out to be a murder. Plenty of twists with ever changing suspects until the climax. Brilliant work.
April 4, 2019
Flirty, witty, and gifted with a talented fashion designer friend, Poppy Starfire works with her adopted brother to build up their inherited detective agency, in a move from finding lost cats to solving murder. Even the villians show off their 1920s style in interesting ways. Although the clues are fairly straightforward, the characters are well fleshed out with lots of possibilities. An enjoyable read
February 13, 2020
A good cozy mystery loaded with fun (if not a few cliche) characters and loads of red herrings. I didn't try too hard to figure out who the murderer was but still managed to guess the culprit a heartbeat before Poppy. There was plenty of nostalgic fun as the author seemed to know her time period but some of the dialog seemed just a bit too modern. I'll be adding this author to my "must read" list and will be picking up the next book in the series soon.
April 12, 2021
1923 Los Angeles. Poppy and Jasper Stafford of the Starfire Detective Agency are hired by Anna Colton. To investigate the death of her stuntman brother Roger 'Rowdy' James. A death the police have declared an accident.
Jasper was a bit of an annoying character, and Poppy really should dress for the occasion especially when partaking in an illegal activity.
Overall an enjoyable cozy historical mystery.
Jasper was a bit of an annoying character, and Poppy really should dress for the occasion especially when partaking in an illegal activity.
Overall an enjoyable cozy historical mystery.
May 18, 2021
This was such a fun read! I loved the details of the time period, the characters, the setting and the plot (there’s a lot of things I didn’t see coming). I’m new to the world of cozies and this was the perfect way to dive in.
It did throw me off how the book started with Poppy writing a letter to her neighbor. I’m not sure how I’d feel if someone whom I didn’t know wrote me a rambling letter like that!
I breezed through this and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series :)
It did throw me off how the book started with Poppy writing a letter to her neighbor. I’m not sure how I’d feel if someone whom I didn’t know wrote me a rambling letter like that!
I breezed through this and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series :)
March 28, 2024
3.75 stars
I really liked the 1920’s vibes with the bootleggers and gangsters. Then the whole old Hollywood vibe of that area was really cool. I really enjoyed the characters as they set about solving this mystery.
As for the mystery, it was okay. I was more interested by the end, but it just didn’t grab me. It was kind of slow paced and dragged a little bit. After a while it was hard to keep track of who was a suspect and why. It pulled it together by the end. I was satisfied with it.
I really liked the 1920’s vibes with the bootleggers and gangsters. Then the whole old Hollywood vibe of that area was really cool. I really enjoyed the characters as they set about solving this mystery.
As for the mystery, it was okay. I was more interested by the end, but it just didn’t grab me. It was kind of slow paced and dragged a little bit. After a while it was hard to keep track of who was a suspect and why. It pulled it together by the end. I was satisfied with it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2020
Murder on lot B
Writing sophomoric. Author trying out new words? I don’t think buses nor cars chortle. And no the author wasn’t trying to imply that the vehicles were happy
Also “quipped” isn’t a substitute for “said”. It generally implies a humorous or Smart Alecy remark. No need to sprinkle it randomly all over the story
It was a cute story but needed a little more flesh on the bones.
Writing sophomoric. Author trying out new words? I don’t think buses nor cars chortle. And no the author wasn’t trying to imply that the vehicles were happy
Also “quipped” isn’t a substitute for “said”. It generally implies a humorous or Smart Alecy remark. No need to sprinkle it randomly all over the story
It was a cute story but needed a little more flesh on the bones.
March 20, 2021
Poppy has taken over her uncle's detective agency and has barely gotten by. Her brother Jasper is her co-worker. They get a case of accidental death on a movie studio that the sister doesn't think is accidental. Things get crazy as they chase down many leads to no avail.
Fun, entertaining and keeps you interested
Fun, entertaining and keeps you interested
March 22, 2019
Nice little cozy
Puppy reminds me of Fanny Ficher the dresses her friend makes for her sound so lovely you wish there were pictures. Of course there is murder, bootleggers and a Hollywood studio to also keep you amuzed
Puppy reminds me of Fanny Ficher the dresses her friend makes for her sound so lovely you wish there were pictures. Of course there is murder, bootleggers and a Hollywood studio to also keep you amuzed
July 4, 2019
I got rid of cable over a year ago. I miss very little about it except the mystery movies in the hallmark channel. If you like those, you'll love this book.This is the first in this series. The main character poppy is flirty, funny and a real smart cookie.
August 24, 2020
Whodunit
This is the first of a really cute story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. London always has the cutest & most interesting characters in her books.
Finished her other two series & waiting with bated breath for the rest. How does that sound?😁.
This is the first of a really cute story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. London always has the cutest & most interesting characters in her books.
Finished her other two series & waiting with bated breath for the rest. How does that sound?😁.
December 23, 2020
I loved this book! Such a fun and cozy read. I downloaded the ebook for free but I have since purchased the whole series because I enjoyed it so much! Can’t wait to read more about poppy’s adventures!
May 7, 2021
This was a fun book about a sister and brother detective agency in the 1920s and their solving the mystery of a murdered stuntman, which was set up to look like an accident. Great characters and a fun story.
May 10, 2021
Fun cosy mystery set in the 1920s with a female detective who inherits the family detective agency when her uncle retires. Assisted by her younger brother they finally get a chance to prove they can do more than find lost pets when asked to solve a murder.
May 29, 2022
Cute little light hearted book. Cool seeing LA back in the day. Not a fan of period time pieces but this worked for me. The characters were all lovable which is a huge part of me enjoying a novel. Would read another in this series but sprinkled between other heavy reads.
January 20, 2023
Excellent first in the series. The characters were very well developed in the storyline, which moved along very smoothly. The mystery was well written, so you couldn't guess who the killer was. Good starter, on to number 2, murder at the ostrich farm. Enjoy the story. It's well worth the read.
May 4, 2023
I like these period cozy mysteries - it is kind of refreshing to not have cell phones and technology in the mix. The main characters were nice and the pacing was steady. I will read more of this series - these books will be a nice break from other more serious reads.
March 8, 2019
Absolutely, delightful cozy mystery! And a fabulous start to a new series. Such a fun read with plenty of twists throughout the entire book. I can hardly wait to read the next book in this series!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews