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A Taylor Texas Mystery #1
Death Takes A Break
A cozy mystery where Texas grit, homemade pie, and quiet faith meet small-town secrets
Hospice nurse Christie Taylor trades hospital hallways for hay bales and returns home to Texas, thinking she’s there to rest, help Pop, and finally have time to try out some pie recipes. What she finds instead is a community with long memories, a mystery that keeps pulling her in, and people who became family before she’d quite noticed it happening. Set against the warm, wide Texas Hill Country, Death Takes A Break is the kind of story that reminds you: truth always finds its way home, and so does love.
Death Takes A Break is the first book in series, though every book can be read as a stand-alone mystery. Includes a pie recipe from the story. Perfect for cozy mystery readers who enjoy small-town charm and intrigue, Texas down-home values, real stakes, and homemade pie recipes. For fans of amateur sleuths with grit, grace, and an inconvenient habit of finding trouble.
Saddle up, grab your sleuthing hat and take a break now!
Hospice nurse Christie Taylor trades hospital hallways for hay bales and returns home to Texas, thinking she’s there to rest, help Pop, and finally have time to try out some pie recipes. What she finds instead is a community with long memories, a mystery that keeps pulling her in, and people who became family before she’d quite noticed it happening. Set against the warm, wide Texas Hill Country, Death Takes A Break is the kind of story that reminds you: truth always finds its way home, and so does love.
Death Takes A Break is the first book in series, though every book can be read as a stand-alone mystery. Includes a pie recipe from the story. Perfect for cozy mystery readers who enjoy small-town charm and intrigue, Texas down-home values, real stakes, and homemade pie recipes. For fans of amateur sleuths with grit, grace, and an inconvenient habit of finding trouble.
Saddle up, grab your sleuthing hat and take a break now!
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2019
About the author
Vikki Walton
25 books468 followersVikki Walton is the best-selling author of the cozy mystery series, A Backyard Farming series. She is also the author of the Taylor Texas series, and Viviane's Adventures series.
In addition to writing cozy mysteries, she is the author of nonfiction books.
Vikki loves spending time either in her garden or visiting gardens on her travels. She loves animals so you'll usually find some animals in most of her stories.
Vikki currently lives in the beautiful state of Colorado.
You can sign up to receive updates and news about new releases, book deals, and giveaways through https://vikkiwalton.com
You can also find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/VikkiWaltonA...
In addition to writing cozy mysteries, she is the author of nonfiction books.
Vikki loves spending time either in her garden or visiting gardens on her travels. She loves animals so you'll usually find some animals in most of her stories.
Vikki currently lives in the beautiful state of Colorado.
You can sign up to receive updates and news about new releases, book deals, and giveaways through https://vikkiwalton.com
You can also find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/VikkiWaltonA...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
July 10, 2023
“A Light-hearted clean cozy mystery with a pie-baking sleuth” is what is promised, and it is mostly what you get. Our sleuth is Christie Taylor, a hospice nurse on burn-out who hasn’t told her father exactly that.
"“I just want to make sure you’re okay, that’s all. Plus, I have taken very little of my leave, and they told me I could take as long as I want.” She didn’t tell her father she’d given notice before they’d advised her to take a longer break and decide on her next steps. She hadn’t known her break from work would include her father breaking his arm. Plus the idea that it could have been on purpose still crept into her thoughts."
She is going to look after her father’s recovery but is just learning that local developers have targeted his ranch for acquisition. Then people start getting injured and dying.
I would be surprised if it took Vikki Walton much longer to write this than it does to make/bake a pie.
Start with a pound of Dad and wait until he begins to melt and get a little gooey;
Add a ranch that is going to make a nice foundation for a major development;
Leaven with a series of old acquaintances whose unresolved high school romances might be igniting new relationships;
Stir in a little unexplained danger at intervals; and,
Top with sprinkles of mistaken identities or motives.
I’m not upset (this was a quick “beach read”) but it was obvious from the first few pages that the author had hopes for a series based on her main character.
Not good enough as a thriller, or mystery or romance….just not my cup of tea.
[Yep, read it in less than an afternoon]
"“I just want to make sure you’re okay, that’s all. Plus, I have taken very little of my leave, and they told me I could take as long as I want.” She didn’t tell her father she’d given notice before they’d advised her to take a longer break and decide on her next steps. She hadn’t known her break from work would include her father breaking his arm. Plus the idea that it could have been on purpose still crept into her thoughts."
She is going to look after her father’s recovery but is just learning that local developers have targeted his ranch for acquisition. Then people start getting injured and dying.
I would be surprised if it took Vikki Walton much longer to write this than it does to make/bake a pie.
Start with a pound of Dad and wait until he begins to melt and get a little gooey;
Add a ranch that is going to make a nice foundation for a major development;
Leaven with a series of old acquaintances whose unresolved high school romances might be igniting new relationships;
Stir in a little unexplained danger at intervals; and,
Top with sprinkles of mistaken identities or motives.
I’m not upset (this was a quick “beach read”) but it was obvious from the first few pages that the author had hopes for a series based on her main character.
Not good enough as a thriller, or mystery or romance….just not my cup of tea.
[Yep, read it in less than an afternoon]
February 19, 2020
I really enjoyed the mystery plot in this story, but that was about it. The main character was okay but not terribly interesting. I found her father (and most of the other characters, honestly) to be super annoying. There were a lot of loose threads that never got tied up - maybe they'll be addressed in the next book, but I'm not sure I'll pick up the next book. Sometimes the narration seemed a bit vague - I was confused about who people were, how much time had passed, who did what when. I would have liked a longer book that took its time to clarify and dig deep into the situations and clues surrounding the mystery.
The mystery was the best part. The plot came together nicely. The solution surprised me, but it didn't seem too off-the-wall. There are some details that I'm still not sure about, but that has more to do with how vague the writing could be. I probably won't read anymore in this series because I just don't like the characters that much, but I'll definitely check out the author's other series.
The mystery was the best part. The plot came together nicely. The solution surprised me, but it didn't seem too off-the-wall. There are some details that I'm still not sure about, but that has more to do with how vague the writing could be. I probably won't read anymore in this series because I just don't like the characters that much, but I'll definitely check out the author's other series.
February 13, 2022
While visiting her Pop in her old hometown of Comfort, Christie Taylor discovers a real estate agent in their back 40. Part of a realty team who have been harassing her father to sell his land, the trespasser is in medical distress and dies under mysterious circumstances. But who had the slightest reason, other than Christie and her dad, to want the man dead?
I'm meandering towards four stars for my review. I liked the story and it nicely sets up the series, but:
I wasn't terribly invested in the main character - not as much as I wanted to be.
I felt the telling needed to be tighter - there were a number of loose ends that left me wondering.
I longed for the side characters to be more memorable - there were a few who ran together in my mind.
My grouses shouldn't be taken as proof of a bad story, however. The tale itself was enjoyable and the mystery kept me guessing. One of the really great parts of this story is the themes that run through it. Love and loyalty are obviously components of it, but so is the topic of gaslighting. As I finished the book, I found myself thinking about the times I've noted people intentionally (or in more worrying cases, unintentionally) causing another to second guess themselves. To find something that invokes higher-level thinking in a light-hearted piece is rather refreshing.
With all of this in mind, I'm looking forward to my next visit to Comfort, Texas.
I'm meandering towards four stars for my review. I liked the story and it nicely sets up the series, but:
I wasn't terribly invested in the main character - not as much as I wanted to be.
I felt the telling needed to be tighter - there were a number of loose ends that left me wondering.
I longed for the side characters to be more memorable - there were a few who ran together in my mind.
My grouses shouldn't be taken as proof of a bad story, however. The tale itself was enjoyable and the mystery kept me guessing. One of the really great parts of this story is the themes that run through it. Love and loyalty are obviously components of it, but so is the topic of gaslighting. As I finished the book, I found myself thinking about the times I've noted people intentionally (or in more worrying cases, unintentionally) causing another to second guess themselves. To find something that invokes higher-level thinking in a light-hearted piece is rather refreshing.
With all of this in mind, I'm looking forward to my next visit to Comfort, Texas.
October 8, 2022
Kindle freebie at time of download. All opinions expressed in my review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.
Christie, a hospice nurse, returns to her dad's farm in Texas for a break after a traumatizing incident and feeling burned out from her stressful job. Thinking the return to small town farm life will bring some much-needed R&R, Christie is surprised when her break turns out to be anything but peaceful. Some big time real estate developers want to get their hands on her dad's farmland and he'll do anything to prevent them from taking the land that's been in his family for generations. Not even veiled threats or certain incidents happening to his neighbor will make him sell. When he's hit by one of the developer's trucks, Christie sees red. She wants to know who is responsible and whether it was deliberate. When the man trying to buy her family's land turns up dying on the family land, Christie and her father become the chief suspects for a murder investigation. Christie is determined to clear her name and protect her home.
This story didn't interest me too much. It's set in Texas and the opening scene features a gunshot. I tried to keep an open mind and the story is not at all pro-gun or very Texas but it's also not very entertaining. It's a bit darker than I like and some of the plot points are never fully explained, I guess leaving a hook for future books? The reveal comes out of thin air. I never saw it coming. It's a short, quick read with a recipe in the middle.
The characters are all pretty two-dimensional with the bad ones being really bad. There's a little bit of gray area for one or two characters. Christie is likable enough but boring. She's been traumatized by an incident involving a homicidal maniac and the murder of a friend. It's made her wary and depressed. Add to that her difficut and demanding job, she's burned to the socket. Christie manages to be compassionate towards a dying man but otherwise she's pretty tough. She takes no prisoners and will fight to protect her father. Her dad, R.C., is an old time farmer (rancher?) who just wants to be left alone to continue on as he and his family have always done. He's ornery and feisty and apparently has a sense of humor about scaring off unwanted visitors by shooting or threatening to shoot antique guns. I wanted to root for him because he is tied to the land and loves it but I didn't particularly care for him as a character. He's just a stubborn old coot, a flat character.
Christie's best friend Trish is a lot of fun. She's trying to lighten the mood and help Christie feel happier. Trish is a busy mom of an active teenager but she's a good friend as well as a good mom. Trish is a bit mischievous and the one pushing somewhat not entirely legal sleuthing activities. R.C's neighbor, Curtis, is either showing signs of dementia or being gaslighted. After meeting his stepsons, I'm guessing he's truly being gaslighted. The villains truly have no scruples and will stop at nothing to get what they want. Hector, the victim, seems like he wasn't quite as ruthless but enjoyed the paycheck that comes with the job. I don't think he deserved to die but I don't really care who murdered him. Another "gray" figure is Cole, Christie's ex. He's now married to Kimberly, the mean girl from high school turned ruthless real estate developer employee. She hasn't changed at all since high school and continues to act like a spoiled brat to get her own way. Cole chose her over Christie years ago but their marriage doesn't sound stable or happy. Kimberly is for sure the chief villain. It was even rumored she was having an affair with Hector. Emma Webster owns the development corporation with her husband. She's a super fake mean girl type who enjoys attention, drama and gossip. Nothing about her is sincere and it's very sad that the two main bad people are both strong, powerful women.
This story was not interesting enough for me to want to read more. Not even the baking and the dogs could save this one for me.
Christie, a hospice nurse, returns to her dad's farm in Texas for a break after a traumatizing incident and feeling burned out from her stressful job. Thinking the return to small town farm life will bring some much-needed R&R, Christie is surprised when her break turns out to be anything but peaceful. Some big time real estate developers want to get their hands on her dad's farmland and he'll do anything to prevent them from taking the land that's been in his family for generations. Not even veiled threats or certain incidents happening to his neighbor will make him sell. When he's hit by one of the developer's trucks, Christie sees red. She wants to know who is responsible and whether it was deliberate. When the man trying to buy her family's land turns up dying on the family land, Christie and her father become the chief suspects for a murder investigation. Christie is determined to clear her name and protect her home.
This story didn't interest me too much. It's set in Texas and the opening scene features a gunshot. I tried to keep an open mind and the story is not at all pro-gun or very Texas but it's also not very entertaining. It's a bit darker than I like and some of the plot points are never fully explained, I guess leaving a hook for future books? The reveal comes out of thin air. I never saw it coming. It's a short, quick read with a recipe in the middle.
The characters are all pretty two-dimensional with the bad ones being really bad. There's a little bit of gray area for one or two characters. Christie is likable enough but boring. She's been traumatized by an incident involving a homicidal maniac and the murder of a friend. It's made her wary and depressed. Add to that her difficut and demanding job, she's burned to the socket. Christie manages to be compassionate towards a dying man but otherwise she's pretty tough. She takes no prisoners and will fight to protect her father. Her dad, R.C., is an old time farmer (rancher?) who just wants to be left alone to continue on as he and his family have always done. He's ornery and feisty and apparently has a sense of humor about scaring off unwanted visitors by shooting or threatening to shoot antique guns. I wanted to root for him because he is tied to the land and loves it but I didn't particularly care for him as a character. He's just a stubborn old coot, a flat character.
Christie's best friend Trish is a lot of fun. She's trying to lighten the mood and help Christie feel happier. Trish is a busy mom of an active teenager but she's a good friend as well as a good mom. Trish is a bit mischievous and the one pushing somewhat not entirely legal sleuthing activities. R.C's neighbor, Curtis, is either showing signs of dementia or being gaslighted. After meeting his stepsons, I'm guessing he's truly being gaslighted. The villains truly have no scruples and will stop at nothing to get what they want. Hector, the victim, seems like he wasn't quite as ruthless but enjoyed the paycheck that comes with the job. I don't think he deserved to die but I don't really care who murdered him. Another "gray" figure is Cole, Christie's ex. He's now married to Kimberly, the mean girl from high school turned ruthless real estate developer employee. She hasn't changed at all since high school and continues to act like a spoiled brat to get her own way. Cole chose her over Christie years ago but their marriage doesn't sound stable or happy. Kimberly is for sure the chief villain. It was even rumored she was having an affair with Hector. Emma Webster owns the development corporation with her husband. She's a super fake mean girl type who enjoys attention, drama and gossip. Nothing about her is sincere and it's very sad that the two main bad people are both strong, powerful women.
This story was not interesting enough for me to want to read more. Not even the baking and the dogs could save this one for me.
April 30, 2025
Free on Kobo
A quick mystery while in between novels. I loved the cover and that’s really what got me to try this one out. It was quick and I really enjoyed the western theme of it. I’ll be reading the other ones in the series.
A quick mystery while in between novels. I loved the cover and that’s really what got me to try this one out. It was quick and I really enjoyed the western theme of it. I’ll be reading the other ones in the series.
September 9, 2022
A very enjoyable read. Clever mystery. Loved the two labradors!
August 23, 2024
This was a really good read. I couldn't put it down.
August 2, 2020
Safe at Home?
Christie Taylor is a hospice nurse, a very good hospice nurse! As such she’s dealt with death many times. But recently she was faced with a different kind of death, murder in a snowbound resort! And the killer turned out to be a college friend of hers!
Now she finds herself burned out on her job, on dealing with and facing death. So she heads home to Comfort, Texas to recharge and recover.
But when she gets home she discovers that all is not peaceful there! Her father and several other land owners are having strange occurrences on their land. Things are out of place, missing, or just plainly seem to be forgotten! Not to mention the old landowners are being pressured to sell their land to real estate developers!
Can Christie sort out who’s a friend and who’s a foe in her hometown? Will there be more than pressure applied to get the sale? Can Christie keep her dad and herself safe? Read Death Takes A Break to find out!
Christie Taylor is a hospice nurse, a very good hospice nurse! As such she’s dealt with death many times. But recently she was faced with a different kind of death, murder in a snowbound resort! And the killer turned out to be a college friend of hers!
Now she finds herself burned out on her job, on dealing with and facing death. So she heads home to Comfort, Texas to recharge and recover.
But when she gets home she discovers that all is not peaceful there! Her father and several other land owners are having strange occurrences on their land. Things are out of place, missing, or just plainly seem to be forgotten! Not to mention the old landowners are being pressured to sell their land to real estate developers!
Can Christie sort out who’s a friend and who’s a foe in her hometown? Will there be more than pressure applied to get the sale? Can Christie keep her dad and herself safe? Read Death Takes A Break to find out!
May 15, 2024
The good:
The culprit wasn't who I was expecting but going back it didn't feel a last minute decision and there were clues in there.
Christie stood her ground when it mattered, mainly I was glad because she states at the beginning of the books she's not really interested in romance or having a relationship and I was afraid romance was going to be shoved down our throats anyways. I think she handled that part well.
The bad:
Despite the hints throughout the book when the culprit was revealed I felt it was a bit lackluster partly because when the culprit gets exposed they start going on a rant about all the things they've done and I felt it as a "look I was the villain I'm very bad, look how bad I am!" kinda silly, it wasn't the things they've done but how it was revealed/handled that made it a little bit unserious to me.
There are also some parts that feel a little like loose ends or unfinished business since apart from the murder there was more stuff going on that once the murder is resolved doesn't get fully addressed.
It wasn't a bad read but nothing that blew my mind.
The culprit wasn't who I was expecting but going back it didn't feel a last minute decision and there were clues in there.
Christie stood her ground when it mattered, mainly I was glad because she states at the beginning of the books she's not really interested in romance or having a relationship and I was afraid romance was going to be shoved down our throats anyways. I think she handled that part well.
The bad:
Despite the hints throughout the book when the culprit was revealed I felt it was a bit lackluster partly because when the culprit gets exposed they start going on a rant about all the things they've done and I felt it as a "look I was the villain I'm very bad, look how bad I am!" kinda silly, it wasn't the things they've done but how it was revealed/handled that made it a little bit unserious to me.
There are also some parts that feel a little like loose ends or unfinished business since apart from the murder there was more stuff going on that once the murder is resolved doesn't get fully addressed.
It wasn't a bad read but nothing that blew my mind.
February 21, 2023
Interesting book taking place in Texas where Christie is making a visit home from her job as a hospice nurse. Tough job. The local real estate developer is trying to buy her fathers ranch as well as the neighbors. The neighbor had a barn fire of suspicious origins. But Christie gets to meet up with her bestir from high school as well as the frenemy who stole her boyfriend and later married him. When a truck from the local real estate developer knocks her father down in a parking lot, Christie knows she is there for a bit to ensure his healing. Whilst Christie an her friend are out riding one day they find a real estate developers truck on Christie’s property and the driver is out of it saying he is sick. First air is rendered whilst help is gone for but he doesn’t make it. What on earth is going on. The culprit in the end is out of the blue with no prior indications. The characters are shallow and stereotypical but the location is interesting.
November 1, 2019
Obsession or just the 'I want' syndrome
A great read. Yes i did get the guilty party around halfway through but it was a great read. Great characters and the way the different generations interacted was a treat. So our main character although independent is still carrying the hurts of her high school days. Do we all activities the same as in school or do we evolve? A great plot of greed, intimidation and murder. Someone is trying to frame her and her father with one of the bully boys sent by a ruthless developer and his equally cold hearted wife. The more she finds out the more she suspects that intimidation has been applied to the elderly landowners. From her father to the neighbours. However she also suspects that musical partners has also been played. But is her hunch correct as to the identities?
A great read. Yes i did get the guilty party around halfway through but it was a great read. Great characters and the way the different generations interacted was a treat. So our main character although independent is still carrying the hurts of her high school days. Do we all activities the same as in school or do we evolve? A great plot of greed, intimidation and murder. Someone is trying to frame her and her father with one of the bully boys sent by a ruthless developer and his equally cold hearted wife. The more she finds out the more she suspects that intimidation has been applied to the elderly landowners. From her father to the neighbours. However she also suspects that musical partners has also been played. But is her hunch correct as to the identities?
December 26, 2025
I knew this would be a smaller/simpler (cozy mystery as hint), but I didn’t find myself enjoying it as much as I thought I would. Being from east Texas where pew pew shots are heard in the country and you don’t think much about it, some parts, phrases, actions were a little cringe. However, some quotes from characters did seem fitting for the book’s setting.
Christie seemed likable and overall not a bad character. Mr Taylor, her father, seems like every other Texan taking pride in their land and protecting what he loves. Just some phrases/how he said things made me cringe (a little.)
At parts I felt a little confusing on timing. Meaning what day was what or how much time had passed between events. I didn’t realize there were 5 more books, but I think I’m going to pass. Overall, not too bad. It was an easy read with a solution to the murder I definitely didn’t see coming!
Christie seemed likable and overall not a bad character. Mr Taylor, her father, seems like every other Texan taking pride in their land and protecting what he loves. Just some phrases/how he said things made me cringe (a little.)
At parts I felt a little confusing on timing. Meaning what day was what or how much time had passed between events. I didn’t realize there were 5 more books, but I think I’m going to pass. Overall, not too bad. It was an easy read with a solution to the murder I definitely didn’t see coming!
November 24, 2022
A Homecoming at Last.
Well I found another great Author to add to my Author's Collection, Vikki Walton has got me hooked on her series A Taylor Texas Mystery Series. I just latterly finished book #1 Death Takes A Break and it was funny at times, heartwarming, nerve-wracking when the developer's started to come around, scarey when Curtis and Pop and Christie got hurt; that I see nothing wrong with this series that anyone could read it. I would recommend the reader's be Young Adults to Adults who would love to find themselves in Comfort, Texas were you can come home again to stay for good.
Well I found another great Author to add to my Author's Collection, Vikki Walton has got me hooked on her series A Taylor Texas Mystery Series. I just latterly finished book #1 Death Takes A Break and it was funny at times, heartwarming, nerve-wracking when the developer's started to come around, scarey when Curtis and Pop and Christie got hurt; that I see nothing wrong with this series that anyone could read it. I would recommend the reader's be Young Adults to Adults who would love to find themselves in Comfort, Texas were you can come home again to stay for good.
April 1, 2024
I am just a Texas girl reading a Texas-based book. I love it. Maybe I’m a tad biased. This was a great, cozy mystery. It certainly surprised me. I’m interested in continuing because there has to be more tomfoolery going on here! I need to know what’s happening. Things are just too suspicious. I didn’t think the old man (Pop/RC) being intimidated by the developers saying they would press charges for him pulling a gun was realistic. That’s legal in Texas. They were trespassing. He would know that. Otherwise, I love and shall happily continue reading.
Come read with me on instagram @booksy.tx.ana
Come read with me on instagram @booksy.tx.ana
February 22, 2022
This book is the start to a new mystery series. Christie Talyor is a hospice nurse, that is no stranger to death. Then death claims the life of a friend of hers. Burned out after this event, Christie finds herself at home in Comfort,Texas. She's busy taking care of her elderly, cranky father, RC, and keeping him out of trouble, when a realty team is harassing farmers to sell there land. Her father is a victim of this, then the associate send out to purchase the land gets sick and passes our on the property, never to wake up again.
It's a good mystery with a lot of heart, and work put into the characters and story.
It's a good mystery with a lot of heart, and work put into the characters and story.
June 22, 2022
DEATH TAKES A BREAK
A Taylor Texas Mystery
VIKKI WALTON
Review by Author Roy Murry
Christie takes a break from her day job and visits her father on the family ranch. City slickers are harassing Dad to buy his and his friend's property to build a resort.
Add into the mix are old friendships, love affairs, and what seems murder of a friend to Christie. There are some twists and turns, but the plot is easy to follow.
There is a surprise ending that the reader will have to unravel in their heads. However, Christie and her dad still have problems that lead the reader to want more of the series.
The novel's pace was a little slow, but the story kept me reading on - Good Read.
A Taylor Texas Mystery
VIKKI WALTON
Review by Author Roy Murry
Christie takes a break from her day job and visits her father on the family ranch. City slickers are harassing Dad to buy his and his friend's property to build a resort.
Add into the mix are old friendships, love affairs, and what seems murder of a friend to Christie. There are some twists and turns, but the plot is easy to follow.
There is a surprise ending that the reader will have to unravel in their heads. However, Christie and her dad still have problems that lead the reader to want more of the series.
The novel's pace was a little slow, but the story kept me reading on - Good Read.
Read
July 1, 2020Heartwarming
Good old-fashioned, southern cooking. Family love and togetherness. Money loving real estate mogul trying to take over wide open ranches with histories spanning several generations. One murder. Several convenient accidents. Four suspects, one murderer, enough plot twists to keep you guessing until the end. Wonderful character development. Solid writing that flows easily. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Good old-fashioned, southern cooking. Family love and togetherness. Money loving real estate mogul trying to take over wide open ranches with histories spanning several generations. One murder. Several convenient accidents. Four suspects, one murderer, enough plot twists to keep you guessing until the end. Wonderful character development. Solid writing that flows easily. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
January 2, 2022
Such a Fantastic Read
I loved this novel. It pulled me in and kept my attention riveted from beginning to end. I finished it in parts of two days. The surprise twist in plot was an absolute surprise. I highly recommend her books for a hoot of a good time. Her character development is first rate. The main character and her father are very likable and come across as real people.
I loved this novel. It pulled me in and kept my attention riveted from beginning to end. I finished it in parts of two days. The surprise twist in plot was an absolute surprise. I highly recommend her books for a hoot of a good time. Her character development is first rate. The main character and her father are very likable and come across as real people.
April 26, 2022
This book centres around a nurse who deals with end of life patients, is suffering burn out and goes back home for a break to visit her father. The nurse and her father are by far the best characters in the book. There's a bit too much going on around the plot that isn't really needed in the book, unless of course it pertains to what is following. I will however, not be looking to read the next book in the series.
May 20, 2022
I recommend this book
This book had it all for me. Drama, mystery, twist and turns. I'm not a romance fan so this was a nice one for me. The ending was a surprise which was also nice not to have it figured out halfway through the book. The fact that it was set in Texas was also really nice. I had to chuckle over how many times the overwhelming heat was brought up. Yep! It really is just that hot. But getting back to the review, highly recommend this awesome read!
This book had it all for me. Drama, mystery, twist and turns. I'm not a romance fan so this was a nice one for me. The ending was a surprise which was also nice not to have it figured out halfway through the book. The fact that it was set in Texas was also really nice. I had to chuckle over how many times the overwhelming heat was brought up. Yep! It really is just that hot. But getting back to the review, highly recommend this awesome read!
October 29, 2022
A good mystery. Characters were sometimes difficult to understand, but that could be due to the differences in culture from mine. Side stories were interesting, sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic. I had a lot of interruptions while reading this, so maybe my impressions were due to that, but I found it frequently difficult to follow the story and keep all the characters straight. And as a good mystery, the ending was a surprise!
August 6, 2026
Enjoyed
Hit a few minor editing issues, like one sentence it us a glass, next it is a plastic cup. But mostly the story flows. I felt like I landed in the middle of the tale, but not in a bad way. It is unusual for me to say, I would like to read the next book in this series. I want to know the next few years for the characters.
One unsettling thing, the killer actually confesses to two deaths but is sentenced to the lesser one, only.
Hit a few minor editing issues, like one sentence it us a glass, next it is a plastic cup. But mostly the story flows. I felt like I landed in the middle of the tale, but not in a bad way. It is unusual for me to say, I would like to read the next book in this series. I want to know the next few years for the characters.
One unsettling thing, the killer actually confesses to two deaths but is sentenced to the lesser one, only.
June 30, 2021
Clean read
It was a good clean read and while it’s lead in to more books it’s not a cliffhanger. The story line was OK but I felt the conclusion was a little flat. Several issues introduced in the story were not quite resolved. There were several potential “bad guys” and in the end the felon was identified.
It was a good clean read and while it’s lead in to more books it’s not a cliffhanger. The story line was OK but I felt the conclusion was a little flat. Several issues introduced in the story were not quite resolved. There were several potential “bad guys” and in the end the felon was identified.
July 13, 2021
Light hearted is right
I enjoyed that this story is set in an area I’m somewhat familiar with. It is light hearted. The main character is relatable. I found myself jumping back and forth between two characters on who was the murderer until right before the reveal then I started figuring it out.
I enjoyed that this story is set in an area I’m somewhat familiar with. It is light hearted. The main character is relatable. I found myself jumping back and forth between two characters on who was the murderer until right before the reveal then I started figuring it out.
December 12, 2022
Ya hootie did it!
Took me awhile to figure out who did it, but when I did, I couldn't believe it. The best part of the book was when Pop said "ya hootie did it "! I grew up in northern NY & that's what my
parents said whenever something was missing, broken, etc. I have never heard anyone say that until this book. Thank you for bringing a childhood memory back!
Took me awhile to figure out who did it, but when I did, I couldn't believe it. The best part of the book was when Pop said "ya hootie did it "! I grew up in northern NY & that's what my
parents said whenever something was missing, broken, etc. I have never heard anyone say that until this book. Thank you for bringing a childhood memory back!
April 11, 2023
Quick, Fun Read
Death Takes a Break by Vikki Walton was a quick, fun read . Christie goes home to visit her dad and finds real estate developers hounding him to sell his Texas ranch. An old friend pulls Christie into a mystery that turns everything upside down, Texas-style. And there’s pie.
Death Takes a Break by Vikki Walton was a quick, fun read . Christie goes home to visit her dad and finds real estate developers hounding him to sell his Texas ranch. An old friend pulls Christie into a mystery that turns everything upside down, Texas-style. And there’s pie.
January 12, 2024
Pop gets his girlie back
Pop was missing his girl and needs a little help in his golden years. And his only daughter gets a little taste of how much her Pop can use her help when a couple of murders occur on their property, along with a kitchen fire and Pop's broken arm. ADD in a pecan pie recipe and you have found youf next cozy read!
Pop was missing his girl and needs a little help in his golden years. And his only daughter gets a little taste of how much her Pop can use her help when a couple of murders occur on their property, along with a kitchen fire and Pop's broken arm. ADD in a pecan pie recipe and you have found youf next cozy read!
December 30, 2019
Great!
I couldn't put this book down! I was nearly finished with the book before I even started to get an idea of who the killer was. It is very well written. I would love to read more from this author.
I couldn't put this book down! I was nearly finished with the book before I even started to get an idea of who the killer was. It is very well written. I would love to read more from this author.
January 1, 2020
Taylor Texas mystery
I loved it! When I saw Comfort, Texas, my heart did cartwheels! Imagine my little hometown being the star of a book. It’s a good twist or I should say twists were good too. Thank you ❤️
I loved it! When I saw Comfort, Texas, my heart did cartwheels! Imagine my little hometown being the star of a book. It’s a good twist or I should say twists were good too. Thank you ❤️
January 3, 2020
Good mystery!
This book had me hooked from the first page. The story was engaging, and the characters were believeable. The identity of the killer came as a
big shock. I highly recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers.
This book had me hooked from the first page. The story was engaging, and the characters were believeable. The identity of the killer came as a
big shock. I highly recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers.
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