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Sandie James #1
First Edition Murder
Winner of the 2023 BookFest award.
Something borrowed. Something blue. Someone’s dead.
When a lavish wedding reception ends with a bang of the gruesome kind, caterer Sandie James must turn amateur detective to save her dad from prison.
For Sandie James, fresh out of graduate school with a degree in Literature, employers aren’t exactly lining up. To make ends meet, she works at her sister’s bakery in their cozy little corner of uptown Brooklyn. When a customer asks her to replace her sick wedding caterer at the last minute, Sandie is glad of the extra cash.
The last thing Sandie expects is her dad, an obsessive book collector, crashing the reception to pick a fight with a guest who outbid him on a rare edition of a Raymond Chandler mystery. She is horrified when that guest turns up dead—and her dad is found standing over the body with the murder weapon.
Sandie is convinced her dad has been set up, but proving it is not easy. She must rely on her own wits, and the enthusiastic help of Marlowe, the family’s Springer Spaniel, to save her dad from prison.
As fear and blame spread through their quiet neighborhood, Sandie races to clear her dad's name and find the real killer, before the killer finds her.
Something borrowed. Something blue. Someone’s dead.
When a lavish wedding reception ends with a bang of the gruesome kind, caterer Sandie James must turn amateur detective to save her dad from prison.
For Sandie James, fresh out of graduate school with a degree in Literature, employers aren’t exactly lining up. To make ends meet, she works at her sister’s bakery in their cozy little corner of uptown Brooklyn. When a customer asks her to replace her sick wedding caterer at the last minute, Sandie is glad of the extra cash.
The last thing Sandie expects is her dad, an obsessive book collector, crashing the reception to pick a fight with a guest who outbid him on a rare edition of a Raymond Chandler mystery. She is horrified when that guest turns up dead—and her dad is found standing over the body with the murder weapon.
Sandie is convinced her dad has been set up, but proving it is not easy. She must rely on her own wits, and the enthusiastic help of Marlowe, the family’s Springer Spaniel, to save her dad from prison.
As fear and blame spread through their quiet neighborhood, Sandie races to clear her dad's name and find the real killer, before the killer finds her.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2019
627 people are currently reading
667 people want to read
About the author
Tessa Kelly
25 books36 followersTessa Kelly is the award-winning author of the SANDIE JAMES MYSTERIES series.
A former teacher with a degree in French, Tessa spent several years living in an uptown Brooklyn neighborhood, frequenting its many cafes and coffee shops and getting to know it from the inside and out. During her undergrad years, she has worked at a bakery just like the one depicted in her novel, where she developed a lifelong fondness for cheesecake brownies.
These days, when not writing, she loves to be outside exploring hiking trails, often wandering off the beaten path. Her other passions include baking, learning foreign languages, and reading.
Follow me on Amazon for news about my new releases!
A former teacher with a degree in French, Tessa spent several years living in an uptown Brooklyn neighborhood, frequenting its many cafes and coffee shops and getting to know it from the inside and out. During her undergrad years, she has worked at a bakery just like the one depicted in her novel, where she developed a lifelong fondness for cheesecake brownies.
These days, when not writing, she loves to be outside exploring hiking trails, often wandering off the beaten path. Her other passions include baking, learning foreign languages, and reading.
Follow me on Amazon for news about my new releases!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
May 4, 2023
Kindle freebie at time of download. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.
Sandie James is dead tired on her feet helping her sister Kathy cater a wedding reception at Luce Della Vita, a restaurant and bar next to her dad's used and rare bookshop. It's Angela's second wedding and she wants to do it right this time. When Sandie's dad, Nicolas, crashes the party, appears drunk and angry at Sonny, Angela's ex-husband and Vita's landlord. Nicolas causes a scene, accusing Sonny of purposefully outbidding him for a rare first edition of The Big Sleepon behalf of a wealthy book collector. Sandie and her brother Will are able to handle their dad but when Sandie heads down to the wine cellar, she discovers Sonny's dead body lying on the floor and her dad standing over Sonny holding the gun. Nicolas had motive, means and opportunity but Sandie knows her dad would never do such a thing. She's determined to prove his innocence.
This was a pleasant diversion to pass the time on an airplane but not super memorable. The mystery had way too many characters and information dropped in the first few pages. It was unnecessary to tell us specific details of characters' ages, looks and their whole histories right in the first chapter. Let the story unfold organically. I didn't guess whodunit at any rate. It was not at all who I expected it to be. There's a love triangle unfolding I don't particularly like. It seemed shoehorned in.
Sandie is OK. I wanted to click with her because I was also an English major and used to want to be a writer. Don't do it. It translates to unemployed or underemployed forever. Sandie at least has her sister's bakery where she can earn money and an apartment she shares with her best friend. Sandie just seems a little ... standoffish I guess. She's unhappy with her life and a little cold to everyone except her family and best friend. I think she takes the wrong tactic with her best friend's love life. If Felisha is really her best friend, Sandie should be able to caution Felisha about the men in her life without Felisha dumping HER. I think Sandie will soften in the next book and might be more likable.
Sandie comes from a close family. Her mother died not so long ago and her dad seems to be struggling on his own. He has his business, which is more of a hobby now and his pets but he seems hyper obsessed with owning this book. He can't think of anything else and makes a scene at someone's wedding of all places! He can't even see when a woman is into him. He makes Dora feel bad because he continually ignores her. Sandie should politely point out he needs to let Dora down gently or give her a chance and go on a date. I like Nicolas for all his faults though. Little brother Will is a police detective at the local precinct. He's calm and rational but also superstitious. His superstition makes sense I guess, given his line of work. Whatever it takes to get you through the tough job I guess. He seems smarter and better at his job than the detective assigned to the case.
I'm not fond of Sandie's sister Kathy. She's always the big sister but she's also the boss. She has every right to tell Sandie what to do but I think Sandie needs to tell her sis what to do and that is ditch the husband! Kathy is sweet, a little naïve and too nice. Her husband, Jeff, is a jerk. He's rude and disrespectful not just to his wife but to her family. All he cares about is making money and begrudges every penny they are not making when Kathy is being kind and helpful to her family and community. Sandie knows what Jeff is like and her very presence seems to piss him off. I think he's a good suspect for murder. He wants to be co-owner of the bakery and expand. For that he needs a loan from Sonny. Did Sonny deny Jeff the money? Did Jeff lash out and kill Sonny? I think he could have.
Sonny was a wheeler and dealer. He was a control freak and wanted to control the business, although he was a silent partner. He also wanted to control his daughter, Kim, who is 19 and an adult. They had a terrible argument over her future plans and the young man she was dating. Did their falling out contribute to his death? Did he threaten to cut off Kimberly from her inheritance? Kimberly is kind of a teenage drama queen and really rude.
It would be literally impossible for Angela to murder her ex on her wedding day. I don't think she would do that anyway. She wanted to have the perfect wedding to make up for the city hall shotgun wedding she had when she was pregnant with Kim. Angela does, however, have a motive and so does her new husband, David. David has a bigger motive than Angela. Sonny knew a secret about Angela and that secret could affect her new marriage big time. It's a good reason for David to get rid of Angela though and not Sonny but if he thinks Sonny is lying and smearing Angela's name... It did seem like Sonny crashed the wedding on purpose to make Angela and David uncomfortable. Angela suspects Nicolas because the police do. She's rude and mean and doesn't even give him the benefit of doubt.
Another suspect is Josh, Kathy's newest employee. He also works for Nicolas part-time. A-HA! He probably knew Nicolas had a gun in the house, had access to it and was probably involved in Sonny's rival bidding war. I wouldn't be surprised if he was the murderer. He doesn't seem to like Sandie very much which makes her suspect him of wrongdoing. To be fair, Josh reminds Sandie of an awful ex so she's biased. Alex Sorrento, co-owner of Vita with his brother Dave, disliked having Sonny as a silent partner. He resented Sonny's interference and mistrust of the way they were running the restaurant. The brothers had a good reason to want Sonny out of the picture, but why kill him? That just loses the business when you go to jail. Sandie suspect Alex because he has a slight edge to him. He's not so friendly and warm to her- because she was snooping!
How about that book collector from Boston, John Edwards? It sure seems suspicious that he hired Sonny to bid on not one but two Raymond Chandler books and outbid Nicolas. What does John know about this business? Did Sonny make an unauthorized bid? Is John involved in organized crime? Or is he a bibliomaniac who just has to have these books at all costs. Did he murder Sonny to keep his secrets?
Lauren, Sonny's wife, was subjected to his flirtations with other women. Rumor has it Angela even slept over when Lauren wasn't home. Is that enough to drive her to murder? She seems sincerely shocked and upset when she discovers Sonny has been killed. She also has a solid alibi. She was at home with a headache. Lauren's friend Valeria spent the night with Lauren and would have noticed if Lauren left the house. Valeria is cool and laid back. She's a good friend to Lauren and a good employee to Kathy. I don't think she'd lie. Crystal, Angela's friend, sounds like an Italian-American Jersey girl. As in, she comes across as shallow and ditzy and she loves to gossip. As a hairstylist, she needs to learn to keep her mouth shut. While the police don't have Crystal on their radar due to lack of evidence, Sandie seems suspicious of Crystal and does some really dumb and illegal stuff to get her evidence.
Dora Novak has a crush on Nicolas. She's a nice lady and very kind. She supports the family although with hesitation, when Nicolas is booked for murder. Dora indicates she knows something she needs to tell Sandie and when Dora fails to show, Sandie comes under the police radar! Dora doesn't deserve to have anything bad happen to her. Maybe she fled in fear?
Detective Green is your average arrogant cozy mystery cop. He's been on the force a long time and is jealous that Will, who is younger and newer, was promoted ahead of him. Detective Green is going to pin this crime on someone in Will's family just for spite. He doesn't seem to be trying too hard to find other suspects. It's up to Sandie to sleuth, pass on info to Will and Will to share with the older detective. Detective Carver is the good cop in the partnership. He seems kind of hapless but it may be an act.
Felisha, Sandie's roommate and friend, is eccentric. She's into weird health food crazes and comes on a little too strong to a man she likes. She's made bad choices before and Sandie is a little worried for her. Felisha is too sweet for her own good. Tyrone, the guy she's into, works at Kathy's bakery. Tyrone has been much married and is way too self-confident. He knows he's good looking and enjoys having a good time with the ladies. Sandie considers him a friend but not boyfriend material. Liam, the bartender at Vita, is flirtatious but he seems nice. He's a geek and a dog lover. He also knows something about classic literature. He wants to go out with Sandie and I think she should go. I like him. I didn't at first. I thought he was arrogant and a little slimy but outside of work, he's not as bad.
I'm not super into this series yet but I'd read another one if it was free.
Sandie James is dead tired on her feet helping her sister Kathy cater a wedding reception at Luce Della Vita, a restaurant and bar next to her dad's used and rare bookshop. It's Angela's second wedding and she wants to do it right this time. When Sandie's dad, Nicolas, crashes the party, appears drunk and angry at Sonny, Angela's ex-husband and Vita's landlord. Nicolas causes a scene, accusing Sonny of purposefully outbidding him for a rare first edition of The Big Sleepon behalf of a wealthy book collector. Sandie and her brother Will are able to handle their dad but when Sandie heads down to the wine cellar, she discovers Sonny's dead body lying on the floor and her dad standing over Sonny holding the gun. Nicolas had motive, means and opportunity but Sandie knows her dad would never do such a thing. She's determined to prove his innocence.
This was a pleasant diversion to pass the time on an airplane but not super memorable. The mystery had way too many characters and information dropped in the first few pages. It was unnecessary to tell us specific details of characters' ages, looks and their whole histories right in the first chapter. Let the story unfold organically. I didn't guess whodunit at any rate. It was not at all who I expected it to be. There's a love triangle unfolding I don't particularly like. It seemed shoehorned in.
Sandie is OK. I wanted to click with her because I was also an English major and used to want to be a writer. Don't do it. It translates to unemployed or underemployed forever. Sandie at least has her sister's bakery where she can earn money and an apartment she shares with her best friend. Sandie just seems a little ... standoffish I guess. She's unhappy with her life and a little cold to everyone except her family and best friend. I think she takes the wrong tactic with her best friend's love life. If Felisha is really her best friend, Sandie should be able to caution Felisha about the men in her life without Felisha dumping HER. I think Sandie will soften in the next book and might be more likable.
Sandie comes from a close family. Her mother died not so long ago and her dad seems to be struggling on his own. He has his business, which is more of a hobby now and his pets but he seems hyper obsessed with owning this book. He can't think of anything else and makes a scene at someone's wedding of all places! He can't even see when a woman is into him. He makes Dora feel bad because he continually ignores her. Sandie should politely point out he needs to let Dora down gently or give her a chance and go on a date. I like Nicolas for all his faults though. Little brother Will is a police detective at the local precinct. He's calm and rational but also superstitious. His superstition makes sense I guess, given his line of work. Whatever it takes to get you through the tough job I guess. He seems smarter and better at his job than the detective assigned to the case.
I'm not fond of Sandie's sister Kathy. She's always the big sister but she's also the boss. She has every right to tell Sandie what to do but I think Sandie needs to tell her sis what to do and that is ditch the husband! Kathy is sweet, a little naïve and too nice. Her husband, Jeff, is a jerk. He's rude and disrespectful not just to his wife but to her family. All he cares about is making money and begrudges every penny they are not making when Kathy is being kind and helpful to her family and community. Sandie knows what Jeff is like and her very presence seems to piss him off. I think he's a good suspect for murder. He wants to be co-owner of the bakery and expand. For that he needs a loan from Sonny. Did Sonny deny Jeff the money? Did Jeff lash out and kill Sonny? I think he could have.
Sonny was a wheeler and dealer. He was a control freak and wanted to control the business, although he was a silent partner. He also wanted to control his daughter, Kim, who is 19 and an adult. They had a terrible argument over her future plans and the young man she was dating. Did their falling out contribute to his death? Did he threaten to cut off Kimberly from her inheritance? Kimberly is kind of a teenage drama queen and really rude.
It would be literally impossible for Angela to murder her ex on her wedding day. I don't think she would do that anyway. She wanted to have the perfect wedding to make up for the city hall shotgun wedding she had when she was pregnant with Kim. Angela does, however, have a motive and so does her new husband, David. David has a bigger motive than Angela. Sonny knew a secret about Angela and that secret could affect her new marriage big time. It's a good reason for David to get rid of Angela though and not Sonny but if he thinks Sonny is lying and smearing Angela's name... It did seem like Sonny crashed the wedding on purpose to make Angela and David uncomfortable. Angela suspects Nicolas because the police do. She's rude and mean and doesn't even give him the benefit of doubt.
Another suspect is Josh, Kathy's newest employee. He also works for Nicolas part-time. A-HA! He probably knew Nicolas had a gun in the house, had access to it and was probably involved in Sonny's rival bidding war. I wouldn't be surprised if he was the murderer. He doesn't seem to like Sandie very much which makes her suspect him of wrongdoing. To be fair, Josh reminds Sandie of an awful ex so she's biased. Alex Sorrento, co-owner of Vita with his brother Dave, disliked having Sonny as a silent partner. He resented Sonny's interference and mistrust of the way they were running the restaurant. The brothers had a good reason to want Sonny out of the picture, but why kill him? That just loses the business when you go to jail. Sandie suspect Alex because he has a slight edge to him. He's not so friendly and warm to her- because she was snooping!
How about that book collector from Boston, John Edwards? It sure seems suspicious that he hired Sonny to bid on not one but two Raymond Chandler books and outbid Nicolas. What does John know about this business? Did Sonny make an unauthorized bid? Is John involved in organized crime? Or is he a bibliomaniac who just has to have these books at all costs. Did he murder Sonny to keep his secrets?
Lauren, Sonny's wife, was subjected to his flirtations with other women. Rumor has it Angela even slept over when Lauren wasn't home. Is that enough to drive her to murder? She seems sincerely shocked and upset when she discovers Sonny has been killed. She also has a solid alibi. She was at home with a headache. Lauren's friend Valeria spent the night with Lauren and would have noticed if Lauren left the house. Valeria is cool and laid back. She's a good friend to Lauren and a good employee to Kathy. I don't think she'd lie. Crystal, Angela's friend, sounds like an Italian-American Jersey girl. As in, she comes across as shallow and ditzy and she loves to gossip. As a hairstylist, she needs to learn to keep her mouth shut. While the police don't have Crystal on their radar due to lack of evidence, Sandie seems suspicious of Crystal and does some really dumb and illegal stuff to get her evidence.
Dora Novak has a crush on Nicolas. She's a nice lady and very kind. She supports the family although with hesitation, when Nicolas is booked for murder. Dora indicates she knows something she needs to tell Sandie and when Dora fails to show, Sandie comes under the police radar! Dora doesn't deserve to have anything bad happen to her. Maybe she fled in fear?
Detective Green is your average arrogant cozy mystery cop. He's been on the force a long time and is jealous that Will, who is younger and newer, was promoted ahead of him. Detective Green is going to pin this crime on someone in Will's family just for spite. He doesn't seem to be trying too hard to find other suspects. It's up to Sandie to sleuth, pass on info to Will and Will to share with the older detective. Detective Carver is the good cop in the partnership. He seems kind of hapless but it may be an act.
Felisha, Sandie's roommate and friend, is eccentric. She's into weird health food crazes and comes on a little too strong to a man she likes. She's made bad choices before and Sandie is a little worried for her. Felisha is too sweet for her own good. Tyrone, the guy she's into, works at Kathy's bakery. Tyrone has been much married and is way too self-confident. He knows he's good looking and enjoys having a good time with the ladies. Sandie considers him a friend but not boyfriend material. Liam, the bartender at Vita, is flirtatious but he seems nice. He's a geek and a dog lover. He also knows something about classic literature. He wants to go out with Sandie and I think she should go. I like him. I didn't at first. I thought he was arrogant and a little slimy but outside of work, he's not as bad.
I'm not super into this series yet but I'd read another one if it was free.
October 30, 2025
IDK but Sandie isn’t very likeable… yet..
June 28, 2022
To pay the bills, Sandie James works for her sister's bakery. A wedding catered by the bakery is ruined when a murder is committed and Sandie's dad is arrested as a suspect.
It's been a while since I read the prequel to this series (indeed, long enough ago that I'd forgotten Sandie) but I did enjoy that story. This Sandie isn't quite the same person I remember meeting previously. This Sandie seems to have spent several years in limbo - she would have earned her degree in her early twenties, but here she is still working part-time (part-time!) at her sister's bakery. How on earth does she make her rent? Her sister must be generous with the wages. Speaking of her much older sister, there is a massive age gap between the older sister and the two younger siblings. Then there's Sandie's dad who also seems to be indifferent to being a breadwinner and is vague and dreamy. And don't get me started on Sandie's brother-in-law who is a real piece of work...
Despite not connecting with the characters, I did enjoy the mystery itself and Sandie's part in solving it - hence the four-star review.
It's been a while since I read the prequel to this series (indeed, long enough ago that I'd forgotten Sandie) but I did enjoy that story. This Sandie isn't quite the same person I remember meeting previously. This Sandie seems to have spent several years in limbo - she would have earned her degree in her early twenties, but here she is still working part-time (part-time!) at her sister's bakery. How on earth does she make her rent? Her sister must be generous with the wages. Speaking of her much older sister, there is a massive age gap between the older sister and the two younger siblings. Then there's Sandie's dad who also seems to be indifferent to being a breadwinner and is vague and dreamy. And don't get me started on Sandie's brother-in-law who is a real piece of work...
Despite not connecting with the characters, I did enjoy the mystery itself and Sandie's part in solving it - hence the four-star review.
February 12, 2024
I think this book and it’s Writer deserve a certain amount of respect for diving into this Nancy Drew esque idea and making it a series. It seems like she’s had some success. I just can’t say that this book intrigued me or got very exciting. Much of it had to do with her dating life and desires having to do with that. Some characters weren’t fleshed out or were just really unlikable for no reason. I’m not saying it’s bad… but, I probably wouldn’t read the sequel.
January 2, 2025
This was the cutest, coziest murder mystery I’ve probably ever read ☺️😅
This was my palate cleanser in between other books, or if I was in a slump I would read it here and there.
A good ending for the book too 🙌🏻
This was my palate cleanser in between other books, or if I was in a slump I would read it here and there.
A good ending for the book too 🙌🏻
August 8, 2022
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
April 25, 2023
A fun easy read.
October 13, 2025
Lots of characters thrown in at the beginning along with a lot of backstory. Not enough patience for it. DNF
April 9, 2024
The Cozy Mystery Book Club Bingo
Prompt : Real Life Town
I keep falling into the trap of novellas that introduce books, they seem fun and nice but then the main series turns into trash. But I am so happy to say this is not the case!
I still dislike how the suspect has to be a close person to the MC, but at least here this ends quickly and the father is very soon cleared.
If I had to find a complaint, I would say Sandie is maybe a bit stupid in a way, getting caught a bit too many times and not connecting certain information more easily, but I liked how she
I really dislike the sister’s husband, he is treating her and her family like crap and he seems to have no real redeeming quality, I wouldn’t be sad if something happens to him in the rest of the series.
I feel that the story is just starting and in the next books we will get to know the characters better, and I look forward to continuing.
Prompt : Real Life Town
I keep falling into the trap of novellas that introduce books, they seem fun and nice but then the main series turns into trash. But I am so happy to say this is not the case!
I still dislike how the suspect has to be a close person to the MC, but at least here this ends quickly and the father is very soon cleared.
If I had to find a complaint, I would say Sandie is maybe a bit stupid in a way, getting caught a bit too many times and not connecting certain information more easily, but I liked how she
I really dislike the sister’s husband, he is treating her and her family like crap and he seems to have no real redeeming quality, I wouldn’t be sad if something happens to him in the rest of the series.
I feel that the story is just starting and in the next books we will get to know the characters better, and I look forward to continuing.
December 12, 2024
Free ebook download. Mid.
April 5, 2020
This is the first book in the series and the first time reading this author. The main character is Sandie and her dad is suspected of murder. Sandie and her brother Will , who is a cop , try to figure out what really happened. But before they get to far someone else is killed. Can she figure out who the real killer is and what really happened ?
February 1, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast moving murder story with a lot of close family concerns within. Characters were well developed and believable. I loved how the detective brother treated his sister as an equal instead of going ballistic about her "interfering" as happens in many books. Well written with plenty of suggestive leads (ok, red herrings) and interesting side stories. I am delighted the second book is already available, because I definitely need to see where things go next! There is a grouch of a brother-in-law, and two potential suitors for our successful sleuth, Sandie, and I need to see how things play out! Very enjoyable!
November 18, 2019
Well written story and likeable characters.
July 29, 2019
Pride comes before a fall
A really good read just a shame that I pegged the real culprit from the beginning. Wasn't sure how they had done it but was positive I had the right person. But the plot was well crafted and had some great twists and turns to it as well as a good supply of suspects and all with a motive that could have very well turned them into a killer. The characters are as varied as the seasons and meld well into the storyline making it come alive.
Since she finished her degree she's been working for her sister (at the bakery)whilst looking for a job. But this one is a killer. High heels and an evening dress whilst catering the wedding. A row between her father and the bride's ex-husband leads to him being arrested when the ex is found shot in the cellar whilst her father stands over him with a gun in his hand. Add in a first edition book, money, control, another murder and an overwhelming desire to see justice done. And that meant finding the right killer. Will she do so? Why does her sister's husband have it in for her? Will she find the job that makes her soul sing? Will she find the right man to date?
A really good read just a shame that I pegged the real culprit from the beginning. Wasn't sure how they had done it but was positive I had the right person. But the plot was well crafted and had some great twists and turns to it as well as a good supply of suspects and all with a motive that could have very well turned them into a killer. The characters are as varied as the seasons and meld well into the storyline making it come alive.
Since she finished her degree she's been working for her sister (at the bakery)whilst looking for a job. But this one is a killer. High heels and an evening dress whilst catering the wedding. A row between her father and the bride's ex-husband leads to him being arrested when the ex is found shot in the cellar whilst her father stands over him with a gun in his hand. Add in a first edition book, money, control, another murder and an overwhelming desire to see justice done. And that meant finding the right killer. Will she do so? Why does her sister's husband have it in for her? Will she find the job that makes her soul sing? Will she find the right man to date?
July 30, 2019
Sandie James is back in town and helping her sister with a catering gig for a very lavish wedding reception. All goes well until her dad barges in and picks a fight with the bride’s ex-husband over a rare book. It appears they both had bid earlier in the day on a first edition Raymond Chandler mystery and her dad was outbid. This frustrates him as this is the second time that he has been outbid for a rare book by the same gentlemen.
Things go from bad to worse when later in the evening the ex-husband is found shot to death and Sandie’s dad is holding the smoking gun. Now she has turned amateur detective to help her cop brother keep their dad from jail. As she digs into the deceased past, she soon finds out that there is a long list of people who wanted to see him dead. Can she figure out who is to blame?
This book is a great mix of humor, madcap adventure, mystery, and tons of twists & turns all rolled into one. If you love cozy mysteries written with wit and includes intelligent amateur sleuths, then you will surely want to pick up a copy of this book to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Things go from bad to worse when later in the evening the ex-husband is found shot to death and Sandie’s dad is holding the smoking gun. Now she has turned amateur detective to help her cop brother keep their dad from jail. As she digs into the deceased past, she soon finds out that there is a long list of people who wanted to see him dead. Can she figure out who is to blame?
This book is a great mix of humor, madcap adventure, mystery, and tons of twists & turns all rolled into one. If you love cozy mysteries written with wit and includes intelligent amateur sleuths, then you will surely want to pick up a copy of this book to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 19, 2019
This is the first mystery that I have read by this author, and I am glad to have found her. Even though this book is relatively short for mystery, the author still managed to surprise me with the ending. That doesn't happen often, so I enjoy it when it does! I like the way the author described scenes and settings. I felt like I was in the room with the main character. The characters were well drawn and feel like real people. I loved being in the head of the main character. She is completely relatable and sympathetic, especially when her father looks guilty of the murder. (Even with the first line about her discomfort about catering a wedding wearing an evening dress and stilettos was just so authentic). As a book lover, too, I'm always drawn to stories where the story in some way hinges upon a book. This one does, and it is even a mystery book. In all, I found this book to be an engaging read.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com.
July 29, 2019
I was able to get into this book right away. The writing flowed and the characters were very real lifelike to me. Especially Sandie, who had the issues with wear heels and her feet hurting. I cannot wear heels either! With a family member being blamed for a murder, she jumps right in to prove his innocence. My only issue with the book was when the author put in that the only reason a 50 year old would have to make a will was for health reasons. If a person has children then a will should be the first thing on their mind, regardless of age. Other than that the book was easy to read and had me stumped on the killer. I like when a book can do that to me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 29, 2019
This is a wonderful and fun cozy mystery with to protagonist just helping her sister provide a cake for a wedding. Of course, a murder must happen and her father now needs her help. You could read all of that under the title (sorry). I loved this story because I love the characters and it is written so well! I am looking forward to Book 2.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 5, 2019
I enjoyed reading "First Edition Murder," the first book in the Sandie James Cozy Mystery series, by Tessa Kelly. The book had all the elements of a first-rate cozy mystery: an intriguing plot, a realistic setting and, most important to me, a likeable main character. The author did a great job of providing readers with several suspects and, although I had my suspicions, I didn't know "whodunit" until the end of the book.
July 30, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I found the characters very realistic and the story was well written. The family relationships rang very true. There were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 22, 2021
Good mystery
Very enjoyable story in a new setting and a variety of interesting characters. I was surprised by the culprit at the end, I was sure it was someone else!
Very enjoyable story in a new setting and a variety of interesting characters. I was surprised by the culprit at the end, I was sure it was someone else!
October 3, 2021
I really love this author. Her way of writing is endearing and her characters are portrayed nicely. Loved this amateur mystery.
January 14, 2022
Did her dad really murder Sonny??? Why??? Family sticks together, doesn’t it??? I enjoyed the story and recommend the book.
January 30, 2022
Very well-written, enjoyable cozy mystery with good character development.
May 4, 2024
*note received book for free during book blast - to bear in mind when considering my subjective opinion
I really enjoyed this one - my one gripe is that the characters felt a little flat where I wanted more, although I understand it's also leading into a series that would probably provide what I want. I wanted to get that subjective small thing out of the way upfront though.
Overall, it's a great cozy mystery and I genuinely had fun getting immersed into the story and the investigation. I had a lot of fun trying to consider the evidence as we followed our MC, and I thought the book did a great job of balancing both not making it obvious or feel like the answer came out of nowhere. It was a satisfying result overall, and I also appreciated the animal inclusion, especially how adorably unique the cat personalities were. It was cute how each animal felt like legitimate valuable side characters.
Overall, I'd recommend giving it a weekend read, and see if you consider it worth dedicating to follow up stories! Personally, I think I'll enjoy continuing with our MC
I really enjoyed this one - my one gripe is that the characters felt a little flat where I wanted more, although I understand it's also leading into a series that would probably provide what I want. I wanted to get that subjective small thing out of the way upfront though.
Overall, it's a great cozy mystery and I genuinely had fun getting immersed into the story and the investigation. I had a lot of fun trying to consider the evidence as we followed our MC, and I thought the book did a great job of balancing both not making it obvious or feel like the answer came out of nowhere. It was a satisfying result overall, and I also appreciated the animal inclusion, especially how adorably unique the cat personalities were. It was cute how each animal felt like legitimate valuable side characters.
Overall, I'd recommend giving it a weekend read, and see if you consider it worth dedicating to follow up stories! Personally, I think I'll enjoy continuing with our MC
October 7, 2025
I really enjoyed First Edition Murder by Tessa Kelly. The plot moves at a nice pace and holds your attention with twists that were hard to guess. Sandie James feels real and like someone you could know; her worry about her dad being accused of murder makes her push herself hard to uncover secrets. The setting of Brooklyn and her family life add warmth and little moments that bring depth. Marlowe, the springer spaniel, was a sweet touch and made some scenes feel lighter when things were tense.
There are a few things that kept me from giving it a full five stars. There are quite a few characters to keep track of and some backstories feel dumped in early instead of shown little by little. Also the love triangle subplot seemed a bit forced in places and took me out of the mystery a little. But overall the mystery itself works well, the ending surprised me and left me wanting more. If you like cozy mysteries that are clean, kind of fun, and full of family drama this one will hit the spot
There are a few things that kept me from giving it a full five stars. There are quite a few characters to keep track of and some backstories feel dumped in early instead of shown little by little. Also the love triangle subplot seemed a bit forced in places and took me out of the mystery a little. But overall the mystery itself works well, the ending surprised me and left me wanting more. If you like cozy mysteries that are clean, kind of fun, and full of family drama this one will hit the spot
April 24, 2025
This is the first book in the Sandie James Cozy Mystery series by Tessa Kelly. Sandie James is a literature major working at her sister Kathy Thompson's bakery to cover her college expenses. Sadie takes a last minute wedding catering job when a lifeless body is discovered in the cellar, with her father Nicholas standing over it, clutching a gun. Sadie is determined to prove her father's innocence as she dives into the investigation, unraveling hidden truths while delving into the intricacies of Brooklyn's peaceful neighborhood. With the help of her loyal Springer Spaniel Marlowe, Sandie is in a desperate race to unmask the killer before she finds herself in their crosshairs. I really enjoyed this amazing cozy mystery novel.
November 19, 2020
A really good read!
There’s a new Philip Marlowe in town and she’s called Sandie.
Easy-to-read, easy to get into, I want more. I really liked it. Very lighthearted, which I love. Well-written, which is so important. It flowed well. And Sandie, the main character, is smart, which I really like in a murder mystery. The case is clever too, full of twists and turns, and I didn’t guess the murderer right, so it wasn’t too easy to solve. The setting is not a small town, but the book does have that small-town-feel, that sense of community. All in all, a very promising start to what promises to be a great series!
There’s a new Philip Marlowe in town and she’s called Sandie.
Easy-to-read, easy to get into, I want more. I really liked it. Very lighthearted, which I love. Well-written, which is so important. It flowed well. And Sandie, the main character, is smart, which I really like in a murder mystery. The case is clever too, full of twists and turns, and I didn’t guess the murderer right, so it wasn’t too easy to solve. The setting is not a small town, but the book does have that small-town-feel, that sense of community. All in all, a very promising start to what promises to be a great series!
May 5, 2020
I love how the character has the same first name as me. In this series she wants to use her degree in literature but no jobs have come up so she works in her sisters bakery Kate. While catering a wedding the brides ex husband is found dead by Sandra dad who was arguing with the deceased earlier. So of course with her detective brother Will she must solve the case. Another murder occurs and this makes her even more determined to solve the case. With her dads help she is able to find the killer and trick them into revealing themselves
July 1, 2020
It was a bit tough getting into this book, because there are so many characters. I kept thinking: who was this again?
But the story is good and well written. I really liked it!
Oh, one thing: Sandie takes her father's dog for a walk early in the morning. And then he isn't in the picture for the rest of the day. Until, at 9.30 pm, she comes home. Poor creature: no walkies for about 15 hours!? That sounds like animal abuse...
But, I AM looking forward to reading the next book!
I received a copy from Booksprout and chose to review it.
But the story is good and well written. I really liked it!
Oh, one thing: Sandie takes her father's dog for a walk early in the morning. And then he isn't in the picture for the rest of the day. Until, at 9.30 pm, she comes home. Poor creature: no walkies for about 15 hours!? That sounds like animal abuse...
But, I AM looking forward to reading the next book!
I received a copy from Booksprout and chose to review it.
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