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A Goddess of Greene St. Mystery #2
A Big Fat Greek Murder
The New York Times bestselling author of the Flower Shop Mystery series returns with the second installment in her new Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series starring single mom Athena Spencer, who returns to Michigan to work at her family's garden center, raise a pet raccoon, and dig up the dirt on suspects when a wedding rehearsal ends up with the murder of a groom...
The entire family has been put to work when a big fat Greek wedding rehearsal is booked at the Parthenon. All hands are needed for rolling grape leaves, layering moussaka, and keeping the bride calm. But then the groom goes M.I.A. and there's far more to worry about than just whether Yiayia's lemon rice soup has gone cold.
No matter how tangy the tzatziki, everyone's appetite is ruined when the groom is found dead, a pair of scissors planted in his back. When the bride accuses Athena's sister Selene, a hairstylist, of seducing and stabbing her fiancé, it's all-out war--and it's up to Athena to dig up the dirt on the suspects and nip these suspicions in the bud...
The entire family has been put to work when a big fat Greek wedding rehearsal is booked at the Parthenon. All hands are needed for rolling grape leaves, layering moussaka, and keeping the bride calm. But then the groom goes M.I.A. and there's far more to worry about than just whether Yiayia's lemon rice soup has gone cold.
No matter how tangy the tzatziki, everyone's appetite is ruined when the groom is found dead, a pair of scissors planted in his back. When the bride accuses Athena's sister Selene, a hairstylist, of seducing and stabbing her fiancé, it's all-out war--and it's up to Athena to dig up the dirt on the suspects and nip these suspicions in the bud...
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published December 1, 2020
114 people are currently reading
374 people want to read
About the author
Kate Collins
66 books950 followersIndiana native and former teacher Kate Collins is the author of the New York Times best-selling Flower Shop Mysteries, featuring feisty florist Abby Knight and the zany crew at Bloomers. Her books have made the New York Times Best-seller's list, Barnes & Noble mass bestsellers lists, the Independent Booksellers lists, and are available in large print editions in the U.S. and the UK.
3 of The Flower Shop Mysteries are on the Hallmark Mystery Movie channel!
Kate's historical romance novels and her children's books, JANEY WEBSTER, EB*, *EXPERIENCED BABYSITTER, and JASON JERVISS AT YOUR SERVICE, are available now as ebooks in all formats. Great reads for ages 9-14.
Kate graduated from Purdue University with a master's degree in education, taught elementary school for six years, but after the birth of her first child, gave up teaching to pursue a long-time dream of putting children’s stories to paper. After writing short humorous stories for children’s magazines and working part-time as a legal secretary, she sold her first historical romance novel in 1995, publishing seven historical romantic suspenses under the pen name Linda O’Brien before turning to her true love, mysteries.
3 of The Flower Shop Mysteries are on the Hallmark Mystery Movie channel!
Kate's historical romance novels and her children's books, JANEY WEBSTER, EB*, *EXPERIENCED BABYSITTER, and JASON JERVISS AT YOUR SERVICE, are available now as ebooks in all formats. Great reads for ages 9-14.
Kate graduated from Purdue University with a master's degree in education, taught elementary school for six years, but after the birth of her first child, gave up teaching to pursue a long-time dream of putting children’s stories to paper. After writing short humorous stories for children’s magazines and working part-time as a legal secretary, she sold her first historical romance novel in 1995, publishing seven historical romantic suspenses under the pen name Linda O’Brien before turning to her true love, mysteries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
November 6, 2020
4.5 stars
This is the second installment in Kate Collins's Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series. Our protagonist, Athena Spencer, who after going through a divorce, decided to move back to her hometown of Sequoia, Michigan, with her ten-year-old son. Athena works at her family's garden center and occasionally helps out at the Parthenon, a Greek diner owned by her grandparents. When a wedding rehearsal at the Parthenon ends up with the groom dead and the bride to be accusing Athena's sister of seducing and murdering her fiancé, Athena becomes determined to prove her sister's innocence.
A Big Fat Greek Murder by Kate Collins is a delightful addition to the series. It was nice learning about the Greek culture and of course, the mouth-watering descriptions of Greek food was very enjoyable to read about. I love Athena and her fun, boisterous Greek family. The interactions between her and her family kept me laughing and entertained. When she's not working or solving murders, Athena also writes blog posts inspired by her family and no one except Case and her dad knows she's the writer behind the popular blog. I thought that added a fun layer to the story. Speaking of Case, I Iike the way the relationship between him and Athena is developing. I think he's going to make a great private investigator and I can't wait to see him team up with her, plus the addition of Lila is sure to be interesting.
As for the mystery, I thought it was well-done. The culprit wasn't a huge surprise, but I have to give the author props for pointing me in a different direction every time I thought I had the mystery all figured out.
All in all, I enjoyed my time with this book and eagerly await the third installment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second installment in Kate Collins's Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series. Our protagonist, Athena Spencer, who after going through a divorce, decided to move back to her hometown of Sequoia, Michigan, with her ten-year-old son. Athena works at her family's garden center and occasionally helps out at the Parthenon, a Greek diner owned by her grandparents. When a wedding rehearsal at the Parthenon ends up with the groom dead and the bride to be accusing Athena's sister of seducing and murdering her fiancé, Athena becomes determined to prove her sister's innocence.
A Big Fat Greek Murder by Kate Collins is a delightful addition to the series. It was nice learning about the Greek culture and of course, the mouth-watering descriptions of Greek food was very enjoyable to read about. I love Athena and her fun, boisterous Greek family. The interactions between her and her family kept me laughing and entertained. When she's not working or solving murders, Athena also writes blog posts inspired by her family and no one except Case and her dad knows she's the writer behind the popular blog. I thought that added a fun layer to the story. Speaking of Case, I Iike the way the relationship between him and Athena is developing. I think he's going to make a great private investigator and I can't wait to see him team up with her, plus the addition of Lila is sure to be interesting.
As for the mystery, I thought it was well-done. The culprit wasn't a huge surprise, but I have to give the author props for pointing me in a different direction every time I thought I had the mystery all figured out.
All in all, I enjoyed my time with this book and eagerly await the third installment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 20, 2022
A Big Fat Greek Murder by Kate Collins is the second book in the cozy A Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series. As with most cozy mystery series the mystery inside this first book will be fully solved within the book so it could be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. However, there is character development that carries over from book to book for those following from the beginning.
The Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series introduced readers to Athena Spencer who after going through a divorce decided to move back to Sequoia, Michigan with her family. Athena wanted a fresh start with her son and thought there was nothing better than to return to her large Greek family and begin helping in their garden center.
This time around Athena and her family are hosting a wedding party and the rehearsal dinner when the groom fails to show up. A couple of groomsman go to find him only to find him lying in a pool of blood. Athena really didn’t think she would again be hunting a murderer but when her sister becomes suspect number one Athena vows to find out just what happened.
I’ve now read the first two books of the A Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series and have enjoyed it thus far. The characters are fun and there’s even a cute little raccoon sometimes in the story. The part I’m a little unsure about though is the main character being a single mother and hardly ever being with her son, it seems a little strange to have him barely pop up but of course she is sleuthing and I do enjoy the mystery so three and a half stars for this second book of the series.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
The Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series introduced readers to Athena Spencer who after going through a divorce decided to move back to Sequoia, Michigan with her family. Athena wanted a fresh start with her son and thought there was nothing better than to return to her large Greek family and begin helping in their garden center.
This time around Athena and her family are hosting a wedding party and the rehearsal dinner when the groom fails to show up. A couple of groomsman go to find him only to find him lying in a pool of blood. Athena really didn’t think she would again be hunting a murderer but when her sister becomes suspect number one Athena vows to find out just what happened.
I’ve now read the first two books of the A Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series and have enjoyed it thus far. The characters are fun and there’s even a cute little raccoon sometimes in the story. The part I’m a little unsure about though is the main character being a single mother and hardly ever being with her son, it seems a little strange to have him barely pop up but of course she is sleuthing and I do enjoy the mystery so three and a half stars for this second book of the series.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
August 3, 2020
A Big Fat Greek Murder by Kate Collins is the second book in Ms. Collins' A Goddess of Greene Street series.
I like Athena and her big and boisterous Greek family always provides some laughter when I read a book in this series. I love her anonymous blog that she writes regarding living the Greek life. Case has moved to Athena's hometown and he jumps in to help Athena solve another murder mystery when Athene's sister is framed for the deed. His return adds a touch of romance to the story without detracting from the mystery plot.
A tightly woven plot that moved quickly with several suspects, several twists and turns and plenty of red herrings that almost kept me from guessing correctly "who done it". All in all, this is a fun cozy mystery that kept me entertained on a lazy afternoon. I look forward to many more books in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Publishing via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
I like Athena and her big and boisterous Greek family always provides some laughter when I read a book in this series. I love her anonymous blog that she writes regarding living the Greek life. Case has moved to Athena's hometown and he jumps in to help Athena solve another murder mystery when Athene's sister is framed for the deed. His return adds a touch of romance to the story without detracting from the mystery plot.
A tightly woven plot that moved quickly with several suspects, several twists and turns and plenty of red herrings that almost kept me from guessing correctly "who done it". All in all, this is a fun cozy mystery that kept me entertained on a lazy afternoon. I look forward to many more books in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Publishing via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
December 19, 2020
This is the second in this series of cozy mysteries featuring Athena, grown-up daughter of a huge Greek family who has moved back to her small lakeside hometown after a disastrous marriage. Mother to 10-year-old Niko, she is slowly rebuilding her life, working at her father’s garden centre and avoiding going out on dates with ‘nice Greek men’ her well-meaning mother tries to set her up with, while writing her popular blog, Goddess Anon.
Though I hadn’t read the first in the series, I don’t think it was too much of an issue; I had no problem following who was who. There’s a blossoming relationship between Athena and Case Donnelly, who apparently played a large part in the first book, and we didn’t get to know him all that well here, which might have been the one thing I regretted a little.
When her sister is obviously framed for the murder of her friend’s fiancé, there’s no way Athena is going to let the disinterest of the local police in looking elsewhere for a suspect go unchallenged. With Case’s help, she starts probing into the dead man’s background, determined to uncover the truth and clear her sister’s name.
As a mystery, this is pretty good; it holds together logically and there are plenty of both real clues and red herrings to keep you guessing. I really enjoyed Athena’s family and the dashes of Greek life; it felt very authentic. Honestly, I could have done without the blog part; it felt like a distraction, but a pretty minor one. Overall, I’m happy to give this five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
Though I hadn’t read the first in the series, I don’t think it was too much of an issue; I had no problem following who was who. There’s a blossoming relationship between Athena and Case Donnelly, who apparently played a large part in the first book, and we didn’t get to know him all that well here, which might have been the one thing I regretted a little.
When her sister is obviously framed for the murder of her friend’s fiancé, there’s no way Athena is going to let the disinterest of the local police in looking elsewhere for a suspect go unchallenged. With Case’s help, she starts probing into the dead man’s background, determined to uncover the truth and clear her sister’s name.
As a mystery, this is pretty good; it holds together logically and there are plenty of both real clues and red herrings to keep you guessing. I really enjoyed Athena’s family and the dashes of Greek life; it felt very authentic. Honestly, I could have done without the blog part; it felt like a distraction, but a pretty minor one. Overall, I’m happy to give this five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
November 9, 2020
Athena Karros Spencer is dividing her time helping at her family's Greek diner and running the family garden shop. They are hosting a rehearsal dinner but things take a turn when the groom does not show up. When the groomsmen look for him, they find out he was stabbed in his apartment with a pair of scissors. The scissors turn out to be Athena's sister, Selene's. Selene had filed a complaint against the groom weeks before so she becomes the prime suspect. As the evidence against Selene continues to grow, Athena does her best to clear Selene's name.
I am a huge fan of this authors flower shop mysteries so I was really excited when she announced she was coming out with a new series. I read the first book when it first came out and absolutely loved it. This is the second book in the series and I adored it just as much. I love the dynamics of the large Greek family. Each person has their owns quirks and I love that. Athena is a great protagonist. She is strong, smart, and determined. I love the chemistry between her and Case. I am so happy to see what is in store for them in future books. The mystery was well done. I liked how Athena and Case worked well together to solve the mystery. Athena's blog provides a nice, humorous break in the story. I love that her family has no idea that she is the one writing the blog. Overall, I give this book 4.5 stars. I can't wait for the next book.
I am a huge fan of this authors flower shop mysteries so I was really excited when she announced she was coming out with a new series. I read the first book when it first came out and absolutely loved it. This is the second book in the series and I adored it just as much. I love the dynamics of the large Greek family. Each person has their owns quirks and I love that. Athena is a great protagonist. She is strong, smart, and determined. I love the chemistry between her and Case. I am so happy to see what is in store for them in future books. The mystery was well done. I liked how Athena and Case worked well together to solve the mystery. Athena's blog provides a nice, humorous break in the story. I love that her family has no idea that she is the one writing the blog. Overall, I give this book 4.5 stars. I can't wait for the next book.
October 11, 2020
Author Kate Collins is dear to my heart because her Flower Shop Mystery series was one of the first I read that got me hooked on the Cozy Mystery genre. So, when she debuted a new series last year it was a no-brainer for me to pick up the first book. I fell in love with Athena Spencer and her big, boisterous, close-knit Greek family. This second book in the series is just as good as the first and I am hoping that we will have this family around for a while. I think that is what continues to draw me back to books written by this author. She crafts these genuine, realistic families that I think may readers can relate to. I come from an Italian/Irish/Scottish family so I understand the large gatherings and everyone in each other's business. I especially love Athena's parents. They balance each other out nicely. There is a blossoming relationship between Athena and Case, which I like, especially given the way things turned out for Case in this book. The spark between them along with Athena's personality is going to make this interesting.
I thought the mystery was well done. It kept me guessing the entire book. There are a few suspects that stand out because they have good strong motives. That said, Ms. Collins does a great job of present clues along the way that kept me vacillating between two of the suspects. Just when I was sure it was one of them, Case and Athena would come across some clues that would lead me to change my mind in favor of the other. I love those types of mysteries- the ones that keep you engaged and really paying attention to all the details.
I love this new series, the characters, and the fact that it is set in a fictional town in my home state. I will definitely be back for more books in this series for however long Ms. Collins chooses to write them.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
I thought the mystery was well done. It kept me guessing the entire book. There are a few suspects that stand out because they have good strong motives. That said, Ms. Collins does a great job of present clues along the way that kept me vacillating between two of the suspects. Just when I was sure it was one of them, Case and Athena would come across some clues that would lead me to change my mind in favor of the other. I love those types of mysteries- the ones that keep you engaged and really paying attention to all the details.
I love this new series, the characters, and the fact that it is set in a fictional town in my home state. I will definitely be back for more books in this series for however long Ms. Collins chooses to write them.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
July 30, 2020
A Big Fat Greek Murder is written by the same author as The Flower Shop Mysteries. If you liked that series, you will likely enjoy this new series. The writing flows, the characters are engaging and there is a warmth between the main characters that puts the “cozy” in cozy mystery. I was hooked at page one and even more hooked on the last page. Bring on book two!
December 5, 2020
Wedding bells should soon be ringing for Mandy and Brady. All the members of the wedding party are gathered at the Parthenon restaurant, owned by Athena Spencer's grandparents. Her sister, Selene is one of the bridesmaids. Everyone is ready to sit down to enjoy the meal and toast the future bride and groom but Brady is a no-show. When he fails to answer his phone his friends go to his apartment and find that he had a good reason for not answering - he's very dead and the murder weapon? Selene's haircutting scissors are imbedded in his back. Mandy is quick to accuse Selene of killing him and it will take all of Athena's investigative talents to figure out who hated him enough to change wedding bells to death knells. The list of suspects turns out to be a long one and it includes the bride and her brother for a start.
Spending time with this warm and colorful Greek family is a great stress reliever. Athena juggles being a single mother after her divorce. After she loses her job and returning home to her family she works at the family garden center, sometimes helps out at the Parthenon and secretly writes a very popular blog about a Greek family. There is even a touch of a budding romance with Case. Plus there is a cute raccoon. As for the mystery itself, it is well crafted and kept me looking in the wrong direction for the killer. I have no idea what the next book is titled nor when it will be published but I already have it on my TBR list as Kate Collins/Greek #3.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Spending time with this warm and colorful Greek family is a great stress reliever. Athena juggles being a single mother after her divorce. After she loses her job and returning home to her family she works at the family garden center, sometimes helps out at the Parthenon and secretly writes a very popular blog about a Greek family. There is even a touch of a budding romance with Case. Plus there is a cute raccoon. As for the mystery itself, it is well crafted and kept me looking in the wrong direction for the killer. I have no idea what the next book is titled nor when it will be published but I already have it on my TBR list as Kate Collins/Greek #3.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
November 22, 2020
I loved the first book in The Goddess of Greene Street Mysteries, Statue of Limitations, so I was very excited to be able sit down and read book two, My Big Fat Greek Murder by Kate Collins. And in many ways it was as good, if not better than the first. I love the crazy, caring Greek family. And Delphi is fast becoming my favorite character with her psychic abilities, whether they are real or she’s just messing with her family, and I’m also loving where Delphi’s romantic life is going.
But, Kim, what about the main character, Athena? Well, I’m still enjoying her blog posts, dating mishaps, and in general. But I have some concerns. First, with her love life. I’m not a huge fan when the protagonist gets super jealous and I have a strong dislike for love triangles. I don’t think it’ll be going in the love triangle direction, and how Collins left the book could make for some funny moments in the future books, as long as Athena can get her jealousy under control.
And the thing that had me almost throwing the book into the wall, but I was reading on my Kindle and I didn’t want to break it, was towards the end when Athena had a key piece of evidence to help get her sister out of jail. Now I know in cozies, the protagonist will often hide information from the police or suddenly get really stupid, but it was a bit too much. She waits almost a day to see about it even though she or Case could have made time to find out and/or give it to Bob, the police officer who has been helping her. Numerous times in the book Athena’s dad gives her permission to leave work, anything to help her sister, and then suddenly she just can’t. I won’t even get into the final confrontation with the killer.
I was going to give My Big Fat Greek Murder three stars or even two because the evidence bit was so bad, but I ended up at four stars because Collins really is good at character development and writing about a family that is so caring and amusing. I will be cautiously optimistic when I read book three, and hope Athena doesn’t suddenly get erratically stupid or dive deeper down the jealousy hole.
But, Kim, what about the main character, Athena? Well, I’m still enjoying her blog posts, dating mishaps, and in general. But I have some concerns. First, with her love life. I’m not a huge fan when the protagonist gets super jealous and I have a strong dislike for love triangles. I don’t think it’ll be going in the love triangle direction, and how Collins left the book could make for some funny moments in the future books, as long as Athena can get her jealousy under control.
And the thing that had me almost throwing the book into the wall, but I was reading on my Kindle and I didn’t want to break it, was towards the end when Athena had a key piece of evidence to help get her sister out of jail. Now I know in cozies, the protagonist will often hide information from the police or suddenly get really stupid, but it was a bit too much. She waits almost a day to see about it even though she or Case could have made time to find out and/or give it to Bob, the police officer who has been helping her. Numerous times in the book Athena’s dad gives her permission to leave work, anything to help her sister, and then suddenly she just can’t. I won’t even get into the final confrontation with the killer.
I was going to give My Big Fat Greek Murder three stars or even two because the evidence bit was so bad, but I ended up at four stars because Collins really is good at character development and writing about a family that is so caring and amusing. I will be cautiously optimistic when I read book three, and hope Athena doesn’t suddenly get erratically stupid or dive deeper down the jealousy hole.
December 31, 2020
A Big Fat Greek Murder
A Goddess Of Greene St. Book #2
Kate Collins
5 Stars
Synopsis:
The New York Times bestselling author of the Flower Shop Mystery series returns with the second installment in her new Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series starring single mom Athena Spencer, who returns to Michigan to work at her family's garden center, raise a pet raccoon, and dig up the dirt on suspects when a wedding rehearsal ends up with the murder of a groom...
The entire family has been put to work when a big fat Greek wedding rehearsal is booked at the Parthenon. All hands are needed for rolling grape leaves, layering moussaka, and keeping the bride calm. But then the groom goes M.I.A. and there's far more to worry about than just whether Yiayia's lemon rice soup has gone cold.
No matter how tangy the tzatziki, everyone's appetite is ruined when the groom is found dead, a pair of scissors planted in his back. When the bride accuses Athena's sister Selene, a hairstylist, of seducing and stabbing her fiance, it's all-out war--and it's up to Athena to dig up the dirt on the suspects and nip these suspicions in the bud... (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. I enjoyed the interactions between Athena and her family a lot, and it brought a lot of humor to the book. Athena is a hard worker and she does not let anything get in her way when she is trying to protect her family. She has to figure out who the murderer is or else one of her sisters may be going to prison for a long time. Her and Case make really good partners and it may turn into something else.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and brought everything to life in my mind’s eye. And the food that was being described had my mouth watering. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to see what trouble Athes and her family get into next.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
A Goddess Of Greene St. Book #2
Kate Collins
5 Stars
Synopsis:
The New York Times bestselling author of the Flower Shop Mystery series returns with the second installment in her new Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series starring single mom Athena Spencer, who returns to Michigan to work at her family's garden center, raise a pet raccoon, and dig up the dirt on suspects when a wedding rehearsal ends up with the murder of a groom...
The entire family has been put to work when a big fat Greek wedding rehearsal is booked at the Parthenon. All hands are needed for rolling grape leaves, layering moussaka, and keeping the bride calm. But then the groom goes M.I.A. and there's far more to worry about than just whether Yiayia's lemon rice soup has gone cold.
No matter how tangy the tzatziki, everyone's appetite is ruined when the groom is found dead, a pair of scissors planted in his back. When the bride accuses Athena's sister Selene, a hairstylist, of seducing and stabbing her fiance, it's all-out war--and it's up to Athena to dig up the dirt on the suspects and nip these suspicions in the bud... (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. I enjoyed the interactions between Athena and her family a lot, and it brought a lot of humor to the book. Athena is a hard worker and she does not let anything get in her way when she is trying to protect her family. She has to figure out who the murderer is or else one of her sisters may be going to prison for a long time. Her and Case make really good partners and it may turn into something else.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and brought everything to life in my mind’s eye. And the food that was being described had my mouth watering. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to see what trouble Athes and her family get into next.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
December 1, 2020
Thank you to @netgalley and @kensingtonpublishingcompany for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I posted the blog, closed my laptop, and turned in my chair to look at the small bedroom closet overflowing with clothes from my former life.
This second book in the Goddess of Greene Street starts out with a bang. The entire Spencer family is pitching in to host a wedding rehearsal dinner at the Parthenon. The bride to be is anxious when the groom does not show. Two groomsmen find him dead in his apartment and Athena's sister, Selene , is the prime suspect.
Oh how I love this boisterous family! They are loud, nosy and absolutely lovable. You just know that they will not sit by and let Selene be railroaded for something she didn't do.
I was pleased that Athena's relationship with Case is moving in a positive direction. I think he is grounding for her although she does not always listen to him.
The murder suspects were varied and all had good reason to kill the obnoxious womanizing groom. I vacillated between two that I felt were pretty strong contenders. I was hoping that it was a character I majorly disliked but to no avail. The culprit ended up having a sad story.
I love the description of the food in this book and was most happy to find a recipe for butter cookies. Food and family are so intertwined. I really appreciate that in a book.
I enjoyed this book so much and look forward to the next one in the series.
I posted the blog, closed my laptop, and turned in my chair to look at the small bedroom closet overflowing with clothes from my former life.
This second book in the Goddess of Greene Street starts out with a bang. The entire Spencer family is pitching in to host a wedding rehearsal dinner at the Parthenon. The bride to be is anxious when the groom does not show. Two groomsmen find him dead in his apartment and Athena's sister, Selene , is the prime suspect.
Oh how I love this boisterous family! They are loud, nosy and absolutely lovable. You just know that they will not sit by and let Selene be railroaded for something she didn't do.
I was pleased that Athena's relationship with Case is moving in a positive direction. I think he is grounding for her although she does not always listen to him.
The murder suspects were varied and all had good reason to kill the obnoxious womanizing groom. I vacillated between two that I felt were pretty strong contenders. I was hoping that it was a character I majorly disliked but to no avail. The culprit ended up having a sad story.
I love the description of the food in this book and was most happy to find a recipe for butter cookies. Food and family are so intertwined. I really appreciate that in a book.
I enjoyed this book so much and look forward to the next one in the series.
January 5, 2021
In this second book of the series the family is working together at the restaurant preparing for a wedding rehearsal which Selena is a part of. The night of the rehearsal all is going well except the groom is missing out on the festivities and no one seems to know where he is. The bride is upset so a few people are sent to check on the groom who is found dead with scissors sticking out of his back. Athena soon realizes that there is a rumor about her sister Selena and the groom going around. She knows she must put all the pieces together and figure out who the killer is before her sister ends up in jail. With the help of a few friends and family she is on the track to finding a killer but will the murderer get to her first? This was a lively read that kept me guessing all the way until the end.
November 29, 2020
Athena Spencer finds herself trying to find time to juggle her job, motherhood, family and possible romance but when her sister Selene is arrested for murder finding the true murderer becomes a top priority. The hardest part is that there are too many people that had cause to murder the victim.
Author Kate Collins is one of the main reasons I got hooked on cozies years ago. So when I saw she had a new series I jumped at the chance to read this book. I was not disappointed. The family dynamics are funny yet loving, the under current of romance interesting and of course the multifaceted mystery enjoyable. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
Author Kate Collins is one of the main reasons I got hooked on cozies years ago. So when I saw she had a new series I jumped at the chance to read this book. I was not disappointed. The family dynamics are funny yet loving, the under current of romance interesting and of course the multifaceted mystery enjoyable. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
December 1, 2020
A Big Fat Greek Murder is a fun second novel, brimming with disorder in the mystery series by Kate Collins, featuring single mum Athena Spencer. Although I haven't yet read book one, Statue of Limitations, I don’t think this spoilt my enjoyment of this particular instalment.
Protagonist Athena was great as were her boisterous Greek family. There was humour by the bucket-load and the opening chapters drew me into the story capturing my attention immediately. I was never bored as there was so much going on and the mystery itself was well thought out with enough misdirection to puzzle over the perpetrator's identity and motive. With oodles of mouthwatering food references and chatter at the family's restaurant, Parthenon, there was plenty to keep the reader entertained. The book had a natural, steady pace and I was totally engrossed until the reveal. Reading A Big Fat Greek Murder was a great way to while away a few lockdown hours and discover a new-to-me author, and I am now looking to read the first novel in the series as well as eagerly awaiting the third instalment. A highly recommended, quick, light read for all cozy mystery fans.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Protagonist Athena was great as were her boisterous Greek family. There was humour by the bucket-load and the opening chapters drew me into the story capturing my attention immediately. I was never bored as there was so much going on and the mystery itself was well thought out with enough misdirection to puzzle over the perpetrator's identity and motive. With oodles of mouthwatering food references and chatter at the family's restaurant, Parthenon, there was plenty to keep the reader entertained. The book had a natural, steady pace and I was totally engrossed until the reveal. Reading A Big Fat Greek Murder was a great way to while away a few lockdown hours and discover a new-to-me author, and I am now looking to read the first novel in the series as well as eagerly awaiting the third instalment. A highly recommended, quick, light read for all cozy mystery fans.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
November 13, 2020
My full review on Rosepoint Publishing.
The second in the Goddess of Greene St Mysteries and another fast, fun cozy. There is that strong family theme with the Greek families’ enclave in Sequoia, Michigan, and the tie to the nursery family business and the little mascot that comes to get his peanuts. The family also has a restaurant, the Parthenon, which was to be graced by the Athena statue her grandfather found and brought over. Too large, it ended up at the garden center. But it was a way to introduce Case to Book 1 who plays a very prominent part in Book 2.
In this installment, the restaurant is hosting a rehearsal dinner for Mandy Black and Brady Rogers. Protagonists’ Athena’s sister Selene was to be one of the bridesmaids, but when the groom doesn’t show up, he is later found murdered. Athena will get involved along with Case, as it is her sister the police arrest.
A little side tongue-in-cheek gig that slides just under the main storyline is Athena’s blog—unknown to her family (mostly)—known as “Goddess Anon.” Fun little snipes regarding what is going on in her family, the joys of a large family with all the drama, relationships, and idiosyncrasies of the individuals.
She and Case have a direct prosecutorial style of questioning; double-teaming those on their interview list. Of course, it’s not terribly difficult to figure out who is the culprit and in the meantime I enjoy the steps they take to each new clue. Athena is smart, if not wholly open to a relationship that you know is brewing between she and Case.
The conclusion is satisfying and a wrap-up of details, which we’ve pretty much sussed out at this point. Engaging characters, descriptive locale, and entertaining storyline. However, there is a monkey-wrench thrown in at the end which worries me about a possible partner in Book 3? Say it isn’t so…and I’ll be watching for it. 4.5/5stars
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author. These are my honest thoughts.
The second in the Goddess of Greene St Mysteries and another fast, fun cozy. There is that strong family theme with the Greek families’ enclave in Sequoia, Michigan, and the tie to the nursery family business and the little mascot that comes to get his peanuts. The family also has a restaurant, the Parthenon, which was to be graced by the Athena statue her grandfather found and brought over. Too large, it ended up at the garden center. But it was a way to introduce Case to Book 1 who plays a very prominent part in Book 2.
In this installment, the restaurant is hosting a rehearsal dinner for Mandy Black and Brady Rogers. Protagonists’ Athena’s sister Selene was to be one of the bridesmaids, but when the groom doesn’t show up, he is later found murdered. Athena will get involved along with Case, as it is her sister the police arrest.
A little side tongue-in-cheek gig that slides just under the main storyline is Athena’s blog—unknown to her family (mostly)—known as “Goddess Anon.” Fun little snipes regarding what is going on in her family, the joys of a large family with all the drama, relationships, and idiosyncrasies of the individuals.
She and Case have a direct prosecutorial style of questioning; double-teaming those on their interview list. Of course, it’s not terribly difficult to figure out who is the culprit and in the meantime I enjoy the steps they take to each new clue. Athena is smart, if not wholly open to a relationship that you know is brewing between she and Case.
The conclusion is satisfying and a wrap-up of details, which we’ve pretty much sussed out at this point. Engaging characters, descriptive locale, and entertaining storyline. However, there is a monkey-wrench thrown in at the end which worries me about a possible partner in Book 3? Say it isn’t so…and I’ll be watching for it. 4.5/5stars
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author. These are my honest thoughts.
December 2, 2020
A Big Fat Greek Wedding is the second book of the A Goddess of Greene Street Mystery series.
Athena Spencer has returned to her hometown of Sequoia, MI, along with her ten-year-old son. Her family owns a garden center, and Athena works there. Her grandparents own a nearby restaurant, The Parthenon, where this story begins.
The Parthenon is hosting Mandy and Brady’s wedding rehearsal dinner and Athena’s sister, Selene, is a bridesmaid. The dinner is about to be served when and the groom hasn’t arrived yet. Calls to his phone go unanswered, and soon the groomsmen leave for his apartment. A short time later, the party will learn that Brady has been found dead. Soon, Mandy is accusing Selene of having an affair with Brady and of murdering him. When the police determine that the scissors used to kill Brady were Selene’s hairdressing scissors and that Selene had had a bad experience with Brady, the police will arrest her for his murder.
Athena knows that her sister isn’t a killer, and she will team up with Case Donnelly, who has returned to town, to hunt down the killer.
Like all of Ms. Collins’s books, the story is well-written and plotted. The characters are well developed and believable. I particularly liked Athena’s sister Delphi, who claims to have psychic abilities; whether she is or not, her readings are enjoyable. And the pet raccoon is a special edition.
Delicious sounding recipes are also included in the book.
I will be watching for the next book in this delightful series.
Athena Spencer has returned to her hometown of Sequoia, MI, along with her ten-year-old son. Her family owns a garden center, and Athena works there. Her grandparents own a nearby restaurant, The Parthenon, where this story begins.
The Parthenon is hosting Mandy and Brady’s wedding rehearsal dinner and Athena’s sister, Selene, is a bridesmaid. The dinner is about to be served when and the groom hasn’t arrived yet. Calls to his phone go unanswered, and soon the groomsmen leave for his apartment. A short time later, the party will learn that Brady has been found dead. Soon, Mandy is accusing Selene of having an affair with Brady and of murdering him. When the police determine that the scissors used to kill Brady were Selene’s hairdressing scissors and that Selene had had a bad experience with Brady, the police will arrest her for his murder.
Athena knows that her sister isn’t a killer, and she will team up with Case Donnelly, who has returned to town, to hunt down the killer.
Like all of Ms. Collins’s books, the story is well-written and plotted. The characters are well developed and believable. I particularly liked Athena’s sister Delphi, who claims to have psychic abilities; whether she is or not, her readings are enjoyable. And the pet raccoon is a special edition.
Delicious sounding recipes are also included in the book.
I will be watching for the next book in this delightful series.
December 15, 2020
This was the second book in the series and while I always like to read my books in order, you don't have to. The author provides enough of a recap of the first book that even if you forgot everything that happened (like I did), you can read this and still enjoy it and be caught up. Good mystery, loved the cast of characters. Really fun story.
February 20, 2024
This series is so good. I really like the characters- Athena and Case make a good team (and a cute couple). The mystery was good with lots of suspects and I caught on just as the killer was luring in Athena. This was well written and I’m looking forward to the next entry in the series.
December 10, 2020
Thank you @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
I adore the Flower Shop Mystery by Kate Collins and was beyond excited when she started this new series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, Statue of Limitations, and I'm happy to say that the sequel to it was just as enjoyable
The characters truly make this series extra special. I LOVE this big Greek family. They are loud, noisy, supportive and just downright fun to hang out with. When one of them gets arrested for murder, you better believe all hands will be on deck to save her name and prove her innocence. Athena is such a wonderful lead. She is smart, feisty and a great mom. Her anonymous blog posts make me laugh and I love the sweet relationship she shares with her dad and sisters. I enjoy all the food chatter and gossip that occurs at her family owned diner, the Parthenon, but I really like the scenes that take place at their garden center. Oscar, the pet racoon, is an added bonus.
I was so happy to see Chase put down some roots and join Athena for another string of mysteries. They spent a lot of time truly interviewing every single connection or suspect which made the sleuthing feel more realistic. There were some clever red herrings to throw you for a doubtful loop and some pretty sneaky clues if you read closely to pick up on them. The two have a great, playful chemistry and I look forward to seeing how their new venture takes off.
I'm hooked on this fun cozy series and will definitely be on the lookout for it to continue!
I adore the Flower Shop Mystery by Kate Collins and was beyond excited when she started this new series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, Statue of Limitations, and I'm happy to say that the sequel to it was just as enjoyable
The characters truly make this series extra special. I LOVE this big Greek family. They are loud, noisy, supportive and just downright fun to hang out with. When one of them gets arrested for murder, you better believe all hands will be on deck to save her name and prove her innocence. Athena is such a wonderful lead. She is smart, feisty and a great mom. Her anonymous blog posts make me laugh and I love the sweet relationship she shares with her dad and sisters. I enjoy all the food chatter and gossip that occurs at her family owned diner, the Parthenon, but I really like the scenes that take place at their garden center. Oscar, the pet racoon, is an added bonus.
I was so happy to see Chase put down some roots and join Athena for another string of mysteries. They spent a lot of time truly interviewing every single connection or suspect which made the sleuthing feel more realistic. There were some clever red herrings to throw you for a doubtful loop and some pretty sneaky clues if you read closely to pick up on them. The two have a great, playful chemistry and I look forward to seeing how their new venture takes off.
I'm hooked on this fun cozy series and will definitely be on the lookout for it to continue!
September 23, 2020
When Athena shows up late at the Parthenon to help her family with the meal for the wedding rehearsal, she discovers that she’s not the only one late. The groom hasn’t shown up yet and isn’t answering his phone. Later he’s discovered at home with an expensive pair of shears in his back. Athena’s sister Selene’s shears from her salon to be exact. When all the signs are pointing to Selene as the killer, Athena decides to step in and solve the case. Well, Athena and Case. After helping Case clear his name, he’s decided to move to town and see about setting up a charter fishing company.
When Selene’s arrested, Athena and Case pull out all the stops to clear her name and get her out of jail and back into the family home.
While working to solve the groom’s death, Athena and Case become closer, but Athena’s jealousy doesn’t become her. Having to maneuver through her feelings to see Case has feelings for her as well is something that Athena didn’t seem ready to do, but I’m glad she did. But don’t worry, the romance doesn’t overpower the mystery aspect of this story. It blends in seamlessly and keeps you interested all the way through. This is the second book in the series, but the first I read. I didn’t feel like I needed to have read the first book, but now that I know it’s out there, I want to make sure to grab it.
I loved the whole family dynamic. Especially Athena and Selene’s mother. She’s truly a hoot!
If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries, big loud families, and a dash of romance, I think you’ll really enjoy this book!
**I received an ARC of this story from NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
When Selene’s arrested, Athena and Case pull out all the stops to clear her name and get her out of jail and back into the family home.
While working to solve the groom’s death, Athena and Case become closer, but Athena’s jealousy doesn’t become her. Having to maneuver through her feelings to see Case has feelings for her as well is something that Athena didn’t seem ready to do, but I’m glad she did. But don’t worry, the romance doesn’t overpower the mystery aspect of this story. It blends in seamlessly and keeps you interested all the way through. This is the second book in the series, but the first I read. I didn’t feel like I needed to have read the first book, but now that I know it’s out there, I want to make sure to grab it.
I loved the whole family dynamic. Especially Athena and Selene’s mother. She’s truly a hoot!
If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries, big loud families, and a dash of romance, I think you’ll really enjoy this book!
**I received an ARC of this story from NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
September 25, 2020
Did you ever finish a book, give a happy sigh and immediately look for the author's backlist and earlier books in the series? That's how much I enjoyed this book! I was completely engaged and read the book in one sitting. The story flowed well, the characters were relatable and sometimes fun and there was even some romance. There were enough red herrings to keep me guessing and the final denouement was wow!
I have not read the earlier books in the series but I had no issues with that.
Our protagonist is Athena Spencer who is a divorced Mom. After her divorce and the resulting financial difficulties she has moved back to her home town with her son and living and working with her father at the family garden center and helping out at her grandparents' restaurant.
A rehearsal dinner, for which her sister Selena is a bridesmaid, is being held at the restaurant but the groom is late. His groomsmen run out to his apartment and discover that he's been murdered-stabbed in the back with scissors. Those scissors belong to Selena and when other evidence is found, Selena is taken into police custody.
All the clues that point to Selena are a little obvious and Athena knows she is being framed. Because she feels the police won't dig deeper if there is an obvious suspect she knows she needs to investigate. And so she does.
I received an ARC from Kensington via NetGalley-however, the opinions expressed are my own.
I have not read the earlier books in the series but I had no issues with that.
Our protagonist is Athena Spencer who is a divorced Mom. After her divorce and the resulting financial difficulties she has moved back to her home town with her son and living and working with her father at the family garden center and helping out at her grandparents' restaurant.
A rehearsal dinner, for which her sister Selena is a bridesmaid, is being held at the restaurant but the groom is late. His groomsmen run out to his apartment and discover that he's been murdered-stabbed in the back with scissors. Those scissors belong to Selena and when other evidence is found, Selena is taken into police custody.
All the clues that point to Selena are a little obvious and Athena knows she is being framed. Because she feels the police won't dig deeper if there is an obvious suspect she knows she needs to investigate. And so she does.
I received an ARC from Kensington via NetGalley-however, the opinions expressed are my own.
August 2, 2020
A Big Fat Greek Murder is the second installment in the Goddess of Greene Street Mystery series set in Sequoia, Michigan and featuring single mom Athena Spencer. Athena's family restaurant, the Parthenon, is hosting a rehearsal dinner for Mandy Black and Brady Rogers and Athena's sister, Selene is one of the bridesmaids. When Brady doesn't show up on time his groomsmen go to look for him at his apartment and find him stabbed to death.
The murder weapon turns out to be a pair of Selene's hairdressing scissors and she's immediately thrown in jail. Selene had a prior bad experience with Brady so it's no surprise that the members of the wedding party all seem to be pointing their fingers in her direction. But, Athena knows that her sister isn't a killer so she teams up with Case Donnelly to track down the killer.
A fast paced plot with well rounded characters that will have you laughing (and hungry). Just the right touch of family, romance and mystery.
I received an advanced copy of A Big Fat Greek Murder from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.
The murder weapon turns out to be a pair of Selene's hairdressing scissors and she's immediately thrown in jail. Selene had a prior bad experience with Brady so it's no surprise that the members of the wedding party all seem to be pointing their fingers in her direction. But, Athena knows that her sister isn't a killer so she teams up with Case Donnelly to track down the killer.
A fast paced plot with well rounded characters that will have you laughing (and hungry). Just the right touch of family, romance and mystery.
I received an advanced copy of A Big Fat Greek Murder from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.
August 11, 2020
Athena (Thenie) Spencer is back and this mystery involves her sister, Selene who is the prime suspect in the murder of a friend's philandering fiance! Thenie knows her sister is innocent and sets out to prove it with the help of the mysterious Case Donnelly.
This second book in the series didn't disappoint! The mystery was fast-paced, kept me reading and guessing whodunit. I would think I knew and then up pops a clue and I'm off in another direction - my favorite kind of mystery. The character of Thenie is relatable and you want her to succeed. I enjoyed the inclusion of Greek culture and food which enhances the story and gives it a "family" feeling. Thenie's relationship with Case is developing slowly, which I love. at this point, the emphasis is more on their investigative dealings than romance.. I also loved Thenie's family and the wonderful personalities they bring to the series!
I'm ready for a third book to see what mysteries Thenie solves next!
I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed about this book are my own.
This second book in the series didn't disappoint! The mystery was fast-paced, kept me reading and guessing whodunit. I would think I knew and then up pops a clue and I'm off in another direction - my favorite kind of mystery. The character of Thenie is relatable and you want her to succeed. I enjoyed the inclusion of Greek culture and food which enhances the story and gives it a "family" feeling. Thenie's relationship with Case is developing slowly, which I love. at this point, the emphasis is more on their investigative dealings than romance.. I also loved Thenie's family and the wonderful personalities they bring to the series!
I'm ready for a third book to see what mysteries Thenie solves next!
I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed about this book are my own.
November 29, 2025
The plot was trite but that’s true of most cozies. There were good things like how the book was structured with the MC having her blog (although what idiots her family members were for not guessing it was her—she used to be a journalist and it matches what happened each week!), the Greek culture and language, the love interest and the nice characters in the family. The detective work was done really well (although they would have a hard time getting all those people to agree to be interrogators by (fake) private investigators.) They asked really good questions.
But Athena was way too confrontational. Over and over she tried to convince witnesses that Selene wasn’t the murderer. And they just sat there and argued with her. I wouldn’t agree to even listen to the person questioning me and certainly not someone hostile and telling me what I should think and feel. I would worry that what I said would be misconstrued and that they’d run off to the police to tattle. And why didn’t the police tell the MCs to stop questioning people and threaten to charge them with obstructing the investigation? These are people who might have been needed to be witnesses in court.
I love that Case was a responsible boater. He required everyone to wear life jackets and he wouldn’t even drink a beer because it’s just as illegal to drink and drive a boat as a car. But then he took the doors off his Jeep. Is that even legal? I doubt it. It was cool that the head librarian was male. There are tons of male librarians in real life but virtually never in books.
What is it with female cozy mystery writers wanting to tell me everything everyone is wearing? Leave something to the imagination. Sometimes I’m not sure if they’re trying to describe the person as stylish or stuck in 1983. I’d rather hear, “His outfit was trendy but casual,” or, “Her wardrobe was worthy of any nerdy computer programmer despite her job as a corporate executive,” or, “The pair of them appeared to have coordinated their clothing in shades of green while still dressing appropriately for a day at the beach.” I’ll stop there.
I think the author got all of her information about jail from TV. A woman was accused of killing someone, the evidence very circumstantial, and there were other possible suspects but the police arrested her right away. Then they acted like she was a serial killer. She’s immediately put in an orange jumpsuit. (Isn’t that a prison thing, not jail holding?) When the family went to talk to her (like the next day), she was in leg shackles as well as behind glass. The jail didn’t need both. Not really even one. That’s not how visitation is usually done nowadays, not in a really small jurisdiction, not in the holding area of a jail, not before bail is even set. She wasn’t violent in general. She wasn’t suddenly going to go nuts and embark on a kill on a killing spree. But then the young son is allowed to go visit the police station. I admit I wasn’t listening closely right then but I think it was to visit her. Definitely, police are hostile to them but then agree to drive the boy to school in a squad car letting him use the siren.
I might read the next one, I might not. I’m not in any hurry. Despite how ridiculous, the good detective work with lots of suspects was refreshing and I really enjoyed the Agreek culture.
The reader, Kim Niemi, was okay. She didn’t have much of a variety of voices and I didn’t care for her narrating voice but it was fine. Her Greek pronunciation sounded pretty good, not that I have any idea what Greek should sound like. The foods were said differently than how I butcher them but I’m sure I’m the one who’s wrong.
But Athena was way too confrontational. Over and over she tried to convince witnesses that Selene wasn’t the murderer. And they just sat there and argued with her. I wouldn’t agree to even listen to the person questioning me and certainly not someone hostile and telling me what I should think and feel. I would worry that what I said would be misconstrued and that they’d run off to the police to tattle. And why didn’t the police tell the MCs to stop questioning people and threaten to charge them with obstructing the investigation? These are people who might have been needed to be witnesses in court.
I love that Case was a responsible boater. He required everyone to wear life jackets and he wouldn’t even drink a beer because it’s just as illegal to drink and drive a boat as a car. But then he took the doors off his Jeep. Is that even legal? I doubt it. It was cool that the head librarian was male. There are tons of male librarians in real life but virtually never in books.
What is it with female cozy mystery writers wanting to tell me everything everyone is wearing? Leave something to the imagination. Sometimes I’m not sure if they’re trying to describe the person as stylish or stuck in 1983. I’d rather hear, “His outfit was trendy but casual,” or, “Her wardrobe was worthy of any nerdy computer programmer despite her job as a corporate executive,” or, “The pair of them appeared to have coordinated their clothing in shades of green while still dressing appropriately for a day at the beach.” I’ll stop there.
I think the author got all of her information about jail from TV. A woman was accused of killing someone, the evidence very circumstantial, and there were other possible suspects but the police arrested her right away. Then they acted like she was a serial killer. She’s immediately put in an orange jumpsuit. (Isn’t that a prison thing, not jail holding?) When the family went to talk to her (like the next day), she was in leg shackles as well as behind glass. The jail didn’t need both. Not really even one. That’s not how visitation is usually done nowadays, not in a really small jurisdiction, not in the holding area of a jail, not before bail is even set. She wasn’t violent in general. She wasn’t suddenly going to go nuts and embark on a kill on a killing spree. But then the young son is allowed to go visit the police station. I admit I wasn’t listening closely right then but I think it was to visit her. Definitely, police are hostile to them but then agree to drive the boy to school in a squad car letting him use the siren.
I might read the next one, I might not. I’m not in any hurry. Despite how ridiculous, the good detective work with lots of suspects was refreshing and I really enjoyed the Agreek culture.
The reader, Kim Niemi, was okay. She didn’t have much of a variety of voices and I didn’t care for her narrating voice but it was fine. Her Greek pronunciation sounded pretty good, not that I have any idea what Greek should sound like. The foods were said differently than how I butcher them but I’m sure I’m the one who’s wrong.
May 31, 2022
Athena's family owns a garden center and a restaurant called the Parthenon. When her hairstylist sister Selene is asked to be a bridesmaid for her friend Mandy, she agrees. The rehearsal dinner is at the restaurant, and everyone is waiting for Brady, the groom, to show up. But he never does. And when Mandy's brother goes looking for him, they find that Brady has been murdered. But things get worse when the police discover Selene's scissors in his back, and she can't give a solid alibi, they arrest her for the murder. Now Athena and her friend Case are determined to find evidence to get Selene off the hook. But between dodging Mama's attempts to get Athena married, and a rich woman's attempts to get Case, things aren't going to be as easy as Athena wants. She just hopes she can find the evidence before Selene is formally charged and brought to trial...
This is the second book in the series and I did like it a bit better than the first. Unfortunately, I really don't like Athena's mama. She's a nag, and even with a daughter in jail for a murder she didn't commit, she's still trying to get Athena married off. How much sense does that make? She sets her up on blind dates knowing Athena doesn't want anything to do with it. I also don't care for the 'evil nemesis' in the form of Lila; I really abhor those in books and wish she'd disappear.
While I thought the plot was done well, and the writing was very good, there were parts that were slow-going, and I just didn't understand Mitchell's obsession about Mandy. It was almost unhealthy, if you know what I mean.
But other than this, the plot flowed and kept me interested in the book and I did like the interactions between Athena and her father. They are very close, and it shows. I also liked the fact that her relationship with Case is moving forward.
The way Athena and Case went about asking questions was never invasive, and I liked that they shared the information with police officer Bob McGuire. It's always nice to have a police officer who's helpful and not nasty to you.
In the end, I did enjoy how everything was resolved; when the murderer is discovered, it was both sad and yet done in such a way that you couldn't hate the killer. I felt everything was done nicely while giving us a touch of what is going to happen in the next book. Recommended.
This is the second book in the series and I did like it a bit better than the first. Unfortunately, I really don't like Athena's mama. She's a nag, and even with a daughter in jail for a murder she didn't commit, she's still trying to get Athena married off. How much sense does that make? She sets her up on blind dates knowing Athena doesn't want anything to do with it. I also don't care for the 'evil nemesis' in the form of Lila; I really abhor those in books and wish she'd disappear.
While I thought the plot was done well, and the writing was very good, there were parts that were slow-going, and I just didn't understand Mitchell's obsession about Mandy. It was almost unhealthy, if you know what I mean.
But other than this, the plot flowed and kept me interested in the book and I did like the interactions between Athena and her father. They are very close, and it shows. I also liked the fact that her relationship with Case is moving forward.
The way Athena and Case went about asking questions was never invasive, and I liked that they shared the information with police officer Bob McGuire. It's always nice to have a police officer who's helpful and not nasty to you.
In the end, I did enjoy how everything was resolved; when the murderer is discovered, it was both sad and yet done in such a way that you couldn't hate the killer. I felt everything was done nicely while giving us a touch of what is going to happen in the next book. Recommended.
December 29, 2020
A Big Fat Greek Murder, the second installment of Kate Collins’s Goddess of Greene Street series, is a madcap adventure featuring an intrepid heroine, a boisterous Greek family, and a twisty murder with a wedding party full of suspects.
Athena Spencer is helping to host a rehearsal dinner at her grandparents’ Greek diner, the Parthenon. The festivities take a downward turn, however, when the groom-to-be is MIA. The groomsmen are dispatched to find the missing man who, it turns out, has been murdered. Things go from bad to worse when Athena’s sister Selene, a replacement bridesmaid, is identified as the prime suspect. Knowing her sister could not have committed the crime, Athena vows to clear her name and find the real culprit.
This book is so much fun! Athena’s quirky, rambunctious, and supportive family provide laugh-out-loud humor and heartfelt emotion. Athena has become more comfortable in her role as amateur investigator. And Case Donnelly, her partner in crime-solving, has moved permanently to Sequoia, furthering their relationship. The groomsmen and bridesmaids prove an almost impenetrable bunch, with a mean-girl vibe that is hard to ignore. An ongoing subplot involving Athena’s secret life as the Goddess Anon, an anonymous blog writer, is an added bonus. Finally, the murder itself is replete with clues and red herrings, and the suspects, while finite, each hide secrets that could prove incriminating. When the perpetrator is revealed, the resolution is bittersweet.
Do I recommend A Big Fat Greek Murder? Wholeheartedly! And I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this enjoyable cozy mystery series.
Note: I received an ARC of A Big Fat Greek Murder from NetGalley and Kensington Books. The above is my honest review.
Athena Spencer is helping to host a rehearsal dinner at her grandparents’ Greek diner, the Parthenon. The festivities take a downward turn, however, when the groom-to-be is MIA. The groomsmen are dispatched to find the missing man who, it turns out, has been murdered. Things go from bad to worse when Athena’s sister Selene, a replacement bridesmaid, is identified as the prime suspect. Knowing her sister could not have committed the crime, Athena vows to clear her name and find the real culprit.
This book is so much fun! Athena’s quirky, rambunctious, and supportive family provide laugh-out-loud humor and heartfelt emotion. Athena has become more comfortable in her role as amateur investigator. And Case Donnelly, her partner in crime-solving, has moved permanently to Sequoia, furthering their relationship. The groomsmen and bridesmaids prove an almost impenetrable bunch, with a mean-girl vibe that is hard to ignore. An ongoing subplot involving Athena’s secret life as the Goddess Anon, an anonymous blog writer, is an added bonus. Finally, the murder itself is replete with clues and red herrings, and the suspects, while finite, each hide secrets that could prove incriminating. When the perpetrator is revealed, the resolution is bittersweet.
Do I recommend A Big Fat Greek Murder? Wholeheartedly! And I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this enjoyable cozy mystery series.
Note: I received an ARC of A Big Fat Greek Murder from NetGalley and Kensington Books. The above is my honest review.
December 10, 2020
I am in the minority here, as compared to other reviewers on Goodreads. The overall crowd like this instalment better than the first. I, on the other hand, feel the first set a standard this did not quite meet up.
In the last book, we were introduced to our leading lady who is now living with her large extended family and dealing with everything that includes. Athena is settling into her new roles when her sister is made suspect number one for murder. It is the flimsiest connection that holds the two together. Athena sets off to clear her sister's name with the man who barged into her life (initiating the ensuing chaos), and she(Athena) now has feelings for. The plotline is well done, and I never saw the ending coming ( or I did, then convinced myself that that was not really possible). The writing is still smooth, and the narrative voice is hugely entertaining. I wanted more of Oscar the racoon or the random banter between the family members. They were the highlights of the book and eclipsing Athena's detective skills and the dangers she was undertaking.
I am still not convinced of the lead couple in this series although I am willing to wait and see what happens. I was more intrigued by the secondary couple, which Athena took too long to confirm! I still wanted more of the anonymous blog, although I am not sure what turns it will take since there are a lot of relationship changes towards the end. I would suggest reading this for the fun characters and witty banter and given the way things ended, I wonder what will happen next with everyone involved.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers. The review is entirely based on my own reading experience with this and the previous instalment of the series.
In the last book, we were introduced to our leading lady who is now living with her large extended family and dealing with everything that includes. Athena is settling into her new roles when her sister is made suspect number one for murder. It is the flimsiest connection that holds the two together. Athena sets off to clear her sister's name with the man who barged into her life (initiating the ensuing chaos), and she(Athena) now has feelings for. The plotline is well done, and I never saw the ending coming ( or I did, then convinced myself that that was not really possible). The writing is still smooth, and the narrative voice is hugely entertaining. I wanted more of Oscar the racoon or the random banter between the family members. They were the highlights of the book and eclipsing Athena's detective skills and the dangers she was undertaking.
I am still not convinced of the lead couple in this series although I am willing to wait and see what happens. I was more intrigued by the secondary couple, which Athena took too long to confirm! I still wanted more of the anonymous blog, although I am not sure what turns it will take since there are a lot of relationship changes towards the end. I would suggest reading this for the fun characters and witty banter and given the way things ended, I wonder what will happen next with everyone involved.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers. The review is entirely based on my own reading experience with this and the previous instalment of the series.
April 24, 2021
Princess Fuzzypants here: Athena is drawn into another murder investigation when her elder sister, Selene, is charged with the crime. She is accused of stabbing a groom to be with her own scissors after she has been asked to fill in for a bride’s maid. Even though Selene disliked the man and had reported him at the gym where he worked, he had spread the rumour that he had been having an affair with her. The evidence leading to her guilt is very neatly revealed. Too neatly. It is obvious to Athena and her partner in investigation, and possibly something else, Chase, Selene is being set up. Even the cop who had been Athena’s friend at school agrees but the detective in charge only sees an easy conviction.
Together Athena and Chase follow up with the rest of the wedding party and an obviously unbalanced stalker who had been dogging the groom. What they discover is the victim was a user of the worst kind and a cheat, liar and throughly rotten fellow. It turns out there are a lot of people who have much better motives than Selene. But when the killer reveals the reason, it is not what was expected. Both Athena and the reader are surprised. Once again Athena proves why she has the nickname of the Goddess of Greene Street.
It’s a fun read filled with interesting characters and Athena’s colourful family. Five purrs and two paws up.
Together Athena and Chase follow up with the rest of the wedding party and an obviously unbalanced stalker who had been dogging the groom. What they discover is the victim was a user of the worst kind and a cheat, liar and throughly rotten fellow. It turns out there are a lot of people who have much better motives than Selene. But when the killer reveals the reason, it is not what was expected. Both Athena and the reader are surprised. Once again Athena proves why she has the nickname of the Goddess of Greene Street.
It’s a fun read filled with interesting characters and Athena’s colourful family. Five purrs and two paws up.
November 17, 2020
This is the 2nd installment in the Goddess of Green Street Mystery series. Divorced Athena Spencer is back in her hometown in Michigan with her 10 year old son working at the family garden center and family restaurant if needed. Well needed as they are hosting a wedding rehearsal dinner which ends up with the groom missing and later found dead with the bride accusing Athena’s sister Selene of the deed. Athena is not going to let Selene down and vows to find out who the real killer is. Case is now living in town and is helping her out with the mystery. Nice to see that relationship growing even though not without struggles. This is a good solid cozy with lots of suspects as the groom is not all her appears to be and I love that Athena also writes a blog about Greek families and such and it is funny that her entire family love to read it but cannot recognize themselves in the stories. I like that the family is close knit and all about family. The series is a keeper and look forward to the next installment.
December 10, 2020
A Big Fat Greek Murder was such a fun cozy mystery! Thank you Kensington Books and NetGalley for the e-book.
This is the second book in the Goddess of Greene Street Mystery series, following Athena Spencer—a single mom working to get back on her feet after a divorce who somehow finds herself adding detective to her resume! The supporting cast was excellent in this book, I especially loved the family banter between Athena and her sisters, parents, and grandparents. The other secondary characters also had roles but it never felt like there were too many storylines or that characters were only serving filler roles.
The mystery element kept my attention and was twisty enough (I really didn’t know “whodunit” until the final reveal)!
I have not read the first in this series yet, but definitely want to now and will be keeping my eyes out for future additions. Some of the storylines that I felt weren’t quite resolved will likely turn up in those.
This is the second book in the Goddess of Greene Street Mystery series, following Athena Spencer—a single mom working to get back on her feet after a divorce who somehow finds herself adding detective to her resume! The supporting cast was excellent in this book, I especially loved the family banter between Athena and her sisters, parents, and grandparents. The other secondary characters also had roles but it never felt like there were too many storylines or that characters were only serving filler roles.
The mystery element kept my attention and was twisty enough (I really didn’t know “whodunit” until the final reveal)!
I have not read the first in this series yet, but definitely want to now and will be keeping my eyes out for future additions. Some of the storylines that I felt weren’t quite resolved will likely turn up in those.
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