Dying for Dominoes

Cardboard Cottage #1

by Jane Elzey

Meet four ambitious women who risk losing it all when they play to win... while the husband dies trying.

It’s all fun and games until Amy’s best friend wants her husband gone and then he’s found dead.

Now Amy fears a not-so-innocent game of dominoes has turned into premeditated murder with a little help from some friends. Scrambled evidence and sketchy alibis compel Amy to uncover the truth before they all land in jail for murder.

How does a game of dominoes turn so deadly? And who killed the husband? If she can’t solve the crime in time, there’s more at stake than Amy realizes. She knows what she has to do -- find the courage to face her doubts and learn the true meaning of friendship. All while hunting down a killer on the run.

Will she unravel the facts and the fibbery fast enough to keep them safe? Not if her misadventure through the back roads of Arkansas keeps derailing her plans. Amy risks everything to hunt down the truth, but what she doesn’t know might kill her, too.

If you like playing games, puzzle mysteries with unexpected twists and turns, and amateur sleuths with southern sass that’s anything but cookie-cutter sweet, then you’ll love Jane Elzey’s fast-paced whodunnit.

Buy Dying for Dominoes and join in the fun with this adventurous sisterhood today! The first book in the Cardboard Cottage Mystery series. Join Jane Elzey's VIP Club for players for Swag and Brag at the author's website at CardboardCottageMystery or JaneElzey. Join the author's email list for gossip and updates on upcoming books. Look for Dice on a Deadly Sea next.

Jane Elzey writes from her cottage in the Ozarks Mountains of Arkansas surrounded by the beauty of The Natural State. A career journalist, Jane now writes not-so-cozy mysteries about four friends on the other side of 50. "I'm not yet 50, so don't say I am," Zelda Carlisle.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Fiction

266 pages, Paperback

First published March 30, 2020

About the author

Jane Elzey’s Cardboard Cottage Mystery series follows four unlikely friends whose game night leads to laughter… and a murder. Her novels celebrate strong female friendships, small-town life, and quirky Southern sass. It’s the perfect score for readers who like their cozy mysteries clever, funny, and a teeny bit daring.

A former journalist turned novelist, Jane Elzey writes with a storyteller’s heart, creating settings and characters so authentic they seem real. Readers describe her as “Evanovich with a Southern drawl” with equal parts wit, humor, and heart in a classic whodunit. Her stories are part murder, part mischief, and entirely entertaining.

Jane lives in the Arkansas Ozarks with her feline family, where she’s either writing, digging in the garden, or plotting her next killer game.

Join Jane's VIP Mystery Club at JaneElzey.com.

Reviews

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5-stars rounded up**

A vibrant start to an all-new Cozy Mystery series!



Dying for Dominoes is part Designing Women, part Murder, She Wrote and was just as fun as the cover would have you believe.

At one of their regular game nights, best friends, Amy, Genna, Zelda and Rian, chat it up and air grievances as any friends would.



Zelda has been having a hard time with her husband, Zack, and by hard time, I mean he is driving her crazy.

She expresses to her friends that she wants him gone. The talk from there gets quite morbid, indeed.



When Zack ends up dead, the victim of a hit-and-run in a parking garage at a hotel where he was going to be meeting Zelda for a romantic evening, all of the friends secretly suspect one another.

Unfortunately for the ladies, the police suspect them too!



Determined not to see any of her friends go down for Zack's untimely death, Amy vows to find out the truth, no matter the cost.

She then sets out on some fantastic amateur sleuthing and gets herself in a whole host of trouble.



This was so much fun, y'all. It gave me pretty much everything I am looking for in a cozy: good humor, a strong friendship group, over-the-top crimes and amateur sleuthing.

With this being said, there were a few minor details that didn't quite work for me, but I know as the series progresses, they will get stronger and stronger.



I feel like a lot of Cozy Mystery series are that way. As you get deeper into them, you get more attached to the characters and everything just seems to have a better flow.

I am definitely planning to continue on with this series. I loved all of the characters and their friendship dynamics made me miss my own friends.



Thank you so much to the author, Jane Elzey, for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.

I had so much fun with it and look forward to being back with Amy and the rest of the girls!

[Kammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four friends whom embark on the biggest adventure of their lives…one that they didn’t chose but have no choice in joining if they want to prove their innocence and find the true murderer. A life far from their weekly game of dominoes and drinks. Will their friendship prevail in the face of murder, suspicion and a list of suspects?

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect summer read! Fast paced with lots of twists and turns. I can’t wait to join them on their next adventure!

[Michelle Hannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning! “Dying for Dominoes” will keep you up way past your bedtime. It’s a vibrant nail-biter about how four tight-knit friends react when one of their husbands is murdered. They suspect, protect, and betray each other as they try to determine who the murderer is, but you can always feel the love. All four leading women have distinct personalities and it would be so much fun to have them over for beers with my friends. I will not call them “mature” because they are my age and that word simply doesn’t describe my tribe, especially when we’re together.

This was such a fun read!

[Todd Roseweir]

As far as cozy mysteries go, this is one of the best ones I have read, and I've quite a few now from various authors. Quite an achievement for the first book from a new author. I especially enjoyed the banter between the group of ladies the book is based around, and the author introduced unexpected events which ended up testing the friendships within the group at times. Overall, a very enjoyable read and it's going to be very interesting to see where their next adventures take them.

I received a copy of this book from Voracious Reader Only for review, and I'm glad I selected it.

[Debra DuBois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely entertaining and downright just plain good. It doesn’t feel like this writers first book. The plot, the characters, the mystery itself and the twists and turns along the way make for an exhilarating ride in the town of Bluff Springs and beyond.
Character development and just the feel of the book are the high points. The dialogue is witty, but not too witty. I read this book in a weekend and truthfully did not want it to end. I am thrilled to know that the second one is in the works. I can’t wait until the next is out.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars if I could! This book was a belated Christmas gift, and I'm happy to have read it! It's not my usual genre, and I'm grateful to have not missed out on such a fun read. I enjoyed the friendship between these women and figuring out "whodunnit" along with Amy.

[Bailey M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has served as my gateway into the world of cozy mysteries. It was my first quarantine weekend binge read and boy did it keep me wanting more! I will certainly be back for more quirky adventures from Amy Sparks and the ladies of the Cardboard Cottage. Which husband dies next!?

[Whitney Reinhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never been much of a cozy mystery reader but let me tell you, I am GLAD I picked this one up. A roaring narrative gallops along as the four, middle-aged friends scramble to solve the mystery of one of their husband's death! I found myself literally jealous of the friendship these women share, Elzey captures the emotions and ties so beautifully! And unlike other "Friendship Stories," (looking at you Ya-Ya Sisterhood) these women haven't been friends since childhood. They found each other later in life and are as closely knit as a group can be. This was a refreshing take on the relationships women forge with each other. Set in the hills of northwest Arkansas, Dominoes offers a change of pace from coastal or urban settings often found in mystery works. She leads her readers swiftly through the hills and hollers and lets them smell the roadside pines along the way. If you're looking for an entertaining, front porch read, pick this one. You won't regret it!

[Jane Elzey]

Four ambitious women risk losing it all when they play to win… while the husband dies trying.

When Amy Sparks learns her best friend wants husband number four gone and then he's found dead, she fears a not-so-innocent game of dominoes has turned into premeditated murder. Who killed the husband?

Scrambled evidence and sketchy alibis compel her to uncover the truth before they all land in jail for murder. Unraveling the facts and the fibbery in a fast-paced misadventure through the back roads of Arkansas, Amy finds the courage to face her doubts and the true meaning of friendship. All while hunting down a killer on the run.

This entertaining new author has created a group of characters people want to hang with. They are compassionate, competitive, and bend the rules just enough to pursue life with moxie and mischief. Mystery readers who crave armchair travel and a sisterhood will enjoy Jane's cozy mystery with games, fluffy cats, and women whose southern sass is anything but cookie-cutter sweet. Ride along for high drama adventure and amateur sleuthing in a puzzle and plot-driven whodunnit.

Dying for Dominoes is the first book in A Cardboard Cottage Mystery series by Jane Elzey, featuring four mature women who love to play games … while husbands die trying. The husband always dies. Book 2, Dice on a Deadly Sea, publishes May 10. For author gossip, swag and brag rights, join the Very Important Players Club, at JaneElzey.com.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book not knowing what to expect, but I was quickly drawn in to this unique execution of the “cozy mystery”. It had all the fun and comforting elements of a cozy mystery series, but quickly became more than that. While relying on a group of strong female friends, with a juicy murder to solve, and a clock running down; this story also asks questions about the nature of friendship, and how far you would go to protect, even abate, the ones you love. Our main character seeks to find the truth, while struggling with the consequences it may bring to her chosen family, and resulting with what she will do when she finds it.

This Cardboard Cottage Mystery is a gripping combination of cozy mystery, a thought provoking read, and a story of women choosing to stand together. That’s rite, there are already two more in this series!

I received Killing For Dominoes through Voracious Readers Only.

[Doctor Nyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dead husband and a lot of coincidences can make for a difficult case.

Amy, Zelda, Genna and Rian are all the best of friends. They've know each other a long time. And they tell each other everything. Right?

Amy thought she could trust her friends, but when a simple joke at a dominoes game turns into the real deal she starts to question their friendship. She feels betrayed when she thinks her friends may have orchestrated a murder. How would you feel if your friends committed murder without you, how could they? Seriously, the cops want to know...

All the peices to solve this case are there, will Amy put it all together in time? She isn't a detective, but she has to atleast try to clear her friends name. Who else was going to do it?

If you enjoy cozy puzzle mysteries, be sure to pick up a copy today!

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlikely Suspect
Meet four ambitious women who risk losing it all when they play to win... while the husband dies trying. It’s all fun and games until Amy’s best friend wants her husband gone and then he’s found dead. Now Amy fears a not-so-innocent game of dominoes has turned into premeditated murder with a little help from some friends. Scrambled evidence and sketchy alibis compel Amy to uncover the truth before they all land in jail for murder.
She was a suspect in her husband's murder. She didn't do it and neither did any of her friends. They will track down who the culprit is or die trying.
I borrowed this book from KindleUnlimited. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Characters

This is the first in a series. I actually started with the 4th book, and then came back to this first one. It was nice to come back to the beginnings. and to get to know the characters more. The characters in the Cardboard Cottage Mystery books are great. Amy is the main character, but her 3 friends are often in the picture. In fact, it's Amy's friend Zelda whose nasty husband gets murdered. He had a lot of enemies. The question is who actually killed him? Read the book to find out!

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

What fun! These four ladies are real - in the best way! Yes, it's a "cozy mystery", but these women aren't puttering around with tea cups and doilies! They are racing around the back hills of Arkansas finding hidden pot caches and getting chased by angry men! What a hoot! It had me by the first chapter and it was delightful to the end. Smart, sassy and worth the read. Hats off to Jane Elzey for her first installment of Cardboard Cottage series... I can't wait to see where they go next.

[Jessica Coulson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating is based on the genre it is in, as it does well in the cozy mysteries world. The writing was at times a tad convoluted and some descriptions were trying a bit hard to appear poetic. The whodunnit seemed to wrap itself up rather suddenly but the road there was full of interesting twists and turns, and even more interesting side characters.

I was given a copy of this book from Voracious Readers in exchange for my honest review.

[Deb Randolph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four "pushing older" friends who do almost everything together, including getting made prime suspects in the murder of one of the friend's husband. The adventures they get into while trying to find out who actually killed him kept me going until the end. I actually suspected everyone at times. It was a great story with a few twists that made the story more interesting. I hope these women have more stories to tell. I will be looking for more of this wonderful author's books.

[Valeri Sullivan (vsulvn29) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘you gals are rock-solid’

Four mature gal pals find themselves in hot water when the con man husband of one of them ends up squished like a pancake in a parking garage hit and run AFTER Zelda asked for help getting rid of him at game night. Despite how close they are they become each others’ and the cops number one suspects as they fumble their way through their own investigations in a highly offbeat and fun new cozy series.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow great cozy mystery. I found this book in Euerka Springs and I am so glad I picked it up. These four friends are amazing and fun. Each woman is unique in her own way. The mystery also took unexpected turns. I will read the next mystery and tell all my friends about this book. Thank you Ms Elzey for a fun read.

[Dylan Rider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dying for Dominoes is a perfect cozy mystery! The story is incredibly well written and engaging, the characters are relatable, and there are plenty of genuinely surprising twists along the way to keep you on the edge of your seat. Overall, Dying for Dominoes is a fun read and a wonderful first entry in what is sure to be a fantastic new series!

[Julie Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a review copy of this story and I thought it was a fun - despite the murder - read.

Four close friends, one wants her husband gone and then he is found dead...four suspects.

I liked the humour, the relationships between the four and how they dealt with the events.

No spoilers but worth a look.

[Kimberly Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved getting to know something different about each woman. The storyline had me imagining I was along for the ride. I felt like I was right there with them on their adventures. Can't wait to read the next book

[Francesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was unsure whether i would like this book at the beginning, but as i kept reading, the more enjoyable it got. I liked the little twists and turns of trying to find out who the murderer was and the characters all had their individual quirks.

[Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met the author in her little Ozark mountain village, and she was a delight, so I couldn’t wait read this book. It did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed it. A fun, fast paced mystery with unexpected twists and turns. I’m looking forward to reading her other books!

[Ann Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful and entertaining! A page turner!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific story, great character development, and quite the page turner. A good story of loyal friendship and a mystery to solve.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read. I enjoyed it from the first chapter. A light cozy read.

[D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these four ladies and friends. They were so fun to read and interesting. I was hooked right from the beginning. I cannot wait for another one from these ladies.

[Len · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully fun murder mystery involving four close friends, great read, can’t wait to catch the next book!

[Melissa Steadman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a group of best friends who love life together and find themselves in the midst of a murder mystery when on of their husbands’ turns up dead. It is a cute, quick read.