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Jane Doe Book Club Mystery #1
On Borrowed Crime
A shoe-in read for fans of Ellery Adams and Kate Carlisle, On Borrowed Crime is the first in Kate Young's new Georgia-set, sweet tea filled, Jane Doe Book Club mysteries.
The Jane Doe book club enjoys guessing whodunit, but when murder happens in their midst, they discover solving crimes isn't fun and games...
Lyla Moody loves her sleepy little town of Sweet Mountain, Georgia. She likes her job as receptionist for her uncle's private investigative firm, her fellow true crime obsessed Jane Doe members are the friends she's always wanted, and her parents just celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. But recently, with her best friend Melanie on vacation, and her ex-boyfriend and horrible cousin becoming an item and moving in next door to her, her idyllic life is on the fritz. The cherry on top of it all is finding Carol, a member of the club, dead and shoved into a suitcase, left at Lyla's front door.
Unusual circumstances notwithstanding, with Carol's heart condition, the coroner rules Carol's death undetermined. But when they discover the suitcase belongs to Melanie, who had returned from her vacation the following morning, Sweet Mountain police begin to suspect Lyla's best friend. Determined that police are following the wrong trail, to clear her friend's name, and to not allow Carol to become one of the club's studied cold cases, Lyla begins to seek out the real killer. That is, until she becomes the one sought after. Now, finding the truth could turn her into the killer's next plot twist, unless she wins the game of cat and mouse.
The Jane Doe book club enjoys guessing whodunit, but when murder happens in their midst, they discover solving crimes isn't fun and games...
Lyla Moody loves her sleepy little town of Sweet Mountain, Georgia. She likes her job as receptionist for her uncle's private investigative firm, her fellow true crime obsessed Jane Doe members are the friends she's always wanted, and her parents just celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. But recently, with her best friend Melanie on vacation, and her ex-boyfriend and horrible cousin becoming an item and moving in next door to her, her idyllic life is on the fritz. The cherry on top of it all is finding Carol, a member of the club, dead and shoved into a suitcase, left at Lyla's front door.
Unusual circumstances notwithstanding, with Carol's heart condition, the coroner rules Carol's death undetermined. But when they discover the suitcase belongs to Melanie, who had returned from her vacation the following morning, Sweet Mountain police begin to suspect Lyla's best friend. Determined that police are following the wrong trail, to clear her friend's name, and to not allow Carol to become one of the club's studied cold cases, Lyla begins to seek out the real killer. That is, until she becomes the one sought after. Now, finding the truth could turn her into the killer's next plot twist, unless she wins the game of cat and mouse.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2020
147 people are currently reading
3796 people want to read
About the author
Kate Young
23 books1,164 followersKate Young writes Southern mystery novels. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Georgia Writers Association. Kate lives in a small town in Georgia with her husband, three kids, and Shih Tzu.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 354 reviews
July 4, 2024
This is a cozy mystery, and the first book in A Jane Doe Book Club Mystery series. I found that this book did not hold my attention. I did find parts of this book to be a good, but I think I had trouble with the writing style of this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Crooked Lane Books) or author (Kate Young) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
October 20, 2020
I thought this was a great start to a new series. Set in a small town in Georgia, we meet Lyla Moody who works as a receptionist at her uncle's private investigation firm but hopes to become a partner with him. Lyla is obsessed with mysteries and true crime and is a member of a mystery book club called the Jane Does. When the body of one of her book club members is found in a suitcase on her doorstep, she becomes determined to solve the case.
This entertaining mystery is filled with southern charm and suspense. The characters were fleshed out and I loved the small-town vibes in the story. The mystery was darker than the average cozy mystery but nothing over the top. I thought the author did a wonderful job of building the tension and making the reader second guess their opinion regarding the culprit's identity.
It was fun getting to know Lyla. I found her to be relatable, smart, and independent. I look forward to exploring the relationship between her and her family and also solving more mysteries with her and the Jane Does.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entertaining mystery is filled with southern charm and suspense. The characters were fleshed out and I loved the small-town vibes in the story. The mystery was darker than the average cozy mystery but nothing over the top. I thought the author did a wonderful job of building the tension and making the reader second guess their opinion regarding the culprit's identity.
It was fun getting to know Lyla. I found her to be relatable, smart, and independent. I look forward to exploring the relationship between her and her family and also solving more mysteries with her and the Jane Does.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2020
This was my first book by this author and I felt that she writes well although with a tendency to over emphasise that the book is set in the South. I wanted her to show me, not tell me.
There are a number of series springing up recently based on book clubs but in this one the main character works for a P.I. which gives her a better cover for investigating murders than many cosy MCs have! There was a lot of investigative work, a million red herrings and I did not predict the murderer until nearly the end.
I will look out for future books in the series if only to discover how Lyla gets rid of her boss each time in order to perform the investigation herself. Maybe she gets to be a partner. I look forward to finding out.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
There are a number of series springing up recently based on book clubs but in this one the main character works for a P.I. which gives her a better cover for investigating murders than many cosy MCs have! There was a lot of investigative work, a million red herrings and I did not predict the murderer until nearly the end.
I will look out for future books in the series if only to discover how Lyla gets rid of her boss each time in order to perform the investigation herself. Maybe she gets to be a partner. I look forward to finding out.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 17, 2020
3.5★s
Lyla Moody worked for her uncle as receptionist to his PI business in Sweet Mountain, Georgia, but was hoping to eventually become a partner. She also ran the Jane Doe Book Club where she and her friends got together to discuss the Interstate 85 Jane Does that had been found over the years – all women. When Lyla found a suitcase on her front porch with the dead body of their friend and fellow club member inside, the shock was horrific.
Lyla decided they needed justice for Carol, and as the police didn’t seem to be doing much it was up to her and her club members. But as Lyla continued to receive eerie and frightening messages, the danger escalated. Would she discover who killed Carol, or would her first attempt at being a private investigator fail dismally?
On Borrowed Crime is the 1st in the Jane Doe Book Club Mystery series by Kate Young and it was quite enjoyable. Lyla is intrigued and fascinated by true crime, while continually fighting with her parents over her career choice (she’s an adult!!) Although the characters didn’t have a lot of depth, hopefully that will develop over the series. With lots of red herrings and plenty of twists, On Borrowed Crime is worthy of a cosy mystery read. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Lyla Moody worked for her uncle as receptionist to his PI business in Sweet Mountain, Georgia, but was hoping to eventually become a partner. She also ran the Jane Doe Book Club where she and her friends got together to discuss the Interstate 85 Jane Does that had been found over the years – all women. When Lyla found a suitcase on her front porch with the dead body of their friend and fellow club member inside, the shock was horrific.
Lyla decided they needed justice for Carol, and as the police didn’t seem to be doing much it was up to her and her club members. But as Lyla continued to receive eerie and frightening messages, the danger escalated. Would she discover who killed Carol, or would her first attempt at being a private investigator fail dismally?
On Borrowed Crime is the 1st in the Jane Doe Book Club Mystery series by Kate Young and it was quite enjoyable. Lyla is intrigued and fascinated by true crime, while continually fighting with her parents over her career choice (she’s an adult!!) Although the characters didn’t have a lot of depth, hopefully that will develop over the series. With lots of red herrings and plenty of twists, On Borrowed Crime is worthy of a cosy mystery read. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
October 10, 2020
This is a great start to a new series that kept me engaged to the end of the story. Set in a small mountain town north of Atlanta, when one of the members of the Jane Doe Book Club turns up at a fellow member's townhouse in a suitcase, ripples run through the group and town. Lyla Moody works for her uncle's PI firm and is very interested in true crime, just not that of Carol, one of her close friend's death. Her best friend and next door neighbor, fellow book club member Melanie is on a trip and the airline lost her suitcase so Lyla isn't too surprised to see what she thought was Melanie's luggage on her door stoop. The next morning when Melanie stops over and the two discover Carol's body in the suitcase, shock is an understatement. Lyla had just seen Carol, who looked very frightened, in her new BMW with a person in a camo cup but couldn't see the face. Surely that was the killer. It appears that someone is targeting the book club members and Lyla is determined to find her friend's killer. There are a lot of people who appear suspicious and there is even an investigation by the GBI, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, going on of a dumping ground along nearby I-85 where many Jane Doe bodies have been found. Special Agent Brad Jones is working on that and apparently Carol had talked to him. Maybe there is a connection to Carol's death and Lyla works to find out what Carol had discovered. I found this to be a good mystery to unravel and had a few suspects myself, including the killer but it was fun to read and see where it went.
I received a complimentary ARC from Crooked Lane Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
I received a complimentary ARC from Crooked Lane Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
November 16, 2020
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Yesterday the wind was blowing about 100 miles per hour and I had potato soup bubbling away in the crockpot so it was the perfect set up for a lazy Sunday and something in the “cozy” department . . . .
This was the first selection in the “Jane Doe Book Club Mystery” series featuring a group of gals who gather monthly for wine and fictional mystery/thriller discussions with a side of true crime. The cold case the women have been focusing on involves the “dumping ground” up I-85 where murder victims have been found and apparently one of their own members got a little too close to the whodunit when she turns up dead as well . . . and on our MC Lyla’s front stoop in a suitcase to boot!
I really look forward to reading more of this series (although I pretty much knew who was going to be the bad guy immediately – but I blame the fact that I’m addicted to the Hallmark Murders and Mysteries channel). Lyla was no shrinking violet and her new job working at her uncle’s PI company gives a little more validity to her being involved in more cases to come. I also like the idea of potential suitors in the future that was hinted about in this one, but appreciate the fact that the idea of loooooove didn’t distract our heroine. And most of all I love anything that reminds me of . . . .
So this one is getting 4 Stars. (Please note I judge genre for genre so don’t come at me how this isn’t “literature” or how dare I give so many stars when I only gave such and such 1. Apples get compared to apples when it comes to my ratings and I could give a hoot about an award – I rate on how much I enjoyed something and how quickly I turned the pages.)
ARC provided Crooked Lane in exchange for an honest review.
Yesterday the wind was blowing about 100 miles per hour and I had potato soup bubbling away in the crockpot so it was the perfect set up for a lazy Sunday and something in the “cozy” department . . . .
This was the first selection in the “Jane Doe Book Club Mystery” series featuring a group of gals who gather monthly for wine and fictional mystery/thriller discussions with a side of true crime. The cold case the women have been focusing on involves the “dumping ground” up I-85 where murder victims have been found and apparently one of their own members got a little too close to the whodunit when she turns up dead as well . . . and on our MC Lyla’s front stoop in a suitcase to boot!
I really look forward to reading more of this series (although I pretty much knew who was going to be the bad guy immediately – but I blame the fact that I’m addicted to the Hallmark Murders and Mysteries channel). Lyla was no shrinking violet and her new job working at her uncle’s PI company gives a little more validity to her being involved in more cases to come. I also like the idea of potential suitors in the future that was hinted about in this one, but appreciate the fact that the idea of loooooove didn’t distract our heroine. And most of all I love anything that reminds me of . . . .
So this one is getting 4 Stars. (Please note I judge genre for genre so don’t come at me how this isn’t “literature” or how dare I give so many stars when I only gave such and such 1. Apples get compared to apples when it comes to my ratings and I could give a hoot about an award – I rate on how much I enjoyed something and how quickly I turned the pages.)
ARC provided Crooked Lane in exchange for an honest review.
July 15, 2020
This is truly a fantastic edition to the cozy mystery genre! I liked just about everything in this book. Lyla is a smart and sassy southern woman with an interest in investigation and true crime. She runs the Jane Doe mystery book club and works as a receptionist at her uncle’s private investigation business. The line between her work and hobby start to blur when a member of her book club mysteriously dies. As if that weren’t enough to handle, her ex moves in next door. Now Lyla has two mysteries to solve. First, she is determined to find out catch the dark soul behind the murder. Secondly, she needs to figure out the mystery of how to hold it together when your ex moves in next door! On Borrowed Crime is fresh, amusing, and suspenseful.
September 11, 2020
A fun new mystery series starring Lyla Moody as a sassy southern girl raised to have good southern manners and her mother does not approve of Lyla’s choice to work with her Uncle in his private investigation office because of the danger and she definitely doesn’t approve of the subject matter of the Jane Doe Book Club that Lyla is apart of. But, Lyla is determined to find out who murdered her friend and fellow book club member no matter what. I really enjoyed this mystery and look forward to reading more books in this series. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 18, 2020
I am a fan of Kate Young's Marygene Brown Mystery series, so I was excited to see she has a new series releasing in October involving a book club. I have mixed feelings about the main character Layla Moody. She is a receptionist at her Uncle's private investigation office but longs to become a partner with him. Layla belongs to a book club that focuses on mysteries and true crime - which she seems to be a bit of an obsession for her. In this respect (the true murder obsession and crime book club) the story seems a bit similar to the Aurora Teagarden Mystery series premise from Charlene Harris. I think I may have liked Layla a bit more if she came across the page as more mature. There is a secondary cast of characters the include her parents, the book club members, and the Chief of Police, with whom Layla has a past relationship. There is an interesting dynamic between mother and daughter. During the book, her uncle and mother reference a trauma they suffered in their childhood but do say what. Hopefully, that is a layer that will be revealed in later books. I would love to see the author grow and mature Layla in her dealings with people. There is also a potential love interest for Layla but it was not really developed in the book, just a line near the end of the book.
I thought the mystery was well done and layered. There are plenty of clues and red herrings that can misdirect the reader, or cause them to doubt their thought regarding the killer's identity. I didn't find Layla to be reckless in her sleuthing, meaning she didn't put herself in harm's way by doing stupid or disregarding the dangers. I thought the end felt a little rushed once the killer's identity was revealed, but other than that thought the author did a good job with the mystery.
I'd like to see where the author can take this character and series, so I will be back for the next book to see how things develop.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through Netgalley. The opinions are my own.
I thought the mystery was well done and layered. There are plenty of clues and red herrings that can misdirect the reader, or cause them to doubt their thought regarding the killer's identity. I didn't find Layla to be reckless in her sleuthing, meaning she didn't put herself in harm's way by doing stupid or disregarding the dangers. I thought the end felt a little rushed once the killer's identity was revealed, but other than that thought the author did a good job with the mystery.
I'd like to see where the author can take this character and series, so I will be back for the next book to see how things develop.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through Netgalley. The opinions are my own.
November 9, 2020
Lyla Moody works as a receptionist at her uncle's successful private investigative firm and hopes to officially become one herself soon. She also loves reading crime mysteries and heads a book club called the Jane Doe book club where she, along with a few of her friends, who enjoy a good murder mystery as much as her, get together to discuss not only crime fiction but true cold crime cases as well. When one of the members and her close friend Carol is murdered and her body left on Lyla's doorstep in a suitcase, Lyla suspects that the death is somehow linked to a particular Jane Doe case whose remains have been found buried in their small town and for which Carol had found some clues pertaining to her identity. Lyla sees this as an opportunity to use her skills to solve the crime and flush out the murderer, not realising that in doing so she has come under the radar of the murderer herself.
This is the first book in the Jane Doe Book Club Mystery series. Although a cosy mystery in many ways with it's small town setting, book clubs, etc., it had a bit more serious and darker aspect to it. Curious to see how this series moves forward.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author Kate Young for the e-Arc of the book. This book was published on 6th October 2020.
Rating:⭐⭐⭐✨💫
This is the first book in the Jane Doe Book Club Mystery series. Although a cosy mystery in many ways with it's small town setting, book clubs, etc., it had a bit more serious and darker aspect to it. Curious to see how this series moves forward.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author Kate Young for the e-Arc of the book. This book was published on 6th October 2020.
Rating:⭐⭐⭐✨💫
October 2, 2020
Lyla didn't think it could get any worse than her ex-boyfriend moving into her neighborhood with her obnoxious cousin. However, she finds out it can get a whole lot worse when she receives a gruesome delivery. Now Lyla finds her life may be in danger as well as that of her friends.
The plot kept me on the edge of my seat. There were so many ways it could go that I didn't have any idea what was going to happen and it seemed like there were many possible suspects. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
The plot kept me on the edge of my seat. There were so many ways it could go that I didn't have any idea what was going to happen and it seemed like there were many possible suspects. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
February 5, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Much to her mother’s dismay Lyla Moody is very interested in solving crimes, especially cold cases, as do her friends. Together they have formed Jane Doe Book Club. She also loves working for her P.I. uncle as a receptionist but hopes her role will grow into her being more of a partner in his investigations. Her position there does give her an in when pursuing cold cases too.
Sadly the case the book club is now investigating is the death of one of their own. Lyla came home one day to find a suitcase on her porch. Thinking it was her BFF Melanie’s suitcase that must have been lost when she was coming home from vacation, she pulls it in the house and doesn’t give it another thought. That is until Melanie arrives and there is a terrible smell in the air. When they open the suitcase they make a gruesome discovery. Their friend Carol has been killed and unceremoniously folded up and stuffed in the suitcase. Of course, the police put Melanie at the top of their suspect list. With no faith in the police, Lyla enlists the help of the rest of the Jane Doe book club to clear Melanie’s name and find the person that murdered their friend. Soon the tables are turned and hunters become the hunted. Is the killer planning to kill off the book club members one by one? Not if Lyla can stop them!
Ms. Young has created some wonderful characters in this new series. Lyla is a very dynamic protagonist that I want to know better. Her interest in true crime and mysteries has driven her fine southern mother to distraction. Her mother’s total concentration is getting Lyla married to a fine man and providing her with grandchildren. Her father, a well-respected psychiatrist is more laid back. It is her grandmother though that became my favorite character. She is kind and funny and supports Lyla 100% in everything she does, including trying to catch a killer. Her Private Investigator uncle tries to keep Lyla safe and out of his cases but when one of those cases takes him out of town there is no holding Lyla back. We also meet Lyla’s cousin who is a real piece of work. She has been dating and has now moved in with Lyla’s ex. To really throw things in Lyla’s face they have moved in right next door. The book club ladies are an entertaining group and we have just scratched the surface getting to know them. Oh, and the police chief and Lyla have a past. That keeps things interesting.
The mystery was complex and very well-plotted. I liked the way it connected to another case that Carol was delving into. With all the twists and turns the author ramps up the suspense while still keeping the story within the cozy mystery realm. She finds a nice balance between drama and humor and just starts to approach the idea of romance near the end of this story. The ending was exciting. There is still a subplot mystery to be revealed yet as a bit of a cliffhanger drawing us to the next book in the series.
The sweet southern small town of Sweet Mountain, Georgia was an ideal setting. The descriptions painted a vivid picture of the locale but it was the dialogues and attitudes that really gave the story the true southern feel. Lyla’s mother made sure everyone knew what was expected of a young woman of the south even though Lyla bucked and kicked that notion day in and day out.
On Borrowed Crime was an excellent debut for this series. The mystery was first-rate and the characters were very intriguing. There is a lot of room for development as the series continues. I am looking forward to what I hope becomes a long-running series.
Much to her mother’s dismay Lyla Moody is very interested in solving crimes, especially cold cases, as do her friends. Together they have formed Jane Doe Book Club. She also loves working for her P.I. uncle as a receptionist but hopes her role will grow into her being more of a partner in his investigations. Her position there does give her an in when pursuing cold cases too.
Sadly the case the book club is now investigating is the death of one of their own. Lyla came home one day to find a suitcase on her porch. Thinking it was her BFF Melanie’s suitcase that must have been lost when she was coming home from vacation, she pulls it in the house and doesn’t give it another thought. That is until Melanie arrives and there is a terrible smell in the air. When they open the suitcase they make a gruesome discovery. Their friend Carol has been killed and unceremoniously folded up and stuffed in the suitcase. Of course, the police put Melanie at the top of their suspect list. With no faith in the police, Lyla enlists the help of the rest of the Jane Doe book club to clear Melanie’s name and find the person that murdered their friend. Soon the tables are turned and hunters become the hunted. Is the killer planning to kill off the book club members one by one? Not if Lyla can stop them!
Ms. Young has created some wonderful characters in this new series. Lyla is a very dynamic protagonist that I want to know better. Her interest in true crime and mysteries has driven her fine southern mother to distraction. Her mother’s total concentration is getting Lyla married to a fine man and providing her with grandchildren. Her father, a well-respected psychiatrist is more laid back. It is her grandmother though that became my favorite character. She is kind and funny and supports Lyla 100% in everything she does, including trying to catch a killer. Her Private Investigator uncle tries to keep Lyla safe and out of his cases but when one of those cases takes him out of town there is no holding Lyla back. We also meet Lyla’s cousin who is a real piece of work. She has been dating and has now moved in with Lyla’s ex. To really throw things in Lyla’s face they have moved in right next door. The book club ladies are an entertaining group and we have just scratched the surface getting to know them. Oh, and the police chief and Lyla have a past. That keeps things interesting.
The mystery was complex and very well-plotted. I liked the way it connected to another case that Carol was delving into. With all the twists and turns the author ramps up the suspense while still keeping the story within the cozy mystery realm. She finds a nice balance between drama and humor and just starts to approach the idea of romance near the end of this story. The ending was exciting. There is still a subplot mystery to be revealed yet as a bit of a cliffhanger drawing us to the next book in the series.
The sweet southern small town of Sweet Mountain, Georgia was an ideal setting. The descriptions painted a vivid picture of the locale but it was the dialogues and attitudes that really gave the story the true southern feel. Lyla’s mother made sure everyone knew what was expected of a young woman of the south even though Lyla bucked and kicked that notion day in and day out.
On Borrowed Crime was an excellent debut for this series. The mystery was first-rate and the characters were very intriguing. There is a lot of room for development as the series continues. I am looking forward to what I hope becomes a long-running series.
March 2, 2021
Fantastic start to a new series The Jane Doe Book Club Mystery! I loved the main character Lyla who has very relatable flaws along with her family members which was refreshing! Working as a receptionist in her uncle’s private investigative firm by day and at night running a book club discussing their favorite mysteries made me wish I was there for it! I was loving Ms.Young’s edgy twist to this cozy mystery and was left wishing I was in her book club! I loved the surprise ending I normally don’t get from a cozy and can’t wait to see what is next for Lyla! I highly recommend this to anyone that loves mystery or cozy reads!
September 6, 2020
ON BORROWED CRIME is an enjoyable first book from Kate Young's Jane Doe Book Club mysteries. Lyla becomes a sleuth because she and her best friend Melanie discover another club member's body stuffed in Melanie's suitcase. Guess who is first on the suspect list? Of course, soon other people are added to the list. I really liked this fast paced cozy mystery as much as I enjoy her Southern Sass series. Now I have another cozy series added to my must read list!
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest opinion
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest opinion
November 12, 2020
Enjoyable start to a new series! I really liked the cast of characters. Lyla is someone who I would continue to read about! The way the author wrote, kept you in the story. The big reveal at the end was probably my favorite part. I liked the taunting and then the pow. Good story! I hope there is more!
October 8, 2020
On Borrowed Crime by Kate Young is the first instalment in the " A Jane Doe Book Club Mystery" series. I really enjoyed this story it was a little more gritty than a normal cozy but I loved it! I plan on buying when it comes out in paperback.
I found myself engrossed in the story and wanting to read in one sitting. It was suspenseful, and had me on the edge of my seat. It was still a cozy but had elements of a thriller/suspense novel that you don’t normally find in cozies, but with that said it had just the right mixture of everything.
I totally loved the Jane Doe Book Club and I wish I could have a club like that here at home. I liked how Lyla and Mel had each other’s backs throughout the story.
The mystery of the cold cases “Jane Does” was interesting, well plotted, and full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises. I must admit I did suspect the killer mid way through but there were so many red herrings that it wasn’t glaringly obvious.
I am so looking forward to seeing more in this series as well as in Kate’s other series the “Marygene Brown Mysteries”
I highly recommend this series to all my mystery loving friends.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
I found myself engrossed in the story and wanting to read in one sitting. It was suspenseful, and had me on the edge of my seat. It was still a cozy but had elements of a thriller/suspense novel that you don’t normally find in cozies, but with that said it had just the right mixture of everything.
I totally loved the Jane Doe Book Club and I wish I could have a club like that here at home. I liked how Lyla and Mel had each other’s backs throughout the story.
The mystery of the cold cases “Jane Does” was interesting, well plotted, and full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises. I must admit I did suspect the killer mid way through but there were so many red herrings that it wasn’t glaringly obvious.
I am so looking forward to seeing more in this series as well as in Kate’s other series the “Marygene Brown Mysteries”
I highly recommend this series to all my mystery loving friends.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
May 14, 2022
This was a good first book in the series. Lyla Moody is part of a book club called the Jane Does. She is also a receptionist for her Uncle's PI business. Her mother hates Lyla's obsession with crime. All she wants is for Lyla to settle down and get married. Lyla arrives home after one of the Jane Doe meetings to find that her ex and cousin have moved in next door to her, making things extremely awkward. Later the same evening a suitcase is dropped off. Initially Layla thinks it is her friend Melanie's as she just returned from vacation and the airport had lost her luggage. What she doesn't expect is for one of her friends from the Jane Does to be dead inside the suitcase. Once the suitcase is discovered to be Melanie's the police zero in on her as a suspect. Lyla won't let her best friend get arrested.
I enjoyed this book. I liked Lyla and Melanie. Lyla's mother was overbearing and at times just plain annoying. Your daughter is happy with her job. Let her be happy. She does balance nicely with Lyla's father who is more laid back and accepting of what Lyla wants to do with her life.. Lyla's cousin was just horrible and vindictive. I figured out who the killer was pretty early on. It was pretty obvious if you were paying attention. There was a romance hinted towards the end but it wasn't really developed. Hopefully that will be fleshed out in the next book. There were also some typos in the books as this was an ARC. Hopefully that will be fixed before publication. All in all, I liked this enough to read the next book to see where some storylines go. I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book. I liked Lyla and Melanie. Lyla's mother was overbearing and at times just plain annoying. Your daughter is happy with her job. Let her be happy. She does balance nicely with Lyla's father who is more laid back and accepting of what Lyla wants to do with her life.. Lyla's cousin was just horrible and vindictive. I figured out who the killer was pretty early on. It was pretty obvious if you were paying attention. There was a romance hinted towards the end but it wasn't really developed. Hopefully that will be fleshed out in the next book. There were also some typos in the books as this was an ARC. Hopefully that will be fixed before publication. All in all, I liked this enough to read the next book to see where some storylines go. I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2020
Maybe I read a different book than orther reviewers, but I was not impressed with this new cozy... coming from someone who desperately wanted to like this since it is a cozy premised around a book club. Besides the fact that the formatting was unforgivably hard to read and riddled with errors (I get it, it is an ARC, but still...) this was way too dramatic and overdone for me, and jeez the southerness of it all was overbearing. An in depth and full review to come when I can be more even handed with it.
Update: Reviewed at Sam's Beach Reads.
What I Enjoyed:
I am prefacing this by saying, not much about this book delighted me. There were some redeeming elements that I will discuss below, but they all have caveats.
The Premise. Honestly, the premise is what drew me in and kept me reading until the end. A group of six or so women who are all interested in reading murder mystery novels and delve into unsolved real life murder mysteries. They are sort of considered outcasts in their community (the US south sounds like a miserable place to live, to be honest), but these women have forged a strong bond amongst themselves. Lyla is the de facto leader, since she is a career PI. On its face, and even at some moments in the text, this is a great premise. The Jane Does seem like a great group of women you would want to be a part of.
Lyla’s budding feminism. Lyla is not generally a likeable character in my opinion – she is “fake tough” in that she acts independent and of her age, but at the first sign of struggle she runs to her parents, her uncle, or her ex. However, she shows the most promise when she is “raging against the machine”; that is, the southern obsession with women making babies and staying at home, just as Lyla’s mother would like for Lyla to be. Throughout On Borrowed Crime, Lyla makes a point of explaining why her career choice is valid and does not make her less of a woman, but also explains that stay at home motherhood is an equally valid option for other women. She nicely balances wearing makeup and nice clothes with maintaining her professionalism and strong persona. I think this balance would appeal to a lot of readers, particularly women that read a lot of cozies.
What I Disliked:
The Mystery. I know, this is shocking. It sounds so intriguing – Lyla’s friend Carol goes missing, and Lyla finds her dead in a suitcase in her living room. The police are not investigating vigorously as a murder, and the Jane Does end up looking into the case. Sounds great – except that I solved it. When I tell you I never ever solve these, I am not being modest. Part of why I love mysteries is because I am always surprised. And yet, here Kate Young is throwing in a million red herrings, with everyone crooked as all hell and more than one person desiring her dead, and yet the actual killer was staring at you like a sore thumb. I was not impressed to figure out the murderer within a few chapters, and the big reveal felt weak.
The Soap-Operaesque Southerness. There is a mouthful. Every single character in On Borrowed Crime was ridiculously over the top and southern. Lyla’s parents think her obsession with crime so abnormal and repulsive they sent her to a shrink because “what would the neighbors think”; one of the Jane Does quit citing how it looks bad to be into crime and started vicious rumors about the gang; everyone is obsessed with putting on their makeup and clutching literal and metaphorical pearls (the mother actually clutches her pearls on multiple occasions) at the slightest form of scandal. Even Lyla, the feminist of the town, judged women based on how well their makeup matched their skin tone. Men are only gentlemen if they act like the women are fragile flowers, everyone is yelled at for cursing, and people gossip at funerals. Also, the accents are palpable through the page (Excessive use of ‘My Stars!’ stands out). Everyone also has some tragic backstory that are treated like skeletons in the closet (or bodies in the suitcase I suppose). Maybe this is because I am a “Yank,” but I found the whole thing overdone, obnoxious, and distracting from the mystery.
General language issues. I am not spending much time on this, because again, this is an ARC and these things can be edited. However, there were enough uncomfortable turns of phrase that seemed intentional to bring up. It is like Lyla’s first person POV is a semi-stream of consciousness, and the prose portions are as colloquial as the speech patterns. This may appeal to some readers, and probably especially cozy readers, but I found it pretty hard to get through and it created awkward pacing.
Update: Reviewed at Sam's Beach Reads.
What I Enjoyed:
I am prefacing this by saying, not much about this book delighted me. There were some redeeming elements that I will discuss below, but they all have caveats.
The Premise. Honestly, the premise is what drew me in and kept me reading until the end. A group of six or so women who are all interested in reading murder mystery novels and delve into unsolved real life murder mysteries. They are sort of considered outcasts in their community (the US south sounds like a miserable place to live, to be honest), but these women have forged a strong bond amongst themselves. Lyla is the de facto leader, since she is a career PI. On its face, and even at some moments in the text, this is a great premise. The Jane Does seem like a great group of women you would want to be a part of.
Lyla’s budding feminism. Lyla is not generally a likeable character in my opinion – she is “fake tough” in that she acts independent and of her age, but at the first sign of struggle she runs to her parents, her uncle, or her ex. However, she shows the most promise when she is “raging against the machine”; that is, the southern obsession with women making babies and staying at home, just as Lyla’s mother would like for Lyla to be. Throughout On Borrowed Crime, Lyla makes a point of explaining why her career choice is valid and does not make her less of a woman, but also explains that stay at home motherhood is an equally valid option for other women. She nicely balances wearing makeup and nice clothes with maintaining her professionalism and strong persona. I think this balance would appeal to a lot of readers, particularly women that read a lot of cozies.
What I Disliked:
The Mystery. I know, this is shocking. It sounds so intriguing – Lyla’s friend Carol goes missing, and Lyla finds her dead in a suitcase in her living room. The police are not investigating vigorously as a murder, and the Jane Does end up looking into the case. Sounds great – except that I solved it. When I tell you I never ever solve these, I am not being modest. Part of why I love mysteries is because I am always surprised. And yet, here Kate Young is throwing in a million red herrings, with everyone crooked as all hell and more than one person desiring her dead, and yet the actual killer was staring at you like a sore thumb. I was not impressed to figure out the murderer within a few chapters, and the big reveal felt weak.
The Soap-Operaesque Southerness. There is a mouthful. Every single character in On Borrowed Crime was ridiculously over the top and southern. Lyla’s parents think her obsession with crime so abnormal and repulsive they sent her to a shrink because “what would the neighbors think”; one of the Jane Does quit citing how it looks bad to be into crime and started vicious rumors about the gang; everyone is obsessed with putting on their makeup and clutching literal and metaphorical pearls (the mother actually clutches her pearls on multiple occasions) at the slightest form of scandal. Even Lyla, the feminist of the town, judged women based on how well their makeup matched their skin tone. Men are only gentlemen if they act like the women are fragile flowers, everyone is yelled at for cursing, and people gossip at funerals. Also, the accents are palpable through the page (Excessive use of ‘My Stars!’ stands out). Everyone also has some tragic backstory that are treated like skeletons in the closet (or bodies in the suitcase I suppose). Maybe this is because I am a “Yank,” but I found the whole thing overdone, obnoxious, and distracting from the mystery.
General language issues. I am not spending much time on this, because again, this is an ARC and these things can be edited. However, there were enough uncomfortable turns of phrase that seemed intentional to bring up. It is like Lyla’s first person POV is a semi-stream of consciousness, and the prose portions are as colloquial as the speech patterns. This may appeal to some readers, and probably especially cozy readers, but I found it pretty hard to get through and it created awkward pacing.
October 8, 2020
Lyla is a new hire at her uncle’s PI agency. She’s single, lives in a condo in a small town in Georgia, and is a member of the Jane Does Book Club. When one of the members of the club is found dead, Lyla becomes involved in solving the murder.
I wanted to like this book; however, something was awkward in the writing. The mystery itself is good with a surprise ending. I hope the second in the series reads more smoothly.
I wanted to like this book; however, something was awkward in the writing. The mystery itself is good with a surprise ending. I hope the second in the series reads more smoothly.
October 19, 2020
Lyla is a good 'ol southern gal living in Sweet Mountain, GA, a small town as only the south can do. With its laid back lifestyle and good people you've known all your life, it should be idyllic. For Lyla, a receptionist in her uncle's private investigation office, solving mysteries runs in her blood. Together with a circle of like minded friends organized into a true crime book club, Lyla enjoys the crime investigating life. But when one of the club members turns up dead in a suitcase delivered to Lyla's front door, crime investigating turns serious - and deadly. Unable to set aside the danger, Lyla puts her skills to the test to track down a killer in her home town.
A first book in a new series always calls to me. What is this new world? Can I settle right in? Will these characters become friends? A first book in a new series is always an open invitation I can never pass up, and this book opened the door to a place I'd love to spend more time in. The characters were equally as charming, I loved Lyla's granny (would love to see her more as Lyla's partner in crime...well, crime fighting) and I'm looking forward to seeing where Lyla goes from here.
As for the plot, it was packed with intrigue and tension, from the discovery of Carol's body to the threats and red herring to the thrilling ending, it made for a can't-put-it-down roller coaster ride. I admit, this was one of those books where I would decide on the likely culprit but the red herrings always pulled me off the scent. I love books that do that!
Overall, an excellent introduction to the folks in Sweet Mountain, GA and I'm looking forward to reading more!
A first book in a new series always calls to me. What is this new world? Can I settle right in? Will these characters become friends? A first book in a new series is always an open invitation I can never pass up, and this book opened the door to a place I'd love to spend more time in. The characters were equally as charming, I loved Lyla's granny (would love to see her more as Lyla's partner in crime...well, crime fighting) and I'm looking forward to seeing where Lyla goes from here.
As for the plot, it was packed with intrigue and tension, from the discovery of Carol's body to the threats and red herring to the thrilling ending, it made for a can't-put-it-down roller coaster ride. I admit, this was one of those books where I would decide on the likely culprit but the red herrings always pulled me off the scent. I love books that do that!
Overall, an excellent introduction to the folks in Sweet Mountain, GA and I'm looking forward to reading more!
July 26, 2020
This is the first in a new series and Kate Young does an excellent job of it because it doesn't feel like book one. There is no big info dump and I didn't feel like I had to wait forever as I got introduced to everyone before the murder. The character are well-rounded and relatable; their lives aren't perfect.
This mystery is a little harder core than many cozies. Some of the descriptions are graphic. Also, there is a bit more use of forensic techniques, particularly computer tracking, than is usual in cozies. Layla's job in a detective agency--grant you, only as a receptionist but there is some lee way there--working for the dead woman's husband gives her legitimate access to some of the police data that wouldn't normally be given out to a civilian (yeah for a realistic reason for a layperson being given information that they normally have no rights to!).
A solid mystery that is well plotted and red herrings that could lead the reader very far astray from the real culprit. I'll definitely read more of this series.
I received a copy of this from netgalley and the publishers in exchange for a fair review.
This mystery is a little harder core than many cozies. Some of the descriptions are graphic. Also, there is a bit more use of forensic techniques, particularly computer tracking, than is usual in cozies. Layla's job in a detective agency--grant you, only as a receptionist but there is some lee way there--working for the dead woman's husband gives her legitimate access to some of the police data that wouldn't normally be given out to a civilian (yeah for a realistic reason for a layperson being given information that they normally have no rights to!).
A solid mystery that is well plotted and red herrings that could lead the reader very far astray from the real culprit. I'll definitely read more of this series.
I received a copy of this from netgalley and the publishers in exchange for a fair review.
July 6, 2020
I received this title as a free ebook from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
This is the first in a new series, A Jane Doe Book Club Mystery. In this we have the protagonist, Lyla Moody, who is an aspiring PI. She currently works for her Uncle’s PI agency as a receptionist, much to the dismay of her very proper mother. In her free time, she belongs to a true crime and mystery book club that calls itself, the Jane Doe Book Club. Now one of the Jane Doe’s has turned up dead and Lyla finds herself embroiled in a true crime and sets out to investigate.
I really enjoyed reading this first in this new series. Lyla is a great character and there are hints that her life has not been smooth sailing but she has shown grit and determination. The story was well plotted and the cold case connection gives the book a very up to date vibe. I would definitely read another in this series.
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This is the first in a new series, A Jane Doe Book Club Mystery. In this we have the protagonist, Lyla Moody, who is an aspiring PI. She currently works for her Uncle’s PI agency as a receptionist, much to the dismay of her very proper mother. In her free time, she belongs to a true crime and mystery book club that calls itself, the Jane Doe Book Club. Now one of the Jane Doe’s has turned up dead and Lyla finds herself embroiled in a true crime and sets out to investigate.
I really enjoyed reading this first in this new series. Lyla is a great character and there are hints that her life has not been smooth sailing but she has shown grit and determination. The story was well plotted and the cold case connection gives the book a very up to date vibe. I would definitely read another in this series.
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July 14, 2020
Lyla Moody is a receptionist at her Uncle's private investigation firm and hopes one day to be a P.I. herself. Until that day, she is a member of the Jane Doe Book Club, where members try to solve murder mysteries before the end of the book the club is reading. When a club member is brutally murdered, Lyla uses all her skills to find the murderer before they kill another club member!
I thought this was an excellent premise for a cozy mystery. I enjoyed the personalities of the members and "meeting" Lyla's southern family. There were times I was a bit confused about Lyla's mother's past but that may be clarified in the next book. There were "red herrings" that kept the reader guessing and involved in the mystery.
I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I thought this was an excellent premise for a cozy mystery. I enjoyed the personalities of the members and "meeting" Lyla's southern family. There were times I was a bit confused about Lyla's mother's past but that may be clarified in the next book. There were "red herrings" that kept the reader guessing and involved in the mystery.
I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
October 8, 2021
The cozy mystery is a continually evolving genre, but in author Kate Young's series debut, she proves exactly why that's so important. It seems lately whenever I'm writing about cozies, I'm always talking about the idea of "freshness"—and really, what I mean is whether a book feels like every other one on the shelf ... not that there's anything wrong with that. However, when an author offers up something different—fresh—I find myself sitting up a little straighter. Paying a little more attention. Falling in love with the genre all over again.
With On Borrowed Crime, it all comes down to the crime itself. Lyla Moody, much like many other cozy heroines, finds herself stalled. Getting by in her little town in Georgia, she's had her ups and downs, but lately things are starting to grind. Her ex moves in next door. Her mother has all sorts of opinions on what a proper lady should be doing, and it certainly doesn't involve working for her uncle's private investigator business, nor running a true crime book club. And then she finds a body ... on her doorstep.
And it explodes off the page with as much grace as a car crash. It's so morbid and practically vulgar and it totally works. It's impossible not to care about the victim and it ups the stakes, putting even more pressure on Lyla and her cadre of crime-obsessed pals to solve the mystery.
From there, things settle into more familiar territory. Lyla wanders through her investigation, her knowledge of cases guiding her questioning. It feels as though Young really considered the trauma of such a discovery and tapped into Lyla's need for answers.
That doesn't mean she skimped on fun. Rather, because she hammers home the strong, serious moments, the beats of levity come shining through. An encouraging and spunky grandmother, Lyla's quirks, complicated love—Young knows exactly how to both layer and lighten the mood.
As a new take on the genre, On Borrowed Crime works on every level.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Also reviewed at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
With On Borrowed Crime, it all comes down to the crime itself. Lyla Moody, much like many other cozy heroines, finds herself stalled. Getting by in her little town in Georgia, she's had her ups and downs, but lately things are starting to grind. Her ex moves in next door. Her mother has all sorts of opinions on what a proper lady should be doing, and it certainly doesn't involve working for her uncle's private investigator business, nor running a true crime book club. And then she finds a body ... on her doorstep.
And it explodes off the page with as much grace as a car crash. It's so morbid and practically vulgar and it totally works. It's impossible not to care about the victim and it ups the stakes, putting even more pressure on Lyla and her cadre of crime-obsessed pals to solve the mystery.
From there, things settle into more familiar territory. Lyla wanders through her investigation, her knowledge of cases guiding her questioning. It feels as though Young really considered the trauma of such a discovery and tapped into Lyla's need for answers.
That doesn't mean she skimped on fun. Rather, because she hammers home the strong, serious moments, the beats of levity come shining through. An encouraging and spunky grandmother, Lyla's quirks, complicated love—Young knows exactly how to both layer and lighten the mood.
As a new take on the genre, On Borrowed Crime works on every level.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Also reviewed at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
October 4, 2020
On Borrowed Crime by Kate Young takes us to Sweet Mountain, Georgia where Lyla Moody works as a receptionist for her private investigator uncle. Lyla has always been fascinated with mysteries and true crime. She belongs to the Jane Doe Book Club that reads mystery novels and analyzes cold cases. Lyla’s life gets turned upside down when a suitcase is left outside her door. When she opens it the next morning with her best friend, Melanie. The duo are shocked when they find the body of fellow book club member and friend, Carol Timms. Melanie becomes the prime suspect much to Lyla’s dismay. Lyla sets out to prove her friend did not commit the crime which catches the attention of the killer. Lyla’s first real case may be her last. On Borrowed Crime is the debut of A Jane Doe Book Club Mystery series. Lyla Moody lives in a small Southern town in Georgia. Her father is a respected psychiatrist, her mother is a true Southern lady, and her grandmother encourages Lyla in her fascination with crime. I just loved Gran. She is a spunky woman with a sense of humor. Lyla works as a receptionist for her PI uncle with the hopes of becoming a partner in the practice one day. When a member of her book club is murdered and left on her doorstep, Lyla gets her chance to work a real case. The police focus their investigation on Lyla’s best friend, Melanie. Lyla must work quickly to get justice for her deceased friend and make sure her bestie does not end up in jail. There are a variety of suspects in this whodunit. There is even a link to a cold case that is intriguing. There are good clues that helped me identify the guilty party. I liked seeing Lyla investigating plus there is action and danger. There is repetition of details (size of parents’ house and her mother’s dislike of Lyla’s interest in crime for example) that needed to be eliminated along with the foul language. I was not a fan of Lyla’s meanspirited cousin, Ellen. She seemed cliché along with Lyla’s ex-beau being the local police chief. I am hoping that the main characters will get further development in future installments. They need more fleshing out. Those readers who are fans of Kate Young’s A Marygene Brown Mystery series will enjoy A Jane Doe Book Club Mystery series as well. On Borrowed Crime is a humorous Southern cozy mystery with rampant rumors, nosy neighbors, a generous Gran, curious clues, a murdered mate, and a frightened friend.
April 11, 2022
Outstanding first book in a new cozy mystery series! A strong and intelligent female living in the south where women are still expected to be good little ladies who get married and make babies, Lyla is pushing boundaries by working in her uncle's private detective business and putting her psychology degree to work unraveling mysteries. Unfortunately a mystery has popped up right on her very own front door when she discovers a friend's body on her porch and she jumps into solving the crime with her mystery book club friends. I absolutely love that the characters are intelligent, capable women who don't demure to the constraints the surrounding characters place on them. The story was woven well so that you had multiple suspects to select from and begin to feel as if you can't trust anyone whether they are supposed to be good guys or not. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
October 10, 2020
On Borrowed Crime is the 1st in the Jane Doe Book Club Mystery series by Kate Young and it was quite an enjoyable read. Lyla works as a receptionist for her uncle's private investigative firm, runs the Jane Doe Book Club and has a strange obsession with murder mysteries. Lyla soon discovers that working for a PI will have its uses when a member of her book club turns up on her doorstep dead and stuffed in a suitcfase! I mean - what the heck! Imagine discovering that on your doorstep. But when the suitcase turns out to belong to Lyla's best friend she puts her sleuthing skills to the test to prove her friends innocence and find the real culprit.
Set in Georgia I got a real feel of this Southern state, I loved the characters and all the twists and turns that had me guessing right up to the end! I thought I had it figured out but then I would be thrown off into an other direction, this was a great first book in what I think will be a great little southern series.
4 stars
Set in Georgia I got a real feel of this Southern state, I loved the characters and all the twists and turns that had me guessing right up to the end! I thought I had it figured out but then I would be thrown off into an other direction, this was a great first book in what I think will be a great little southern series.
4 stars
October 4, 2020
What a great start to a new series! I loved the small town vibes of this book and can’t wait to read the next book.
Lyla and her friends in Sweet Mountain, Georgia’s Jane Doe Book Club are rocked when one of their own is murdered. Did she get to close to a serial killer who’s murders remain unsolved or was she the victim of someone close her? Join the ladies as they try to solve the murder of their friend.
With endearing characters and a setting that will entrance you, Kate Young has created another world of wonderful cozy characters you will love to read about. I highly recommend this to all the cozy mystery lovers out there!
Lyla and her friends in Sweet Mountain, Georgia’s Jane Doe Book Club are rocked when one of their own is murdered. Did she get to close to a serial killer who’s murders remain unsolved or was she the victim of someone close her? Join the ladies as they try to solve the murder of their friend.
With endearing characters and a setting that will entrance you, Kate Young has created another world of wonderful cozy characters you will love to read about. I highly recommend this to all the cozy mystery lovers out there!
September 10, 2020
4.5 stars
This is the first book in the A Jane Doe Book Club mystery series by Kate Young.
Boy, this gal sure gets no respect in this book. Her mother is all about her own selfish need too look good and her father is a therapist who pays very little attention to his daughter’s needs. I got the whole dysfunctional vibe before the book even started.
Lyla is coming back from a trip with her boss, her uncle. They work in a PI type business. She is more of a receptionist than anything but most of the people all over storyland think she is the PI of the firm even though that is her uncle’s job. In her free time she is part of a book club where they rotate between popular new mystery books and some mystery classics. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is of particular importance in this story. It is their current book pick as well as the murders way to send his victims warnings through sing-song messages.
I thought this was a well crafted mystery that succeeded on so many levels. I loved the character of Lyla and even her weird parents. But the best part of this was how all the different levels of the story worked together. The character base was excellent, the mystery spot on and the villain hard to figure out. I guess in the end I should have seen it coming considering all the clues offered but I was more focused on how it was effecting Lyla and her life. I would waffle between the though of “he dun it!” and “no, it was this other person” from moment to moment.
I am definitely looking forward to seeing more in this series. I did enjoy another work by this author called Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse. That also was a great read.
If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is the first book in the A Jane Doe Book Club mystery series by Kate Young.
Boy, this gal sure gets no respect in this book. Her mother is all about her own selfish need too look good and her father is a therapist who pays very little attention to his daughter’s needs. I got the whole dysfunctional vibe before the book even started.
Lyla is coming back from a trip with her boss, her uncle. They work in a PI type business. She is more of a receptionist than anything but most of the people all over storyland think she is the PI of the firm even though that is her uncle’s job. In her free time she is part of a book club where they rotate between popular new mystery books and some mystery classics. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is of particular importance in this story. It is their current book pick as well as the murders way to send his victims warnings through sing-song messages.
I thought this was a well crafted mystery that succeeded on so many levels. I loved the character of Lyla and even her weird parents. But the best part of this was how all the different levels of the story worked together. The character base was excellent, the mystery spot on and the villain hard to figure out. I guess in the end I should have seen it coming considering all the clues offered but I was more focused on how it was effecting Lyla and her life. I would waffle between the though of “he dun it!” and “no, it was this other person” from moment to moment.
I am definitely looking forward to seeing more in this series. I did enjoy another work by this author called Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse. That also was a great read.
If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
March 2, 2023
Oh my goodness this book was such a delight to read! I was kept guessing until the end and I loved the protagonist and her gumption. I know a lot of cozy female protagonists have a lot of gumption but this one was fearless and feisty and I appreciated her aggressive nature in her sleuthing and her no buts about it attitude in doing so.
Lyla Moody has an obsession with true crime and mysteries. She is a member of the Jane Does, a mystery book club that shares her fascination with crimes and whodunits. Unfortunately, true crime hits home as one of their members is murdered. As the story unravels in exciting twists and turns we learn there is something extremely sinister afoot in the sleepy town of Sweet Mountain, GA.
I loved, loved, loved this book. I was both disappointed to see there were no more and delighted at the possibilities that this might become a series. Oh I so hope it does. I would even be willing to pay hardcover prices for it.
I will say given this was an ARC sometimes it was a little hard to read because I did not receive the book in it's edited glory so sometimes it was difficult to tell which character was speaking. However, it certainly did not detract from my enjoyment of the story.
I will caution fellow cozy readers- this one is a little dark and there is some profanity throughout, which does not bother me. However, what seems to be the hallmark of the cozy genre is limited violence, no sex and no swearing. I think the addition of some well needed four letter exclamations add to the story when appropriate.
Oh please give us more of these! My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader's copy. My opinions are my own.
Lyla Moody has an obsession with true crime and mysteries. She is a member of the Jane Does, a mystery book club that shares her fascination with crimes and whodunits. Unfortunately, true crime hits home as one of their members is murdered. As the story unravels in exciting twists and turns we learn there is something extremely sinister afoot in the sleepy town of Sweet Mountain, GA.
I loved, loved, loved this book. I was both disappointed to see there were no more and delighted at the possibilities that this might become a series. Oh I so hope it does. I would even be willing to pay hardcover prices for it.
I will say given this was an ARC sometimes it was a little hard to read because I did not receive the book in it's edited glory so sometimes it was difficult to tell which character was speaking. However, it certainly did not detract from my enjoyment of the story.
I will caution fellow cozy readers- this one is a little dark and there is some profanity throughout, which does not bother me. However, what seems to be the hallmark of the cozy genre is limited violence, no sex and no swearing. I think the addition of some well needed four letter exclamations add to the story when appropriate.
Oh please give us more of these! My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader's copy. My opinions are my own.
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