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Callie Cassidy Mysteries #1

Suitable for Framing

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Now that prize-winning photojournalist Callie Cassidy has returned to the mountainside village of her youth, she believes she’s put crime scenes and corpses in her rear view mirror. So why does she end up—once again—focusing her lens on murder?

Callie Cassidy is no stranger to dead bodies. Two decades as a photojournalist on a big-city newspaper landed her face to face with so many of them that her colleagues dubbed her Queen of the Dead. Now, Callie believes her days of hanging out with cadavers are behind her. With her lovable golden retriever Woody in tow, she has returned in disgrace to Rock Creek Village, Colorado, where she licks her wounds in a cabin on her parents’ Rocky Mountain ski resort property. But when her mother persuades her to abandon her fetal position beneath the quilts and take a photography gig at the Snowflake Swirl winter ball, Callie’s foray back into the real world lands her smack in the middle of town drama.

Before the first partygoer arrives, Callie stumbles across a deadly scene. A former classmate, one of the “mean girls” from high school, lies lifeless on her office floor. Another woman from Callie’s past crouches above the body, holding a bloody letter opener. The conclusion is obvious—at least to rookie detective Raul Sanchez. But Callie believes there’s more to the picture. With the help of an adopted stray cat named Carl, whose investigative skills may rival her own, Callie sets out to find the real murderer. Because unless she, her pets, and a quirky group of villagers can solve the mystery, Callie’s photos won’t be the only thing being framed.

293 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 7, 2021

574 people are currently reading
757 people want to read

About the author

Lori Roberts Herbst

9 books100 followers
Silver Falchion and CIBA Murder & Mayhem award-winning author Lori Roberts Herbst writes the Callie Cassidy Mystery series. A former journalism teacher and counselor, Lori serves as Board Secretary for Sisters in Crime. She is a member of the SinC Colorado chapter, the SinC North Dallas chapter, and the Guppy chapter, where she moderates the Cozy Gup group. Lori spent most of her life in Dallas, TX, and now lives in Colorado Springs. Subscribe to her newsletter at www.lorirobertsherbst.com and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and BookBub.

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561 (65%)
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228 (26%)
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55 (6%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
Profile Image for Liz Boeger.
7 reviews
January 10, 2021
Suitable for Framing, by Lori Roberts Herbst is a well-crafted cozy that steps a tad out of the lines from the classic cozy formula - in a good way. The main character in this mystery is not your typical down in love cozy protagonist who runs home to open a bakery. Callie Cassidy is an accomplished photo-journalist facing a professional crisis. She returns home to Colorado, develops self-destructive coping mechanisms, and finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. The author treats the reader to a picturesque setting with an inviting small town feel. Callie's family, best friend, pets, love-interest, and the victim and accused are all cozy-style cast members that bring snappy banter and a nice layer of depth. The mystery itself is satisfying, but what this reader enjoyed the most was Callie's narration and internal dialogue. She struggles to face her own demons as she hunts for clues to solve the murder. I look forward to the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Shawna Shaheen.
332 reviews24 followers
September 30, 2021
Book 1. This is a newer book. Callie went back to Rock Creek Village Coloroda after 25 years that her mom wanted her to photograph for Snowflake Swirl Winter Ball event. Callie used to be a journalist and photography. She helped her dad ( a retired police cheif) with his investigation sometimes in pasts taking photographs and journalism. When she got to Ball she saw her boyfriend Sam from along time ago as a caterer. He had a daughter Elyse that Callie was surprised that her best friend Tanya and her mom did not mention this. Her high school nemesis Victoria and Kimberly were there and Sam said that Victoria was going to be her boss. Callie did not like that. So when she went in a office to find Victoria she was dead and Kimberly was standing over her. And a new detective Sanchez was investigating the scene. Callie thought he was smarmy. There was all kinds of suspects they had. Victoria husband, her 2 teenager boys ,Kimberly , or her husband that Victoria was having a affair with her. There is a mysterious older lady Mrs. Finney that is renting Callie mom and dad place. They are cool characters in this series. Callie is a no stone turned kind of women love her sass. Callie mom Maggie is into yoga and meditation and exercise. Callow surprises herself and goes with her mom and enjoys it. This is a serious issue about bullying in this book. A Must Read
6,213 reviews81 followers
October 26, 2021
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

A disgraced former reporter returns to her Rocky Mountain home. Drafted into being the official photographer for an event, she finds a dead body. Guilted into investigation she starts asking questions and finds herself in danger. Luckily, she has a fairly large support group.
Profile Image for Nancy Sullivan.
Author 8 books58 followers
October 24, 2021
When Callie Cassidy returns home to the Colorado mountains, she catches more with her camera than photos. She's there to do a favor for Mom but instead stumbles upon the murder scene of a high school nemesis. The plot thickens when Callie finds connections to her high school sweetheart, Sam Petrie. Author Lori Roberts Herbst has turned out an engrossing mystery with likeable characters--and the requisite unlikeables. The book is well-written, the hints at who-dunnit are sprinkled nicely--even Sam, the high school sweetheart, makes the list. Readers will want to tune into the next installment of the Callahan Cassidy series to see what this intrepid photojournalist comes up with next.
1,405 reviews16 followers
March 25, 2022
callie is back home because she got it wrong and an man is in jail but about to get out and she does not like getting it wrong, she takes good photes and is doing that when she find a body and someone standing over it, now someone is after her . this is a good story and the dog and cat are the best
Profile Image for Brenda.
1,299 reviews6 followers
September 6, 2021
I won this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway.

This was a good mystery that kept me reading. I had a couple of minor issues with the story.

The cover shows a golden retriever but it wasn't until page 133 that it was confirmed that Woody was a golden retriever. The picture on the cover showed a retriever but covers aren't always accurate. I had been trying to figure out his breed since the beginning.

I was a little bothered by the author's characterization of the school librarian. She said her hair was streaked with gray. This made her seem a lot older than she was; as close as I can figure the librarian would have been in her late-40s or early-50s.

These issues didn't reduce my enjoyment of the mystery. I would be interested in reading more in the series and more by the author.
Profile Image for Tari.
3,642 reviews103 followers
April 7, 2021
This was one book that was very hard to put down! It was compelling as some suspense books but with all the great elements of a cozy. I enjoyed the key characters a lot, and I liked Callie for being strong and able to take care of herself--although her ex-police chief dad will always fondly think of her as his little kid. But at least she didn't come off as being overly strong or obnoxious about it. Her mom and a mysterious guest named Mrs. Finney cracked me up sometimes especially when they wanted Callie to go to yoga or meditation with them.

I didn't have this killer on my radar at all! The showdown was great, and there was a really cool twist involved as well. I'm definitely interested in reading more in the series and will be borrowing the next book on Kindle Unlimited too!
46 reviews
March 26, 2022
Great New Series

I’m so glad that this book is the beginning of a series. Can’t wait to find out what happens next! Thankful for the lack of explicit language, sex, and violence!!
43 reviews
April 26, 2022
Better written than first book, good characters, looking forward to reading more in this series.
Profile Image for Vicki Malle.
5 reviews
February 20, 2022
So many twists and turns. Didn’t have any idea who “did it” till the end. Very clever. Great characters and a dog and cat !!!!
Profile Image for Stephanie Tadlock.
134 reviews7 followers
April 25, 2022
High School Drama

What I like about this book was the plot. The high school years, sometime provide drama that may lead into the future.
83 reviews
March 28, 2021
I enjoyed the novel from start to finish. Before even opening the book or beginning the story, I was hooked. The clever title teases the reader with a play on words and the warmth projected by the scene pictured on the cover thrusts the reader into the setting. Lori Herbst continues reeling in the reader with her well-crafted and interesting main character, Callie, and the likable cast of characters she has woven into the plot. Throughout the story Ms. Herbst juxtaposes cozy, inviting settings with the cold, snowy, crisp outdoors. You can almost hear the snow crunching. She keeps you guessing throughout as to who the culprit is. I can’t wait for Callie #2 to find out how the Callie-Sam romance is progressing. Great debut novel!
Profile Image for Mary Elizabeth .
98 reviews3 followers
October 6, 2022
Great start to a new series

First book I have read by this author but it will not be my last. Really enjoyed Callahan and her co-horts. Most of the main characters were likeable and I enjoyed the mystery. Looking forward to reading book 2
Profile Image for Mary Brown.
1,298 reviews74 followers
July 14, 2021
Suitable For Framing
Callie Cassidy Mystery, Book 1
Lori Roberts Herbst
5+Stars

Synopsis:

Now that prize-winning photojournalist Callie Cassidy has returned to the mountainside village of her youth, she believes she’s put crime scenes and corpses in her rear view mirror. So why does she end up—once again—focusing her lens on murder?
Callie Cassidy is no stranger to dead bodies. Two decades as a photojournalist on a big-city newspaper landed her face to face with so many of them that her colleagues dubbed her Queen of the Dead. Now, Callie believes her days of hanging out with cadavers are behind her. With her lovable golden retriever Woody in tow, she has returned in disgrace to Rock Creek Village, Colorado, where she licks her wounds in a cabin on her parents’ Rocky Mountain ski resort property. But when her mother persuades her to abandon her fetal position beneath the quilts and take a photography gig at the Snowflake Swirl winter ball, Callie’s foray back into the real world lands her smack in the middle of town drama.
Before the first partygoer arrives, Callie stumbles across a deadly scene. A former classmate, one of the “mean girls” from high school, lies lifeless on her office floor. Another woman from Callie’s past crouches above the body, holding a bloody letter opener. The conclusion is obvious—at least to rookie detective Raul Sanchez. But Callie believes there’s more to the picture. With the help of an adopted stray cat named Carl, whose investigative skills may rival her own, Callie sets out to find the real murderer. Because unless she, her pets, and a quirky group of villagers can solve the mystery, Callie’s photos won’t be the only thing being framed. (Amazon)

Review:


This is a new author for me and I thought the book was really great. Sometimes when you read a book something just clicks and that is what happened with this book. There are amazing characters, an inviting setting and a mystery that will surprise you.

The characters are well rounded and well developed. I really enjoyed meeting Callie and learning a little bit about her. I really liked the fact that she was a photographer and that she used to specialize in crime scenes. She was dubbed the Queen of the Dead. But she is now living back at home near her parents, but she is still involved with dead bodies. When an old schoolmate is murdered, another old schoolmate is accused of killing her. Neither classmate was very nice and were bullies, but she still did not deserve to die. Callie will have to try to figure out the culprit before an innocent person is put away for life.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. I could picture in my mind’s eye all the things that were happening. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.

The mystery was well plotted and well developed. There were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. I was very surprised at the actual killer, it was a great twist.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to read more books by this author and see what the next situation Callie finds herself in. Do yourself a favor and check this author out.


Profile Image for Eileen Patterson.
170 reviews22 followers
March 16, 2021
Hooked from the Start

This book sucked me in right from the beginning and kept me turning pages. I liked the main character, Callie. She's mopey and sorry for herself at first, but she gradually gets her act together, and I can understand how she felt terrible when her career collapsed the way it did. There's murder and mayhem and mystery in this book, plus a little romance, and a smart cat and loyal dog who definitely make this a fun read. I didn't guess who the killer was, either, which was fun. I like books that keep me guessing. I'm glad I read this book.
1,228 reviews11 followers
September 28, 2022
Callie Callaghan returns home to Rock Creek Village, Colorado with a prestigious Feldman photo journalism award, and some regrets about her last case. Her mother insists she fill in for the photographer who is a no-show for the Snowflake Swirl winter ball. Reluctantly she agrees, but before she can take the first photo she discovers Victoria, the mean girl from her high school days, dead! Another mean girl from her past is holding the weapon, but insists she arrived to find her dead, and pleads with Callie to figure out who the real murderer is! So starts the first book in this new series, and judging from book one, I am really looking forward to reading the next book! This story has some great characters, plenty of twists and people reluctant to tell the whole truth, along with a detective on his first murder case! Enjoy!
2 reviews
January 24, 2021
Perhaps the most pervasive appeal of cozy mysteries is, well, the 'cozy' part. They transport you to appealing, exotic, and sometimes dangerous places (much more easily than traveling there yourself) while you're all warm and safe at home on the couch wearing your bunny slippers and distractedly petting the spoiled household feline. Don't look for the perfect heroine in Callie Cassidy. She's flawed, snarky, and carries a lot of metaphorical baggage when she returns to her home town in the Colorado Rockies. Is it surprising that she ends up trying to solve the murder of a former high school bully? Not for Callie. Solving mysteries comes naturally. The freshman effort from Ms. Herbst is a gem. I can't wait to catch up with Callie on her next adventure!
Profile Image for Jane Meyers.
71 reviews2 followers
January 30, 2021
Callie arrives home in Rock Creek Village just in time to solve a murder

Solving a murder wasn’t in the plan when Callie Cassidy returns home to “hide out” after an embarrassing bump in her journalism career. Tumbling into the investigation of a high school classmate, Callie needs the help of friends, new and old, to figure out the puzzling situation. My favorite characters are enigmatic Mrs. Finney and Carl, the prescient cat. It’s winter in Colorado, so grab a warm beverage and watch the drama unfold. Enjoy!
Profile Image for Gayle Nastasi.
Author 6 books
September 27, 2022
A picturesque little murder

I've read a lot of murder mysteries since having been introduced to the macabre and malevolent in my preteen years. Suitable For Framing is as fun a story as I've read in a long time.

The author has a delightful talent for combining humor with skillfully placed clues, and tossing in a twist or three to keep the reader guessing.

Her characters are real and entertaining, her scenes well crafted, and she has set it all against the stunning backdrop of the Rockies.

What more could a fan of mayhem ask for?
Profile Image for Lisa Jones.
2 reviews1 follower
February 1, 2021
Great story

I ready a lot of cozy mysteries and this one kept me guessing. The characters were interesting and fun. Can't wait to read more! Congrats to Lori on a wonderful debut
Profile Image for C.J. Shane.
Author 23 books64 followers
August 5, 2021
Mystery lovers will be very well-satisfied with the intrigue, suspense, and charm of Lori Roberts Herbst’s first Callie Cassidy Mysteries cozy mystery series. Award-winning journalist and photographer Callie returns to the Colorado mountain home where she grew up only to hide out in a cabin at her parents’ resort. She’s depressed and has lost direction in her life because of a professional misjudgment she made, leading to the incarceration of a young man (later released). Almost immediately, she comes upon the bleeding body of a mean-girl nemesis from high school. . And another mean girl is standing over the body holding the murder weapon, yet insisting she’s not the murderer.

Strengths of this story fall into every category: There’s the plot which is convoluted enough to draw us in and keep us guessing without ever becoming confusing. And the characters! It’s a small town, and we meet a lot of residents, each of whom could be the real killer. Yet the author makes sure each is unique (very unique), and we never lose track of who each one is. The characters include the dog Woody (Woodward), and a quite clever cat named Carl (Bernstein). The setting is almost another character. Imagine the beautiful Colorado Rockies, the brisk mountain air, the smell of wood smoke, and snowflakes falling around you.

Best of all, Callie begins to find her way out of her mental morass: Art Saves Lives! And there’s the promise of a rekindled romance with an old flame. I’m very much looking forward to the next Callie adventure.
Profile Image for Lori.
132 reviews4 followers
October 2, 2021
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and was excited to read it. Lori Herbst's characters were engaging and fun. I really enjoyed getting to know them. Callie Cassidy is a photojournalist for a newspaper in which she took pictures of lots of dead bodies. She had a setback at work and went home to Colorado to regroup and figure out where she goes from here. While she is home, her mother convinces her to take pictures of the winter ball. She arrives during set up and finds a former classmate dead. Another former classmate is accused of the murder and asks for Cassidy's help to clear her name. Cassidy's high school sweetheart is also a suspect, but she doesn't want to believe he was involved. Are either one of them telling the truth? The new detective doesn't care that she has experience at crime scenes and helping police in the past. He is trying to establish himself in the department and just wants her to stay out of the way. Will the true killer be revealed without anyone else getting hurt? This book captured my attention from the start and was entertaining all the way through.
792 reviews11 followers
October 6, 2021
When Callie is fired from her job in New York as an investigative journalist, her only option is to go home to the small village where she grew up. When she walks into an office to see one of the "mean girls" from high school dead and another holding a bloody letter opener, her reporter instincts kick in. When the suspect convinces Callie she's innocent of the crime, Callie investigates and becomes a target for the killer. Callie knows there's something she's missing, some clue to the murderer's identity, that will stop someone else from becoming killer's next victim. I won this ebook in a Goodreads giveaway and enjoyed reading it.
68 reviews6 followers
December 2, 2021
Excellent book!

This novel is on another level from most I’ve read in the last several months. The characters and settings and situations feel real, and the main character is intriguing and self aware, definitely not the “oops somehow my nosiness has turned me into a sleuth!” one encounters so often. Excited to read the next.
4 reviews
March 17, 2022
Excellent First Book for Lori Herbst

If you like a cozy mystery with a great plot, likeable characters, and some intriguing twists and turns, this book is for you. I started reading it after my family went to bed and couldn't put it down until I finished it. I will definitely read book 2 in this series.
131 reviews
April 11, 2021
So many possibilities

Well written with a lot of possibilities presented throughout. Well developed and diverse characters. A murder mystery with a hint of possible romance. The first of a series. Not a cliffhanger.
Profile Image for Mary Lee.
Author 6 books18 followers
June 6, 2021
I loved Suitable for Framing. It has all the elements of a cozy mystery including a crazy cat a not-watch dog, small town charm, a murder and more. Outstanding characters, a strong MC, a hint of romance, all work together to create a perfect debut.
Profile Image for Alanna.
65 reviews
June 22, 2021
I don’t typically go for a “cozy mystery” but this one was very good and kept me guessing up until about 70% when I figured out who-done-it but not quite why. I literally read this in one day and downloaded the second one right away!
11 reviews
September 10, 2021
What's Not to Love!

A really well-written mystery with a well-developed story line. I loved the characters, the friendships, and a golden retriever was just icing on the cake. I really look forward to reading more from this author!
30 reviews
March 15, 2022
A mystery trip down memory lane

Really enjoyed Callie bejng a successful professional who makes a major bad decision and goes home to Mom and Dad. Her trip down memory lane to identify a killer is amazing and subtly aided by a retired agent. Who would have thought!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews

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