Talk about going in blind. 😅
This turned out to be book three in a trilogy (Mystere Parish: Family Inheritance)—which I did not realize when I downloaded it from NetGalley. After checking the listing again, I discovered not only is it part of a trilogy, but it’s also a spinoff of an entirely separate trilogy. So yes… I was missing a lot of background going in.
While I believe the intent was for this book to stand on its own, in practice it really doesn’t. To fully appreciate the characters and story, the previous books should absolutely be read first. Adding to my confusion, this is also a republished work—which taught me a valuable lesson: always skim the full book description before diving in. Lesson learned. 🙃
All that being said… I actually enjoyed this more than I expected.
By the end, the story took on a very cozy mystery vibe, even though it isn’t marketed that way. Think comforting small-town energy mixed with a solid mystery/thriller backbone. If you enjoy a touch of coziness but still want real suspense, this might be right up your alley.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Carly Robins, who did a great job��especially with pacing. Her narration had a natural, conversational flow. As usual, I eventually sped it up, and oddly enough, that may have enhanced the cozy feel I was getting from her voice. Not a complaint, just an observation!
Overall, this is a solid mystery—but do yourself a favor and read the series in order first. If the other books (or all five, counting the original trilogy) are anything like this one, they’ll be fast, engaging, and well worth the time.
Bottom line: confusing entry point, enjoyable story, and definitely a series best experienced from the beginning.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary ALC from The Hive Influencer Program via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.