Sniffed Out

by Tina Swayzee McCright

In Book One of the Paparazzi Pooch Cozy Mysteries Series, Grace Blackwell is too kind-hearted to continue working with ruthless paparazzi in California. Soon, a lack of finances forces her to leave the state and move in with her eccentric mother, Roxie, in Glendale, Arizona. Before Grace can unpack, she’s told they must leave immediately. They are about to enjoy a free week in a luxurious Sedona resort where they will attend the wedding of Luke and Andi, a detective Roxie has helped several times in the past ─ if Grace photographs the wedding.

What could possibly go wrong?

For starters, Grace and Roxie stumble upon the dead body of Jocelyn Evans, a movie star who checked into the resort with her adorable puppy and a personal assistant she often mistreated. The assistant hires Roxie to prove her innocence after the movie star’s ex-husband arrives and accuses her of having a motive to murder her former boss. The owner of the detective agency will only allow Roxie to work the case if Grace promises to keep her out of trouble. No easy task.

They find it difficult to prove the assistant’s alibi, and the number of suspects increases by the hour. Grace would prefer the murderer turned out to be the ex-husband, his girlfriend with a questionable past, a casting agent who just happens to be in town, or the rich man who wants to take Misty; the movie star’s puppy that Grace has grown fond of and would protect with her life.

Another Hollywood insider is killed, and now danger creeps their way. Grace realizes working with Roxie and her crazy friends may not be a picture-perfect way to investigate, but it is effective. They are zooming in on the identity of the killer.
Can you solve the mystery before they do?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Cozy Mystery

160 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 28, 2021

About the author

Tina Swayzee McCright is an award winner author. She married her college sweetheart, The Irish Charmer, after finding each other on Facebook. She is proud to announce that her daughter's paranormal romance will be released in 2015.


Tina wrote Liquid Hypnosis, a romantic suspense, under the name Tina LaVon. Her short story, Once Upon a Weekend, is her only fairy tale. It was intended to be released as part of an anthology to raise money for a writer who had several surgeries, but the project fell through.

Reviews

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A promising debut cozy series featuring Grace, a photographer, and her mother, Roxie, a meddling private investigator. The two meet up with Roxie’s co-meddlers, Irene and Lorraine in Sedona, Arizona at a resort to attend Roxie’s co-worker’s wedding. Before the ‘I Do’s’ can be said, a celebrity guest, Jocelyn Evans, is murdered and several thousands of dollars worth of jewelry stolen off her body. Jocelyn’s death leaves her fluffy white puppy, Misty, homeless. Can some of Grace’s photographs show clues to the killer?

Author McCright works some nifty clues into her plot line which I really enjoyed. The last quarter of the story contains some really original, kinda scary, script as the killer is pursued, confronted, and caught! I loved the happy ending for Misty.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

In book one of the Paparazzi Pooch Cozy Mystery Series by Tina Swayzee McCright readers are once again introduced to the wacky group of characters from Euphoria Lane called The Water Guppies: Roxie is the hard-charging tell-it-like-it-is kind of older woman who loves to wear spandex and Grace's mother, Lorraine looks like Mrs. Santa Claus and just avoided federal prison time, Irene is the lady who dates more men in a month than most women do in a lifetime. Then there are the "normal" women in the story: Grace, who is struggling financially to get her photography business off the ground and moves back in with Roxie, Jessie the ex-police officer now private detective and sister of Andi, who is a teacher and is the bride-to-be. Amongst all these very different personalities a series of murders and burglaries occur which of course the group attempts to solve privately to not disrupt Andi's wedding about to take place at the hotel. The almost slapstick-like actions and discussions between these women are the core of the book as it covers two broad plot lines: the photos of the entire wedding week and the murders and thefts which absolutely can not be allowed to interrupt the wedding even as Jessie reluctantly gives them the go-ahead to solve the case "discreetly" which of course is something these ladies would never consider doing or being. The author gives the reader believable motives for multiple potential suspects until the final clues are revealed leading to the real guilty parties. I look forward to reading further fun adventures in this series. This is a voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Hidden Gems Books.

[DianaRaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

SNIFFED OUT is Paparazzi Pooch Cozy Mysteries Book 1) another spin-off of the Euphoria Lane Cozy Mysteries by Tina Swayzee McCright is another fun read centered around the residents of a senior and not so senior living complex. The author's character and world building makes it easy to envision the environment and all these quirky characters.

This is a lighthearted cozy murder mystery filled with kooky characters, especially Roxie who can be spotted mile away in her pink beehive hairdo, outlandish attire, overly-applied makeup and those Ruby red stilettos she wears everywhere.

Grace has decided being part of the paparazza isn't for her, so when her mother, Roxie, volunteers her to take wedding photos for her friend's wedding at an upscale resort in Sedona, Arizona she accepts - this could be a new career change without all the sneaking and fear of getting in trouble 🤣. That is until she and her mother find a dead body. 

Grace and her mother Roxie must find the killer without making a mess of the wedding. Enlisting the help of Roxie's friends (not your typical grandma types) they make a resourceful, feisty and formidable team. 

I highly recommend this five-star cozy read to put you in your happy place.

I did receive an advance copy from the author.  This is my freely given review andvI do  highly recommend this five-star cozy read to put you in your happy place.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with laugh out loud moments we are treated to a wonderful new series that will make you want more! When Grace realizes her job as a reporter is not for her, her flamboyant mother Roxie volunteers her daughter to take wedding pictures of her friend's wedding. Who knows, maybe this will be a new career choice for Grace. But when Roxie and Grace find a dead body, Roxie convinces Grace they have to investigate and find the murderer. And we also have Roxie's friends who came to the wedding when the bride gave she and Grace a suite to stay in while they are there. So of course the whole crew gets involved in the investigation. With lots of laughs, twists and turns and red-herrings, we are taken through the investigation. I was definitely taken by surprise at the ending and was sorry the book ended because I really liked reading about Roxie, her quirky friends and Grace. Can't wait to see what book 2 will bring. I received and ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace has just moved to Glendale to live with her mom, Roxie, after not being able to find a job as a journalist! Roxie immediately heads them off to Sedona, AZ, to attend the Andi’s wedding, having volunteered Grace as photographer, when the one hired had to cancel. Luckily, Grace has some experience, as she spent some time learning the ropes of hunting and photographing celebrities! As they are checking in, Grace spots and photographs Joycelyn Evans, Hollywood’s latest bad girl. Roxie’s next surprise is that she invited best friends Irene and Lorraine to share their room! Off to a great start! But when Grace discovers Jocelyn dead the next day, things get crazy, as Roxie decides she needs to investigate (she works part time in Andi’s Detective Agency) and pulls all of them into the fray. A fun and rollicking adventure ensues! I received an advance copy of this book from the author and write this review voluntarily.

[Shavona Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entertaining cozy mystery is unpredictable and action-packed. The cover alone, with the adorable fluffy white dog, would get me to read this book. Roxie is quite the quirky senior citizen with her beehive hairdo and stiletto heels. (I picture an older version of Peg Bundy on Married With Children.) Her daughter Grace is taking wedding photos at a resort in Sedona. The bride has provided a suite free of charge so Roxie and her friends tag along. They stumble upon not one, but two murder victims and super sleuth that she is, Roxie decides she and her daughter Grace should investigate. The author did an excellent job of keeping me in suspense. I never suspected the actual killer so it came as a complete surprise.
I received this copy free from the author and am under no obligation to leave a review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am freely sharing my opinion.

[David Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free advance review copy of this book and am voluntarily providing my honest review. What a great start to a new series. Many twists and turns, a hard to put down book. Grace has been hired as a wedding photographer and Roxie and two of the “Water Guppies” join her. I can't wait for the next book in this series, who is the man that wants Misty? I enjoyed this book and recommend it.

[Janet Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace quit working for the paparazzi and moved in with Roxie, her mother. They go to Sedona, Arizona to the wedding of Luke and Andi, a detective Roxie has helped and they can stay for a week for free if Grace does the wedding photos. Before the wedding, two murders occur and since Hollywood people are the people who were murdered, Roxie and Grace will try to solve the mystery. An enjoyable read with lots of interesting characters, even a dog. Recommended for teens and up.

[Lee Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun new cozy mystery series full of humor, interesting characters, and unpredictable action. This group of fun characters has their work cut out for them when a celebrity is murdered at the resort they are staying at for the week for their friends wedding. It keeps you guessing throughout.

[Kandiemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this hilarious cozy mystery. The banter between Grace and Roxie was comedic. I loved Roxie, Lorraine, and Irene, they’ve got spunk. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Highly recommend reading this.

[Amary Chapman]

Family Dysfunction and Murder

Moving in with her mother after being estranged for years after her ex was murderedwas hard. It was not helped by finding bodies at the resort she was tricked into working a photography job at either. Funny fast moving with quirky characters