Murder at the Races: a 1950s cozy historical mystery

Rosa Reed #6

by Lee Strauss

Murder is a wreck!

Rosa Reed attends a charity stock car race in Santa Bonita and expects to have exhilarating time shared with family and friends. That ends when a driver inexplicably crashes into a guard rail and dies. When local assistant medical examiner, Dr. Larry Rayburn determines the death is suspicious, Rosa once again finds herself working with the handsome Detective Miguel Belmonte in an awkward and uncomfortable alliance to solve the murder.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Historical, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Fiction

234 pages, Paperback

Published February 22, 2021

About the author

For fans of Golden Age who-dun-its ~ from a USA TODAY Bestselling author!

You'll adore Lady Gold from the acclaimed Ginger Gold Mysteries series, and the spin of series, Higgins & Hawke.

Look for the connected 1950s era Rosa Reed Mysteries.

NEW ~ The Velvet Spy ~ The Wartime Journal of Ginger Gold

For more info visit: leestraussbooks.com

Reviews

[JoAn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder at the Races by Lee Strauss is the sixth book in the historical cozy Rosa Reed series. Ms. Strauss has such descriptive writing that I immediately feel like I'm back in the 1950's with Rosa and her family. The setting this time is at a NASCAR race track and Rosa is once more pulled into a murder investigation of one of the drivers.

The story is smoothly paced with twists that kept me guessing almost to the dramatic reveal. I confess that I did guess who the likely culprit was before Rosa put the clues together. Rosa has some personal decisions that will need to be made in this one as well. This was a perfect afternoon book read.

The author provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets at the Racetrack

Rosa is at the races with Gloria , who is covering it for her new job at the newspaper. At the end of the race the winners car suddenly wrecks and the driver dies.

Rosa sees something strange that day at the races, but doesn’t think about it until afterwards. The driver’s brother Rufus hires Rosa to investigate his brother Tucker’s death. He was convinced it was a murder and not an accident.

The only problem is, Rufus is found dead shortly afterwards. He is found in his call at the Otto off steep cliff off a mountain road. Is it an accident, or are there now two murders?

Rosa finds herself once again working with detective Miguel and this time in a car involved in a high speed car chase. It is up to Rosa and Miguel to solve the mystery.

Another great read by Lee Strauss, I would recommend it.

Thanks to Lee Strauss for allowing me to read an advance copy.

[Saralyn McMorris · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a little to much technical talk about cars, but overall I still enjoyed the story. Rosa is back at solving crimes and along with Detective Belmonte and her family. Gloria, who I usually enjoy, was a bit annoying in this book as she was relying too much on Rosa and not enough on herself. A solid 3.5

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never having seen a stock car race, Rosa decides to go with her new beau, Larry Rayburn, the medical examiner since it is also for a charity. And Gloria, Rosa's cousin is going too since she has begun at the local newspaper and is covering the race and feels she has to show the men in her office she is just as good as they are! When the winner of the race seems to lose control of his car during a victory lap and crashes, Larry with Rosa along with him goes down to evaluate the medical condition of the racer. Bleeding profusely, he dies and never recovers. Was it natural causes or could it have been murder? We find he was not a very well liked racer among his peers and anyone else he confronted. When Larry calls his death suspicious, Rosa decides to help investigate. Only problem is, Detective Miguel Belmonte is who she is working on the investigation with and he just so happens to be her very first true love long ago. Awkward much? She still appears to have feelings for him. Then when there is a second murder of the person who just so happens to be the brother of the first murdered racer things get complicated. Add to that the human element. Larry is going to go back to Texas and wants Rosa to go with him. If she agrees to go with Larry, will that help her get over Miguel? But in what capacity will Rosa go with Larry? With lots of twists and turns and red-herrings, will they figure out who wanted the brothers dead and will Rosa go to Texas? I love the surprise ending and you will love this whole series as well as this book. I can't wait for more. I received and ARC of this book but the opinons expressed here are strictly my own.

[Marilyn Hay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm pretty much addicted to Lee Strauss' stories, from Ginger Gold's first adventure I've bought every book as soon as it's out. Lee has a knack from creating fun characters that you care about and want to see do well, want them to be happy, respect for making courageous choices and love to watch figure out a crime and get the bad guy. In this series, Rosa (daughter of Ginger and Basil from the first series) is in California with family there, avoiding the fiance she left at the alter only to discover her first and greatest love is still single and still in town, where she met him during WWII. But that's another story. In this story, she's struggling with the decision about whether to follow her latest 'squeeze' to Texas as he'd like her to do, while maintaining a professional relationship with, yep, the guy she really loves who is now the lead detective as they both focus on solving the latest murders. Rosa follows the clues, asks hard and often aggressive questions, was a police officer in the UK so isn't intimidated by anyone and is a crack shot (this is a woman who doesn't need rescuing). It's all a delightful romp with lots of fun 50's atmosphere. If you haven't guessed by now, I highly recommend you start with the Ginger Gold series and then follow Rosa's adventures. I recommend reading the books in order because a larger story unfolds over the course of each individual cozy mystery murder investigation. I have to say, I really loved how this latest book ended and can't wait for the next one to come out in May!

[Jennifer Eccles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder at the Races is the 6th in the wonderful Rosa Reed cosy mystery series, and it’s as fabulous as the rest!
Lee Strauss always immerses us in the world of the 1950s in such a way I feel I could look up from my book and find myself in a poodle skirt, listening to Elvis Presley on the radio! It never feels overdone but I love all the details and period detail research.

In this book, Rosa enjoys the new experience of a trip to watch stock car racing - and once again finds herself hired to investigate a murder. As always, the plot is intriguing and twisty, and the solution is satisfying. Most of all though for me, it’s the loveable (and believable) characters and the ongoing story threads that make it unmissable. It’s brilliantly written - fluent, with a lightness of touch.

I received an ARC but this is a series I buy to keep anyway (aren’t the covers gorgeous?!) The world of Rosa Reed is a world I want to keep returning to again and again.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder at the Races is another winner in the Rosa Reed series. I was immediately drawn into the story and the excitement of NASCAR racing. Rosa is attending a race with Larry when one of the drivers crashes at the end and is pronounced dead. All is not what it seems and Rosa is hired by the driver's brother to investigate the death. Rosa soon finds herself working with Miguel. With some help from her news reporter cousin Gloria and Deputy Diego (her cat) she looks for clues in the complex world of NASCAR. The attention to detail is first rate-the cars, the music, the American spirit of the 1950's mad for an enjoyable read. Rosa's personal life is very interesting in this story leading up to a very satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend this fun series, each addition is unique, fun and the characters develop beautifully along the way. Bring on number 7!

[Helen Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with most of the books from Lee Strauss, I finished this in one sitting. The story was so well developed that I had to find out what happened. I know very little about NASCAR and it’s origins so this was a great way to learn about it.

Rosa Reed is a modern woman in the 50’s and I love how she demonstrates her intelligence and independence, as well as her fashion sense. She has the instincts needed to solve mysteries in her role as a private investigator such as murders. I also like how she influences her cousin, Gloria, to be more independent.

I enjoy the characters that are so well developed and the relationships among them. There are several romantic situations to add a bit of spice to the story.

Rosa’s cat Diego and Miguel’s adopted African Grey parrot add an extra dimension to the series.

I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy of this book and can’t wait to read the next installment in this delightful series!

[Anne G. Kasaba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series, loved this book! Lee Strauss never fails to deliver historically accurate details in her books. Not just the world view but everything from dialogue to descriptions of clothing. The characters, even the peripheral ones have depth and the storyline was well written. The mystery stumped me which was no surprise from this author. A very satisfying read.

When NASCAR comes to Santa Bonita, Rosa is eager to experience the sport. When the winner of the race crashes and dies during his victory lap, his brother hires Rosa to investigate if it was murder. When her client also is killed she is determined to stop at nothing.

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.

[Lisa Lockwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosa Reed is attending the Nascar charity race in Santa Bonita with Dr Larry Rayburn and her family. As the winner drives past the finish line he suddenly swerves and crashes. Rosa is hired by the racing drivers brother to investigate. Is there more to the crash? Once again Rosa finds her self working with Miguel to try and solve the crime. Rosa is also stalling with her answer to Dr Rayburn's offer for her to move to Galveston with him. A brilliant story with so much information about the era clothes, cars, and how Nascar started due to the illegal moonshine runners. These books contain so much factual information and there's even a paragraph at the end about real moonshine runners. I received a arc copy of this from the author but the review is my own opinion.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosa and Larry attend the Grand Opening of the local NASCAR track just a few miles out of the town they live in.
Several of the drivers have past scandals and histories as bootleg runners during the prohibition era.
When one of the more prominent families with two of the drivers in the race has first the winner of the race, and then his brother killed a few days later.
Rosa is on the case, and she is in it until the killer is caught, not knowing just how much danger she's putting herself in.
Meanwhile, Larry is getting to go back to Texas and is waiting on an answer as to whether Rosa will accompany him or not.

Another fun story in this series with developed characters and a continuing story line.

This is the sixth book in this series, and it is a standalone book.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. I read a lot of period mysteries which means I tend to read a lot of British mysteries based in Victorian times or the 1920s and 30s. It is refreshing to have a series based in California in the 1950s

As with other books by the author, I love her characters and her detail on the clothing and culture of the 1950s.

I have to admit I found my self caring more about the personal relationships of the characters than solving the murder but that happens when we start caring about the happiness of the characters.

This series is a spin off of the Ginger Gold series and I would love to see Rosa’s parents visit California or Rosa visit London - maybe in a future installment.

[Kelly Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosa Reed is thrown into the world of NASCAR, and things are as exciting off the track as on.
This is a fast paced adventure that keeps you guessing to the end. The racing is on and off the track, providing plenty of twists and turns.
Rosa's relationships are just as exciting, with some major decisions to be made about her future.
This book advances Rosa's story with the backdrop of an intriguing mystery and interesting history. Well done!
I look forward to the next book!

[Gail Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 6th book in the Rosa Reed series that I have read. I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 because, frankly, I don’t like snakes! I don’t like to read or think about them. However, the story itself was good, interesting and brought back memories of my early dating days when my now husband took me to stock car races. They definitely were thrilling and the end of this story was tense! If you’re a fan of Rosa Reed stories, I think you will enjoy this book too!

[Jennifer Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes I literally couldn’t put this book down! I became so absorbed in Rosa Reed’s crime solving life that I couldn’t stop reading it. As with the other books in this series you become entranced in the characters lives because Lee Strauss has put so much detail into them. I know nothing about either the 1950’s or NASCAR racing however I now feel as if I have delved into these areas. A great and exceedingly fun read! I can’t wait to read what Rosa is up to next time!!

[Cher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follow along as the author weaves another tale involving crime and romance. Set in the 1950's, I enjoyed reading about NAS-CAR'S humble beginnings. Having a bootlegger in our family history made me smile more than once. Having ridden the Dragon Tail on a motorcycle made me smile even more since it is a road i know. All of the books in this series have been extremely interesting due to the author's efforts in research to get things accurate. I highly recommend this series to everyone

[Jennie Lindstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of the Rosa Reed Mysteries (and the Ginger Gold series). These historical mystery books are fun and filled with wonderful descriptions that transport you right into the time period. In this book Rosa is hired to investigate a suspicious death at the end of a NASCAR race. During her investigations she is juggling her relationship with Larry, and her longing for Miguel. I love the development of these characters and their interactions with each other!

[J Shu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosa attends a NASCAR race at which the winner, while doing his victory lap, suddenly dies. The man's brother hires Rosa to detetmine what happened. Eventually, Rosa's client is also killed in what seems to be a staged accident. Thanks to Deputy Diego's antics, Rosa gets the tip she needs to narrow down suspects. Larry wants Rosa to go to Galveston with him, but she's on the fence because of Miguel. Eventually Rosa and Miguel get their murderer, uncovering his motive. Satisfying read.

[Sheryl Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loads of fun

In my younger days, I enjoyed watching stock car racing and this book brought back many pleasant memories, none of which involved murder, thankfully. This book did the sport justice and it was a lot of fun to read. I've really been enjoying the relationships between Rosa, Larry and Miguel. The authors have done a fantastic job of building the tension between the three of them. And I love how Diego gets a role in solving a crime. So cute!

[Debora Ley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosa and Diego join forces to solve a mystery at the races. It was a very exciting book and it seemed to be over way too soon. I very much recommend this book, together with the rest of the series. Beyond the mysteries, this book also goes into relationships between Rosa, Larry and Miguel. Can't wait for the next Rosa and Ginger Gold stories!

[Gail A Ostrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's about time

I am glad that Miguel finally spoke up about his feelings Formosa. It would have been awful for her if she left for Galveston with Larry who wasn't even proposing marriage to her. She is still so in love with Miguel it would be a shame if they didn't get a chance to be together again.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosa watches a drag race that includes her cousin. I liked learning more about Nascar and stock racing. I was glad we resolved the Miguel/ Larry relationship. Diego wasn't in this as much. The clues to the mystery were well placed. I learned a few new esoteric facts. I will read more in this series.

[Marlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting story

Excellent story, writer kept the plot exciting. The descriptions of the area for this story made me think I was there as the action was happening. I enjoy racing and the information on the drivers was very interesting. This story was well written and am looking forward to reading her next book.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

not a race fan but I watched a few races because my other half was into it for a while.

It is very much of a science when one is going in such a high speed every type of safety tricks must be carried out to save lives.

the death of the racer due to snake bites. just love the knowledge picked up while reading books!

[Kandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading this series, set in the 1950s. The author describes the fashion and the events of that time so wonderfully. The characters are fascinating and fun. This is another great addition to this series. Looking forward to reading about Rosa, her friends and family in the next book.

[Joy B]

Just enough suspense

Both in Rosa Reed's personal life and in the case she was hired to solve, there was enough suspense that I could not stop reading! I recommend reading the whole series (as well as the Lady Gold series) and am looking forward to the next book.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder at the races (Rosa Reed)

Stock car racing is Rosa Reeds new case involving murder. This is book 6 and Author Lee Strauss has once again shown us another great time back in the 1950s.

These books are so much fun and very hard to put down.

[Susan Emery-O'Malley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

Another great story! The plot had just enough twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end. I love all the characters, both old and new. I can't wait to read the next book!

[Gary and Sandra Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute

A NASCAR race turns into a murder investigation when Rosa is hired to find out why and how it occurred. When another death happens, the suspects and motives pile up, Rosa and Miguel must find the killer fast before he races off into the sunset.

[Susan Hamann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosa is back and she's a private investigator. It's an oddity for the timeframe. She's now involved with Larry, but when he asks her to move to Texas with him, she's not really sure she wants to do that. And Miguel is now a policeman and in Rosa's role as a PI, she has to work with him sometimes.

A stock car race comes to town and when one of the racers dies unexpectedly, Rosa gets drawn into investigating the death.

This is a fun book and for older readers, there are some cultural things that just bring the era back to mind.

This book can be read by any mature reader. The author provided me with an advance reader copy and this is my honest review.