What do you think?
Rate this book
A Geeks and Things Cozy Mystery #1
Pains and Penalties
Small-town life brings big-city problems. Kalina Greystone's return home to Ellesworth, MA to take over the family's comic book shop brings back old friends and even older secrets. The death of her Great Aunt Agatha in plain sight at the annual Solstice Fair pushes her to snoop where she doesn't belong--much to the chagrin of former high school sweetheart, Detective Christian Harper. As Kalina digs into her great aunt's past, she uncovers a dark truth that Agatha and her closest friends were hoping to take to the grave. A truth the killer wants revealed. Will Kalina and Chris catch the killer before the killer's thirst for vengeance is sated? PAINS AND PENALTIES is the first book in this quirky, fast-paced cozy mystery series where you'll find a dash of nerdy fun mixed with your new favorite amateur sleuth. Get PAINS AND PENALTIES to start unraveling the mystery today!
136 pages, Paperback
First published March 22, 2016
733 people are currently reading
1319 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Biglow
97 books427 followersAuthor also writes under S.E. Biglow
Sarah is a USA Today Bestselling author as well as a licensed attorney and works for a state agency in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. When not working on her next novel or reading the latest installment of one of the many series she follows, she is busy watching TV and running a TV recap blog with her friend. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and son.
Follow Me Around the Web:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sarah--Biglow/...
Facebook: https://facebook.com/SarahBiglowAuthor
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sarah...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbiglowwrites/
Sarah is a USA Today Bestselling author as well as a licensed attorney and works for a state agency in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. When not working on her next novel or reading the latest installment of one of the many series she follows, she is busy watching TV and running a TV recap blog with her friend. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and son.
Follow Me Around the Web:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sarah--Biglow/...
Facebook: https://facebook.com/SarahBiglowAuthor
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sarah...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbiglowwrites/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
December 25, 2019
2 Stars
A short and sweet mystery with major problem for me see spoiler for plot issues, little to no character development but that is expected with something so short.
A short and sweet mystery with major problem for me see spoiler for plot issues, little to no character development but that is expected with something so short.
February 8, 2021
A Short Book
To be honest I really didn’t enjoy this book. Why? Because it was so short the author really didn’t get a chance to develop characters and develop a decent plot.
She had the core of a good story but I think it needs more work.
I don’t recommend
To be honest I really didn’t enjoy this book. Why? Because it was so short the author really didn’t get a chance to develop characters and develop a decent plot.
She had the core of a good story but I think it needs more work.
I don’t recommend
December 31, 2024
Better than my last stuff your kindle freebie 😂
May 16, 2025
Enjoyed this story
July 6, 2025
Returning home to run the family comic shop has been an easier transition than Kalina Greystone would have imagined. But when one relative is brutally and publicly murdered, she switches from store owner to sleuth. With her ex-boyfriend as lead detective, Kalina has an in at the police department, and she's determined to gain justice.
3.5 Stars rounded up
I read the re-worked edition of this story, and it was a pleasing diversion. Alas, I didn't fall in love with the main character. I needed more: more description, more emotion, more genuineness. While I will read on in this series, it hasn't replaced my favourites.
3.5 Stars rounded up
I read the re-worked edition of this story, and it was a pleasing diversion. Alas, I didn't fall in love with the main character. I needed more: more description, more emotion, more genuineness. While I will read on in this series, it hasn't replaced my favourites.
August 7, 2023
Sometimes the only reason to keep reading a book is because it is short. This was the case here, and I am sad to say the book was not mercifully short. It was a hard task to struggle through it.
Kalina owns a store for comics and games and takes some of her merchandise to the town's annual Solstice fair. At the fair one of the blue ribbon winners of the bake off dies after drinking some tea and Kalina decides to investigate. Why? I don't know. Perhaps because everyone immediately started telling her not to get involved. I mean, that can be annoying: if everyone assumes the worst from you when you haven't set a foot wrong.
So Kalina gets involved and bulldozers in on the investigation.
The plot is pretty straight forward: Kalina finds a clue, that leads here to investigate something new, where she finds another clue, and so on until she figures out who did the dirty deeds. When she has her suspect, the story slows down, which makes the book feel very unbalanced.
It felt though there was a better book hidden in this story. Perhaps if the author had sat on the story for a few more years, written a few more after and then had gone back to this one, she could have delivered a much better mystery.
Kalina owns a store for comics and games and takes some of her merchandise to the town's annual Solstice fair. At the fair one of the blue ribbon winners of the bake off dies after drinking some tea and Kalina decides to investigate. Why? I don't know. Perhaps because everyone immediately started telling her not to get involved. I mean, that can be annoying: if everyone assumes the worst from you when you haven't set a foot wrong.
So Kalina gets involved and bulldozers in on the investigation.
The plot is pretty straight forward: Kalina finds a clue, that leads here to investigate something new, where she finds another clue, and so on until she figures out who did the dirty deeds. When she has her suspect, the story slows down, which makes the book feel very unbalanced.
It felt though there was a better book hidden in this story. Perhaps if the author had sat on the story for a few more years, written a few more after and then had gone back to this one, she could have delivered a much better mystery.
April 2, 2022
A supposedly nerdy woman inherits a pop culture store in her old home town. She isn't back for more than about 5 minutes before she goes to a local festival and her Aunt is murdered. Turns out the local policeman is a former flame. She investigates, and things turn out about the way you expect, although there's no TSTL moments.
Not bad, but not a lot to make the sleuth nerdy.
Not bad, but not a lot to make the sleuth nerdy.
June 29, 2017
Pains and Penalties was a free find on Amazon (I can't resist downloading free books, no matter how long it takes me to actually read them), and I thought it would be a light little mystery to entertain me for a little. It delivered exactly what I hoped for.
The characters were likable enough. The story was well done, with a believable twist for the end. The foreshadowing built up nicely, and kept me guessing at what was to come through the entire read. It could definitely use another quick edit, as I noticed a few errors in spelling and missing words, but it was very well written for the most part. I really loved the nerdy environment, which I thought gave the novella quite the personality.
I have no regrets at reading this, and no hesitation in recommending this to someone looking for a short, cozy mystery, especially since amazon has it for free. I've already grabbed the free prequel from her website, and I'm definitely interested in paying a little bit to see what other mysteries Kalina sticks her nose into.
The characters were likable enough. The story was well done, with a believable twist for the end. The foreshadowing built up nicely, and kept me guessing at what was to come through the entire read. It could definitely use another quick edit, as I noticed a few errors in spelling and missing words, but it was very well written for the most part. I really loved the nerdy environment, which I thought gave the novella quite the personality.
I have no regrets at reading this, and no hesitation in recommending this to someone looking for a short, cozy mystery, especially since amazon has it for free. I've already grabbed the free prequel from her website, and I'm definitely interested in paying a little bit to see what other mysteries Kalina sticks her nose into.
April 11, 2019
Finally, a cozy mystery that made me realize why I like the genre. I haven't had much luck with cozy mysteries lately, and I was wondering if maybe I just wasn't into the genre anymore, but I really enjoyed this a lot. The characters were interesting and the story was believable and it was a fun read!
August 24, 2017
Fun book to read with great characters. This is the 1st book I have read from this author and look forward to reading more, especially more in the series since this is the first one. Quick read, hard to put down.
April 20, 2021
I did not read very much. Wasn't my kind of read.
October 9, 2022
Comfortable afternoon read, could have been more complex if I am honest but a good start to a series
July 13, 2017
very fast paced and too easily solved, but it was a short story.
May 6, 2018
Kalina's determination to investigate was annoying, inexplicable and arrogant. The police were treating the death as suspicious, investigating and had forensics yet Kalina decides she has to figure out what is going on so she interrogates witnesses and researches poison on her laptop. Umm pretty sure police can identify the poison with forensics and know what questions to ask witnesses and friends of the victim and don't need a busy body with no training stuffing things up. This detracted mightily from any enjoyment i might otherwise have got from what is pretty much a standard small-town mystery.
February 22, 2017
I found Pains and Penalties by Sarah Biglow on Amazon when I was searching for a cozy mystery to read yesterday morning and this one had everything I was looking for and so much more. his is the first book in the Geeks and Things Cozy Mystery Novella Series. I was thrilled to find this series is based on a comic book store owner and I found this fast paced cozy was very well written. A great mystery awaits you that was very interesting and wound neatly around the story. I loved main character Kalina's relationship with her nephew as well. I believe this shorter story will appeal to many cozy mystery fans. I am so glad I found this series.
July 15, 2018
Coyer Summer Bash
I was drawn to this book because it was free! And because the main characte owns a comicbook shop. A posioning pens up a door to the past and a rising body count. This was a quick read and satisfying. An interesting cast of characters.
I was drawn to this book because it was free! And because the main characte owns a comicbook shop. A posioning pens up a door to the past and a rising body count. This was a quick read and satisfying. An interesting cast of characters.
April 23, 2021
Awesome read
Loved this short and sweet . Great characters and little old ladies make great books to read great story .awesome
Loved this short and sweet . Great characters and little old ladies make great books to read great story .awesome
February 14, 2017
"A moral tale"
If you prefer things to be light and fluffy, then this will hit the spot. If this has a message; I missed it.
If you prefer things to be light and fluffy, then this will hit the spot. If this has a message; I missed it.
June 6, 2016
The mystery is simple but nicely developed. Writing style is pleasant, maybe not perfect, but good enough to enjoy the story without being bothered by some weirdness.
I really liked Kalina. True, there wasn't much character development in the story, but it's a 77-page story, so I think it's acceptable. There was enough information there to make me enjoy reading about her little adventure. After all, she owns a shop with geeky things! Games, t-shirts, gadgets - all a geek like me might want :P.
I think I did say once that a hot detective is a must? We've got one here too and the romance between these two was rather cute. Of course, it's not the most important part of the story. I liked how Kalina pretty much solved the case and even though the "who" might've seemed obvious at the beginning, I was surprised who it actually was.
So if you have totally no money and are in need of a cozy mystery - check this one out.
check out my book blog for more reviews and other bookish talks: https://maginibooks.wordpress.com
I really liked Kalina. True, there wasn't much character development in the story, but it's a 77-page story, so I think it's acceptable. There was enough information there to make me enjoy reading about her little adventure. After all, she owns a shop with geeky things! Games, t-shirts, gadgets - all a geek like me might want :P.
I think I did say once that a hot detective is a must? We've got one here too and the romance between these two was rather cute. Of course, it's not the most important part of the story. I liked how Kalina pretty much solved the case and even though the "who" might've seemed obvious at the beginning, I was surprised who it actually was.
So if you have totally no money and are in need of a cozy mystery - check this one out.
check out my book blog for more reviews and other bookish talks: https://maginibooks.wordpress.com
February 18, 2025
I was on a cozy mystery spree and this is the last one.
The premise was good, the narrative breezy and a fine twist, but I somehow didn't like the main character in this one. Correction: I didn't have a problem with her. I had a problem with Chris, the police detective.
This one made Chris kinda look like a clown. Before the climax, we need to track the culprit down. Dude couldn't even figure out that he could track the murderer's phone. The amateur sleuth had to suggest the same, and Chris was like: you go girl. I completely understand the need to show how smart the amateur sleuth is, but seriously, we're talking about a police detecive here.
Other than that, a short and quick cozy mystery, and the twist was very well done.
The premise was good, the narrative breezy and a fine twist, but I somehow didn't like the main character in this one. Correction: I didn't have a problem with her. I had a problem with Chris, the police detective.
This one made Chris kinda look like a clown. Before the climax, we need to track the culprit down. Dude couldn't even figure out that he could track the murderer's phone. The amateur sleuth had to suggest the same, and Chris was like: you go girl. I completely understand the need to show how smart the amateur sleuth is, but seriously, we're talking about a police detecive here.
Other than that, a short and quick cozy mystery, and the twist was very well done.
September 10, 2017
Geek mystery! I'm so in!
Unfortunately, the book didn't live up to my hopes, even with a mention of Zombie Dice. This genre seems to rely heavily on women who are better at police work than their hot police boyfriends to be, current or ex boyfriends, depending on the book. This is no exception, with shoddy police work and a quirky woman who saves the day.
The writing was good, but predictable. I figured out the whodunit long before the big reveal, and the recurring glaring lapses in police procedure made me wince.
Unfortunately, the book didn't live up to my hopes, even with a mention of Zombie Dice. This genre seems to rely heavily on women who are better at police work than their hot police boyfriends to be, current or ex boyfriends, depending on the book. This is no exception, with shoddy police work and a quirky woman who saves the day.
The writing was good, but predictable. I figured out the whodunit long before the big reveal, and the recurring glaring lapses in police procedure made me wince.
August 8, 2024
The author's note at the end led me to add a 1/2 star to this book because it confirmed that it was the author's first cozy mystery. I suspected that but confirmation helps ESPECIALLY when she also admits that she updated the novel after taking to heart some consistent feedback and realizing that her inexperience with the cozy mystery genre contributed to that weak point.
I have to respect an author who is that transparent and willing to learn.
That said, I do think the fact that it's a novella length story hurt it because some things are rushed too much.
The book -- even after the revisions -- would have benefited from a developmental editor or at least (more? better? any?) beta readers. For example, in the first third or half of the book the lead character learns why people are dying but doesn't bother to ask the person who has key information why they lied. That just doesn't make sense. I assumed it was a rookie move because the answer would point immediately to the murderer but when I got to the end, I discovered that wasn't true. OK, it could have gotten the reader there faster but it wasn't immediately obvious. A good developmental editor and/or good beta readers could have pointed that out, and the author could have made the result a bit more twisty.
And while the geek in me loved that the setting a comic book store it never quite "felt" like any comic book or game store I ever hung out at, even with comments about vigilantes and games of Zombie Dice. This is also where the short length didn't help. EVERY comic book and/or game store (unless it's dying) has regulars who hang out and chat. Such characters could have had random information that filled in gaps in the mystery and/or they could have helped her talk through the mystery.
I'll be kind and also assume it's the author's inexperience for how she depicts the sleuth wheedling into the case. Some of it is standard (if uninspired) cozy mystery but some of it is also a bit ridiculous.
So a decent first book but also obviously a first book from an author who is trying to learn and up her game, and that does count for a lot
I have to respect an author who is that transparent and willing to learn.
That said, I do think the fact that it's a novella length story hurt it because some things are rushed too much.
The book -- even after the revisions -- would have benefited from a developmental editor or at least (more? better? any?) beta readers. For example, in the first third or half of the book the lead character learns why people are dying but doesn't bother to ask the person who has key information why they lied. That just doesn't make sense. I assumed it was a rookie move because the answer would point immediately to the murderer but when I got to the end, I discovered that wasn't true. OK, it could have gotten the reader there faster but it wasn't immediately obvious. A good developmental editor and/or good beta readers could have pointed that out, and the author could have made the result a bit more twisty.
And while the geek in me loved that the setting a comic book store it never quite "felt" like any comic book or game store I ever hung out at, even with comments about vigilantes and games of Zombie Dice. This is also where the short length didn't help. EVERY comic book and/or game store (unless it's dying) has regulars who hang out and chat. Such characters could have had random information that filled in gaps in the mystery and/or they could have helped her talk through the mystery.
I'll be kind and also assume it's the author's inexperience for how she depicts the sleuth wheedling into the case. Some of it is standard (if uninspired) cozy mystery but some of it is also a bit ridiculous.
So a decent first book but also obviously a first book from an author who is trying to learn and up her game, and that does count for a lot
March 1, 2018
This novella packed a very quick punch from beginning to end. To me it read as if this was a follow on from some prequel-based book because a lot had actually happened in the pasts of the main characters that led them to this day and age. Hoping that means we learn more about their pasts as the series continues into Forgive & Forget!
I digress though! Fifteen years have passed since Kalina Greystone (Kal) left her home in the small town of Ellesworth. Fifteen years since she had seen her high school sweetheart, the now Detective Christian Harper (Chris) of Ellesworth.
Kalina came back to run the shop, Geeks and Things, that was left to her in her father's will. AJ, her nephew, and Kalina immediately start the novella off with a fair in which they have a booth set up only for a death, which was very obviously a murder, to occur when poor AJ was grabbing a bite to eat.
This quickly leads to Kal and Chris rubbing shoulders as they both work towards the "Who done it". Mysteries abound as those from Kal's past divulge secrets most foul to her. Should she tell Chris? Should she investigate more? Can she solve this fast enough before more murders occur?
As stated, this was a novella which I read in an hour. Quick paced, good twists, turns and plots along with setting the stage for further mysteries.
Follow along with me as I continue my reviews of the whole series I was ecstatic to be able to review for an amazing book tour!
I digress though! Fifteen years have passed since Kalina Greystone (Kal) left her home in the small town of Ellesworth. Fifteen years since she had seen her high school sweetheart, the now Detective Christian Harper (Chris) of Ellesworth.
Kalina came back to run the shop, Geeks and Things, that was left to her in her father's will. AJ, her nephew, and Kalina immediately start the novella off with a fair in which they have a booth set up only for a death, which was very obviously a murder, to occur when poor AJ was grabbing a bite to eat.
This quickly leads to Kal and Chris rubbing shoulders as they both work towards the "Who done it". Mysteries abound as those from Kal's past divulge secrets most foul to her. Should she tell Chris? Should she investigate more? Can she solve this fast enough before more murders occur?
As stated, this was a novella which I read in an hour. Quick paced, good twists, turns and plots along with setting the stage for further mysteries.
Follow along with me as I continue my reviews of the whole series I was ecstatic to be able to review for an amazing book tour!
May 15, 2018
Kalina Greystone has returned home to the apparently fictional small town of Ellesworth, on the Massachusetts South Coast, in the equally fictional Salem County.. She's running the comics store she inherited from her father, and employing her nephew, AJ, as, currently, her sole staff. In keeping with both tradition and good marketing, they're participating in the town's annual Solstice Fair.
The baking competition gets a bit more exciting than usual, when the winning scones are not Mrs. Grant. She is angry and she is vocal, and vents her anger at the judges.
A short time later, things get even more exciting, when Mrs. Grant's good friend, Mrs. Davies, drinks some tea and suddenly dies, rather unpleasantly. Mrs. Davies, famous for her fruit tarts, is not the offending scone baker. Kalina's nephew, AJ, witnesses the whole thing.
The detective investigating the death is Kalina's old high school boyfriend, Detective Chris Harper.
What happens from here is in some ways quite predictable, but the mystery itself, and the motive and perpetrator behind it, is not quite so predictable, and pretty well done. I like Kalina, Chris, and for that matter AJ, who is a pretty smart and likable teenager. And since it's a novella, it's not a huge time investment of time to see if it's your thing.
Recommended.
I bought this book.
The baking competition gets a bit more exciting than usual, when the winning scones are not Mrs. Grant. She is angry and she is vocal, and vents her anger at the judges.
A short time later, things get even more exciting, when Mrs. Grant's good friend, Mrs. Davies, drinks some tea and suddenly dies, rather unpleasantly. Mrs. Davies, famous for her fruit tarts, is not the offending scone baker. Kalina's nephew, AJ, witnesses the whole thing.
The detective investigating the death is Kalina's old high school boyfriend, Detective Chris Harper.
What happens from here is in some ways quite predictable, but the mystery itself, and the motive and perpetrator behind it, is not quite so predictable, and pretty well done. I like Kalina, Chris, and for that matter AJ, who is a pretty smart and likable teenager. And since it's a novella, it's not a huge time investment of time to see if it's your thing.
Recommended.
I bought this book.
January 30, 2022
In my quest to find more fun, easy, cozy Mystery series - I downloaded a bunch of first of the series books on Apple Books for free. This book was ok. Lots of grammatical errors that made me appreciate more the care and effort my friend put into her book before publishing it. The book itself was a short read. Perfect for weekend reading. But it felt more like a short story instead of a book as the only focus was propelling the mystery forward. That’s it. The mystery itself was interesting and I was with the main character as she was putting pieces together solving the mysteries. Even waved off my family during the last 20 pages and found myself jumping back to the beginning of the book to make the connection. But with that said there was not a lot of emphasis on the characters and their personal development. Even the store should have been seen a character as the series is named after the store. There were things that just felt off about the main characters involvement in and how she solves the crime. And not to mention the police sharing so much info. The Geeks and Things was minimal just referencing the store, a few comic books, and playing Zombie Dice. Didn’t feel like the name lived up to her personality. I did appreciate the tie in to super heroes and the murderer at the end… but the book didn’t nab me enough to make me want to read the next one.
January 15, 2021
This one isn't bad. At least the author could spell and use the English language properly, and with the things I've read lately, that's saying something.
I am consistently amused at authors who think running a shop (in this case with one 15-year-old employee) is so simple. Close the doors when you want. No bookkeeping, payroll, taxes, inventory ordering, etc. to take up the time better spent sleuthing. And in this case, a police force that can't do basic internet and library research.
But without that, there'd be no story, I guess. No friends who let a murderer go free for 30 years, with it only now *starting* to wear on their consciences. No sleuth who solves the murder through Facebook photos. No local store owners who set up booths for only one day of a two-day festival their town is known for.
It was a fun read. It is no more unbelievable than most of the genre, and worthy of an afternoon by the pool. I won't be looking for future volumes.
I am consistently amused at authors who think running a shop (in this case with one 15-year-old employee) is so simple. Close the doors when you want. No bookkeeping, payroll, taxes, inventory ordering, etc. to take up the time better spent sleuthing. And in this case, a police force that can't do basic internet and library research.
But without that, there'd be no story, I guess. No friends who let a murderer go free for 30 years, with it only now *starting* to wear on their consciences. No sleuth who solves the murder through Facebook photos. No local store owners who set up booths for only one day of a two-day festival their town is known for.
It was a fun read. It is no more unbelievable than most of the genre, and worthy of an afternoon by the pool. I won't be looking for future volumes.
August 12, 2017
One of my reading challenges, the Full House Reading challenge, had a cozy mystery as one of the books to read. So, I found this one for free at Amazon and thought I'd give it a try. It wasn't a long book, but was long enough to be a decent read. I actually enjoyed it more than I though I would and may even check out other books in the series at some time. The story was about a young woman returning to the town where she grew up after her father died to run his comic book store, which she had inherited after his death. A woman mysteriously dies at the local fair midst mysterious circumstances and the the young woman gets caught up in the investigation, helping her high school ex, now a local detective, to solve the mystery before more deaths occur. Some of it was a little predictable, but there was enough of a surprise at the end to make it worthwhile.
March 19, 2018
Geek and Things, is a clean, cozy murder mystery that will keep you glued to its pages from beginning to end. I enjoyed the tale and the telling and found Geeks and Things the most entertaining book of its genre. The plot is strong and the timing perfect to keep you going to the next page. It is well written with a great line of characters. It's a great book to have in any library, adult even YA.
Kalina Greystone takes over her father's store...Geeks and things after his death. She has returned to her birthplace, the small town of Ellesworth, with a degree but without a husband. At the town annual Solstice Fair, a well-known old woman dies by poison. Her nephew witnesses the death and so she arrived there soon afterwards. Her keen attention to details spurred her into the middle of the investigation by none other than her old flame, Detective Harper.
Kalina Greystone takes over her father's store...Geeks and things after his death. She has returned to her birthplace, the small town of Ellesworth, with a degree but without a husband. At the town annual Solstice Fair, a well-known old woman dies by poison. Her nephew witnesses the death and so she arrived there soon afterwards. Her keen attention to details spurred her into the middle of the investigation by none other than her old flame, Detective Harper.
Want to read
August 24, 2021Small-town life brings big-city problems.
Kalina Greystone’s return home to Ellesworth, MA to take over the family's comic book shop brings back old friends and even older secrets. The death of her Great Aunt Agatha in plain sight at the annual Solstice Fair pushes her to snoop where she doesn't belong--much to the chagrin of former high school sweetheart, Detective Christian Harper. As Kalina digs into her great aunt's past, she uncovers a dark truth that Agatha and her closest friends were hoping to take to the grave. A truth the killer wants revealed.
Will Kalina and Chris catch the killer before the killer's thirst for vengeance is sated?
PAINS AND PENALTIES is the first book in this quirky, fast-paced cozy mystery series where you’ll find a dash of nerdy fun mixed with your new favorite amateur sleuth.
Get PAINS AND PENALTIES to start unraveling the mystery today!
Kalina Greystone’s return home to Ellesworth, MA to take over the family's comic book shop brings back old friends and even older secrets. The death of her Great Aunt Agatha in plain sight at the annual Solstice Fair pushes her to snoop where she doesn't belong--much to the chagrin of former high school sweetheart, Detective Christian Harper. As Kalina digs into her great aunt's past, she uncovers a dark truth that Agatha and her closest friends were hoping to take to the grave. A truth the killer wants revealed.
Will Kalina and Chris catch the killer before the killer's thirst for vengeance is sated?
PAINS AND PENALTIES is the first book in this quirky, fast-paced cozy mystery series where you’ll find a dash of nerdy fun mixed with your new favorite amateur sleuth.
Get PAINS AND PENALTIES to start unraveling the mystery today!
October 5, 2021
Time was when Kalina Greystone couldn’t wait to get out of Ellesworth Massachusetts. Now many years later, she has her MBA but her 5 year plan is on hold. With her father’s death she has returned to her hometown to run the family business….a comic book store.
She had not counted on her life being disrupted by the murder of her Great Aunt Agatha followed by the demise of a couple of her aunt’s closest friends and the resurrection of a years old murder. Complicating matters even further is the presence of the Detective in charge of the investigation, Kalina’s old high school flame Christian Harper, who has her heart doing flip-flops.
PAINS AND PENALTIES is a quick, enjoyable read with just 15 short chapters that you can devour in a couple of hours.
She had not counted on her life being disrupted by the murder of her Great Aunt Agatha followed by the demise of a couple of her aunt’s closest friends and the resurrection of a years old murder. Complicating matters even further is the presence of the Detective in charge of the investigation, Kalina’s old high school flame Christian Harper, who has her heart doing flip-flops.
PAINS AND PENALTIES is a quick, enjoyable read with just 15 short chapters that you can devour in a couple of hours.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews