Send in the Clowns

The Country Club Murders #4

by Julie Mulhern

Haunted houses are scary enough without knife-wielding clowns. Especially murderous knife-wielding clowns. So thinks Ellison Russell, single mother, artist, and reluctant sleuth.

Now death wears a red nose and Ellison is up to the blood-stained collar of her new trench coat in costumes, caffeine, and possible killers. Who stabbed Brooks Harney? And why? Money? Jealousy? Drugs?

With Mother meddling, her father furious, and her date dragged downtown for questioning, turns out Ellison’s only confidante is Mr. Coffee.

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

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2016

About the author

Julie Mulhern is the USA Today bestselling author of The Country Club Murders and the Poppy Fields Adventures.

She is a Kansas City native who grew up on a steady diet of Agatha Christie. She spends her spare time whipping up gourmet meals for her family, working out at the gym and finding new ways to keep her house spotlessly clean--and she's got an active imagination. Truth is--she's an expert at calling for take-out, she grumbles about walking the dog and the dust bunnies under the bed have grown into dust lions.

Reviews

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being at the local haunted house wasn’t Ellison’s choice for a Sunday night activity. But as she finds herself navigating the various rooms, she finds a room with two clowns. Ellison already isn’t a fan of clowns, but she quickly realizes that one of the clowns was just stabbed, and he dies in her arms after asking for Ellison’s help by name. When Ellison returns with help, she finds the room completely empty. Who was the victim? More importantly, who was the other clown?

I’d let too long go between visits with Ellison, but it was great to be back in her presence. The returning characters are fun, and I’m not minding the love triangle yet. The plot started out quickly and the pace never lagged. The ending was weaker than I would have liked, but it did answer all our questions. I didn’t enjoy a couple of the elements rooting in the changing times of the 70’s. One of them definitely takes the book outside of cozy territory. On the other hand, I loved the little details that put us in that decade. And the humor continues to entertain. This is a great book to read in October for the seasonal feels, but you’ll enjoy it any time of the year you pick it up.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellison is back and it's Hallowe'en season. Unfortunately her haunted house visit (to find Grace) ends up in a real horror scene and a dead clown. Yes, clowns are scary anyway. Imagine being in a dark room with one bloody clown begging for help while the other one holds a knife. Eeeek! As with the first three, I greatly enjoyed all the Kansas City landmarks and the 70's setting. There were some very interesting layers to this mystery and lots of help from Hunter Taft and Anarchy Jones. Swoon! What I found to be a bit repetitive was the excessive Mr. Coffee shout-outs. Perhaps listening to this on audio made them more obvious? Anyway, for me it affected the overall book experience enough to take away one point.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen Sondheim’s virtuoso number “Send in the Clowns” may be figurative, but the clowns in Julie Mulhern’s fourth Ellison Russell novel are literal — and at least one is murderous.

It’s October 1974, and Ellison Russell — a widowed artist and a member of Kansas City’s WASP elite — tries to track down her teenaged daughter Grace at a haunted house called the Gates of Hell. Instead of Grace, Ellison runs into the black sheep of the Harney family — as he’s being murdered. Both Harney, who’s working at the haunted house, and his murderer are dressed as Stephen King-style It clowns. But the killing is very real.

I absolutely devoured Send in the Clowns, finishing it in a few hours! Ellison’s competent housekeeper Aggie, her hypercritical mother, her protective father, her lovelorn bestie Libba, and her two love interests — sexy police Detective Anarchy Jones and debonair lawyer Hunter Tafft — return to add to the fun. Mulhern weaves a clever mystery and her message that women need to stand up for themselves remains just as relevant 40 years later. Send in the Clowns proves as delightful and true to the 1970s as Mulhern’s previous books in the series, and I relished this book as much as Ellison relishes her Mr. Coffee machine. And that’s saying something!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Henery Press in exchange for an honest review.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Send in the Clowns is the fourth Country Club Murders book by Julie Mulhern, and she keeps coming up with great stories that entertain. Ellison Russell is a recently widowed mother, who found out her husband was not only cheating on her, but was rather kinky at that. She is a member of the County Club set and does not need to worry about money at all. She seems to find more dead bodies than anyone should, so much so, that she has memorized Detective Anarchy Jones home phone number.

In this story, Ellison rushes off to the local Haunted House when she finds out that her daughter's friends came home without her. Paying her admission, she heads off into "The Gates of Hell" to find Grace, but instead finds clowns, two to be exact. The problem is, not only is Ellison afraid of clowns, but one of the clowns has just killed the other one. Is this part of the show. When Ellison realizes she has blood on her coat and hands as well as the dying clown speaking to her by name, she realizes this is really happening and the other clown is now looking at her. It turns out that the murder victim is the black sheep of a family that Ellison knows, and his sister is one of Grace's best friends. He has returned to town as his 25th birthday draws near and he is about to receive a healthy trust fund. Once again, Ellison is put in a position that she needs to find the murderer. Not only does she feel responsible as she found the body, but she knew him and she is worried about the other clown coming after her or Grace.

This story has everything you expect from this series. There is a murder where Ellison finds the body, there is an exploration of family dynamics, humour (Mr. Coffee is her best male relationship), tongue in cheek descriptions of the Country Club set and of course, romance. Ellison is still being pursued by two very eligible bachelors. Anarchy Jones the detective and Hunter Taft the well connected lawyer. Ellison is still not ready for a relationship with either man due to her trust issues as well as liking her new independence, but it does not stop her kisses and the tingling she gets from both of them. This is a fun part of the story that I look forward to in each book. Ellison is a great character. She is tough, strong, independent, loyal, loving and supportive to her family and the kind of person I would love to have as a friend. I love the setting in the 70s. I lived it and this hits so true, it also adds a different touch to this cozy series. A great series that I would recommend to cozy mystery readers as well as anyone who loved the the 70s. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is Halloween time and Ellison Russell is seeing clowns everywhere. The worst was when two clowns came at her and one collapsed in front of her. She hears "Help me , Mrs. Russell". Ellison is upset with the men in her life. Her father who feels he must protect her, informs she needs to marry so there is a man to manage her. Another is Anarchy, a homicide detective who believes her about the clowns, but wants to keep her safe and told her to stay out of the investigation. Anarchy starts her heart beating faster and her body reacts. Her lawyer, Hunter Tafft, the man her parents want her to married. Ellison can trust him to be helpful, he stills wants to manage her actions. Her Mother wants to control her life completely. Her daughter has a long-standing crushed on an older man. Will Ellison show all that she can take of herself before the knife holding clown finds her again? The books in this series keep getting better.

Disclosure: I received a free copy from HENERY PRESS through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note to self: must stop picking these up before I go to bed saying, "just one chapter...". It never works. You'd think I'd have learned this by now, but I just can't resist. Plus, in this case it was a really REALLY bad idea, because murderous clowns...

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Send in the Clowns is book #4 in The Country Club Murder Series by Julie Mulhern.

This is the first book I have read in this series and I could not put it down. I was lost in this fantastic mystery and I could not get enough of the whimsical protagonist Ellison Russell.

As the story starts, Ellison, single mother and artist, discovers her teen daughter Grace hasn't returned home from her visit to the haunted house. Worried for her daughter, Ellison heads to the scene and what she discovers is enough to send her home to hide under the blankets!

The craziness doesn't stop there and Ellison finds herself once again mixed up in a murder investigation.

Even though I started this series with Send in the Clowns, I was able to understand what had happened in the past. The author clearly knows how to write a colorful story and the other characters were just as fun as Ellison.
I was intrigued with the love triangle and am looking forward to seeing how it plays out.

I will definitely be reading the first three books in the series, the author made enough references about Ellison's ex husband that I have to absolutely read them. I can't wait to read about the wild things that led up to Send in the Clowns.

This is a must read series for any cozy mystery lover.

I voluntarily read an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, a thing I haven't really talked about enjoying is that Ellison not being ready to be with someone else despite the chemistry between both her and Anarchy and her and Hunter. It makes so much sense and is really great for the men to realize that it's not really about them fighting each other for her attention but for her to be fighting through her own stuff for her. I dig it.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it! But then I have loved every book in this series. Great characters - excellent plot - fabulous narration!!!

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. This book is extremely readable and it pulls you in from the moment you start. Highly recommend!

[Yvonne Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series! Great characters.

Ellison Russell is a dead body magnet. Drives her mother crazy.
When her daughter doesn't make it home, Ellison runs to the haunted house.
While going through the house, she sees one clown stab another. When she goes for
help the body disappears, and everyone thinks it's just part of the fun. Ellison knows
different. She jumps right in trying to find out what happened to Brooks Harney, the boy who just
came back to town after cleaning up his life. When there is another murder, and attempted murder,
can she find the killer clown before he finds her first?

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Set in the 1970’s single mom Ellison Russell heads to a haunted house to find her curfew missing daughter. She never expected to find a clown with a real knife, let alone have another clown die at her feet. We are quickly off on another adventure with Ellison and a dead body and her parents wringing their hands over how socially unacceptable that is.

I absolutely love Ellison and her love affair with her Mr. Coffee. I completely understand her need for caffeine to help her get through what is thrown at her each and every day and even more when there is a murder to solve.

I get the biggest kick out Ellison’s mom and this time even her dad trying to get a man in Ellison’s life to “manage” her. While she does have two men in her life, Hunter Tafft and Detective Anarchy Jones, both try not to push Ellison too far and not to ever bring up the subject of marriage. They are patient men which is just what she needs, but they still voice their opinions about her staying out of these investigations, she just chooses not to listen to those opinions.

When the author penned this mystery I don’t think she could have imagined the creepy clown phenomena and attack the country would be experiencing today and that while the set in the past the theme is very current. Then again I have always thought clowns were pretty creepy and adding them to a mystery or a haunted house makes perfect sense.

The author has given us a dynamic mystery heavily dosed with humor. The characters are very realistic, in fact, Ellison’s mother reminds me a bit of my own mother. No, we were not part of the country club set, but her views on marriage mirrors that of my mother very closely. Like Ellison, I learned to adapt and knew how to handle my mother. Some of these situations had me laughing out loud and churning up memories.

If you need a break from today’s reality escape to the past with this book. You will love all the references to the old television shows and a time before everyone had their noses buried in their cell phones. This book is fun, exciting and rapidly paced with a nice romantic triangle. Once you started reading it will be hard to put it down.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this series...

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, okay, okay - I'll admit it, I'm crazy about this series. There are laugh out loud parts, great mysteries, well developed characters and interesting subplots. I always feel I read through them way too quickly. I never want them to end.

Only a couple of months to go for the next one in the series (already pre-ordered, of course!) Hurry, hurry!

[MeWriter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series and highly entertaining with lots of twists and laugh-out-loud moments!

[JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellison Russell is a widowed artist who lives in a suburb of Kansas City and belongs to the wealthy Country Club set of the 1970's. One night around Halloween her daughter Grace doesn't come home from an outing to a haunted house with friends, so she decides to go look for Grace herself. But during her excursion into the frightful place, she comes across a clown holding a bloody knife, who not only stumbles toward her, but appears to know her, calling her name and asking for help. When he collapses in front of her, the knife falling from his hand, it is only then she realizes that he is dying. Glancing up, she sees another clown, also armed, and he is heading her way. She is saved only by a group of girls who have entered the haunted house, and makes her way into the center of the circle, thereby saving herself.

Shaken, she calls Detective Anarchy Jones, who believes her even when they return to the room and find no body. But it is only a day or later when the body of Brooks Harney is discovered floating in a river. Brooks, it seems, is the lost black sheep of a wealthy local family who has apparently given him up ever since he became hooked on drugs and stole jewelry from them. What Ellison soon finds out, however, is that Brooks was apparently turning his life around - intending to graduate college and go into social work when he was killed.

But who wanted him dead, and why? That, literally, is the million dollar question. Was it his brother Robbie, who wanted nothing to do with him? His mother, who blames him for another child's death? His apparent widow, who wants his inheritance? Or someone else who just hasn't been discovered yet? While Ellison is trying to stay away from the situation it isn't easy - especially when three blood spattered business cards were found in the pocket of the trench coat she was wearing at the time - and one of them belongs to Hunter Tafft, an attorney who is also a trusted friend and suitor. When Ellison realizes that Brooks must have put the cards in her pocket when he fell on her, she chooses to keep Hunter's card - turning the two others over to Detective Jones.

Yet there are more surprises in store: when Ellison attends the Brooks' funeral, she discovers that the young man had a wife, a shrew named Stormy who is intending to stick around until she receives a supposed inheritance, and is under the mistaken impression that Ellison can obtain it for her; Ellison's father is having a rare argument with her (he thinks she needs a man to manage her) that has her wound up; her mother tells her with a change of attitude she can avoid finding dead bodies; and Anarchy Jones and Hunter Tafft are in fighting form as they vie for her attentions.

Even when Ellison tries to stay out of the investigation, she keeps getting pushed back in - but it isn't until Ellison decides to make a decision she's been avoiding for awhile that she begins to put the pieces together which will not only solve one puzzle, but may bring her face to face with a cold-blooded killer to solve a murder...

Once again, Ms. Mulhern has given us another delightful entry in this series; and just as delightful is the fact that the books keep getting better every time. The characters keep evolving, as well they should, and we learn more about them with every volume. In fact, it is a testament to the writing talent of Ms. Mulhern that her characters are so believable that even I would have a hard time choosing between either Tafft or Jones - but it sure is fun trying to figure out which one she'll eventually end up with - and even if it isn't doing her insides and her brain any good at all to waffle between them, I love reading about it.

As always, when the murderer is finally revealed and the questions are all answered, it comes a surprise, amid quite a clever plot. There are hints throughout, but hidden nicely and not easy to find, which gives us a very good mystery indeed. Highly recommended.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've made no secrets about my admiration for Julie Mulhern and the Country Club Mystery series. It's one that I will eagerly move to the top of my Read Next pile. I try to take my time reading, to savor each scene and chapter, but I always find myself engrossed and gobbling up the pages. Send in the Clowns is another stellar story and has only served to fuel my fascination with both this author and this series.

It's Halloween season, and Ellison's daughter, Grace, didn't come home from the local haunted house with her friends. Ellison goes to find Grace, weaving her way through the rooms and scenes along with dozens of titillated teens eager for a fright. Ellison soon finds herself alone in one room with two clowns. Tamping down her dread - honestly, who isn't afraid of clowns?! - Ellison asks the clowns if they've seen Grace; they don't answer. Rather, one of the clowns slowly advances toward Ellison, ultimately collapsing at her feet. At first, Ellison thinks the scene is part of the script, but the scent of blood is familiar and undeniable. When the second cloud says nothing - only leers menacingly - Ellison goes for help.

Enter Detective Anarchy Jones . . .

. . . and exit the body of one dead clown.

Much to the dismay of everyone in Ellison's life, the body resurfaces and Ellison finds herself hopelessly entangled in yet another murder investigation. As much as she would like to figure out who the man behind the clown makeup is, Ellison would also like to disentangle herself from the love triangle at which she is the center. Suave, sensitive, and smart Hunter Tafft is surely the right choice by society's standards. And yet, Detective Jones - rugged, sharp, and impossibly handsome with eyes the color of coffee - is the man who can set her heart racing.

Send in the Clowns is a five-star read. Clever and, at times, comical, with strikingly defined characters who practically walk off the pages into reality. Reading Julie Mulhern feels more like watching a movie, so vividly does she craft a scene. An excellent entry in the Country Club Murders series - one that has left this reader clamoring for more.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The year is 1974. The place is Kansas City, Missouri. The heroine is Ellison Russell and Ellison’s in love – with Mr. Coffee – the only man in her life she can count on and who doesn’t tell her what to do!

“I am woman hear me roar”….. Ellison is determined to be an independent woman. That the men in her life feel it is their duty to look after and “manage” their women men has Ellison constantly struggling to obey society expectations yet be self-sufficient and a role model to her daughter, Grace.

No cellphones in 1974 so when teenage Grace is out past her curfew and her friends all tell a worrying Ellison that they thought someone else was taking her home, it means Mom drives to The Gates of Hell Haunted House and face her fears of clowns.

Grace’s friend Camille’s brother, Brooks Harney, is the clown who dies in front of Ellison. Brooks slips 3 bloody business cards into her coat pocket: an accountant’s card, a banker’s card and on for lawyer Hunter Tafft, Ellison’s country club romantic interest.

I love the 1974 nostalgia – Gunsmoke and Maude on TV, a Grand Torino car, no women on the golf course before noon rule. The author naming the burglary detectives Gilbert & Sullivan was a good chuckle.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery and look forward to many more in this series!

I received a copy of this book through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Send in the Clowns even more than the earlier books which is saying a great deal! They are all fabulous. While I would have no interest in living in Allison's country club world, I think she is someone that I could be friends with. Julie Mulhern has, in fact, created that world in a way that I can feel a part of it. I find the people around her fascinating even if I don't love all of them, the men Libba dates come to mind. The 1970's will be as fun for most readers as for me, even for those who did not live through it, with the styles of clothes, TV shows, and diverse attitudes; no reader will feel lost except for those who can't get past the characters not having cell phones. Even Ellison's need to solve the murder gives rise to the sexist attitudes of the time and her rebellion against them. The plot is intelligent, reasonable, and a bit heart touching as each of the earlier ones have been, and Ellison has as much heart as she does curiosity. The book is an experience to be lived!

It is a small thing but such a delightful example of Ms. Mulhern's wit that she has named the old witch next door Margaret Hamilton, after the actress best know for her role as the Wicked Witch of the West.

[Paula Ratcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows Ellison Russell who is trying to figure out where her daughter disappeared when she went to a haunted house what she didn't count on was finding a clown dying on her add to that the clown knew who Ellison is and a menacing clown laughing in the background. Who killed the clown and who is he?

As the investigation proceeds the body of the clown turns out to be Brooks Harney who left long ago. Brooks had also shoved cards into Ellison's jacket which turn up later and Ellison finds herself wanting to find out who killed Brooks and why? While this is going on Ellison has no shortage of suitors but finds she's only ready for one love interest Mr. Coffee of course her father doesn't help by telling Ellison she needs a man to marry.

I love this book and this series especially as it takes place in the 80's and things were different, not a lot of cell phones and more face to face interactions. More going out and doing things or interacting with families etc. I loved how Ellison let's her dad know that she is grown woman and that she's not a little girl anymore and can take care of herself. Can't wait to see what is next for the Russell clan!

[Viccy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellison Russell shed her philandering husband. She seems to make a bad habit of finding bodies, so her friend, Detective Anarchy Jones, is not surprised when she calls him to say she has found another body at The Gates of Hell, a local Halloween haunted house. But when he arrives, the body is gone. However, this clown died in Ellison's arms and there was another clown in the room as well. She recognizes the dead clown as a local boy who ran away several years ago after being in and out of rehab for his heroin addiction. Now Ellison must call on all her savvy to question her country club friends as well as the clown's widow and sleazy brother. Charming setting in 1970s Kansas City, along with a protagonist who is struggling to learn her own place in the world, without a husband or depending on another man.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great series, full of well developed characters and enough twists and turns in the mystery to keep me guessing all the way to the end. It's Halloween and Ellison is in search of her daughter, Grace, who hasn't returned from the haunted house. What she does find? a menacing clown and another clown...dead. Then missing. Then back again. Back into the thick of it, Ellison seems to attract crimes and crime scenes. Add parents who want her to find the right man, one who will take care of her, as it should be circa 1970, several love interests to juggle and another murder to unravel, this, the fourth book in this delightful cozy series, met all of my standards for an outstanding mystery series.
My thanks to Henery Press and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Bookish_predator · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Country Club Murders series that I've read and I loved it as much as I did the 3rd book (which was the first one I read).

Ellison Russell is a strong, funny and smart female character who knows her own mind and loves her family. I always enjoy getting back into her world to see how she develops.

I enjoyed the mystery as it involved killer clowns and I love me some killer clowns (Pennywise being my favourite obvs) in a book!

Will be keeping my eye out for the rest of the books in this series as I need to read them all and have them available for re-reads when I need a strong female character to give me a boost.

*Huge thanks to Julie Mulhern, Henery Press and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own*

[Stacie Haden · Rating 5 out of 5]

So satisfying. On to the 5th in this wonderful series!

[Rosemary Standeven · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so comforting to dive into a new book in a much-loved series. The characters are like long lost friends, whose company you get to enjoy again after an extended break. Ellison Russell is back with ever competent and overly colourful housekeeper, Aggie; the indomitable mother, Frances Walford; her over-protective father; Max, the dog; Grace, the teenage daughter; Libba, the friend with dodgy taste in men; and the three men in her life: Hunter Tafft, Anarchy Jones and Mr Coffee.
As usual, I was hooked from the opening paragraph: “I’ve tripped over a body. I’ve run over a body. I’ve even swum into a body. I never imagined one would fall on me”. Of course, it would not be a Country Club murder without a dead body, and of course, it would have to be someone that Ellison knew. You get the feeling, that being known by Ellison Russell gives you a similar life-expectancy to the inhabitants of Midsomer (Inspector Barnaby).
The book is full of the usual wit, and the unusual situations in which Ellison finds herself – this time a ‘haunted house’: “Ahead of me a group of girls shrieked that high-pitched squeal unique to teenagers and heroines in horror movies … Turns out almost middle-aged women can achieve that high-pitched squeal as well”.
Frances Walford is not always on top form in this book, as the strains in her family wear her down. But she still has some great ‘tour de force’ scenes: “Mother didn’t need an invitation. She went where she wanted with the force of a mile-wide tornado”; “Mother’s response was a sharp intake of breath. Her eyes narrowed. Her shoulders squared. Boadicea stood ready for battle in my driveway”. She is not a lady that you would EVER want to mess with – even when she is distracted.
Ellison is still unable to choose between Hunter and Anarchy. Having had one appalling husband, she is loathe to take a risk on a second. Besides which, she is becoming increasingly independent, and does not need a man to “manage” her. Like many readers, I am plumping for Anarchy Jones (“We entered the kitchen where Anarchy had resumed his slouchy, arms crossed, brown eyes more seductive than coffee pose”). However, I almost feel that once Ellison makes a choice, some of the magic of the books will be lost. Mr Coffee alone has Ellison’s whole heart.
Meanwhile, Libba is continuing her run of totally inappropriate consorts, newly grounded Grace has a similarly ill-advised infatuation, and other characters also fall short of Ellison’s approval of their paramours: “Really, what could be more fun than an affair with a man half your age? Influenza came to mind”.
“Send in the Clowns” is a captivating and witty read, that like all the other in the series, leaves you desperate for the next instalment.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

The problem with binging these books is I'm now three books ahead of this one and they're starting to run together. There were a few things about the mystery plot that didn't quite fit for me, but as evidenced by the fact that I'm already on book 7, I am enjoying this universe a lot.

[Cheryl Maggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story rocks

This is one I will read again. The writing is crisp, mature and more character-driven. The series itself shows a confident writer who is sure of her characters and trusts them. It shows.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just cannot tell how much I love this author and these characters. Witty, action-packed, twists, and fun!

[Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to enjoy this series and I continue to wish each book was about 50 pages longer. There just always seem to be loose ends for each case that I wish we’d touch on again there at the end. But I really have few complaints overall.

I love Ellison continuing to find her voice and her footing in her relationships with her parents and her potential suitors. It feels very right for the time period and for the kind of life she has lived up until now.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

They just get better and better! Love this series!