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Reporter Roland Bean #5
Happy Birthday Murder
Make a wish for ... murder?
When reporter Roland Bean turns the big three-oh, his wife throws him, and his fraternal twin sister Robyn, a huge birthday bash.
The festive occasion is lively and fun until a fight between his sister and her boyfriend ends the night on a sour note. Beanie decides to console Robyn but almost hits a man staggering in the road as he drives to her townhouse.
A man who turns out to be Robyn’s boyfriend and what’s worse, he’s been shot.
The boyfriend’s dying words shake Beanie to his Robyn ... shot ... me.
Refusing to believe his twin sister killed a man, Beanie vows to use his investigative skills to prove her innocence.
He discovers plenty of suspects as he delves into the doctor’s dirty dealings, but can he solve the case before the killer makes him the next victim?
Happy Birthday Murder is a cozy murder mystery novel. With lots of clues and red herrings, it features plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end! Get your copy today!
When reporter Roland Bean turns the big three-oh, his wife throws him, and his fraternal twin sister Robyn, a huge birthday bash.
The festive occasion is lively and fun until a fight between his sister and her boyfriend ends the night on a sour note. Beanie decides to console Robyn but almost hits a man staggering in the road as he drives to her townhouse.
A man who turns out to be Robyn’s boyfriend and what’s worse, he’s been shot.
The boyfriend’s dying words shake Beanie to his Robyn ... shot ... me.
Refusing to believe his twin sister killed a man, Beanie vows to use his investigative skills to prove her innocence.
He discovers plenty of suspects as he delves into the doctor’s dirty dealings, but can he solve the case before the killer makes him the next victim?
Happy Birthday Murder is a cozy murder mystery novel. With lots of clues and red herrings, it features plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end! Get your copy today!
235 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 24, 2021
381 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
August 2, 2024
I gave the book three stars because it was actually a decent murder mystery book. If it wouldn't have continued on with the whole Dr. Liz. Adam's and Dr. Henry Montague. Then I would have given it four stars, but that was annoying me so bad that it took away from the storyline. I know I'm not the only person that goes through that. Where something drives them nuts in a book and it kind of stays with them, so that's me, and that's the story. I don't know if I would read another book by this author knowing that they're as repetitive as what they are, but if they were not repetitive like that, then I would read another story.
August 12, 2022
This didn't really do it for me. I loved the setting and the basis of the plot but somehow I spent a lot of time thinking 'Why would you do that?'. Every character also pinched the bridge of their nose when thinking - a lot. It didn't really, for me, fulfill the criteria of cozy.
November 10, 2022
I love Beanie, the reporter/amateur sleuth. I love his family and learning about the culture of the Carribean. And I like that I don't find out who dun it till the end! Thanks Rachel!
July 14, 2022
Siblings supporting each other.
I found the first chapters to be slow but there was something that said "keep going" so I did. That was a good decision the rest of the book grew in anticipation and excitement. By the end I was hooked. I think my next purchase may be the series. Yeah its that good!
I found the first chapters to be slow but there was something that said "keep going" so I did. That was a good decision the rest of the book grew in anticipation and excitement. By the end I was hooked. I think my next purchase may be the series. Yeah its that good!
October 5, 2021
The 30th birthday celebrations of twins Beanie and Robyn are disrupted when a disgruntled ex arrives uninvited. Worse still is the late-night SOS call from Robyn to Beanie calling him to her house to deal with an intruder. But the absolute icing on the nightmare cake of a birthday party is Beanie almost hitting Robyn's dying boyfriend as he races to his twin's aid. With Robyn under suspicion for the man's death, Beanie must use his abilities as a reporter to track down the person responsible for the crime.
I loved the setting for the book and all of the island vibes. The characters were all quite interesting; although one or two rubbed me the wrong way, they had their own personalities that helped to fire the story. I felt that the mystery itself was a fairly easy solve if (and only if!) you paid attention to the very subtle clue the author inserted early on. I felt as though I ploughed into this series in the middle - as per usual - but there was enough detail for me to comfortably pick up the relationships that bound the plot together.
Recommended.
I loved the setting for the book and all of the island vibes. The characters were all quite interesting; although one or two rubbed me the wrong way, they had their own personalities that helped to fire the story. I felt that the mystery itself was a fairly easy solve if (and only if!) you paid attention to the very subtle clue the author inserted early on. I felt as though I ploughed into this series in the middle - as per usual - but there was enough detail for me to comfortably pick up the relationships that bound the plot together.
Recommended.
July 9, 2022
It was an easy read. Not too complicated at all. Breezy and fun, but I was entirely irritated by Beanie's internal and external insistence that his sister, Robyn, was innocent. All signs pointed to the seemingly obvious fact that she murdered her husband. The dead man's dying words to Beanie were literally "Robyn shot me." Robyn later admitted to firing the murder weapon at him and also errantly in the night when she thought there may be an intruder. The gun she was firing was literally the murder weapon! The video footage even heavily suggested it was her. But nope, Beanie wouldn't waver. His sister simply wouldn't do that. Even though these popped up throughout the book:
Beanie thinking about a doctor: Throughout his years of covering crime and homicides, beanie had learned that people were capable of anything. Even good doctors who cared for mothers and infants could be diabolical under certain circumstances.
Beanie when thinking that mag Flo didn't look like a killer: anyone could put a bullet between someone's eyes under the wrong circumstances.
So if he believes all that, that anybody could be a killer, why not his sister? And it wasn't even just sibling love or whatever, because his wife also said...
Noelle to Beanie: "do you think Robyn shot Henry?" Asked Noelle, staring at him. "Because that's crazy. Your sister didn't kill Henry."
I was starting to think that literally no amount of evidence could convince him that his sister COULD have killed her boyfriend. Then this happens...
Beanie about Robyn: no amount of evidence could convince him that his sister was guilty.
Yup. It was just stupid. Bothered me enough to give the book 2 stars when it otherwise would have been 3.5 had he just been realistic and considered the POSSIBILITY that his sister did it.
Beanie thinking about a doctor: Throughout his years of covering crime and homicides, beanie had learned that people were capable of anything. Even good doctors who cared for mothers and infants could be diabolical under certain circumstances.
Beanie when thinking that mag Flo didn't look like a killer: anyone could put a bullet between someone's eyes under the wrong circumstances.
So if he believes all that, that anybody could be a killer, why not his sister? And it wasn't even just sibling love or whatever, because his wife also said...
Noelle to Beanie: "do you think Robyn shot Henry?" Asked Noelle, staring at him. "Because that's crazy. Your sister didn't kill Henry."
I was starting to think that literally no amount of evidence could convince him that his sister COULD have killed her boyfriend. Then this happens...
Beanie about Robyn: no amount of evidence could convince him that his sister was guilty.
Yup. It was just stupid. Bothered me enough to give the book 2 stars when it otherwise would have been 3.5 had he just been realistic and considered the POSSIBILITY that his sister did it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2022
A complex murder mystery with unexpected twists and turns set in the exotic Palmchat Islands. Investigative Reporter Roland Bean (aka Beanie) and his twin sister Robyn are celebrating their thirtieth birthday with a huge birthday bash thrown by Rolland’s wife Noelle. The party is in full swing with all their friends and Robyn’s boyfriend cardiologist Dr. Henry Montague, whom she met when he sublet a room of his elegant townhouse to her, when in walks Henry’s ex-girlfriend Dr. Elizabeth Adams, screaming vengeance. Hours later after the guests depart, Beanie receives a call for help from his sister, who fears that someone as broken into her home. Noelle and Beanie rush to her aid and almost crash into a man staggering across the road. When they stop to investigate, they find that the man dying of a gunshot wound is none other than Dr. Henry. Then begins an investigation, which raises doubts, despair, staunch loyalty, contemptuous police officials and also helpful ones, a tangled web, indeed. An interesting read with more to come as this is one of a series on festive murders solved by Beanie, the amateur detective.
June 2, 2022
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery once I got into it.
The only thing(s) that kept me from giving this five stars was that it did take me some time and effort to get into this story and to connect with the characters enough that I worried about what might happen to them. In addition, I felt like there was a little too much talk/drama surrounding Beanie's wife's family's connection with the mob.
I won't give any serious spoilers, but I will say that some of the mob stuff did end up being important to understand everything in the story, and I did end up caring about the fate of the characters.
The killer in this one surprised me, and I didn't figure out who it was until I was about 85% into the book. All in all, I recommend this cozy mystery to anyone who is a fan of the genre.
The only thing(s) that kept me from giving this five stars was that it did take me some time and effort to get into this story and to connect with the characters enough that I worried about what might happen to them. In addition, I felt like there was a little too much talk/drama surrounding Beanie's wife's family's connection with the mob.
I won't give any serious spoilers, but I will say that some of the mob stuff did end up being important to understand everything in the story, and I did end up caring about the fate of the characters.
The killer in this one surprised me, and I didn't figure out who it was until I was about 85% into the book. All in all, I recommend this cozy mystery to anyone who is a fan of the genre.
November 14, 2021
This is the first time reading this author. The main characters are Beanie and his twin Robyn Beanie throws a big party for him and his sister's 30th birthday. As the party ends, Robyn and her boyfriend get surprise visit from his crazy ex. They head home and within a few hours Robyn calls asks Beanie to stop over and on the way he almost runs down the boyfriend on the way. The boyfriend has been shot and he dies as they wait for the cops. Of course it all looks like Robyn did it except she didn't. While looking for answers they find out the boyfriend was a blackmailer, worked for the mob and there is a dirty cop involved as well. Can they figure out what really happened before it's too late for Robyn ?
Read
March 9, 2022Beanie's sister's boyfriend is murdered and his sister is the prime suspect. Can he clear her name?
This was a competently written mystery – I think I just wasn't the target audience. I didn't like Robyn and I found Beanie frustrating. But I think what really didn't work for me personally was that the story seemed to be underpinned by the idea that the ultimate achievement in life is to get married and have babies.
This was a competently written mystery – I think I just wasn't the target audience. I didn't like Robyn and I found Beanie frustrating. But I think what really didn't work for me personally was that the story seemed to be underpinned by the idea that the ultimate achievement in life is to get married and have babies.
May 12, 2022
Robyn and Beanie's 30th birthday ends up being memorable for all the wrong reasons. First Robyn's boyfriend's ex disrupts the festivities in a drunken state, then she thinks there's an intruder in the house. When Beanie rushes over to help in the middle of the night, he almost hits a gunshot victim who ends up being said boyfriend whose last words points the finger at Robyn.
Even with this being my first read in this series, it was easy to catch up and be a good standalone.
Even with this being my first read in this series, it was easy to catch up and be a good standalone.
October 19, 2021
This was a fast-paced, suspenseful read, that I found I did not want to put down! The story was original and exciting with characters that were realistic and likable. It is everything you could want in a delightful whodunit that keeps you guessing.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
May 31, 2022
Exciting murder mystery that kept me guessing til nearer the end of the story. What should have been a fun filled 30th turned into a nightmare for Robyn and her twin Beanie, an investigative reporter who is determined to prove his sister's Innocence. Not an easy task as I doubted her innocence throughout myself!
Exciting action filled read.
Exciting action filled read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2022
Roland Bean is an investigative reporter who has an informant that has ties to the mob. Rolands twin sister is accused of murdering her boyfriend but Roland doesnt believe she did it even when all the evidence is showing she did.
A great little mystery that has you guessing and figuring out the clues along side Roland. I Would read another one in this series, very enjoyable.
A great little mystery that has you guessing and figuring out the clues along side Roland. I Would read another one in this series, very enjoyable.
October 2, 2021
Entertaining story.
The Detective seems to have it in for Roland Bean's family - previously Roland's wife was arrested for murder and now his twin sister.
The story has twists and a variety of suspects.
I kinda guessed about half way through - but I was questioning my choice.
The Detective seems to have it in for Roland Bean's family - previously Roland's wife was arrested for murder and now his twin sister.
The story has twists and a variety of suspects.
I kinda guessed about half way through - but I was questioning my choice.
October 20, 2021
3 stars might be generous. This is a weak story told poorly or maybe that's what a "cozy" mystery is supposed to be. Weak characters. Actually most of them act stupidly making this whole story unrealistic. Won't be reading the sequels.
January 6, 2022
This was my first read from the author. It took me a while to get into the meat of teh book but then it picked up speed and what a surprised ending. Roland was trying to help his sister Robyn who was suspected of being a murderer. Not all things are what you think they may be.
January 10, 2022
A real page turner.
This is one not.to be missed
I was hooked and gripped from the first page and could,nt put this down.
Just when you.think you have it sussed the whole thing turns around.
This is great mystery and a real who dunnit.
This is one not.to be missed
I was hooked and gripped from the first page and could,nt put this down.
Just when you.think you have it sussed the whole thing turns around.
This is great mystery and a real who dunnit.
Read
February 12, 2022Twins are not required....
Liked the idea that even though they were twin, they could operate on their own. Granted it got in the way being so independent. Wouldn't have been a better story if they couldn't separate themselves from each other's invisible bond.
Liked the idea that even though they were twin, they could operate on their own. Granted it got in the way being so independent. Wouldn't have been a better story if they couldn't separate themselves from each other's invisible bond.
February 18, 2022
Good story. The only thing I don’t like is his sister. She has such a bad attitude towards Noelle. I don’t like Robyn one bit, she’s annoying, ungrateful, and expects everyone to drop everything and come running to her aid. Otherwise wishing she was the culprit the book was good. Happy Reading :)
February 20, 2022
Twins Beanie and Robyn celebrate their 30th birthday and an unstable ex of Robyn's boyfriend crashes the party. Later that night he ends up dead and Robyn is the main suspect. Beanie is determined to use his investigative skills to find out the truth that happened that night.
February 28, 2022
This book definitely kept me entertained the whole time and I kept reading because I needed to know what happened next. I finished it in one sitting! Can't wait to read the other books from this series.
March 3, 2022
Surprised
I was derailed from the suspect a couple of times until I realized who it actually was by a certain clue, I still wasn't 100% sure, but was 99.5% sure who it actually was.
I was derailed from the suspect a couple of times until I realized who it actually was by a certain clue, I still wasn't 100% sure, but was 99.5% sure who it actually was.
June 9, 2022
A doctor is murdered on an Caribbean Island. The twin sister of the protagonist is the main suspect. The cops are mostly incompetent.
In the middle of the book, the file ended. You can't have a mystery without a solution.
In the middle of the book, the file ended. You can't have a mystery without a solution.
August 11, 2022
Birthday ending
The twins turn 30 and murder enters there life. Humor and mishaps comb through the book . The ending was a bit of a surprise character. Enjoyed the flow of the book with the strange characters
The twins turn 30 and murder enters there life. Humor and mishaps comb through the book . The ending was a bit of a surprise character. Enjoyed the flow of the book with the strange characters
March 13, 2023
Woods’ Books Always A Good Read
No matter which series you pick up by Rachel Woods, you always get great story lines and interesting characters. Can’t wait for the next one of hers I will read!
No matter which series you pick up by Rachel Woods, you always get great story lines and interesting characters. Can’t wait for the next one of hers I will read!
March 26, 2023
To be honest, with all of the hang ups about age in the first chapters, I expected the author to be much younger.
This story did not really grab me. I found it a little wordy — too many comments made that had nothing to do with the story.
This story did not really grab me. I found it a little wordy — too many comments made that had nothing to do with the story.
September 27, 2023
decent read!
I definitely thought that his sister robyn was the killer, but after a while I started to get really suspicious of detective green. He always seemed to be around and then erased footage, come on , dead giveaway! I enjoyed this book! 👍🏾
I definitely thought that his sister robyn was the killer, but after a while I started to get really suspicious of detective green. He always seemed to be around and then erased footage, come on , dead giveaway! I enjoyed this book! 👍🏾
December 20, 2024
Decent but I did figure out the killer
This story was okay. It was not a terrible book but it didn't quite pull me all the way in. However I did guess the identity of the killer in the last 40 pages of the book.
This story was okay. It was not a terrible book but it didn't quite pull me all the way in. However I did guess the identity of the killer in the last 40 pages of the book.
October 9, 2021
Fun read with lots of clues so you’re able to have a guess at the bad guy! Did you figure it out before Beanie?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews