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Ruby Roy and The Murder in the Falls

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Amazon Bestseller. A hilarious comedy wrapped up in a mystery with an adorable amateur female sleuth of color you’ll fall in love with.

Dr. Ruby Roy is a goofy, warm, and absent-minded professor in her third year at Baron University, located a few miles from the Falls. Cursed with an overactive imagination stemming from watching too many Bollywood and Disney films, Ruby is struggling to make her mark and stay out of trouble.

It doesn't help matters that she keeps stumbling into a series of embarrassing incidents, even as she desperately tries to keep her superiors in the College happy. Unfortunately for Ruby, things take a turn for the worse when she discovers her Chair's dead body in his office. But who could have killed him? And why? And why does the Detective investigating the case look like a famous Hollywood actor?

Suddenly all the Poirot, Marple, Sherlock Holmes, and Father Brown books she loves reading seem to have come to life as she finds herself in the middle of a real-life murder mystery. And with the murderer on the loose, no one is safe. With the help of her husband, Cleo, her very own Watson, Ruby tries to solve the mystery before she is next on the killer's list!

232 pages, Paperback

Published May 2, 2022

95 people are currently reading
7811 people want to read

About the author

Rima Ray

4 books183 followers
Rima Ray is a Reader’s Digest and Amazon #1 bestselling Asian Canadian-American author and professor. She spent her childhood moving across the globe with her parents, growing up in Japan, Kuwait, Qatar, India, the Philippines, Canada, and the United States.

A survivor of both the First Gulf War in Kuwait and the 2011 triple disaster in Japan, Rima brings her global perspective to her thrillers and mysteries. These days she leads a more peaceful life crafting stories from her home in Pittsburgh.

When she’s not plotting her next novel, Rima enjoys reading, savoring Asian cuisine, and studying languages—she speaks four and is currently learning Korean and Japanese. She lives with her family and her two cats, Million and Nobel and dog Mira, who graciously let her share their home (as long as the treats keep coming).

Follow Rima on Instagram @rima_ray_author for writing updates, character sketches, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 392 reviews
Profile Image for Lucia Maranghello.
422 reviews9 followers
June 18, 2022
Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls is already my favorite book of the month. I always love finding a book that makes me laugh or relate to it so badly.

Ruby Roy is a New Yorker in her thirties that wears thick glasses, and she doesn't want to admit that she actually needs them. She has an eccentric personality and teaches at the Business School in Baron University.
The thing about Ruby is that she's a character very much relatable to all of us book nerds, or at least from my point of view. She loves reading, especially detective novels like Sherlock Holmes, and adores her hilarious husband, Cleo.
The plot began with a murder in her university, up to a dramatic start, in which case the chair of Baron is the curious victim. Ruby starts getting curious about the case and becomes to think that she has Sherlock Holmes's ability to solve it. To add even more suspense, the police, the detective in charge of the case and the other parties involved look too much alike to the characters she reads in her books. How couldn't she try to solve the mysterious case?

What I love about this book is the easy dynamic it has to the story. By this, I mean that the events of the story go right to the point and lead to the end in a very simplistic and fun way. Which is something I love greatly about books, especially suspense books, since when there is too much thinking or talking, you can get lost in the plot, and it's hard to keep track of the story.
In regard to the writing, I thought of it as fun and comfortable. I had fun along the way of reading this book, as well as getting hooked on even more as I turn the pages.

All in all, this book can offer you laughs, a lot of laughs, and also, a relatable character that takes you too much to home. Let's hear more of awesome, humorous, relatable books in the future!
Profile Image for Janice.
1,583 reviews60 followers
March 2, 2024
The premise of this book, and the central character sounded really good, but I read over half of it and just couldn't get invested in her or the story. Maybe it just wasn't the right time for me to read this one.
Profile Image for Amanda.
1,205 reviews2 followers
August 2, 2022
I was immediately drawn in by the cover as it reminded me of Carmen Sandiego. This is the author’s debut novel and it was such a fun book with a bit of mystery. I think this is what’s called a cozy mystery, except I laughed out loud at several parts.

Ruby is smart and a little neurotic. She loves her mystery shows. I’m pretty sure she listed all my favorites 🤣.

The characters were so diverse and felt authentic. It was lovely to see different ethnicities represented that didn’t feel stereo-typical or white washed.

I look forward to reading more of Ruby Roy’s adventures.

1 review
May 2, 2022
Funny, super enjoyable book. I really loved the character of Ruby Roy!! And the whole story was super interesting. So glad, I got an early copy of the book to review. Cannot wait to read the next one!!
Profile Image for Meg.
2,388 reviews34 followers
July 28, 2022
2.5 stars. This one was a skimmer for me. Ruby is an eccentric professor who is clumsy and awkward and worries a lot. She has a constantly running inner monologue that many reviewers found to be cute, funny and charming but that I found to be twee and annoying. She stumbles on her department chair stabbed dead in his office and is immediately conked on the head. She has an instant crush on the detective because she thinks that he looks like Captain America. That coupled with the inner monologue thing made the whole encounter cringeworthy. We are told about several associate and junior professors in the department who we do not get to know at all. There are so many names thrown at the reader all at once that it is difficult to keep them all straight. Since this is written during the pandemic, they have a zoom Halloween party and the new chair is strangled to death on screen! Ruby cracks the case by examining the video in close detail and noticing that one participant was airing a video of herself instead of participating live so she had the opportunity to slip out and kill the new chair. She killed them both because the old chair had an affair with her sister when she was a student and then he dumped her and he conspired with the new chair to get her expelled for cheating and then her sister killed herself. The book was so superficial and there was no character development at all so I really could not care less who died and who killed them. The main character was based on the author so I am sorry that I did not like her more but I found her to be trying too hard to be quirky that it just felt contrived. I don't think that I will be continuing on with the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for James W.
223 reviews14 followers
May 9, 2022
‘Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls,’ by Rima Ray, is a highly-entertaining comedic page-turner masquerading as an old-school whodunnit.

At first glance, Ruby Roy has a lot going for her. Three years into her stint as an associate professor at the prestigious Baron University, the only child has done well to make her parents proud. Unfortunately, all is not as it appears, thanks in large part to Ruby’s penchant for embarrassing herself at the worst possible moments. With her sights set on earning tenure, the last thing Ruby needs is a distraction, which makes the dead body she finds in her office a horribly inconvenient situation. To make matters worse, the body in question belongs to her department chair. When the police begin asking questions, Ruby decides to take matters into her own hands. Armed with little more than a lifelong obsession for police procedurals, Ruby dives headfirst into the case that is anything but what it seems.

‘Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls’ has so much going for it, but the novel’s character-centric plot may initially underwhelm those hoping for a hard-boiled clue-fest. Unlike a traditional murder/mystery, Ray has crafted an easily-distracted protagonist that is, by all accounts, ill-suited to the P.I. lifestyle. But for those willing to check those pesky expectations, a highly-amusing read awaits. Of course, at the center of it all is Ruby. While ‘Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls’ is Ray’s debut release, there’s an earned authenticity to her central character that’s undeniable. Perhaps Ruby is a work of fiction, or maybe she’s inspired by Ray’s personal story. Either way, she’s memorable in all the ways that matter.

Sure, there are a few hiccups here and there—the author occasionally gets a little long-winded in the exposition department—but overall, Ray's voice as an author is distinctly her own. Obviously, mileage will vary when it comes to ‘Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls,’ but for my money, this is a fantastic debut from a talented writer.
Profile Image for Ashley Mitchell.
441 reviews10 followers
May 19, 2022
solid female protagonist as backbone

Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls is the debut novel of Rima Ray, and first novel in the series introducing the character, Ruby Roy. From the start, I appreciated the alliteration and similarities between the names of both author and protagonist–a professor at Baron University. The walls of Dr. Ruby Roy’s life start to crumble as the Chair is found dead in her office, and police start to draw conclusions. Ruby takes to her own investigation while under police scrutiny.
I like that this is a modern detective tale with a female protagonist who feels so relatable yet maintains all the qualities of the classic heroine. The author is great at characterization—I felt a connection to Ruby, both incorporations of her Canadian and Indian roots and her mannerisms.
One of my favorite parts, and pause here for slight spoilers, is the complexity of the emotions woven into the story. I felt a jolt listening to
Shawna’s account of Peter, the Chair found murdered in Ruby’s office, and the abrupt shift in my feelings toward him. Just using that as an example, these kinds of things being revealed during Ruby and Cleo’s interrogations made for an enjoyable, suspenseful mystery.
Knowing that the author is working on the next Ruby Roy book already has me anxious to read Ruby Roy and the Hawaiian Mystery, when it comes out. There’s a sneak peak of it at the end of The Murder in the Falls, and I nearly yelled at the cliff-drop ending.
Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls, by Rima Ray, is great mystery writing with a couple fun, light moments mixed in and made for an easy, smooth read. The similarities between the author and protagonist, both in name and occupation was another fun add-on. And as all the best mysteries, the twist at the end is well pulled off. I highly recommend this for young (in age and at heart) female mystery readers.
Profile Image for Sachi Ito.
536 reviews13 followers
August 1, 2022
Ruby Roy is described as a down-to-earth average woman. She is smart but quirky and enjoys Bollywood and Disney films. She is a professor at Baron University who is just trying to stay out of trouble, but trouble always catches up with her. Ruby finds her chair’s dead body in his office and gets roped into assisting the investigators with finding his killer.

Author Rima Ray has created a character that will be relatable to many readers as she is portrayed as a “regular person.” Ruby doesn’t have magical powers or the ability to make men do whatever she asks of them, but you still can’t help but love her character. Her husband Cleo is another character that I found to be charming, and I loved that he supported Ruby in her crazy ventures. I also enjoyed that the author included diversity in her book as we hear of Ruby’s Indian and Canadian roots. This is a classic case of “who dunnit” and you are invited to join Ruby and solve the mystery. If the characters weren’t enough to keep me hooked, the mystery alone was enough to have me flying through the pages. During the funeral, we are introduced to a few more interesting characters. The descriptions of the characters are so detailed that you can really get a visual of what everyone looks like. I chuckled every time there was a comparison between someone and of a celebrity. I was so involved in the story that I felt bad for Ruby when she started having nightmares especially since she has an overactive imagination, to begin with. There is an interesting plot twist that I was not expecting but it was a nice surprise.

Ruby Roy and The Murder in the Falls is a read that will have you on your toes and immediately smiling after. I highly recommend this charming mystery novel to those who are looking for a light and smooth read.
8 reviews
July 21, 2022
Well....

The description of a hilarious comedy is a misnomer. I didn't find it funny at all. It started off well-written but I found the background for the characters too detailed as well as too many ethnicities. After the first one-sided conversation Ruby had with herself I skipped the others. In fact, I started skipping much at the 50% range just so I could find out"who dun it". The reader will never be able to do that as clues weren't disclosed. Very disappointing, it seemed promising. I won't be reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Jd.
621 reviews3 followers
July 20, 2022
Bogus Synopsis

The synopsis was bogus; used just to get you to read the book. She was never a suspect and she didn't start to investigate until you were 70% into the book.
The writer goes on and on about insignificant things. I mean come on 3 pages talking about your cats. Humorous this book was not. There was only one laugh out loud moment. The one likeable character was Cleo.
Definitely will not read anymore of this series.
Profile Image for Christa Vander.
Author 2 books3 followers
May 15, 2022
"Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls" is a must-read for mystery lovers and comedy fanatics alike. This book actually had me laughing out loud, especially during the detective interrogation scene. Ruby is such a delightful and quirky character, and I loved hearing about her failed attempts at keeping a low profile.

While some books fall short in that they rely too much on the literary device of telling (as opposed to showing), I was wowed at how Ruby’s asides added to the plot, her character development, and the humor of the book in a way that felt organic. This book is a perfect example for aspiring writers of how writing style can effectively mirror a character’s personality.

And what else? I was enthralled by the ending of this book because my predictions of whodunnit and how were entirely wrong. Which is to say, Ray did a fantastic job of keeping me guessing. I also adored how this book ended on a cliffhanger that will almost certainly result in another "Ruby Roy" mystery.

I took a star off my rating for a few reasons. The first is that I found some of the dialogue in this book to be a little awkward. I understand that many of the characters in this story are academics, but the lack of contractions in the dialogue left some conversations feeling too formal and a tad unrealistic. Additionally, the passage of time in the first part of chapter 9 had me a bit lost, as it was stated that Ruby was waiting for her outfit to be delivered around 5:00 p.m., but then suddenly it was 2:00 p.m. and Ruby’s outfit had arrived. Perhaps this discrepancy was simply a grammatical error, but it did leave me confused in regard to the timestamp preceding the Halloween party.

But as a whole, I was delighted by Rima Ray’s debut novel, and I look forward to following Ruby on her next adventure. I only hope that Ruby’s eccentric outfits and her much-needed glasses accompany her.









65 reviews
August 3, 2022
Bursting onto the scene of the mystery genre is Ruby Roy, an eccentric and excitable young professor at Baron University. With her own unique style, she makes her way through university life. With its ups and downs, she finds successes and embarrassments and makes great relationships with some of her fellow staff. She is simply trying to survive working at the university, up until the moment she finds her Chair dead. Suddenly, she finds herself in the middle of one of the mystery novels she loves so much. Brought into questioning, the real fun begins as we start to see the story unfold. Who killed her Chair? Who was there on the stairs? Will Ruby be able to solve the case without herself becoming a victim?

From the beginning of the book, Ruby takes you on a mad dash of adventure, an overactive imagination, and a humorous take on the everyday. The effervescent personality of Ruby hooks you from the beginning and keeps you hooked throughout. It was seriously hard to put this one down. The descriptions of Ruby's mannerisms and the supporting character’s interactions paint a vivid picture that stands out.

Rima Ray's take on the comedic mystery was refreshing and a delight to read. Breaking away from the norms of the serious detective, or the overly meticulous investigator, it was fun to read a story bringing a heroine that is at once clumsy and comical, but also relatable and able to deal with tragedy. Ray has taken a great amount of care in crafting and developing her story. She sprinkled in clues and hints that a perceptive reader can pick up, while still providing a twist at the end that caught me off guard. All too often the twist and killer come out of nowhere and makes no sense in the story, but Rima made sure that didn't happen here. I can't wait to see where Rima takes Ruby next, the adventure awaits!
Profile Image for Book Reviewer.
4,455 reviews396 followers
June 10, 2022
Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls follows Dr. Ruby Roy through her first real-life murder mystery. Ruby is a twenty-nine-year-old college professor at Baron University. She’s absent-minded, has an overactive imagination, and is a lover of mystery. As a junior professor, she wants to make sure she doesn’t rock the boat so she can make tenure, but when she finds her Chair dead, she fears for her life.

Author Rima Ray has given readers a female sleuth that they are sure to fall in love with. She’s sharp, quirky, absent-minded and has an imagination that gets away from her. Ruby is the type of protagonist you root for and believe in, even when she is afraid of nearly everything. All of this makes her feel a little less heroic but she is so much more authentic and relatable because of it. She is someone you can imagine exists in real life, rather than someone who is larger than life. She doesn’t want to rock the boat so it takes her a while to start investigating the mystery, but whether delving into the mystery or living her life she is a character that is oh so charming and fun to follow.

The story moves quickly, as the author knows how to balance exposition and action, giving readers the right amount information in the beginning of the novel to keep us engaged and get to know Ruby before we begin our descent into the depths of this intriguing cozy-mystery.

I enjoyed how well developed the characters in the story were, especially the organic way they are introduced. Reading about Ruby’s character was so fascinating to me as she is so different from the usual protagonists we find in murder mystery stories. I love her quirkiness! I felt like I was a friend of Ruby’s alongside her on this scary but fascinating experience.

Rima Ray has created a memorable character that readers will love to follow as they descend into the depths of this puzzling mystery. I highly recommend this book to readers looking for a light and refreshing book that will make you smile while reading it.
Profile Image for Bookreadersclub.
227 reviews25 followers
June 23, 2022
This one is the story of Ruby Roy, an eccentric woman in her thirties working as a B-school professor in the Baron University, and she is in the midst of a murder-mystery of her university's chair.

The story starts with Ruby crying while talking with someone on the phone. But, the author cleverly skips the scene and takes the reader to the character description of Ruby, who is indeed an interesting one. Her ignominious stories would drown the reader in shame. For instance- she sat on her dean's head, perceiving it to be a cushion!

Born to a Canadian mother and Indian father, she has a unique personality. She avoids wearing glasses and keeps getting stuck in weird situations. Her very supportive husband, Cleo, is the saving grace. Ruby sees the dead body of her chair and gets entangled in the murder-mystery.

The narration is so lively that it feels one is watching a movie and not reading a book. Ruby's overactive imagination, driven by her experiences of  bollywood movies, Disney, and reading books, brings a humorous touch to even the serious scenes of investigation. Her wayward imagination of detective being a doppleganger of a famous hollywood star is hilarious and very well written.

Who murdered the chair? And why? How will Ruby deal with investigations? Will she trap herself or solve the mystery? Will she be the next in the killer's list being the sole witness? The book is full of mysteries but in a light-hearted, fun manner. It is very captivating, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

It is definitely a fun, comfortable one today itself unique read. A fresh character driven narrative. You cannot miss meeting Ruby Roy to experience what an idiosyncratic being she actually is!
Profile Image for Mayra.
613 reviews12 followers
July 26, 2022
Ruby Roy and The Murder in the Falls by Rima Ray is an immersive comedy surrounded by mystery. In this fiction story, laughter and humor is not lacking. The young professor, Ruby Roy, who works at Baron University, finds herself at a crossroads. After finding her Chair's dead body in his office, her life turns upside down. The only thing in her mind is that she or another colleague may be the next victim, so she decides to help the detectives in the investigation. For her, this is a story come to life, similar the detective novels she loves reading so much. She's not alone as she has her husband Cleo by her side to keep her safe.

The plot is well thought out and the dialogues give a great touch to the story. This is a humorous story that is mixed with mystery and suspense. The narrative hooks the reader from beginning to end. Rima Ray does an amazing job in many aspects of her writing. First, I must mention the writing style and vocabulary. Together they contribute to a great story. I enjoyed that Ruby is described as a normal person and there is much diversity in the story. I also love the descriptions, which make it possible to create beautiful and complete mental images of the characters and the settings. This last point is not easily found in novels, sometimes I find good character descriptions and some other I find good descriptions of events. But on this occasion, I found both. Thanks to these detailed descriptions I felt part of the story.

Ruby Roy and The Murder in the Falls is a one-of-a-kind novel. This is the first book I read from Ray and I will certainly follow her work. The author completely captivates readers. I highly recommend this book to those who are looking to go on a thrilling adventure with fun characters.
Profile Image for Nicole Harmon.
378 reviews4 followers
August 3, 2022
Ruby Roy is a 29 yr old professor at Baron University. She is unique and just wants to make a name for herself at the University. This all changes when she finds her colleague dead in his office. Ruby is forced to assist the detectives with finding the murderer in order to keep herself and others safe.

Author Rima Ray has written a suspenseful read with likable characters that had me guessing until the very end. Ray’s writing kept me on my toes, and I found it hard to pinpoint the murderer because just when I thought it was a certain person, evidence pointing to a different person would surface. I also enjoyed that the characters were not what you expected as we find out their secrets as we follow Ruby along her investigation. Ruby is by far my favorite character in the book as she is smart, but her imagination tends to get the best of her. The story is modern and touches upon topics that we deal with today such as body image and cultural differences making this a relatable read. I truly appreciate that Ruby is portrayed as a normal person making her character believable. Even though this story revolves around a murder, the tone of the story is light and funny. The plot will keep you guessing but the characters will have you coming back. Ray writes in great detail that I felt like I was Ruby solving a crime. I also appreciated that the author provided pieces of Ruby’s thoughts which really immersed me into the story.

I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy solving mysteries with funny and charming characters. This book is a must-read that you won’t want to put down.
13 reviews
September 21, 2022
Ruby Roy is a Thrilling Good Time

Ruby Roy is a clumsy, name-brand-toting professor from Baron University. When she returns to her office one evening in the fall to retrieve a bag she forgot, she stumbles across a corpse, a person shrouded in dark clothes, and a mystery that she must solve or face the possibility of being next. Rima Ray wastes no time throwing the reader into this thrilling, and quite funny, story.

A good set of characters is what takes good mystery novels and makes them great. Ray provided just that with her colorful ensemble of suspects, uh, I mean characters. Pete is the handsome and charming chairman. Laila is a nurturing, family-driven coworker. Tanya is the free-spirited feminist of the office. Plus, there are many other characters to meet along the way. Each of them has fun chemistry and brings such refreshing diversity to the novel.

Rima Ray tells this story was an ease. Her prose is easy to grasp and is quite evocative. Every clumsy misadventure or thrilling altercation is told with deft grace. It gladdens me to see that there very well could be a sequel on the horizon. It would be great to not only see Ruby Roy grow but the writing style of Rima Ray as well.

The second most important part to a good mystery story is a satisfying end. The “Save the Cat” method of plotting says that the “who done it” is not nearly as important as the “why done it.” I’m happy to say that the story justifies the actions of the killer beautifully. Without going into spoilers, it gives a loving sendoff to a tragic story.

If you want a good comic mystery that balances thrills and shrill laughter, Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls is for you!
Profile Image for Lilly.
124 reviews4 followers
May 14, 2022
Ruby Roy and The Murder in the Falls by Rima Ray is a witty crime novel that follows a kooky university professor named Ruby Ray. One day she unexpectedly finds her chair, Dr. Malcolm murdered in his office. After blacking out due to someone hitting her in the back of the head she finds herself in an ambulance unaware of what happened to her. Ruby works with detective Jones to figure out who killed Dr. Malcolm. We follow Ruby through her relationships with her friends, her career, and just simply trying to stay out of trouble. Will Ruby find the killer before they find her?
Rima Ray has written such a fun and charming novel making this book hard to put down. I adore Ruby’s character, I love that she is confident and intelligent but also isn’t afraid to let her inner child out. The dialogue where Ruby thinks to herself is perfect as I was able to relate to her character laying in bed reviewing her laundry list. The conversation Ruby has with her friend when she describes how the detective looks like the actor Chris Evans is hilarious. Author Rima Ray’s writing is engaging and fun and I wanted to read more about Ruby. I also enjoyed the bits of Indian culture that was added to the story. The author created believable characters with so much personality that I enjoyed reading about all of them. The descriptions in the book immerses the reader into the story making them feel like they are alongside Ruby and her shenanigans.

Ruby Roy and The Murder in the Falls is a thrilling, fun, mysterious read that will have you falling in love with the characters and more so want to find out just who the murderer is. I can definitely see this book turning into a tv show.
Profile Image for Huda.
362 reviews14 followers
July 26, 2022
Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls, by Rima Ray follows Ruby Roy, an absent-minded professor in her third year at Baron University. She is a fun character that isn’t afraid to be herself. She's in the range of being plus-sized and of mixed Indian ethnicity along with some Canadian roots. Ruby is a wonderful woman who just can't seem to stop getting into trouble. She's been trying her hardest to please seniors at her university but can't seem to get it right. What makes things worse? She finds Peter, the Chair, dead in his office. Ruby is now entrapped in a murder-mystery similar to those books she loves reading.

Ruby, with the help of her husband Cleo, takes it upon herself to try and figure out the mystery before she's next on the killer’s list. The book is comedic, gritty, and is charming because Ruby’s character is relatable. Although I wasn't expecting it, this book made me burst out laughing several times as I was reading. It's hard not to laugh at some of the humor!

There's a lot of character development within Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls, by Rima Ray–so much so that sometimes it moves away from the main storyline to further develop the characters and the connections and interactions between them. In my opinion I think that's wonderful because you get more time with the characters you love in this book, and trust me, there are a lot of lovable characters. There are also many undertones of feminism which are extremely well-done. Ray effortlessly manages to talk about issues such as beauty standards and much more. It shows great writing and thought. This book is a must read!
Profile Image for Antaya Paul.
9 reviews
May 20, 2022
Rima Ray’s Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls is a cozy mystery set at an upstate New York university.

Ruby, 29, is an absent-minded assistant business professor at Baron University located near Niagara Falls. The only child of a white Canadian mother and Indian father, she is self-conscious of her plus-size frame but comfortable dressing in a way that attracts attention. Her outfits combine designer suits with T-shirts and socks emblazoned with cartoon characters in a style she deems reflective of her personality, “Fancy yet whimsical, luxurious yet pragmatic, classic conservative yet colorful and childlike.”

With its quirky amateur detective, humor, lack of gore, and small community setting, Ray includes elements typically found in cozy mysteries while imparting a modern sensibility. In addition to ethnically diverse characters, references to Indian culture infuse the narrative, and elements of the pandemic’s remote lifestyle form an integral part of the plot.

Ray also touches upon body image and beauty standards by integrating these topics in a lighthearted way into Ruby’s inner thoughts. These digressions, however, sometimes slow the pace. A humorless prologue also seems incongruous with the playful tone of the story that follows.

Despite these minor flaws, Ray succeeds in creating an entertaining and suspenseful mystery with an interesting sleuth. A promising debut, Ruby Roy is a quick read that should delight cozy mystery fans.
Profile Image for Celeste.
995 reviews25 followers
May 24, 2022
Ruby Roy and The Murder in the Falls, written by Rima Ray, is a mixture of a cozy mystery and urban novel that I am sure will delight and entertain readers. Its protagonist is Ruby, a young unconventional professor at Baron University. She loves to get lost in the world of detective fiction and watching crime shows. Suddenly reality becomes stranger than fiction when she finds the body of a murdered colleague. Fearing getting involved, she tries to detach from the events, but to avoid being next on the killer’s list she must get involved.
I loved this book. It is an entertaining mixture of pacy thriller and gritty whodunnit set in an upstate New York university. The author provides the perfect balance of suspense and humor with vivid descriptions that made me feel like I was there, watching events unfold through a camera lens. Author Rima Ray has created a solid cast of unforgettable characters, all larger than life with their individual quirks, flaws, and eccentricities.
Ruby Roy is the only child of a white Canadian mother and Indian father, she has a colorful personality that she shows through her outfits and behavior. She is a feisty protagonist with plenty of attitude and a strong stubborn streak, bubbling with a rollercoaster of emotions as she is surprised by the events that unfold.
Suspense and mystery combine perfectly with diverse characters, references to different cultures, recent events like the pandemic we all have just lived, and the discussion of topics such as body image and beauty standards, making this novel a great debut and one of a kind.
Ruby Roy and The Murder in the Falls, written by Rima Ray, is highly engaging, taking its readers on a twisty path from beginning to end. Its witty dialogue made me laugh out loud, and the book was hard to put down. An ideal choice for lovers of murder mysteries and detective stories, providing hours of easy-to-read escapism.
Profile Image for Jenna Tomaszewski.
32 reviews1 follower
June 6, 2022
Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls by Rima Ray is a fantastic, hilarious, gritty yet charming murder mystery that follows the titular character as she tries to solve the murder of her university chair, where she works as a professor. Thankfully, due to Ruby’s love of crime shows and detective books, she decides to do what she can to detect clues and crack the case before she falls into danger. Can she work with her husband, avoid distractions, and find the killer before they strike again?

Despite the quirks of the main character, the story still manages to mix in some grit without jarring the reader. The real strength of the story comes from the unique characters, their interactions and intricacies. However, with this strength, some readers may be turned off with the side tangents that move away from the tension of the thriller/mystery genre. It’s certainly not a traditional genre piece, but I personally believe that both sides of the story do not take away from the other. Some may call it a pacing problem if they’re anxious to get back to the main plot, but character development is important! Besides, Ray does well to hide any clues that reading sleuths may be searching for. As for me, I was too busy enjoying the ride to catch any hints regarding the killer’s identity, so it was a good twist when I reached the end.

I especially appreciate the feminist themes that emerge during the story. With discussions on cultural beauty standards and issues with one’s body image, Ray does an excellent job of making her characters feel relevant and real; I’ve never been more excited for a follow-up story! If Ray continues to develop such authenticity with her characters, I’ll continue reading. 5/5 stars!
871 reviews28 followers
June 29, 2022
Ruby Roy and The Murder in the Falls is the first book in the Comedy Mysteries series, by author Rima Ray, and it is a great mash-up between both genres.
I enjoy mystery novels with female detective characters. I think Carmen San Diego had a lot to do with the birth of this. So, this book was an easy choice for me. The attractive colorful cover of the book also caught my attention at first glance. The illustration is fitting to the story and embodies the spirit of the plot.
I truly enjoyed the character of Ruby Roy. This young woman, professor and detective, is somewhat clumsy but clever and amusing as she faces the mystery of her Chair's murder with the assistance of her husband, Cleo. Both characters are well-described and developed, which makes them all the more relatable and loveable.
The narrative is well thought out and I enjoyed the dialogue between characters. This is a humorous plot that is just laced with intrigue and suspense. And the information and reveals trickle in at a maddening pace that keeps the reader guessing throughout the course of the novel. In addition, the author does an excellent job of establishing a witty and enjoyable tone and atmosphere for the story.
Ruby Roy and The Murder in the Falls is a unique novel. Rima Ray perfectly weaves comedy and uncertainty, giving birth to a poignant and absorbing, cozy mystery. This is the first book I read from this author, but it will certainly not be the last. I cannot wait to read the next one in the saga. I enjoyed her writing style very much as it is different from others. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Jailene.
19 reviews
July 18, 2022
Ruby Roy and the Murder in the Falls follows the eccentric and quirky Dr. Ruby Roy as she stumbles across a murder, she can't help but get involved with. This is a fun mystery that centers around humorous and relatable characters with heaps of interesting monologues and modern references. It very much feels like a modern interpretation of a typical murder mystery, making it feel more realistic with amateur sleuths trying to take a crack at solving the mysterious death of Ruby Roy's colleague.

Author Rima Ray has written a story that makes for an unconventional lighthearted read that will have you on your toes. This is a read that keeps you guessing about the identity of the killer as well as how the events will unfold. I also enjoyed and appreciated that the main character is not your typical protagonist, instead, she is a plus-size woman who loves mystery movies and is by any means not perfect. We follow Ruby as she assists the detectives in trying to find the murderer before they find her. This includes a series of tangents about her background growing up as well as situations that she got herself into explaining her quirks and everything that makes her, her.

This may not be a typical story, but it is a feel-good read with suspense and murder. There are times when Ruby’s character goes on long-winded tangents, but they are relatable as it showcases the inner thought of Ruby Roy's mind and shows how many thoughts go through a woman’s mind. This is a great start to the series with a well-developed plot and refreshing characters that keep to the heart of the story while also being humorous. I look forward to reading more tales involving Ruby Roy and her unexpected adventures.
Profile Image for Ivan M.
838 reviews21 followers
July 26, 2022
Ruby Roy is an enticing mystery novel written by Rima Ray. It follows the story of Dr. Ruby Roy, a university professor who teaches at Baron University. On a sad day for the institute, she has the bad luck of finding the Chair of the University dead in his office. Even though she is not experienced in the matter at hand, she decides to make her own investigation of the case, suspecting a murder. Using all her knowledge as a lover of mystery and investigation books, she will try to unmask the killer and prevent more deaths including her own! 

 I can say that I enjoyed reading this book for many different reasons. On one side we have the main character, Ruby, who has an adorable and funny personality. She has a very interesting past, a lot of experiences she acquired over the years by traveling with her diplomatic father, not even discussing her Indian and Canadian roots. Her character alone gives much meaning to the story as she is a real woman. On the other hand, the story itself has a lot of mystery, it is very difficult to identify the killer and the motive between the many different characters, making it interesting until the end and unpredictable. I like how the story is set in today’s time making this a relatable and realistic read. 

Overall, I recommend this book to readers looking for a good story filled with mystery and written with passion and kindness. This is one of those books that made me sit on a couch and relax. I definitely want to read more about the adventures of Ruby Roy. 
Profile Image for Marina  Lujan .
876 reviews13 followers
July 27, 2022
This is an excellent book for those who enjoy reading murder mystery novels with humor sprinkled throughout. Ruby Roy and The Murder in the Falls follows a 29-year-old professor in her third year at Baron University, which is located near the Falls. She is a plus-sized woman with Indian and Canadian roots, a little silly and absent-minded, and a vivid imagination from watching too many Bollywood and Disney films. Ruby struggles to avoid making mistakes while also pleasing her university superiors. But things become complicated when he discovers the body of the chair in his office. Suddenly, she finds herself involved in a murder that she must try to solve and find the murderer with the help of her husband, Cleo.

The author has written a charming and witty murder mystery story that will keep you on your toes. I was very excited before beginning to read the story because I am a big fan of this genre. It's a well-paced narrative that keeps the reader interested from the beginning to end. On each page, you'll be drawn deeper and deeper into a suspenseful story with unexpected twists and a great narrative style that you won't be able to put down. I can say that the characters are fantastic and very well described. I adore Ruby's character because she appears to be a unique, happy go lucky, and a down to earth person. I read this book on the bus on my way to vacation. I must say that it was an exceptional read that kept me hooked to the suspense and intrigue. I highly recommend this entertaining read for those who love a good murder mystery with great characters.
Profile Image for Aneley Sánchez.
988 reviews24 followers
May 24, 2022
A brilliant mystery novel!

Ruby Roy and The Murder in the Falls is a mystery novel written by Rima Ray and is the first book of Ruby Roy Mysteries series which promises to be a very entertaining and interesting saga. The story develops around Ruby Roy, the main character, who is a twenty-nine-year-old teacher. She seems to have many features in her favor. She has been a teacher for three years in the prestigious Baron University. Also, she is a clever woman and has an unlimited imagination; but it is this very characteristic coupled with her tendency to be a bit goofy that drives her to keep stumbling into a series of embarrassing incidents. Unfortunately for Ruby, things take a turn for the worse when she discovers her Chair's dead body in his office.
Like Ruby, I am a lover of stories of enigmas and mysteries and a fan of great characters like Sherlock Holmes and Marple. For that reason, I really liked seeing her become a kind of detective. Ruby’s character is unique and different, and I think she is an analogy that the author makes of herself. This book honestly engaged me from start to end, not only for its compelling storyline but I fell in love with Ruby's nature.
The narrative is satisfying and kept me interested. The book is divided into pretty long chapters but very readable because the plot is fast-paced. In addition, Ray develops many sub-stories that don't steal the prominence, but still are appealing. I enjoyed how the author combines the mystery genre with the eccentric personality of Ruby, thus creating an exceptional type of writing.
I recommend Ruby Roy and The Murder in the Falls, by Rima Ray, for fans of mysteries, for clue seekers, and for lovers of unique main characters. I enjoyed it very much, and I can't wait to read the next book. I hope it's as fun and quirky as this one, or even more so!
Profile Image for Liz.
1,326 reviews27 followers
June 30, 2022
Ruby Roy and The Murder in the Falls is a spectacular book written by Rima Ray. In this fiction story, laughter and humor is not lacking. The young professor, Ruby Roy, who works at Baron University, finds herself at a crossroads. On a day like any other, she discovers her Chair's dead body in his office. She, with the help of her husband, Cleo, will try to solve the mystery and hopefully find the murderer, just like her favorite fictional detectives do. Can they do it? Or will it be too late and the killer will strike again?

Isn't it just so great when you find one of those books that completely hooks you in and makes you fall in love with the characters? The author’s great writing skills and story telling kept me intrigued from the turn of the first page. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease.

Moreover, the descriptions of the scenes are very detailed, and you can really feel that you are investigating the murder with the protagonist. This was a fascinating and captivating read that had me immersed from the beginning. The plot is gripping, and the characters are well-drawn and readers will fall in love with Dr. Ray.

Without a doubt, I recommend this hilarious story, Ruby Roy and The Murder in the Falls, by Rima Ray, to all readers who enjoy a good mystery novel with a funny female protagonist. She is one character you will surely fall in love with.
Profile Image for Joseph Simpson.
7 reviews
May 16, 2022
Ruby Roy has the makings of a good series.

Ruby is an easy to like character. Her flaws are visible in making her more real and pulling you into her chaotic mind.

The start is a little slow with the background on Ruby and some of her quirks and how she's dealt with them in the past. Once she's discovered a murder the story quickly picks up. Being inside Ruby's mind is an interesting place as she balances her logical thinking and the daydreams she quickly swerves in to.
My only criticism of the book would be the long expositions sometimes and her daydreaming nature at times felt a little too long for the story.
She responds like a normal person to the first murder. Trying to get on about her day while noticing small details, yet when the second happens it kicks her in to gear. It's an incredibly quick turn around from her decision to figure it out to actually identifying the murderer. I'm usually good at guessing 'whodunnit' but this one honestly gave me no clues so the ending was a surprise.
All in all it was a great start to a series where the characters need a little more explanation in the beginning than they would need later on, hopefully not outlying away from the story as much.
Genuinely looking forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Davis Orton.
9 reviews
May 20, 2022
Ruby Roy has the makings of a good series.

Ruby is an easy to like character. Her flaws are visible in making her more real and pulling you into her chaotic mind.

The start is a little slow with the background on Ruby and some of her quirks and how she's dealt with them in the past. Once she's discovered a murder the story quickly picks up. Being inside Rubys mind is an interesting place as she balances her logical thinking and the daydreams she quickly swerves in to.
My only criticism of the book would be the long expositions sometimes and her daydreaming nature at times felt a little too long for the story.
She responds like a normal person to the first murder. Trying to get on about her day while noticing small details, yet when the second happens it kicks her in to gear. It's an incredibly quick turn around from her decision to figure it out to actually identifying rhe murderer. I'm usually good at guessing 'whodunnit' but this one honestly gave me no clues so the ending was a surprise.
All in all it was a great start to a series where the characters need a little more explanation in the beginning than they would need later on, hopefully not oulling away from the story as much.
Genuinely looking forward to the next book.
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