When aspiring writer Dr. Myaisha Douglas joins the Greensboro Women of Color Writing Group, in the hopes of writing a novel, she never imagines taking on the role of amateur sleuth in a real-life murder mystery. When a friend, and member of the group, turns up dead, Myaisha believes she can help the police solve the crime. As an avid reader of mysteries, she feels confident that all of those stories have left her with the skills to find the killer. And, she’s also determined to see her friend’s murderer brought to justice. However, the amateur detective soon regrets getting involved when her friend’s corruption and illegal dealings come to light. And, when their prime suspect ends up dead, the police warn Myaisha to stay off the case. Just as it looks like her investigation is over, the doctor is drawn back into the case when another member of the group becomes suspect number one. Using her knowledge of medicine, and years as an armchair detective, can Myaisha deliver the murderer to the authorities or will she become victim number three? Read less
In Murder is Revealing Myaisha tries to find out who killed her friend Candance, but the more she learns about the business dealings of Candance, the more she wonders if she really knew her friend.
The plot sounds good and Myaisha is a likeable protagonist. She’s smart, successful in her work, and compassionate about her friends. There were two things that kept me from enjoying this story.
The first was the POV switches. Myaisha is the main protagonist, but sometimes the story switches to Detective Gamble, Candace’s husband Adán or another character to reveal some secret Myaisha is unlikely to find out. Because the POV lime light wasn’t shared equally, these side steps felt forced. As if there would not have been enough story to tell if only Myaisha was followed.
The other thing that made this story hard work was the narrative style. Its verbosity: hardly anyone in this story walks. They amble (15 counts), saunter (19), traipse (3) and even lumber rather than walk. The sentence structure to avoid the word she/Myaisha: “Typing resumed” On it’s own? (as a side note: Myaisha can type up patient notes while holding a conversation about a completely unrelated topic?) And sometimes the just plain odd choice of words: “she almost urinated when some rapped on the door” When you almost wet your pants when you get spooked, it’s a figure of speech. When the word urinated is used, it sounds more like a medical condition.
DNF. I know reading is subjective but this was bad. The writing, the “mystery”. It’s like the author did no research into how a police investigation is done. It was horrible.
My first time reading a book by Michelle Corbier, and I am very impressed by her writing and truly enjoy this story. The main character was interesting, being a Doctor. Dr. Myaisha Douglas is very caring and supportive of her friends' well-being. The plot grabbed me from the first page. There are a lot of suspects in the story, and when I thought I knew who did the murder, it was not that person. That is when it is a perfect mystery to me. I hope there are more installments to this series. Well done, Michelle Corbier.
"Murder Is Revealing" by Michelle Corbier offers an intriguing premise with an aspiring writer, Dr. Myaisha Douglas, stepping into the role of an amateur sleuth within the Greensboro Women of Color Writing Group. While the novel introduces an engaging murder mystery and showcases Myaisha's determination to solve the crime, certain aspects lead to a three-star rating.
The concept of an amateur detective among a writing group adds a unique twist to the narrative. Myaisha's passion for mystery novels and her belief in her abilities to solve a real-life murder mystery contribute to the story's appeal. The incorporation of her medical knowledge provides an interesting layer to the investigation.
The plot unfolds with a reasonable level of tension, keeping readers engaged in the unfolding mystery. The introduction of corruption and illegal dealings among the writing group members adds complexity to the story, revealing a darker side to the characters. The twists and turns in the investigation contribute to the overall suspense.
However, there are moments when Myaisha's decisions as an amateur detective may feel questionable, leading to occasional frustration for readers. The pacing of the narrative could be more consistent, with certain scenes feeling rushed, while others linger without significant developments.
The characters, including Myaisha, could benefit from more depth and development. While Myaisha's passion for solving the mystery is evident, a deeper exploration of her background and motivations would enhance the reader's connection with her. Some secondary characters may feel stereotypical, and their actions at times lack sufficient justification.
The resolution of the mystery may leave some readers wanting a more satisfying and well-rounded conclusion. The pacing toward the end feels rushed, and certain plot threads are resolved abruptly. A more nuanced and detailed resolution could provide a more fulfilling reading experience.
In summary, "Murder Is Revealing" delivers a murder mystery with an amateur sleuth in an interesting setting. While the novel has its strengths in creating suspense and intrigue, it falls short in character depth, pacing consistency, and a fully satisfying resolution. The book may appeal to readers who enjoy amateur detective stories but might not fully meet the expectations of those seeking a more polished and well-rounded mystery novel.
Murder is Revealing: A Write Club Mystery by Michelle Corbier introduces readers to a new mystery series that revolves around the Greensboro Women of Color Writing Group.
Dr. Myaisha Douglas is an avid reader of mysteries and an aspiring writer. Fueled by her passion for words, Myaisha has been working on expanding the writing club started by two of her friends by finding a more permanent space to attract new members. She is optimistic that she knows just the right person to ask for help. Candace, her friend from college, is a successful real estate agent who comes up with the perfect place for the writing group to set up. However, shortly after their first meeting in their new location, Myaisha finds her friend Candace shot dead in her office.
Myaisha soon discovers that her friend might not have been the person she thought she was. Candace's real estate dealings are turning out to be shady and underhanded, and the list of people she's crossed is getting longer and longer. Now Myaisha is embroiled in a real-life mystery and realizes that solving a murder is not quite like reading about it in a book. Will Detective Todd Gamble be an ally in her investigation, or will he see her as a primary suspect since she discovered the body!
I love "books about books," so I was sure it would be right up my alley, and I was not wrong. It is a solid first novel, and while the book is a bit shaky initially, Corbier finds her stride and style as the story progresses. There is a stack of potential suspects to throw red herrings in the way of figuring out who the murderer is, and Corbier ties up the storyline nicely. Myaisha is a likeable protagonist, and there is a good dynamic with Detective Gamble, which will be interesting to see how things develop in what I expect will be a well-received cozy mystery series.
I previously read a book about this character and wasn't thrilled by it. I like to give second chances, especially if I read something out of order. I also read or rather listened to this book for clarity.
I didn't much care for the main character. I could give her grieving for her husband 5 years later. That is a very personal issue. I found nothing likable in her character or personality. I felt like there was a good deal of arrogance and entitlement going on there. Who was she to step into a police investigation? It would have been different if they hadn't been doing their job at all, but she never gave them a chance.
All that loving of friends was too much. Especially when she seemed to lean more to the side of being judgmental. She was not gracious in the way she behaved with her dog when Todd was at her house. How are you going to be angry about someone considering you a suspect when you found the body? Girl, saunter your behind over somewhere and sit down. So instead, you let your dog growl and show his teeth at Todd. After he politely asked if you could put your dog away while the two of you spoke.
The descriptions of her various hats was irritating. She wore her husband's hats because she missed him so much. Really? Cringe! But I'm supposed to forget about the part where she was not described well enough for me to know how she looked or either forget how she looked.
Her friendships seemed more catty than loyal. If those were the only friends I had than I could do without. The narration was not much better than the book. At times I didn't know who was speaking, or a heavy Southern accent was tossed into the mix, or some other strange gruff accent would appear and I wasn't sure which person was speaking.
AND, when the mystery was all said and done, Mya ended up still being the most wonderful.person of them all. Please!
I can only say read it or listen to it and judge for yourself. I didn't find it to be much different than the other book I read, so I can't just chalk it up to the narration.
This is the first book in the Write Club Mysteries by Michelle Corbier, who writes brilliantly, and it was a delight that she uses words and expressions of a well-educated individual. I appreciate that, being a linguist myself. Because of Michelle’s background, I was able to learn so much about the medical field. I liked that also.
Michelle’s development of Dr. Maisha Douglas and all her characters made me like them or dislike them. It was easy to categorize them. From the very beginning I didn’t like the character that gets murdered, so when the murder occurs, I felt it was well deserved.
A few pages into the book, and I could not put it down. It was a most intriguing plot that I could relate to, having lived through periods of time when these issues caused a lot of hardship to so many people. I don’t want to reveal any spoilers, but when you read this book, you will probably relate to the events also.
It took Maisha a long time to realize that her friend who was murdered really was an evil person. As she investigated, she uncovered how harmful and deceitful she was.
I never guessed whodunnit, and it was a big surprise at the end when the murderer was revealed. I liked the ending, since the misjustices were going to be taken care of.
I have already read the brilliant second book in this series “Murder in Gemini”, and I highly recommend you read both books. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
Thank you, Michelle Corbier for selecting me to receive both books through a contest in The Wickeds daily blog. https://wickedauthors.com/
Michelle Corbier's Murder Is Revealing Michelle Corbier's Murder Is RevealingAn amateur detective uses her knowledge of crime fiction to solve the murder of her friend in Michelle Corbier's Murder Is Revealing, a gripping mystery of shady dealings and dishonest scams. Myaisha Douglas began seeking solace in writing after her husband's death; She is a senior member of the Greensboro Women of Color writing group as well as a local physician. When a friend from College, successful real estate agent Candace Knight, gets involved financially with the group and announces that she has published a completely unexpected novel, Myaisha becomes very suspicious. However, events take an even stranger and darker turn: Candace is murdered in her office, and Myaisha is determined to find out who did it.Corbier deftly guides a variety of characters in this fast-paced novel as they work to uncover the truth about our so-called friends. The novel impressively presents this difficult dilemma through the fantastic and authentic character of Myaisha, who seeks to uncover Candace's ties to deceit while bemoaning their supposed friendship, which seems to be based on fabrication. The book comes to a truly surprising conclusion: a shocking final twist that shocks even the book's police characters in , giving the book all the makings of a perfect crime thriller and making it the first in a new series of superlatives. .
A well written complex family drama and engaging mystery with an array of vibrant, colorful, intriguing characters that will draw you in but it is the plot that will keep you captivated turning inquisitive page after entrancing page following a dynamic family in their untraditional family business tracking an untraditional kind of bounty. Once you begin this tale it will be hard to put aside until you've reached its unexpected and climatic conclusion. Acquire " Murder is Revealing " for hours of intriguing and enjoyable entertainment. Kat
This book started off with a bang literally, and then we spent a lot of time trying to figure out the pieces. Honestly, I got distracted from all the information. It bogged the mystery in a lot of ways. But the one thing that I'm still chewing on is that it's hard to want to solve a crime when the victim is morally grey/unlikeable.
I'm still deciding if I'll continue on with the series. There's a part of me that doesn't bc I didn't I figure out who did it.
This book was outstanding!!! I love how the author kept you guessing. At the end I was like say what? I really enjoyed this novel. So looking forward to the next one. Keep the coming.
I thoroughly enjoyed the read! The characters were fascinating, believable, and interesting. The setting was perfect. The plot was great! I didn't have a clue as to who committed the murders. Loved the read!
This book felt like a first draft. Everybody sauntered everywhere literally the author had all the characters just sauntering around. I didn’t guess the killer so there’s that. I won’t be reading anymore of this series.
Very good first in a series cozy. I liked the main character Dr Myaisha a lot. I also liked the writing club and her dreams of being an author as a secondary plot
Michelle Corbier's Murder Is Revealing Michelle Corbier's Murder Is RevealingAn amateur detective uses her knowledge of crime fiction to solve the murder of her friend in Michelle Corbier's Murder Is Revealing, a gripping mystery of shady dealings and dishonest scams. Myaisha Douglas began seeking solace in writing after her husband's death; She is a senior member of the Greensboro Women of Color writing group as well as a local physician. When a friend from College, successful real estate agent Candace Knight, gets involved financially with the group and announces that she has published a completely unexpected novel, Myaisha becomes very suspicious. However, events take an even stranger and darker turn: Candace is murdered in her office, and Myaisha is determined to find out who did it.Corbier deftly guides a variety of characters in this fast-paced novel as they work to uncover the truth about our so-called friends. The novel impressively presents this difficult dilemma through the fantastic and authentic character of Myaisha, who seeks to uncover Candace's ties to deceit while bemoaning their supposed friendship, which seems to be based on fabrication. The book comes to a truly surprising conclusion: a shocking final twist that shocks even the book's police characters in , giving the book all the makings of a perfect crime thriller and making it the first in a new series of superlatives. .