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Mantra for Murder Mystery #3
Murder on the Eightfold Path
The only yoga mystery series on the market.
While in her mother's garden, A.J. stumbles-literally-on the body of her mother's current beau. Now A.J. is going to have to find her balance and solve the murder without getting tied up in knots.
While in her mother's garden, A.J. stumbles-literally-on the body of her mother's current beau. Now A.J. is going to have to find her balance and solve the murder without getting tied up in knots.
308 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
3 people are currently reading
335 people want to read
About the author
Diana Killian
14 books198 followersAuthor of the Poetic Death series and the Mantra for Murder series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
January 2, 2018
What could a pathological TV sleuth's greatest wish be? Why one upping the real life police, of course. Surely, a pesky little murder accusation isn't going to stop her. On the contrary, what else could be better enticement?
In other words, Easy Mason's Easter holiday starts out with a metaphorical bang and a rather literal dead body; her handsome young blackmailer's dead body, that is. With motive and opportunity, what's our favorite detective to do? With motive, opportunity and a crippling back injury what's our heroine to do?
My main problem with this 3rd book in the series, was my lack of investment in the characters' relationship. Tension like this works great when I care about the characters... which I didn't really. It felt like I could have ended up caring a lot for them, if only the author had focused a bit more on fleshing out their relationship.
1) Elysia's coy attitute towards her late blackmailer was just mind-boggling.
2) A.J.'s crippling back injury came out of nowhere, and served no other purpose than shameless yoga promotion. I'm probably at fault here, because I was trying to focus more on the mystery, only to get side-tracked by A.J.'s numerous therapeutic yoga exercises.
3) Jake was just - UGH! There aren't enough words in the dictionary to express my frustration... without spoiling the other half of the plot.
In the end, the book's main saving grace was probably the lengthy pause I took from it, first to concentrate on getting properly exhausted at work, and next to cough up my lungs. I suppose after 7 days of no sleep, a constantly sore throat, and overall exhaustion I needed something light and funny enough to make up for my suffering.
Score: 2.6 / 5 stars
I was initially contemplating giving it only 2 stars, but then I decided that the writing style deserved a little more. So it gets a 3, but only just barely.
As for continuing the series, I guess I'll do that one of these days... if only because there is just one single book left.
=====================================
Review of book 1: Corpse Pose
Review of book 2: Dial Om for Murder
Review of book 4: Death in a Difficult Position
In other words, Easy Mason's Easter holiday starts out with a metaphorical bang and a rather literal dead body; her handsome young blackmailer's dead body, that is. With motive and opportunity, what's our favorite detective to do? With motive, opportunity and a crippling back injury what's our heroine to do?
My main problem with this 3rd book in the series, was my lack of investment in the characters' relationship. Tension like this works great when I care about the characters... which I didn't really. It felt like I could have ended up caring a lot for them, if only the author had focused a bit more on fleshing out their relationship.
1) Elysia's coy attitute towards her late blackmailer was just mind-boggling.
“You’re being blackmailed?”
“I am.”
“Don’t preen, Mother. It’s not something to be proud of.”
“Why was he blackmailing you?” She had a sudden uneasy vision of her esteemed parent thrusting antiquities down her blouse while browsing historic sites.
“Oh, you know. The usual reasons.” Elysia cast a slightly discomfited peek at Mr. Meagher who looked atypically blank-faced.
A.J. looked from one to the other of them. “Well, I mean . . .” This was unexpectedly awkward. “Was he threatening to expose you?”
“Yes.” Elysia suddenly tittered. “So amusing.”
“Why’d you pay this villain?” Mr. Meagher cut in. “Why didn’t you come to me?”
“Why? But you’d have put a stop to it.” Elysia clearly thought this was too obvious to need spelling out. “I was enjoying myself.”
2) A.J.'s crippling back injury came out of nowhere, and served no other purpose than shameless yoga promotion. I'm probably at fault here, because I was trying to focus more on the mystery, only to get side-tracked by A.J.'s numerous therapeutic yoga exercises.
3) Jake was just - UGH! There aren't enough words in the dictionary to express my frustration... without spoiling the other half of the plot.
In the end, the book's main saving grace was probably the lengthy pause I took from it, first to concentrate on getting properly exhausted at work, and next to cough up my lungs. I suppose after 7 days of no sleep, a constantly sore throat, and overall exhaustion I needed something light and funny enough to make up for my suffering.
Score: 2.6 / 5 stars
I was initially contemplating giving it only 2 stars, but then I decided that the writing style deserved a little more. So it gets a 3, but only just barely.
As for continuing the series, I guess I'll do that one of these days... if only because there is just one single book left.
=====================================
Review of book 1: Corpse Pose
Review of book 2: Dial Om for Murder
Review of book 4: Death in a Difficult Position
April 3, 2020
Nothing says Easter like a body in the front yard. A.J. gets involved helping to clear her mom from murder. Lots going on in this book from questioning suspects, to trouble at the yoga studio to personal and physical problems with A.J.. I enjoyed the mystery and totally didn't guess who did it. #readforkimberly
February 17, 2012
3.5
The third installment finds A.J walking a fine line between familial duty and romantic fulfillment. Also throw in a suddenly rediscovered ex and there's an wrench thrown in the romantic path....oh and Elysia may or may not have killed a cute young gigolo, there goes family.
Either way A.J tries to balance all of this on top of Lily's incessant bitchiness while trying to catch a murderer.
This installment delves into Elysia's background as well as the relationship that A.J's parents had. It seems that Ellie has also halted with the idea of pushing AJ and her ex back together, which is good because I was ready to scream if she did it again.
Ellie as a murder suspect is pretty hilarious in and of itself and its really her take on being suspected that makes her the star of the book.
It's a good book and the characters are becoming more fleshed out and the relationship between AJ and Jake is making more sense. Also, added bonus that Stella gets involved.
The third installment finds A.J walking a fine line between familial duty and romantic fulfillment. Also throw in a suddenly rediscovered ex and there's an wrench thrown in the romantic path....oh and Elysia may or may not have killed a cute young gigolo, there goes family.
Either way A.J tries to balance all of this on top of Lily's incessant bitchiness while trying to catch a murderer.
This installment delves into Elysia's background as well as the relationship that A.J's parents had. It seems that Ellie has also halted with the idea of pushing AJ and her ex back together, which is good because I was ready to scream if she did it again.
Ellie as a murder suspect is pretty hilarious in and of itself and its really her take on being suspected that makes her the star of the book.
It's a good book and the characters are becoming more fleshed out and the relationship between AJ and Jake is making more sense. Also, added bonus that Stella gets involved.
January 1, 2015
SUMMARY: The only yoga mystery series on the market. While in her mother's garden, A.J. stumbles-literally-on the body of her mother's current beau. Now A.J. is going to have to find her balance and solve the murder without getting tied up in knots.
REVIEW: This new-to-me mystery series was an OK read. I found it a little tedious and repetitive in parts and not as interesting as some other cozy mysteries I have read but it wasn't bad either. The constant whining back and forth between A.J. and her mother definitely bothered me after a while.
REVIEW: This new-to-me mystery series was an OK read. I found it a little tedious and repetitive in parts and not as interesting as some other cozy mysteries I have read but it wasn't bad either. The constant whining back and forth between A.J. and her mother definitely bothered me after a while.
August 23, 2017
This one was my least favorite of the series. You really had to suspend reality with the number of coincidences in the plot. Moved on to
. So will save my over all review of series for that one.
. So will save my over all review of series for that one.
January 19, 2020
Newer yoga instructor hurts back, yet remarkably able to run around sleuthing, spends more time fretting about her co-manager than actually running her inherited yoga studio, makes asinine decisions while over explaining everything she thinks, and says her mother’s name incessantly. Oh and she only remembers she has a dog that is totally dependent on her every few days. 😒
I didn’t actually care about any of the characters until maybe 3/4 of the way in... actually, I didn’t care about them at all but I was finally interested in the story.
I didn’t want the first book I read for the year tone one I bailed on - this is the only reason I finished it. Fortunately for me, I bought the book at an annual library sale so it cost me a $1.
I didn’t actually care about any of the characters until maybe 3/4 of the way in... actually, I didn’t care about them at all but I was finally interested in the story.
I didn’t want the first book I read for the year tone one I bailed on - this is the only reason I finished it. Fortunately for me, I bought the book at an annual library sale so it cost me a $1.
May 24, 2017
The books in this series keep getting better, I'm looking forward to the fourth and final book.
July 13, 2021
Will keep you reading until the late hours.
January 7, 2022
This was a entertaining mystery. Lots of changes coming A.J.'s way, I'm looking forward to reading the next book to find out what happens in her life.
August 27, 2022
tbh i literally did not pay attention the entire time so
May 9, 2017
Installment 3 of this cozy mystery. Nothing complicated, just easy, like a nice cup of tea. So far, so good, and I will continue to read.
February 25, 2025
Yoga series
What could a pathological TV sleuth's greatest wish be? Why one upping the real life police, of course. Surely, a pesky little murder accusation isn't going to stop her. On the contrary, what else could be better enticement?
In other words, Easy Mason's Easter holiday starts out with a metaphorical bang and a rather literal dead body; her handsome young blackmailer's dead body, that is. With motive and opportunity, what's our favorite detective to do? With motive, opportunity and a crippling back injury what's our heroine to do?
Murderous Bunny
My main problem with this 3rd book in the series, was my lack of investment in the characters' relationship. Tension like this works great when I care about the characters... which I didn't really. It felt like I could have ended up caring a lot for them, if only the author had focused a bit more on fleshing out their relationship.
1) Elysia's coy attitute towards her late blackmailer was just mind-boggling.
“You’re being blackmailed?”
“I am.”
“Don’t preen, Mother. It’s not something to be proud of.”
“Why was he blackmailing you?” She had a sudden uneasy vision of her esteemed parent thrusting antiquities down her blouse while browsing historic sites.
“Oh, you know. The usual reasons.” Elysia cast a slightly discomfited peek at Mr. Meagher who looked atypically blank-faced.
A.J. looked from one to the other of them. “Well, I mean . . .” This was unexpectedly awkward. “Was he threatening to expose you?”
“Yes.” Elysia suddenly tittered. “So amusing.”
“Why’d you pay this villain?” Mr. Meagher cut in. “Why didn’t you come to me?”
“Why? But you’d have put a stop to it.” Elysia clearly thought this was too obvious to need spelling out. “I was enjoying myself.”
2) A.J.'s crippling back injury came out of nowhere, and served no other purpose than shameless yoga promotion. I'm probably at fault here, because I was trying to focus more on the mystery, only to get side-tracked by A.J.'s numerous therapeutic yoga exercises.
3) Jake was just - UGH! There aren't enough words in the dictionary to express my frustration... without spoiling the other half of the plot.
violent shaking
In the end, the book's main saving grace was probably the lengthy pause I took from it, first to concentrate on getting properly exhausted at work, and next to cough up my lungs. I suppose after 7 days of no sleep, a constantly sore throat, and overall exhaustion I needed something light and funny enough to make up for my suffering.
Score: 2.6 / 5 stars
I was initially contemplating giving it only 2 stars, but then I decided that the writing style deserved a little more. So it gets a 3, but only just barely.
As for continuing the series, I guess I'll do that one of these days... if only because there is just one single book left.\\
Copied from another review:
Mine is...not a keeper..tested the series and it failed to get a grip
What could a pathological TV sleuth's greatest wish be? Why one upping the real life police, of course. Surely, a pesky little murder accusation isn't going to stop her. On the contrary, what else could be better enticement?
In other words, Easy Mason's Easter holiday starts out with a metaphorical bang and a rather literal dead body; her handsome young blackmailer's dead body, that is. With motive and opportunity, what's our favorite detective to do? With motive, opportunity and a crippling back injury what's our heroine to do?
Murderous Bunny
My main problem with this 3rd book in the series, was my lack of investment in the characters' relationship. Tension like this works great when I care about the characters... which I didn't really. It felt like I could have ended up caring a lot for them, if only the author had focused a bit more on fleshing out their relationship.
1) Elysia's coy attitute towards her late blackmailer was just mind-boggling.
“You’re being blackmailed?”
“I am.”
“Don’t preen, Mother. It’s not something to be proud of.”
“Why was he blackmailing you?” She had a sudden uneasy vision of her esteemed parent thrusting antiquities down her blouse while browsing historic sites.
“Oh, you know. The usual reasons.” Elysia cast a slightly discomfited peek at Mr. Meagher who looked atypically blank-faced.
A.J. looked from one to the other of them. “Well, I mean . . .” This was unexpectedly awkward. “Was he threatening to expose you?”
“Yes.” Elysia suddenly tittered. “So amusing.”
“Why’d you pay this villain?” Mr. Meagher cut in. “Why didn’t you come to me?”
“Why? But you’d have put a stop to it.” Elysia clearly thought this was too obvious to need spelling out. “I was enjoying myself.”
2) A.J.'s crippling back injury came out of nowhere, and served no other purpose than shameless yoga promotion. I'm probably at fault here, because I was trying to focus more on the mystery, only to get side-tracked by A.J.'s numerous therapeutic yoga exercises.
3) Jake was just - UGH! There aren't enough words in the dictionary to express my frustration... without spoiling the other half of the plot.
violent shaking
In the end, the book's main saving grace was probably the lengthy pause I took from it, first to concentrate on getting properly exhausted at work, and next to cough up my lungs. I suppose after 7 days of no sleep, a constantly sore throat, and overall exhaustion I needed something light and funny enough to make up for my suffering.
Score: 2.6 / 5 stars
I was initially contemplating giving it only 2 stars, but then I decided that the writing style deserved a little more. So it gets a 3, but only just barely.
As for continuing the series, I guess I'll do that one of these days... if only because there is just one single book left.\\
Copied from another review:
Mine is...not a keeper..tested the series and it failed to get a grip
May 24, 2012
AJ Alexander inherited her aunt's yoga studio, moved to small town New Jersey and started a relatively quiet life...with the exception of reluctantly solving a few murders. But when AJ literally trips over the body of her mother's current beau Dicky right outside Elysia's house, AJ finds herself drawn into her most important case yet. This time AJ is fighting to prove her mother's innocence but with business and relationship problems as well as a back injury, AJ could be biting off more than she can chew.
This is the third book in the Mantra for Murder Mysteries (after Corpse Pose and Dial Om for Murder) and deals with the death of Dicky who was briefly introduced in the last book. The plot is cleverly written and packed with false leads but for some reason I found it really hard to keep my interest on the book and so I kept picking it up and putting it down. I think my attention kept getting distracted as there is so much storyline aside from the murder.
AJ spends a lot of time away from Sacred Balance and can't do yoga because of a back injury, so it's a little ironic that this book contains quite a lot about both yoga and the studio. Since the beginning of the series Sacred Balance has played a key role and in this installment the friction between AJ and her co-manager Lily finally comes to a head with some dramatic scenes. AJ's relationship with Jake Oberlin is also on rocky ground with a new character stirring up trouble and AJ doubting whether the relationship has a future.
Elysia's life and her old friends also get a lot of page time as this time the case is all about Elysia. It's been great watching her and AJ grow closer over the previous books, and this continues that helping AJ see that her mother is no longer the drunk from her childhood. There is also some resolution to the bitter relationship between Elysia and AJ's neighbour Stella. This also means that a lot of the supporting cast are older which adds a different dimension to the book.
At the end there is a guide to two back-strengthening yoga exercises (Happy Baby Pose and Cat Stretch) and two recipes for Barley Soup with Porcini Mushrooms and Chicken Walnut Salad.
All in all this was a fair read and I'm looking forward to Death in a Difficult Position.
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 7/10
Cover: 7/10
Overall: 41/50
This is the third book in the Mantra for Murder Mysteries (after Corpse Pose and Dial Om for Murder) and deals with the death of Dicky who was briefly introduced in the last book. The plot is cleverly written and packed with false leads but for some reason I found it really hard to keep my interest on the book and so I kept picking it up and putting it down. I think my attention kept getting distracted as there is so much storyline aside from the murder.
AJ spends a lot of time away from Sacred Balance and can't do yoga because of a back injury, so it's a little ironic that this book contains quite a lot about both yoga and the studio. Since the beginning of the series Sacred Balance has played a key role and in this installment the friction between AJ and her co-manager Lily finally comes to a head with some dramatic scenes. AJ's relationship with Jake Oberlin is also on rocky ground with a new character stirring up trouble and AJ doubting whether the relationship has a future.
Elysia's life and her old friends also get a lot of page time as this time the case is all about Elysia. It's been great watching her and AJ grow closer over the previous books, and this continues that helping AJ see that her mother is no longer the drunk from her childhood. There is also some resolution to the bitter relationship between Elysia and AJ's neighbour Stella. This also means that a lot of the supporting cast are older which adds a different dimension to the book.
At the end there is a guide to two back-strengthening yoga exercises (Happy Baby Pose and Cat Stretch) and two recipes for Barley Soup with Porcini Mushrooms and Chicken Walnut Salad.
All in all this was a fair read and I'm looking forward to Death in a Difficult Position.
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 7/10
Cover: 7/10
Overall: 41/50
January 15, 2012
This is the third book in this series, but the first that I’ve read. I don’t normally read out of order as I prefer to read the first book in a series first. However, this was a free book and it looked good.
The book starts out with bang -- almost literally. The opening scene involves, AJ, the main character, literally finding a dead body in her mother’s front yard. Turns out her mother knew the dead man and it kind of goes from there, with some serious and some funny turns along the way.
AJ is on her second career, managing and teaching at the yoga studio she inherited from her Aunt. The one thing that isn’t smooth sailing is the rocky relationship she has with the other manager, Lily. It was kind of hard to really grasp the roots of the bad relationship, but I think this is because I haven’t read the first two books. I was okay with it as I didn’t really care for Lily and liked the relationship AJ had with the other employees of the studio.
I liked this book. I liked AJ. I liked her mother, Elysia, though she’s a bit of a flake. I like the relationship AJ had with her mother, though it’s far from perfect. I couldn’t get all that much of a feel for the cop boyfriend, Jake, and their relationship, but, it’s a mystery not a romance and I got enough of the relationship to not feel lost. In fact, there is a side story involving Jake that’s kind of interesting.
But, most of all, I liked that this was a mystery. Not a genre book with a little mystery thrown in. Yoga didn’t take center stage, but was simply a part of who the character is; some descriptions of routines, but not paragraphs or chapters devoted to excruciating detail on yoga poses or routines (and I enjoy yoga). I’ve read a couple of books where it seemed like it was more important to present the hobby and the mystery was a secondary story line. Not so here. To me, the mystery was front and center. The mystery, however, didn’t detract from getting to know the characters, from a little drama on the home front, or from a little humor. And, I didn’t figure out who done it.
I’m looking forward to going back and starting at the beginning of this series and working my way to the present.
The book starts out with bang -- almost literally. The opening scene involves, AJ, the main character, literally finding a dead body in her mother’s front yard. Turns out her mother knew the dead man and it kind of goes from there, with some serious and some funny turns along the way.
AJ is on her second career, managing and teaching at the yoga studio she inherited from her Aunt. The one thing that isn’t smooth sailing is the rocky relationship she has with the other manager, Lily. It was kind of hard to really grasp the roots of the bad relationship, but I think this is because I haven’t read the first two books. I was okay with it as I didn’t really care for Lily and liked the relationship AJ had with the other employees of the studio.
I liked this book. I liked AJ. I liked her mother, Elysia, though she’s a bit of a flake. I like the relationship AJ had with her mother, though it’s far from perfect. I couldn’t get all that much of a feel for the cop boyfriend, Jake, and their relationship, but, it’s a mystery not a romance and I got enough of the relationship to not feel lost. In fact, there is a side story involving Jake that’s kind of interesting.
But, most of all, I liked that this was a mystery. Not a genre book with a little mystery thrown in. Yoga didn’t take center stage, but was simply a part of who the character is; some descriptions of routines, but not paragraphs or chapters devoted to excruciating detail on yoga poses or routines (and I enjoy yoga). I’ve read a couple of books where it seemed like it was more important to present the hobby and the mystery was a secondary story line. Not so here. To me, the mystery was front and center. The mystery, however, didn’t detract from getting to know the characters, from a little drama on the home front, or from a little humor. And, I didn’t figure out who done it.
I’m looking forward to going back and starting at the beginning of this series and working my way to the present.
July 30, 2014
Third in a series, the first two I've never read. I didn't feel like I missed much of anything that I couldn't figure out in this novel. What I did notice was quite a bit of talk referring to A.J's other murder mysteries she was involved in (as in Diana Killian promoting her other books, and why not, right?) though I was starting to roll my eyes when it was starting to be a bit too noticeable. It seems A.J. friends or acquaintances keep dropping dead around her, and she takes it upon herself (her mother is her side kick, though in this one her mother is the suspect)in solving "who done it?".
Yoga, murder, unstable relationship with her on again, off again police officer (yeah, I'm not kidding) Jake, add an irritating Yoga business partner, Lily, who can't stand A.J. and a silly mother, Elysia, who even though her ex boyfriend bribed her out of thousands and thousands of dollars, and yes, is the one who is killed on the very first page of the book, still somehow wants to defend him. Argh!
I liked reading A.J. dead aunt's thoughts (left in a book to A.J.) This one was my favourite:
"Words have tremendous power. Sometimes in the heat of the moment we forget this. We concentrate on winning the battle at hand and forget that winning a particular battle may cost us the war. Why do I speak of war and yoga in the same breath? Because our modern lives are full of conflict. Look around you. We all experience tension, conflict, anger. And what are we angry about? We believe that we have been wronged. What happens then? We scream. We scream to be heard. What then can we do for this angry among us? The first and most immediate thing we can do is listen.
Though I wouldn't necessary agree with this one sentence: "our modern lives are full of conflict", I feel that from the very beginning of time, day 1, "our lives have been full of conflict".
Yoga, murder, unstable relationship with her on again, off again police officer (yeah, I'm not kidding) Jake, add an irritating Yoga business partner, Lily, who can't stand A.J. and a silly mother, Elysia, who even though her ex boyfriend bribed her out of thousands and thousands of dollars, and yes, is the one who is killed on the very first page of the book, still somehow wants to defend him. Argh!
I liked reading A.J. dead aunt's thoughts (left in a book to A.J.) This one was my favourite:
"Words have tremendous power. Sometimes in the heat of the moment we forget this. We concentrate on winning the battle at hand and forget that winning a particular battle may cost us the war. Why do I speak of war and yoga in the same breath? Because our modern lives are full of conflict. Look around you. We all experience tension, conflict, anger. And what are we angry about? We believe that we have been wronged. What happens then? We scream. We scream to be heard. What then can we do for this angry among us? The first and most immediate thing we can do is listen.
Though I wouldn't necessary agree with this one sentence: "our modern lives are full of conflict", I feel that from the very beginning of time, day 1, "our lives have been full of conflict".
March 21, 2017
4 Stars
Read~September 29, 2010
I really like this series. I think its one of the best of the new "cozies".
AJ is smart, funny and not one to just sit back and take things or accept things as they are. If she doesn't know something, she learns it. And she is willing (though it gets tiresome at times) to fight for what the legacy her Aunt left her.
She also has no idea how to handle her mother, which is usually how she ends up in all the hot water she does. Elysia is AJ's perfect foil!!!
AND there are great Yoga tips as well!!!
AJ s heading to her mother's for Easter brunch when she discovers a dead body in her mum's front lawn. And her Mum turns out to be the main suspect!! And is also determined to not only CLEAR her name, but do it AND solve the mystery before the police!! Naturally, she drags AJ right into the middle of it all!!!
Full of twists and turns, I was never sure who had "done it" until the end!!!
Excellent read!!!!!
January 22, 2011
Murder on The Eightfold Path is the third book in the Mantra for Murder Cozy Mystery series by Diana Killian. A.J. Alexander recently inherited her aunt's yoga studio, Sacred Balance. She is enjoying her new life away from corporate Manhattan. She's learning to eat well, take care of herself, stop and smell the roses. She's in her mother's garden on Easter when she trips on the body of her mother's current beau. Not only is the beau deceased, A.J. has thrown her back out. Her mother is the leading suspect, but A.J.'s bad back doesn't keep her from helping out with the murder investigation. Meanwhile, things are getting hot at Sacred Balance and changes are on the horizon. There are recipes at the end along with two examples of yoga poses. I"m still deciding if this one was worth three stars. it seemed to have trouble getting started, but suddenly raced to the end. Brain candy!
July 4, 2010
In this third book in the series, AJ actually stumbles into a mystery when she trips over the dead body of her mothers latest love interest. She becomes even more involved when her mother is arrested for the murder. So now she has to investigate the murder, nurse her injured back and try to keep her budding romance alive. Not to mention the continuing drama at the yoga studio.
I enjoy this series a lot. AJ and her mother are a great, funny detective team. This book had some additional characters I could have done without, but on the whole, it was really good. I really enjoy the yoga descriptions and exercises too.
I enjoy this series a lot. AJ and her mother are a great, funny detective team. This book had some additional characters I could have done without, but on the whole, it was really good. I really enjoy the yoga descriptions and exercises too.
March 23, 2012
This is another awesome cozy mystery series! I really like the protagonist but I think it must suck for A.J to have Elysia as her mum. Nevertheless, she kind of redeemed herself by being there for her daughter sometimes. The stories were all fast paced and not at all draggy, unlike some of the mysteries I've read halfway and couldn't continue any further.
The first story starts with A.J's aunt being murdered in her own yoga studio and A.J inheriting the studio and her being a suspect to her aunt's death. See how she manages to get out of this tricky situation!
I would definitely recommend this series to mystery lovers and those who are searching for an interesting and quick read!
The first story starts with A.J's aunt being murdered in her own yoga studio and A.J inheriting the studio and her being a suspect to her aunt's death. See how she manages to get out of this tricky situation!
I would definitely recommend this series to mystery lovers and those who are searching for an interesting and quick read!
February 11, 2016
This series is cute. It's not one of my favorite cozy series and I wouldn't really go to great length or expense to read more, but if I find them at the used book store, I'll pick them up. I just don't love AJ. She's lacking in something that's keeping me from being fully invested in her...warmth maybe? Her mother annoys me. Jake even kind of annoys me, even though I don't really know why because I can't really find much fault in his actions. I like the yoga stuff, though I'm not very big into it. I found Lily's decision in the end to be perplexing considering what her motivations seem to have been up until this point.
December 9, 2010
I loved the first book Corpse pose. I found the second book to be a bit offputting as our heroine refuses to stand up to her ex and her mother, putting her at odds with her new love interest. Am withholding judgement until I finish this one.
OK this was better than the second outing. The mother still rankles but I believe she is supposed to serve as a kind of plot/character device. This one had a very interesting cliff hanger at the end with the Yoga studio. I'll have to keep an eye out for the fourth in the series.
OK this was better than the second outing. The mother still rankles but I believe she is supposed to serve as a kind of plot/character device. This one had a very interesting cliff hanger at the end with the Yoga studio. I'll have to keep an eye out for the fourth in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2011
A.J. Alexander has promised her boyfriend, detective Jake, to stay out of his crime investigations. But when she almost stumbles over a dead man in her retired actress mother's front walk, she can't resist getting involved to clear her mother's name. Mother Elysia doesn't care for Jake, and she's also convinced that acting in a television mystery series prepared her for real life crime solving. Meanwhile, A.J. has problems in the yoga studio she inherited, and Jake seems to have a new romantic interest.
April 24, 2012
Pretty much nothing happened in the first 100 pages. I was bored, but I have a pathological inability to give up on a book. It got slightly more interesting, but not much because I didn't care enough about the characters to care who the murderer was, not to mention there was barely any tension.
I also dislike how this is promoted as a yoga-mystery series. The main character talks about how yoga is good for her back and owns a yoga studio; that doesn't mean the book/ series is in anyway about yoga.
I also dislike how this is promoted as a yoga-mystery series. The main character talks about how yoga is good for her back and owns a yoga studio; that doesn't mean the book/ series is in anyway about yoga.
December 26, 2012
I think this was my least favorite of the series so far. I had to suspend reality quite a bit for this one. It also seemed a little contrived, although I should have seen something coming after the repeated mention of the photos in the last book.
One minor mystery was put to rest: the fight between Stella and Elysia. Glad to have that settled and out of the way! One other annoying character seems to have exited the drama that surrounds Sacred Balance and boy, am I glad of that.
I will read the next one in the series and hope for a better experience. This episode was slightly bizarre.
One minor mystery was put to rest: the fight between Stella and Elysia. Glad to have that settled and out of the way! One other annoying character seems to have exited the drama that surrounds Sacred Balance and boy, am I glad of that.
I will read the next one in the series and hope for a better experience. This episode was slightly bizarre.
August 22, 2010
You know what, this series works when the brain wants to relax a little.
****
When I bought this today, I thought that I was singlehandedly keeping this cozy mystery series alive (despite the 3-book contract). And then I went to log the latest installment on Goodreads and find that there are others as frivolous as me. Which makes me a little sad that I didn't come up with a yoga teacher sleuth (who lives near my hometown!) before Diana Kilian did. :)
****
When I bought this today, I thought that I was singlehandedly keeping this cozy mystery series alive (despite the 3-book contract). And then I went to log the latest installment on Goodreads and find that there are others as frivolous as me. Which makes me a little sad that I didn't come up with a yoga teacher sleuth (who lives near my hometown!) before Diana Kilian did. :)
January 7, 2013
This third installment of the series is my least favorite yet. There is very little to do with yoga, thestudio, or the secondary characters associatedwith yoga in this book. I also missed Andy. I find the mother beyond annoying and just want AJ and Jake to be a couple or not. Pick one. I may give the one more book a chance and then decide to continue reading the series or not. The mystery here a bit thin, relative, and contrived.
June 23, 2016
3.5 stars. I enjoyed this little mystery and the characters in the story. The mystery was pretty well done, although I think a little more information might have helped make the motive a little more real or three-dimensional. It would be easier to remember more details about the book if I had not had a headache while reading it, although in the book's defense it took my mind off the pain. I will be keeping an eye out for more in the series because I am interested in A.J.'s back story.
April 21, 2010
I really enjoy this series, even though I don't know a thing about yoga, other than it's really good for you! I like A.J. and her mom, Elysia, is such a great over-the-top character. In this one Elysia is the number one suspect in the murder of a man who is found in her garden on Easter Sunday. Elysia laughingly calls him her "blackmailer". Good story & a quick read.
May 21, 2010
This book had humor, mysteries, recipes, and left me feeling satisfied but wanting more. All elements of a well-crafted novel. The one person I really did not like has been handled. However, since there is always a trouble-maker in a series, I wonder who will replace her?
Excellent Yoga exercises described fully. Also, it shares Yoga philosophy as well.
All in all a great read!
Excellent Yoga exercises described fully. Also, it shares Yoga philosophy as well.
All in all a great read!
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