Spring Break Slaying

The Wannabe Sleuth #3

by Jody Holford

What happens on spring break stays on spring break…except murder.

It’s spring break in Rainbow Falls and true crime aficionado Annie Abbott is hoping to cater to the hoards of college kids descending on her coastal town by hosting a Gatsby-themed murder mystery party. She’s hoping her twenties era whodunnit at a local historic mansion will increase tourist revenue and build her business’s brand.

The party is the talk of the town when a despised social media influencer is attacked and left for dead on the estate’s grounds. With the help of her online friends, Annie searches for clues. The list of suspects reads like the town’s social directory—but who benefits most from the victim’s silence?

Annie’s parents are due home from their year-long adventure, so her time in Rainbow Falls is winding down. With a growing suspect list and tension among her friends, Annie worries about her own future. Should she settle in Rainbow Falls? Do she and Ben, her boyfriend and the town vet, have a future? Will she live long enough to find out?

Genres: Cozy Mystery

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2023

About the author

a wife* a mom* a reader and a writer* a friend* a daughter* a teacher* a sister* a blogger and follower* a worrier and word twister* a gemini*

Reviews

[Kim Reads (Read Your Writes Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spring Break Slaying is the third book in Jody Holford’s Wannabe Sleuth series. This could be a standalone read, although all the personal connections between the characters may not come through.

Spring Break Slaying finds the small coastal town of Rainbow Falls being inundated with college students on Spring Break. Since the town is a tourist town, Annie Abbott and her friend Claire put together one of their online mystery events for the first time in real life. A Night of Murder Mystery Fun is slated to be a fun night, with various members of Annie’s gated complex, friends, and the community dressing up to be characters for the event. In a surprise twist, local real estate agent Sylvia Buxton offers them the use of an off-market heritage house that will work perfectly with the roaring twenties theme of the event. There’s talk around town that Sylvia isn’t helping out just to be nice and charitable, but that she’s hoping to use this as a way to win favor for her college-aged daughter who has been deemed persona no grata due to some of the things she’s done.

The event does in fact turn out to be a fun time until Sylvia’s daughter Kimberly is discovered injured and dies. When Kimberly’s death is determined to be a murder, Kimberly’s wrongdoings come to light and the list of people who could have it out for her becomes longer by the minute.

While Annie is asked to help unofficially with the investigation, she also has to deal with the fact that she can’t get ahold of her parents who are sailing around the world. One thing is for sure, Annie is going to need to lean on her friends like never before.

Spring Break Slaying was a nice mystery that had me guessing up until the big reveal. I loved that we get to see the progression of Annie and Ben’s romance, as well as the start of a new romance. I’m happy that more time is also focused on Annie’s parents, who haven’t really been mentioned a lot in the previous books. With all of the new reveals, I’m hoping this series continues.

~ Favorite Quotes ~

“You must go on adventures to find out where you truly belong. - Sue Fitzmaurice”

“You don’t get where you want to be without some bumps in the road.”

“It’s not always easy to walk away when you know things aren’t how they should be.”

**Received a copy of the book from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it.**

[Angela (Kentuckybooklover) Brocato-Skaggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you ready for one last spring fling before summer hits? If so, go check out Spring Break Slaying by Jody Holford. It is book 3 in The Wannabe Sleuth series and it is a hit.

Annie is still house sitting for her parents and dating the hunky veterinarian Ben. She finally has plans in place to host a murder mystery night and her internet friend/author Claire is on her way to be a part of the fun. Unfortunately, Annie’s parents are missing and a real murder occurs at the murder mystery night. Can Annie follow the clues before her world falls apart?

I usually gobble up cozy mystery books in one or two sittings but I always find myself taking a leisurely trip with this series. I hate it when the book ends. I really like every character and enjoy learning more about them. Annie is a character we all want to be friends with and the whole series would be so different without neighbor Margie. Little old women can be forces of nature.

I gave the book 4.25 stars as I just couldn’t get over the fact that Annie was not obsessively looking for her parents. I wouldn’t have been so calm which means she is probably more mature than I.

Although this is book three you can pick it up and read as a standalone. Hurry and get your copy (and the first two as well) for your spring and summer reading.

I was gifted a copy from the author and was in mo way forced or paid to review. All opinions above are entirely my own.

[Karen Stallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spring Break Slaying” by Jody Holford book 3 in the Wannabe Sleuth Mystery series. I found it to be just as enjoyable as the previous two books and entertaining full of loveable characters that I like to call friends. What happens on spring break stays on spring break…except murder.

This was an exciting read all the way through, and I read in one sitting. I enjoyed catching up with Annie and Ben as well as all of the side characters in Rainbow Falls. I would like to hang out with these characters especially the “Undercover Sleuths”. I found myself thoroughly enjoying the story and the romance between Ben and Annie.

The mystery was well written and had plenty of suspects who wanted the victim dead. I did not suspect the killer at all! There were a few red herrings but I was totally engrossed in what was happening.

I can't wait for the next instalment!

I highly recommend this cozy mystery series to all my friends who love a cozy with romance thrown in.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this arc of Spring Break Slaying in exchange for my honest review. This is the final book in Jody Holford’s entertaining series, The Wannabe Sleuth. I have enjoyed reading all 3 books in the series and am sad to have to say goodbye to the fun and sweet heroine, Annie Abbott. We met Annie in the first book when she arrived in Rainbow Falls, Oregon to house sit for her parents while they took a trip around the world. Annie made lots of friends in her parents new town, including Ben, the town vet who became her boyfriend. Ben is from Rainbow Falls and introduced her to his friends. In addition, after being involved in a couple of murder mysteries, she has become friends with many of the townspeople and business owners.

In book 3, it is spring break and the college students are descending on the town, looking for fun. Rainbow Falls has decided to offer a variety of events, trying to get the business of students and tourists. Annie has a blog with virtual mysteries. In addition, she has an author friend, Claire, that she met through the online murder mystery interactions. She is excited to meet her in person. Claire comes to visit and help with some of the town events. The first event they are hosting is a roaring 20’s murder mystery. Unfortunately, the local realtor’s college age daughter Kimberly, a social influencer, is found at the party after an attack and ends up dying. Kimberly is a mean girl and not popular because of it. Annie finds the body and calls the police. Later it is determined to be a murder and Annie once again gets in the middle of the investigation, trying to help solve it. This time, Claire is there to help Annie and her buddies as they try to figure out the killer. There are many suspects for the group to try and solve the mystery.

Annie’s parents are winding down their trip and she tries repeatedly to reach them to see how they are doing. She’s unable to reach them and becomes quite worried. In addition, with their return, she will lose her place where she is living. Annie has fallen in love with Rainbow Falls and its people, especially Ben. She doesn’t know what Ben wants for the future. She’s afraid to talk to him but knows she has to make plans too. There is a lot of angst and suspense in the book. It was a wonderful book. I am very sad the series came to a close. Annie and the others in Rainbow Falls had begun to feel like old friends.

Jody has written an excellent book and series. The characters are real and genuine with some eccentric quirks thrown in. I enjoyed all of the storylines and interactions between the assorted people. I have given this book 5 stars and highly recommend it.

[T K Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The small coastal town of Rainbow Falls is in the midst of community activities trying to attract the college spring break crowd. Annie’s contribution is organizing “A Night of Murder Mystery Fun” where a group of locals will act out a murder and guests at the party will try to solve the crime. All goes well until an “influencer” from town gets herself killed. Because it happened at Annie’s event, of course she and her group of “undercover sleuths” get involved.

It soon becomes clear this influencer is definitely not a nice person. The potential suspects are many and continue to materialize deep into the book. They are so numerous and many so similar that it was a bit difficult for this reader to keep track.

While the sleuthing is going on, the author interweaves a secondary plotline about Annie’s parents being missing on their European vacation. She’s a bit helpless being on a different continent but uses what means she can to try to find information.

This series has well written, likable characters. Not sure if this is the final of the series. At this time, there’s no indication of a fourth book. The author didn’t leave many loose ends but I would enjoy a little more time in Rainbow Falls.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spring Break Slaying (The Wannabe Sleuth Book 3) by Jody Holford is another hit as Annie Abbott is continuing to housesit and become part of the Rainbow Falls. A murder is encountered with Annie and crew on the look out for the culprit. Since it is spring break, many more have descended on the relatedly small-town.

Annie’s parents are due home so Abbie has decisions to make concerning her future as well as finding a killer. The solution is not as clear cut as it first seemed. Sometimes victims are not nice people either. Still Annie needs to figure out her own life in this story. Fun, entertaining read with some serious overtones about the people’s perceptions and decisions that one must make in life. Hope this series continues because Annie has some wonderful choices ahead of her.

An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Becky Burciaga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spring Break Slaying, the third book in the Wannabe Sleuth series by Jody Holford, grabs your attention, and imagination, right at its onset...then keeps you intrigued until the very captivating ending. With no shortage of suspects, plenty of red herrings, and Annie’s tenacious nature, the pages couldn't turn themselves fast enough to get to the thrilling conclusion.

With each new installment of this series, Annie becomes more endearing, and her relationship with Ben becomes even more adorable. The cast of characters is simply delightful and has become instrumental in their own right in making this such a rewarding series. I look forward to what Ms. Holford has in store for Annie, Ben, and company.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining small town cozy mystery.

If you have read any of the books in the Wannabe Sleuth series, you definitely don’t want to miss this one. This time Annie and one of her friends are hosting a murder mystery party. The residents of Rainbow Falls and spring break visitors are all invited. But it isn’t long before there is a murder and of course Annie is one of the people to discover the victim. I enjoyed seeing Annie and her friends teaming up once again to solve the mystery. Sometimes I feel I am getting better at figuring out the killer in most books, but this one stumped me. It was an exciting read all the way through the book. And of course, I enjoyed catching up with all of the fun characters in Rainbow Falls.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book 3 in the Wannabe Sleuth series and can be read as a stand alone. Annie is planning a murder party in Rainbow Falls and hopes the tourists and college kids make it a success. When a social media influencer is attacked outside the party there are too many suspects to count. If this doesn’t hurt her business it’s a miracle but she is very distracted that her parents are missing on their European vacation. A good read.

[Ryan Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third entry in the series. It has graphic designer and True Crime aficionado Annie Abbott crafting a murder mystery dinner party in a historic mansion in her hometown of Rainbow Falls Oregon, hoping that 1920s themed done it will appeal to a bunch of Spring Breakers. Even bringing her online author friend Claire for the job. But like usual the murder turns real and somebody is dead. So far including this book, the series has been fun.

[Debra M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good cozy mystery,this one has it in spades ,good characters like Annie & Marge, great little fictional town of Rainbow Falls you would want to love to live in.I honestly didn't want this book to end.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this third (and felt like last? I hope not!) book in The Wannabe Sleuth series. There are a couple of mysteries going on, as well as the slaying from the title. After keeping me on edge for most of the book, everything was wrapped up nicely!

[Claire Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series by Jody Holford. So many good characters, and I love reading about everyone. Hope this series continues

[Alisha Carderella · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars