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A Decoupage Mystery #1
Stuck on Murder
The picturesque town of Morse Point may be a small dot on the New England landscape, but the decoupage class at Vintage Papers is larger than life. With cutouts, glue, and varnish, members create eye-catching projects—and uncover clues to a killing.For Brenna Miller, teaching the popular decoupage class is the only way to gloss over her painful past. But it hasn’t been easy making friends in a town that doesn’t warm up to outsiders. And it doesn’t help when the pushy mayor asks her to convince her enigmatic landlord, Nate Williams, to sell his lakefront property to land developers.But just when Brenna thinks the mayor’s given up, his body is found stuffed in a trunk at Morse Point Lake. And a witness claims that Nate’s truck was at the docks on the night of the murder. Now Brenna needs to help prove Nate’s innocence before his fate is signed, sealed, and delivered.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 29, 2009
29 people are currently reading
1971 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Lawrence
4 books80 followersLucy Lawrence is a pen name for Jenn McKinlay.
Lucy Lawrence (a pseudonym for Jenn McKinlay) took her first decoupage class when she was twelve years old. Since then, cutting and pasting have become a way of life. With two small children at home, she finds decoupage a fun craft as well as a very handy tool, especially when used to cover up doodles made in permanent marker on otherwise lovely furniture. And yes, they know her by name at her local Michael's Craft Store. She is the author of three previous novels under the name Jennifer McKinlay and lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her musician husband Chris, their two sons, two cats, one dog and one fish.
Lucy Lawrence (a pseudonym for Jenn McKinlay) took her first decoupage class when she was twelve years old. Since then, cutting and pasting have become a way of life. With two small children at home, she finds decoupage a fun craft as well as a very handy tool, especially when used to cover up doodles made in permanent marker on otherwise lovely furniture. And yes, they know her by name at her local Michael's Craft Store. She is the author of three previous novels under the name Jennifer McKinlay and lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her musician husband Chris, their two sons, two cats, one dog and one fish.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
December 14, 2023
I ended up rereading this book since before I gave it one star but I recently really started loving this author and while this is her first book and needs work it was still a fun read and I’ve since changed the grading
April 28, 2025
I enjoyed it but took some time to get invested in the story, curious to read the next book tough.
April 11, 2016
This was my first experience with this author (a pen name for Jenn McKinlay) and despite the hype, I was...underwhelmed.
I'm fairly forgiving while reading - books are an escape and a form of entertainment for me. As long as I'm entertained, I can overlook grammar issues and plot holes. Unfortunately, Stuck on Murder jerked me out of booklandia more than once...and it all had to do with the main character, Brenna. She bordered on TSTL territory...
"Do you think this was an accident?" she asked. She could feel her heart pound in her ears, almost drowning out his answer when [Chief Barker] said, "I can't say for sure just yet, but..." (p. 57)
Um, the man was stuffed in a trunk and dumped in a lake. How could that possibly be conceived as an accident?
p. 61: was it just me, or did she not let the dog out? That's the first thing we do each and every morning...just like clockwork...and he will let you know he has to go...
Huh? Hank was eating his breakfast...and then he's getting back from his morning walk? Did I miss something? (I want a dog that takes himself for a walk!)
p. 84: of course it was murder, you ditz.
"Did you talk to Ripley?" She asked... "I did," he said. Brenna and Tenley both gasped." (p. 143)
Melodramatic much?
p. 158: If you have to ask if it's sarcasm twice in two pages, then yes, darling, it is...
p. 168: There's a fine line between eccentric and annoying, and the line is getting very close to being crossed...
There were times when I was reading, I was starting to question whether the author was actually being serious...or if this was a parody. However, since the series is only three books, I've decided to stick with them...with crossed fingers.
I'm fairly forgiving while reading - books are an escape and a form of entertainment for me. As long as I'm entertained, I can overlook grammar issues and plot holes. Unfortunately, Stuck on Murder jerked me out of booklandia more than once...and it all had to do with the main character, Brenna. She bordered on TSTL territory...
"Do you think this was an accident?" she asked. She could feel her heart pound in her ears, almost drowning out his answer when [Chief Barker] said, "I can't say for sure just yet, but..." (p. 57)
Um, the man was stuffed in a trunk and dumped in a lake. How could that possibly be conceived as an accident?
p. 61: was it just me, or did she not let the dog out? That's the first thing we do each and every morning...just like clockwork...and he will let you know he has to go...
Huh? Hank was eating his breakfast...and then he's getting back from his morning walk? Did I miss something? (I want a dog that takes himself for a walk!)
p. 84: of course it was murder, you ditz.
"Did you talk to Ripley?" She asked... "I did," he said. Brenna and Tenley both gasped." (p. 143)
Melodramatic much?
p. 158: If you have to ask if it's sarcasm twice in two pages, then yes, darling, it is...
p. 168: There's a fine line between eccentric and annoying, and the line is getting very close to being crossed...
There were times when I was reading, I was starting to question whether the author was actually being serious...or if this was a parody. However, since the series is only three books, I've decided to stick with them...with crossed fingers.
February 9, 2020
I enjoyed this start to a short series. It is written by Jenn McKinlay under a pseudonym that she used before writing under her own name. I liked the characters and the storyline and am looking forward to reading the two other books.
June 6, 2011
I started off feeling a little ambivalent about Stuck on Murder, but the story kicked in quickly and I went from apathetic to enthused in a matter of pages. Lucy Lawrence has a light and effortless style that makes the story very easy to get into, and she strikes the perfect balance of mystery, humour and a smattering of romance.
The main characters are interesting and likeable. The other residents about the small town of Morse Point are less so; there are your usual assortment of nosey middle-aged ladies and abrasive characters, but they do serve to bring colour to the story. I was fairly on-the-fence about Brenna at the beginning; there were hints of a painful past in Boston which had caused her to move to Morse Point, and it was quickly evident from her interactions with people that it had made her very withdrawn. Frankly, my first thought was that she was either anti-social or a shrinking violet - I was surprised later when she mentioned having lived in Morse Point for a year, because it sounded more like she'd only been around for a few months. Thankfully, Brenna showed incredible leaps of development as the novel progressed. Her protectiveness of Nate probably helped speed up her healing process and a far more likeable spunky side was revealed as she came out of her shell. I quite liked her by the end of the book.
I had no such issues with Brenna's best friend, Tenley, who's an open and funny thing. Brenna's two handsome romantic interests are equally fascinating. Nate, her landlord and friend (and the one accused of Jim Ripley's murder) is quiet but solidly dependable, and Dom Cappicola is the Harvard graduate who's trying to cut his mob connections. I absolutely adore him! He's charismatic, a little flirty and has incredible chemistry with Brenna. I can't wait to see how Lawrence will move the developing love triangle forward in the next book.
The murder mystery is what sets off the events of the novel, and as such it takes center stage at all times. The snappy pace and steady progress in Brenna's sleuthing (and with it, disclosure of new clues) kept the pages turning. I'm glad the decoupage theme doesn't take over the story, because I'm honestly not too interested in that part of it. It's there, for those who like decoupage, but it's simply what Brenna does when she's not investigating or otherwise occupied. There are a few incidents where Brenna's determination to run headlong into trouble made me raise an eyebrow, but it's thankfully not irritating.
Considering how quickly the characters and relationships evolved in this first installment, I'm excited to see how much more they'll grow in the next novel, Cut to the Corpse.
The main characters are interesting and likeable. The other residents about the small town of Morse Point are less so; there are your usual assortment of nosey middle-aged ladies and abrasive characters, but they do serve to bring colour to the story. I was fairly on-the-fence about Brenna at the beginning; there were hints of a painful past in Boston which had caused her to move to Morse Point, and it was quickly evident from her interactions with people that it had made her very withdrawn. Frankly, my first thought was that she was either anti-social or a shrinking violet - I was surprised later when she mentioned having lived in Morse Point for a year, because it sounded more like she'd only been around for a few months. Thankfully, Brenna showed incredible leaps of development as the novel progressed. Her protectiveness of Nate probably helped speed up her healing process and a far more likeable spunky side was revealed as she came out of her shell. I quite liked her by the end of the book.
I had no such issues with Brenna's best friend, Tenley, who's an open and funny thing. Brenna's two handsome romantic interests are equally fascinating. Nate, her landlord and friend (and the one accused of Jim Ripley's murder) is quiet but solidly dependable, and Dom Cappicola is the Harvard graduate who's trying to cut his mob connections. I absolutely adore him! He's charismatic, a little flirty and has incredible chemistry with Brenna. I can't wait to see how Lawrence will move the developing love triangle forward in the next book.
The murder mystery is what sets off the events of the novel, and as such it takes center stage at all times. The snappy pace and steady progress in Brenna's sleuthing (and with it, disclosure of new clues) kept the pages turning. I'm glad the decoupage theme doesn't take over the story, because I'm honestly not too interested in that part of it. It's there, for those who like decoupage, but it's simply what Brenna does when she's not investigating or otherwise occupied. There are a few incidents where Brenna's determination to run headlong into trouble made me raise an eyebrow, but it's thankfully not irritating.
Considering how quickly the characters and relationships evolved in this first installment, I'm excited to see how much more they'll grow in the next novel, Cut to the Corpse.
August 29, 2020
I've read 2 other books by Jenn McKinlay and didn't particularly care for them, but I loved this one! The setting was so cool and the characters were interesting and likeable. Too bad there are only three books in the series!
June 8, 2018
Why five stars? Because when you find a cozy murder that makes you chuckle with the descriptions of the characters and their dialog, you are left with a special feeling, one of happiness and an appreciation of a well-crafted murder mystery.
Brenna has moved out of Boston to her friends small town in Massachusetts. Brenna has found housing in a rural area run by an artist who has dropped out of the art scene, Nate. They've become casual friends but when the local Mayor seems to loose his grip on the community development scene, murder occurs. Brenna feels compelled to stop Nate's becoming the town's accused. Being two outsiders, it is up to Brenna and her friends to save the day and find the true killer quickly.
I truly enjoyed reading this tale and look forward to reading the next installment in Brenna's life.
Brenna has moved out of Boston to her friends small town in Massachusetts. Brenna has found housing in a rural area run by an artist who has dropped out of the art scene, Nate. They've become casual friends but when the local Mayor seems to loose his grip on the community development scene, murder occurs. Brenna feels compelled to stop Nate's becoming the town's accused. Being two outsiders, it is up to Brenna and her friends to save the day and find the true killer quickly.
I truly enjoyed reading this tale and look forward to reading the next installment in Brenna's life.
July 26, 2017
Another super cute mystery from Jenn McKinnlay under the name Lucy Lawrence. I love the characters in this set and I laughed out loud multiple times during this book. It had a good mystery and was very enjoyable. I am only sorry there are only 3 books in this set.
June 28, 2019
Not my favorite craft activity, that’s for sure. I don’t know how someone could hold classes in it. Get some pics, grab the glue and stick them on. Add in one dead mayor and a few sexy single men and you have this novel. It wasn’t horrible but it wasn’t mind altering either. An easy bit of fun.
May 31, 2018
i love a mystery. love the cover ... u will be easily pulled into the what if? who did it? curious moments. well written ... love the characters.
February 19, 2018
I very much liked this cozy mystery because it was a nice balance of character development and mystery. It definitely read like a Jenn McKinlay for me.
February 21, 2025
I really liked this one. She was totally was the right amount of suspicious. I looked and I didn’t love this authors later series but I might retry them some day.
May 4, 2019
: This is this first book in the decoupage series. Breena Miller has moved to Morse Point to start her life over after an incident in her past. She is working for her friend at Vintage Papers. Breena's landlord Nate is fighting with the mayor over selling his property. When Breena finds an old truck floating in the lake, she is shocked to discover a dead body inside it. Nate quickly becomes a suspect.
This was a great first book in a series. I like how we were introduced to the characters and slowly learned about Breena's past. I was very interested in the mystery and it was a fast read. I plan to read more in the series.
This was a great first book in a series. I like how we were introduced to the characters and slowly learned about Breena's past. I was very interested in the mystery and it was a fast read. I plan to read more in the series.
November 21, 2011
Author Jenn McKinlay, who writes the Cupcake Mystery Series and the Library Lovers Mystery series, is also the author of this, the Decoupage Mystery Series, although she writes it under the name of Lucy Lawrence. Since I had read the Cupcake Mystery Series and the Library Lovers, and enjoyed them very much, I looked for others by the same author.
Brenna Miller is a former big city gal, who has moved to the tiny village of Morse Point, where outsiders, no matter how long they have been there, are still not trusted. Nothing bad has happened in fifty years in Morse Point, until the Mayor is found in a trunk in the lake. There are those that want to blame Brenna, even though she had nothing to do with it, because she is an outsider, but even more want to blame her landlord, Nate Williams, who although he has been there for year is still an outsider.
Brenna has a hidden history that happened to her back in Boston, making her scared of an violence and untrusting of the police. We slowly learn this history in the book, and realize her fears and her motivation for investigating herself.
It is a well written book, and I enjoyed the story and the village of Morse Point. I look forward to reading books two and three to learn more about the town and the people. There are some real characters, and then there is a budding or smoldering romance between local Matt and Brenna's best friend Tenley, and Brenna's own attraction to her landlord, Nate Williams and Dom Cappicola, a former mob family man who is trying to take the family business legit.
So much to discover and enjoy.
Brenna Miller is a former big city gal, who has moved to the tiny village of Morse Point, where outsiders, no matter how long they have been there, are still not trusted. Nothing bad has happened in fifty years in Morse Point, until the Mayor is found in a trunk in the lake. There are those that want to blame Brenna, even though she had nothing to do with it, because she is an outsider, but even more want to blame her landlord, Nate Williams, who although he has been there for year is still an outsider.
Brenna has a hidden history that happened to her back in Boston, making her scared of an violence and untrusting of the police. We slowly learn this history in the book, and realize her fears and her motivation for investigating herself.
It is a well written book, and I enjoyed the story and the village of Morse Point. I look forward to reading books two and three to learn more about the town and the people. There are some real characters, and then there is a budding or smoldering romance between local Matt and Brenna's best friend Tenley, and Brenna's own attraction to her landlord, Nate Williams and Dom Cappicola, a former mob family man who is trying to take the family business legit.
So much to discover and enjoy.
February 19, 2011
Berkley Prime Crime
A Division of Penguin Publishing
First in the Series
ISBN-10: 0425230295
ISBN-13: 978-0425230299
In this first story we are introduced to Brenna Miller, Vintage Papers and Morse Point and all it's wonderful residents. Brenna has moved to the small New England town to leave her past behind and start over. She teaches classes in Decoupage and works for her friend Tenley Morse at her specialty paper store.
This town doesn't really welcome "outsiders" like Brenna but the Mayor of the town expects her to convince her yummy landlord Nate Williams into selling his lake front property to the land developers to promote growth in the small town. Nate refuses and Brenna thinks she is out of the middle of the issue until she discovers a trunk floating in Morse Point Lake and it is not an empty trunk. There's a body inside and Nate finds himself stuck facing murder charges. Brenna has to find away to prove his innocence before the whole town comes unglued.
It is a great debut to a series that you will want to read more of right away. So I did!
A Division of Penguin Publishing
First in the Series
ISBN-10: 0425230295
ISBN-13: 978-0425230299
In this first story we are introduced to Brenna Miller, Vintage Papers and Morse Point and all it's wonderful residents. Brenna has moved to the small New England town to leave her past behind and start over. She teaches classes in Decoupage and works for her friend Tenley Morse at her specialty paper store.
This town doesn't really welcome "outsiders" like Brenna but the Mayor of the town expects her to convince her yummy landlord Nate Williams into selling his lake front property to the land developers to promote growth in the small town. Nate refuses and Brenna thinks she is out of the middle of the issue until she discovers a trunk floating in Morse Point Lake and it is not an empty trunk. There's a body inside and Nate finds himself stuck facing murder charges. Brenna has to find away to prove his innocence before the whole town comes unglued.
It is a great debut to a series that you will want to read more of right away. So I did!
September 10, 2014
Cute little mystery.
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It had earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It had earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
August 22, 2023
"Stuck on Murder (A Decoupage Mystery #1)" by Lucy Lawrence (aka Jenn McKinlay) is a good start to a series. There's some character development that I'm sure will happen as the series moves along. Over all, it was well written.
The mystery was interesting. My main suspect was the correct the murderer. Why the main character was surprised at the reveal was more shocking than the reveal, for me. I do have to say I kinda forgot about my primary suspect when other things were happening. A good cozy mystery.
The mystery was interesting. My main suspect was the correct the murderer. Why the main character was surprised at the reveal was more shocking than the reveal, for me. I do have to say I kinda forgot about my primary suspect when other things were happening. A good cozy mystery.
July 11, 2011
I was torn between 3.5 and 4 stars and decided to round up. I really, really liked Brenna, Tenley, Nate, Dom and Chief Barker and I also really liked the setting in small town New England. I figured out the killer about halfway through, but couldn't figure out why. I thought the motive was sort of weak, but that's my only complaint with the book. I'll definitely read more in this series as I have to see where the blossoming romances are going!
December 27, 2016
A nice beginning to a series focused around a specialty paper shop in a small town about 45 minutes away from Boston. Brenna has moved there in search of a new beginning and part of the mystery is learning why. She teaches a decoupage class in a seemingly quiet town, until the mayor is murdered and her landlord and friend, Nate, is the prime suspect.
Not too taxing of a read, I've already ordered the second book in the series..
Not too taxing of a read, I've already ordered the second book in the series..
November 20, 2020
What a great first book! The characters become your new best friends. The plot was good with a few twists and turns. Glad I found this series.
May 17, 2015
Not even the fun facts about decoupage (!) made this worth reading.
September 28, 2023
Stuck on Murder, the first book in Lucy Lawrence’s Decoupage Mystery series, is both charming and suspenseful. With likeable characters you really want to root for, it engages the reader on all levels.
Brenna Miller has moved to Morse Point to put her past behind her, and she gets a job teaching decoupage classes at her friend Tenley’s shop, Vintage Papers. When the mayor approaches her to see if she would aid him in convincing her landlord, Nate, to sell his property to developers, she reluctantly agrees. However, Nate has no intention of doing so, and an argument between the two men ensues. When Brenna discovers the mayor has been murdered, suspicion falls on Nate. With nothing more than a hunch to go on, Brenna sets out to prove Nate’s innocence.
Brenna is a straightforward kind of person, honest and forthright, with little capacity for deception. I really like the fact that she believes in Nate’s innocence despite have little (or no) evidence of it. The characters are like real people. Tenley is a terrific best friend, kind and supportive, and Nate is the landlord we all want to have. The mystery is well thought out, with a logical conclusion based on a series of clues and misdirection.
Initially, I was surprised to learn that Lucy Lawrence is a pen name of Jenn McKinlay, but after reading the book, I can see positive similarities. The characters, in particular, have that ring of authenticity that is prevalent in both her Cupcake Bakery series and, especially, the Library Lovers series. And I appreciate the little bits of information relating to decoupage (a subject I know little about) that are found at the beginning of each chapter. I found the narration by Callie Beaulieu to be top-notch as always. Her narration always adds to the enjoyment of the novel.
This is a series I will be continuing to read. I like the characters and am intrigued by the decoupage theme. I hope that it will become more prominent in future stories.
Brenna Miller has moved to Morse Point to put her past behind her, and she gets a job teaching decoupage classes at her friend Tenley’s shop, Vintage Papers. When the mayor approaches her to see if she would aid him in convincing her landlord, Nate, to sell his property to developers, she reluctantly agrees. However, Nate has no intention of doing so, and an argument between the two men ensues. When Brenna discovers the mayor has been murdered, suspicion falls on Nate. With nothing more than a hunch to go on, Brenna sets out to prove Nate’s innocence.
Brenna is a straightforward kind of person, honest and forthright, with little capacity for deception. I really like the fact that she believes in Nate’s innocence despite have little (or no) evidence of it. The characters are like real people. Tenley is a terrific best friend, kind and supportive, and Nate is the landlord we all want to have. The mystery is well thought out, with a logical conclusion based on a series of clues and misdirection.
Initially, I was surprised to learn that Lucy Lawrence is a pen name of Jenn McKinlay, but after reading the book, I can see positive similarities. The characters, in particular, have that ring of authenticity that is prevalent in both her Cupcake Bakery series and, especially, the Library Lovers series. And I appreciate the little bits of information relating to decoupage (a subject I know little about) that are found at the beginning of each chapter. I found the narration by Callie Beaulieu to be top-notch as always. Her narration always adds to the enjoyment of the novel.
This is a series I will be continuing to read. I like the characters and am intrigued by the decoupage theme. I hope that it will become more prominent in future stories.
January 7, 2019
I selected this book with trepidation; I'm suspicious of "cosy" mysteries that are based on some crafting project. But the author doesn't really lay it on too heavily - just a brief hint at the beginning of each chapter, which I notice she drops after this first book in the series.
Maybe, more importantly, this series deals with outsiders, moving into a small town - luckily for the main character, Brenna, to work with her best friend, the daughter of the town founder.
Coincidentally, I grew up in a small town, the descendant of the town founder. I don't recall anyone treating me any differently because of that; but then, the Midwest is not New England, where this is set. And, I have discovered in my travels that East Coast folk are much more status conscious and aware of who your forefathers were than other parts of the U.S. So, it may be realistic for that part of the country.
This book had a few more skips and starts that the other two in the series. But, the murder plot seemed the most realistic. Who doesn't love a love triangle - and you get at least one in this book. Enough said...
Maybe, more importantly, this series deals with outsiders, moving into a small town - luckily for the main character, Brenna, to work with her best friend, the daughter of the town founder.
Coincidentally, I grew up in a small town, the descendant of the town founder. I don't recall anyone treating me any differently because of that; but then, the Midwest is not New England, where this is set. And, I have discovered in my travels that East Coast folk are much more status conscious and aware of who your forefathers were than other parts of the U.S. So, it may be realistic for that part of the country.
This book had a few more skips and starts that the other two in the series. But, the murder plot seemed the most realistic. Who doesn't love a love triangle - and you get at least one in this book. Enough said...
September 9, 2025
Finally, a decent cozy mystery. After my first two attempts to enter the world of cozy mysteries failed miserably, I finally found one that kept me interested and entertained. I did figure out who probably did it early on because of a clue that I thought might originally have been a MacGuffin. Later on I realized I was right. To many this might have been considered too easy, and to some degree it was, but at least the author didn't bring in new characters three-fourths of the way into the story to be the murderer. And, I pride myself on being able to pick up on that clue so fast, so I'll take whatever props I can get. Lol. The only reason I didn't give it a full five stars is because I thought the reason the murderer killed was kind of lame, IMHO.
I love how that this mystery involved someone doing normal, fun and creative things like decoupage. I'm very into interior design and will be looking to read more cozies centered around things I personally like to do like interior design, travel, being a librarian and doll collecting. My next read; however, is going to be The Plot is Murder by V. M. Burns.
Happy Reading everyone!
I love how that this mystery involved someone doing normal, fun and creative things like decoupage. I'm very into interior design and will be looking to read more cozies centered around things I personally like to do like interior design, travel, being a librarian and doll collecting. My next read; however, is going to be The Plot is Murder by V. M. Burns.
Happy Reading everyone!
April 6, 2024
This was pretty solid for a fairly standard cozy mystery. The main characters were pleasant. Some of the minor characters were a bit caricatured. That's par for the course in this genre. There were few enough that it wasn't overdone. The story had twists and turns, but enough clues were dropped that the killer did not come out of the blue. It did have that trope I hate where the heroine investigates on her own because she thinks the cops are hacks. In this case, she had a backstory that explained her severe distrust of cops. That works.
Really, the only thing that I found jarring was the author's weird obsession with old ladies in sausage curls. She mentioned that a couple of times for a few older women. It was such a bizarre description that it jolted me out of the story to WTF land. What century is she living in? I'm in my 60s and have never even seen an old woman in sausage curls aside from Bette Davis in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane or historical reenactors doing Victorian era personas.
I will be looking forward to reading more in the series.
Really, the only thing that I found jarring was the author's weird obsession with old ladies in sausage curls. She mentioned that a couple of times for a few older women. It was such a bizarre description that it jolted me out of the story to WTF land. What century is she living in? I'm in my 60s and have never even seen an old woman in sausage curls aside from Bette Davis in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane or historical reenactors doing Victorian era personas.
I will be looking forward to reading more in the series.
August 5, 2020
I'm always sorry to give a negative review to any book, but I have to be honest about what I think. This was one of the less enjoyable cozy mysteries I've read. I did finish it, so I gave it the second star, but it was a miss for me.
First off the book was literally filled with every cliche from every mystery story that could be crammed into one story. It felt like the author had a checklist of story components, and just went about sticking every one she possibly could into this book. It didn't feel like there was a cohesive planned plot, but rather a list components stuffed in.
Secondly, I could not like Brenna at all. She was a complete dumbhead, wimpy and whiny, and even with her back-story explained for why she was such a wimp she was just not a likable character for me at all. She irritated me all the way through this story and I do not want to spend any more time with her. I will not be continuing with this series.
First off the book was literally filled with every cliche from every mystery story that could be crammed into one story. It felt like the author had a checklist of story components, and just went about sticking every one she possibly could into this book. It didn't feel like there was a cohesive planned plot, but rather a list components stuffed in.
Secondly, I could not like Brenna at all. She was a complete dumbhead, wimpy and whiny, and even with her back-story explained for why she was such a wimp she was just not a likable character for me at all. She irritated me all the way through this story and I do not want to spend any more time with her. I will not be continuing with this series.
March 23, 2025
Finished the for #ThematicCozies March #Hobby & I quite enjoyed it. Brenna has been in her small New England town, a refugee of Boston where the art gallery she ran was violently robbed. She teaches decoupage art in the paper craft store her friend Tenley owns & gets involved in solving the mayor’s death when her landlord is accused. The characters show promise & I like that there is a little romantic tension/competition brewing between Brenna & her landlord, artist Nate & also between Brenna & Dom (trying to turn his mob family’s businesses legit.) There’s some decoupage tips thrown in, so I learned a little about it too. Free on Audible, I downloaded the 2nd book (there’s 3 total) to listen to as well.
February 28, 2019
I was delighted to learn that Jenn McKinlay has two cozy mystery series that she has written under other names. While Stuck on Murder was not a great as the Library Lover Mysteries, I still loved it and thought it was better than many cozy mysteries that I have greatly enjoyed. This book was published about 10 years ago but I found nothing that made me feel that it was out of step with today. It looks like the romantic triangles that were popular a while back may come into play but that was only hinted at so time and more reading will determine how that comes out. I will be reading more books in this short series.
January 6, 2020
An interesting first book
I had never read a book by this author under this name and I was surprised to find that it is an early work by Jenn McKinley. The book managed to keep me focused and entertained, despite some misspellings and some typos that got missed with the final proofing. The heroine seems to be a focused young lady with a bit of a past. The two potential suitors for her add a bit of zest to the storyline. I’m definitely going to read Book 2 to see how things turn out with Brenna and the two young men vying for her attention.
I had never read a book by this author under this name and I was surprised to find that it is an early work by Jenn McKinley. The book managed to keep me focused and entertained, despite some misspellings and some typos that got missed with the final proofing. The heroine seems to be a focused young lady with a bit of a past. The two potential suitors for her add a bit of zest to the storyline. I’m definitely going to read Book 2 to see how things turn out with Brenna and the two young men vying for her attention.
August 29, 2017
Jenn McKinlay is one of my favorite authors, so I thought it was about time I tracked down one of her earliest series and the only one I had not yet read. I knew I would enjoy this one. Brenna and Tenley were great. I would totally take their decoupage class. Hank stole the show for me, and this is another one of her New England settings where I would love to live. Can't wait to read book two!
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