It was very interesting to be reminded how small towns work while reading this book. I grew up in a small town and the gossiping was definitely like this. Very enjoyable and the twist at the end was great.

Hospitality and Homicide is part of the tourist trap series by Lynn Cahoon. It is also my first foray into this enchanting story. The characters and scenes are well written, the plot intriguing, and the pace steady. I found the heroine relatable and at times annoying, which just made her more believable. I've definitely been trapped by this series, and can't wait to visit again.

Lynn Cahoon does it again. Hospitality and Homicide is an excellent read. South Cove is the place to be. The writing is great, the plot is exciting and has enough twist and turns to keeps you interested. I wish I could visit South Cove.

I enjoyed another visit to South Cover, California as well as to Coffee, Books and More. This small tourist town is the kind of place I would love to visit. There is a lot going on, some planned and some not, such as the murder of one of the local Bed & Breakfast places in town.

Once again, Jill is involved in the business group when she meets up with the newest business owner, Ian, who has opened a clock repair business. As well she hears some grumbling about Walter's B&B not doing as well as he hoped. There is also an author in town to do an event and book signing as well as ride along with Greg, a detective and Jill's boyfriend. When Walter ends up dead, trussed to a tree, Nate, the author is the first suspect. You see, this was the way he had written a murder in his upcoming book. Of course, Jill sticks her nose in where it doesn't belong and puts herself in some danger. There is a side story going on where there is a missing boy and Esmerelda, the psychic, insists he is still alive.

This is the 8th book in "A Tourist Trap Mystery" series and I love how the characters lives are changing and progressing. Jill and Greg are really heating up with a big decision in this book. Sasha is moving and leaving the store, putting Toby at odds. We will see what happens in the next book. Aunt Jackie and her beau seem to be happy and their relationship is going well. Emma, Jill's dog also plays an important role in this story. Not only is she a great pet, but she has a great nose and protective instinct. Esmeralda, the quirky one, played a bigger role in this story with the missing boy. Even though it was a secondary story line, it was a nice addition and one I was interested in. All the great characters make you identify with the town and rounds out the story. It is more than just a mystery. I had a pretty good idea who the killer was, but it was interesting to discover why he decided to kill the B&B owner.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The pacing was great, the story line well developed, great characters and setting, a bit of romance, some light humor and a satisfying conclusion. A great book for any cozy mystery lover.

If I would've known about this series when it started I would've been all up in this from that moment but I didn't hence the reason I started at book 8 *shaking fist in the air in frustration*

It's well written, set in a wonderful location, has coffee AND books, the characters are fun and the mystery is compelling.

Will be sneaking around trying to find the entire series now, after I've read book 9 which I have on my kindle.

*Huge thanks to Lynn Cahoon, Kensington Books and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own*

This is a wonderful series and I would add, best read in order. Not that it can't be read out of order but the developing stories within the mystery add so much. You get to know the characters and their connections and I enjoy them like letters from home, catching up on what's happening in their lives, especially with Esmerelda. I also have a soft spot for Emma, the Golden Retriever. The mystery is well written with enough plot twists to keep me reading way past my bedtime. The true measure of a good book, right?

I do love this small tourist town in California. It is a kind of place I wouldn't mind visiting or even living! Kind and friendly citizens, well other than the ones that decide to commit murder!

This is the 8th book and I really enjoy reading how the personal story lines progress for Jill, Greg, Aunt Jackie, Toby and Esmeralda. There are other characters that always manage to round out the story and create depth to the plot.

I will say that I sort of figured out who the killer was, not on any major clues that were given, but just that this character was a bit odd. It was interesting to discover why he decided to kill the B&B owner and sometimes you never know how long someone might hold a grudge against you for some wrong you committed whether real or in their imagination.

Another major story line was Jill and Greg's relationship and whether they were going to take it to the next level or not. Jill has a lot of reservations, and it is understandable based on her past. But will she let that hold her back or will she move forward with her life?

I really like Esmeralda, she is quite a quirky character being able to communicate with spirits. She was a bit more featured in this book due to a lost boy and she was sure he was still alive. Would Esmeralda come through for the family of this young boy?

And last but not least, Emma....because I love dogs and I really like that Emma is a big deal in this series and not relegated to a side note here and there.

Where Jill goes death will follow, who killed the wanna be author in the B&B. This is the question can Jill and Greg find the answers. This book sucks you in from the first chapter and you just have to finish it. The plot is solid the story will keep you glued to your set and characters may have you laughing depending on your sense of humor.

This mystery by Lynn Cahoon was a fun read. I had a hard time putting it down once I started it. Didn't even want to put it down to get dinner. We meet a woman named Jill. She owns a coffee shop/bookstore in a quaint little down on the west coast in California. We find odd things like break-ins, murders, and missing people in this book. The question is who or what solves these oddities that Jill and her boyfriend Greg find going on in town? Who is Greg? For that matter who is Toby and how do they all know one another? I love Esmerelda, and Nathan was a treat to read about. This was NOT the easy one to figure out, until one point in the book near the end when I realized something. Things clicked and I found out within pages after that that my new thinking was correct. However, I was not necessarily correct for the right reasons. Watching Jill finding herself in dangerous situations here and there without even knowing it. There are some red herrings in this book, and that made it even more fun to read. I look forward to reading more from this author.

RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M. Brennan.

Hospitality and Homicide

by Lynn Cahoon

Hospitality and Homicide is the eighth book in the Tourist Trap Mysteries. I have not read any others in the series, but the number of characters are limited and it was easy to jump into the story. The plot is fairly simple; too much emphasis is on the characters’ everyday lives, rather than on the mystery. Halfway into the book the reader knows with certainty Jill’s daily activities, her favorite dessert, her relationship issues, etc. Despite that, the author details them over and over throughout the book. There are undoubtedly some tense moments and some twists, but no cliffhangers. Another issue was the disappearance of a boy. It was unclear how long he had been missing, making that thread somewhat unbelievable. I did enjoy the book and was curious as to how the mysteries would be resolved, but it was not outstanding.

This book has two main plot threads—a brutal murder and a disappearance. One of them involves a psychic who communes with spirits. As a Christian, I usually avoid books with paranormal aspects, but this one slipped under my radar. Initially the theme seemed mild. At the end there was an unresolved issue as to why the psychic was successful in one case and not in another. Holding even more impact for me, however, was the statement made by police detective Greg about someone who committed a horrific, sadistic murder: “I don’t believe in evil, but if I did, this guy would be the picture next to the dictionary definition.” The Bible makes it clear that evil exists, and I would think that anyone who reads news reports would be convinced of that as well. Regardless, I want to clarify that the viewpoint of this book is not a reflection of my beliefs, nor is it a Biblical viewpoint. In looking at teasers of other books in this series, I did not see evidence that the other books in the series contain paranormal elements.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: #8 in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. Contains paranormal elements.

Publication: May 16, 2017—Kensington Books

Memorable Lines:

“Honey, I don’t have to make you sound like a wimp. When it comes to other people, you are a pushover. Everyone in town knows that.”

I know, I own a bookstore and I should be anti-e-readers. But honestly, I’m more concerned that people read than exactly how they read.

A readers’s pride and joy is having an author personally sign their copies of well-loved stories. That’s the reason bookstores will never be replaced by the e-reader. People need their keeper shelves.

I didn't care for the characters nor style of this one. Dragged for me

I always enjoy visiting Jill, Greg and the rest of the group in South Cove. It was fun to see how things were progressing for Amy, Toby, Josh and all the other characters I really feel like I've come to know during the previous books. While the mystery itself was interesting and the wrap up made since the investigation itself was pretty passive. Jill wasn't really involved until the last third and prior to that most of her involvement was getting updates from Toby or Greg as to what was going on. I was much more interested in what was happening with Esmeralda and the missing boy. What really had me the most interested is the character development that made up such a large part of the book. Big changes are coming to Jill and Greg's relationship as well as at Coffee, Books, and More and I can't wait to see what happens next. While this was a great read for fans of the series it's probably not a great one to start with

This long running series remains an engaging favorite. The main set of characters, including coffee shop/bookstore owner Jill Gardener, have managed to grow and mature so much over the course of the books, that it turns out, that's half the fun of each visit to South Cove. It doesn't even matter that you don't want to get to attached to anyone very new in town--whether they're a tourist, a new business owner or a food truck owner, they may not be around for long. This time, a big time author is in town to work on his book, but a murder eerily echoes a scene in his manuscript. Jill barely has enough time to read while on shift, much less track down murderers, but as usual, winds up being an integral part of the solution.

I enjoy this series and this book did not disappoint!

I love how the characters interact with each other and really seem like 'real' people. As time progresses the characters continue to develop. It is sad as some move but we'll always have Aunt Jackie who almost seems to be mellowing... just a bit.. This was a fun summer read that I didn't want to put down. Although the 'crime' mystery isn't quite as prominent as usual, the 'relationship' mystery helped keep me reading late.

Cute and quirky, the perfect blend for a great cozy mystery.

Jill Gardner not only owns a bookstore/coffee shop, but she also can't seem to help herself when it comes to getting involved in local mysteries. An author comes for a signing, but finds himself a prime suspect when a murder is committed that exactly mimics one in the first draft of his new book. Jill must try to figure out the truth behind the murder, keep her business going, and decide where her relationship with her police boyfriend is heading.


Jill is a great lead character, surrounded by lots of interesting supporting characters. Her romance with Greg is one to root for as well.

The setting is a great one. I love small town mysteries, especially ones set in a bookstore.

The mystery was a well-plotted one, with the ending solution being a complete surprise.

There's not much to not like about this series. It has good characters, mystery, and setting.

If you're a cozy mystery reader, I would definitely recommend this series.

Hospitality and Homicide (A Tourist Trap Mystery #8)
by Lynn Cahoon (Goodreads Author)
Kindle Edition, 217 pages
Published May 16th 2017 by Lyrical Underground (first published 2017)


Goodreads synopsis:
A visit to the serene coastal town of South Cove, California, could make anybody feel refreshed and inspired. But as Jill Gardner—owner of Coffee, Books, and More—discovers, some folks won’t live to tell about it . . .

Mystery author Nathan Pike checked into South Cove Bed & Breakfast to compose a compelling novel, not commit murder. But things get real when a rival B&B owner ends up exactly like the victim in his draft—undeniably dead. As Nathan prepares to complete his magnum opus behind bars, Jill’s the only one who can prove his innocence and deconstruct the plot of a twisted killer!

***

4 stars

I always look forward to reading a Tourist Trap mystery as soon as it comes available to read. This is one of my favorite series.

Jill Gardner finds herself in a bit of a pickle when Greg pops the question… okay, not “that” question but the “should we move in together” question. And strangely she finds herself undecided. Then her long-timer worker, Sasha, decides to go back to school and in the meantime dumps an unsuspecting Toby. Then Esmerelda gets into so much hot water that she is best supporting character in this tome.

Needless to say, conflict abounds. And that is before you add in the mysterious death of Walter to the mix. He dies just like a long-time legend that author Nathan Pike has been researching.

It is an awesome storyline. This is just cheesecake to me. Sooo good that I just can’t get enough. Definitely check this stellar series out.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank Net Galley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Sorry I could not get to read this one due to college exams.

Lynn Cahoon's Hospitality and Homicide is book eight in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. I had read a previous book in the series, but it is not necessary to enjoy this book. An owner of a bed and breakfast is found murdered, and Jill, owner of Coffee, Books, & More, is pulled into the mystery. The plot includes a side story of a missing child. I enjoyed the setting and characters. My main problem was that the book focused too much on Jill's every day life and very little on the murder. So much time is devoted to piles of little things - dog walking, studying for finals, Jill's commitment issues - and not enough on the murder. At one point I had set the book aside for a day and when I picked it back, I completely forgot about the murder victim. I hope future books will be more structured.

Just LOVED it. Lynn Cahoon has the "cozy feel" down pat as she writes about South Cove and and Jill Gardner, proprietor of Coffee, Books, and More.

This is the second book of the series I've read. I'm coming to believe that the characters are living, breathing, to the point of writing themselves.
Several characters fall into the quirky category, but as you read, the character grows and changes until you can't help but like them. I didn't like Aunt Jackie at first, but she's growing on me. Esmeralda is another character that at first the author encourages the reader to question and dislike, yet the character won't settle for that treatment. Love the way Cahoon shows that a love like Harrold's can actually change someone for the better.

Another technique Cahoon employs to make her characters real is to have a slew of personal crises going on at same time, giving the book real-life effect and fun layering. Jill/Greg, Toby/Sasha, Josh/Mandy, Nate/anybody. In some novels, this could be tedious. In this case, the book just becomes a great mesh of a entertwining threads to produce a beautiful tapestry.

All in all, this style of cozy makes me want to cheer and look anxiously for the date of the next book's publication.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. That did not affect the opinions presented in my review, for which I am solely responsible.