Hush Money is a new series by T. E. Woods. While it does have some of the dark thriller touches that I love in her books this was definitely more of a cozy mystery and a very predictable one I might add. It was a good read I liked Sydney's character she is loyal to a fault, even when it seems like she is screwing up. Sydney has always known she was adopted and she loves her parents she never really gave her birth parent much of a thought until after one birthday she receives a letter says that she was loved but because of a scandal they had to give her up and with that letter a but load of money, with that money Sydney has started a restaurant called Hush Money and a Cop Bar called 10 10. Sydney also goes to a local Jazz Bar where the owner, Clay, and her have just recently started seeing each other, I don't trust him by the way.

On the night of her grand openning for both places one of her servers doesn't show up and the mayor is found murdered in his home. Sydney has a soft spot for Wanda, "Windy" because despite being completely alone she managed to keep and raise her daughter all by herself. So when Windy is arrested for the murder of the mayor Sydney hires her a lawyer and hires someone to take care of her daughter, Gabby. Sydney's gut feeling is that Windy didn't do it and even though everyone else is telling her she must be wrong Sydney keeps digging deeper and deeper until she paints a target on her own back.

Overall, I think it has great potential as a cozy mystery with the dark thriller touches. But it wasn't what I expected and was a little disappointed with it, I do like Sydney and I am curious enough about her to read any future books.

Why was Mayor Roger Millerman murdered? What was he hiding? Who was he blackmailing and why? How does this all relate to Sydney Richardson's two businesses; Hush Money, an elite restaurant, and the Ten-Ten, a bar which is the home for off-duty law enforcement. They all know Sydney very well because her late father was a Detective, and the Ten-Ten is like a second home for all of them. One of her servers, at the Hush Money, Windy Fields, is arrested for murder of Mayor Millerman, because all the evidence points to her. Sydney just doesn't think that Windy is capable of murder. With a family who is so entrenched in law enforcement, Sydney begins her own investigation. With murder, attempted murder, politics, corruption, and payoff money, what's not to like in this book. The plot is very intriguing and fast-paced. The character development was great!! I enjoyed this book every much. The ending will really surprise you. You won't be disappointed in any way!!

Sorry to say that this book did not work for me.
I know how hard it is to write a compelling full length crime novel, but I found the constant switching between time frames and the large number of characters both confusing and annoying. They pulled me out of the story. The prologue in particular was a really bad cliche. I did not find one character who I truly rooted for in this story and was not engaged.

This is a very enjoyable book. The writing is clear and direct. The characters are well-defined and likeable. It has a tinge of romance without detracting from the story. The story itself is intriguing, if not engrossing. I would call it good but not great.

One of the things that I enjoy about T.E. Woods' books is that she can write complex plots and complex characters and make the reader feel involved with both. Hush Money, is a well crafted mystery centered around Sydney Richardson, owner of one of Madison, Wisconsin's top restaurants, Hush Money. Sydney, a daughter of a cop killed in the line of duty is soon embroiled in the mystery surrounding the death of the mayor. The story takes many twists before a very satisfying conclusion. I look forward to more of Woods' novels.

I love T.E. Woods' "The Fixer" books and was sad when The Fixer decided to get out of the life of fixing. That girl was AWESOME! I wondered what would come next in in T.E. Woods' world and now I know. I loved this book.

I loved the locale, Madison, WI is a beautiful city and I loved the main character, Sydney Richardson. A woman with a lot of issues of abandonment and a huge heart. During opening night of her "two", yes not just one, restaurants the Mayor is murdered. His wife had to be driven home in a taxi, so she can't be the suspect. However, one of Sydney's new employees, Wanda Fields, is a no show for work. There is no phone call or a replacement found.

Wanda Fields, with no restaurant experience at all, tugged on Sydney's heartstrings with her status as a single mother. Sydney hired her right away. Now, Wanda is the main suspect in the Mayor's murder.

Sydney comes to the rescue with money for a lawyer, bail and a babysitter for her young daughter. She is bound and determined who killed the mayor because she knows Wanda did not do it.

A great story with not really a lot of suspects. There is no clue that there was anyone in that house besides the mayor and Wanda. However, some shady actions behind the scenes provide quite a few suspects. A fact I was happy to see because I really liked Wanda, as well.

The jaw dropping ending reiterated the fact why T.E. Woods is one author that I request her books without even reading the description!

Huge thanks to Random House/Alibi and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Try this one for a fast, entertaining read with a terrific new character in Sydney. Woods has created a nice little world with Sydney's two Madison, Wisconsin restaurants- and some interesting characters. The murder of the Mayor sets off a series of events that exposes an underbelly of secrets and lies as Sydney works to exonerate her employee and friend Windy. This isn't a cozy, it isn't a procedural, but it's a pretty nifty mystery. No spoilers! It's not gory, not gruesome, not over the top, and not twee but it is well written. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Recommend this if you like smart female protagonists. I'd not read Woods before but now I'm looking forward to more!

Who killed the Mayor?

Well it wasn't the wife!!!

Do you want to know who did it?

Then read this Awesome novel by T.E. Woods. T.E. wove a tale that had many suspects and when I thought the killer had been identified, T.E. made a left/right turn and left me thinking Wow. The novel was full of twist and turns that left me guessing. After completing the novel, there are clues, but I didn't seem them until the end.

The characters take their roll and run with it till the end. Every character had there place in the novel and made for an enjoyable read.

This is my first novel I've read by T.E., it will not be the last. I would like to see what she creates for Sydney in the next one.

Ditzy! I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Written by T. E. Woods and published by Alabi / Random House in 2017, this novel is a story set in Madison, Wisconsin about a woman who opens an upscale restaurant called Hush Money that is physically connected to a neighborhood bar and grill called Ten-Ten, the police radio code for “Off Duty.” The protagonist is Sydney Richardson, the ditzy thirty-five-year-old single adopted daughter of Joe and Nancy Richardson of Madison. Joe was a cop who was killed in the line of duty. Nancy ran a diner for more than thirty years, and that is where Sydney learned about the restaurant business. Sydney has hired the most famous chef in California to run her kitchen, and she pays him a percentage of the profits over and above his high salary in order to entice him to live and work in Wisconsin. Sydney and her new chef have hired a highly-qualified staff to run both establishments. Ten-Ten caters to first responders: police, firefighters, and medics. Hush Money caters to those in Madison who wish to enjoy fine dining with an excellent wine pairing.

The story begins with a description of the aftermath of a gruesome murder. The victim turns out to be the mayor of Madison, and the story takes off from there. Sydney inserts herself into the matter when the suspect in the murder turns out to be one of her employees, and we are off to the races. Sydney sticks her nose in everywhere, and she can’t seem to keep a secret from anybody — ever! As the protagonist in a novel, Sydney did not seem very appealing to me. She makes too many stupid mistakes and spends too much time worrying about who her biological parents might be.

I thought the book seemed to lack focus. The plot was all over the map. Focus kept shifting from one character to another, with a lot of unnecessary, and sometimes stilted, dialogue involving characters who do not play important roles in the story. We hear way too much irrelevant dialogue from police officers, waitresses, chefs, Sydney’s mother, her friends, etc. To me, this made the story seem unfocused. I know the author was trying to develop suspense, but the effort seemed half-hearted. The ending of the book is quite abrupt, with the status of the potential romantic interests left up in the air. To me, those are loose ends that are left untied.

The book is an easy read, and many will find it entertaining, but I didn’t really like it all that much. Perhaps the author will improve with a little more experience, although it seems that she has already published six or seven novels. I’m not sure what “A Justice Novel” is supposed to be, but there is very little in this story to suggest that it should be called a “Justice Novel.” Although I was tempted to award only two stars, I award three stars because it is an easy read that is authentically set in Madison, Wisconsin.

I thoroughly enjoyed!! What fun. Now this books keeps you interest, and trying to figure out, who did it? Did Sydney do it? She was one those characters that I liked, not perfect but not weak, and I am all for that, also liked her mom..go out and read when it comes out, you will be entertained...

Hush Money by by T. E. Woods Published by Random House Publishing Group – Alibi is a fantastic summer read that if you had no work and nothing to do for a few hours you could finish in one sitting. I am rather sad I did not get that luxury. This being my first book by this author I was very impressed, it keeps you engaged and interested and keeps you wanting to see who done it. It is a cozy mystery wrapped nicely in a romantic suspense novel. Sydney Richardson is a heroine who is strong willed, stubborn independently successful yet has enough flaws to make her relatable which I love. The story centers around the murder of the mayor and the girl who they think did it. You might be asking yourself did Sydney do it? No…. the role she plays here is the boss who knows her employee is innocent and she goes out of her way to proof it to the point she might be put in harm’s way. Wanda(Windy) is a server at Hush Money one of the two restaurants that Sydney owns Ten-Ten being the other where she honors her late father who was on the force making it feel like a good place for cops to relax and unload. I love the way the book is laid out, it gives a clear picture of the path the author is taking while still making the reader guess and second guess who killed the mayor.
All and all a great read. Thank you Netgalley the author and publisher for my advanced copy this was fantastic!

Hush Money is the first book in what I hope will be a substantial series by T. E. Woods, who is well-known for the previous "Fixer" series. Main character Sydney Richardson is a successful restauranteur in Madison WI as well as a smart caring friend and daughter who takes it upon herself to try to clear the name of one of her employees accused of murder. Along the way, we meet assorted characters in the city government, the police force, a jazz club owner, an attorney, a fertility specialist OB/GYN and eventually the murderer. The characters are well developed, sympathetic and believable. I hope the next books in the new series follow regularly!

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I found T.E. Woods a couple of years ago and instantly loved the writing style. This is a start of a new series. I already love the setting. Sydney opens a restaurant and a bar with immediate success. However, the night of her opening the mayor is murdered and one of her employees is the prime suspect. Great story with many twists. Now I will say I'm going to have to warm up to Sydney. There are moments I like her, but many times I wanted to strangle her. I am hoping as the series progresses, I will understand her better. Very exciting read.

Loved this book and can't wait for the next one!!!!

T.E. Woods has become one of my favorite authors when it comes to mystery/crime fiction. Her main protagonists are strong females with a lot going for them but can generally kick ass. In the Justice series, it was all about well-deserved justice and vendetta.

In her latest book, which starts a new series, Hush Money, Ms. Woods still delivers an admirable female protagonist, in the form of Sydney Richardson owner of two restaurants with her own personal secrets.

Set in Madison, Wisconsin readers are suddenly in the middle of a crime, who was killed and who is the killer is gradually revealed thru flashbacks and time jumps. Right center of it all is the about to open restaurant Hush Money and the owner Sydney is busy making sure everything is running on time. The players are introduced one by one, with each piece of the puzzle being revealed, readers will have a hard time guessing who the real killer is and what the motive was. Everyone is a suspect and Sydney is intent on protecting one of her own while putting herself in danger. The action is fast paced and the characters are well developed and multilayered. It definitely has all the elements of a great crime fiction. It's not as violent as the Justice series but the plot is well written and will definitely keep readers guessing until the very last. Hush Money will make readers crave more of Sydney and the reveal of her own personal secrets, making you look forward to the next book!

Hush Money is a good start in a new series by T.E. Woods. I was hooked from he beginning on the Fixer books and have high hopes for this series set in Madison, Wisconsin featuring new restaurant owner, Sydney Richardson. The cast of characters is varied and interesting and the setting gives an inside look at the restaurant and bar business. The wide assortment of customers combined with the behind the scenes staff made for an intriguing story. I'm looking forward to the next book and further development of the series.

I so enjoyed this book. A true mystery that was so well written. The cast of characters were superbly written. The clues dispersed just right. Twists and turns and lots of motives. I haven't read a mystery that clicked with me like this in many years. I so look forward to book 2.
****I voluntarily reviewed and gave my honest opinion of this Advanced Readers Copy of this
book from Net Galley****

A "throzy," perhaps? See what I did there? Coined a new term for this kind of book: Easy, breezy reading that's a hallmark of a cozy, but enough sex, mayhem and moving-right-along excitement to qualify as a thriller.

There's another hallmark of a cozy at play here as well: A heroine who is (a) independent, headstrong and professionally successful, (b) fiercely loyal except when it doesn't serve her purpose, (c) hung up on past issues she can't resolve and (d) incapable of heeding anyone else's advice even when it puts her and those she loves in danger.

And there you have Sydney Richardson, owner of two very different restaurants in Madison, Wisconsin and the star of this, the first book in a new series. One, the Ten-Ten, primarily is a bar that caters to first-responders (her late father was a cop). The other, Hush Money (like the book title) is a hoity-toity sit-down restaurant targeting the upper-crust in this up-and-coming city. She's determined to make both restaurants a success, aided and abetted by her very capable, loving (if a bit overprotective and overbearing) mother, Nancy. Sydney is interesting and likable, except perhaps when she's in (c) or (d) mode - I identify more with the strong woman with a can-do attitude part. When she refuses to listen, or selectively blows off only one of the many who tell her to mind her own business, it's not so much; but then without those moments, I guess there wouldn't be much of a story.

And make no mistake, it's a solid one. One of the servers, a woman named Wanda (a.k.a., Windy), fails to show up for work at Hush Money. That evening, Sydney has a run-in with the very drunk wife of the town's hard-driving - some would say ruthless - mayor, who claims she was waiting for her no-show husband. Turns out he had a good reason; back at their home, hizzoner has met an untimely end. And who is the prime suspect? None other than Windy, who is at the home and covered in the mayor's blood.

No matter how convinced the cops are that Windy is guilty - including Sydney's father's old police partner Horst Welke, who's been assigned to the case - Sydney simply can't believe that this mother of a young daughter did the deed. So, Sydney hires hot-shot attorney Andrew Conyer who will, hopefully, get her off. As the evidence against Windy mounts, so does Sydney's determination that the woman is innocent; but will Sydney's constant push-backs against the police and Windy's lawyer do more harm than good?

Throughout it all, Sydney must keep the restaurants running (which involves, not insignificantly, riding herd on a talented but impossibly egotistical chef). Apparently she doesn't need much sleep, since many nights after her fancy restaurant closes, she heads for the Low Down, a blues bar, to kick back to the music and bask in the company of the handsome, witty, wife-free (of course) guy who owns it.

Everything builds up to a surprising conclusion, when just about everything is resolved except those pesky details of Sydney's long-ago past. Now, she's free once again to build up business at her restaurants, possibly find a love life and, almost certainly, tackle another murder - all of which, I assume, will be fodder for the next book. I'll be waiting!

Thanks very much to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.