In this next installment of the Tourist Trap cozy mysteries, Jill and her boyfriend/new cohab Greg find their usual roles reversed. In the past Greg has always tried to steer her away from involving herself in murders he was investigating as a detective. This time Greg has been sidelined since the victim and most of the suspects are all old friends of his. He asks Jill to look into his friend's death which she, more than willingly, does. A good romp, interesting characters, satisfactory conclusion and a last minute twist make this an excellent read!

Jill has always been the main character in this series so I really enjoyed getting to know Greg a little better through his college friends. Jill is definitely an active participant in the investigation and with Greg sidelined it's fun to see her take a more active role in the investigation. The mystery is fun and I enjoyed seeing a new group of people in addition to the South Cove regulars. I enjoyed seeing more of Derek who arrived last book and am hoping he becomes a series regular. This is a delightful cozy series with entertaining mysteries and a real community feel. Each new book feels like visiting friends. Now I just have to wait for the next book to find out just what is going on with Aunr Jackie.

Killer Party
A Tourist Trap Mystery, Book #9
Lynn Cahoon
5 Stars


Synopsis:


For a gang of old college buddies, the quaint resort town of South Cove, California, is the perfect spot for a no-holds-barred bachelor party. But for Jill Gardner—owner of Coffee, Books and More—this stag party is going to be murder . . .

After a few months of living with her boyfriend Greg, Jill is still getting used to sharing such close quarters, but she’s got no hesitation about joining him for a weekend at South Cove’s most luxurious resort. While Greg and his college pals celebrate their buddy’s upcoming wedding, Jill intends to pamper herself in style. But when the groom is found floating facedown in the pool, Jill must find the killer fast, or she might not have a boyfriend to come home to any more . . . (Goodreads)

Review:

As the owner of Coffee, Books and More, Jill is used to working hard and juggling lots of responsibility. When one of Greg’s, her boyfriend, high school buddies is killed at a bachelor party weekend, she is more than happy to help him figure out the killer. Greg has been removed from the case because of the fact that the victim is a friend, but he feels like he cannot just sit around doing nothing. So Jill and Greg team up (although it seems as though Jill is the only one working on the case) to try and solve the mystery.

The characters are well rounded and three dimensional. I really enjoyed getting to visit Jill, Greg, Aunt Jackie and the rest of the gang. It feels like it has been a while since I have been able to. I like the interaction between them all and how they are willing to help each other out whenever it is needed. Aunt Jackie is still a bit of a pain, but she does have more moments of being kind and caring. All of the people that work in the coffee shop/bookstore are more like family than employees. The author is very talented in creating characters that you would like to be friends with.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is also very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching all the action taking place and listening in on conversations. The mystery was well plotted and was carried on well throughout the book. There were plentiful suspects and abundant clues to sift through, and with a few red herrings thrown in, it was next to impossible to figure out the killer. Just the way I like it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am amazed that this is the ninth book in the series already. The author has done a wonderful job keeping the storylines fresh and the characters likeable and interesting. I have read all of the books in the series and they just keep getting better.

I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I have read and enjoyed most of the books in this series. The author does an outstanding job of bringing the characters to life. She does this so well in fact, that it is easy to forget they aren't real. The conversations are realistic and the way they respond to remarks good and bad by others are exactly how people respond to each other.

My biggest disappointment is that she now has the two main characters, Greg and Jill, living together. It detracts from the plot. It was not only better when they were just boyfriend and girlfriend, but this is huge turnoff for people who like their cozy mysteries clean without remarks of fooling around and more. Many Christians that I know read cozy mysteries because things like this aren't in the books. I hope this not going to a trend with cozy mysteries. There is enough sex in the secular market; we really don't need more--insinuated or otherwise.

Killer Party by Lynn Cahoon is the ninth book in A Tourist Trap Mystery series. Jill Gardner is packing for a weekend getaway with her boyfriend, Greg King and his friends. Greg’s childhood friend, Levi Walker is getting married, and he is holding a stag party weekend in South Cove at The Castle. Jill is looking forward to enjoying the spa services and escaping Aunt Jackie’s wedding planning while Greg reconnects with his friends. On Saturday, the men go on a boat excursion to “fish” (ingest alcohol) while Jill shows the ladies around South Cove (it seems that Greg “volunteered” Jill for the task). It gives Jill an opportunity to introduce herself to newcomer, Vladimir Petrov who opened a Russian collectibles shop. Early the next morning (around 4 a.m.), Greg and Jill are awakened by Brenda Morgan, manager of The Castle. A dead man has been found in the pool. Greg runs downstairs and discovers it is his friend, Levi. Because of Greg’s close connection with the victim, he is not allowed to investigate the crime. Mayor Baylor asks Bakerstown PD to step in. This does not stop Greg and Jill from conducting their own inquiry into Levi’s murder especially when the detectives focus on Greg. Could one of Greg’s friends committed this homicide? Tag along with Jill on her latest adventure in Killer Party.

Killer Party is easy to read, has good writing and has a nice steady pace. Each book in A Tourist Trap Mystery series builds upon the previous (they are not stand alone books). We get to know a little more about the characters and see them change/grow. Killer Party focuses more on the cozy element (food galore, Jill adjusting to living with Greg, Jill out jogging, Emma, shopping, Toby getting over Sasha, Aunt Jackie planning her wedding, Aunt Jackie annoying the employees of the coffee shop, Jill spends a lot of time reading, Jill getting ready for a new class at college, and Aunt Jackie going to the doctor). It is an easy, breezy type of book that is perfect to read while lounging by the pool or at the beach. My rating for Killer Party is 3.5 out of 5 stars. The mystery is made to seem complex. Unfortunately, I identified the killer before Levi (I just knew he would end up belly up) turned up dead in the pool. There are a limited number of suspects (one really stands out). The characters in Killer Party seemed grumpy (especially Aunt Jackie). I liked how Lynn Cahoon found a way to work Cat Latimer into the story (from Ms. Cahoon’s A Cat Latimer Mystery series). I believe, though, that Greg and Jill may be moving too fast. There are still many details they do not know about each other (they really need to talk more). Killer Party ends with a cliffhanger. Readers will have to wait until the next A Tourist Trap Mystery to find out what is going on with Aunt Jackie.

KILLER PARTY is a killer read!

How does author Lynn Cahoon continuously write book after book in this series, but always make them feel new, fresh, and intriguing? There are of course other authors who pull it off as well, but Ms. Cahoon truly has the gift for it. Honestly, I don’t care how she does it, because as long as she does, I’ll keep reading them!

Book nine (Wow! Already?) in the Tourist Trap Mysteries, KILLER PARTY, is another mind blowing whodunit that had me alternating between smiling, and having my jaw dropped throughout the entire book. There was so much going on in this story at any given time, and that made it very hard for me to put it down!

It has been really interesting to see how series lead, Jill Gardner and Greg King have grown throughout their relationship. Now living together, they seem to be on the right track for a very happy future. As for Lynn and her Aunt Jackie, I sometimes wonder how their relationship will be in upcoming books. I know they love each other, but I can’t help but feel author Cahoon has something unexpected on the way for those two. Hmmm.

Each time I finish a book in the Tourist Trap Mysteries, I’m both sad and excited. Sad of course because the book is over. And excited because I know a new one is out there on it’s to us! Hopefully we don’t have to wait too long! Do you hear me, Lynn? ;-)

Jill Gardner returns in Killer Party, the 9th book in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. Jill is settling into her relationship with live-in boyfriend, Greg, while juggling her college classes and her business, Coffee, Books & More. Greg invites her to spend the weekend at local luxury hotel, The Castle, to join him for the annual reunion weekend with his best college buddies. Jill looks forward to meeting his old friends, relaxing by the pool and reading. Her plans change abruptly when one of Greg's friends is found dead, floating in the hotel pool. Could one of Greg's friends be a murderer?

As usual, Lynn Cahoon delivers a great cozy mystery with this new Tourist Trap book. The mystery is well-paced, with lots of possible suspects and unexpected twists and turns. I enjoy Jill as a main character. She is intelligent, independent, and a skilled amateur detective. I like how she works together with Greg (a local police officer) to gather clues. The side characters -- Aunt Jackie, Brenda, Deek, Toby, Amy, etc -- add a nice depth to the story. This latest installment in the series kept me guessing until the end. Every time I thought I had it figured out, the story took a turn in another direction. The ending is great -- believable and surprising! Loved it!

Lynn Cahoon is also the author of the Cat Latimer Mysteries series. For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://www.lynncahoon.com/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.**

Lynn Cahoon is at the top of her game with this latest offering in the Tourist Trap Mystery series! It is refreshing to return to Jill’s ocean side home in South Cove, California, as she prepares to go to The Castle. This museum with a highly-valued collection of art and antiquities also includes a limited number of upscale rooms with full-service elegant dining.

This is the first time Jill has been invited to take part in the getaway planned by Levi, her boyfriend’s best friend since 7th grade. Levi is a tech millionaire; he and his fiancé Jessica have leased The Castle for a bachelor party weekend with his long-time four friends and their wives and/ or girlfriends. Jill is understandably nervous to meet this group of Greg’s friends as they have been a closed group. Well, almost closed. Mikey, one of the five guys, is bringing his fifth wife, Allison, who later learns the connection between this group and Mikey’s first four wives. The group seems to rotate around Levi and his opinions.

The first night of the party, one of the five friends has a loud confrontation with Levi, threatening to kill him for something he will not get away with, something the rest are not privy to. In the wee hours, Greg and Jill are awakened to go to the pool. Greg identifies the dead body of Levi in the pool, questionably having drowned from too much to drink. It is later found that Levi was murdered. In Greg’s town and police district. Greg, a police detective, is not allowed to work the murder case due to his connection with Levi and the guys.

Greg, for the first time, suggests that Jill, who has helped him solve several murders in South Cove, try to find out who did the deed since his hands have tied. Jill, who researches and asks questions because she loves puzzles and can’t stand to see one unsolved, has her hands full. She owns and works at Coffee, Books & More while her Aunt Jackie manages it, and Jill’s new semester of classes begins.

This is only the second novel of this series that I have read, and I am invested in the three-dimensional characters. The author is excellent at defining her characters through dialog and actions, and allowing the reader access to Jill’s internal dialog and concerns. Jill leaves no stone unturned as she learns about each of Greg’s friends and their wives/ girlfriends. She has help from many sides, including new staff member Deek and her BFF, Amy.

The plot thickens with each item Jill finds, and the twists and turns make the mystery of who the real bad guy/ gal might be writhe. There are SO many secrets in this group, and it seemed Levi had his hands in aspects of every individual’s lives – secrets kept even from spouses. Secrets from school years that the guys simply refuse to talk about. While many have motive, it doesn’t seem as if anyone in the group would do the deed. The real bad guy/ gal came out of left field, someone I never would have thought of!

Resolution of the murder has no loose ends. One thing I like about the novel (along with not being able to solve it) is that the novel doesn’t stop immediately after the bad guy/gal is revealed. My personal preference, though, is that mysteries don’t end with a “cliffhanger”. Overall, I highly recommend Killer Party to those who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries with coffee and book store, female sleuths, and a gorgeous California setting.

From a grateful heart: I received this eBook from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

Another entertaining visit to South Cove. This delightful series continues to captivate me and keep me up past my bedtime. I am eager to read the next one.

This is a great book; this is the ninth book in the Tourist Trap Mystery series and written by Lynn Calhoon. After a few months of living with her boyfriend Greg, Jill is still getting used to sharing such close quarters, but she’s got no hesitation about joining him for a weekend at South Cove’s most luxurious resort. While Greg and his college pals celebrate their buddy’s upcoming wedding, Jill intends to pamper herself in style. But when the groom is found floating facedown in the pool, Jill must find the killer fast, or she might not have a boyfriend to come home to any more. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

KILLER PARTY, the ninth book in the Tourist Trap Mystery series by Lynn Cahoon, is a delightful summer read! It starts by inviting you in with its colorful poolside party cover… you can almost smell the Coppertone and feel the warm California sun on your skin. From there the story unfolds for an entertaining read as the protagonist, Jill Gardner, attends a weekend-long bachelor/bachelorette party with her boyfriend and the Chief Detective of South Cove, Greg. It’s the first chance she’s had to meet his old school friends and it gives readers the opportunity to get to know Greg better as we glimpse moments of his younger years. Jill is the outsider of the group and at times feels awkward around the other women. She would rather be back home tending to her shop, Coffee, Books and More. The author captures that feeling and makes me believe I’m not the only one to have that reaction to potentially uncomfortable social situations. When the groom-to-be is found murdered at “The Castle” where the group is staying, Jill finds that Greg and his friends seem to have a secret from their youth that they try to keep hidden.

Since the victim was one of Greg’s friends, he’s not allowed to investigate so he conspires to have Jill do some digging around… something she would do anyway. But he still refuses to share the secret that haunts the friends. The twists and turns that form the plot kept me turning pages as Jill uncovers several suspects from the wedding party who might have wanted the groom-to-be dead. I was totally unprepared for the exciting reveal and conclusion! Lynn introduces some charming new characters that I hope will have a continued presence in future books. She has also developed several relationships that are growing and changing as any real relationship would and left me anxious to read the next book just as soon as possible!

I always look forward to a new Tourist Trap Mystery, this one does not disappoint. The story quickly drew me in and had me wanting to know what was going to happen next. The characters feel like old friends, they grow and evolve with each new story lending to their realism and believability. I look forward to reading what happens next.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review has been voluntarily submitted.

We rejoin our South Cove friends Jill and Greg as they prepare to enjoy the lavish wedding of Gregs childhood friend Levi. Now don't forget this is South Cove so nothing's quite as it seems....and somebody's going to die! We also have a aunt who's becoming even more secretive (I totally didn't know that was possible!) , possible Russian spy, a murder to solve, along with Amy and Justin's wedding... You know what, pick this book up and just lose yourself in the mystery of South Cove and its wonderful (sometimes hilarious) relationships that SC boasts.
Do I recommend this book? Highly!
Is it a clean read? Yes, I feel it's simply amazing! I'm an avid cover but I still find myself being shocked by Mrs Cahoon's writing ability. She pulls you into the story so quickly that before you know it, it's after midnight an all you wanna do is dive into the next book!

When a group of old friends, who grew up together, went to high school and college together, and shared one major secret come to town for a reunion, Jill is the new kid in the crowd, thanks to her relationship with live-in boyfriend (and cop) Greg. when the seeming leader of this friends group, and the soon to be groom ends up dead in the pool, Greg can not investigate officially. He is too close to the case. Usually he wants Jill to keep her nose out of things that might result in her being put in a dangerous situation, but he knows she won't sit quietly and let another detective run the show. He agrees that they can quietly look for clues together. The trouble is, when Jill discovers what she considers interesting information, Greg doesn't seem to care.
The victim, Levi, is soon to be married to a mysterious girl with an unusual accent.
Levi is a multimillionaire and something of a bully and manipulator. Did one of the friends have more than enough or was it a business deal gone wrong? The motives seem many and far ranged.

Besides Jill looking into clues, she has a business to run, civic duties she is involved in, and is starting classes at the local college, all while adjusting to having Greg living with her full time.
This plot includes learning about Jill's relationships with her friends and community, along with getting to know Greg's friends. A dysfunctional bunch with many layers but no one seems to have the big three - motive means and opportunity. Nothing sinister is lining up clearly.

The dangerous conclusion comes as a surprise both to the reader and to Jill.
When the dust settles, she is back in the mix preparing for whatever challenges will be thrown at her next.

review*****

I enjoyed this latest installment (and my second) in the Tourist Trap series. We rejoin Jill a few months into living with her boyfriend, police chief Greg. Some of his college friends are in town, and a weekend at a local venue is planned. But then one of the friends turns up dead in the pool and Jill can't help but investigate - especially as Greg can't.

When I read the last book a few months ago, I had some issues with the supernatural element of the book and with some of Jill's relationship baggage. Happily neither were a problem here - there's no mystical intervention and Jill's relationship issues all make sense purely within the background of the fact that they're a couple who have recently moved in together and are working out how to cohabit whilst still discovering each other's baggage. I did have a few issues with Jill's aunt, but nothing that dragged me out of my enjoyment too much

The mystery is well thought out and the cast of suspects is interesting. If the finale is a little rushed and unexpected, I kinda forgave the book because I'd been enjoying the rest of it so much. I can't really say any more about my issue with it without giving away the solution, but suffice it to say, this is not a ploy that an author can use too often.

I gave the last book 3 stars - and this is probably more a 3.5 than a 4 - but as I can't set halves and I really did enjoy it more than the last one, I've gone for the 4.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

Book 9 in the series.

I love this series. The characters are well developed, the plots are well written and tight, as well as fun and fast moving. I read this one in sitting, staying up maybe just a wee bit too late to finish it, but I just had too, haha.

My only complaint is the minor cliffhanger at the end from Aunt Jackie! With the last two books in the series out so close together, how long are we going to have to wait to go back to South Cove this time?!

I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.

3.5 Stars

Jill Gardner takes a break from her duties as owner of Coffee, Books and More to attend a weekend party with her boyfriend Greg King and his friends. Greg’s good friend Levi Walters, now a wealthy tech entrepreneur, is getting married and has rented out an entire South Cove, California resort for his pre-wedding celebration. The bachelor party begins and the alcohol flows for Greg and his friends while Jill and the women relax by the pool. Before the celebration really gets into high gear, the party is over when Levi is found dead in the pool. Greg is a detective, but isn’t assigned to the investigation, so it’s up to Jill to do the sleuthing and uncover a killer.

This is the ninth book in the Tourist Trap series. I’ve read some, but not all of the prior books, but it’s not hard for new or casual readers to catch up with the main characters. This book also introduces several new characters, including a new shop owner. Most of Greg’s friends are immature and their attitudes toward women are stuck in the fifties, so hopefully they won’t be spending much time South Cove in the future. However, putting everyone together at the resort makes a great set-up for a murder mystery and the fact that the victim is often a jerk provides plenty of motives and suspects.

Jill’s boyfriend, Greg, is likeable. However, it’s frustrating when stonewalls Jill instead of providing her information that would help solve the murder, especially when he had encouraged Jill to investigate Levi’s death. Jill is a thorough investigator both with and without Greg’s help, and I enjoy reading how she puts together clues to solve the murder. I also enjoy the scenes of her at work running her shop and interacting with her staff. She and Greg’s relationship has progressed from the earlier books and it is fun to read about them getting used to living together. Some aspects of the case seem to come out of left field, but I still find this to be an entertaining cozy. In the few books I’ve read, Jill’s Aunt Jackie has never been my favorite character and she is especially annoying in this book as she goes overboard in the planning of her wedding. Those plans end on a cliffhanger which I assume will be addressed in the next book. I don’t really care for that technique of creating interest in the next book, but at least all aspects of Levi’s murder are wrapped up by the end.

~ Christine

I have come to love this series. I feel like the book is well written. Keeps me coming back for more.

For a gang of old college buddies, the quaint resort town of South Cove, California, is the perfect spot for a no-holds-barred bachelor party. But for Jill Gardner-owner of Coffee, Books and More-this stag party is going to be murder .
After a few months of living with her boyfriend Greg, Jill is still getting used to sharing such close quarters, but she's got no hesitation about joining him for a weekend at South Cove's most luxurious resort. While Greg and his college pals celebrate their buddy's upcoming wedding, Jill intends to pamper herself in style. But when the groom is found floating face down in the pool, Jill must find the killer fast, or she might not have a boyfriend to come home to.

That is how a mystery should be written! It had a surprising ending, yet it didn't feel like it came out of nowhere. There were also some nice little mini mysteries to help keep the plot moving. I also loved how stories from Greg's past were woven through the story, helping to make him feel like a more complete character.

This series is definitely growing on me. I know that most people would not wait until the ninth book in a series to reach this conclusion, but I do believe that this just might be the best book in the series.

South Cove, on the California coast, is a tourist stopping off spot that houses a unique combination of shops and eateries. When she is not serving up coffee or enticing readers with new book releases, Jill Gardener, the owner of Coffee, Books and More, tends to get involved in local murders, which is a touchy point between Jill and her boyfriend, local detective Greg King, since Jill seems to have a better track record when it comes to solving crime.

Levi Walker, tech millionaire and best childhood friend of Greg, is hosting a friend’s weekend at The Castle, a local historical spot in South Cove. After a night of drinking and old wounds opened by the group, a body is found floating in the pool and since Greg is a little too close to this crowd, he asks Jill to do a little sleuthing on the side and get to the bottom of this latest murder.

The book follows one main storyline with a few added bits and parts tossed in along the way. The high school friends are an interesting sort with their own drama, Aunt Jackie is hauling around a five pound binder of wedding plans, Amy and Justin decide on an engagement party, there is a new shop in town, and Jill is trying to offload her responsibilities when it comes to who will represent CBM at the next planning meeting for the upcoming winter festival in South Cove.

There had better be another book in this series since this one ended with a shocking announcement by Aunt Jackie and though Jill wants answers, she is going to pull a Scarlett O’Hara and just deal with it tomorrow. Not sure what Jackie’s announcement is going to be, but I do know, Jill will be in for another adventure and this time, she might be wearing an elf costume.