Journalist Desiree Turner goes home after her career is damaged by some snide remarks. She was repeating another person’s comments when her microphone was turned on and her career suffered as a result. So she goes home to run the Turner Family funeral home. She finds her neighbors in a nasty dispute over an emu. One neighbor is shot and the other neighbor, Kyle, is charged with his murder, however Desiree knows that Kyle is innocent. She is determined to find the real killer but along the way she finds a mistress and some secrets pertaining to local real estate and hidden money. What she needs to find is the killer. An interesting and imaginative read. Thank you to Net Galley for providing an advanced copy for review.

A Grave Issue by Lillian Bell is the first installment in the A Funeral Parlor Mystery series. Desiree Turner has returned home to Verbena, California after ten years. Desiree was a reporter for KLVX-TV in Los Angeles until an on-air faux pas got her fired and unable to find another job in the industry. She is now working at her families’ business Turner Family Funeral Home handling the front of the house issues that used to be done by her father before his disappearance. Alan Brewer is brought in after being shot in the head. There has been an ongoing dispute between the Brewer’s (Alan and his wife, Rosemarie) and their neighbor’s Lola and Kyle Hansen. There was even an altercation at Delia Burns funeral between Lola and Rosemarie. Kyle who has been a second father to Desiree is arrested for Alan’s murder. Desiree knows Kyle did not harm Alan and begins probing into Alan’s death. She soon unearths some interesting information regarding Alan. Which of Alan’s secret got him murdered? Desiree needs to work quickly before Kyle has to submit a change of address form with the local prison as his new address.

A Grave Issue is nicely written and has a fast pace. I felt, though, that it was lacking in several areas. The characters were not developed especially Desiree. We are given scant information on Desiree who is a hard character to like. She dives head first into the investigation and puts herself in danger several times. It seems that Desiree has never heard of 911. There are three different mysteries in A Grave Issue. The murder of Alan Brewer, the disappearance of Desiree’s father and Jasmine Rodrigues’ stalker (Desiree’s best friend). Two of these mysteries are resolved in the book and one readers are left to wonder about until the next book. The murder occurs in first chapter (big pet peeve of mine). I wish the author would set the stage first (especially since this is the first book in the series) and then have the murder occur. The identity of the killer is a no brainer. There are a limited number of suspects and a lack of sleuthing. The focus of the book is not on Alan’s murder. More of the story is devoted to Desiree’s missing father. I wonder if this will be the focus of the next book or will it be in the background of the whole series. There are a couple of love interests for Desiree. We will have to wait and see which one strikes her fancy. Verbena, California is a small town full of gossipy, quirky characters. I am giving A Grave Issue 3 out of 5 stars. A Grave Issue is for those readers who prefer light-hearted humorous cozy mysteries.

I am hooked and can't wait for the next book in this series!! The characters are well thought out and well done! I read this book in one sitting and recommend you read it!!

After an on air disaster as a reporter, Desiree Turner returns to her hometown in Verbena, California and to the family business, Turner Family Funeral Home. Desiree is hoping for some quiet and no drama. That is short lived because the drama begins with two barking dogs , two angry neighbors, and did I mention a dead emu? The problems only escalate when the neighbor is found dead and a long time family friend is arrested. Can Desiree figure out what really happened?

I can't wait to see what is in store for the characters in the future! Do yourself a favor and read this book! Great job Lillian Bell!!

When I first decided to read this story I was excited. A Funeral Home! That was going to be a different kind of Cozy. But as I started to read I was hit by how quick this might turn macabre but I am happy to report that this is a smart and well done cozy. Lillian Bell, Pen name Kristi Abbott, smartly navigates the fine fine line between cozy and macabre in this and I think it helps that it is not paranormal.
Desiree Turner who is the main character and Assistant Funeral Director is someone you would love to be friends with. You just want to go to Tappianos with her and Jasmine for Happy Hour, you want to go with her hiking or sleuthing. Rafe, Luke, Janet, Lola, Kyle, Rosemarie and others are exactly like many people I remember growing up in a small town and I believe that Olive, Henrietta and Grace attending every funeral are like many members of my family from a small town in Nebraska. Everything made this book very real for me. I cannot wait for book 2 and I am very excited to see how this series plays out.

Synopsis: After an on-air gaffe goes viral and jeopardizes her career, journalist Desiree Turner retreats home to Verbena, California for some peace and quiet. She begins working one of the quietest jobs around: presiding over funerals for her great-grandfather’s funeral parlor. But the action seems to follow her as a fistfight breaks out between neighbors Rosemarie Brewer and Lola Hansen at one of the first funerals she’s in charge of running. It exposes a nasty dispute and Rosemarie’s husband, Alan, is found murdered shortly after.
Lola’s husband, Kyle, is immediately arrested. Desiree, whose own father’s death was devastating, has always viewed Kyle as a second father. Determined to clear his name, Desiree jumps head first into the investigation and quickly discovers that Alan had several unsavory habits at his job and in his personal life, including putting assets into his mistress’s account to hide them from Rosemarie. People murder for money and love all the time, and there’s no telling who he offended just enough to push them over the edge.
Desiree is looking in all the right places, but she better catch the killer fast before they come for her next in A Grave Issue, the clever series debut by Lillian Bell.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and chose to give a fair and honest review

Fantastic kick off to a new series! This complicated (in a good way) mystery evolved at a great pace with new wrinkles to keep the reader guessing. Side stories helped establish the characters without distracting from the main plot. An overarching mystery carries over to the next book, which is something I enjoy - it keeps readers engaged in the series as a whole. The setting was different and interesting, and it will give the main character access to lots of folks through the course of the series. Excellent!

This is the first book in a new series with a really interesting setting, a family funeral home. Desiree Turner has returned to her hometown to manage the family business and gets involved in a murder. A close family friend is arrested for the crime, and Desiree gets involved to clear his name.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are fun and quirky, and the book moved along swiftly.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Former journalist Desiree Turner isn't investigating the news anymore, but her name keeps turning up in the local paper no matter how little involvement she actually has with the story. All she wants is to pitch in at the funeral home her family has owned for generations and to forget the on-air disaster that ended her career. When a dispute over a dead emu leaves one neighbor dead, Desiree gets to work both planning the funeral and trying to clear the name of the friend who's been accused of the murder. The setting is intriguing, without ever getting too macabre or creepy, and the mystery kept me wondering what was going to happen next.

A Grave Issue: A Funeral Parlor Mystery
By Lillian Bell
Crooked Lane
February 23, 2018

Review by Cynthia Chow

It was the Emu’s fault. That’s the first thought that came to mind when Desiree Turner heard the news that prominent businessman and Verbena Union Bank manager Alan Turner had been shot to death while collecting eggs from his chicken coop. The death of his and his wife’s Emu Vincent had been a lawsuit-worthy bone of contention between them and their neighbors, leading police to suspect Kyle Hansen of the murder. Desiree had in fact been a witness to the brawl between wives at the Turner Family Funeral Home, but she refuses to believe that her surrogate father could ever become a killer.

A hot mic and a comment taken out of context cost Desiree Turner her job as an on-air reporter for a Los Angeles television station, which led her back home to Central Valley California to lick her wounds. She and her sister are still mourning the recent loss of their father due to a surfing accident, but Desiree is stepping up to reluctantly take over duties at the family funeral home she fled. Being back in Verbena stirs up all of Desiree's memories and emotions, not to mention her loathed nickname, “Death Ray.” Desiree finds herself involuntarily becoming the highlighted feature of the Verbena Free Press, due as much as to the editor’s crush-like fascination as with her inability to avoid widows throwing themselves into caskets, bomb attacks, or knockdown battles at funerals.

I absolutely adored this debut series featuring the acerbic and sharp-witted Desiree Turner. Her observations as chaos ensues around her are hilarious, contrasted by the often nonplussed reactions long-time Verbenans. This is a town where the defending attorney is not only a former PTA president, but she brings cookies to the hearing. The dialogue is smart and the action well-plotted, making the characters come alive with believable histories and backstories. Chapter-starting articles clipped from the Verbena Free Press may infuriate Desiree, but they are deceptively clever in their observations. Desiree is somewhat oblivious to the suitors tentatively circling around her, especially as she becomes focused on the murder investigation and fate of her father. Details regarding funeral planning are depicted in the background, emphasizing the care and respect given while never sacrificing any of the humor. This is an endlessly fun mystery, and an outstanding start to a new series.

I enjoyed this cozy with a unusual setting. I enjoyed the family dynamics in this book and the mystery had my guessing until the end. I highly recommend this book

A Grave Issue by Lillian Bell is the 1st book in A Funeral Parlor Mystery series, and it's off to a great start. Desiree Turner a humiliated journalist heads home to Verbena CA to lick her wounds after being gone ten years. Desiree agrees to work at Turner Family Funeral Home, the business her grandfather started. Desiree gets off to a rough start with people fighting during a viewing, and a murder occurring. I found this book to be a quick read, with well developed plot and some quirky characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love fun cozy mysteries like I do, than I recommend this book.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thus is a great series. Desiree works in her family's funeral home. A friend is arrested for the murder of someone he recently had a fight with and Desiree wants to clear her friend's name

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley for an honest review .

A fun start to a new series. I really enjoyed reading the "newspaper articles". It was a fun way to have new information introduced. The mystery was well written with some great suspects. I'm really looking forward to reading more of this series.

This book was billed as a clever debut and I wholeheartedly agree. The story of Desiree Turner was engaging, the character likeable and the mystery sharp. Disgraced on air as a reporter Desiree has returned to the family funeral parlor business to lick her wounds and deal with the death of her father who went surfing and his body was never found. A murder ensues and all her investigative reporter attributes kick in as her dad's best friend is arrested. The fun ride begins as Desiree gets involved in clearing his name. This book has one of the most tantalizing endings, and I can't wait for the next in the series. A happy 5 stars for me!

This series is off to a great start. Desiree (don't call her Death Ray) Turner is the daughter of the local funeral home family, the one who couldn't wait to get out of town. Los Angeles was where she wanted to make her mark. And she did, just not the way she had planned. After her career as an investigative reporter goes up in flames, she goes back home, to the funeral home to help her sister and uncle run the business. Life seems quiet and boring and she continues to feel sorry for herself until things go sideways when the local banker is murdered. Desiree investigates but not in a super nosey, "I know better than the police" way. She is just 100% certain that the police have the wrong person in custody and thereby hangs the mystery.
The characters are well developed and the setting comes alive and the Turner Family comes across as people I would like to have for friends. The fact that they run a funeral home and live there, too? Works for me. I'm looking forward to the next installment in the series as the author has left some things dangling and I want to know more...please.

This new series is off to a great start. I am eager for the next one. Returning to the small town in which one was raised can have lots of issues and back stories. Fun getting to know some of them and anticipating more in the future. A clever murder mystery that kept me turning the pages and staying up past my bedtime.

Ms. Bell has gotten off to a very good start with this new series, featuring Deisree, an on air news reporter who got caught with a hot mic on. With the added stress of her father presumed dead over a year ago when he went out to surf and never returned. And a pregnant sister who has been placed on strict bed rest. 

So Desiree heads home to Verbena to lick her wounds and figure out what she is going to do next. It looks as if bad luck has trailed her home however when one thing after another keeps her name in the paper. 

This is a very clever cozy mystery! Part serious, part funny and pretty much exactly what I like in a story. A smart, tenacious, independent woman and a bunch of people keeping secrets, which we all know never stay hidden, especially when Desiree starts pulling on threads. People get a tad touchy! Or dead.

Underneath the story is the tale what really happened to her dad? Who is leaving mysterious gifts for Desiree and her sister? So there is a good bit of layering to this series and I like it. 

Well Done Ms. Bell!

Netgalley/CrookedLaneBooks   February 13, 2018

A Grave Issue is the first book in the Funeral Parlor Mystery series! After embarrassing herself on-air, Desiree Turner, a journalist, loses her job and decides to go back to her hometown to figure out her next steps while still grieving over the loss of her father. Back in her hometown, she works for the family business, which is a funeral home. While working one day, Desiree gets news that a citizen in her town is murdered and that Kyle, a close family friend is the prime suspect, so she sets out to clear his name.

This book started out slow for me at first, but it picked up rather quickly. I really enjoyed the niche/theme-funeral home. It's was interesting to learn about the business and how things work. I thought at first that the book would be sort of depressing with the focus being on the funeral home, but I was wrong. There were tons of wacky moments and funny dialogue. I loved it. I laughed out loud so many times. I never would've imagined how much could go on in a funeral home.

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were interesting yet quirky and kept me entertained. Desiree, the main character, was very likeable and relatable. In the book, she's going through a rediscovery phase in her life, which is something that I'm going through right now. I could totally relate to her on that-total déjà vu.

The mystery itself took on some dramatic and entertaining twists. Very creative, unpredictable and cleanly plotted. I didn't even guess the bad guy, which is rare for me!

Overall, a great start to a new cozy series! I really liked it and I can't wait for the next installment. It ended on a huge cliffhanger, and I need to know what happens next! :)

A Grave Issue by Lillian Bell is a great start to a new series featuring the wonderful protagonist Desiree Turner.
After an embarrassing situation as a reporter, Desiree returns to her hometown and the family business.
Working in a funeral home is not her desire, but with no where to go, it felt right to her.
The disappearance of her father a year before still weighs heavily on her mind. There is no evidence of his death but after a year, she is learning to accept the fact that he's gone.
When family friend and father figure is arrested for murder, Desiree's investigative instincts kick in and she is determined to find the truth.

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. The story was well written and the mystery itself had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing.
This is definitely a series that cozy mystery fans need to put at the top of their TBR pile.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for choosing me to read an advanced copy of this excellent book.

In this debut of a new cozy series by Lillian Bell, Desiree Turner leaves her job as a journalist in L.A. and returns home to lend a hand operating in the Turner Family Funeral Home in Verbena, California. When a close family friend is arrested for murder Desiree is determined to find the real culprit and juggles her duties at the family business with trying to figure out who had motive to shoot the local banker.

Twists and turns keep this mystery moving and held my interest nicely. Ms. Bell is creating a community of characters and relationships I want to follow. There’s a nice family feel, a little bit of wackiness, dusting off memories and meeting new folks. I especially liked the feature of opening many of the chapters with an article from The Verbena Free Press. This is a good beginning for what I hope will be a popular series.