A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Fiction easily becomes murder when literary agent, Melinda Walter is killed in exactly the same way as the victim in author, Charlemagne “Charlee” Russo’s latest manuscript. Charlee had problems with the woman but never plotted to kill her. So who else had access to the manuscript? Could someone in her critique group have done the deed and used her book to frame her? Stranger than fiction she puts on her sleuthing cap to bring this murder mystery to an end. Hopefully, she’ll survive to tell the tale.

I would call this a cozy-ish mystery. Charlee Russo is a cleverly written imperfect amateur sleuth, very clutzy with a wild imagination, a good thing when you write mysteries for a living, not so much when you are on the trail of a killer. She is protective of her friends but still needs to question and verify everyone’s alibi as much for her peace of mind as to solving the case. Let’s just say her investigating techniques need a little refinement as I was a little frightened by the positions she found herself in at times.

The pacing was mixed. The story starts out briskly but slowed a bit in the middle but then the ending felt a bit rushed. With plenty of twists and a few red herrings, I was completely confused until everything was laid out for me. It was a fun tagging along with Charlee. I always enjoy a challenging mystery. The dialogue is very realistic and I liked the humor interspersed throughout. “I’d tell you to go to hell, but I never want to see you again.”

This series is off to a fine start and I am looking forward to the next book in this series. I do love the Mystery Writer’s theme. The author has left plenty of room for the secondary characters and Charlee to grow. She also left an open question in this story that I hope will be wrapped up in the next.

Charlee Russo is a mystery author, and she gets tagged as the primary suspect in her literary agent's murder, because the latter was killed exactly as what was described in Charlee's manuscript. Charlee is even more found to be suspicious because of financial troubles involving royalty payments. She then makes a suspect list consisting of everyone who has possibly read her manuscript - her critique group, her literary agent's husband, and her close acquaintances and neighbors. Soon, dangerous things happen to her as her investigation to prove her innocence goes deeper and more complex.

What can I say? I'm kind of torn. I like mystery authors as cozy mystery protagonists because anything crazy can happen. I find meta as an interesting storytelling device. I'm all for the theme of books and writing. But these days, I'm missing more humor in my cozy mysteries. (Also, is it a trend that cozy mysteries are not as humorous and heartwarming? Or does it depend on the plot?)

Fiction Can Be Murder has a darker cover than its cozy siblings, and the story and the character are, too. There's a lot happening, and it's somehow too grim for a cozy mystery, but not yet in the category of a regular, Christie-like mystery.

I feel sorry for Charlee because she's suffered a huge loss in her life, and the people who "play" her friends are just unkind and uncaring. When she becomes the prime suspect, they all immediately suspect her. (And I will defend Charlee as to who's who in her suspect list because her reasoning is sound: the method of murder was based from her manuscript, and a writer's manuscript is not for public consumption, so obviously only those who could have read the manuscript could have committed the murder.) Then, everyone started to disassociate themselves from any connections toward the victim and steering everything towards Charlee without thinking what it would like for her. It's not fair that Charlee was viewed with suspicion just because she vented out that she was having problems with the victim. And her boyfriend is unsympathetic and unlikeable; I feel that Charlee, with everything that happened to her, deserves a better love interest who's also a friend and emotional support.

Going back to Charlee, she's written in a more serious and cheerless tone. She's a mystery author, but it feels like that's all she is. We don't know any quirky behaviors, hobbies, or anything that would make her relatable. The story is written through a limited third person narrative, but this is still Charlee's narrative, and there's nothing personal. Everything is just methodical and feels cold.

I was kind of amused that the crossing off of people from the suspects' list was done as if you're crossing off items from a list. It's like one character arc, and then crossed off, and then the spotlight moves to the next suspect. Charlee is very proactive in her investigations.

I still am looking forward to the series, if only to know if Charlee has moved on from the trauma of her past and become a more interesting and sympathetic character.

*** I got a copy of this book from NetGalley. These are all my own opinions. #NGEW2019

I would like to thank netgalley and Midnight Ink for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Annoying characters.


....................................................

this book is one that i enjoyed reading over all. the characters were interesting and seemed like real people which is hard to find in many stories, which by the way was another good part of the book. the only complaint i have is that the rate the story was told was a little inconsistant. other than that i would recommend this book to people i know.

This is the first book is the first book in the Mystery Writer's Mystery series. I really liked the premise of this book, a murder mystery for a murder mystery writer. It was a nice cozy mystery that made for a great afternoon of reading.

Charlee is an author who has written a great murder mystery. Unfortunately, her agent is murdered just like the way the character in her book was, and suddenly she's a suspect in real life. Charlee decides to investigate to clear her name and save her book.

The plot was strong and the characters were interesting. I recommend this book.

Thanks to Midnight Ink and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It was an easy book to read & definitely made me laugh at times. However, it felt too cliche and predictable. It dragged on for me in the middle & then moved too quick at the end. I liked the characters, but the story line could use more imagination. The beginning of the story is engaging, but there could have been more complexity throughout the rest of the book. It seemed very Nancy Drew but more comedy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying me with this book in exchange for a honest review.

Fiction can Be Murder is a first in the series. I really enjoyed this fun and quick read. The protagonist is smart, funny, and a sleuth. Charlee is a skilled author and must use her skills in order to clear her own name and find the real killer. Financial problems also aren’t helping her position. The author’s style was easy to follow, and the characters are well flushed. Although this storyline has been used in numerous books that I have read, this particular book worked. I will definitely be on the lookout for other books in this series.

A murder-mystery where the main character (and suspect) is a murder-mystery writer, you say? Count me in!

Mystery writer Charlee Russo is having a fairly normal day, or so she thinks. A phone call to say her agent is dead rocks her world in more ways than she could have imagined. Because not only has her agent been murdered, but she’s been murdered in the exact way that Charlee describes in her latest manuscript. A manuscript that only a handful of people have read, all of whom are her friends and family, making everyone she cares about, including herself, a suspect.

Charlee is determined to clear her name and those of her friends. But the more she delves into her agent’s last few days, the more she has to come to terms with the fact that one of her friends is a murderer. But which one?

Fiction Can Be Murder grabbed me before I’d even started reading. The premise of this book has everything I love: a writer, a murder, a bunch of suspects, and the promise of loads of twists and turns. And once I started reading, I wasn’t disappointed.

This book doesn’t mess about; it starts straight into the murder, which I love. I hate a story that faffs about at the beginning, waiting ages to get into the action.

You’re introduced to the majority of the characters (and therefore suspects) early on as well. Most of them are part of Charlee’s writing group, which she’s attending when she gets the phone call. There aren’t too many people to keep track of either, which was handy. I hate to admit it, but I do sometimes find it difficult to keep up when a whodunnit has 75 different suspects, all with different but equally plausible motives.

I did find myself shaking my head in disbelief a few times during the story. I thought it was a bit hard to believe that Charlee would be able to go around questioning everybody in the way that she does (she makes a list of all her suspects/friends and questions them each herself about there alibis and motives). Maybe it’s just me, but if I’m a suspect in a murder, I’d be doing my best to keep my head down and stay off the police’s radar.

I also found the ending a bit rushed. Everything is explained very quickly, and I’m still not 100% sure what happened to Charlee’s father (a memory that comes back to Charlee a few times throughout the book).

But to be fair, the book is enjoyable enough that you don’t mind these small niggling things. The ending, while quick, is satisfying and makes sense in the wider context.

The book doesn’t take itself too seriously either, so it’s easy to like it. Considering it’s about a horrific murder, it’s quite fun and makes you laugh at parts. I’d recommend it for anyone looking for an entertaining read that isn’t too taxing but still keeps you guessing.

I’ve also heard rumours that it’s the first in a series, so I’m excited about the prospect of more Charlee Russo books.

This is a cute first offering in a new mystery series. I got into a chat with Virginia over at Rosepoint Publishing, when she introduced me to Fiction Can Be Murder in her review, about whether or not it is a cozy mystery. I agree with my blog buddy in that it’s not quite a cozy. I’d say it’s not quirky enough. Virginia says, it doesn’t have any recipes! Lol. Either way, it’s still a fairly well-plotted mystery that you can enjoy pretty quickly.

Fiction Can Be Murder introduces us to mystery writer Charlee Russo, who has been accused of murdering her agent, in the same manner as one of the victims in her latest book. That premise allows us to take a close look at the people closest to Charlee, who had access to her manuscript. Through her interactions with these folks here character is revealed. She’s fun, she’s spunky, people’s opinions can get her down but above all, she loves her family and friends. For most of the novel, she moves smart and tries to figure out who is truly responsible for the crime she’s falsely accused of. However, she has her moments of silliness e.g. making up an alibi for a friend and having a completely over the top reaction to a newspaperaccidentally jammed against her back.

The secondary characters need some more fleshing out. We do get to spend some time with her friends Suzanne and AmyJo but they need more development, which may come in future stories.

On pacing: The novel opens with the victim’s last moments and then flows seamlessly to Charlee as she makes her way to her critique group meeting. For the most part the action moves at a good clip but still gives the reader a chance to enjoy and think about the plot twists. There were a couple car scenes that dragged a bit too much for my liking, but other than that, the pace was on point.

The mystery itself is interesting. There are clues laid out. There are red herrings. There is some backstory given that makes you wonder how it plays into the resolution. There are viable suspects and there are those who are easy to dismiss. Ultimately, I felt the final resolution was a bit rushed and that more time should have been spent laying the backdrop for that revelation.

Overall, this story starts off strong but does lose some steam towards the ending. Charlee’s actions by the end have me questioning her sanity! Thankfully even she recognises that and admits that she was not completely at peace with her thought process or behaviour. This bodes well for future stories.

Disclaimer: Thanks to the folks at NetGalley and Midnight Ink for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a great read! I really thought Charlee and her writing group friends were so funny and great together. The story is about Charlee’s Literary agent being murdered in exactly the way Charlee had written a death in one of her yet to be published mystery novels. Charlee’s agent was not well loved and many suspects come into the picture, including Charlee herself! Charlee knows she has to solve the mystery before she is arrested for the murder. Charlee doubts everyone and starts investigating anyone who had access to her preview copy. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next book in the series. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion from Netgalley.

Fiction Can Be Murder is the start to a new cozy mystery series. The plot was interesting but slow moving at times. The ending seemed a little far fetched to me personally and the protagonist was not my favorite. This was an entertaining middle of the road cozy for me.

The author seems to be trying much too hard. I got lost in all the adjectives and overdone description. The murder method was unnecessarily over-complicated, and I didn't care about any of the characters.

The premise caught me - life becomes stranger than fiction. When author Charlee Russo's agent is killed via method used in her yet to be published manuscript, the question is asked "... who had access ..." Turns out, at least 15 people from the members of Charlee's critique group, people at her agent's office, her boyfriend, her beta readers. Even Charlee herself is front and centre.

So, what does one do when being accused of murder .... one investigates. And thus we have the slow process of eliminating - one by one - all those who could have read the manuscript and had motive for murder. Most annoying character is Charlee's brother - he constantly refuses to take her calls, doesn't assist in her investigations (as every good family member should); just what is his role, why is he even in the book, I couldn't fathom it.

Its a standard cosy mystery where revenge is a dish best served cold. And I am in no hurry to take this series any further.

This was fun! I enjoyed the way the author flipped the view to reason out why the suspects COULDN'T have done it, rather than why they could. Although it meant lots of ruling out of people and asking of questions, it had a good story to it and I enjoyed the characters. I'll definitely be adding this to a series to continue.

Fiction Can Be Murder by Becky Clark is the first tale in A Mystery Writer’s Mystery series. Charlemagne “Charlee” Russo is at her writer’s critique group when she hears the news that Melinda Walter, Charlee’s agent, was found dead. She was murdered using the method in Charlee’s unpublished manuscript—Mercury Rising. Since only a handful of people have read the manuscript, Charlee is propelled to the top of the police’s suspect list. Charlee is left with no choice. She must investigate Melinda’s death to clear her name. With the suspect list narrowed down to her critique group, Charlee must discern who killed her agent and is trying to frame her for murder. Charlee’s imagination goes into overdrive especially after she notices a SUV following her. Is she the killer’s next target?

Fiction Can Be Murder had an interesting premise. A mystery writer whose own work was used to murder her agent. I wanted to get a peek into the life of a mystery writer. Unfortunately, Fiction Can Be Murder has a terrible main character in Charlemagne “Charlee” Russo. Charlee comes across as paranoid, annoying, judgmental and unstable. She thinks that anyone on the street can be a killer and they might attack her at any moment (she wonders if the lady with the double stroller is carrying an Uzi). I forgot to mention she is also clumsy. She is known for having coffee spills on her clothing (she needs a sippy cup). Of course, Charlee is also scattered brained. She forgets to charge her phone and is frequently late (let’s face it—she is never on time). I could have done without her using an alley for a restroom. There is a lack of character development, so the characters come across as flat. Now and then the author sticks in a detail or two. The mystery consists of Charlee “questioning” her friends (verifying their alibis) in an accusatory manner (when she is not hiding in her apartment) and endless speculation. Charlee was not subtle in her questioning. I am amazed that any of these people are willing to be her friends after the case is solved. The term “bull in a china shop” is apropos for Charlee. The solution was laughable, and the ending was rushed (considering the 90% of the book was devoted to Charlee questioning people). I did find the method of murder unique and imaginative (I liked it). Fiction Can Be Murder is told in the first person and the story rambles (there is also repetition—Charlee’s Kia is mentioned 20 times). The writing lacked an ease and flow. I found the story to be disjointed. Please be aware that this book does contain a small amount of foul language. Fiction Can Be Murder was not a good fit for me (It felt more like a rough draft than a finished novel). Please get a sample and see if Fiction Can Be Murder is the right book for you. We are all individuals with different reading tastes.

Fiction Can Be Murder by Becky Clark is the first book in the Mystery Writer's Mystery series. Charlee works hard to come up with creative murder ideas for her books. When her agent is murdered in the same unusual way described in her unpublished book, Charlee is obviously one of the suspects. I enjoyed the idea of the mystery writer and her writers' group. Charlee is paranoid and a bit quirky neither of which are necessarily bad in a fictional character. The ending to the mystery was lacking and seemed rushed at the end. I would gladly read a second book in the series as the strong points outweighed the bad.

Fiction Can be Murder has a great premise.  Charlee Russo is a mystery writer who has finally reached a level of success that allows her to write full time.  Her only problem is her agent who seems unable or unwilling to explain why her royalties don’t seem to be keeping pace with the book sales.  Before the issue can be resolved the agent is murdered and the method that was used is right out of Charlee’s most recent and yet-to-be published manuscript. Charlee sets out to not only clear her name but to determine who the real killer is.  She is surrounded by potential suspects, including people in her critique group.

Unlike some reviewers, I didn’t find Charlee to be very likable.  She was paranoid, self-deprecating and I failed to see the humor in her tremors that seemed to occur without any explanation. Instead of being funny, it just seemed sad.  Likewise, other characters were introduced in a haphazard way, making the story feel disjointed.  The story line itself seemed to jump around, with some awkward attempts to provide a backstory now and then. 

I really wanted to like this book.  The plot is very appealing and a peek into the life of a mystery writer only added to the appeal. Perhaps future books will be better.  I hope so.

I enjoyed the book. It was a fun quick read and I would recommend it to others! I was not disappointed.

Cute cover right? Makes you want to just curl up in this chair and read the day away right? Well, my suggestion, pick another book to do so. "Fiction Can Be Murder" has the honor of having one of the most annoying characters I have met in a long time. Charlee Russo is a mystery writer, although how I have NO idea because she's pretty darn clueless. One morning, her agent ends up dead and is killed in the exact same manner as written in Charlee's upcoming, unpublished novel. This puts Charlee, as well as her mystery writer's club, as targets for the police investigation and in order to save herself, and those she cares about, Charlee starts looking into the death herself.

This book kind of flowed oddly for me. I'm not even sure why but the title itself doesn't even work in my brain. I was able to keep reading because in the end, I really did want to know who killed the bitchy agent. Which I might add no one really seemed to care that she was dead - not even her husband. As I mentioned, Charlee is annoying. In fact, during most of the chats with Stormi, we ended up calling her "paranoid girl." This girl could find reasons why a blade of grass was out to get her. This book also lacked what I love about mose cozies. There's no quaint small town setting and no extremely likable characters (although I did like the elderly upstairs neighbors and the two guys who owned the local book store). I will say there were a couple of cute dogs in the mix. One Charlee rescues from a local alley and one is owned by the elderly couple I mentioned - Peter O'Drool (so the author does get points for the adorable Pug name).

I really can't recommend this book to cozy lovers. It was a pretty annoying read. And spoiler alert, Stormi didn't think much of it either. We joked that Charlee probably killed her agent herself and forgot about it because not only is she "paranoid girl" she's "scattered girl." I'm sure plenty of people have enjoyed this book, it just wasn't what I was looking for. Oh well, better luck next time. And I mean it! Stormi and I better have better luck with May's read!!!!