A trio of house flippers finds a skeleton in the attic of their newest purchase and Jazzi immediately recognizes the engagement rings and locket it wears. Her mother's sister didn't run off to New York all these years ago...she's been tucked away in a trunk close to home.



I really enjoyed this one. It's the perfect read to escape your own day into someone else's life for a few hours. Every Sunday, Jazzi hosts a meal for her extended family. She also makes lunches for herself, Jerod, and Ansel during their workdays, so there's a lot of yummy sounding food to read about. The characters are actively working on the house, so you get vicarious renovations. There's also a strong romance and if I have any complaints about this book it's that that relationship moved so quickly and easily into place. Years of romance reading must have have left me expecting complications.

This was a different cozy, but different in a good way meaning it wasn't the usual formula most people expect in a cozy. Instead of Jazzi bugging the detective for clues, he was very willing to share with her what he found out and almost treated her like a colleague instead of a civilian. And the two murders were technically cold cases...but there was at least one, possibly two killers that were still very much alive.

I noticed that the author is usually a romance writer and from a previous book I read that was written by another romance writer, it seems like they do include a lot more of the everyday lives of the characters, which isn't a bad thing at all, just a bit different from what I'm used to. Different can be good!

I loved the house-flipper job that Jazzi had. Working with her cousin was probably a lot of fun. Jerod was like the brother she'd never had. And their contractor Ansel was so handsome that Jazzi couldn't take her eyes off him. He was in a bad relationship which finally got resolved the way it should. I liked that aside from the threatening phone calls, Jazzi was never really in any danger and she was smart enough to have a security system in place and always lock her doors.

This makes the 4th book I've read recently that has a cute and personable little pug in it. This one was named George and he was almost human. He went with Ansel everywhere he went. Everything seemed to work out so well in this book, and for once there wasn't a bunch of arguing or romantic tension. I'm definitely going to read the next book in the series.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

First of all, this is a cozy mystery. There are a few minor words that might offend some, and there is some implied sex. However, as far as I'm concerned, this is a book that should not bother any of my readers in content.

To be honest, this reminded me so much of an Agatha Christie mystery that I found it thoroughly charming. I loved the idea of a very old mystery being tied to a recent murder, and the opening chapter definitely sets the stage. I found myself sympathizing with our amateur sleuth, and I tend to think that the author has found some wonderful characters that readers will want to connect with again and again. Rarely do I find myself reviewing the first in a series of books, but it was nice to have the opportunity.

What did I think about the whodunit part of the book? Well, let's just say that I found myself continuing to get it wrong which means the author spun an intricate mystery that will definitely keep the readers guessing. This would be the perfect series to find its way to the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries network, and I look forward to many more in this delightful series!

An exceptional “Who Done It?”, with plenty of twists and turns, and enough confusing and misleading clues to keep the reader guessing throughout until the surprising ending...especially with multiple murders and suspects involved. The plot was believable, the characters relatable (though a few times their personalities fell a bit flat), and the dialog smart and fast paced. All in all, a good start to a promising series.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

I enjoyed this book. It was a quick, light read. I look forward to reading more by this author and I would recommend it to others.

The Body in the Attic, the first Jazzi Zanders Mystery, was a surprisingly emotive cozy for me. Judy Lynn, the author, really causes me to care about the deaths (count ‘em- two) in the novel. I think this may be why The Body in the Attic stands out to me. Usually, the dead people are so odious everybody, including the reader, is glad they’re gone. In this case, I guess I felt real pain for those left behind.
Jazzi and her cousin Jerod are house flippers who find a certain body in the attic of the latest house they are fixing up. I love the love triangle that Ansel, their construction contractor, gets involved in, but it was weird.
For once I thought sure I knew who was guilty. But no, Lynn did a great job and I missed it by a mile.
Great snarky quote?
“...she chased dollar signs harder than greyhounds chase rabbits.”
I do need to add the caveat that I do not agree with all situations and language in the book, but I still enjoyed this new start to a series and look forward to the next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are my own and no positive review was required.

Jazzi, Jerod and Ansel are a great team - reconstructing homes to flip them or buy for themselves. Cal Juniper's home is beautiful but renters and the nephews who inherited didn't take care of it, not to mention a lot of missing antiques and art. They work well together despite the skeleton and the detective who keeps asking Jazzi to help him - people like her and open up to her. The best character though is grandma who isn't always lucid but knows more than is good for her. There are lots of suspects for Lynda's murder and things get complicated - all seemingly connected to the decades old crime.

This is well-written, well-paced, and a good break. Lynn has captured the dysfunctional sides of some families and people, as well as the potential for happiness. I hope we see a lot more of Jazzi and her family in the future. Like mystery, romance, and great characters? You'll like this one.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

This book is being released tomorrow, so when you are done reading this you need to run over and one-click your pre-order so you can start reading it tomorrow morning upon release! I enjoyed the setting of this book and the character build was really well done for being a first in a new series. I am always pleasantly surprised when the characters can stand on their own in the first book, but they make you want to come back to see them grow. The only parts of the book that didn't seem plausible and detracted slightly from my enjoyment of the book was that Jazzi worked hand-in-hand with the detective on the case...it felt unbelievable to me. Also the romance in the book felt a bit rushed and forced. However overall, I think there is so much good in the base of this book that a whole series of wonderful books can be built on, and I can't wait to see where the author takes them.

Judi Lynn has created a great character in Jazzi Sanders - I love that she is a confident woman, working on flipping houses (not just decorating, but working), yet she still has her flaws. It was also very refreshing to see a police officer welcoming help from a "nosy" person, as they are so typically called.

Jazzi, her cousin, and friend have bought a new house to fix and sell; while going through the attic they stumble upon the dead body of Jazzi's aunt, thought to have fled to New York years ago. Soon they discover that Jazzi's aunt, Lynda had a baby and gave him up for adoption, along with leaving a bunch of men in her wake. Without revealing too much, her son comes to their town and ends up dead himself. Could the murderer be the same person?

I was pleasantly shocked at the revelation of who killed the victims; it was unexpected, but well put together. 4.8 stars.

I voluntarily reviewed this book on Netgalley.

The Body in the Attic by Judi Lynn
Book #1: A Jazzi Zanders Mystery
Source: NetGalley
My Rating: 4½/5 stars

**MINI-REVIEW**

The Bottom Line: I tried three times to write my normal long-winded review and kept feeling as if I were giving too much away and I certainly don’t want to deny you the awesome of this book, dear reader. I found this book to be an excellent example of a cozy mystery with fine and engaging characters, just enough mystery to keep me guessing, terribly interesting background/backstory, and a heat level absolutely appropriate for the genre. This is one of those books where I really resented having responsibilities because I wanted to keep reading until I finished, each and every time I picked this one up. What’s more, this first-in-a-series book didn’t have the failings many such books have. In fact, I found The Body in the Attic to be incredibly well-written with the feel of a seasoned author who knows all the writing pitfalls and how to avoid them. I’m all in with Jazzi Zanders and simply can’t wait for her next adventure.

Jazzi lives in River Bluffs, Indiana and makes her living flipping houses with her cousin Jerod and their friend, Ansel (soon to be her friend with benefits). Together they have bought the house which had been owned by Cal who had been engaged to Jazzi's aunt. Her aunt went missing many years ago but that mystery is solved as soon as Jazzi investigates the attic and finds her skeleton in a trunk, her neck broken. As Jazzi searches for the answer as to who had killed her, another body turns up on the property, tied directly to her late aunt. Two deaths, both related but are there two killers or just one? Might Jazzi be next as she works with the detective investigating the cases?
Overall I can only give this one 3 stars. The mystery was god but it seemed to almost take a backseat to the romance between Ansel and Jazzi and the constant annoyance of Emily, Ansel's live in girlfriend. He and Jazzi had chemistry several years ago but she moved in with somebody else and Ansel, on the rebound, moved in with Emily. I found that constant story line tiresome and drawn out. Then there is the almost constant talk about food and for prep and serving food and Sunday family dinners. Honestly, with how fast the three of them flipped Cal's house and Jazzi moved into it, I was amazed that Jazzi had any time nor energy to do all of the cooking she did. I found it over done.
The cast of characters in Jazzi's family were a nice group but not very well fleshed out. Her parents were caring and supportive as were her sister and cousin, etc. Her grandmother was a bit more developed and there was focus on her progressive dementia. It would be nice if the family members could be better developed in future stories.
Overall I found the pace to be rushed most of the time and I wanted some more depth to the mystery, a better balance. I realize that this being the first in a series, it's a work in progress as the setting and characters are established. Because I did like Jazzi and her family and her relationship with the investigating detective, Gaff, I will read the next entry in the series to see what's next in her life. Plus, I think Ansel's sweet dog, George, needs to be seen more. Maybe he should be the one to find the next body?

Jazzi lives in River Bluffs, Indiana flipping houses with her cousin and smokin' hot contractor Ansel. Their current house belonged to Cal, the ex-fiance of Jazzi's aunt. Problem is they find Jazzi's aunt stuffed in a trunk in the attic. Jazzi is on a mission to find out who killed her aunt. During the investigation, more secrets are dug up. Will Jazzi find the killer before the off button is flipped on her life?

I originally thought to give this book 3.5 stars but the mystery warranted 4 stars. What did I not like about the book? The constant bashing Jazzi did of Ansel's girlfriend. Every time the girlfriend was mentioned she bashed her and it began to feel like bullying. I got it, Jazzi did not like her and she did have some unsavory qualities.

Jazzi's romance moved way too quick. I don't care she knew him already. I just don't think good romances move that fast. The romance overshadowed the mystery unnecessarily at times. I almost feel as if there is nothing left to discover in additional books between Jazzi and her boyfriend unless they get married very quickly.

What did I like about the book? George the Pug! George is a very cute and spoiled pupper. The visual you get when reading Ansel carrying George up and down the stairs is precious. I liked the Sunday family dinners. The dinners added a good reality touch and showed how everyone is connected in some way. The mystery was excellent even if overshadowed.

I will read the second book in the series to see how the story progresses.

I received a complimentary copy from Kensington through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

This is a wonderful mystery that I enjoyed with a well crafted sleuth and fun charcters.
Jazzi is a multi talented protagonist. One of her jobs is as a house flipper with her cousin. She is devoted to her family and cares for her Grandma.. This part of the book was very endearing to me as a reader. She even hosts dinner very Sunday for her family. She has a sweet dog George with a big personality who is a support character and her constant sidekick. She has a romance brewing with their contractor that can take shape in the later series. It is not a overwhelming part of the story but a nice addition.

The sleuth blends past and present as they find mysterious clues with a skeleton in the attic of a house they are working on. Jazzi recognizes the jewelry . She begins to investigate and soon is questioning the past as well as the present when clues abound. as she delves deeper into the identity of the skeleton. With the home renovation on hold she works with the local police to find clues and suspects .

I enjoyed the sleuth, ,the endearing family and I like Jazzi as a protagonist as she is multi faceted and her primary focus is her family at all times . She is a good investigator and has potential for a fun series . The supporting charcters all add to the story and it will be fun to see them involved in the next book. It is always fun to discover a new series and this is one of my favorite new series of 2018.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the ARC. My opinions are my own. I highly recommend this book for all that enjoy a good mystery!

This would have been a 4 star book for me but unfortunately there was a few flaws that knocked it down. I enjoyed the mystery aspect and the history surrounding it. I liked the cast of characters, including George the Pug and I felt like there was a good plot and good writing. However, I hated the constant talk about one of the main characters girlfriend, and how awful she was. I got it after the first few mentions, it didn’t need to be rehashed constantly. I also hated the way that a relationship developed. The book began to feel a lot like a romance novel with a mystery on the side instead of letting the mystery be the star. I think that the romance really could have been toned down to allow things to develop naturally over several books. There were also a few points where I felt like the book should have been close to the end but it wasn’t. It dragged a bit in parts. Overall, it was an okay read for and I will probably still give book two a chance.

3.5 stars

The Body in the Attic is an intriguing mystery that combines the past with the present. A startling find by a pair of house flippers leads to decades-old questions being answered – and new ones raised. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this book a lot, trying to solve the old murder and piece together information while also trying to solve a new, related, crime and figure out if the same person was involved. And if so, who?

Jazzi is an interesting protagonist – a great cook, a devoted daughter/sister/cousin/granddaughter, a house flipper (with her cousin) and an amateur sleuth. I never quite understood why the police detective kept bringing her along on his investigation though, but at least this way we the readers got to be in on the case as it unfolded. Jazzi works with her cousin Jerod flipping houses, and she has a major crush on their contractor Ansel. The romance angle seemed to move too fast, in my opinion, with not a lot of emotional pull – mostly physical. (I also didn’t care for the direction it took or the ‘closed door’ implications that were frequent after a certain point.)

George the dog stole the show! Laid back but with a definite personality, he was an adorable addition to the great cast of supporting characters. I also loved Jazzi’s grandma and sister and the scenes she spent with them.

Bottom Line: The Body in the Attic combines a variety of plot points into an intriguing cozy mystery, with a lot of romance thrown in as well. Great characters, family secrets, and a couple of surprising twists keep readers invested even when some of the plot points don’t make sense. A different kind of cozy but I’m interested in seeing what other mysteries they uncover as they continue to flip houses.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)

The Body in the Attic by Judi Lynn has readers traveling to River Bluffs, Indiana. Jasmine “Jazzi” Zanders runs a home flipping business with her cousin, Jerrod. Their newest acquisition belonged to Cal Juniper who was once engaged to Jazzi’s aunt, Lynda who disappeared twenty-six years ago. They are moving a trunk in the attic when they hear rattling inside it. When they open the trunk, they find a woman’s body. Jazzi notices the silver locket around the victim’s neck and knows she has found Lynda. Detective Richard Gaff is assigned the case, but it will be difficult to solve such an old crime. Family and friends are shocked by the discovery and try to remember the events that transpired prior to Lynda vanishing. Jazzi, Jerrod and their contractor, Ansel proceed with the renovation and notice that the water is not draining properly. Jerrod is digging near the septic tank when he makes a gruesome discovery. As Jazzi works on the house, she falls in love with its beauty and decides to make it her home. Ansel has great ideas for the rooms and works with Jazzi on the finishes. As the family reminisces about Lynda, Jazzi learns helpful information and shares with Detective Gaff who includes her in the investigation. Someone, though, feels threatened by Jazzi and makes threatening phone calls. Will Jazzi get to enjoy her new home or will she up the next victim?

The Body in the Attic is easy to read thanks to the author’s conversational writing style. The book has a nice, steady pace and good flow. I liked the characters and the home renovation angle. Jazzi is twenty-seven years old who has been working with her cousin, Jerrod for the last four years. They buy run down homes and fix them up. Ansel, a tall handsome blonde man (think Viking), is their contractor and Jazzi’s friend. Jazzi is attracted to Ansel, but he is currently living with prima donna, Emily. Ansel and Emily’s relationship is on the rocks when she takes a job in California and expects him to follow her. I did find too much of the book devoted to Ansel and Emily’s relationship. It competed with the mystery and it followed an expected path (reminded me of a romance novel). I loved Ansel’s little pug, George who is his faithful companion. George is a spoiled little pooch and he has attitude (he drinks beer too). Jazzi is the most developed character in the book. It would have been nice if the author fleshed out the main characters more in The Body in the Attic. I like that Jazzi is close to her family and hosts Sunday dinner for them at her place. She has a loving relationship with her grandmother who is in the early stages of dementia. There are two mysteries in the story. There are a couple of suspects in each one. The investigating is focused on Jazzi and Detective Gaff talking with various people and gathering information. Jazzi makes various connections based on the information obtained. Both mysteries can be solved before the reveal. Detective Gaff is a friendly, likeable man and willingly includes Jazzi. I did find it unrealistic that a detective would take a civilian along when questioning suspects and that he would share so many details regarding the cases. I enjoyed the descriptions of Jazzi’s finished house. I especially loved how she finished the kitchen ceiling. There are recipes at the end of The Body in the Attic for the dishes Jazzi created. The Body in the Attic is a light cozy mystery perfect for reading on a relaxing Saturday afternoon. I look forward to reading The Body in the Wetlands when is releases.

Quick read on a weekend ,I enjoyed the characters and the whole concept of the book a nice change to some of the deeper thrillers where if you miss something you get confused rest of the book.. All and all light thriller quick read probably won't read again nothing that jumped out at me

3.5 Stars
The Body in the Attic is the first book in Judi Lynn’s River Bluffs series and the first I have read by this author. The characters are well developed and likable, the storyline is entertaining, and there are lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing in this steadily paced book. The seasoned detective assigned to the case and his investigative style is completely unbelievable in that he requested the protagonist to accompany him on his interviews and voluntarily shared his findings with her. While it’s not unusual for professionals and lay people to work together in cozies, that doesn’t happen until a relationship is developed later in a series.

Jasmine “Jazzi” Zanders and her cousin, Jerod, have been flipping houses in River Bluffs, Indiana for the last four years. Jazzi is very close to her family and hosts a family meal every Sunday. Her sister and their mother co-own a beauty shop. While in the attic of their latest purchase, Cal Juniper’s house, a cedar chest caught Jerod’s eye and he wants to take it home so his wife could refinish it. As they were preparing to take it downstairs, they decided to look inside and were shocked to discover a skeleton. A silver locket was around the skeleton’s neck and expensive rings on its fingers. The body is identified as Cynthia’s sister, Lynda, who had disappeared twenty-six years ago. The cause of death was a broken neck, and the remains revealed she had given birth, which was a shock to everyone involved. Lynda had accepted an engagement ring from Cal, but said she needed to leave town for a year think things through, and never returned. Shortly after discovering Lynda’s body, another more recently murdered body is discovered in the backyard and identified as Noah Jacobs. Detective Richard Gaff is assigned to both cases.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Great book, I couldn’t put it down!! Will be recommending this to my book club. Can’t wait to see what the author has for us next.

The Body in the Attic by Judi Lynn is the 1st book in the River Bluffs mystery series, and my first book by this author. I found this book to be very interesting and enjoyable. Jazzi Zanders and her cousin Jerod buy houses together and flip them with the help of contractor Ansel. When cleaning out the newly purchased home, they find bones in a trunk in the attic. Jazzi recognizes the locket and rings on the body, they belong to her aunt who disappeared over 25 years ago. Jazzi is determined to find out what really happened to her aunt. This book has a bit of everything, humor, mystery, romance, and great characters. I look forward to the next book in the series, and recommend this book.

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