What an enchanting cozy mystery. No More Time has well-written characters and an easy to follow story that leaves you wanting more in the end.

This was my first Dodie O’Dell Mystery. No More Time follows the currently popular formula of ‘single-woman-cop-boyfriend.’ There is a twist, however, in that the cop, Dodie’s fiancé Bill, is not in his home territory and therefore is not constantly blocking her from the investigation. In fact, he’s got a plot line of his own going on that largely keeps him out of the picture.

The writing style is crisp and there’s not a lot of unnecessary backstory, which means the plot keeps moving. There were also enough questions raised to make it difficult to figure out who the ultimate villain really was. Speaking of villains, there were plenty of suspects that were interesting enough to raise the ‘what-if’ question about them.

I found the characters enjoyable and easy to be around. For me, liking the main characters is a big deal because we spend a lot of time together. I thoroughly enjoyed Dodie and her friends, especially the somewhat eccentric Etonville Theater group.

Dodie O'Dell heads for a Jersey Shore beach vacation with boyfriend, Bill, for the first time since the horrors of Hurricane Sandy. While it's fun being back there and reconnecting with old friends, she certainly wasn't expecting her ex to show up on her porch asking for a place to sleep. Soon she's drawn into investigating the drowning death of another old friend. Meanwhile, the community theatre group from Etonville ends up at the beach with her. Overall, a really good read. I enjoyed the parts best with her old friends and new boyfriend, less so the parts with the community theatre group which seemed a little out of place. The parts dealing with the aftermath of Sandy were particularly well done. Plus the mystery was well plotted and implemented.

Dodie O'Dell and her boyfriend Bill are taking a beak from life in Eatonville for a vacation at the Jersey Shore. Dodie visits with her former boss and is surprised by a visit from her ex-boyfriend, Jackson. When Jackson's partner is found murdered, Jackson is the main suspect. Whatever his faults, Dodie is certain that Jackson is not a murderer. With Bill acting strangely, Dodie takes the time to investigate along with the Eatonville theater group who also show up at the shore. This is a good addition to the series and can be read on its own. The mystery includes a few twists and turns to keep things interesting.

This is a fast, fun read. Dodi and her boyfriend, Bill go to the beach for a well deserved vacation. Dodi's ex-boyfriend and murder decides to follow. Did I mention her best friends also showed up?

Princess Fuzzypants here: Ghosts from Dodie’s past conspire to interrupt her idyllic getaway with with her guy. Things start to get unruly when the cast and crew from her local community theatre group end up in town for a theatre competition. But they spin out of control when a former friend is murdered and Dodie’s former live-in, and the dead man’s partner, descends on her. To make matters even more awkward, Jackson seems to lack common sense or sensitivity and camps out on the porch of Dodie’s romantic cottage.
Jackson’s suffer dude attitude also lands him squarely in the spotlight as the prime suspect. Dodie soon realized as clueless as he might be, there have been some dark dealings going on with the dead man long before Jackson’s return to town. There are a lot more people who might have had reason to kill the victim and much more to lose if discovered. That makes Dodie’s investigation into the murder and some other illegal activities far more dangerous. In fact, there are a few times when she tips close to the edge of Darwin territory but never over. It does come close.
Still all the various subplots and story lines combine to make an entertaining read. Set on the Jersey Shore, it would be an ideal vacation read.
I give it four purrs and two paws up.

No More Time has fun and likeable characters and a strong and savvy protagonist. I also liked the Bill vs Jackson, showing that "safe" choices often are the best. As a mystery it was an okay read with a bunch of clues around.

Dodie O'Dell has taken to the Jersey shore with her boyfriend Bill for a much needed vacation, however the reappearance of her old boyfriend and the arrival of the Etonville Community Theater contingent entered in the New Jersey Shore theater festival are not giving the couple a lot of privacy. When Bill's gold BMW is stolen, he goes into police chief mode and Dodie finds she has more time on her hands than she wants. Her old boyfriend is suspected of killing his former partner, so Dodie decides to use her free time to solve the murder.

There were a great number of clues that made this mystery fun to solve as well as the characters that interacted so well together. It was good to see Dodie resolve her issues with her past well as begin to move forward.

No More Time: A Dodie O’Dell Mystery
By Suzanne Trauth
Lyrical Underground
August 2019

Review by Cynthia Chow

Until now, the Labor Day vacation had been going so well. Dodie O’Dell and her boyfriend Bill Thompson are staying on the Jersey Shore beach together, away from the his job as the Etonville Police chief and her position as manager of the Windjammer restaurant. Having been away since the devastation of 2012’s Hurricane Sandy, this is the last place she expects to meet her ex-boyfriend Jackson, whom she believed had left the Jersey Shore to sell farm equipment in Iowa. Now, the overgrown surfer is very back in her life, camping out on their rental porch with pleas of financial hardship. Jackson declares that it’s just temporary, until he smoothes out the situation with his former charter boat business partner Vinnie Carcherelli. That’s going to be a bit difficult though, as Vinnie C’s has just washed up on the beach in a yet to be determined drowning.

With Jackson not seeming to be in a hurry to pack up his bags, Bill and Dodie’s romantic getaway is further intruded upon by the arrival of the entire Etonville Little Theatre acting troupe, in town as a last minute entry in the New Jersey Community Theater Festival competition. A plea by her former boss to help with the catering menu of the festival has Dodie more immersed than she had planned to be in the off-the-stage drama of the acting community, but it does give her more insight into the local activities that may have led to Vinnie C’s death. For while a very lackadaisical Jackson seems convinced that the police are his buds, Dodie’s experience as something of an effective freelance detective has her knowing that he is their primary suspect. The more that Dodie learns about the town’s recovery since the hurricane though, the more that she realizes that not all of the acting is being done on the stage.

This fifth in the series explores the Jersey Shore’s struggle to recover, not just from the initial hurricane but from those attempting to profit off of the victims. While Dodie may not be as thrilled to have her vacation crashed by uninvited guests, fans of the series will be delighted to have many of their favorite characters landing in Candle Beach to exasperate Dodie and meet their own amped up Jersey Shore counterparts. Even though Dodie tells herself that she’s investigating in order to get Jackson out of their lives, she can’t help but contrast this present-day, gourmet chef version of Jackson to the one she knew years ago. More impressive is Jackson compared to Bill, who always proves to predictable, practical, and reliable. She’s learning that the “safe” choice is the right choice, and Dodie’s and Bill’s relationship is a wonderfully rewarding path to follow. A surprise ending amps up the suspense as multiple crime schemes are revealed, but the real fun always occurs between Dodie and her theatrical friends.

No More Time is a delightful addition to this series. I was hooked into the lives of these quirky characters from the first page. The writing style and the plot were satisfying. I really enjoyed this one. Thanks netgalley for the arc. The review is my personal opinion.

This is the 5th book in the "Dodie O'Dell Mystery Series." I have not read any previous books in the series yet found this book can be read as a stand alone to understand the series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the ARC. My opinion is my own.

This was a fun mystery read. Restaurant manager Dodie is planning her Jersey shore vacation when her boss tells her he needs her to work an event. for competing theater groups. When her ex Jackson shows up she smells trouble and soon his partner in his boat business is murdered. Dodie has to step up to investigate to save her ex and find the true suspect.

This is a fun mystery with likable charcters and a strong savvy protagonist. I enjoy the setting and catering information This was a pleasing read and I look forward to catching up with the series.

No More Time is the fifth book in Suzanne Trauth’s Dodie O'Dell Mystery series. The mystery is well-plotted and steadily paced. The characters are well developed. The writing style flows smoothly, and the book is a clean, quick, easy read.

Dodie O’Dell, whose home and place of employment were destroyed when Hurricane Sandy swept through the Jersey Shore, moved to Etonville and is the manager of Windjammer, a local restaurant, and helps her friends at the Etonville Little Theater. Dottie and her boyfriend, Etonville’s Police Chief, Bill Thompson, are vacationing at the Jersey Shore, and Dodie is hoping for a quiet, relaxing, romantic getaway, but that’s not exactly what she got. First, her parents, who live in Florida, were there for a few days, and then her former boyfriend, Jackson, shows up unannounced and unwelcomed on her doorstep needing a place to stay. As if that’s not enough distraction, the Etonville Players are selected to participate in a community theater contest being held in the beach town where Dodie and Bill are vacationing, and Dodie helps her former boss with the menu and set up for the production. When Jackson’s former business partner, Vincent Carcherelli, is murdered, Jackson becomes the prime suspect. Dodie knows Jackson isn’t a murderer, but the evidence is stacking up against him, and she feels an obligation to clear his name. Meanwhile, Bill spends time looking into the theft of his pride and joy, a gold BMW.

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

Car theft and murder, what has happened to this town?
No More Time by Suzanne Trauth is a story about returning home and getting wrapped up in a murder investigation. Its a wonderfully written mystery with lots of fun subplots. And the setting is the Jersey shore.

The vacationing couple
Dodie and Bill are vacationing in Candle Beach at the end of summer. They have rented a bungalow and plan to enjoy the beach and boardwalk together. However, they are both not focused solely on their holiday.

Bill’s car is stolen, and he is beside himself. Since he is the Police Chief of Etonville, who has statewide connections, he is doing whatever he can to help get his car back.

I like Bill. He is a fabulous character with lots of integrity, cunning, and some good acting skills. Bill loves Dodie for who she is. They make a wonderful couple.

Dodie’s ex-boyfriend, Jackson shows up at their home hoping to crash. The Etonville community theater group is in Candle Beach for the state competition of community theater groups. But it really goes off the rails when Jackson’s former charter boat partner is killed after Jackson has a fight with him in public. Now, Dodie must clear Jackson’s name and keep him out of jail, and the only way is to figure out who killed Vinnie in the first place.

Dodie is marvelous; I was rooting for from the beginning. She is likable, seems to have a sixth sense, and she is a great friend. I like Dodie, and I look forward to reading her next mystery.

Mystery
The mystery was so well played that I didn’t get it until the final clues were coming out. I totally fell for the red herring. Although now that I know who it is, I can see the clues that I missed.

4 Stars for No More Time by Suzanne Trauth
My rating for No More Time by Suzanne Trauth is four stars. I enjoyed the story, the mystery, characters, setting, and the touch of love. It is well written and entertaining. I recommend this book to all cozy fans.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of No More Time by Suzanne Trauth.

Anyways, until next time,
Karen the Baroness
Happy Reading

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.

No More Time is the 5th book in A Dodie O'Dell Mystery series, and I have read them all. I loved all of the well developed quirky characters in this book. In this adventure, Dodie and her boyfriend Bill head to the Jersey shore for vacation, but is anything simple with Dodie? Once I started this book, I could not stop reading it until I was done. Not only is this book an exciting mystery but also very refreshing and a quick read. If you love fun cozy mysteries, which are my favorite, you will love this book. Highly recommend.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.

In this novel, Dodie O’Dell, series protagonist, is on vacation at the Jersey shore, accompanied by her boyfriend, Police Chief Bill Thompson. While Dodie and Bill have come to spend two weeks at the shore, except when he is required to return home for a few days, she learns early on that she will be joined once again by the people from the local community theater, the Eatonville Players. They have been selected to participate in a community theater contest being held at a theater in the beach town where Dodie is vacationing.
As the book begins the reader is introduced to Dodie’s former boyfriend who materializes on the porch of her rental cottage. A leftover hippie type, Jamie is so lovably quirky Dodie and Bill allow him to stay and camp out on their porch. Almost at the same time Jamie’s old partner Vinnie, now going by the name Vincent, appears. Vinnie, Jamie and Dodie were good friends in the past, but now Vinnie seems to have undergone a transformation although Dodie doesn’t understand the changes. He seems to have gone from a hard partying, good time guy to a major business mogul now. Not long after seeing Vinnie, he is murdered on his yacht.
Dodie determines she needs to solve the mystery of how Vinnie became Vincent and who murdered him as Jamie is considered a prime suspect and she is convinced that isn’t true. In her attempt to find the answers, Dodie question several of the people she’s met through the theater contest, and develops some strong suspicions as a result.
Meanwhile, Bill’s pride and joy, his gold BMW, is stolen. He spends time checking on the investigation with a friend who is part of a special task force trying to bring down an auto theft ring. Levity is provided in the form of various quirky characters who are part of the Eatonville Community Theatre. They are an on-going part of this series and readers who like to watch relationships unfold may enjoy reading the series in order. The mystery for this book stands alone, however, and there is enough information about the characters that the reader will have no problem figuring out relationship nuances.
Overall, this is a fun, easy book to read. It’s the perfect thing to take to the beach if you want a book that is a little mystery, a little fun, and a little romance. It was not hard to figure out who was the villain of the piece, but it was still enjoyable for a light read. The book is well written with ample clues and red herrings to increase the reader’s enjoyment. Be prepared to suspend some disbelief in terms of Dodie’s activities as she investigates. She has a miraculous ability to put herself in dicey situations and then manage to extricate herself. Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me an Advanced Digital Reader copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Going into a new cozy series - especially if I'm jumping in in the middle - I always have a few questions in my head. Why is the main character in the middle of the investigation? Does she run around like a crazy person and demand that people answer her questions? Is she someone I'd want to be friends with? Is the community surrounding her a place I enjoy visiting? And is the mystery solid and entertaining with a conclusion that makes sense? And for this book I can give a resounding yes to all questions.



I fully understood why Dodie got involved in the investigation and why she ended up putting up with Jackson far longer than she really wanted to. He really has a bit of lost child about him and it'd almost seem like kicking a puppy to turn your back on him. Her investigation, particularly given her past experience, makes sense and is subtly done. I found her a likable character and one who wasn't too perfect which was nice. As well I loved the mix of theater and restaurant and beach communities. There are some quirky side characters with a full range of craziness and likability and are all people I'm looking forward to seeing again. And finally while the mystery took a bit to really get going I was full in along with the way and pleased with the conclusion. While the mystery did take a bit to get going this was never a slow read and I enjoyed seeing and getting to know the characters.



This was book #5 but I had no problem jumping in here and figuring out the whos and whats of the situation. I do think this is one of the series that gets better the more you read just because you get to know the characters and are more and more connected with each book. This was a fun read and a series that I am so looking forward to continuing!

Terrific addition to a fun series. Dodie and her chief of police boyfriend go to the Jersey Shore for a vacation. Doesn't end up to be much of a vacation for either of them. Ex boyfriend is a hoot. Several twists and turns. Some expected, some not. The usual cast of characters end up in the same place, adding to the familiarity of the series.

*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.

Dodie just wants to enjoy her vacation with Bill back in her pre-hurricane life. Things start great and then her ex boyfriend shows up making himself at home. If course this makes things awkward but that is just get beginning because he ends up a murder suspect. A murder, secrets, and a vacation atmosphere combine into one intriguing story that you won't be able to put down. A great addition to this theatrical cozy mystery series. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.

Dodie and Bill think they're going on vacation. They certainly deserve a good time at the beach given that she's been busy running a restaurant (and solving murders) and he's the police chief in Eatonville. Hah. Things don't work out that way when Jackson, her ex, shows up and THEN is the chief suspect in the murder of his partner. Dodie knows he's got his issues but she's sure (in true cozy style) that he's not a killer. ADD to that the Eatonville theater crew appears because they are in a competition. That's a big load for what was supposed to be time off to relax. Bill's got his own thing going too. I'd hoped this would take Dodie out of the theater thing, and to be fair, it's mostly about Jackson and the murder. There's some great Jersey shore stuff too. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a classic cozy that you could read as a standalone.

No More Time
(A Dodie O'Dell Mystery #5)
by Suzanne M. Trauth

Kindle Edition
Expected publication: July 23rd 2019 by Lyrical Underground



Goodreads synopsis:
DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY
 
Restaurant manager Dodie O’Dell has found her niche in the cozy New Jersey town of Etonville, creating menus that make a delicious double-act with the community theater’s productions. Now she’s ready for a vacation at the Jersey Shore town she called home before a hurricane hit. Sun, salty air, and seagulls make for a nostalgic escape from regular life—until a contingent from Etonville arrives to compete in a Jersey Shore theater festival.
 
Roped into helping her former boss cater the event, Dodie also gets a visit from her old flame, Jackson, who’s hoping to revive his charter boat business and is looking for a place to crash. Before Dodie can tell him that ship has sailed, Jackson’s partner is found murdered on his boat. Dodie knows her ex is a mooch, but she’s sure he’s no killer. But as she follows a trail of evidence that leads into her own past, Dodie stumbles on a dangerous conspiracy theory that could bring the festival to a shocking finale…

***

4.5 Stars

This is the fifth book i the Dodie O’Dell Mystery series by Suzanne M. Trauth

This is a new author for me and I have to say I wasn’t disappointed. This was a fun summer read. Dodie O’Dell and her police chief boyfriend, Bill are Etonville for a much needed vacation from the stress of all the sleuthing she did in the four previous books. But as we know death doesn’t take a holiday and Dodie finds herself immersed in another mystery she must uncover.

Dodie’s former flame, Jackson shows up on her doorstep wanting a place to stay and makes an uncomfortable atmosphere when she and Bill just want to be alone and bask in the sun of a time away from everyone. But it seems nearly everyone has followed her on vacation and it is business as usual when Jackson’s former partner in a boat charter business ends up dead. Now Dodie must uncover the truth or watch Jackson go to jail for a murder she hoped he didn’t commit.

This was a fun jaunt into New Jersey culture. I found it quite entertaining and all the elements just seemed to naturally flow from one scene to the next. There were no cringe-worthy moments and that is always refreshing. I will definitely be checking other other Dodie books. This book really keeps you guessing and there is so much going on that it sometimes makes your head spin. But in a good way.

Highly recommended.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.