Member Reviews
Sophie "Phee" Kimball is up to more sleuthing in Molded 4 Murder.
When a phone call to Phee from the Gertrude sisters sends her to the Lillian, an assisted living facility, Phee has no idea about what she is about to uncover.
Working with her love interest, Marshall, Phee is determined to find out why a stolen piece of pottery is so important, and who is stealing from the residents at the Lillian.
While I found most of this story to flow smoothly, I did find a few areas that tended to drag a bit.
Overall, I find this to be a really fun series, with a lot of colorful characters that are sure to make the reader laugh.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for approving me to read this book.
Sophie (Phee)Kimball is an accountant for a firm of private investigators. She just can't help getting involved in more than she should.
Two little old ladies she knows think something is going on at the retirement home they live in. When a murder gets added to the mix the whole firm must investigate.
This is a very humourous mystery, with fabulous characters. It's nice to have a heroine in her forties who is getting lots of help from the older generation.
There is a nice little bit of romance as part of the back story that connects the rest of the series. You can read this as a stand alone but if you intend to read the series I would recommend reading them in order.
A lovely light-hearted murder/mystery.
Good fun.
MOLDED 4 MURDER is the fifth in the Sophie Kimball series by J. C. Eaton. While it isn’t necessary to read the earlier books in the series as each mystery stand alone, readers might still prefer to get to know the characters and how they relate to Sophie, Phee to her friends, from the beginning. This gives the reader the opportunity to watch the relationships grow. It also gives the reader the opportunity to watch as Phee begins to expand her work activities from being the bookkeeper for a detective agency to doing some of the investigative work..
In this latest outing, Phee’s mother has joined the pottery club at her senior citizen’s development and is enjoying spending time creating in clay. Her enjoyment is interrupted when the instructor for the class is found murdered with a scrap of paper containing her name and the name of her friend clasped in his grasp. Her mother and friends immediately jump to the conclusion that it’s a hit list, and some mildly humorous panic sets in. Of course, they are all urging Phee to solve the mystery for their piece of mind.
From her point of view, Phee has learned in the past these senior citizens are a font of information, it’s just a matter of weeding through to pick out what’s important from what has no bearing on the current case. There is an added element in this book because there is a second murder that takes place in a luxurious senior citizen’s high rise. Phee comes into contact with a number of these residents as well, and it’s very entertaining to listen to the conclusions drawn by the various residents.
As Phee continues to investigate, she is drawn to the high desert where she makes a series of discoveries, although she still doesn’t understand their significance. As she continues to investigate, Phee solves not only the question of who the murderer is but several other minor issues along the way. Throughout the book, the reader can sit back, relax, and read how Phee reaches the conclusion she does. If the reader likes to solve mysteries, then there is ample opportunity for that to happen as well with a good assortment of clues and red herrings.
All around, this is a light-hearted read that is thoroughly entertaining. It can be picked up and read in short bursts if that is what is preferred, but is also entertaining enough to hold the reader's interest over a longer period of time if so desired. If you are looking for a book that will allow you to relax for one hour or several, this might just be the one for you. My thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advance digital read copy in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book. It's fun, has interesting characters and is easy to read. I really liked the comic the Phee's mother, dog and friends brought to the book The investigating and movement of the plot is nicely written, it moves right along with an non-relevant spots. The ending was a surprise in many ways. I definitely will be reading more in this series. #Molded4Murder #NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!
This was my first book in this series, although not the first I've read by this author. I really enjoyed how this was set up, because Sophie or Phee as she's known, has a unique aspect in being a bookkeeper for a private investigation firm. This means she is privy to some different information than our usual cozy sleuths, as well as having a team behind her with more resources. She still has a network of sources on her own, as well as a knack for investigation, but it's not the only thing.
The mystery was really different too, like none I've ever read. I liked how everything tied together, because at first all I could see was the pieces and it was satisfying to see everything come together. Things you couldn't even fathom being related ended up important in the end, and the characters you dismissed as background noise were the focus. I also liked the almost comedic appearances by the Mother and the Aunt, and I have to ask what the heck with the name 'Streetman' but somehow that worked too!
If you're looking for a new cozy, then this is a real gem Five stars.
A new to me author and is an enjoyable read, well written and wonderful characters some of which are hilarious.
J C Eaton
Molded 4 murder.
New series for me even though it’s the fifth book of the series.
Loved the characters, fun read , Phee mother Harriet’s a scream.
kept you entertained .
Enjoyed the plot with plenty of twists .
Definitely will go back and read the rest of the series.
5 stars
Sophie “Phee” Kimball is back for another exciting, fun-filled cozy mystery. J.C. Eaton has brought back all of the regulars from this series including Phee’s eccentric mother, Streetman and her mom's book club friends. I just thoroughly enjoy this series. It is refreshing to have a cozy mystery series feature active senior citizens who “try” to help Phee when she gets in over her head.
The plotline is one that is entirely plausible, yet something I never would have considered. I had figured out the mystery about halfway through the book; however, the writing is so good and the story so much fun I didn’t really mind figuring it out in advance.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, clean mystery series. I cannot wait for the next one!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The views given are my own. #Molded4Murder #NetGalley
When a rather famous clay artist is found murdered, he was clutching a piece of paper with two names on it, Sophie Kimball’s mother and her mother’s friend. Are the two women next on a killer’s hit list? That’s what the detective agency Sophie works for is going to find out as they collaborate with the local police. Soon Sophie finds herself embroiled in the whole thing as the net is cast wider and wider to find a killer.
This is a great series and I adore Sophie. We can all relate to her relationship with her mother as it hits close to home, heck, I can even relate to a canine sibling. Sophie seems to be Nate and Marshall’s lucky charm and I hope the series keeps on going. Each book is better than the last with solid characters and plots.
So this is another adventure of Phee in her newly adopted state of Arizona. Things are going well with her new boss and boyfriend. However he seems to be busy a lot with cases. She gets asked by 2 little old ladies to investigate some missing items in their retirement home. This ends up tying in to a case that Marshall is working on with the death of a potter. I really wanted to like this book. My family lives in Sun City Grand and I am familiar with the area. However, there are a few things that I have a hard time accepting. First of all, Maricopa County is a huge county, I don't understand how they would need to hire 2 retired police officers-now private investigators when they should have someone on staff that would have the skills needed. There were several plot points brought up that were not fully explained or answered by the end of the book. I don't like to specify those as they would be a spoiler for anyone not having read this yet. It is overall a good read, but facts are not completely well thought out.
Molded 4 Murder is a adorable cozy mystery with wonderful characters and storyline. I would love to read more by this author.
I enjoy the setting (I know a bit about the location from personal experience). The characters are interesting and the annoying ones are mellowing or I'm getting used to them. The mystery is good and kept me guessing. I also like that Phee and Marshall have a good relationship, and the other workers in the office are close knit group
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.