A Field Guide to Homicide by Lynn Cahoon is the latest offering in her Cat Latimer series. I have not read Cat Latimer before although I have read several of her pother books. I found Cat to be a terrific character. She runs a writing retreat in the home her deceased ex-husband left her. She is also a published author and a sometime college professor. She is in love with her high school sweetheart, Seth, who helps at the retreat by leading hike and as a driver and handyman. Her best friend, Shauna, is the cook at the retreat and is currently trying to write her own cookbook. She keeps people around her that she loves and she hangs on tight. Her uncle Pete represents the local constabulary and has a new girlfriend and Cat is not sure she wants to share him. She's a totally entertaining character.

Seth's friends from his time in the service are in town and Cat is feeling a little left out, which turns to very left out when the hikers discover a body out on the trail and it turns out that he is one of Seth's service buddies, one who supposedly died 10 years ago. Then everything turns into a big mess. At least Cat gets to spend some time with Pete's girlfriend, Shirley, who is in from out of town. She turns out not to be so bad after all. Things go from bad to worse when Seth ends up in the hospital. Seems someone had dropped a flowerpot right at his friend, Joe, and Seth rushed to push him out of the way and got hurt himself. Cat was less than happy. Eventually the whole thing got sorted and it turned out to be a pretty good mystery. I will be reading more of Cat Latimer. I quite enjoyed her. I recommend this story.

I received a free copy of A Field Guide to Homicide from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #afieldguidetomurder

Author Cat Latimer enjoys running retreats for writers in Aspen Hills, Colorado. Except for the attendee from the local college not quite fitting in with the other four participants, the retreat is starting out well. Cat and the rest of the group are enjoying a hike led by Cat’s boyfriend, Seth Howard. However, the hike comes to an abrupt halt when the group finds a dead body. Even more shocking is the body is identified as a man who served in Seth’s army platoon, who was resumed dead during a mission ten years ago in Germany! Seth doesn’t want to talk about his experiences in the army, but Cat is determined to find some solutions in this unusual case.

This is the sixth book in the Cat Latimer series and only the second book in the series I have read. Cat and Seth have a complicated history, which is summarized for readers like me who haven’t followed all of Cat’s previous adventures. I thought it was easy to get to know both Cat and Seth even though I had only read one of the prior books. Cat is a little immature for her age, but still and intelligent and and an easy to like character. Seth is supportive of his girlfriend’s amateur sleuthing and her need for independence, and the two make a good couple. I find it harder to connect with Cat’s business partner Shana. I can’t figure out if I like her or not because not enough information is given about her, at least in this book.

The mystery about Seth’s old army buddy, Chance, is intriguing, but gets a little confusing before the loose ends are tied up. However, the search for the truth kept my interest through to the very end. Cat’s Uncle Pete is the chief of police and his girlfriend is a retired deputy from Alaska who also searches for clues. I like the way they discuss the investigation with Cat and everyone compares notes on what they have learned to be able to put all the pieces together and solve the case.

This book has many good points, including the characters and the setting, but my favorite part is the actual writing advice that is included. Cat relays advice to the aspiring authors attending her retreat and much of that wisdom is included in the story. It makes the book unique and makes the character of Cat, who is a published author, seem more real. Since the attendees in this installment do a lot of writing on their own, there isn’t as much of this aspect as in the other books in this series that I had read. However, there are several details included about writing and the publishing industry that are informative and interesting to read. I enjoy the mixture of writing advice, mystery, and the book’s beautiful Colorado setting. Those who follow this series or who like other books by Lynn Cahoon will enjoy his book. I think the book will also appeal to fans of Ellery Adams and Jenn McKinlay.

~ Christine

A Field Guide to Homicide by Lynn Cahoon is book six in the Cat Latimer Mystery series. This is one of my favorite cozy series. Cat is host to a writer's retreat so every book has guests to the retreat and you get new characters in every book.
Cat and her boyfriend, Seth, are taking the retreat guests on a hike when they come upon a body. To the surprise of Seth, it's an Army buddy that supposedly died years ago in Germany. How is it possible he has been living in Aspen Hills and no one has seen him and why was he murdered. Cat and Seth jump into investigating then when Seth is targeted Cat knows this needs solved, the sooner the better.
This easy to read cozy has plenty of twists and turns with a surprise ending.
This series has great characters along with a great setting. It also has a story line with Shauna, Cat's friend and business partner. It will have you wanting to go on a retreat just to see the restored Victorian house and have Shauna's baked goods.
I was given an ARC by Kensington Books though NetGalley for an honest review.

Cat (Catherine) Latimer has the perfect location and remodeled home as a B&B. She found her niché, writer's retreats. Shauna is a buddy from California who moved back to Colorado to help with the B&B, cook amazing meals, and clean the rooms. Cat has a boyfriend, Seth, her first love from high school and an uncle who is a police detective.

In Book 6, Seth discovers that the body Cat finds while hiking with her group is a former Army buddy of his. He was supposed to have been killed while they were still in Germany ten years ago.

As a character-driven cozy, the mystery trundles along while Cat discovers her new retreat group is unique--two couples and one college student. The latter doesn't exactly fit in and almost immediately the two couples click and proceed to produce activity separate from Cat's usual agenda. Shauna has a problem of her own, providing a separate little (almost) sub-plot. There is tension between her and Seth and I wonder, does she really love him or not?

There seemed a few plot holes; missing elements (possibly because this is my first experience with the author and the series?) We don't know much about Seth's army buddies but Cat manages to get a name she can investigate and discovers the deceased had a local girlfriend.

There are red herrings and little twists. How did the victim manage to leave Germany, come back to Colorado and be living off grid for so long?

I enjoyed the author's writing style, but not the length of time that it took to lay it all out. The novel takes some time to get into, moving rather slowly for me and appeared to be one that suggests the reader might be better served to begin with Book 1 of the series. The conclusion wraps up loose ends and unrolls the motive, which became obvious earlier, and has Seth taking the next step with Cat.

I received this digital download from the publisher and NetGalley and appreciated the opportunity to read and review and these are my own opinions. 3.5/5 rounded up

Every now and then I come across a gem in the cozy mystery genre, and that’s how I would describe Field Guide to Homicide by Lynn Cahoon. It’s rich in setting, character depth, and storyline. Although new to the series, I still found this sixth mystery easy to pick up and follow, but I recommend starting from the beginning and enjoying the character development – as I plan to do.

Cat Latimer and her business partner, Shauna, run a Colorado B&B with support from Cat’s boyfriend, Seth. I found the world of writing fascinating – from all the helpful tips, to the retreat for writers that they are hosting as the story begins. This is something readers and writers alike will greatly enjoy. Of course, murder quickly rears its ugly head during the first hiking event of the retreat, and things get even more interesting from there.

What I liked most is the complexity of this story – not only from the mystery itself, but from secondary themes. Shauna finds her passion in cooking, but also has a difficult and disappointing relationship with her brother. Cat’s uncle is in law enforcement, as is his girlfriend from Alaska, and both are involved in different ways in the murder investigation. Cat and Seth, former high school sweethearts, seem to be finding happiness now, but Seth erects invisible walls when it comes to his Army years. What makes this murder so interesting is that the victim was a man that Seth served with, but who was supposedly killed in combat ten years earlier. Very little is known at first and I loved how everything gradually unfolds, beginning with the victim’s journal.

I loved everything about this story and found it hard to put down. Storyline and writing are impressive, and the characters kept me wanting to come back for more. It’s also a clean read – no profanity or graphic scenes.

Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This is the first Cat Latimer book I've read but there was enough backstory that I was able to follow along and enjoyed it so much I went back to start at the beginning. Cat is smart and level headed, as is her partner and best friend, Shauna. They keep each other centered. They have the retreat weeks running smoothly, except when a murder interrupts the schedule. The book is well written and the descriptions make me feel like I was right there. The story is interesting and twisty and held my attention the whole time. I highly recommend this book/series and look forward to the next one.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am leaving an honest review.

Cat is getting ready for her next group of writers, even her boyfriend Seth is excited for the upcoming week. Seth has mapped out a hike he plans to take the group on hoping to introduce them to some Colorado plants and wildlife. Its something new they are trying, sending if it is a good fit for the writers groups. When the big day comes all is going well until Cat spots the body of a man in the distance. The outing went from a happy enjoyable day to one struck by murder. They soon learn the identity of the dead man, a name that shocks Seth to his core. The body turns out to be an old army buddy of Seth's, the only problem Seth thought the man died years ago when they were in the military together. How can this be is the only question that keeps going through Seth's mind. Cat can see the turmoil this murder is having on Seth and decides she must do her best to figure out who killed the man. With a writer's retreat going on, Seth being busy with visiting buddies, and a murder to look into Cat's plate is full. Will she get side tracked by all the goings on or will she find out who the killer is before something g else bad happens. I've read all the different series by this author and this one is my favorite. I love the characters, the location, and the mysteries are always fun to dig into!!!

What a great story line. I love the Writer’s Retreat. Seriously, how much fun would it be to hang with authors for a week at a time. Bonus would be to have the food that Shauna makes. I can’t wait to see if her cookbook takes off. How about that surprise beta reader for her? Then in this story we have some military memories and truths. It could make you stop and think about what might actually go on. I love these characters and their interactions with each other. I can’t wait for the next book. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

A Field Guide to Homicide is the 6th book in Lynn Cahoon’s Cat Latimer/Writers’ Retreat series, and it just may be the best one yet!

In this installment, author Cat Latimer is again hosting a writers’ retreat at her Colorado B&B, this time with writing couples and, as usual, a local college student. Taking a break from their writing, the group is on a hike when Cat spies a body beneath a huckleberry bush through her camera lens. The victim turns out to be Chance McAllister, a man – believed to have died years previously -- who had been in Seth’s Army unit when they were in Germany together. With the couples on the retreat requiring less attention than normal, Cat and Seth embark on the trail of a killer, hoping both to unravel the mystery surrounding Chance’s previously-rumored death and to unmask his present-day murderer. With a little help from Cat’s Uncle Pete (who just happens to be the police chief) and his girlfriend, Shirley, a retired deputy from Alaska, they do just that.

I have always enjoyed Ms. Cahoon’s Tourist Trap series immensely, but my love for this series is growing by leaps and bounds. There is something especially warm and, well, cozy about this cozy mystery. The writing, as always, is stellar, and the pacing, spot-on. The characters shine, particularly Cat’s boyfriend, Seth, whose backstory is central to the story. Interesting subplots involving the other retreat writers, too, fill in nicely. And the evolving relationship between Cat and Seth adds an endearing touch of romance.

The writers’ retreat setting fascinates me. In this book, as prior books in the series, we learn, through Cat, about various aspects of the writing and publishing business, all of which flow seamlessly through the plotline. As a fledgling writer myself, I would jump at the chance to attend a retreat like Cat’s in real life (minus the murders, of course)!

A Field Guide to Homicide is a delightful cozy mystery. Even though it’s only January, I have a feeling that this book will be on my short-list of best cozies of 2020. It is that good!

Note: I received an ARC of A Field Guide to Homicide from NetGalley and Kensington Books. The above is my honest review.

A Field Guide to Homicide by Lynn Cahoon is the 6th book in the Cat Latimer Mystery series, and another fun addition. Let me start by saying I am a big fan of the authors Tourist Trap Mysteries, and I love this series too. It also helps I was born and still live in beautiful Colorado. Cat Latimer is a successful author of a teen witch series who inherited a large Victorian home from her ex husband. Cat has opened a writers retreat in the Colorado home. Cat and her best friend/partner, Shauna, retreat cook and baker, Seth her boyfriend and handy man all work together for the retreat. Seth and his army friends are having a retreat. When one of his old friend dies, they are determined to find out why. There are twists and turns around every corner. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I recommend this book/series, and the authors other series, to any one who enjoys a well written cozy mystery. 
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Field Guide to Homicide is set in a Colorado B&B. Cat Latimer is a writer who hosts regular writing retreats. When she is hiking with a group of writers, they discover a body just off the trail. The deceased turns out to be an old military buddy of Cat's boyfriend, Seth. Concerned about her boyfriend's safety, she works to help solve the crime.

I wanted to read this book because of the writer's retreat setting. I have been to a couple of writing conferences but never a retreat, so I was very curious.

This is my first read in the Cat Latimer Mystery series. The main characters (Cat, her business partner Shauna, her boyfriend Seth, her Uncle Pete and his girlfriend Shirley) were introduced early on in the book and I had no trouble following along and reading this mystery as a standalone.

I liked Cat as a protagonist. She's very smart (former professor turned writer and retreat host) and this translates to being a good detective. She worked deductively, at one point mapping the victim and possible reasons he was killed, and never put herself in dangerous situations the way so many amateur sleuths do.

The mystery was laser focused. The murder took place early in the book, the possible suspects and reasons for the murder were clear, and it progressed at a steady pace. I figured the mystery out early on but enjoyed reading about Cat's sleuthing.

I enjoyed A Field Guide to Homicide and would like to go back and read the earlier books in this series. I recommend this novel for fans of cozy mysteries and especially for anyone who is interested in creative writing as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed the latest in Lynn Cahoon's A Cat Latimer Mystery series. The characters are familiar, but complex as we get to know more about them and the past which has impacted them. The new characters at Cat's writers retreat provided twists and turns that had me guessing until the surprising end. I loved the development of Cat and Seth's relationship, as well as learning more about Shauna and Brodie. Read it, you'll be glad you did.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions express in this review are entirely my own.

It's time for another journey back to Colorado and Cat's writer's retreat.  This retreat is different than others since there are two couples plus the college student from the local college.  It is an interesting bunch and while they are featured in the book, I don't think that they were the main focus.  The main characters were tied to Seth's past in the military and those that were in town for a reunion of sorts.  I'm not sure we learned much about Seth's military buddies but that didn't stop me from thinking something was off about the deceased and those he served with all those years ago.  I feel like there is so much more that Seth hasn't revealed yet about his time in the military and I wonder if more will be revealed in future books.

We discover a little bit more about Cat's deceased husband, Michael.  The author has a way of keeping me engaged in this series because I want to know what he was involved with and how it will affect Cat.  Especially since the dead body from Seth's unit has notes about Michael and others in his cabin.  What is the secret?  When will we learn more?

The mystery and the interactions between the various characters (Cat, Seth, Shauna, Uncle Pete, and Shirley) kept me engaged and made it hard for me to put the book down.  I had my suspicions about the killer but there was more to the story than I ever expected.  Shauna has some family issues that she hides from Cat for most of the book, but I'm glad she trusts their friendship and opens up about what is happening with her family.

Overall we give this book 4 paws up.

Those who don't fit in, relationships that don't work out, past and present mingle in this latest 5 star read from author Lynn Cahoon.
Cat and Shauna are looking forward to another writer's retreat week, but this one feels different from the previous ones. Of the five writers, two sets are married couples, leaving the college student as a single. Brodie already arrives feeling a bit lost and alone.
Cat's boyfriend, Seth, has other things on his mind as well. His army platoon has scheduled a reunion, which brings up emotions about a time he doesn't talk about. To complicate that, when Seth has the group out on a hike, they discover the body of a goldminer, a man thought to be dead a decade before. Which puts a crimp into Uncle Pete's plans to spend time with his lady friend, whom he met through a previous writer's retreat.
And Shauna is feeling down about her brother. Down and used. She really wishes they could build a better relationship.

How can these various elements be woven together into a cohesive book? Lynn Cahoon does a superb job. This series never lets us down.

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and Kensington Books.

I received an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A writer’s retreat turns deadly on a hiking trip. Cat Latimer finds herself on a hiking trip exploring plants and wildlife but gets more than she and her writer’s group bargain for. A body is found near a gold claim area that the dead man owes but before he could strike it rich, he was the one been struck.

To make things interesting Cat’s boyfriend recognized the man as an old ex-military guy. Soon it becomes a case of finding the killer before they disappear into the field.

Another winner in the series by the author.

Cat is having a retreat and Seth is having a reunion of his army buddies. Shawna is having a hard time with her brother in NYC and Pete is awaiting the arrival of Shirley for the week. The first day of the retreat is a hike and the discovery of a dead body, which turns out to be a friend of Seth's who supposedly died in Germany. Cat begins to unravel the clues and Uncle Pete allows her to help in the mystery.
This is a great addition to this series. A good story, great characters and interesting mystery.

A Field Guide to Homicide is the sixth book in Lynn Cahoon’s Cat Latimer Mystery series. This well-written story moves along at a steady pace. The characters are well-developed and affable, the murder mystery is interesting, and there are enough twists, turns, and suspects to hold a reader’s attention.

Cat Latimer is an author and the owner of Warm Springs Writers’ Resort in the small college town of Aspen Hills, Colorado. Shauna Mary Clodagh is Cat’s best friend, a talented cook, the retreat’s manager, and is writing a cookbook she hopes will be published soon. Cat’s boyfriend, Seth Howard, is her handyman and helps transport guests. Cat’s uncle, Pete Edmond, has been the local police chief for over twenty years and is in a long-distance relationship with one of the retreats previous guests, Shirley Mann, a retired detective who lives in Alaska. The retreat attendees are Sydney Evans and her husband, Tristin, who are travel writers, Jocelyn Winchester and her husband, Archer, who both write western historical fiction, and Brodie Capone, the Covington College student who earned the right to attend the retreat. The dynamic of this retreat is different due to the two married couples, and it takes a while for Brodie to bond with the group. One of the activities planned for the group is a hike guided by Seth, but when Cat looks at a photo taken by one of the guests, she spots part of a body. They contact Uncle Pete, and fingerprints identify the body as Chance McAllister, one of Seth’s army buddies who was supposed to have died in Germany ten years ago, and who had been living a somewhat secluded life living on one of the old mining claims up near Deer Creek. Shirley is in town to visit Pete, but they don’t get to spend much quality time together due to the murder, but she helps with the investigation, attends some of the planned activities, and is able to work on her book.

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

This book is well written and with great characters, but the plot is very weak, and there's very little sleuthing. Mostly dialogue about eating and writing.

I've read a few of Lynn Cahoon's books already, including another book in this series, so I knew I had something to look forward to. I liked several of the characters and the dynamics between them. The mystery is interesting and the plot is well paced in addition to having a few twists and turns.

With a large cast of characters, this is a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. I'm a big fan of this series. The retreats are always interesting to read. I enjoyed the fact that we learn more about Seth. Cat is one of my favorite characters this author has come up with. Reading this book is like visiting with old friends.