Kate Young has started the Jane Doe Book Club mysteries with On Borrowed Crime. Lyla Moody works as receptionist at her uncle's investigation bureau. Then a friend is killed and she finds her body in a suitcase. Many suspects, messy lifestyles and suspicious activity in the little town. Who is everyone really? People are leading hidden lives. Lyla is following different trails when she is blindsided by the real killer. See if you can figure it out.

3 stars=Good/solid/fine
First in a new series. I liked Lyla and her best friend, Mel, a lot. I also enjoyed the set up of Lyla working for her PI uncle as a receptionist, although she wants to be an investigator. There's some intrigue over Lyla's past obsession with crimes as well as some mysteries about her mother's past. These were teased, which was fun, but they were teased in a way that kept making me question if I had missed a book in the series. That was less fun. I liked that the author does a good job of jumping into the middle of the action, but I disliked this unsettled feeling of not having pertinent information for Lyla. I felt like her past could have been spelled out more while still teasing her mother's to explore somewhere in the future.

The mystery was interesting, although I zeroed in on the culprit the first time they were on the page. There was a scattered feeling to some of the investigation, although it might have only felt that way because I already knew who did it. I might give a second book in the series a try because I am intrigued to learn more about Lyla's mother, and I did enjoy Lyla and Mel. (Some language, some gruesome details of crimes)

I enjoyed the beginning of this new series and the idea of a book club. It was super creepy (but not overly) in some places like the texting perp who killed one of their members had inside intel somewhere in town, but where were they getting it? Uncle Calvin was pretty cool, and I really hope he stays around town long enough in the next book to get to know him and maybe find out a little more about his background with his sister, Lyla's mom Francis. I just loved Gran, what a hoot! She added the fun touch when Francis was going off on some social tangent or harping at Lyla that she'd make them look bad by being interested in solving crimes.

I was completely surprised by who the perp was, as I'd been leaning toward someone else for most of the last part of the book, but I was glad it wasn't who I thought it was. I hope that Lyla grows on me just a little more. She seemed level-headed enough most of the time, but sometimes she came off as immature and stubborn just for stubbornness' sake. I did have some issues with the ARC's formatting which I hope got fixed in the final copy. And at times, I was rereading dialogue to figure out which character was speaking--I can't say the formatting was totally responsible for that. I can appreciate the idea of not repeating the same old "he said, she said, I replied" type of thing, but sometimes I just needed more of a clue as to which person was speaking. Again, maybe that was taken care of in the final copy. I'll definitely be interested in reading the next book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

I thought this was a great start to a new series. Set in a small town in Georgia, we meet Lyla Moody who works as a receptionist at her uncle's private investigation firm but hopes to become a partner with him. Lyla is obsessed with mysteries and true crime and is a member of a mystery book club called the Jane Does. When the body of one of her book club members is found in a suitcase on her doorstep, she becomes determined to solve the case.

This entertaining mystery is filled with southern charm and suspense. The characters were fleshed out and I loved the small-town vibes in the story. The mystery was darker than the average cozy mystery but nothing over the top. I thought the author did a wonderful job of building the tension and making the reader second guess their opinion regarding the culprit's identity.
It was fun getting to know Lyla. I found her to be relatable, smart, and independent. I look forward to exploring the relationship between her and her family and also solving more mysteries with her and the Jane Does.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lyla is a good ‘ol southern gal living in Sweet Mountain, GA, a small town as only the south can do. With its laid back lifestyle and good people you’ve known all your life, it should be idyllic. For Lyla, a receptionist in her uncle’s private investigation office, solving mysteries runs in her blood. Together with a circle of like minded friends organized into a true crime book club, Lyla enjoys the crime investigating life. But when one of the club members turns up dead in a suitcase delivered to Lyla’s front door, crime investigating turns serious – and deadly. Unable to set aside the danger, Lyla puts her skills to the test to track down a killer in her home town.

A first book in a new series always calls to me. What is this new world? Can I settle right in? Will these characters become friends? A first book in a new series is always an open invitation I can never pass up, and this book opened the door to a place I’d love to spend more time in. The characters were equally as charming, I loved Lyla’s granny (would love to see her more as Lyla’s partner in crime…well, crime fighting) and I’m looking forward to seeing where Lyla goes from here.

As for the plot, it was packed with intrigue and tension, from the discovery of Carol’s body to the threats and red herring to the thrilling ending, it made for a can’t-put-it-down roller coaster ride. I admit, this was one of those books where I would decide on the likely culprit but the red herrings always pulled me off the scent. I love books that do that!

Overall, an excellent introduction to the folks in Sweet Mountain, GA and I’m looking forward to reading more!

Really hard to put down! Very interesting to read. Very enjoyable. Loved the nonsense with the family drama. Ready for the next one in the series!

On Borrowed Crime is the first book in the Jane Doe Book Club mysteries, and features Lyla Moody, aspiring PI. Lyla lives in sleepy Sweet Mountain, Georgia, where not everything is idyllic. Especially when Lyla's best friend, Melanie, uncovers a dead body in a suitcase!

This mystery is definitely an edge-of-your-seat more suspenseful style cozy mystery. The discovery of the dead body is pretty grisly, and you can't imagine something like that happening in such a sweet, quiet town. However, with the help of the Jane Doe Book Club, Lyla puts her budding PI skills to the test to find a killer, and restore peace to her town.

I really enjoyed On Borrowed Crime. I previously read Southern Sass and Killer Cravings (also by Kate Young), and I really enjoy the author's style of writing, even though both series are very different. There is just something about southern charm that fits well into a cozy mystery!

If you enjoy cozy mysteries that are a bit more on the suspenseful side, I thoroughly recommend picking up this series. I can't wait to see what is in store for Lyla and her friends in the next adventure!

i really enjoyed reading this mystery, it was a very cozy mystery and I really liked the way the author wrote it. I look forward to more from this series.

Lyla Moody of the Jane Doe Book Club has a horrific mystery dumped quite literally on her doorstep. One of their own had become paranoid and obsessed with a Jane Doe case and it seemed to be her undoing. There was no way Lyla was going to be able to leave this mystery alone, regardless of what a proper Southern lady should be engaged in. Much to her mother's dismay, Lyla was going to look into things, she was a private detective's assistant after all. If you aren't hooked yet you soon will be. While Lyla might not be as proper as her mother would like, this series starter is a right proper Book #1. The characters are multilayered and while we get a bit of a back story I don't think we have seen everything just yet. Lyla is a textbook example of a Steel Magnolia with a touch of sophisticated sassy.

A new cozy mystery begins in the southern USA. The situation is well set up, with our leading lady being from a prominent local family - an only child. Her mother has secrets to be better explored in later instalments, and she works for her uncle, who is a detective. There is enough in here to build on multiple books after this one.
I was intrigued in the beginning, the writing style and story seemed to be promising. I am not saying that I disliked the book, but given the start it had, I had higher hopes for it.

Lyla Moody has a book club solely focussed on Murder mysteries. She has two significant exes who feature here. It is a small town, meaning there is a small pool from where the victims and the culprit(s) could come from. This meant I jumped to the right conclusion very early on. Even the culprit points out how dense Layla was being given the number of clues left to her. The plot itself was a little weak, but I kept going just to see it through. Overall, it is a decent beginning, but I think the author would probably improve on it with future books in the series. The writing in parts was very entertaining and well done, which is why I will probably be picking the next book if and when I get the chance.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Loved, loved, loved. It's the perfect mix of cozy mystery and thriller, a bit to tense for a cozy and a bit too slow for a thriller.
To be honest I don't care about the genre but I can say I loved this gripping and highly entertaining book.
The characters are well thought and likable, the plot is tightly knitted and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
This is the first in a series that I hope will be long.
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I love cozy mysteries and although I classified this as a cozy, I think there should be a subcategory for cozies. This one was suspenseful and a little scary.

Let's face it, we all know HOW cozy mysteries will end. The culprit will be caught after attacking the protagonist who will be saved by her hero. And all cozies have the protagonist (almost always a female) who gets involved in something she probably shouldn't and her friends and family often tell her to stay out of it. She often has a boyfriend who is somehow associated with law enforcement. And all of this is true for this book.

But what sets it apart are: how the victim is discovered, how our protagonist, even before she learns ANYTHING at all starts getting strange messages that threaten her and her friends. It is downright creepy!

I was to the point in the several days it took me to read (it's not that long, it's just that I have obligations to other people and can't sit and read for all the hours I would like to) I was making certain doors were locked and outside lights turned on. I kept screaming at her (as if she could hear me) to not do certain things - like go outside!

A whole different level of cozy. I enjoyed it, but don't think I want to read too very many of these.

The characters were wonderful although I had a very hard time relating to the moneyed family that Lyla came from. I doubt that many readers can. I read an"Advance Uncorrected Proof" so I can't really comment on the editing. I hope a lot was done because it sometimes took me several reads before I could figure out who was speaking when there was a dialog. And Lyla's best friend almost drove me crazy as she egged Lyla on and said things she shouldn't say in front of other characters. I wondered if she had a bit of common sense. But we all know people like that.

All in all, it was quite enjoyable and for those who would like a little shiver up their spines while reading a cozy mystery, I highly recommend this one.

Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “On Borrowed Crime” by Kate Young, Crooked Lane Books, October 2020

Kate Young, the author of “On Borrowed Crime” has written a cozy mystery novel that is captivating, intriguing, entertaining, and suspenseful. It is the perfect book to read by a fireplace, with a hot cup of chocolate. The genres of this book are a cozy mystery, and mystery and suspense. The timeline for this story is set in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the events or characters. The author describes her colorful cast of characters as complex, complicated and some seem suspicious. Reading this book reminds me of the game “Clue”. It is a perfect “Who-Done-It Book, that I would highly recommend.

Many of the characters belong to the Jane Doe Book Club, who reads a book and discusses it. Lyla Moody especially loves the role of playing detective. Her proper Southern mother has to remind her of the proper ways she is expected to act, and her therapist dad is always there for her. One of her closest allies is her grandmother.

Lyla seems to have had an interesting cast of boyfriends. One ex-boyfriend is the Police Chief of the town she lives in. A suitcase with the body of her close friend is left at her door. Who could be responsible for her death. Lyla is determined to find out. There are clues, threats, warnings, and danger. I look forward to reading more of Kate Young’s books in the future.

Book related cozy mysteries are always a draw for me, and this series starter has a lot of potential. Main character Lyla is a budding PI with a longtime interest in mysteries and true crime. As the first in the series there are a lot of characters and relationships established, and while I think the plotline for the mystery got a little lost amid this at times, I'm definitely inclined to continue with the series at this point.

On Borrowed Crime kicks off the brand new series by Kate Young: A Jane Doe Book Club Mystery. It's the second book I've read by Kate Young, and I really love her writing style. She makes it very easy to get to know the characters after only a few chapters.

Lyla, the main character in this series, has begun working with her uncle as his "receptionist" in his PI business. When you read On Borrowed Crime, you'll notice that the author keeps something about Lyla hidden from us throughout the book. I love this because it lays the foundation for her character. Though she gives us some information about the thing (no spoilers!), not everything is clear.

That's also the case with Lyla's mom and uncle who are siblings. Something happened in their past that shaped them and affected them in somewhat different ways. (Again, no spoilers. It's hard to share this awesome hidden stuff without giving things away!) I'm looking forward to seeing how the author peels away the layers to reveal the past.

If you read my reviews, you know how I love the older people in cozy mystery books, and that's also the case in On Borrowed Crime with Lyla's grandmother. She's got lots of spunk and hopefully she'll play a big part in the series.

One thing I will say for you sensitive readers, there is a bit more of a disturbing nature in this mystery. Since the Jane Doe book club (Lyla especially) enjoy trying to figure out whodunit in mysteries (and sometimes actual cold cases), a cold case plays a big part in the mystery. If you're fine with listening to podcasts like Crime Junkie or Serial, you'll be fine. But, like, thinking about my almost 75 year old mom....she'd be too scared of this book. However, I loved the mystery! I think because I watch, listen to, read lots of true crime stuff, it was kind of easy for me to figure out whodunit. But, I must admit I did change my mind a few times.

On Borrowed Crime definitely kicks the Jane Doe Book Club Mystery Series off in a good way! Fans of Aurora Teagarden and Veronica Mars will like this mystery solving book club/PI focused story! I can't wait for the next book!

On Borrowed Crime is the 1st in the Jane Doe Book Club Mystery series by Kate Young and it was quite an enjoyable read. Lyla works as a receptionist for her uncle's private investigative firm, runs the Jane Doe Book Club and has a strange obsession with murder mysteries. Lyla soon discovers that working for a PI will have its uses when a member of her book club turns up on her doorstep dead and stuffed in a suitcfase! I mean - what the heck! Imagine discovering that on your doorstep. But when the suitcase turns out to belong to Lyla's best friend she puts her sleuthing skills to the test to prove her friends innocence and find the real culprit.

Set in Georgia I got a real feel of this Southern state, I loved the characters and all the twists and turns that had me guessing right up to the end! I thought I had it figured out but then I would be thrown off into an other direction, this was a great first book in what I think will be a great little southern series.

4 stars

This is a great start to a new series that kept me engaged to the end of the story. Set in a small mountain town north of Atlanta, when one of the members of the Jane Doe Book Club turns up at a fellow member's townhouse in a suitcase, ripples run through the group and town. Lyla Moody works for her uncle's PI firm and is very interested in true crime, just not that of Carol, one of her close friend's death. Her best friend and next door neighbor, fellow book club member Melanie is on a trip and the airline lost her suitcase so Lyla isn't too surprised to see what she thought was Melanie's luggage on her door stoop. The next morning when Melanie stops over and the two discover Carol's body in the suitcase, shock is an understatement. Lyla had just seen Carol, who looked very frightened, in her new BMW with a person in a camo cup but couldn't see the face. Surely that was the killer. It appears that someone is targeting the book club members and Lyla is determined to find her friend's killer. There are a lot of people who appear suspicious and there is even an investigation by the GBI, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, going on of a dumping ground along nearby I-85 where many Jane Doe bodies have been found. Special Agent Brad Jones is working on that and apparently Carol had talked to him. Maybe there is a connection to Carol's death and Lyla works to find out what Carol had discovered. I found this to be a good mystery to unravel and had a few suspects myself, including the killer but it was fun to read and see where it went.
I received a complimentary ARC from Crooked Lane Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

Lyla Moody has put together her life after some obsessive behavior (which is oft-referenced, never fully explored). Part of the joy in her life includes a book club called the Jane Does which reads mystery stories. But they recently also seem to have discussed some nearby Jane Doe cases and that becomes a major clue into what happened to one of their members.
It is, in fact, Lyla who is one of the last people to Carol, a judge's wife before she disappears, only to have her body appear at Lyla's house in such a way that it is very apparent she couldn't have gotten herself there. Lyla works for her uncle's detective agency but she is just an admin. At least, she was before now. Now, she wants to know what happened to her friend.
Lyla does start by being smarter than the average fictional amateur detective and giving her information to the police, even the slightly sinister Officer Taylor. He sure doesn't seem to like Lyla. But he does like her best friend which may come in to play later in the series.
I liked the idea for the series and will read the next book for sure but this book was a bit disordered and I sure hope that the publisher had a good line editor because there were a LOT of spelling errors/word choices (I didn't count it against the book.) The story was a little bit all over the place too. There was some world building but there were a lot of lines added to the story that weren't completely woven in.

Three stars
This book came out October 6th
ARC kindly provided by Crooked Lane Library and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

I would not consider this a cozy mystery, but an engaging and entertaining mystery. A good beginning to a new series. I look forward to reading the next one.

This is for sure a case of ’don't judge a book by its cover’. The cover looks like a cozy and the book starts out like a cozy but it isn't long before it turns into a mystery with just a touch of thriller. I found myself unable to put the book down until I read the whole thing. It was the perfect mix of cozy and thriller. This book is definitely worthy of 10 stars.