The Goddess of Green Street is at it again. Writing her anonymous blog and getting mixed up in another murder investigation. This time a wedding rehearsal is taking place at her grandparents restaurant and the groom is nowhere to be found. His groomsmen go looking for him and discover him wounded on the floor of his apartment. They rush back to inform the bride who becomes hysterical and insists he must be dead. Does she know something or just fearing the worst? Turns out she’s right and Athena’s sister Selene is arrested for the crime. Selene is accused of having an affair with the groom and not taking his breaking it off because of the pending nuptials well. Athena must do whatever it takes to prove her sisters innocence.

A Big Fat Greek Murder by Kate Collins is the second book in the cozy A Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series. As with most cozy mystery series the mystery inside this first book will be fully solved within the book so it could be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. However, there is character development that carries over from book to book for those following from the beginning.

The Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series introduced readers to Athena Spencer who after going through a divorce decided to move back to Sequoia, Michigan with her family. Athena wanted a fresh start with her son and thought there was nothing better than to return to her large Greek family and begin helping in their garden center.

This time around Athena and her family are hosting a wedding party and the rehearsal dinner when the groom fails to show up. A couple of groomsman go to find him only to find him lying in a pool of blood. Athena really didn’t think she would again be hunting a murderer but when her sister becomes suspect number one Athena vows to find out just what happened.

I’ve now read the first two books of the A Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series and have enjoyed it thus far. The characters are fun and there’s even a cute little raccoon sometimes in the story. The part I’m a little unsure about though is the main character being a single mother and hardly ever being with her son, it seems a little strange to have him barely pop up but of course she is sleuthing and I do enjoy the mystery so three and a half stars for this second book of the series.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my copy of A Big Fat Greek Murder by Kate Collins in exchange for an honest review. It published December 1, 2020.
This is just the cozy mystery series I've been needing. I've been loving the Greek themes in this series and will definitely continue reading it. I love the feel of this book and can't wait to continue with the series!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is well written and the characters are described well. I really enjoyed Athena's character. It keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first page trying to figure out who did it. This book is great, I can't wait to read the rest of the series. I would recommend reading the first book in this series but it is brilliantly written. This book is in stores for $8.99 (USD). If you love cosy mystery series this is a great series to read.

I want to start out by saying that I love this author, so when I saw that she had a new series, I had to read it! A Big Fat Greek Murder was fun, funny and engaging. Ms. Collins has a wonderful writing style which just flows effortlessly, drawing you into her characters plots and her characters lives. I found myself laughing and nodding my head as I am 1/2 Greek and could relate. I look forward to book two!

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. This was a fun book to read. The plot was interesting and the characters very warm and engaging.

Scissors lead the suspect list right to Athena's sister, a hair stylist, when they are found in a body. Athena's family is consumed with making a big Greek wedding traditional and accessible. Athena leads the investigation to help clear her sister's name and involves her friends and family again. Nice set of secondary characters.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Athena is drawn into another murder investigation when her elder sister, Selene, is charged with the crime. She is accused of stabbing a groom to be with her own scissors after she has been asked to fill in for a bride’s maid. Even though Selene disliked the man and had reported him at the gym where he worked, he had spread the rumour that he had been having an affair with her. The evidence leading to her guilt is very neatly revealed. Too neatly. It is obvious to Athena and her partner in investigation, and possibly something else, Chase, Selene is being set up. Even the cop who had been Athena’s friend at school agrees but the detective in charge only sees an easy conviction.

Together Athena and Chase follow up with the rest of the wedding party and an obviously unbalanced stalker who had been dogging the groom. What they discover is the victim was a user of the worst kind and a cheat, liar and throughly rotten fellow. It turns out there are a lot of people who have much better motives than Selene. But when the killer reveals the reason, it is not what was expected. Both Athena and the reader are surprised. Once again Athena proves why she has the nickname of the Goddess of Greene Street.

It’s a fun read filled with interesting characters and Athena’s colourful family. Five purrs and two paws up.

A Big Fat Greek Murder by Kate Collins is the second book in the Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series. Athena is expanding her duties at the family garden center to include landscape design. She finds that she cannot leave her mystery solving behind though. When the groom to be fails to show up at the wedding rehearsal dinner, his groomsmen find him dead. Athena sister quickly becomes the prime suspect and ends up in jail. I adore Athena as a cozy mystery heroine. Her quirky family adds to the fun. The mystery kept me guessing and flip flopping between suspects. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite series, and I am looking forward to the next installment!

Kate Collins gives the reader another Goddess of Green St. cozy mystery in A Big Fat Greek Murder. A wedding rehearsal dinner is booked at the Parthenon restaurant but the groom to be ends up murdered. The bride accuses Selene, the hair dresser and sister of investigator Athena, of the murder. Selena is arrested and Athena comes to the rescue. Lots of suspects. Fast moving. Enjoy.

Athena Spencer works at her family's garden center keeping the books. She also helps out at the family diner on occasion. When a wedding rehearsal dinner is booked at short notice (her sister, Selene, is an emergency bridesmaid) Athena jumps in to help. But nothing can help the fact that the groom is a no-show and later found stabbed to death with her sister's hair shears. Athena is positive that Selene is innocent even as circumstantial evidence continues to point Selene's way. Enlisting the help of Case Donnelly, Athena is definite they can find the evidence unmasking the real killer.

The mystery was good, but I felt like the characters needed a bit more definition, more dimension. - right now they seem a might two dimensional. Maybe next book

This is such a fun series, and I had a great time with this cozy mystery. I loved the plot, the twists and turns, and the characters!

This second installment was just as good as the first one. Athena and Case are so swoon-worthy and I love the pacing of these books. The mystery is introduced early and you get to navigate so many avenues before you get to the killer. I'm impatiently waiting for the next book in the series.

Kate Collins is the author of the fairly new Goddess of Green St. Mystery series, and A Big Fat Greek Murder is the second installment in that series. Athena Spencer, the protagonist, works at her family owned garden center, as well as their restaurant, the Parthenon. There is a rehearsal dinner booked at the restaurant, and when the groom doesn’t show up and is later found stabbed with a pair of stylist’s scissors. Athena’s sister, Selene, who is a hair stylist, is accused by the bride. Athena must take the lead and not only investigate, but also solve the murder since she doesn’t want her sister, who she knows is innocent, to spend her life in prison.

Collins is a seasoned writer and knows how to tell a good story. The story line in this novel is fun – Collins even adds a bit of romance to this mystery – and while it is light, it is easy to follow and there are suspenseful twists and turns. Collins does a good job of developing her characters, and Athena is one who will be loved throughout the series. Athena’s family is typical Greek, which adds some charm, and other supporting characters are easy to read. Of course, in every good cozy mystery, there is a surprise ending; this novel is no exception, and includes scenarios that put the likeable characters in danger.

This cozy mystery is also a culinary mystery and includes recipes, which is a nice bonus. There are dozens of references to food, so foodies will especially enjoy it. Readers looking for light, fun, mysteries will enjoy this series and will look forward to the subsequent novels.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

After reading the first book in this series, I was excited to see a second one appear. The main character, Athena, is a divorced mother who returns to her home town to work in her family's nursery/garden shop. In this episode, she immediately becomes involved in solving the murder of a groom-to-be on the eve of his wedding. The plot includes snippets of Greek culture, gardening, and family interactions. And, the handsome stranger she met in the previous book, returns to start a new business in town, adding a little romance to the mix. A fun read. Looking forward to the next one!

In this second book of the series the family is working together at the restaurant preparing for a wedding rehearsal which Selena is a part of. The night of the rehearsal all is going well except the groom is missing out on the festivities and no one seems to know where he is. The bride is upset so a few people are sent to check on the groom who is found dead with scissors sticking out of his back. Athena soon realizes that there is a rumor about her sister Selena and the groom going around. She knows she must put all the pieces together and figure out who the killer is before her sister ends up in jail. With the help of a few friends and family she is on the track to finding a killer but will the murderer get to her first? This was a lively read that kept me guessing all the way until the end.

This was such a fun read. I love flower shop mysteries and wedding-themed mysteries, so this was like the perfect mash-up of two subgenres. Athena was a super sharp protagonist, and I appreciated being able to analyze the mystery from her perspective until it came to its satisfying conclusion.

I really loved this first book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end.

I loved the first book in this series and I loved this one.
It's a highly entertaining and engrossing story that made me smile and kept me entertained.
Athena is a great character and I love her quirky family.
The mystery is solid and kept me guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A Big Fat Greek Murder
A Goddess Of Greene St. Book #2
Kate Collins
5 Stars

Synopsis:

The New York Times bestselling author of the Flower Shop Mystery series returns with the second installment in her new Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series starring single mom Athena Spencer, who returns to Michigan to work at her family's garden center, raise a pet raccoon, and dig up the dirt on suspects when a wedding rehearsal ends up with the murder of a groom...

The entire family has been put to work when a big fat Greek wedding rehearsal is booked at the Parthenon. All hands are needed for rolling grape leaves, layering moussaka, and keeping the bride calm. But then the groom goes M.I.A. and there's far more to worry about than just whether Yiayia's lemon rice soup has gone cold.

No matter how tangy the tzatziki, everyone's appetite is ruined when the groom is found dead, a pair of scissors planted in his back. When the bride accuses Athena's sister Selene, a hairstylist, of seducing and stabbing her fiance, it's all-out war--and it's up to Athena to dig up the dirt on the suspects and nip these suspicions in the bud... (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. I enjoyed the interactions between Athena and her family a lot, and it brought a lot of humor to the book. Athena is a hard worker and she does not let anything get in her way when she is trying to protect her family. She has to figure out who the murderer is or else one of her sisters may be going to prison for a long time. Her and Case make really good partners and it may turn into something else.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and brought everything to life in my mind’s eye. And the food that was being described had my mouth watering. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to see what trouble Athes and her family get into next.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.