I enjoyed the first book in this series, but A Big Fat Greek Murder pushed the Greek stereotypes over the top a bit. Athena Spencer finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation trying to clear her sister Selene. I'm always surprised at how willing people are to talk to someone with no authority to investigate a crime and that goes tenfold for the characters in this book. I always worry when the lead character edges closer to doing too stupid to live things and I'm worried about Athena in future books because she slipped perilously close in this one.

When the Karras family hosts a rehearsal dinner at their diner, no one expected the groom would be missing and turn up and dead. Nor did they expect the eldest Spencer daughter, a bridesmaid, to be arrested for his murder. But that is exactly what happened and Case returned to town just in time to agree to help Athena find the murderer and get her sister released.

Now Athena and Case have to dig deeper and than the local detectives and work faster than the District Attorney if they want to keep Selene from serving time for a murder she did not commit. All while staying just one step ahead of the murder and becoming the next victim.

A fabulous second entry in this series and I couldn’t put it down. A well written whodunit with enough red herrings and suspects to keep you turning the pages to find out whodunit. Looking forward to many more from the author in this series.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Kensington Books, in return for an honest review. While the second book in this series, it is easily read as a standalone. This is an excellent sophomore work by Ms. Collins. Athena (Thenie) Spencer is raising her son as a single mother while helping her family’s garden center and her grandparent’s Greek restaurant. When the restaurant hosts a big wedding rehearsal dinner, the whole family helps. With Thenie’s sister, Selena, as one of the bridesmaids, things turn deadly when the groom is found murdered by Selena’s stylist shears. The bride accuses Selena of an affair with the groom and evidence mounts that Selena’s the culprit. Thenie is determined to find the truth, save her sister, and get her wild, Greek family back to normal. Adding in the return of the dark, handsome and incommunicado Case Donnelly, Thenie has her hands full of more than garden designs and baklava!
I enjoyed this book even more than the first in the series. Ms. Collins writes about a large, loving family of unique characters. She throws in a raccoon, a mean girls group, several options for the murderer and a fun love interest possibility. I’m looking forward to the next in this series, while desperately craving good Greek food!

This was an enjoyable read and great addition to this series. I enjoyed the author's other series so I am glad to see another one from her. The main character is approachable and relatable. I was glad to see the continuation of her romantic relationship. The story has numerous red herrings as it seems that all the evidence points to Thenie's sister Selene. There is a satisfying conclusion but that just leaves you wanting the next book.

Athena (Thenie) Spencer is back and this mystery involves her sister, Selene who is the prime suspect in the murder of a friend's philandering fiance! Thenie knows her sister is innocent and sets out to prove it with the help of the mysterious Case Donnelly.

This second book in the series didn't disappoint! The mystery was fast-paced, kept me reading and guessing whodunit. I would think I knew and then up pops a clue and I'm off in another direction - my favorite kind of mystery. The character of Thenie is relatable and you want her to succeed. I enjoyed the inclusion of Greek culture and food which enhances the story and gives it a "family" feeling. Thenie's relationship with Case is developing slowly, which I love. at this point, the emphasis is more on their investigative dealings than romance.. I also loved Thenie's family and the wonderful personalities they bring to the series!

I'm ready for a third book to see what mysteries Thenie solves next!

I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed about this book are my own.

A Big Fat Greek Murder is the second installment in the Goddess of Greene Street Mystery series set in Sequoia, Michigan and featuring single mom Athena Spencer. Athena's family restaurant, the Parthenon, is hosting a rehearsal dinner for Mandy Black and Brady Rogers and Athena's sister, Selene is one of the bridesmaids. When Brady doesn't show up on time his groomsmen go to look for him at his apartment and find him stabbed to death.

The murder weapon turns out to be a pair of Selene's hairdressing scissors and she's immediately thrown in jail. Selene had a prior bad experience with Brady so it's no surprise that the members of the wedding party all seem to be pointing their fingers in her direction. But, Athena knows that her sister isn't a killer so she teams up with Case Donnelly to track down the killer.

A fast paced plot with well rounded characters that will have you laughing (and hungry). Just the right touch of family, romance and mystery.

I received an advanced copy of A Big Fat Greek Murder from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

A Big Fat Greek Murder by Kate Collins is book 2 in the series. I did not read book 1, but I don't feel I missed anything by not reading the first one.

I liked the book's premise, the Greek culture, the descriptions of the Greek food, and family interactions.

A Big Fat Greek Murder is a good cozy mystery with an interesting plot and solid characters. There were other storylines to keep me interested and to get to know the characters. The dialogue flows well. The only thing that took me out of the story was the descriptions of the flowers and designs that Athena created. I wanted to story to keep moving about the mystery and not get interrupted by the details of the various flowers and trees.

I would like to read more in the series and look forward to more books.

#ABigFatGreekMurder #NetGalley

A Big Fat Greek Murder by Kate Collins is the second book in Ms. Collins' A Goddess of Greene Street series.

I like Athena and her big and boisterous Greek family always provides some laughter when I read a book in this series. I love her anonymous blog that she writes regarding living the Greek life. Case has moved to Athena's hometown and he jumps in to help Athena solve another murder mystery when Athene's sister is framed for the deed. His return adds a touch of romance to the story without detracting from the mystery plot.

A tightly woven plot that moved quickly with several suspects, several twists and turns and plenty of red herrings that almost kept me from guessing correctly "who done it". All in all, this is a fun cozy mystery that kept me entertained on a lazy afternoon. I look forward to many more books in this series.

A Big Fat Greek Murder is written by the same author as The Flower Shop Mysteries. If you liked that series, you will likely enjoy this new series. The writing flows, the characters are engaging and there is a warmth between the main characters that puts the “cozy” in cozy mystery. I was hooked at page one and even more hooked on the last page. Bring on book two!