Let me preface this review that even though Assault in Asheville is the fourth in the “Amanda Rittenhouse Mystery” series this can be read as a standalone. Matter of fact, I do not think I have read a Kate Merrill book before and thank goodness I have corrected this oversight.

Asheville, NC is where the tea is at, honey, whew! Merrill causes so much drama I am surprised that rainbows have not flocked there in droves. Holy sugar! Never mind that Amanda left drama back at home and it is HUGE drama there. Now she is in Asheville with hungry lesbian and murder is afoot. Well attempted murder...I kind of fudged the tag line for dramatic purposes. This is not to say that Merrill’s perpetrator does not try multiple times. I told you there was tea.

There are secrets within secrets and Amanda stumbles upon them as the newcomer to the scene. I think sometimes outsiders can see things that people living in the forest cannot see and Merrill takes advantage of this in Assault.

The mystery is solid and makes sense. Amanda can find trouble anywhere (laugh). The secondary characters are just as interesting as the main characters. I think Merrill should have a side mystery with our lovely sheriff and her young cop.

I am going to go back and start at the beginning, which oddly enough is another series (laugh) that Merrill wrote. This is a great mystery to spend a rainy day with or sit in the backyard on a sunny day. Huddle down in Asheville and enjoy all of the mayhem and tea which Kate Merrill serves with panache.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

Please be aware this is the 4th book in a series. I think it's important to read the other installments before reading this one.

Amanda and Sara find their relationship to be on a rocky patch. Amanda flees to Asheville with womanizer Gina and Sara takes off with a mutual friend to deliver personal items to another friend in DC. Gina introduces Mandy to Carl and his friend/ caretaker Ron. Ron is a nurse and aspiring artist, Carl a former professor and potter. Carl is retiring, at his farewell party multiple intriguing things happen. Mysterious outsiders attend the party looking to make a purchase. But their motives might not be pure. Mandy finds herself in the crosshairs of multiple investigations and people.

I don't want to spoil things so I am purposely being vague from this point on. Certain events in the book just had me really frustrated, it all seems to easy. In the beginning, you think certain characters will play a big role in the story but they don't, they just disappear without mentioning them again, even if it's warranted to mention them again. Some obvious connections between characters aren't made and there are some major plot holes.
The intrigue and the mystery are handled well enough, but it is just a little flat or a bit out there for my liking.
I didn't care for Ron and Carl, or Gina, I even find all of the supporting characters mildly annoying, the only exception being the police chief.
I think I read some openings into possibly a 5th installment of this series, I am not sure if I will pick it up.

This is the first "Amanda Rittenhouse Mystery" I've read, despite the fact that it's actually the fourth! Thankfully they all work as standalones as well as part of a series.

Before I had even finished "Assault in Asheville", I bought the other three books in the series, that's how smitten I am with Kate Merrill and I think it's pretty much the best compliment and recommendation I can give any author on first reading their work. (I've already read two of the three and they're pretty awesome) 😁

Amanda is enraged with her girlfriend Sara, so she heads to Asheville with another woman. Amanda just wants to get out of town and look at an exhibition space, but her travelling companion Gina seems to have more amorous intentions. Inevitably, while in Asheville some dangerous, crazy shit down with Amanda right in the middle of it!

Both Amanda and Sara are brilliant characters, even jumping in to the middle of their relationship, seeing them interact, even when they're not getting on, is fascinating. The Asheville art scene people are hilarious and the small town atmosphere is delightfully intense and claustrophobic.

All in all, I definitely recommend this book.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

It was ok read I enjoy it but didn’t at the same time.

Amanda feels hurt by her girlfriend Sara so she flees to heal with Gina a woman who wants her. As she explore the art scene she tumbled onto to a mystery. While she investigate to tries find out who is trying to kill Carl she learns everyone is keeping a secrets that they don’t want to come out.

Amanda is a great character flawed what kept my interest is her not stopping to find the truth.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review of the story.

I can't quite put my finger on why I didn't enjoy this book more.

I didn't find the characters likeable- they were a bit one dimensional. Amanda, a sculptor, was heartsick from Sara's imagined infidelity. Ron was filled with unrequited love for Carl. Carl was a wonderful host with a crusty.persona. Gladys is engaged to Carl but dosent seem to be comfortable with the arrangement.

The mystery begins with an attempt on Carl's life. Midway through the book, the only thing holding this ensemble together, is Amanda's curiosity to resolve the attempts on Carl's life and everyone has a secret.