This book is the seventh in the Mah Jongg Mystery series. It does standalone. Micki Demetrius and her partner Guy Whitney enter the Serendipity Springs’ Annual Charleston Challenge. They do this to give them something to do which could be fun. For Micki, it brings her sore feet and a chance to get her Mah Jongg buddies together to investigate the death of a competitor. As a free lance journalist, this could be an interesting story for her.

I liked that I did not need to know how to play mah jongg or even like the game to enjoy the rest of the story, which besides solving a murder spotlights friendship and community.

I wrote this in July 2021 but failed to post the review.

I was given an advanced copy by Netgalley and am not required to leave a positive review. I chose to do so.

The Mah Jongg ladies are at it again. Micki Demetrius, freelance journalist, has been practicing the Charleston with her dance partner, Guy Whitney, for the Charleston Challenge Dance Competition. The evening of the event, Micki's friends, Syd, Marianne, and Kat, along with their gentlemen have come to cheer for Micki and Guy. Knowing they aren't going to win, they still have a good time until the next day when they are informed that the runner up in the competition was found dead on the ballroom floor and the time of death has been set for shortly after everyone left the ballroom. Micki wants to write a story about the competition and the murdered dancer, in other investigate but not investigate. The information that Micki is trying to glean for her article may seem to Rick, the sheriff, that she is getting in the way. At the same time as Micki is searching out her story, Syd is working with the sheriff on his re-election campaign.

These are a group of feisty ladies who are determined to work out who the murderer is as well as prove that the sheriff is the right man for the job.

I enjoyed the first book that I read in this series but I found this one a bit difficult to connect to the characters. The mystery was well-done but the characters felt a bit 'flat' to me in this one.

The Charleston Challenge by Barbara Barrett, is the 7th book in Mah Jongg series. A fun group of seniors, Kat, Syd, Marianne and Micki, play Mah Jongg and solve mysteries. This book features Macki and her friend Guy entering the Serendipity Springs' Annual Charleston dance contest. Macki doesn't plan on winning, she just wants to keep Guy company since he is struggling with his retirement. When one of the contestant is found dead on the dance floor, the ladies start sleuthing. This book is a fun read, with intelligent older women. I found this book to be a quick read, with well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love fun cozy mysteries like I do, than I highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book is set in Florida with a group of women who play mah jongg together and solve mysteries. In this book, Micki has taken dance lessons and she and her dance partner are competing in the Charleston Challenge. As they’re both retired, they find the competition tough on their bodies. After the competition, one of the competitors is found murdered. Micki and her friends try to find the murderer.

I found the book interesting. This is the first book I’ve read in this series and there is definitely a learning curve as to knowing the characters.

Quick, witty fun. I love a cozy mystery and this didn’t disappoint. The books in this series are a quick read yet quite enjoyable.
A good cozy series never hurt anyone!

I was very overwhelmed with the story and honestly could not find a way to get into the story.
I was hoping to enjoy the story, but it didn’t happen.