A nice easy read.

The characters were likeable, and the chemistry between Nati and Owen was well-written. Who doesn't love a book with a dog as one of it's main characters? Sal sounds so lovely as a little furry friend.

Reading this story was a pleasant way to pass the time.

Knocked Scentsless - A Cozy Mystery is the first book in the Doused to Death series by Langley Gray. The premise of a cozy mystery centered around a parfume-making business is unique and interesting. However, the pacing of the story is slow at times, and some of the supporting characters feel underdeveloped and one-dimensional. Additionally, the writing style is somewhat simplistic and lacks the descriptive language and depth of characterization that can elevate a cozy mystery from an enjoyable read to a truly immersive experience.

I have given Knocked Scentsless by Langley Gray three out of five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

My favourite line in this book was the first sentence, “I woke up to the smell of rain before I even heard it.”. From then on, it was a story which had great descriptive writing throughout and you could vividly envision what was happening in your mind.

This was a fun, quick cosy mystery story to read. Although I found the characters to be under developed and didn’t have a solid connection to them to make me feel anything towards them besides Sal, the dog, who I thought was the best character and really stole the show.

The writing was okay, bar a few grammatical errors. I thought it was an interesting concept however a bit far-fetched at times.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Knocked Scentsless by Langley Gray is the first book in the Doused to Death cozy mystery series. The story revolves around Nati, who is getting over a nasty breakup and trying to open a perfume shop in a tiny town in Washington. Unfortunately, she hasn't been able to open her store yet. Old Man Joe is threatening to go to the city council because her empty storefront is an eyesore. But then he turns up dead?

Here is a captivating excerpt from Chapter 1:

"I poured carefully measured drops of scent, mixed the alcohol, weighed and smelled my perfume. I knew it was not quite ready. Just a few more drops of the molecule hedione in the next round. On and on I went, never quite getting it right, but feeling like the smell of France was just around the corner. I was so close; I could, well... smell it."

Overall, Knocked Scentsless is a perfectly delightful cozy mystery if you're a fan of cozy mysteries. One highlight of this book is how it has everything that a cozy mystery needs - adorable setting, nice characters, suspects, and a murder. I did take off 1 star, because although I enjoy cozy mysteries, they're not my favorite genre. That's not the book's fault. I'm just explaining why it wasn't a 5-star read for me personally. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of mysteries in general, you can check out this book, which is available now!

This is the ideal cozy mystery to read by the fire with a cup of tea and your beloved pet at your side. I wasn’t expecting the narrative to be engaging enough to make a difference, but it is! Finding the clues using fragrance rather than sight is such a novel experience that it makes the book feel new and exciting. The plot remains suspenseful until the very end when the killer is revealed. This was such a delightful, lighthearted, one-of-a-kind, endearing story! The idea is fantastic, and the characters are fantastic. Nati is hell-bent on achieving her goals, and she won’t settle for anything less. I had a great time getting to know her.

The cast of individuals, as well as the tiny village, were charming. Langley has an uncanny ability to create characters with whom you fall in love. Sal was, without a doubt, my favorite character, but Owen was also wonderful. Own and Nati softly found their way to each other, which I liked seeing. If you’re searching for a fast-paced mystery to read while sipping a hot cup of cocoa in the winter, Knocked scentless is the book for you.

I really enjoyed this book. It was hard to put down as it drew me in immediately and before I knew it I was in the middle of the book!

I first picked up this book because the plot sounded fascinating (I have an incredibly soft spot for any book that involves dogs). And I was not disappointed.

This book was such a cozy read. It is light with interesting characters. It is the perfect mystery to curl up with on a rainy day.

Rated a 2.5 stars rounded up to 3. This is a classic cozy mystery that follows Nati, a divorced woman working to open her own perfume shop. When her biggest opponent, Joe drops dead she becomes the prime suspect. The concept was pretty cheesy - she solves the mystery using perfumes and scents. And I found myself rolling my eyes often at the leads in the case. Drama and scandal would just be stated out of the blue and not really explored which I did not enjoy.

I did enjoy the Dog Olympics aspect of the story. The shining star was the bulldog, Sal. I'm a sucker for dog sidekicks.

I think this was a case of 'it's not you, it's me.' This was cute enough, although seemingly very far-fetched with very two dimensional characters. I didn't hate reading it and I think there are a lot of people who will really enjoy this story, but I think cozy mysteries just aren't really for me.

This had a really cute premise, and I did enjoy certain aspects of it, but overall, it was just an ok read for me, and probably would have been a DNF if it hadn't been as short as it was.

This was a charming, if slight, beginning to a new cozy mystery series. I liked the protagonist - and especially liked that she wasn't in the first flush of youth - and am invested in seeing her story continue. The love interest is a bit bland but I hope he'll acquire some personality down the line. To me, the mystery was not as such the point - I was more interested in the small-town shenanigans and colourful cast of characters, all of whom made it a pretty enjoyable read.

It's a classic Who-done it? Nati is a perfumer with an ex-husband and a job that is making her no money at the moment. Her biggest critic happens Old Man Joe and after an intense argument at a local coffee shop, Joe was murdered and found next to a bottle of her perfume. Nati is now the prime suspect and with only the help of Joe's bulldog, Sal, and a hot fireman, has to clear her name. This is the first book in the series, and I am looking forward to the others. It made me laugh and smile. It was fast-paced, and I learned a lot about perfume! I gave it 3.5 stars

Knocked Scentsless is an adorable “cozy mystery” about a murder in a small town right before the Dog Olympics, a huge tourist attracting event, as well as the journey to discover the murderer. Nati is new in town and an aspiring perfumer, trying to make the perfect scent and open up her very own shop. But when Joe Mallory is found dead with one of her perfume bottles, she becomes the number one suspect. Not only is Nati a suspect, but she is put in charge of watching Joe’s grumpy English Bulldog, Salvador or Sal for short. Nati works with the handsome firefighter, Owen, to try to clear her name and discover who really murdered Joe by curating different scents of the different suspects for Sal to sniff to identify who murdered Joe.
This was a very predictable story, from the main character being framed, to falling for the handsome guy, all the way to who murdered Joe and why. There were parts of the story that seemed a little far fetched, but I still loved every second of this book! I loved the pun in the title and Nati’s dedication to discovering the murderer. I also loved how Sal the Bulldog was described, even through he seemed to be much more active than a typical Bulldog. I look forward to the next book in this series and I definitely plan to read other books by this author.

Imaginative, charming, and captivating. I read this in one sitting and was thoroughly engaged in the mystery the entire time. I love how the main character relies on her sense on smell during her daily life (and if I’m being honest, I’m a little jealous of how she can dissect each scent).

I really liked this book.
It was a light read and intriguing. I enjoyed the interesting and unique aspects within the book, like how Nati uses perfume to catch the murderer. This was a fun mystery/thriller book and a good book to start a series. I enjoyed the storyline and recommend it to anyone who is looking for a light mystery book!

Leave all reason, reality and any sense of correct police proceedure at the door because none of it applies here. A grumpy old man has been murdered and Nati Butler is arrested for it because he happens to have a vial of her trial perfume in his pocket at the time this obviously means she did it! She must clear her name using a bulldog as a scent hound for reasons that are absolutely sound as well as making sure she competes in the dog olympics. There’s also a hot fireman who fancies her rotten even though she treats him like trash. This book is ridiculous but I knew it would be when I read the blurb and that ok, it’s fun. There’s a lot packed in there considering how short it is, I read it in a couple of hours it’s not a taxing read so just, you know, don’t over think it, that way madness lies.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I consider this a short story and it was cute and easy read. Lighthearted.

In Which We Meet…
Nati Butler - whose career and life seems to be at a standstill until she’s mixed up in murder - in this first in the Doused to Death series of cosy mysteries. An amusing tale with a compelling, entertaining and likeable protagonist and an action packed storyline. A short, fun read.

I enjoyed this visit with Nati, Sal, and Owen. The mystery was solid and kept me guessing. I loved the premise of creating scent profiles to determine who the killer was to help the witness with identification. There were a few moments where common sense should have prevailed - I am not a fan of breaking in or obtaining information illegally - but it happens. I'll be interested to see how the scent profiles will be used in subsequent stories.

I chose this book mostly because of the play on words in the title. It is catchy enough, and after reading the book, I can confirm, appropriate.
This is the first in a brand new cozy mystery series with a female lead with a unique education.
I do not think I have met a 'nose' in this kind of plotline before. I must also say that this was a surprisingly short story (or felt like one), something I did not notice beforehand. When Nati is introduced to us, she is a little down in the dumps because she is yet to open her perfumery. She left a career to settle down in a town native to her (now) ex-husband. He left, and she stays behind but has to bear the brunt of building herself back up. She is slightly older than some of the other characters that I usually encounter in such tales.
The plot begins immediately by introducing the person most likely to find himself removed from the story. There are many possible suspects after his untimely death and his acerbic nature, but Nati wants to get to the bottom of it because she tops the list in the beginning.
I did not guess the ending until Nati, and her possible future beau figured things out by old-fashioned detecting (following up on clues, interviews .etc). Nati's olfactory skills are utilized in narrowing down the suspect pool.
Overall, this is a good introduction to a series, and the writing is also snappy. It has that humour displayed in the blurb scattered throughout the narrative, making it a fast and easy read. It was enjoyable, and I might pick up the next if 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.

A quirky and fun little cozy murder mystery with a healthy splash of romance. The main character is a perfumer and has a nose for details and a personal stake in solving this particular crime, especially after all signs seem to point to her as the culprit. I enjoyed every minute of this kitschy romp, would recommend.