4/5✨

I have to start my review stating that I received an advanced reader copy through NetGalley.

Medusa Murders is book one in a new series by Joy Ann Raibar.

“Professor Bay Browning has more snake problems than the Garden of Eden in this twisted mystery. The English Literature instructor is busy preparing for a new semester when a serial killer, known as Medusa, bites her quiet life in the behind.
A wild ride ensues when Bay and her grifter sister, Cass, assist a perturbed Detective Downing with the investigation. What else can the sisters do, once they become Medusa's targets? Will the slithering trail of mythology, art history, and family secrets help them catch a killer before she turns them to stone?”

✨For me I truly enjoyed this book. I’m a big fan of a murder mystery. Toss in Greek and Egyptian mythology game on. One thing I didn’t love was the family dynamic, Bay had VERY strong rude feelings towards Cass and it was a lot. Then Bay grew to be caring and protective with little development in the feelings department, the pacing was off for me. I feel like the little hints leading up to the murderer were pretty obvious… but then there was a little twist! ✨

Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.


3 ⭐️

A mix of cozy mystery, suspense, and mythology ya novel.
It held my attention and that is one of the main things that I ask of a book. It was easy to read and I enjoyed the characters. The plot was good but it fell flat sometimes.

The cover is gorgeous!!

Professor Bay Browning has more snake problems than the Garden of Eden in this twisted mystery. The English Literature instructor is busy preparing for a new semester when a serial killer, known as Medusa, bites her quiet life in the behind.

This was an excellent mystery that I wish was just a little bit longer. The ending felt a little rushed, but otherwise it was great.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed the cozy mystery vibes of this book and the blending of mythology within in it. And that cover art is just gorgeous. I didn't love it as much as I hoped I would but that doesn't mean someone else won't love it more.

The cover of this book is absolutely stunning. The blend of thriller mystery with elements of Greek mythology was a unique and intriguing aspect that caught my attention. Additionally, the fast-paced nature of the story made it a quick and enjoyable read, which I believe will appeal to many readers.

However, I must admit that for me personally, the book fell a bit flat. At times, it seemed to veer away from the main storyline, which left me feeling slightly disconnected. Furthermore, there were some plot holes in regards to the sister bond and the killer storyline, which affected my overall enjoyment of the book.

Nevertheless, despite these shortcomings, I found the plot to be interesting overall. The combination of thriller elements and Greek mythology created an engaging premise that kept me enticed throughout the book.

In conclusion, while I had some reservations about certain aspects of the book, such as plot inconsistencies and deviations from the main storyline, I still found the overall plot to be intriguing.

The first in a new series features professor Bay Browning and her twin sister Cass. There is a serial killer in town named Medusa and it seems like they might be targeted. They team up with a detective to try to figure out who the killer is.

I think this series has promise, but this first one was a little touch and go. The writing was not my favorite, but I liked the plot a lot.

First of all - this cover?? Absolutely stunning! It caught my eye immediately and made it an immediate read.

The Medusa Murders is a mix of cozy mystery and thriller which is a winning combo in and of itself but throw in little splashes of mythology and you’ve got yourself a winner!

This story is fast paced, immersive, and altogether charming. I almost wish it were storming outside to create the perfect atmosphere. I enjoyed this one a lot!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book!

A mixture of cozy, suspense, myth and family secrets marks this introduction to a new series starring Bay Browning a literature professor in a Wisconsin college. A serial killed called Medusa is leaving a calling card filled with mythology references and a link directly to Bay Browning. But Bay does not know the people killed and has no idea why the killer is fixating on her. With the help of her new released ex-con sister who has shown up on her doorstep to live with her and a local police officer, Bay will have to plumb obscure art and mythology reference and deep family secrets if she isn't to be the next victim...

I enjoyed it. It is a good introduction to new characters and their relationships to each other while also being a fast-moving story filled with suspense and mystery. I look forward to more in this series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bay's (aka LL aka Lulu) ex-con sisters shows up unexpectedly. She finds out that her dry-cleaning tickets has been found at a crime scene. She's asked to help detective Downing to investigate the murders. This is such a nice story. You just want to keep reading. I can really recommend this book.
I received an advance review copy for free and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.

Thank you netgalley for this E-Arc.
The combination of thriller mystery mixed with Greek mythology was an interesting factor. The book was also a quick read which I think many individuals will enjoy, however for me it fell a bit flat and at times seemed to drift away from the actual storyline, whilst enticing to read, there were some plot holes with the sister bond and the killer storyline. But an interesting plot overall

"The Medusa Murders" is a story at the crossroads between cozy mystery and thriller, which can sometimes disorient the reader. I was expecting a bit more interaction between the main character and the detective, and I was sometimes puzzled by the head hopping between her and her sister. However, I let myself be carried away to the end and I enjoyed the characters of this story. However I might have enjoyed the mythological aspect to be a little more exploited.

Bay is a professor at flourish college when her coat is mixed up in a murder she is asked to work with the police force to help as it seems the killer is very mythological . Whats Bays link to all of this maybe there is some secrets that will be revealed .This was a good book, gripping full of twists. Throughout the book I was certain I new who the culprit was and I'm not sure if the ending would have been more solid had that character been the culprit rather than the one the author chose. However ending aside this book had good pace , full of mythology which is right on the money considering the title is medusa murders. As a first book in a new series it set up really well the main character Bay and the detective she works with.

thank you netgallery for the earc
Medusa Murder is a mystery with mythology tied into it all. Overall the book was an easy read. I do feel like the pacing could have been better. The readers were introduced to the case fair quickly and early on but it feel’s forever as we’re picking bits and pieces to put all together. I still myself guessing and trying to piece the different characters together and how they might all tie into the murders.

There also some mundane tasks and such that I felt were not as necessary in the storytelling. I was most anticipating both how the murder plays out as well as Bay and Cass sister relationship how it got to where they are. Unfortunately, both fell a little flat.

It’s still an ok for some simple easy read. Though i don’t see myself continuing the series as it seems to be set up in a episodic way.

Thank you NetGalley and Wine Glass Press for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is excellent. I enjoyed it right from the first page, and the intrigue never stopped until the end. It’s a unique mystery with plots and twists all the way through. I will say my one critique, is when it was time for the killer to be caught, it felt slightly rushed. I found myself surprised like I wasn’t prepared for it to be resolving so quickly. However, it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed this book overall. The writing was very descriptive and I enjoyed the complexities of the personal relationships between Bay and Cass, their father, and all of the characters in between. Very well done! I can’t wait to read Shake-speared in the Park in 2024!

This is a perfect cozy read for this winter. It’s a murder mystery that mixes mythology, academia, and crime-solving into one. Bay Browning is a nature-loving, at-times-cranky (relatable ... haha) university professor that gets pulled into a dangerous police-investigation of seemingly unconnected murder cases. Balancing the case, preparing for the upcoming semester, and dealing with family drama makes for this suspenseful tale that will keep you thinking through all the twists and turns! I really enjoyed Rebar's writing and will definitely check out her other cosy reads.

An interesting story, if I'm being totally honest. Thank you netgalley for this ARC. I enjoyed the book and Bay Browning is such an interesting character. I want to read the other series but this author because her writing has some cozy vibes. Also, you can't just say no to that stunning cover art.

A cosy murder mystery with quite good interactions between the characters, especially Bay and Cassie. There were not a huge number of twists really. It was an enjoyable escape on a wet day and it did have the potential to have more depth. The ending seemed very hurried , which was a shame. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early release of this book.

<i>thank you netgalley for the e-arc! </i> the medusa murders was a mix of mystery, suspense, and a touch of mythology added in, that was meant to keep you on the edge of your seat. sadly, it was not the case for me.

the author’s writing style is engaging, with plenty of unexpected twists and turn, however, there were a few parts where the book fell a bit short for me. the pacing sometimes felt a bit weird, making certain plot points feel a little forced to me.

i don’t think I will continue this series as it goes on but i guess if you're in the mood for a and light-hearted murder mystery with a mythological twist, this one’s for you.

"The Medusa Murders" is the first of Joy Ann Ribar's "Bay Browning Mystery" series. If you're a fan of modern, hint at, paranormal cozy mysteries, this is a great series for you. It also really adds another layer to the depth of the characters and story if you're familiar with ancient Greek mythological. Due to that I should have known better than to suspect who I did rather than who really was behind everything. I had a feeling it was more than I thought it was based off what I remembered but in the end was like "duh!I should have figured as much!"

I could see this series going multiple ways. I do really hope we get more of Bay and Cassandra's family. There seems to be more secrets there than what was revealed in this first book.