A con woman finds herself accused of murder after a blackmailer ends up dead. I loved the premise here but I felt like I was just thrown in with little context for characters. Normally, with cozies, we kind of see through the eyes of the narrator, and in the first book, we get some background on who the character is. I just felt lost because I didn't have this, and I checked multiple times to make sure it wasn't like number 4 in a series. I would give a second one a try, but I just found this first one hard to get through.

Started this one up to abou a quarter of it and had to put it down… not a great story, didn’t get her history, and didn’t want to know.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Murderous CONsequences by Nicole Leiren is a thrilling dive into the world of deception, danger, and redemption. The story centers around Sadie Sabatini, a modern-day Robin Hood who uses her skills as a con artist to help those in need. However, her past catches up with her in the small town of Wilson, Texas, where she hopes to start anew with a legitimate business.

Leiren crafts a compelling protagonist in Sadie, whose complex character is both relatable and intriguing. Her journey from a life of cons to seeking a fresh start is fraught with tension and suspense, especially when a former associate threatens to expose her past. The stakes are raised when this associate turns up dead, and Sadie becomes the prime suspect.

The setting of Wilson, Texas, with its picturesque Lake Amore, provides a stark contrast to the dark secrets and dangerous liaisons that unfold. Leiren’s descriptive writing brings the town to life, making it a character in its own right. The small-town charm juxtaposed with the underlying menace creates a gripping atmosphere that keeps readers on edge.

The plot is well-paced, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. Leiren skillfully weaves a web of blackmail, revenge, and hidden pasts, making it difficult to discern friend from foe. Sadie’s con artist skills become crucial as she navigates this treacherous terrain, using her wit and resourcefulness to uncover the truth and protect her new friends.

Supporting characters add depth to the narrative, each with their own secrets and motivations. The interactions between Sadie and the townsfolk are well-developed, adding layers to the story and enhancing the mystery. The tension builds steadily, leading to a satisfying and unexpected conclusion.

Murderous CONsequences is a must-read for fans of mystery and suspense. Nicole Leiren delivers a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, with a protagonist who is as flawed as she is formidable. This book is a testament to the idea that no matter how far you run, your past will always find you, and it’s how you face it that defines your future.

I am a big fan of cozy mysteries that push the boundaries and aren’t as sugary sweet as some of them tend to be so I was thrilled to find this one with a reformed con artist who moves to a small town in Texas to start over. I loved the depiction of small-town Southern residents and how different it is for Sadie to blend in and the mystery where her past seems to come back to haunt her. Despite all this, I had a difficult time connecting with Sadie or the story on the whole so I hope there are more in the series that I can read to try and forge the connection.

A fun cozy mystery of an ex-Robinhood turned legitimate business owner being accused of murder.

Sadie has just moved into a town in Texas when there's a murder and she's accused of being the killer. Now there's a merry chase to find the killer and free herself. Witty, with a lot of plant twists, this was a good read.

#netgalley #MurderousCONsequences

Murderous CONsequences- was so cute; it had me giggling frequently because as it was funny for a cozy mystery. It is about making new friends while danger is lurking, not knowing who you can trust. Although it felt like an established series with well-developed characters, it is just the first of what i hope will be a series. I recommend this novel and look forward to more from both this author and this series..

MURDEROUS CONSEQUENCES
Nicole Leiren, author
Mystery

This book is all about an ex con artist trying to make a fresh start when a murder happens right after she comes to town. All hell breaks loose and the con artist is in the hot seat. She must find out who did it before they take her to jail.

This was a good start of a new series. While there are still a few areas to fill in the back story, I give this 5 of 5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

What a good book! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. This is a first by this author but will not be my last! I read this in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down.

If you are looking for a super fun read - this is the book! The plot grips you from the start and will keep guessing until the very satisfying conclusion, I highly recommend!

Murderous CONsequences is a modern day Robin Hood retelling. It was a solid read. Pick it up! You won’t regret it.

3.5⭐
Leverage (2008) is a favorite show for me, so I am always down to check out anything with a Robin Hood set up. I wouldn’t say this was a super close comp to Leverage (there is basically no team, just Sadie and the people she’s meeting in her new town), but I still had a good time with this. Sadie was clever enough (although she almost always chose the least subtle option at every turn lmao), and I liked that connecting with the ~regular folks~ in town was a big priority for her. Also appreciated that the love interest wasn’t a cop!

I’d definitely check out future books in this series

CW: There was a lot of references to counting calories and dieting that felt like it came out of nowhere

From the start my interest never waned. Very well written and kept me guessing who the culprit could be. Will definitely read more from this author. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and hope you do too!

This was a fun book, great start to a new series. The author was very descriptive and I almost felt like I was there at times. The beginning did start a little slow but the middle and end make up for that. This book kept me guessing, which is exactly what I look for in a mystery. I am excited for the second book.

Just finished Murderous Consequences by Nicole Leiren! 🔪 Sadie Sabatini is a force to be reckoned with, but I couldn’t quite connect with her overconfident vibe. 🤨 Despite that, the plot kept me hooked! The constant twists and turns had me guessing until the very end. Plus, the author’s vivid descriptions made me crave a trip to Italy! 🇮🇹 Anyone else felt the same?

Through Sadie, the novel explores themes of identity and belonging, making me question Sadie’s true self. It felt like a classic whodunit where everyone was a suspect.

Despite the book not being set in Italy, Sadie’s Italian heritage and the frequent references to her background sparked a desire in me to visit Italy. This made me realise how a well-crafted character’s cultural background can evoke a sense of wanderlust and curiosity about different places.

Huge thanks to @harborlanebooks, @netgalley, and @nicoleleiren for the ARC! 📚❤️ #murderousconsequences #bookstagram #bookreview #mystery #thriller #italianvibes #bookworm #booklover #readersofinstagram

I had hoped that this would be a fun and cute murder mystery. However, I felt very frustrated reading this. The writing felt overly wordy trying to make a character sound smarter than they really were. Because the FMC was very stupid despite being a long time con women that doesn't want to do anything that could mess up the new life she was trying to build. Immediately going off alone with a sketchy guy that constantly talks about revenge that the majority of the town doesn't like and discovering why he is a sketchy creep.

There were a lot of facts about the FMC that went on for paragraphs that I did not care about. I was not invested enough in the FMC to know the entire backstory of her parents falling in love and the object that reminded the FMC of that story when said story had no relevancy at that point in time.

FMC is surprised that spending time with the town outcast makes it that no one wanted to spend time with her. the sketchy guy dies way to soon and she is blamed even though people know that she was not the last person noted to see him.


I wanted to love this but I just couldn't.

new-series, first-in-series, Texas, small-town, small-business, class-consciousness, entitled-attitude, local-law-enforcement, con-artist, threats, murder, amateur-sleuth, game-warden*****

Sadie is a skilled con artist from a wealthy family who has move to a small hostile Texas town filled with snobs who disdain anyone "not from around here". A man she had taken exception to is found dead in the water by the state game warden and the locals put her in the frame "just because they can". Sadie is a great character and the others are clearly presented, the plot is like a train just starting up the flatlands and suddenly having to make unexpected twists and turns. Loved it!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Harbor Lane Books, LLC via NetGalley. Thank you!
#MurderousCONsequences #NetGalley #Sadie Sabatini

I was pleasantly surprised by this murder mystery. The plot building was a bit slow in the beginning, but by the end it was action packed and the story came full circle. The plot building kept me guessing who the suspect would be because of the inevitable timing of Sadie being the first/only suspect until you get deeper into the story. The suspense Nicole Leiren was able to build with Sadie's past life and new encounters in her endeavors to enter retired life made for a surprising storyline that as the layers unfold you will not want to put the book down. It was an easy and quick read which is great for those just getting into murder mystery books. I cannot wait to see if there will be a second installment in the series for us to learn more about the life Sadie left behind and to learn more about Derek Devenhart and the North Dakota job that led to Sadie's early retirement.

This was a pretty fun read that constantly kept me guessing. I loved the characters and the story was well paced.

An incredible book with wonderful characters and a beautiful setting. It will keep you guessing until the end.