I can honestly say that this book was not for me and it’s okay. It was too confusing for me. I like to give a book a good 50 pages to help me understand how the story is going to flow. There were too many characters for me to keep up with and I thought that with the way the story had begun, it would be along those lines as the book went on. But it seemed as though it was on the opposite side that I could not get to. Hopefully someone else likes this story more than me.

Issy Castillo is overjoyed to land her first job teaching Spanish at a small university in her Boulder, Colorado hometown. Here she can pursue her academic dreams, reconnect with her Hispanic roots, and—who knows?—find true love.

But her life takes a decided downturn when she finds her chief romantic interest, the witty and personable theater professor, strangled in his office with her scarf. Discovered kneeling over the body, she becomes a prime suspect in the murder. Driven to clear her name and ferret out the killer’s identity, Issy becomes entangled in a sticky web woven from the threads of passion and pundonor, the Latino interpretation of honor and integrity.

Will Issy find the murderer before a second victim, possible Issy herself, succumbs to the killer’s devious plot?

First in the Latino crime fiction series starring spunky Latina college professor and amateur aromatherapist, the plot will keep readers guessing until the final curtain drops.

Loved it. Will recommend to others

I liked the plot and the setting. I thought Issy was a good protagonist. I feel like some of the writing could've been tightened up, but overall, I liked it.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

I updated my rating to 5 stars after reading it a second time, you can just tell that this book was a labor of love for the author, it is clever, intelligent and captivating. The author begins each chapter with a quote related to the contents, and this book as a whole is a truly impressive and enjoyable read.

Carolina Dow’s Scent of Murder is a delightful entry into the world of cozy mysteries, blending paranormal elements with a rich cultural backdrop.

This debut novel introduces readers to Issy Castillo, a psychic Spanish professor and amateur aromatherapist, who finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation that is as puzzling as it is dangerous.

The story begins with Issy discovering the body of a theater professor, strangled with a scarf, and quickly becoming the prime suspect. Determined to clear her name, Issy uses her unique abilities and keen intellect to unravel the mystery. The plot is a carefully crafted puzzle, filled with red herrings and unexpected twists.

Issy Castillo is a standout protagonist—spunky, resourceful, and deeply connected to her cultural roots. Her interactions with her six-times-great-grandmother, who appears from the spirit world to offer advice and clues, adds a compelling aspect to this story.

The supporting cast, including quirky colleagues and potential suspects, are well-developed and contribute to the story’s vibrant atmosphere.

Scent of Murder explores themes of honor, integrity, and the complexities of human relationships. Dow’s writing is engaging and witty, with dialogue that sparkles and scenes which are vividly described.

Carolina Dow has crafted a cozy mystery that is entertaining and thought-provoking. Scent of Murder is a refreshing addition to the genre, offering a unique blend of paranormal intrigue and cultural richness. Issy Castillo is a memorable heroine, and her debut adventure is sure to captivate readers who enjoy a good mystery with a touch of the supernatural.

Highly recommended for fans of mysteries, paranormal elements, and strong, culturally rich narratives.

Dow's first entry into the Issy Castillo series is admirable. With picturesque Colorado serving as backdrop, this cozy mystery has a spunky Latina amateur sleuth with psychic abilities, a scandalous workplace romance, and a peek into the social politics of academia. Kept me guessing till the end and I look forward to seeing the series develop.

I liked the idea of a college campus in Colorado as a setting but I couldn’t get into this story. The writing was all over the place for me and just wasn’t my speed, making it difficult for me to get immersed in the story.

This was my first time reading a book by this author, so I cannot compare this one to Dow's previous works.
As a mystery this story can be fun to follow. But I gotta say I did not particularly like the protagonist.
Maybe I wasn't in the right mood for a cozy mystery...

I love cozy mysteries so I was excited to read this new series. It's about a Latino professor, Isabella Castillo, who returns to work in her hometown in Colorado. The mystery plot was intriguing, the characters were good - though I didn't connect to them - they seemed superficial. Needed more development. But all in all a fun light read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Carolina Dow for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Scent of Murder, which was released on August 20, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I really love cozy mysteries and I was excited this one featured a Latina heroine. I’m not Latina, but I speak Spanish so I love the culture. I think the fact that she was a Spanish professor was unique to most cozies. I think her psychic abilities were fun. I loved the setting in the mountains. The mystery was very cozy and fun for me! I would definitely check out more books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves cozy mysteries!

I really struggled to read this book and pay attention, the cover is really good and objectively I can see it is a good book with an interesting concept. It just wasn’t resonating with me and I should have DNFd it. I powered through and thought the mystery was good. I haven’t done reviews on goodreads for it as I don’t think I deserve to.

This was an interesting new series that combined a mystical element with Latino identity. The aromatherapy elements were fun to read about. The story was told non-linear which at times I had problems with. I had a hard time really connecting with the characters. It seemed to have a lot of insight into the world of college professors. The mystery had lots of surprises at the end.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. One of the things that really stuck out to me, was that the main character is of Latino heritage, I have never read something like that and I found that to be very unique and cool. The mystery itself was fun and I also liked that it took place in Colorado. Overall, I thought it was interesting and cute. I look forward to reading the next book when it comes out.

'Scent of Murder' is a cozy mystery about a new professor, Isabella Castillo, returning to work in her home town in Colorado. Issy's imaginative view of the world and study into her Latino heritage drew me in. Carolina Dow certainly put together a creative story here.

Issy spends much of the story guided and counseled by ancestral spirits. As a Christian, I don’t prefer to read these mystical or psychic elements in stories, so I likely won’t continue this series. However, if you are looking for a unique new mystery series, then consider this book.

Special thanks to the Publisher, Level Best Books, and Net Galley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book started off super confusing for me with just a lot of character introductions and exposition so it took me a bit to get into it. I love a mystery where the MC is also being accused of the crime. It was a good read once you got into it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this title. If you liked Arsenic and Adobo and similar books, this is definitely for you!

I really enjoyed this book. I like a murder mystery from time to time. Liked the setting and the characters, didn't always like some of them tho. Also i did like them but didn't necessarily connect with any of them. The storyline was good, for me at least it wasn't predictable. I had no clue who did it until the very end when she figured it out. The book for me also felt a little slow, idk, but it was fine. Curious to how the story will continue.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars for Scent of Murder! This light, cozy whodunnit follows professor Issy Castillo through the murder of a colleague in picturesque Boulder. This book has a little of everything: a scandalous workplace romance, a peek into the social politics of academia as a WOC, some supernatural elements, and organized crime. I appreciated the references to Spanish literature, art, and theater throughout the text as well as the numerous words of wisdom/proverbs/saying shared by the characters during Issy’s journey. This story will keep you guessing right until the very end. Kudos to Carolina Dow!

Love that cover, which drew me in from the start; the setting of Boulder, Colorado; and the unique sleuth, a Latina professor/aromatherapist. This first in the series kept me rapt and waiting breathlessly for book 2. Brava!

I enjoyed that this was a fast paced mystery read. It was neat, for me, to see the Spanish references and even all of the recipes in the back of the book. I will be saving those for my kitchen.

3 stars

This was a fun and past paced mystery. I like the twists and turns, and the reveals were fun, but my favorite part was how the story was surrounded by our character's latinidad. It was done amazingly, and it was what made me read this in one go.
And yes, it has some little things I didn't enjoy, but overall, this was a fun read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.