This story has been absolutely amazing!

I love Liv, her Grumpy Gal persona, and her gang already to bits from the first book, but now we also get one of my favourite authors featuring in this one? Hell yes!

The story was great, the characters wonderful, the atmosphere Lynda has created by her writing absolutely nails it too.

This story is very well-written, the incorporation of Poe is super interesting and highly intriguing, and the humour is, as always in Liv's stories, nothing but wonderful.

My only, very slightly, complaint - on an incredibly high level- is that I felt the menopause aspects, which made the first book so extremely different from anything else that's out there, fell a little bit short in this one. But this, of course, does not affect the mystery itself in any way, shape, or form. On the contrary, if you found them a bit redundant and tedious in the first book, you'll definitely enjoy this book a lot more. I can live without them, but I think it would be a shame to refuse this series a point that made it absolutely stand out in the vast amount of mystery books out there. That's all - and not for me to decide.

Last but not least, one can definitely say Lynda Allen has grown quite a bit as a mystery author since her first story about Liv and her gang came out. The writing in this one was much more refined and condensed, more 'on point' if you will. So, if you had a problem with the writing in the first book, you should give this one a short regardless.

Personally, I am very much looking forward to the third book in the series, and hope it releases soon(TM).

Keep up the great work, Lynda!

Flashes of a Dying Hour is the second book in the Liv Wilde Mystery Series by Lynda Allen. The main character is Liv Wilde, a freelance editor and proofreader over a certain age. Liv is experiencing the magic of menopause and has premonitions along with her hot flashes that help her solve mysteries.

In Flashes of a Dying Hour, Liv has a vision of a dead man and gets drawn into a mystery involving a treasure hunt and a rare edition of Edgar Allen Poe's first collection of poetry. Her daughter and friends help her investigate and go head-to-head with a treasure hunter known as The Falcon.

I loved Flashes of a Dying Hour! The narrative is masterful, the backdrop is vivid, and the characters are compelling. Liv, despite her newfound psychic abilities, is someone we can all relate to. Her sharp intellect, humor, and resolve make her a likable protagonist and a formidable amateur sleuth.

Although the book is a mystery, the backbone is female friendship. Author Lynda Allen skillfully weaves female camaraderie into the narrative. Each of Liv's friends is a fully fleshed-out character with unique personalities and intriguing professions. Their conversations and relationships feel genuine and add an enjoyable layer of authenticity to the story.

The mystery is clever, well-plotted, and held my interest throughout. It kicks off right away when Liv has a nocturnal vision of a dead man on page one. The story unfolds at a delicious pace as Liv tries to learn more about the dead man in her vision and determine what led him to that place and moment in time. The suspense had me holding my breath a few times, and I loved the final reveal!

I also really enjoyed the references to Edgar Allen Poe and the tidbits of Fredericksburg history that were incorporated into the story.

Flashes of a Dying Hour is the second book in the Liv Wilde Mystery Series, but it is the first book I've read. I had no trouble reading this as a standalone. However, I liked it so much that I plan to backtrack and read the first book in the series, Flashes of Insight. I look forward to more Liv Wilde stories!

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advanced reading copy.