Til Dice Do Us Part

Delightfully engaging cozy mystery. A wedding and a hospital play major roles. Liked the reasoning given by the detective son-in-law for involving his mother-in-law in sleuthing. Keeping her out of trouble is the goal, but we all know that won't succeed.

This was a very interesting read. I've not previously read a Christian suspense cozy before and I must say, I enjoyed it a great bit. At first, I was a bit disappointed because I thought the big reveal was made obvious far too early. Although you are let on to people to watch, as you move further into the book, you quickly realize that you've been hoodwinked and nothing is as it seems. I actually had to go back and reread a portion of the book because I thought Cosgrove had contradicted herself pretty obviously. What I discovered was that she had simply misled us masterfully. I loved that.

I'm taking a point down because there was a section that was a monologue from one of the characters that was overtly preachy and politically charged. It centered around all the evil people who take advantage of Medicaid and Medicare. It came across as though all are evil miscreants who abuse the system looking for the next fix and are therefore unworthy of receiving treatment and aid that could and should be given to others more deserving in other countries. In fact, the character who makes this monologue ends up being praised and their goals are not only rewarded and met but far beyond their wildest dreams. There's never any opposing view presented despite the majority of the main characters being "christian." The view is far from a christian view in my own opinion. What could have been a thought-provoking discussion with two different sides (or more) presented was instead just left as though it is an understood and widely accepted fact among Christians.

Somewhat tied to this is a hidden mystery that was solved but yet wasn't. I deducted a star for that as well. It was just kind of thrown into the story but wasn't tied to the story at all. It was also pertaining to the welfare system and its abuse. It would have been fine and I would not have deducted anything for it except that it wasn't seen through. I was left with all types of questions. A character was given explicit instructions and we're shown this big reveal because of it yet the character raised questions that were never answered. What would have happened in some seedy part of town if the character *had* followed through? What about the establishment we're told about that is given validity of and all the other people who were taken there? Was it real? Was it the same thing that this character went through? Were they reused again? Killed? We don't know and that makes it feel like it was thrown in to underscore the point I deducted the first star for. I really didn't see a point to it that was important or even related to the primary story.

Normally, I love a story that makes you look at the world around you and challenges you to think. I do NOT love having someone shove their opinion and only their opinion down my throat as though it's not only fact but the view of all who claim the love of Christ. As this is clearly a christian book and put out by a christian publisher, I won't deny that I expect to see that love of Christ reflected in the book. Yay, characters had faith that gave them peace in horrible situations. There is more to the christian faith than that. Christians reading literature such as this need to be reminded of faith (of course) but also of Christ's view of things. Non-Christians should be shown the love of Christ in the world that is established and that just wasn't done here. Instead, it reinforced the close-minded, judgmental attitude that drives people away from the Church. Even the Christian/Non-Christian cliques were represented with the Non-Christian clique being portrayed as vulgar and closed off, followers unable to stand on their own when push comes to shove, and lacking not only in love for their friends who are Christian but unable to put aside their different beliefs or even to be respecting of those actively living the Christian faith in a time of need.

There were recipes at the end and that is always a bonus for me. They look really good to and I intend to try them out. I am interested in reading more by this author as I hope that this was a one off or perhaps as I'm unfamiliar with her work, I misinterpreted some things. However, I do believe that each book (stand alone or not) should shine Christ's light into a dark world and as a newcomer to this author, I didn't get that from this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Prism Book Group, and Julie B Cosgrove for allowing me the opportunity to read this book and share my honest opinion with others.

An enjoyable and fun to read cozy mystery.
There's a great plot, a likeable cast of characters and the book is well written.
Recommended!
Many thanks Prism Book Group and Netgalley for this ARC

This was my first Bunco Buddies novel and I was no expecting the sleuths to be elderly. This made it a fun twist.

After an accident, one of the women overhear what she suspects as a crime in the making and enlists the help of the other Bunco Buddies, namely Janie without alerting Betsy Ann who is getting married. But when the groom is caught up in the entire investigation, the chances of making it to the alter grow dimmer.

This was a nice cozy read that is suitable for ages 13+ for mild violence.

'Til Dice Do Us Part by Julie B Cosgrove is the fourth book in the Bunco Biddies Mystery series. I have read the previous books in this series. While it is not necessary, I highly recommend it. The residents of Sunset Acres are preparing for a wedding. While decorating for the wedding shower, one of the ladies falls resulting in a trip to the ER. She overhears a suspicious conversation that has the ladies in the middle of another mystery which threatens the wedding. I absolutely adore this series and appreciate the subtle religious aspect. Ms. Cosgrove has written another wonderful, entertaining book which I read in just one day!

Til Dice Do Us Part is a big-hearted, brilliant book by Julie Cosgrove - I have read her other two books, "Dumpster Dicing", "Three, Sixes & Thieves" and "Baby Bunco" - she did an incredible job catching your attention right from the beginning of the books and she did such a job characterizing and authenticating the characters in the books. This book was diligent in its characterizing the authenticity of the main characters - It was so much fun to read - and guessing who did what in the book, The story was so creative and the author really made the story pop - it makes you fall in love with the characters and you really can picture the whole thing in your mind. - the characters were flamboyant, and never got flustered because they were so focused and gregarious - but there were some insinuations of having a wedding night relationship if you know what I mean and it also talks about taking certain pills for being intimate, - and pre-marital relations just to inform you about that. I received a copy of this book from the Publisher and Netgalley; all of the opinions expressed in this review are all my own.