A Literal Mess
Allie Cobb left home for the literary circles of Manhattan to make her name out from under the shadow of her legendary father. Now his death brings her and her rescue cat Ursula back to the southern Indiana town of Rushing Creek. But a tragic new chapter hits the presses when the body of her father’s hard-drinking, #1 best-selling client is found under the historic town bridge.
The local police suspect foul play and their prime candidate for murder is the author’s daughter, Allie’s longtime best friend. Determined to clear her bestie, Allie goes into fact-checking amateur detective mode while trying to ignore the usual rumormongers. Those with means, motive, and opportunity include the victim’s ex-wife, his rejected girlfriend, the mayor, and a rival agent trying to mooch clients. With a rugged genealogist distracting her and the imminent Fall Festival about to send tourists descending on their once-peaceful hamlet, Allie needs to stay alive long enough to get a read on a killer ready to close the book on a new victim: Allie.
Series: An Allie Cobb Mystery – Book 1
Author: J.C. Kenney
Genre: Cozy Mystery/ Literary/Writer
Publisher: Lyrical Underground
Page Count: 188
Rating:
From Lyrical Underground https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/ the debut book by J.C. Kenny, a cozy mystery book “A Literal Mess” is a new series “An Allie Cobb Mystery.” Readers should run to the bookstore or online retailer to get this book!
The characters are truly pleasurable. From Allie, who after losing her father feels guilty for not being there for her family, to her best friend Sloane, who is facing a similar situation with her father, and Allie’s siblings and mother, they are all interesting and make this a splendid book. The characters are well written, authentic, and truly gratifying to learn about. For the first book in a series, the characters are very seasoned and easy to like.
The setting and background are brilliantly descriptive without being over the top or tedious. The small-town setting of Rushing Creek is a typical town in the Midwest filled with colorful people and a full life with time to enjoy the surroundings. Everyone knows everyone; there is no such thing as privacy or secrets for long. The setting invokes a desire to spend time out in the country or a small hamlet taking in nature and the nuances of living where everybody knows your name.
The killer in this story isn’t immediately apparent, which makes for a fast-paced, engaging read. Figuring out who the murderer is, delights readers and keeps them turning the page. Rarely, I don’t know who the killer is by the first few chapters; however, in this one, I didn’t figure it out until three-quarters of the way through which made me very happy.
“A Literal Mess” is one of the best debut cozy mystery books I have read in a long time. A little more action would have been nice, and a little more depth to sub-characters to give their appearance in the book more meaning would also have heightened the reader’s fun, but overall, it is an exceedingly absorbing story that shows creativity with a definite grasp on storytelling.
I am happy to recommend this cozy mystery book to anyone who enjoys an easy read with a series that has great potential to become truly great. Readers who enjoy books and series such as Kym Roberts “A Book Barn Mystery” https://www.thecozyreview.com/killer-classics/ or Jenn McKinlay “A Library Lovers Mystery” https://www.thecozyreview.com/hitting-the-books/ will love this new series.
About the Author
J.C. writes cozy mystery stories set in small towns in his home state of Indiana. A Literal Mess, book one in his Allie Cobb Mysteries Series, is J.C.’s first cozy mystery.
Represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency, J.C. lives in Indianapolis with his wife, two sons, and a kitty cat. He dreams of one day retiring to a place where the water is warm, and the beaches are soft. J.C. loves Motorsports, so when he’s not writing, you can find him checking in on the latest from Indy Car and Formula 1.
J.C. is a member of Sisters in Crime, as well as his local SinC chapter, Speed City Sisters in Crime.
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