Good first in a series cozy. There is a lot of room to grow the characters and plotlines in this series. Mainly this book introduced us to the characters and little about their background. Often in cozy there is a bit more emphasis on theme (cooking, tea shop, flowers etc). The book started with bargain hunter scene, but didn't follow up much on it after that. Will read book two.

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My TBR pile is growing every day. I have friends, family and co-workers that all know I love books. I am not ashamed of my TBR pile, but I do admit that books that are "first in a new series", well, I tend to get to them when I am in the mood. I want to read them, but starting a new series and then the next book not following for a few months or even a year, I just keep putting it off. That is what I did with this book and today, I finally got it out and now I am saying "Self, why did you do that?"
I love this series! Maggie is just as loveable as she can be and you know what? All of the characters in the book are not only unique in their own way, but could be the neighbor next door. That is what I love about it! Along with the tips to save money and in today's economy, who could not use the tips, right?
"First in a new series" books, they sometimes have a slow read in them. Not this one! I was caught up in the first 10 pages and found that I did not want to put it down. Now I am finding myself saying, "Self, why are you surprised?" Jenn McKinlay is writing as Josie Belle and we all know how enjoyable her books are!
So as I write this, I say, "bring it on, Josie Belle". I am ready for book two!

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What a lovely summer read, took me maybe 8 hours to finish it! Was fast
moving, I didn't want to put it down once I started. Has a comical air about
it with good, believable characters with a tad of romance in it. Very
entertaining and I hadn't figured out who the killer was until they made
their move to kill off one of the Good Buy Girls! Was a pure pleasure to
read and I look forward to reading the next in the series!

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Jenn McKinlay writing as Josie Belle introduces the bargain hunting women of St. Stanley, VA. The ladies band together to find a killer after one member is accused of murder. A high school flame returns to town as the new sheriff and causes trouble for our heroine, Maggie. A quick, cute summer read. 3.5 stars

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I think this was a very good first in series. The characters were developed well and the story was cute. Looking forward to reading the next one in the series when it comes out.

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"50% Off Murder" by Josie Belle is the first in a new cozy series about a group of bargain-hunting and money-saving friends who call themselves the "Good Buy Girls." They meet at Maggie Gerber's house for this most recent meeting, but one of the members, Claire Freemont, is late. She arrives, bringing dessert, but acts distracted and a bit strange.

The next day Maggie goes to the library where Claire works to take her niece's little boy, Josh, for story time, and winds up helping Claire take some boxes of books to the basement. When they reach the library basement, they find the dead body of a man with Claire's cake knife protruding from his body and a book laying beside him that is from Claire's own personal library. Claire becomes the number one suspect, especially when it becomes known that Claire dated this man back in Baltimore, MD from where she has moved to Saint Stanley. Her friends know that she has more to tell that she is hiding, though. They become the major sleuths in the investigation to clear the name of their friend.

The new sheriff in the small town of Saint Stanley, VA has returned after many years away and it so happens that twenty-four years ago he and Maggie Gerber had a romance. This all adds suspense and a tad of romantic suspense to the story.

This is a good start to a new series that has some great bargain-hunting tips throughout the book and at the end there is a list of more money-saving ideas that I found useful. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and getting to know the other members of the Good Buy Girls better.

Josie Belle, author of this book, is the pen name of author Jennifer McKinlay, who writes other cozy series.

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I have to say that overall I did like this book and will read the next in the series. However, until about half way through the book I really wanted to slap the main character silly. Her attitude toward the sheriff, with whom she has had a history, really was obnoxious. The mystery really got started after that and that was very good. Tips in the back of the book on how to save money. 3 stars.

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