Brenda H. (booksinvt) - , reviewed on 5/29/2017 + 465 more book reviews

Booked 4 Murder is the debut of the Sophie Kimball Mystery series featuring Sophie "Phee" Kimball, an accountant for the Mankato Police Department in Mankato, Minnesota. Sophie receives an agitated phone call from her mother, Harriet Plunkett and soon finds herself jetting off to Sun City West, Arizona to investigate the untimely deaths of several of her mother's book club members.

Harriet's book club is reading, The Twelfth Arrondissement, a very obscure book written by an unknown author recommended to the group by the town librarian Gretchen Morin. Unfortunately, several members have died since starting the book; by golf cart accident, a broken hip resulting in pneumonia and a swarm of bees. Harriet is convinced that the book is cursed and she demands that Sophie help to put a stop to the curse.

The book gets off to a very slow start, but eventually picks up speed and has a surprising conclusion. While Sophie is fairly likeable it is difficult to relate to her as she is in a retirement community where other than her mother she doesn't know any of the other residents. It's rather difficult to imagine the bumbling accountant playing at detective and relying solely on the telephone advice she receives from Detective Nate Williams, fellow Mankato employee.

The ending and excerpt from the next in the series held my attention enough that I will look for the second installment. I have a feeling that Sophie and Harriet will find themselves in many more sticky situations.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy of offer my honest opinion.

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