Saturday, May 11, 2019

THE CORPSE IN THE CABANA by Shea MacLeod





Title:  THE CORPSE IN THE CABANA
Series:  Viola Roberts Cozy Mystery #1
Author:  Shéa MacLeod
Narrator:  Yvette Keller
Length:  4 hours 47 minutes
Audible Release Date:  08.29.2016
Publisher:  Shéa MacLeod
Publish Date:   02.08.2016Category /Genre:  Cozy Mystery

Recommended for:  14+ (one swear word, adult concept – infidelity)

Listenability:  OK  or  NSFW

Received from:  Shéa MacLeod (as an Audible gifted copy)

Goodreads link: The Corpse in the Cabana

Date completed: 04.24.2019



Description from the publisher:

Sassy, snarky Viola Roberts quit her boring accountant job to pursue her dream of writing novels, even if it meant eating ramen noodles every day.  Now that her career has taken off, she's headed to a writers' conference at an exotic Florida resort complete with white-sand beaches and swaying palm trees, where she plans to lounge in the shade drinking frosty beverages with little umbrellas.  And, of course, no sojourn to tropical climes would be complete without her boozy, wise-cracking best friend, Cheryl.



When Viola discovers the diva of the author world dead (as a doornail) of unnatural causes, the police immediately consider Viola their prime suspect.  But when the head detective turns a gimlet eye on Viola's best friend, the author has had enough!  Along with help from hunky fellow writer Lucas Salvatore, Viola is determined to ascertain who killed the corpse in the cabana before she or Cheryl winds up in jail.  Or worse.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MY REVIEW

4 CROWNS

THE CORPSE IN THE CABANA is the first book in the Viola Roberts Cozy Mystery series.  Each will be a stand-alone story featuring romance author Viola Roberts as she solves a murder mystery.



This was a fun cozy mystery, but the relevant “clue” was given several chapters before it became the a-ha clue to solve the mystery.  That’s a no-no!  Of course, when it was given the first time is when I did solve the crime. 



There is great humor, especially if you are in the world of books, blogging, and reading.  These are the people we know through social media – the introverts and drama queens.  Plus, there was a romance element (or two) and a bit of ghost hunting! 



I did look up the hotel purported the second most haunted site in Florida and it is actually the second one listed on the website, but it is a countdown of the seven most haunted sights, so that would make it number six.  To me, fact checking is important.  If you are writing about a real place, people will be from that area.  I am from Central Florida and I am a paranormal junkie.  I went to the website to find out what number one was, and instead was disappointed to find out the error in the story.  Boo-hiss!



Perhaps this is early in the author’s career and she is learning how to build a cozy mystery.  I have committed to reading (listening to) three from this series and, other then that one faux pas and the fact error, I quite enjoyed this story.  I’ll be back next week with the next adventure with Viola Roberts.



Narration:  Yvette Keller is quite a fun narrator.  The good news is that she does read the next story!



Note:  While I received this book as a gifted audiobook copy via Audiobookworm, my opinions are my own and are given freely.



Viola Roberts Cozy Mysteries:

1.      The Corpse in the Cabana

2.      The Stiff in the Study

3.      The Poison in the Pudding

4.      The Body in the Bathtub

5.      The Venom in the Valentine

6.      The Remains in the Rectory

7.      The Death in the Drink

Also from Shéa MacLeod:

·         Angel’s Fall

Cupcake Goddess Novelettes series:

1.      Be Careful What You Wish For

2.      Nothing Tastes as Good

Soulfully Sweet

A Stitch in Time

Dragon Wars series:

1.      Dragon Warrior

2.      Dragon Lord

3.      Dragon Goddess

4.      Green Witch

5.      Dragon Corps

6.      Dragon Mage

7.      Dragon’s Angel

Lady Rample series:

1.      Lady Rample Steps Out

2.      Lady Rample Spies a Clue

3.      Lady Rample and the Silver Screen

4.      Lady Rample Sits In

5.      Lady Rample and the Ghost of Christmas Past

6.      Lady Rample and Cupid’s Kiss

Notting Hill Diaries series:

0.5  To Kiss a Prince

1.      Kissing Frogs

2.      Kiss Me, Chloe

3.      Kiss Me, Stupid

4.      Kissing Mr. Darcy

Omicron ZX series:

0.5  Omicron Zed-X

1.      A Rage of Angels

Soulshifter series:

1.      Fearless

2.      Haunted

3.      Soulshifter

Sunwalker Saga series:

0.5  Kissed by Blood

1.      Kissed by Darkness

2.      Kissed by Fire

3.      Kissed by Smoke

4.      Kissed by Moonlight

5.      Kissed by Ice

6.      Kissed by Eternity

7.      Kissed by Destiny

Sunwalker Saga: Witchblood series:

1.      Spellwalker

2.      Deathwalker

3.      Mistwalker



















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