Saturday, May 18, 2019

THE STIFF IN THE STUDY by Shea MacLeod




Title:  THE STIFF IN THE STUDY

Series:  Viola Roberts Cozy Mystery #2

Author:  Shéa MacLeod

Narrator:  Yvette Keller

Length:  4 hours 20 minutes

Audible Release Date:  05.17.2017

Publisher:  Shéa MacLeod

Publish Date:   04.29.2016

Category /Genre:  Cozy Mystery

Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content

Listenability:  OK  or  NSFW

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

Goodreads link: The Stiff in the Study

Date completed: 05.09.2019



Description from the publisher:

Viola Roberts is at it again! The sleepy seaside town of Astoria, Oregon is the last place you'd expect to find a dead body. That is until the director of the local museum turns up dead in the study and Viola's friend, Portia, is accused of the crime. Viola ignores her looming deadline and bout of writer's block and sets out with her best friend, Cheryl, to solve the murder. From starting riots at local dive bars to breaking into crime scenes, Viola will stop at nothing to prove Portia innocent even if it means putting herself in the cross-hairs of the killer.

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THE STIFF IN THE STUDY is the second book in the Viola Roberts Cozy Mystery series.  Though each will stand alone, I highly recommend reading them all and in the order of release.  There is mention of the previous case, but not in a way that you would need that information to solve this one.



I loved this cozy mystery.  I loved the camaraderie of friendships.  I loved the way the stories the characters were creating were woven through the story we were reading. 



I loved that Viola’s main squeeze, Lucas Salvatore, is still on the scene and cares for her very much.  Their relationship is slowly building and is sweet.  Though she seems to have an eye that is attracted to the men in blue.  Of course, she’s just looking and there’s nothing wrong with admiring beautiful art.



Again, I hope this book is early in Ms. MacLeod’s career.  Your readers (listeners) remember when you’ve already mentioned something and then repeat it – or refute it.  [ spoiler ] In this case, one of the first things that Portia does is tell Viola that she wishes she had killed The Louse and they talk about harassment charges instead.  Then when Viola gets to the jail to visit Portia, they have the conversation all over again as if it never happened the first time. [ close spoiler ]  It doesn’t destroy the mystery in this case, but it does give me, as a reader, that “hey, wait a minute” pause that takes me out of the story. 



The only other point that tweaked me was the over-feminism.  When the detectives arrived on scene for the murder and the first three to show up were all male the question was posed “aren’t there any female cops in Astoria?”  In return, I ask, “does every team have to have a female (or a male, or a ____. )?”  Get over your political correctness to the point of absurdity.



Bottom line.  I love cozies.  This series is beautifully written so far and I would love to continue reading them…. Oh look, I have another one! (I only wish I had them all)   See you soon.



Narration:  Yvette Keller continues to be an entertaining narrator.  She will definitely be on my list of ‘must listen to what she’s reading’ narrators. 



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



Viola Roberts Cozy Mysteries:


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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