Sunday, April 15, 2018

SHARPE EDGE by Lisa B. Thomas


Title:  SHARPE EDGE
Series:  Maycroft Mystery #2
Author:  Lisa B. Thomas
Narrator:  Kelley Hazen
Length:  6 hours 8 mins
Publish Date:   05.11.2017
Publisher:  Cozy Stuff and Such, LLC
Category /Genre:  Cozy Mystery,
Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content
Listenability:  OK  or  NSFW
Received from:  Lisa B. Thomas (via Audiobookworm as an Audible gifted copy)
Goodreads link: Sharpe Edge
Date completed: 03.27.2018

Description from the publisher:
If Deena Sharpe had known she would soon be investigating another death, she might have skipped Christmas altogether. Buoyed by a new job and a spirit for the holidays, she carries on, blind to what the next few weeks will hold.

A Christmas party for the upper crust of the small Texas town of Maycroft turns tragic when the hostess ends up dead. Everyone assumes her death is an accident - everyone except her daughter, Estelle. She turns to Deena to help solve the mystery. A jealous friend and a mysterious heir are just two of the likely suspects.

As a school teacher turned newspaper reporter, Deena must get crafty to dig out the truth before anyone else gets hurt, including her own brother.

A little romance, some snarky suburban competition, and a lot of mystery will keep listeners guessing in this cozy whodunit.
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SHARPE EDGE is the second book in the Cozy Suburbs series.  While they mostly stand on their own, it is best to read them in the order of release, since there are multiple mentions of the previous case.

Like many women, Deena Sharpe doesn’t know how to say “no” when someone we care about asks for assistance.  Whether it is baking in two dozen cupcakes for the bake sale tomorrow morning (asked at the last minute) or, in her case, determining if the death of her friend is truly an accident or murder. 

I like that these are “real people.”   Everything doesn’t come easily to them.  At 50-something, Deena has the wisdom of life experiences and the reliability and dependability of close family and friends.

The story had an easy flow that made it a perfect audiobook for my commute.  I’d love to listen to more of the series.

The Narration:  With the exception of the prologue and the last two chapters, the narration was a little flat with every sentence feeling as though it held the same weight and importance.  I think it may have been caused by the forced Texas accent.  Otherwise, the narrator’s voice was clear and pleasant.  Knowing there are many more books in this series, I think more practice with the characters will provide the familiarity needed to lose the flatness.

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

The Maycroft mysteries:
0.5 Sharpe Image
1.      Sharpe Shooter
2.      Sharpe Edge
3.      Sharpe Mind
4.      Sharpe Turn
5.      Sharpe Point
6.      Sharpe Cookie
Also from Lisa B. Thomas:
·         My Dead Relatives:  How to Keep the Family Tree Alive
·         Spirit Moves
Killer Shots series:
1.      Negative Exposure
2.      Freeze Frame
3.      Picture Imperfect












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