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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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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