4-STAR REVIEW: MURDER TO MY EARS by Rebecca McKinnon

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About The Book

An Octavia Fields Mysteries: Book 1
Publication Date: June 30, 2023

Octavia Fields should know better than to judge things by their appearance. After all, most people don’t expect a nomadic hippie to be a classical violist—let alone one who runs a seasonal music shop at Aerie Pines, the summer home of the Aerie Peaks Symphony.

But when her business season starts off on the wrong note, it’s obviously the persnickety concertmaster’s fault. If he hadn’t turned up dead—leaving Octavia to find his body— she wouldn’t have to deal with the handsome detective who isn’t sure what to think of her impressive arrest record.

With symphony members cornering Octavia to pass on “evidence” by way of sotto-voce rumors, it shouldn’t surprise her to learn the helpful musicians aren’t the only ones who believe Octavia’s helping with the investigation. When a threatening letter arrives, it’s clear the killer thinks she’s playing harmony to the detective, too.

When the detective doesn’t appear to be making progress on the case, Octavia decides it’s up to her to solve the mystery—before the killer hears their cue to silence her!

The Review

Murder to My Ears is the first book in the Octavia Fields Mysteries series by a new-to-me author, Rebecca McKinnon.

Set in the mountains, we’re at a summer music festival and camp, where Octavia is larger than life. She’s a hippie and loves her quiet life of working at the music shop she owns during the summer and traveling wherever life takes her the rest of the year. She seems to be living the life her grandmother couldn’t due to the expectations of the times.

Everyone, including the police, seems to confide in Octavia when one of the musicians is found dead, and she’s the one to find the body. Ludwig, the corpse, may have been talented, but he isn’t well-liked for his demands or his ego. Many don’t find it a hardship when Ludwig is found dead, but is it an accident, ill health, or murder?

There is a cast of colorful characters, along with multiple suspects. Of course, Octavia is playing at being an amateur sleuth, no matter how often the police tell her not to, especially when her own life may be in danger for her nosiness.

There are twists and turns to this cozy mystery and lots of clues and conversations to sift through. We get to know Octavia and the others a little at a time, along with some of their quirks. Octavia’s life comes alive with the vivid descriptions of her clothing, her home, her modes of transportation, and even her friendships and what she eats. She has a fascinating past due to how she lives her life, and it was interesting how others, including the police she’s involved with in helping solve the case, seem to take it in stride. There is closure in solving the crime in an unexpected way, and I look forward to reading more in this series.

Murder to My Ears is a satisfying cozy mystery set in an idyllic setting with lots of music and riveting characters that had me turning the pages to see whodunnit!

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About The Author

Rebecca McKinnon enjoys playing with her imaginary friends and introducing them to others through her writing. She dreams of living in the middle of nowhere but has been unable to find an acceptable location that wouldn’t require crossing an ocean.