5-STAR REVIEW: DEATH TAKES A BATH by Sharon Lynn

A Cotswold Crimes Mystery: Book 1
Publication Date: December 6, 2022

When Maddie McGuire lands an archeology internship at the Roman Baths in England, she assumes everything will go her way. But when this college sophomore discovers a severed human ear on her doorstep, she must solve its meaning before she becomes the next victim, or worse, gets deported. Her tentative friendship with young constable Edward and the beauty of the Bath Abbey are no comfort as her aristocratic coworker Simon sabotages her every move. And the danger only increases when she discovers a dead body, both ears intact.

A charmer from the first word to the last. Death Takes a Bath by Sharon Lynn is not only entertaining, it’s also fun and delightfully absorbing. When Madeleine McGuire gets a prestigious archaeology internship at the Roman Baths in Bath, England, she thinks her dreams have come true, but when she receives a severed ear in a package on her first day in Bath, will it prove to be her worst nightmare?  

Maggie McGuire is thrilled to be interning in the world-renowned Roman Baths and is itching to do some excavating. But from an ear in the mail to her new friend being hit by a bus to discovering a dead body in the underground Roman baths—all within a couple of days—Maggie can’t help but wonder what is really going on? 

Renting a room in the idyllic Ash Tree Cottage on Greenway Lane, Maggie has everything a young intern could ever hope to have (and more!), including adorable constable Edward Bailey, who investigates these strange happenings but is set on keeping Maggie safe. While Maggie becomes more ensconced in life in Bath, she falls in love with the city, the people, and the picturesque surroundings.  

Circumstances continue to spiral increasingly out of control until Maggie finds her life and the life of her sometimes nemesis/sometimes friend, Simon Pacock, in grave danger with only her American ingenuity to save their lives. One determined gal, Maggie doesn’t let a couple of corpses, close death encounters, a fickle boss, an encounter with a countess, or navigating an unfamiliar culture deter her. 

She’s worked too hard and is too determined to demonstrate her ability to take care of herself and live independently. And you know what? Even to her own surprise, she just might do it.    

Sharon Lynn does a phenomenal job capturing the reader’s attention and keeps a strong hold on it throughout Death Takes a Bath. I literally couldn’t put the book down, anxiously reading every twist and turn, never knowing what was going to pop up next in Maggie’s world. It’s well-paced, with fascinating characters you come to love, plenty of clues, and surprises, all in the charming setting of beatific Bath, England. Bravo, Sharon Lynn!

Death Takes a Bath is a sometimes harrowing, sometimes humorous ride. It has mystery, suspense, a sweet romance, and, yes, a surprise ending you won’t see coming. It’s a ride you don’t want to miss.  

Sharon Lynn was raised in Arizona, but it was living in England as a teenager and every return trip since that inspired the setting of her Cotswold Crimes Mystery series. As a professor of theater, film, and writing she coaches and mentors aspiring artists. Her short stories can be found in anthologies from Malice Domestic and Desert Sleuths. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers.

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