Chocolate Martini Sisters Mystery: Book 2
Publication Date: September 19, 2023
At the writers’ conference, murder tops the program.
Aspiring mystery author Emma Banefield and travel writer Nicole Earp are excited to attend a writers’ conference during their latest sisters’ getaway. Nic’s birthday should be all about relaxation, writing, and a chocolate martini to toast another trip around the sun, but the climate at the gathering rumbles like a sudden desert thunderstorm.
When sparks fly between the keynote speaker and her timid assistant over a handsome mystery author, the subtitle on this anticipated tranquil weekend spells drama. If a heated love triangle, bruised egos, and betrayal aren’t enough to upset the atmosphere, the conference banquet erupts into a drunken brawl and sends the place spinning. After a body is discovered, Nic and Em do what they do best—snoop—and become embroiled in a mystery that jumps off the pages of a true-crime bestseller.
With more than enough suspects and little time, the amateur sleuths have their hands full finding the killer. But can the competitive Chocolate Martini Sisters solve the crime before the prickly chief detective does, or will a murderer outwit them all?
When a famous author is murdered at a literary convention, The Chocolate Martini Sisters are on the case yet again! But when the victim is disliked by almost all of the major players, this is getting complicated in Reading, Writing, and Murder by Joyce Proell and Brenda Whiteside.
Em and Nic return to the Dulce for their bi-annual birthday trip. Enjoying a writers’ conference at the same time, Emma is getting ready to pitch her new mystery book to a well-known publisher. The keynote speaker at their conference is famous romance author Lola Durfrane, a bold and prickly character. Upon returning to their hotel, drama unfolds with fist fights, drinks spilled, and nasty words exchanged. And when the sisters find Lola dead in her hotel room later that night, everyone becomes a suspect.
Whiteside and Proell really pour themselves into their characters. The sisterly dynamic is fun and heartfelt. The mystery is intriguing and really gets your mind going.
Where I struggled in the book is the description of some of the characters—especially the females. The physical descriptions are far too judgmental for my taste and becomes more against women than in support of them. I also felt that many characters were too one-dimensional—they are either good or horrible people, very little in between.
Reading, Writing, and Murder is a good cozy for those who are big fans of the genre. If you are looking for a story with a big mystery and lots of drama, this book is for you.
Joyce Proell is the award-winning author of Amaryllis, Eliza and the Cady Delafield Mysteries: A Deadly Truth, A Burning Truth and A Wicked Truth. Along with her husband and little dog, Nellie, she lives in Minnesota in her very own little house on the prairie. She loves to hear from readers.
Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of romantic suspense, romance, and cozy mystery. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have settled in Central Arizona. They admit to being gypsies at heart and won’t discount the possibility of another move. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.
September 19 – Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
September 19 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
September 20 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
September 20 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
September 21 – Mystery, Thrillers and Suspense – AUTHOR GUEST POST
September 21 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
September 22 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
September 22 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
September 23 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
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Thank you so much for the review. We weren’t expecting it. Much appreciated!