I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Stayin' Alive
by Julie Mulhern
Series: Country Club Murders #10
Series Rating:
Published by J & M Press on February 25, 2020
Genres: Cozy Historical Mystery
Pages: 250
Format: Kindle
Goodreads
BookBub
Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Book Depository
Springtime. Love is in the air. So is murder.
When Ellison Russell, reluctant finder of bodies, chairs a gala in conjunction with the museum’s Chinese funerary exhibit, she expects disaster. So, she’s not remotely surprised when a body turns up.
Ellison is willing to leave the investigation to the police till an attempt is made on her life.
Now she’s juggling evading a killer, her aunt’s overly-amorous beau, her dog’s new love interest, and Mother’s displeasure.
With bodies piling up, if Ellison’s not careful, staying alive might be impossible.
Stayin’ Alive by Julie Mulhern is a fabulous series, with colorful characters and a well-plotted mystery, all of which I enjoyed immensely.
Will Ellison and Anarchy find the killer before Ellison is the next victim?
This mystery was set in Kansas City, 1975. It was wonderful to remember some of the items that Ellison uses. Although Ellison clearly has a better fashion sense than my family as they wore mostly Beeline clothes.
Ellison Russell
Ellison is our main character and sleuth. She is such a wonderfully put together person. Ellison has to deal with being a widow whose husband was murdered and was a cheat. Yet, she seems to be moving on slowly but in the forward direction. Ellison is a dead body magnet; seriously, she admits it to herself.
Ellison also has a very proper and strict mother, who wants to control Ellison’s life. Yet, Ellison is learning to deal with her mother. She also has a teenage daughter, who gets along great with everyone. Ellison doesn’t have a job, but she manages to stay busy with the country club, charities, and her sleuthing. Oh, and let us not forget her dog or house guests. Aunt Sis is a kick in the pants. I am so happy for her.
I loved Ellison’s down to earth attitude, even when she is trying to figure out how to get her heart and mind in the same rhythm. She is also intelligent and sees the patterns in the recent rash of murders.
Anarchy Jones
Anarchy is Ellison’s boyfriend and a police detective. He is in love with Ellison, but he also has a secret that may come between him and Ellison. Anarchy is a fantastic detective and such a gentleman. I love the way that he seems to know just what Ellison needs and when.
The Mystery
We have three women strangled at different locations. They have similarities, but they don’t have a solid connection. Then there is an attempt on Ellison, who doesn’t have a connection to the other three victims. This is where Anarchy needs to figure it out before Ellison is the fourth victim.
Five Stars
This book is the first that I have read in the Country Club Mysteries, but I loved it and plan to add these incredible historical cozy mysteries to my TBR. In the meantime, my rating for Stayin’ Alive by Julie Mulhern is five stars. Once I got into the book, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Well done, Ms. Mulhern.
If you haven’t read one of the books in this series, you really should. I highly recommend them.
The Country Club Murders Mystery Series
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Stayin’ Alive by Julie Mulhern.
Until the next time,
This Guest Review is for Baroness’ Book Trove.
About Julie Mulhern
Julie Mulhern is the USA Today bestselling author of The Country Club Murders.
She is a Kansas City native who grew up on a steady diet of Agatha Christie. She spends her spare time whipping up gourmet meals for her family, working out at the gym and finding new ways to keep her house spotlessly clean–and she’s got an active imagination. Truth is–she’s an expert at calling for take-out, she grumbles about walking the dog and the dust bunnies under the bed have grown into dust lions.
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