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Book 84, 2016
Oct. 30th, 2016 08:00 pmBetween yesterday and today, I read an ebook, The Locked Room Murder, which is the first in the "Bluebell Knopps" cozy mystery series, by author Nancy McGovern.
At the age of 16, Bluebell meets Steve, and she knows he is The One. Her best friend, Nolan, isn't so sure, but he supports her. Blue and Steve begin dating, and on the cusp of 21, she is certain that Steve is about to propose to her. However, a mysterious woman, who has bright blue hair like Bluebell does, comes to town and tells Bluebell that she's a witch, and that she will come into her powers when she reaches age 21. Of course, Blue doesn't believe her.
Later that evening, Steve breaks up with Bluebell and breaks her heart. When the mysterious woman appears again, Bluebell wants her to prove that she's a witch by giving Steve back to her. The next thing Bluebell knows, she is waking up in the middle of a meadow and being arrested for Steve's murder. The rest of the story shows Blue and Nolan asking questions and attempting to figure out how Steve could have been murdered inside a locked room. Along the way, Bluebell learns that Steve wasn't as faithful to her as she was to him.
Eh, it was cute and cozy, but it read like something written by a teen, for teens. Not necessarily a bad thing; it was just right for an afternoon of mindless fluff. There wasn't much character development, and the narrative was more tell than show.
Favorite line: "If it gets any hotter today, I'm going to go to work in a swimsuit and install a pool in the lobby."
Average, 3 stars:
***
At the age of 16, Bluebell meets Steve, and she knows he is The One. Her best friend, Nolan, isn't so sure, but he supports her. Blue and Steve begin dating, and on the cusp of 21, she is certain that Steve is about to propose to her. However, a mysterious woman, who has bright blue hair like Bluebell does, comes to town and tells Bluebell that she's a witch, and that she will come into her powers when she reaches age 21. Of course, Blue doesn't believe her.
Later that evening, Steve breaks up with Bluebell and breaks her heart. When the mysterious woman appears again, Bluebell wants her to prove that she's a witch by giving Steve back to her. The next thing Bluebell knows, she is waking up in the middle of a meadow and being arrested for Steve's murder. The rest of the story shows Blue and Nolan asking questions and attempting to figure out how Steve could have been murdered inside a locked room. Along the way, Bluebell learns that Steve wasn't as faithful to her as she was to him.
Eh, it was cute and cozy, but it read like something written by a teen, for teens. Not necessarily a bad thing; it was just right for an afternoon of mindless fluff. There wasn't much character development, and the narrative was more tell than show.
Favorite line: "If it gets any hotter today, I'm going to go to work in a swimsuit and install a pool in the lobby."
Average, 3 stars:
***
