I enjoyed this cozy mystery very much. It was a very satisfying and quick read. The chapters were short and easy to read. The characters were extremely likable, smart and funny and the it was very impressive that there was more than one mystery to solve but they were easy to follow along and it didnt get confusing or drawn out. There was no unnecessary tangents or filler to drag out the cases they were solving. Sara and Sean were very charming and endearing and made me invested in their relationship.Their chemistry was very present and it didnt feel forced or rushed. I also enjoyed there as a reader i was not overwhelmed with a whole lot of long drawn out back story for the character especially by this being the first book in the series. It felt like we got to know the character organically during their banter and interactions. it checked all the boxes for a great cozy mystery series and it was a great introduction to Sara and Sean and revisit them when the next book comes out.

Knowing what a great writer Carolyn Arnold is, I was very happy to receive an advanced copy of her first book in her new cozy mystery series. Bowled Over Americano features Sara Cain and Sean McKinley, both detectives in the New York police. The pair are forced into unofficially investigating a murder aided by Sara’s lovable beagle, Magnum when Sara discovers a man she knows dead in his house.

The story was more complex than your average cozy, with a lot of different strands that kept me interested at every turn. I also really liked the realism in the way the investigation unfolded. Carolyn really knows her police procedures and her attention to detail and authenticity singles this book out.

On top of that, I loved the two main characters and the way their relationship slowly grew throughout the book.

In summary, if you want a mystery that is easy to read, but has more depth to it than your average cozy, with relatable characters, humour, romance, and plenty of twists, this is a great choice and a great start to a new series.

I have to start by stating that I love Carolyn Arnold books, and was excited to start a new series with her. That being said, this one fell a little flat for me. I thought the characters and plot had a lot of potential, but felt that nothing was truly developed very far. There were some great comic moments, and realistic scenes, but a lot that weren't Will definitely give book two a try as I would genuinely like to see where this series goes from here.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

There were a lot of things I liked about this book. While it may have been slow action wise at times, it seemed to be a realistic portrayal of police procedure. There were times where our sleuths had to wait to get the proper paperwork filed, to get warrants from judges, instead of bursting in with guns blazing at every turn. This made it different from books I've read before in a very pleasant way.

In terms of the attraction between Sean and Sara, I liked that they admired good traits in each other, but weren't blind to faults. The tension between them and reasons why they couldn't be together was unsatisfying to me, it might have been something that does happen in real life, but the way it played out seemed a little flat. I was waiting for them to get over their excuses and get together, or to admit they simply couldn't be partners because of their attraction for each other anyway. There were also times I was a bit put out with Sara - Sean would do anything for her, and she seemed to take advantage of this. It came across less as strong-independent woman, and more someone using another person's feelings for their own gain.

This isn't quite what I'd consider when I think of a cozy mystery, but it does set up quite nicely for that in the future. This was more of the origin story, putting things into place for us to move forward. I'm curious to try other books by Carolyn Arnold, to see how they compare to this one in terms of mysteries unfolding.

An enjoyable read, though I would recommend this more if you like procedural crime books than cozy mysteries.

I did not finish this at page 26%. It was just really difficult for me to get into. I think if the author were to make revisions, they should focus on starting a romantic relationship earlier with the main characters. Create that slow burn and teasing so the reader will stay pulled in and continue reading. The murder mystery aspect I think also could’ve been made more interesting or maybe add in an element of danger too. But the romance and even comedy just needed to be fluffed up and elevated to keep the book spicy and interesting. Thank you for letting me read and review through NetGalley! Best.

Sara Cain isn't your typical thirty-two-year-old woman. Murder detective by day, writer and… sleuth by night? Just as long as there’s enough coffee to keep her going… I thought that the overall book was good. The mystery could have had more twists and turns. The characters were fun but over the top. Not a bad start to a series just needs some fine tuning. That being said I will read the next one in the series. I really liked Sara and her energy.
#BowledOverAmericano #NetGalley

A good start. A male and a female detective both trying to solve the crime. Like the characters. Just needs to be a little more realistic. Thanks#netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

This is a start of a new series by Carolyn Arnold . I thank NetGalley for the advanced copy. I chose this because I like the other books I have read by this author, but this style is not my favorite. Sara and Sean were too cute to be cops and some of it was over the top. This is my first Cozy Mystery, so maybe that is the style. Just not my cup of tea.

Carolyn Arnold’s first book in her Sara and Sean Cozy Mystery series brings a mixture of police investigation and undercover sleuthing to this story full of humor, crimes, romance, and vibrant characters. Sara Cain is a homicide detective with the Albany, New York police department who is working on a mystery novel at night. When she needs to clear her head, she goes for a walk and finds Magnum, a dog she recognizes from the neighborhood. She returns him home and finds Cliff Cunningham dead on the entry floor. While Detective Davenport is assigned to case, Sara and her friend and work partner, Detective Sean McKinley, decide to do their own sleuthing when it seems the prime suspect is a friend of Sara’s mother.

Sara is smart, independent, grounded, has a great memory, and loves to drink coffee. Sean is more guarded and skeptical, but he’s also positive, charming, and continually has women wanting to date him. Readers learn these traits as well as the backstories of Sara and Sean as the story unfolds through actions, dialogue, and mannerisms. The backstories provide needed insight into their behaviors and actions towards others. Detective Davenport is rather stereotyped as nearing retirement, being irritating to others, and doing the minimal work required on his cases.

There are multiple threads to follow in this initial novel in the series. These include Sara’s and Sean’s assigned case to search for the killer of Aubrey Southgate during the day, their undercover sleuthing into Cliff’s murder, and their personal lives. This makes the plot twistier than many cozy mysteries. Scenes were exciting, heartrending, joyous, and suspenseful. The story captivated me from the beginning with a good plot and characters that are emotionally rich. I was immediately drawn into Sara’s and Sean’s lives and investigations. The novel shines a light on murder, relationships, friendship, family, life’s curveballs, and romance. My biggest quibble is that the setting could have been any city and did not give me a great feel for Albany.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, which was suspenseful, engaging, entertaining, and humorous. While it’s very different from the other books I have read by this author, I found the writing style relatable, vivid, and irresistible. This was an excellent start to the series. I can’t wait to find out what happens during the next book. Readers who like cozy mysteries with humor and romance may find this one a winner for them.

Hibbert & Stiles Publishing Inc. and Carolyn Arnold provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently expected to be April 11, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Thanks to Carolyn and NetGalley for allowing me to read Bowled Over Americano before the publication date.
This is not my sort of book and totally different from Carolyn’s other books which I have read, which makes it difficult for me to rate.
It is exactly as described, a cosy crime mystery and very easy reading.

There is more than a touch of comedy with the OTT characters, including Georgina, Sean’s man-eater neighbour.
Equally Sara is not averse to using Sean’s good looks to her advantage during the investigations.

Who could resist Magnum, the loveable pooch, although Sean is not so happy when he is covered in dog hair.
Can Magnum win over Sean?
Will love blossom between the crime fighting partners?

I’m always down for a mystery with a female detective. Even better this one has a female and a male detective who are working together to solve a case. But it was all a little too much for me , as too much took it too far and make it far too unrealistic for me to enjoy. I think I’m going to have to pass on any future books in this series.

I am not sure how I feel about this story. I like that it's about two detectives -- basically. They are trying to find a murderer and clear the person, a fellow detective, ram-rodded for the crime. What I didn't like was all the 'feelings' that kept being portrayed throughout the entire story. That is why I am giving this a 3 star rating. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book

I mostly enjoyed this book. I found the disguises to be over the top. The characters are a bit over the top too. I was happy they solved the murders. #BowledOverAmericano #NetGalley

This is the first book I've read by this author, and I'm so happy that I was selected to read an advanced copy.
Sarah and Sean are homicide detectives in Albany, NY, and while Sean would like more from their relationship, he respects her choice to remain friends.
Investigating murders comes naturally to this duo, but I certainly laughed out loud with the description of their disguises.
Bowled Over Americano is a fun, fast paced story with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.
I'm thrilled to discover a new to me author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

#BowledOverAmericano #NetGalley