Though I did prefer the first book in this series (I received an ARC copy at a conference), Brecher's second book was just as fun and just as Cozy. It is a fast paced read, so if you are looking for something enjoyable but quickly digestible - then this is it!

The pop glamour of this story give it a gentle CSI Miami or Criminal Minds kind of feel (think of the episode where Reid protects the movie star). You get all the hype and Hollywood of a pop sensation mixed with the coziness of a cozy mystery. It's not a deep thinker but more a fun quick read to be picked up and finished in one go.

I was so excited when I saw this book come out because I absolutely adored the first one and this one was right up to par!! A fun and quick read full of a great cozy mystery and lovable characters.

I love a good cozy mystery and this one is just super fun! Fast paced and twisty with another full cast of nefarious characters and potential killers. I’m loving this series and look forward to more. If you enjoy cozy mysteries this is a great one!

I liked the first book more, but I still really enjoyed it. I liked the characters and thought they were well developed. I just found too much to be going on. A little chaotic.

Liv Spyer, a young, female photographer, has been working hard to make a name for herself as a professional photographer when she lands the prime job of photographing Bisa ... only the biggest Grammy Award-winning pop star on the planet.
To add to Liv's joy, her new boyfriend, Harry, will be taking her to the opening of Bisa's movie debut. Bisa's sister, Anna, however, is holding a grudge and promises to make PR/photo event into a disaster. This would have such a negative impact on Liv's up-coming career, that she goes after Anna to get her to back off. But it backfires when Anna is killed and Liv becomes the prime suspect.

Bisa believes in Liv and the two of them will try to find Annay's killer while Liv also tries to keep hold of her relationship with Harry, despite many trying to keep them apart.

This is the second book in the Snapshots of NYC Mystery series and, like the first, is an upbeat, swift, cozy with a young millennial, amateur detective.

It is refreshing to have our protagonist someone young and just trying to get a career going, like this. Everything is new and fresh and exciting for Liv (especially in New York City) and we get to experience that excitement through her eyes. Being a photographer, Live has a good eye for detail, which definitely helps when looking for clues to uncover a murderer. And perhaps it's her youth that has her risking danger or not thinking consequences through all the way.

The mystery is here is fine - it's just enough to keep us guessing, but really it's the character of Liv, her family and friends and associates that hooks us. Liv is a bit of a 'Pollyanna' - but only a bit, and living in NYC and around a few murders is going to harden her pretty fast.

Overall, this was fun.

Looking for a good book? For a light read and for those who enjoy a good cozy mystery, Mugshots of Manhattan by Christin Brecher is almost picture perfect.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

If a book is second (or third or so forth) in a series, I wish that was clearer in Netgalley promo so the new readers can either pick up from the beginning or adjust their expectations. TIA

I enjoyed this, but I don't think I will continue the series. There is a lot going on in this story, and the dots don't always connect, so we're left with some questions and some misunderstandings. I think the book could benefit from clarification of specific elements.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

This delightful cozy mystery was a great addition to the series. Well paced and twisty, with plenty of suspects.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I liked the first in the series and found it an appropriate beginning to a new type of adventure, but I enjoyed this second book more.
I have enjoyed other works by the author earlier but was unsure about continuing with this series after the first. I am glad I stuck with it because this painstaking investigation felt different from the other amateur investigations I have had the opportunity to read recently.
Our lead protagonist is a photographer with an eye for detail (as one would expect from someone whose profession it is to ensure everything fits into the frame). That and her basic curiosity ensures that she wants to be in the know about everything that is going on around her.
After helping out a famous photographer (after causing some issues in the first place), Liv has finally been handed a good project. She is to shadow the latest heartthrob, who is set to launch her new movie and be the only professional on site to capture the important events. As soon as she arrives at the location, she lands herself in the centre of unexpected family drama and resentment from the people in charge of handing out assignments.
As the sole (innocent) witness to a possible murder, Liv goes on the offensive and tries to dig up as much as she can to wrap things up. In the process, she gets enmeshed in her boyfriend's top-secret job, as well as becoming buddies with a celebrity.
Overall, the characters are entertaining, and it feels like enough content to keep the pace going. I would not recommend reading this without having read the first, solely to get the lay of the land and understand the interactions between the family members and Live. Plot-wise, this book can work well as a standalone. I look forward to the next in the series.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I enjoyed this one more than the first one in the series. But it's still not my favorite series. But it's still one that keeps the pages turning.

Mugshots of Manhattan is the second book in the Snapshot of NYC Mystery Book 2 by Christin Brecher.

Liv Spyvers gets a huge contract with a huge pop star, Bisa.

Unfortunately, a murder pops up and Liv is on the case.

The characters are well written. I love all the different suspects.

The mystery is perfectly paced, with lots of action.

Looking forward to the next book in this fantastic cozy mystery series.

Click. An easy fun whodunnit cozy mystery. Flash. I enjoyed it and didn't notice that it was the second in a series. Snap. Cute characters. Zoom. fast paced and engaging writing

Mugshots Of Manhattan by Christin Brecher

This effervescent sophomore installment of the Snapshots Of New York series delivers yet another charming look at the high life of the Big Apple, as seen through the lens of a keen-eyed photographer with a penchant for solving mysteries.

Liv Spyers is happily building up her own brand while freelancing for the prestigious and well-connected Regina Montague Studios. When Regina takes a photography-hampering spill one day, Liv is sent in her boss’ stead for the assignment of her career (so far.)

Bisa is the mono-monikered superstar singer who’s about to take New York by storm as she promotes the launch of her very first movie, All About Love. In addition to starring in the romantic comedy, she’s contributing three new original songs to the soundtrack. The promo tour is all-out, as Bisa converts a mansion on Roosevelt Island into her headquarters, nicknamed Todo Amor, from which to launch parties as well as pop-up concerts all over the city.

Liv’s brief is to take behind-the-scenes personal photos of Bisa and her entourage, capturing moments that, if approved by the diva herself, could be kept as mementoes, used as publicity or sold to the many news outlets clamoring for coverage. Liv is more than game, and soon finds herself getting sucked into Bisa Mania as she becomes immersed in the diva’s daily life.

Not everyone is as enamored of Bisa as her adoring fans are though. Anna Reyes, Bisa’s sister, is more than happy to rain on the singer's parade as she crashes the proceedings and causes more than one scene. When Liv witnesses what she’s convinced is Anna’s murder, she’s the only person who seems more concerned than relieved at Anna’s sudden departure from Todo Amor.

Disoriented by the reaction of Bisa’s entourage but certain of what she saw, Liv begins to investigate what happened. Searching for information and clues leads her down strange investigative paths, some more fruitful than others, as Liv discovers when she tries to work a celebrity party crowd for more than just photos:

QUOTE
I was naive to think that these celebrities were a club or that their inside family dramas were part of shared confidences. This party was as much of a work event for them as for me. They needed their photos in the thick of New York’s Bisa Mania. I needed to take their photos for my job. Bisa needed all of us to prove to the world that they should spend their money on her songs, movies, merchandise, and more. Everything about the night was transactional. We were all part of a well-oiled machine, each of us playing our parts, some of us having more fun doing so than others.
END QUOTE

The more Liv peels back the glitzy facade of stardom in her search for answers, the more convinced she becomes that Bisa had something to do with Anna’s death. She knows, however, that she’ll need rock solid evidence before she can make any accusations. But how will she be able to do that when so many people’s livelihoods and happiness depend on the diva, some of whom would go to very great lengths to protect her?

At least she has her investigator boyfriend Harry Fellowes to help, when she’s not busy assisting him in turn. After an invitation to a fancy dinner turns into an opportunity for her to play a pivotal role in apprehending the criminal he’s been pursuing for months, Liv is reassured that she can probably handle the goings-on at Todo Amor, with or without him:

QUOTE
“You show off,” I said as Harry joined me at the corner with a satisfied grin.

“You make an excellent assistant,” he said with a wink. With his arm linked through mine, he walked us toward a waiting car as the police behind us did their thing.

I liked the sound of being Harry’s assistant. I didn’t need a hero on horseback to protect me at Todo Amor. A little adventure on both sides was healthy for a couple.

“Happy to help, but I don’t count that as a real dinner date tonight,” I said, snuggling up to him in the back seat.
END QUOTE

Harry and Liv’s supportive partnership is only one delightful aspect of this adventurous modern cozy mystery that delves into both the glamorous and the ugly sides of being a celebrity. Their professional lives continue to collide in surreal but ultimately satisfying ways, as this fun series goes from strength to exciting strength.

I really enjoyed this behind-the-scene glimpse of life with a pop star. I found the mystery to be well-paced and Liv’s investigating and actions believable. The characters were well-rounded and not over-the-top (until they needed to be) and the added intrigue related to her boyfriend’s case was a nice bonus. I also loved the grounding moments she spends with her family, away from the glitz and glamour. All in all, an enjoyable read with great characters, excellent pacing, and a fascinating mystery. Looking forward to the next in the series.

I loved the first book in this series, and this new installment was just as wonderful! As Liv becomes entangled in another mystery, this one surrounding pop
Superstar Bisa, she uses to her mind, wits, and camera to solve the crime.

The relationships and interactions between Liv and her boyfriend, grandparents, and best friend are fun to read; the characters are so well-developed. Liv’s crime solving methods are unique (the photo nerd in me was ecstatic), and the fast pace of the book kept me riveted.

You could read this on it’s own, but I loved the first book and thought it made a difference knowing Liv’s background, family, and friends.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Kensingtonbooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I loved this mystery, a cozy set in a big town and featuring a heroine who's not a backer or a librarian.
It was a lot of fun, I thoroughly enjoyed it and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
Well rounded characters and good storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Really good story. I was sad the victim was who it was, cause I liked her. Love the tie in with Harry's job and the confusion about who is who. Ending was great! So excited to see what is next!

The second book in this series is so solid! The characters are great, and the New York City setting, especially the way Liv gets to hobnob with celebrities in chic places in this one, is really fun. A good mystery cements it. This one is pushing the traditional boundaries of cozies, and it's part of such a fun new era.

I really enjoyed this book! It has that cosy murder mystery vive to it and it's set in NYC! I did think there were a lot of characters, which made it a bit confusing sometimes, but definitely liked it overall!

A fun, cozy murder mystery with a powerhouse pop-star (think Beyoncé, Taylor, Gaga…), her ambitious fiancé, her missing troublemaker sister, and a whole host of various hangers-on. And our gal Liv Spyers, photographer by day, amateur sleuth by night with her actual (secret) law enforcement boyfriend by her side. While it at times felt a little slow or disconnected, the writing is snappy and the hijinks entertaining. Looking forward to any and all future books in this series :)