I'm starting to think that this series could never disappoint me. I cannot tell you what you I felt when I saw that there was a new book in this series. Needless to say I enjoyed this one as much as I have the others in the series.

Ellison is such a great character to follow. I love her sense of humor and how strong a woman she has become. She also can't help but find dead bodies which provides endless annoyance for her mother and ends up putting Ellison in danger.

I figured out what the first deceased character had been doing that caused her to be killed a little before it was revealed but I was still wrong about who killed her. Ellison and I were both surprised in the end.

The end with Ellison and Anarchy left me with hope for a future romance between them. But then again I've been hoping for a couple of books now.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the galley.

I quite enjoy this book, I found it well written, humorous to a point, whilst making us aware on how far we have come in only such a sort time (to say more would be to spoil the story). I did not think this was my type of book and it is written in the first person, but I really found it entertaining. It certainly bought out some participation of feeling. It isn't a blood and guts story, it could possibly be a cosy but it certainly was a book I couldn't put down and very easy to read.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I loved the Mrs. White dead in the study and Mr. White dead in the dining room part of it. The main character, Ellison, is definitely someone I would have to think twice about being her friend. It seems everywhere she goes the bodies start piling up.

There are several quirky characters that really made the story appealing. There is also an underlying theme that is very serious and plays a major role in this cozy mystery. This was my fourth book by this author and she has yet to disappoint me. This series is fun, enjoyable and entertaining.

Huge thanks to Henery Press for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I have read all of the books in this series about a socialite in Kansas City during the 1970's and her adventures in her country club village. The last one was hilarious, but this one left me not wanting to even finish it.

Where is Ellison at with her daughter, Grace? When Grace is in trouble, Ellison is taking her own sweet time deciding between designer duds to wear to the police station.

There was a lot of stereotypical characters who were just shallow and not interesting. And to be honest I don't think I like Ellison anymore. Instead of a strong independent woman, this Ellison is using her position or rather her fathers position to get her way with the police.

This one was just not that good and I still have no idea what the title refers to.

Even though these books are a little far fetched I still find them enjoyable and know just what to expect when I'm in the mood for something light & entertaining. This is my favorite cozy mystery series -- you can tell because I'm still reading after 5 books in and will continue to read!

The Country Club Murders series is one of my all time favorites, and continues to impress with its well developed characters, the 1970's setting, and a wonderful protagonist, Ellison Russell. Watching the Detectives is funny and amusing, but between the macrame owls, Aunt Sis and Grace being arrested, and the horrid buffet arranged by Ellison's mother for a party, it also deals with murder and some very serious and "not spoken of in polite society" issues facing women of that time period. Additionally, Anarchy has a new partner, a wannabe Columbo, who is convinced that Ellison is the murderer ("don't leave town, Mrs. Russell"). Ellison and Anarchy's relationship continues to sizzle (as does her long-time relationship with her Mr. Coffee), and Ellison's continued ability to stand up to her mother, Frances, is very satisfying. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this book, and hated to see it end. Watching the Detectives would be very easy to read in one sitting, but I like to draw it out as long as I can (which isn't very long!) because I love how Julie Mulhern writes. I highly recommend this book, as I do all the books in the Country Club series -- you won't be disappointed.

Watching the Detectives by Julie Mulhern, featuring Ellison Russell will grab your attention with the first line and leave you dying for more.

This story reads like a favorite board game, Clue.
When Mrs. White is found dead in the study with a gun & Mr. White is found dead in the dining room, by a candlestick no less, Ellie just can't catch a break.

All she wanted was the study redone and in return is the prime suspect in both murders.
When Detective Anarchy Jones and his new partner arrive at the first scene, his cranky partner has no problem believing Ellie is guilty.

How will Ellie get herself out of this mess, especially with her mother breathing down her neck about doing the "right thing."

Find out on May 23rd when Henery Press releases this fantastic book.

I volunteered to read an ARC of this book provided by Henery Press and NetGalley.

I thoroughly enjoyed another trip to St. Louis with Ellison Russell and her engaging cast of characters. "Watching the Detectives" was fast paced and flung me into a dark world that once again involved murder. The victim was the former wife of Hunter Tafft, who has been picked by Ellison's mother to be her daughter's next husband. I won't spoil any of the story, but I applaud Ellison's growth. The last line of the book is spectacular. I am anxiously anticipating the next one.

Julie Mulhern's Country Club Murders series is the type of series that when you get one, you put down other books in order to read Mulhern's. I've read each one and they are fun! The novels are set in the 1970's when people had to wait for friends to get home before they could contact them on the phone, Watching the Detectives follows socialite Ellison as she tries not to get involved in murder. This time, the murders happen right in Ellison's house. Handsome detective and friend, Anarchy Jones has a new partner who thinks Ellison may be involved in the murders. This novel has great characters including Ellison's daughter, plucky housekeeper and disapproving mother. It was fun from beginning to end and I can't wait for the next in the series.

Author Julie Mulhern’s eagerly anticipated fifth novel in the 1970s series featuring Ellison Russell — a widowed artist and a member of Kansas City’s WASP elite —proved literally irresistible. I simply had to devour it in one sitting!

Ellison literally can’t leave her house for 20 minutes without someone getting murdered. When she leaves interior decorator Khaki White alone in her house, taking measurements to redo the study, on her return, Ellison’s finds Khaki shot dead. Who would want to kill Khaki? The sultry Detective Anarchy Jones’ gruff, disagreeable new partner likes Ellison for the murder, although she’s soon cleared. But Ellison’s in the thick of it, picking up clues amongst her well-heeled family and friends. And the book’s message is fabulous, although I won’t spoil the novel’s mystery by revealing it here. Highly, highly, highly recommended.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Henery Press in exchange for an honest review.

Awesome Series
Watching the Detectives is the fifth book in Julie Mulhern’s Country Club Murders series. Ms. Mulhern’s writing style is crisp and clear, the storyline is well developed, and the characters are entertaining, fun, and a little quirky. The setting for this series is the 1970s country club society in Kansas City, Missouri, and all the details are right on target from telephones that must be attached to a wall to work to the some of the carpets being shag to the description of clothes worn by the characters. The mystery is interesting and witty statements and humor are disbursed throughout the book. This book is steadily paced, with lots of twists and turns and enough suspects to keep the reader engaged. The sensitive subject of spousal abuse is addressed in this book. I highly recommend this series to readers who enjoy well-crafted cozy mysteries.

Ellison Russell is a widow, an artist, the mother of a teenager daughter, loves Mr. Coffee, and seems to attract murder victims. Ellison isn’t sure she’s ready for a relationship but has two handsome and caring men, Detective Anarchy Jones, and a lawyer, Hunter Tafft, interested in pursuing one with her. She recently fired her decorator and agreed to meet with Khaki White, a decorator who just happens to be Hunter’s ex-wife, and have her bid on turning her late husband’s office into a study. Aggie DeLucci, her housekeeper, calls with car trouble and Ellison leaves Khaki in her home while she picks up Aggie and their groceries. When they arrive at Ellison’s home, they discover Khaki has been murdered. When Detective Jones and his new partner show up, Detective Peters immediately focuses on Ellison as his prime suspect. Ellison’s socially proper mother, who can be difficult and demanding, is helping Cora, her cousin Thornton’s wife, chair a benefit luncheon and due to plumbing problems at her home offers Ellison’s home for the benefactor’s dinner. When another body shows up at the dinner, Detective Peters is even more convinced of Ellison’s involvement. Ellison thinks Khaki was involved in some shady activities and can’t resist asking questions and investigating on her own, placing herself in harm’s way.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Ellison just wanted a bid on re-doing her ex husbands office, but got a dead body instead. Anarchy to the rescue, but now he has a Colombo like partner, that immediately suspects Ellison of the murder. Skip to a cocktail party and we find Mr. White, killed in the dining room with a candlestick.

This murder is a eye opener for Ellison when she learns that spousal abuse does cross social and economic lines. As usual Ellison and her country club gossip help solve the crime. Fun, witty, and full of twists and turns. At least Mr. Coffee is still as dependable as always.

I love that the books are set in 1974, so many memories for me. Mr. Coffee, the clothes, the cars. At times I have to set my kindle aside till I stop laughing. Julie Mulhern hits the temperature of the times dead on.

Thank you Netgalley and Henery Press for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

A hoot of a salute to the 70s.

In spite of the fact that interior designer Khaki White is Hunter Tafft's 2nd ex-wife, Ellison invites Khaki in to quote on redecorating Henry's study. Khaki's clients are all in Ellison's Country Club circle. Something seems to be off - when the redecorating is done most of the couples get a divorce!

Social issues are exposed and Ellison finds herself facing a gun when Khaki's murderer thinks
that Ellison knows more than she does. Will Anarchy Jones arrive in time to rescue Ellison?

I'm not going to spoil this plot. It is just so much fun to be back in 1974. Book 5 takes place 6 months after book 1 and Ellison's love life is definitely improving.

The only sad part is that now I have to wait another year for the next book!

Watching the Detectives: The Country Club Murders
By Julie Mulhern
Henery Press
May 23, 2017

Review by Cynthia Chow

Ellison Russell didn’t want to refuse a request from handsome attorney Hunter Tafft, even if that meant allowing his ex-wife to make a bid on redecorating Ellison’s study. However much Hunter may have helped to keep Ellison out of jail, it’s definitely not worth her putting up with Khaki White’s inappropriate and intrusive comments. Before Ellison can formally reject the decorator’s suggestions, a frantic phone call from the housekeeper forces Ellison to leave Khaki alone in the house. It’s only been four days since Ellison was attacked by a homicidal clown, so she’s not exactly prepared to tell the police she has just returned home to discover that Mrs. White has been killed in the study by a revolver.

Ellison’s life is not a game, despite the fact that she also finds Mr. White murdered in the dining room by a candle stick. It’s a miracle that Ellison retains her wry and black sense of humor, since life has recently dealt her a cheating husband, widowhood, a too-smart teenaged daughter, and an extremely judgmental, image-conscious mother. When a plumbing crisis destroys the site of a questionable benefactor’s party, Mother doesn’t hesitate to offer up Ellison’s home as the alternative site. Mother’s rule over the conservative Junior League ghetto will have her butting heads with Ellison’s own daughter and Aunt Sis, all of whom have taken sides regarding Ellison’s romantic future. Having staged his own rebellion against an attorney-filled family, Detective Anarchy Jones enjoys Ellison’s presence in his life; he just wishes that she would stay out of his professional cases.

The author perfectly captures the 1970s upper-class setting where couples play bridge, women belong to tennis clubs and have affairs with the pro, and Mr. Coffee is the source of high-quality caffeine. The prevalent elitism and sexism is unsettling and uncomfortable to read, and it’s impossible to read sections without squirming in righteous anger. So it’s a joy to observe just how strong and independent Ellison has become since the debut of the series, and how she uses her sharp wits and humor to give her strength. The relationship between the three generations of women has transformed as well, and as much as they exasperate, misunderstand, and perhaps disappoint one another, there is always an unwavering foundation of love. Ellison and her mother are definitely from different generations; Mother unwaveringly believes that by following society’s rules, she is keeping chaos at bay and protecting the proper order of life. In contrast, Ellison is discovering a new freedom that is not just revelatory, it is invigorating. The mystery itself is unsettling, and it completely upends Ellison’s protected and naïve beliefs. This continues to be an extraordinarily series that entertains with its satisfying blend of romance, domestic fiction, and mystery.