A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

I really enjoy this series and it's refreshing to see a relationship move at a decent pace instead of quickly rushing the main character and her love interest into a marriage. I was surprised by the ending though. I honestly didn't see it coming.

Another visit to South Cove, California finds our protagonist Jill Gardner adjusting to life having recently begun living with her boyfriend, police detective Greg. She had an extremely busy life with her recent life change, juggling college classes, her business and her aunt, who is planning her upcoming nuptials. Even with all she has on her plate, she makes time to spend a weekend at "The Castle" to celebrate the engagement of Greg's best friend as well as meeting all the guys and their wives that Greg grew up with. When the guest of honor, Levi, is found dead floating in the pool, the party quickly becomes a group of people that are all considered suspects. When Greg is taken off the case because he was present at the party, he asks Jill to help him investigate. He feels responsible for Levi's death due to the fact that he was killed in his town. Jill does ask some questions and do some research, but she is careful not to put herself in danger. Will they be able to find the killer without The Castle becoming a victim as well? Will Greg find out that one of his friends is a murderer?

I enjoyed this story very much. It was as much about relationships as the mystery itself. What are the implications when an engaged couple has one of them die? Will Greg and Jill be able to survive Greg's previous relationships? What will Greg find out about himself? There is a lot of soul searching going on as this mystery gets solved. The thing that knocked my rating down to 4 stars was the reveal at the end of the book. It seemed to come out of left field although it is explained at that time in the story. There is a bit of a suspenseful cliffhanger at the end involving one of the relationships in the story that I really want to find out what happened. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

I liked this, but I didn't love it. While the mystery was interesting and intriguing, I didn't care for any of Greg's friends, and that made me feel a little apathetic towards solving the murder and seriously Jill, get over the whole relationship angst. The surprising and exciting ending was a great way to end the book, and overall it was entertaining and enjoyable. Mostly, I just enjoy another visit to South Cove and catching up with Jill, Greg and the Coffee, Books & More gang (And I really concerned about Aunt Jackie!)

Great cozy mystery! This was a new series for me - I’m excited to go back and read it from the beginning.

Jill Gardner, - owner of Coffee, Books and More - is still new to having her boyfriend Greg King, South Cove's police chief, living with her when they're invited to a weekend getaway. Well, not so much of a getaway when it takes place at The Castle, which is only ten miles out of town. But still, it's a weekend she doesn't have to work or think about anything but fun...or at least that's what she expects.

The reason they're even there is because Greg's friend Levi, a tech millionaire, is getting married and has rented the entire place for his close group of friends. What Jill doesn't expect is how close this group is. Greg's known everyone since he was a kid, and they pretty much stick together; albeit not the way she'd expect. The girls are in one place, and the guys another. No mingling with their spouses here! Not something she likes, but it's only for a weekend, right?

Wrong...before Jill even has a chance to get to know anyone, Levi is found dead floating in the swimming pool, and since Greg knew the victim, it's the job of a neighboring town to investigate the murder. However, since he can't officially investigate and doesn't want to jeopardize his own job, he calls on the sleuthing skills of his girlfriend to help him (surreptitiously, of course) find out who the murderer might be. While he doesn't want to believe it's any of his friends, Jill isn't so sure. She saw enough of the interaction to realize someone may have wanted Levi gone.

But finding out isn't going to be easy. These people are keeping it close to their vest and not saying anything, for whatever reason. And is Levi's girlfriend Jessica really grieving or is she just a great actress? Since no one will talk, Jill's going to have to tap into the powers of the Internet and her own attention to detail to discover who killed Levi and why - and if there's another person on the agenda...

I have to tell you that this is one of the most delightful series I've ever read. Each book is filled not only with an intriguing mystery, but several subplots as well that blend well with the story and keep it from having 'dead spots'. And, if you're paying attention, they usually lead into the next installment of our narrative.

The characters are well-written, fully dimensional and it's a pure pleasure to spend time with them. Watching the progression of Jill and Greg's relationship is a plus, too, along with the rest of South Cove's residents. It doesn't hurt that there's a possibility of romance on the horizon for one of their community in a future book.

While we watch Jill unravel the mystery in her own unique way - not stepping on toes or being too invasive - we realize once again that things are not what they seem, and the answers we're looking for might be closer than we think. When the ending comes close, and the killer is revealed at last, we realize that obsessions come in many different forms, and even the most obscure of them can be the most visible if we're paying attention.

This is the ninth book in the series, following Hospitality and Homicide, but can be read as a stand alone. It is, as always, outstanding and an entertaining way to spend your hours reading. I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.

Killer Party

by Lynn Cahoon

I had read the eighth book in the Tourist Trap Mystery Series by popular cozy mystery author Lynn Cahoon and was not excited as it focused more on extraneous details of the main character’s personal life and less on the mystery. I am so glad I gave this series and author another chance with Killer Party.

Set at The Castle, a luxurious resort/museum in South Cove, a small town in California, this tale finds Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books, and More celebrating the upcoming marriage of her boyfriend Greg’s old college buddy. Cahoon does a great job of familiarizing the reader with old characters and introducing new ones, while jumping right into the plot. My favorite new character and coffee shop employee is Deek, who initially appears to be a disaster in the waiting. Despite calling everyone “Dude,” Deek is a talented, well-educated young man with great enthusiasm for his work.

There are lots of suspects and threads to the plot. Greg, who is the local police chief, is forced to investigate informally with Jill since he is a friend of the victim. Side issues evolve with Jill’s Aunt Jackie who is planning her own wedding.

Killer Party is fun, interesting and an all-round good cozy mystery. What’s next, Ms. Cahoon? I’m ready!

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: #9 in the Tourist Trap Mystery Series, but works as a standalone

Publication: July 18, 2017—Kensington Books

Memorable Lines:

Actually I wasn’t sure why I was apologizing to this woman I’d never met before. I’d read a book that said one of the ways women give up their power is by saying I’m sorry for things that weren’t their fault.

I needed to have one good meal before we started skirting the law. It was part of the investigators handbook. Or at the least the one I was going to write someday after I made all the mistakes first.

I liked doing laundry. It calmed me in some weird way. Take something dirty and stained and make that all go away. Too bad life wasn’t like that.

I have enjoyed this series a lot over the years and also love going back to this quaint seaside town despite the amount of murder there. However this installment left me feeling a little bleh. Actually it took me so long to finish reading it I actually wondered if I should even finish it. It didn't grab me like the previous books and I always found myself putting it down after a chapter or two.

While it is lovely to have the main characters finally living together I hated how they never really get to see each other. There was always one of them leaving early, being busy with work or any other constant interruptions to their lives together. The plot this time around was uninteresting. I didn't care about any of the people who were suddenly thrown into the mix and I had a hard time keeping the who is who details clear in my head.

Not a horrible installment but a very unimpressive one. Every series has one book that isn't as good as the others and I think Killer Party was that book in the Tourist Trap Mysteries. At least it was for me. However I really look forward to reading the next book and hopefully things will be more like the previous installments.

Killer Party is another exciting installment in Cahoon's Tourist trap mystery series. I always look forward to a new release in this series because I love all the characters, and I loved this book because the reader gets to see Jill and Greg getting closer. When Greg invites Jill to a weekend getaway with some old friends of his, Jill expects a fun weekend that includes some reading time, getting to know Greg's friends, and spending time with Greg not expecting to be at the center of another murder. When Greg is pulled off the case because the victim is a friend of his, Jill takes matters into her own hands determined to find the killer.

Even though Jill and Greg go away for the weekend, they don't go far so South Cove residents are still very much present in this latest adventure. I always look forward to seeing what is happening not just with Jill but also with her friends and family so this story definitely doesn't disappoint. I was happy to see Greg being more supportive of Jill's sleuthing efforts even going so far as to encourage and help her. I enjoyed seeing this relationship become stronger as they dealt with Greg's past. I also liked seeing how the engagements of Jill's aunt and friend made her start to look toward what her future with Greg looks like. Cahoon has done such an amazing job at developing all of these characters both main and secondary. The book's mystery has enough twists and turns to keep the reader's attention from start to finish although this book ends with a cliffhanger that leaves you anxious for Jill's next adventure. Overall Killer Party proved to be a great read that I would most definitely recommend.

Received a copy of Killer Party through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun summer read!

I love our main characters, Jill & Greg. :) They're likeable and well-rounded. I've enjoyed watching their relationship grow over the last eight books. In this ninth one, they have recently moved in together and are both getting used to that new dynamic in their relationship.

The side characters in this installment were something else. Zany, crazy, and wild for sure. Thank goodness Jill has lots of experience in dealing with over-the-top personalities and good old-fashioned vanity because she's got her hands full of them this weekend!

There aren't a lot of setting descriptions here (partially because it IS the 9th book in the series and we've had lots of descriptions of the town up until now), but what are there are enough. They're not too wordy and flowery, but they aren't stark either. They provide enough information for you to be able to imagine the setting well.

The plot line was interesting and moved along steadily. I did have an idea of who the killer was but was never sure until it was revealed. There were definitely a lot of suspects who could have done it and the author kept me guessing until just before the ending.

All in all, a great addition to the series!

This was another great story in this appealing series. Greg and Jill finally find time for a weekend together at South Cove's historic mansion, called The Castle. However, the weekend comes with some extras. It turns out one of Greg's oldest friends is a very rich tech genius named Levi. He and Jessica are to be married and the weekend performs both as a reunion and bachelor party for the group of old friends. South Cove's tourist industry Is at the forefront as the Castle has just changed owners again and current manager Brenda hopes it will continue to be a venue for many activities. The mystery and the subplots kept me reading until the very end. Looking forward to the next one!

(3.5 stars) Murder strikes closer to home in Killer Party, as one of Greg’s high-school friends is murdered during a buddies reunion at The Castle, the historic mansion in South Cove. Since wives and significant others were included in the weekend, Jill and Greg are both on-site when the body is discovered. Given Greg’s connection to the victim, the mayor calls in nearby Bakerstown police to investigate. Jill, of course, is unable to keep from asking questions, and for once, she has Greg’s blessing and help—until she suspects he’s hiding something from her, and she starts delving into the victim’s high-school years.

The glimpses into Greg’s backstory help round him out as a character, and the fact that he and Jill are now living together means we see more of them together. I like the direction this relationship is going, and appreciate that Ms. Cahoon is letting it develop rather than throwing obstacles in their way or introducing unneeded tensions. One of my pet peeves is when series authors try to string romantic tension out too long (will they, won’t they.) Real-life relationships either go somewhere or end; they don’t hang about in limbo. I’m glad this one is going somewhere. Jill deserves to be happy, and so does Greg.

In terms of character and relationship development, I really enjoyed this book. As for the mystery, there are quite a number of red herrings, but few solid clues, which did make me feel I didn’t have a fair chance of solving the case on my own—something that’s rare in Cahoon’s mysteries, since she’s usually pretty good at providing all the clues and combining them with a healthy dose of misdirection. This time, I was left just a trifle disappointed: not by the actual identity of the murderer, but because I’d missed out on some of the fun of figuring it out.

But never mind, I’m always up for a visit to South Cove! I enjoy the recurring secondary characters and the way that Ms. Cahoon has built a townful of people I recognize and (mostly) like—including a few new residents introduced in this book. It’s small-town life not unlike where I live, with relationships made and broken, friendships and rivalries and a community of generally nice, normal people (and the occasional eccentric.) I sometimes wish there were a bit more diversity in South Cove, but I truly appreciate the town and the people, and look forward to my next trip there. Besides, it’s always entertaining to see what Jill gets up to—or into!

This was better then the last one. Jill is back and not really liking Greg's friends so much this group has some secrets and are willing to kill in order to keep them
Greg actually needs Jill' s help this time and shes more then willing to take on the challenge. No one is who he or she claims too be in this installment. This characters are well developed even the secondary ones they all have a back story and they each grow with the various book's.

Killer Party was a good mystery that was just a little too slow moving for me. There was a lot of waiting to check with Greg, or going to talk with a person (again) and not getting new information. I was excited because Jill was more or less sanctioned to investigate, and I thought it would mean a better, deeper, and faster investigation of the murder of Greg's buddy, Levi. However it was almost the opposite.

The author has a good mystery and good characters. I just felt it needed a lot more focus on the investigation and less on other things going on in town. There were some nice unexpected details that made the story more interesting, I just didn't have the urgency to finish as quickly as possible that for me is a hallmark of a great story.

Killer Party
A Tourist Trap Mystery #9
Lynn Cahoon
Lyrical Underground/Kensington, July 2017
ISBN 978-1-60183-636-6
Trade Paperback

From the publisher—

For a gang of old college buddies, the quaint resort town of South Cove, California, is the perfect spot for a no-holds-barred bachelor party. But for Jill Gardner—owner of Coffee, Books and More—this stag party is going to be murder . . .

After a few months of living with her boyfriend Greg, Jill is still getting used to sharing such close quarters, but she’s got no hesitation about joining him for a weekend at South Cove’s most luxurious resort. While Greg and his college pals celebrate their buddy’s upcoming wedding, Jill intends to pamper herself in style. But when the groom is found floating facedown in the pool, Jill must find the killer fast, or she might not have a boyfriend to come home to any more . . .

When I posted a long-overdue review of the third book in this series, If the Shoe Kills, I promised myself to go back to the beginning and catch up but, as so often happens with best-laid plans, it didn’t happen. I still have Guidebook to Murder waiting for me. Sigh…

So, does it matter that I had only read #3 before starting this, the 9th book? Not in the least. It helps that I don’t generally care about reading mysteries in order but this series has the extra added attraction of a protagonist who owns a bookshop and she’s got more than half a brain. It was easy to slide right into this new adventure and adventure it was as Jill jumped right into sleuthing. This time, boyfriend Greg can’t do his usual police chief detecting thing since he has to be considered a suspect in the murder of his best friend.

Sleuthing, in true Jill style, means enlisting the help of family and friends around town and I really enjoyed seeing these familiar folks plus a few who’ve come to South Cove since the last time I “visited”. There’s even a brand new shopkeeper who’s causing a bit of mystery of his own and suspicions about who he might really be.

Lynn Cahoon has the enviable ability to keep a long-running series fresh but, as I can attest, she manages to make individual books provide just enough backstory to make the reader comfortable without being infodumps. As for the mystery taking place in Killer Party, this is a whodunit in the best sense, with plenty of red herrings keeping me guessing all the way. Fair warning, though—we’re left with a bit of a cliffhanger that won’t be resolved till the next book is out so write faster, please Ms. Cahoon!

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, August 2017.

Princess Fuzzypants here:
It is always nice when you find a series that you enjoy at first but like more with each successive book. This is one such series. I have become quite invested in Jill, Greg and all the rest. I think it might be because their lives and relationships seem to flow in a very realistic manner separate and apart from the mysteries which are always good.
This time Greg has a group of old high school chums who have rented The Castle for a bachelor party. The groom is a former nerd who has become very wealthy and makes up for all his nerdom years by trying to seduce every woman he sees. The women in the group come along but are definitely cast in the old style of sexual stereotypes. Needless to say, there are lots of secrets and hidden and not so hidden hurts that make for some testy moments.
When the groom is found floating in a pool, everyone is suspect. Greg, rightly so, is not assigned the case but he and Jill decide to do some investigating on their own. I must confess, I twigged immediately to whom I suspected but it did not hamper my pleasure in the book.
In fact, because the personal relationships have me hooked, I give this five purrs and two paws up. However, because the build of those relationships has been so pivotal to my enjoyment, I think I would suggest going back and reading the previous catalogue, if you are new to the series.

A good cozy mystery. Although Killer Party is book 9 of the Tourist Trap Mystery series the reader can enjoy this installment without having read any of the other offerings in the series.
I didn't feel lost because the plot stood on it's own. But I think I could have enjoy it more had a I had a relationship with the characters.
I enjoyed Greg and Jill but they had left over baggage that affected the present that made me feel 'left out'. I couldn't quite figure them out.
When Greg's friend is killed there is no lacking of suspects.
Jill even begins to wonder what is going on with Greg when he begins acting suspiciously.
Overall. This was a fun read that just might keep you with
questions to the very end.

I received a complimentary copy from Great Escapes Tours.

I love the Tourist Trap Mystery series from Lynn Cahoon, and it just gets better with each new book. Jill is one of my fave amateur sleuths because a) she owns a bookstore, b) she reads books I recognize, and c) she is the kind of person I would want as a friend. She’s witty, kind, and intelligent – and she loves her friends, family, and her golden retriever Emma.

The town of South Cove is another favorite element of the series for me, and in Killer Party we meet some new people and revisit familiar faces. Each book works fine as a standalone but you’ll have a better idea of who everyone is and the dynamics in play if you’ve read at least one or two other books in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. Despite the frequent murders and mayhem that seem to fall on South Cove, this is one cozy-mystery town that I would happily visit for a vacation. You’ll find me hanging out in Jill’s coffee shop/bookstore, in case there was any question.

The mystery in Killer Party kept me guessing at every turn – as well as a couple of subplots that kept me on my toes. One in particular takes a doozy of a twist at the end of the book, leaving me frantically stalking the interwebs for word on the next book in the series. (Don’t worry, fellow cliffhanger loathers – the main mystery is solved and neatly tucked away.)

Bottom Line: I want to be Jill. Perhaps minus the murders she seems to encounter. Ok, so I really just want to own a bookstore. Since that’s not likely to happen, I’m going to continue to live vicariously through her and her adventures in South Cove, California. The characters in Killer Party are layered as well as relatable, and the mystery is well-plotted and nicely paced. If you’re a cozy mystery fan and you haven’t yet discovered the Tourist Trap Mystery series by Lynn Cahoon, you’re really missing out!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

This is #9 in the wonderful Tourist Trap Mystery series by Lyn Cahoon.
Each book can be read as a stand alone . I recommend the entire series . Each book is pure cozy mystery delight.
In this next in series Greg and Jill are taking time off and visiting a local resort with his college friends for a pre wedding party. It is not long before Jill realizes she is uncomfortable with the group. A murder occurs and everyone is in shock. Greg ask Jill to investigate as he is to close to the victim to be objective. As she delves into the group dynamics she finds many had their own disputes with the deceased.
This is a delightful series and our protagonist is the perfect sleuth. Her ability to decipher clues along the way are masterful and what makes this a perfect cozy read. The clues are suspenseful and build throughout to a perfect crescendo of capturing the suspect. I loved this book and look forward to the next in series. Thank you for the ARC with gratitude which did not influence my review. Cross posted to Amazon for the author and publisher .

This book follows Greg and Jill as they are visiting The Castle for a weekend with Greg's college buddies as Levi is getting ready to get married to Jessica a beautiful Russian. Jill tries to make the best of it as she doesn't know these people too well. When something goes wrong and Levi winds up dead in the pool everyone is shocked and even worse Greg is removed from the case as being too close to the situation but Greg does the unthinkable and asks Jill to investigate the murder. The other college buddies and their wives are unable to leave town until the murder is solved.

As Jill digs into the case she learns about things that happened years ago, and learns the latest shop owner a Russian Doll store the little girl initially seems to recognize Jessica but the owner is adament their is no connection. But Jill also discovers the Doll Shop Owner visited Jessica after the death of Levi which makes Jill wonder if they are related. Adding to the bizarre is who sponsored the owner's trip to the USA. This book had so much going for it!

Of course Jill is also dealing with her best friend Amy and her Aunt planning their weddings and Jill can't understand why they have to over plan the weddings. Even going so far as offering her aunt the money to elope in Las Vegas.

Will Jill figure out who killed Levi? And whether it's connected to the doll shop owner? How any of this pertains to Jessica the almost bride?

I love this series so much I have been following it since the first book and Ms. Cahoon is like a fine wine and gets better in every book. This one followed more Greg and his friends and the things they have been up to and doing. I really enjoyed watching as Jill tried to figure out what is going on with the murder of Greg's good friend Levi and his relationship with everyone.

Of course the side story was the various weddings that Jill is involved with between Amy and her Aunt Jackie it's a wonder if Jill is gonna drown in all the wedding details, which take a severe turn at the end. Can't wait to see what is next in South Cove!