The Advice Column Murders by Leslie Negel is the 3rd book in the Oakwood Mystery series, and another great addition. I really enjoy this series. Charley is curious about her new neighbors. The father is always yelling at his family, and they are all unfriendly. When a letter appears in the advice column, asking about child neglect, she wonders if the writer is talking about the neighbors. When someone dies in the neighbors home, Charley plans on getting to the bottom of it, with the help of her boyfriend Detective Marcus Trenault. This book kept me reading page after page, and it had more twists and turns as we figured things out along with Charley. I strongly recommend this book and series.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is such a great little series. Charley is in for a lot of surprises when she finally meets her new neighbors; they are one big mystery to her. From Dr. Paxton’s early morning screaming matches then tearing off in his Mercedes to the young woman who tries to reach out to Charley late one evening to talk about something. The young woman is cut off by her mom, calling her home before they could finish their conversation. The young woman seems to be too old to be the daughter of Judith, Dr. Paxton’s wife who has a set of four-year-old twins. Marc is out of town, and Charley is having her shop renovated so she's at loose ends. When a murder happens next door, things start getting crazy; there seems to be only a few people who could have committed the murder and worse yet, the Chief of police is letting the Sheriff’s department handle the case which is a total bust. When Marc returns home, he’s under strict orders to stay away from this case. Charley is determined to find the killer anyway. She finds herself in hot water with the Sheriff’s department and things are not looking so hot for Marc either. She’s found out a lot of secrets about the Paxton’s and none of them are good. Can she flush out the killer before it’s too late?
I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an e-galley of this book for my honest opinion.

This is the third book in the Oakwood series, and I enjoyed it more than the previous two. The characters are really coming into their own as the series progresses. Although this is a series, I feel that you could read this book as a standalone. Charley Carpenter, the main character, has new neighbors, and they are loud. A married couple named Paxton and Judith live there and Paxton keeps screaming at his wife. Their kids seem scared. One day Charley hears the yelling and when she goes to investigate finds the body of Judith's sister. Did she reach out for help in a local newspaper column called Ask Jackie? Did Paxton kill her? Charley starts to investigate and finds that her cop boyfriend Marcus has been kicked off the case.

I recommend this book and the other books in the series. Thanks to Alibi and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Advice Column Murders
The Oakwood Mystery Series
by Leslie Nagel
Random House Publishing Group - Alibi
Alibi
Mystery & Thrillers , Women's Fiction
Pub Date 03 Apr 2018
I am reviewing a copy of The Advice Column Murders through Alibi and Netgalley:

Charley Carpenter feels like death warmed over, she swallows pain relievers to help ease the Insomnia induced headache she can't seem to shake. She wanted to crawl back under the covers but that wasn't an option.

Charley knows the couple next door is hiding something, her new neighbors are standoffish but she can hear the loud screams even behind closed doors, something isn't right, but what?


A neighbors daughter is murdered, but who would want to kill her, and why? Could it have anything to do with the secrecy?

I give The Advice Column Murders four out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

First time reader of Leslie Hagel and can I say I have been missing out. What an incredible read about a small town girl, Charley, and her Nancy Drew sleuthing skills. I had so much fun reading this book and was completely floored by the ending. I thought I had it all figured out and I most certainly did not. Quirky, refreshing read and I certainly can not wait to read some more of her books. Highly recommended author and book.

I think it is not very well written, the story is boring and moves very slowly and lags a lot. There were some interesting aspects to it but not enough to make it enjoyable. When I finished I put it down and thought, "Well that was a waste of time."

Enjoyable book! Lots of twists that I didn’t see coming. It kept me glued to the story until I could turn the last page. This is the first book that I’ve read by this author and now it definitely has peaked my interest to read more in this series. The each book in the series is stand alone so I wasn’t lost in the storyline.
Murder via advice column. I had no idea how it was going to end. Plus there were lots of little subplots going on too.

Last summer I went through a cozy mystery phase and binged a whole bunch of cozies. I feel the craving for quirky characters and fun mysteries again. So I was happy to find The Advice Column Murders on Netgalley. I haven't read the previous two books in the Oakwood Mystery series, but I know for most cozies that's not necessary.

The problem with reading several books back-to-back in the same genre is that you start comparing them. I think that is what happened with The Advice Column Murders. It was okay, but not really anything too memorable.

Maybe because I hadn't read the first two books in the series, but I found it difficult to connect to any of the characters. I thought Charley was whiny. It wasn't until the end when she stopped her whining that I thought I might be starting to like her. There is a large cast of characters but they all seem pretty thin as characters. I kept confusing Marc and Mitch.

The mystery was really good and I was still guessing who did it right up to the reveal. I was close to figuring it out but there was a twist at the end that I hadn't figured into it. Always a sign of a good mystery.

I'm a stickler for details in books. They make the story so much richer when done right. However, when the facts are wrong, it puts a damper on the book, for me. I don't know if it was supposed to be a character trait or if the author didn't do her research.

Pretty early on in the story, we meet Dr. Sharpe's aide, a Master Sergeant. Even though it is mentioned that she has been in the service 17 years, Charley and her friend make the assumption that she has given up promotions by following Dr. Sharpe around. But if you have watched many military shows or read many stories featuring the military, you would know that Master Sergeant is a top rank for an NCO. And because I was curious I did a quick Google search and discovered that it usually takes 17 years to reach the rank. Since there is a limit to the number of people who can hold the next two highest ranks, many have their years in without ever reaching one of the higher ranks.

Overall, it was a decent story. I don't know if the vintage clothing plays a bigger role in the other mysteries, or if it is supposed to add a bit of quirk to the main character (she owns a vintage clothing store). Yes, her store in under renovation during this story, but it would have added a bit to the book if her knowledge of vintage clothing had played into the mystery.

While I don't feel a burning desire to run out for the first two books, I would probably give another cozy mystery by Leslie Nagel a chance if I came across it.

This book is a series with two other books in this series of three. It is a cozy mystery with likable characters and a well-described setting. It's a place you'd like to visit. The main character Charley is the investigator in this book and she has some issues, mainly a failure to commit to her boyfriend, Marc. The story involves a family in the mist of a crisis. While I enjoyed the book, I found that it would have been very helpful to have read the other books in the series first.

This was the first book I read in the series and will not be my last. I now have the other 2 in this series added to my to be read list. Charley Carpenter is the owner of a hat store and there is a lot of stress as she is waiting out for the expansion of her store. As a distraction to the noisy neighbors, she read the advice column Ask Jackie. Jackie hints at a child in danger and when Charley hears a scream next door, she discovers the next-door neighbor’s daughter. I am always fascinated that if faced with the same circumstances would we rush out and investigate as all my favorite cozy stories do. Perhaps. This was a good story that kept me engaged and I will definitely read the first two in the series as well as look forward to the next one.

This is not the first mystery I have read featuring used clothing store owner/amatuer detective Charlie Carpenter by author Leslie Nagel and I really enjoyed this one too. I was given an ARC by Netgalley to review. This book can stand alone, but I enjoyed feeling that I knew the characters and was catching up on their lives. Even in a small town you do not always know what goes on in the neighbors' homes. Charlie uncovers a lot more than she ever suspected at her next door neighbors' when she discovers a dead body in the basement. While she is looking into the mystery surround the death she is also coming to terms with her relationships with her family and her boyfriend, and whether she is using feelings of obligation to her wheelchair bound father to avoid commitment to police dective Marc. I thought it was a good story with many layers that kept me guessing until the end.

In a small town like Oakwood, Illinois, secrets are hard to come by. Charlotte “Charley” Carpenter thought the same thing until the Paxtons, her next-door neighbors, moved in. The family seemed withdrawn and unwilling to mingle with their new neighbors, making an effort to ignore them at all costs. The constant yelling coming from the neighbor’s house does not stop the local rumor mill from gossiping about what happens behind closed doors. When a strange letter is published in the advice column of the local newspaper suspicions began to arise about the very private neighbors. When a scream comes from next door, Charley races over to investigate and discovers a grisly scene. Is there a connection between the heinous act and the letter submitted to the advice column?

The Advice Column Murders is the third book in the Oakwood Mystery series. While I have not read other books in the series, I did not find myself with too many questions about characters. I feel Nagel’s character development was enough to outline the relationships between the protagonist, Charley, and other main characters in the story as well as include tidbits of information referring to past storylines without giving too much away. There were some characters I wish I saw more than I did but I can go back and read the other books in the series for that…

Charley was a believable protagonist and I found myself liking her the more I read the book! She was an amateur sleuth, yes, but she did not come off as incompetent. I actually found it quite funny (not in a bad way) that law enforcement in the town saw her as a valuable resource. I connected with her as a character because she was not without her own insecurities. She struggled trying to find balance between her relationship with her detective boyfriend, living with her father/caregivers, and owning her business.

The mysteries, or I should say mysteries, kept me guessing for most of the story. Using the advice column as the basis for the plot lines fit the setting of a small town where everyone is quite aware of each other and their business. Introducing more than one mystery also held my interest without having to include unnecessary details to prolong the story. Nagel did a great job of making sure the mysteries flowed together. They did not seem out of place nor did they require extensive explanation to justify.

I would definitely recommend this book to my patrons! I was weary about starting the third book in the series but was immediately sucked into Oakwood and its cast of characters. I need to find a way to get my hands on the first two books in the series! Nagel takes care to intricately weave each mystery into one another and keeps the reader guessing throughout. Those wanting a cozy mystery with a strong female protagonist, a hint of romance, and a long list of suspects should check out The Advice Column Murders!

Charley Carpenter wants to know what the couple next door is up to. The small town Vintage fashionista isn't your average small town busy body! Fun characters, great clothes. I look forward to more in the series.

First I would like to thank Random House and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this story.

I would give this book 3.5 stars, I enjoyed the story, I liked the characters, but this is the third book in the series and this first one that I have read from this series. For the first third on the book I felt lost and that I was missing information. I kept going back to reread chapters to see if I had missed something but it was probably just information from a previous book. Having said all that I am going to get the previous books and then reread this book in the proper order, having all the background information will probably change my review stars.

I would advise anyone who is interested in this book, because the story was REALLY good, start at the beginning of the series.

This was a sharp read, with a compelling mystery and a lot of interesting human dynamics. I admit that I was a little lost at times with all the characters, though--I felt that I might have done better to have read the first two books in the series first, or maybe I just needed a paper copy so I could flip back to see who people were.

Despite that flaw (or was the challenge due to my tired brain?), I was immediately grabbed by the story and read it through very quickly, in a hurry to see what came next. The hint that a child is in danger definitely adds to the sense of urgency in the book, and as each turn of events reveals more secrets of the Sharpe family it becomes hard to pick which person you prefer to be guilty. A police detective who is ripe for hating adds the frosting on the cake (I wouldn't have minded pinning the murder on him!), and gives the perfect excuse for Charley and her pals to investigate on their own.

The love interest progresses with some tension and conflict, but no unnecessary drama. The issues Charley has to work through are believable, though again I felt that perhaps I had missed something that I'd know if I'd read the other books. I thought the romance/mystery balance was about right (as regular readers will know, that means there is more mystery than romance, and as noted, no drama that could be fixed by simply being honest) (in the relationship, I mean. The mystery is riddled with people lying all over the place, which is good).

The final reveal was a surprise, and fairly dramatic, but did run to a little too much talk. And the author definitely withheld some of the steps along the way so that the reader could be surprised, which made me feel just a hair cheated. Still, it wasn't enough to turn me off, and I enjoyed the book enough to want to go back and start at the beginning of the series.

My Recommendation:
A good modern village cozy--a small town (or small city, really) mystery with lots of interconnected characters. I recommend this if you like your mysteries intricate and light to moderate on romance (the boyfriend is unquestionably a hunk. That is not a bad thing). Suggest you read the series in order.

I am truly enjoying this series. This time we are in for some major surprises! Things are being shaken up in Oakwood, Ohio. All the action seems to be focused on the street where unofficial sleuth Charley Carpenter lives. The new neighbors next door are anything but neighborly. What secrets are they hiding behind their doors?
When one of them reaches out for help, the timing is bad and Charley says she'll get back to her. Sadly, the neighbor runs out of time. This adds to Charley's guilt and curiosity.
Her sweetheart, ace detective Marcus Trenault, is out of town and the detective assigned is not making friends or headway on the case. He also is not inclined to listen to any theories Charley has to offer.

Fortunately for Charley she has a loyal group of friends and "irregulars" who not only listen but give her extra information. Unfortunately for the neighbors, the closer Charley gets to the truth, another victim is discovered under their noses and on their street.

A wonderful cast of personalities populate this series and this changing community.
Certain events occur in this book that set things up for interesting times ahead.
I like how all the regulars were tied into being involved but it was a fresh approach.

Another great entry in the Oakwood Mystery series, with this one striking a more serious tone than the previous entries. The Advice Column Murders was an enjoyable read for me. Our heroine, Charley Carpenter, is likable, clever, and a competent sleuth. I like her more and more with each entry in the Oakwood Mystery series, and I really enjoyed her in this one.
Charley stumbles across a dead body, that of her next door neighbor, and once again is on the case, trying to solve the crime. This particular crime, and the crimes that follow (there’s never just one murder in a cozy mystery!) had more of a serious meaning and message behind them. With themes of abuse, gender, and family drama coming into play here, this mystery felt far more serious than a typical cozy mystery. I liked this foray into a more serious nature, but at the same time missed that playfulness that the previous books had.
While Dmitri, Charley’s best friend and my favorite character, doesn’t get a lot of page time here, it does allow us to learn more about the other people in Charley’s life. We see more of Lawrence, friend and caregiver to Charley’s father, and his girlfriend, Afiya, and we also hear more from Bobby, Charley’s father, who is wheelchair bound after suffering a stroke. Handsome Marcus Trenault, Charley’s boyfriend, comes back into town as well, and he wasn’t given as much of a focus here, which I liked.
In terms of the mystery, I had absolutely no clue who the killer was, and enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery during the course of the book. I love it when I have no idea whodunit, but it still makes sense when all is revealed at the end.
Bottom Line: Another great entry in the Oakwood Mystery series!

This is the best one yet!!! Charley Carpenter is dealing with setbacks expanding her shop, Old Hat Vintage Fashions.
As usual Charley has a few things she's dealing with. One of them is trying to find out who and why someone is sabotaging her expansion. Then her pain in the butt (my opinion) neighbor Judith is found kneeling over her dead daughter’s body.! There's a new detective working the murder and she now has two kids to look after!!
Yep, this series keeps getting better and better. The relationship between Charley and her friends, her interest in Det. Marc T. combine to make this a wonderful series. I love seeing the growth and strength of the characters as they progress from book to book. I highly recommend not only this book but this ENTIRE series!
Three cheers for Ms. Nagel, a well written perfectly paced book that keeps you turning pages and never noticing time slipping by. I can't wait for book four !

This series just gets better with each book that includes a great cast of characters and a good mystery with twists, turns and surprises. I love vintage fashionista and amateur sleuth Charley Carpenter and her dynamic with everyone in the small town of Oakwood, Ohio, especially Detective Marcus Trenault. This book quickly became a page turner and had me flipping pages as fast as I could to see what would happen next.

This is a must read for everyone who enjoys well-crafted small town mystery. Ms. Nagel blew me out of the water with this book and I look forward to the next Oakwood Mystery.

I received a free advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my unbiased review. I enjoyed it so much I purchased a copy to read again later.

Charley Carpenter is on the case again as she finds herself solving a mystery right in the neighborhood. When a young woman asks her to help out with a crime, Charley is drawn into a mystery. When the same young woman is found dead, Charley starts collecting the clues including the fact that this woman was once pregnant. There were many layers to this mystery and I enjoyed piecing together the suspects to figure out who done it. I was surprised by who the murder actually was! Well done.