What a fascinating book. I was impressed by the storyline and the characters were all well written and complex. Where there are complex storylines combined with intriguing characters the reader experience is magnified tremendously. To have a book that is well written as well as entertaining is a delight. Reading is about escaping your world and entering another one. The word building was phenomenal in this book. Here I forgot about my own life and was immersed in the world created by the author. I would recommend this book.

This is the first book in a series. Two females run a private investigators office in Lexington, Kentucky. Sonia is investigating a cheating boyfriend when she thinks she has seen a murder. This throws her into a whirlwind of adventures with the PI across the street. There is some romance included for Sonia.

This is a fun mystery set in the heart of Bluegrass Country in Kentucky.

Sonia is an investigator, but an unlikely one at that. It is through surveillance of a suspected cheating boyfriend that she uncovers something much more sinister than adultery. Knowing it is out of her league, she approaches the 'competition' in town which leads to a few close calls as they seek to uncover the truth.

Overall this is a delightful read with plenty of scenes in a local bakery that had me wanting a coffee and pastry. There's romantic tension in the book on top of the mystery of what is really going on behind closed doors at the horse farm.

Down the Rabbit Hole is F.J. Messina’s first novel and the first in a planned series of mysteries featuring private investigator Sonia Vitale and her business partner and best friend, Jet. The Bluegrass Files series will follow the adventures of the women of Bluegrass Confidential Investigations as they solve big cases in their small town.

This novel is set primarily in Lexington, KY with attention given to Lexington Castle, the sprawling farms, and of course, the bourbon! It is in this small-town setting that Sonia takes on a case to catch a man cheating on his girlfriend and winds up uncovering much, much more than infidelity. At the same time, she attracts the attention of more than one man – both of whom may end up being instrumental in solving her case, ending her recent romantic drought, and saving her life.

Messina’s debut novel has the potential to grow into a well-loved series. Readers who fall in love with Sonia and Jet will forgive the sometimes clunky flashbacks and their weepiness and will revel in the constant action: car chases, shoot-outs, and clandestine night stakeouts. Plus, there is the humor of all the clever traps set for “bad guys” which don’t work out just as often as they do.

I would recommend Down the Rabbit Hole to fans of complicated love triangles who don’t mind a little I Love Lucy-type humor with their mysteries. At times the main character comes off as a bit fragile and indecisive, and that can be annoying for those who appreciate a more assertive lead character. However, the author may have been trying to portray her as a more believable personality.

Messina’s second and third books in this series, The Bluegrass Files: Twisted Dreams and The Bluegrass Files: The Bourbon Brotherhood, are already in the works and planned for 2018 releases.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Blair Brooke Publishing for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.

The Bluegrass Files: Down the Rabbit Hole is the first book in a new mystery series set in Kentucky. The beginning of the book was at a bit of an idle for me but when the action started the book was full speed ahead of Kentucky action with hints of humor for a story I could not put it down. A private detective that makes a living catching cheating exes, Soria stakes out a farm to catch a cheater. Days of surveillance bring some weird going ons to light and then a mysterious death happens at the farm. When the death is ruled a suicide, Soria heads across the road to recruit the competition. Ex-marine and ex-NCIS, Brandon agrees to help Soria take on the case and they quickly uncover a drug operation and a penchant for finding dangerous situations. The main characters produce good chemistry and toss in an extra love interest for some added conflict. The story just gains momentum all the way until a sweet little HEA and a twisty ending. This book is good start and gives you a hankering for more Soria. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.