I liked the first book in this series and I liked this one.
It's a bit slow paced at the beginning but it soon becomes a page turner you will not be able to put down.
I like Cleo, she's a very clever no-nonsense woman. I also love the cast of senior characters who are all likable and well written. Tinkerbelle the cat is sweet and lovely.
The mystery is good, no plot hole, and it kept me guessing till the end.
I like the setting and I would have preferred some less discussione about cars.
I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I enjoyed my second visit to Royale Court (a shopping area). Lots of activity at the senior community. Antique cars are featured. A hint of romance. An ex-husband. A murder, of course. Several suspects. A captivating tale.

Murder at Royale Court
(Cleo Mack #2)
by G.P. Gardner

Kindle Edition
Expected publication: June 4th 2019 by Lyrical Underground



Goodreads synopsis:
Harbor Village is a vivacious retirement paradise known for its beachy locale and active senior scene. But ever since murder moved in, the idyllic coastal community is becoming a little less lively . . .
 
With the first annual antique car show cruising into the tranquil bayside oasis of Fairhope, Alabama, there are bumpy roads ahead for Harbor Village director Cleo Mack. As an automobile-themed lecture series gets off to a rough start, she finds herself balancing one too many responsibilities—and dodging advances from a shady event sponsor. It’s enough to make Cleo feel twice her age. But the festivities reach a real dead end when she discovers a body at the Royale Court shopping center . . .
 
When an innocent man lands in the hot seat for murder, Harbor Village residents look to Cleo to crack the case. Aided by an eclectic group of energetic seniors, Cleo races to identify the true culprit from a growing list of harmless Sunday drivers—before a killer revs up for another hit and run!

***

3 Stars

When I chose to review this book, I didn’t realize it was set in a senior community. So, when I started reading, it took me aback for a few chapters. You don’t see a lot of older sleuths in the cozy mystery genre these days even though Miss Marple was surely one of the forerunners. Once I got past that fact, I discovered it was a pretty good read. But you will need to get your score cards out because there are A LOT of people running around in this book. I had a hard time keeping track of them all.

Basic premise: Cleo and her friends go into one of the businesses at Royale Court. The door is open even though the business looks closed. Their friend, the shop owner should have been there and they decide to wait inside. They find a dead body inside the bathroom in the business in an awkward position. He was wearing biking gear as if he had recently been on a bicycle ride. And off the story goes from there.

I was having a hard time connecting to this book. Not sure if it was the over-abundance of characters or the setting still throwing me off. I don’t have much experience with senior communities so it was unclear how to visualize such a place. I am sure the seniors among us will find this book quite compelling but for me it fell flat. It was just okay. Middle of the road. I didn’t connect with any of the characters or even care if the mystery was solved… Sorry to say.

But this could be your cup of tea, so check it out if you are so compelled.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Murder At Royal Court is the second book in the Cleo Mack Mystery series.

Cleo has taken early retirement and moved to Fairhope, Ala. She decided to take a part-time job at the Harbor Village retirement village, but when the executive director is found dead, Travis McKenzie(her ex-husband) appoints her as the new executive director. Cleo is making changes to the community and the residents are extremely happy with them.

Cleo’s neighbor, Nita, has agreed to watch her friend Ann’s knitting shop for a few hours and asks Cleo if she would like to go with her and look over the shop. When they get there, Evie who has a dollhouse shop next door comes over and asks to use the bathroom that is shared by the two shops as somebody has locked the door on her side. Upon opening the bathroom door she sees a body on the floor. It’s quickly identified as Devon Wheat, a financial planner, who has an office at the back of the building. Ann, who remembers that Cleo recently helped solve a murder, asks if she will investigate this death, as she feels her brother will be the prime suspect. Cleo with the help of Nita and some other residents of Harbor Village begin to search for the killer. They soon find that Wheat’s financial planning may leave something to be desired and possibly one of his clients was out for revenge.

The story is well-plotted and told. There is a wonderful cast of characters which are also interesting and well developed.

I will be watching for the next book in this new series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

I did think this started out slow, and as a result I had a hard time getting into it at first. After a while I fell into the story, and started having a bit of fun with Cleo. I thought the car information was a little heavy, probably because of all things in the world cars interest me the least( the perils of being with a car mad guy is I just don't WANT to know anymore than I already do, it already feels overwhelming!) but I liked the strong of characters and the mystery itself. This is an older sleuth mystery too, which I don't read too many of so that made for a change as well.

A fun cozy, would recommend. Four stars.

Murder at Royale Court is the 2nd in the Cleo Mack series. Cleo has retired early to Fairhope Alabama and is the director of a senior living facility called Harbor Village. The Village is definitely filled with a unique and eclectic cast of characters that truly make this story. The town of Fairhope is hosting a classic car show and Harbor Village has been hosting a series of lectures and she is busy with everything going on. She promises to help a friend at a local knitting shop and when a body is found dead in the restroom the fun begins. The residents expect Cleo to solve the murder but she has the car show and the job as director of the resort. She also has some romance brewing. This was an engaging and fast paced mystery and keeps you entertained. Good series and looking for more.

Cleo can't seem to get a break! She is a widow who, when she retired from her job as a professor, too a job at the Harbor Village, a retirement community. Little did she know that her ex- husband Travis was involved with the project. She was looking forward to being close to her daughter Stephanie but surely not to him. This is the second in the series and don't worry if you didn't read the first one- Gardner catches you up. Cleo's found her feet in the community, made some friends, has a love interest, and now she's got a dead man in the shopping area! Of course, she's intrepid and of course she's going to sort out what's what and who's who. This is fun, well written, and the characters are all mature (in age and attitude). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

If you like cars you’ll love this book. Even though it was a little heavy on car information I mostly enjoyed the story. The characters were warm and multifaceted, however It wasn’t a page turner. There were multiple plot holes and the ending didn’t clear anything up. I enjoyed the pieces of the book but there were just too many unanswered questions for me at the end,

I was provided an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Murder at Royale Court is the second book in G. P. Gardner’s Cleo Mack series. The storyline is well plotted, and the diverse cast of characters well developed. This steadily paced whodunit is an easy to read cozy with an interesting mystery, some colorful and quirky characters, multiple potential suspects, twists, and red herrings to keep readers engaged. The mystery kept me guessing, and all the loose ends are tied up nicely.

Cleo Mack is a widow and has a close relationship with her daughter, Stephanie, who lives in Birmingham with her husband, and their young son, Barry, but is estranged from her ex-husband (Stephanie’s father), Travis McKenzie. Cleo recently moved to Fairhope, Alabama, rented an apartment at Harbor Village Retirement Center, and is employed as its Executive Director. When she moved in, Cleo was unaware that the retirement center was one of her ex-husband’s projects. She became fast friends with Nita Bergen, her husband, Jim, Dolly Webb, and Riley Meddors. Fairhope is hosting Grand Concours, an antique car show, and Harbor Village is hosting a series of lectures and their speaker, Reg Handleman, talks about the history of cars, their values, and warns attendees about investment scams involving rare cars. Nita agreed to watch Ann Slump’s knitting shop for a few hours and invited Cleo to join her. When Evie, Ann’s sister, who owns a dollhouse shop, Lilliput, is locked out of the restroom, she comes to Ann’s shop to gain entry. Unfortunately, she finds a body in the bathroom shared by Royale Knit Shop, Lilliput, and the back office. The victim, Devon Wheat, is a financial planner with offices in Royale Court shopping center. Ann, who is worried her brother, Usher, is a suspect, approaches Cleo, who recently helped solve a murder, asking her to help prove his innocence. Cleo’s determined to help Ann, and with the help of her friends, uncovers surprising information that they share with Lieutenant Mary Montgomery and Chief Boozer.

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

I hadn't read the first book in this series, but loved the second! The characters were run and the mystery had a great plot. I thought the setting in retirement community had a lot of fun interactions with different groups of people from all walks of life. I will definitely read the first book in the series and continue reading more as they come out!

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Kensington Books in return for an honest review. This is the second book in a new series, set in a small town in Alabama, on the gulf coast, and can be read as a stand-alone. Cleo Mack is a mature woman, embarking on a second career at the instigation of her ex-husband. She is the manager of Harbor Village, a very active retirement community. In between juggling budgets, maintenance, personalities and a slowly developing romance, Cleo agrees to join a friend visiting the local yarn shop when they discover a dead body in the bathroom. A prime suspect is the really odd brother of two residents, who ask Cleo to see what she can find out, in order to clear him of suspicion. Add in a major antique auto show, coupled with a series of evening lectures at the retirement community and Cleo really has her hands full! The author does a good job of writing each character individually (and there are lots of them!) so the reader can easily keep track of who each one is and what they’re doing. I look forward to reading the next in this series.

I’m retiring to Fairhope, Alabama. I’m sipping sweet tea on a balcony, knitting, and maybe solving the occasional murder. Just kidding! But I really enjoyed this murder mystery set in a cute southern town, with lots of charm and chicken salad. Sweet characters, great pace, and full of good research. I recommend it highly.

I didn’t read the first of the Cleo Mack series, but the author included enough background to get me up to speed with the characters and setting. I loved the seniors and the setting as well as Cleo’s developing confidence as the director of Harbor Village. I especially liked the antique car show with the descriptions and history of many of the automobiles on display. But then, antique cars are an interest of mine! I’ll be looking for the next book in the series.

I was disappointed by the first book in the series but decided to give this second book in the series a try.
It just did not grab me and I found the whodunit predictable.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

A fun filled mystery! Well written and executed, great characters, and an entertaining plot that keeps you turning the page. An enjoyable read.

Murder at Royale Court by G.P. Gardner is the second book in the Cleo Mack series and did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed the first in this series and was equally intrigued by this one.

Cleo is finally beginning to feel at home in Harbor Village as she learns the ropes of becoming the Harbor Village director. She has made friends with several of the residents and enjoys spending time with them at the activities that are scheduled at this retirement community. The plot is well-crafted and quickly paced as Cleo doesn't set out to solve the mystery but becomes involved when a neighbor and friend asks for her help. The secondary characters of active seniors each add insights to this perplexing murder mystery. I look forward to more mystery adventures with Cleo and her friends.

Murder at Royale Court is a nice cozy mystery series that has good characters and is written good. This is a enjoyable series.

I was hoping to be more excited when I read this book. The beginning of it was good, but more than half way through it just began to drag. I found myself skipping pages and skimming the paragraphs, hoping something would catch my eye.
Unfortunately I did not finish the book.

The second book in the Cleo Mack series continues on with the lives of the seniors populating Harbor Village in Alabama. A delightful experience is to spend time with the residents. I
. Cleo promised Ann that Nita and she would take her place at the knitting shop. There they find a man dead in a bathroom that joined 3 shops. It was later determined that he was strangled. Cleo has her work running the resort, looking for the killer, and all the events for the area's auto show.
Harbor Village will host a series of talks about the history of automobiles. This is a highly popular series. Cleo has to juggle romantic interest between several men. A love triangle is not occurring. The ending is unusual but satisfactory. I highly recommend this book and series.
Knitting pattern included.

Disclosure: Thanks to Lyrical Underground for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

Cleo Mack had thought she was retiring when she moved to Fairhope, Alabama, but before she knew it she was managing Harbor Village, one of her ex husband’s retirement communities. When a car show comes to town, the residents of Harbor Village host a series of lectures on the topic and everyone is hot and heavy for classic cars.

When a body is found in the Royale Court shopping center, Cleo finds even more has been added to her plate as she tries to help a Harbor Village’s resident who suspects her brother may have a hand in the murder. With a growing list of suspects, many who would have been up past their bed time at the time of the murder, Cleo has her hands full trying to manage it all. Quite a few red herrings to keep you in suspense until he end.

While I did not read the first book in this series, I certainly did not feel like I was missing any information as this book solid as a standalone. Very enjoyable and a solid storyline and well developed characters. Will be reading the first in the series and look forward to future entires.