When a man who has spent most of his life swindling people is murdered there are a lot of suspects. At the top of the list is Mikki Lincoln, a septuagenarian, who just happened to get into an argument with the victim before his death. Now Mikki is investigating what happened but is being deterred by her nephew Nick who is trying to keep her safe.

There are a lot of things I liked about this story. An older protagonist is rare and she along with other seniors were portrayed as still being a vital part of the community. The plot was interesting and kept me guessing to near the end. What kept me from giving it 5 stars is I got tired of Mikki getting mad/annoyed all the time.

Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Michelle (Mikki) Lincoln is a retired school teacher now working as a freelance book editor. She has a very vocal and public loss of temper with the town's reviled slippery character regarding content an author may be including in a book she is editing and the video of the altercation is quickly shared online. When he is murdered THAT night, the police obviously suspects her.

The protagonist, at 70 and having dealt with hormonal teens for years, has learned to brook no nonsense from anyone and quickly puts most in their place--to the point of being rude. Her interview style tends to be direct and it's difficult to invest in her. Her nephew, Nick, comes to make sure she is safe, but they clash. Her cousin, Luke, is hiding secrets but she is determined to see he is cleared while not seeing the same dynamic in the relationship between her and her nephew. Whether or not you can invest in the characters, they are entertaining, if not wholly developed.

The storyline is well-plotted and moves at an engaging pace. There are red herrings and twists and the author repeatedly points to the obvious, who the reader has already discounted. But that leaves...who?

The conclusion wraps up the plot with only a slight surprise at the ultimate perp. I enjoy the author's writing style, although I have some difficulty with the picture painted of War Babies and Baby Boomers. This is my first experience with the author and the series, which I thought worked as a standalone, but I'd like to see a softening of Mikki in Book 4, as well as her cane-wielding friend. I appreciated the perfect grammar, definitely a few teachable moments, and the Fun Facts at the end of the book.

I received this digital download through the publisher and NetGalley and appreciated the opportunity to read and review. Would recommend to those who enjoy cozy mysteries. 3.5/5 stars

What a fun cozy-mystery series to discover. Mikki is a retired 70-something school teacher who supplements her income by editing manuscripts. When she gets into a very public argument with a real estate developer who is later found dead, she is a viable suspect in his murder, as are a lot of other people.

I liked Mikki and her independence, and I also enjoyed the surrounding characters - there were a lot of them but not so many that I felt lost. I also liked that Mikki wasn't stupid about the things she did (one of my pet peeves in mysteries). The setting is also good and sounds beautiful!

My thanks to netgalley for letting me review this book.

A well written novel about an elderly editor that is editing a tell all about life in the heyday of the Catskills resorts. Mikki Lincoln is accosted at the gas station in her hometown of Lenape Hollow by Greg Onslow.

I could see Mikki going off on Greg but that’s not enough for her to be the prime suspect of Greg’s death later. I liked the twists and turns, the family aspect, using items from the news in the past few years to throw the reader into a maze of suspects.
I liked how family assists Mikki and is overly concerned as she tries to clear her cousin and herself.

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley. I am not required to leave a positive review.

This is my first Deadly Edits mystery and I was pleasantly surprised by the sharp wit and spry retired middle school teacher turned free lance editor. I believe that one would say that she was full of gumption and loyal to family and friends. While it seems quite silly for the police to repeatedly question her regarding the death of the town con man and CEO of the local development company, as a result of a very fine and very public "dressing down" of said developer. The story did a good job of building suspense and developing characters. There are quite a few interesting characters to be found in Lenape Hollow some young and some not so young. Which means that the guilty party could be Onslow’s former personal secretary, his current wife, the grandmother of his deceased wife, the Vice President of his company, one of his wife’s admirers (she is a bit of a looker), or any one whom Onslow had swindled over the years (there seems to be an every growing list), and Ms. Mikki Lincoln (our mystery solving maven). This story illustrates how a lady in her seventh decade can be when faced with adversity. Added bonus to this story are the various grammar lessons that are sprinkled throughout the book and a random selection from “The Write Right Wright’s Language and Grammar Tips” by Mikki Lincoln.

Mikki Lincoln, a lady of a certain age, has retired to her hometown as a book doctor, using her skills as a former English teacher to edit books. A Fatal Fiction is book three in an ongoing series, but I found that it worked as a stand-alone (I haven't read the earlier books, though I'm adding them to the TBR list). This is an enjoyable cozy mystery with a modern Miss Marple.

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for access to a digital ARC.

3.5 stars

Mikki Lincoln could be a stereotype, but she isn't. She is a widowed teacher in her 70s, and clearly smart, independent, capable and with a bit of a chip on her shoulder. Don't even think about patronizing her because she won't stand for it.

Mikki freelances as a copy editor and is working on a local celebrity's memoir. When a local developer confronts her in public one day about what the memoir will reveal, Mikki is mystified. When the angry man is found murdered, Mikki finds herself on the suspect list even though she had no quarrel with the victim.

Naturally Mikki feels motivated to investigate on her own, particularly when a young relative also falls under suspicion. When her nephew shows up out of concern to check up on her and watch out, she is mostly offended and is sometimes a bit tiresome in her prickliness. The plot is just complex enough even though the ending feels a bit sudden and abrupt. An enjoyable series with a nicely drawn Catskills setting.

Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the 3rd installment of the Deadly Edits mystery series. Mikki Lincoln is a freelance book editor and an old resort on the edge of town in about to be demolished. She has been hired to edit a book, a memoir, by a relative of the original owners the resort comes into focus again. The land developer Greg Onslow on the project confronts Mikki and asks her to stop the project and things get heated and someone of course tapes the whole thing. When he later ends up dead, Mikki becomes a prime suspect as the video goes viral. Mikki of course is going to work to clear her name as she has no plan to spend her retirement in jail! Mikki is an atypical heroine as she is much older and really takes no prisoners. This is a good mystery and enjoyable read.

For some people age is just a number and that fits the main character in this read. Well writing cast of characters and setting with plenty of fun and enough to keep you guessing on the mystery.

What a fun mystery! I will definitely go back and read the first two in this series.

I love that the amateur detective is an active senior citizen. She's not Miss Marple. She's also not a clueless ingenue who falls into a mystery or investigation by accident.

I liked that Mikki has returned to her hometown after decades of living in Maine. So she knows people in this little village but is still enough of an outsider to be under the radar so she picks up info without being super snoopy or annoying. I really enjoyed the cast of recurring characters in Langape Hollow too.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.*

Mikki Lincoln is a retired school teacher who moved back to her hometown of Lenape Hollow after the death of her husband. Mikki supplements her social security by editing various types of manuscripts from her home. Apparently, she has also found herself involved in several murder investigations. In A Fatal Fiction, Mikki has a very vocal argument with a local developer at the gas station. When he is found dead the next day, Mikki is one of a long list of suspects. While trying to prove her innocence (and the innocence of her cousin) Mikki finds herself twisted in the investigation in several ways.
I did enjoy this book. It was a quick easy read. I had trouble following the characters and trouble caring about some of them. It has a predictable format but because of that it is a quick, light read.

I didn't know I was starting at book 3 in the Deadly Edits series but it was easy to read it as a stand alone - though I've just ordered book one for my next read. I learned a lot of a variety of things and the main character, Mikki Lincoln is one I look forward to following. She may be 70 but she's not elderly, One antic was a bit unbelievable but anything is possible when age is a just a number with some of us.

At 70, Mikki is now a retired school teacher and recent widow who has returned to her home town of Lenape Hollow NY after living her adult life in Maine. To supplement her income Mikki's English spelling and grammar skills are put to work as an editor. When she finds herself a murder suspect after a confrontation with a bully the day before - who ends up dead, Mikki begins to investigate.

There are a lot of characters. The plot moves along quickly and twists keep the 'guess who done' it' active. This was a pleasure to read both the characters and the whit..

A Random Selection from "the Write Right Wright's Language and Grammar Tips by Mikki Lincoln at the end of the book were wonderful. I love English grammar and this is just the kind of thing I always love to find. Learning that March 4 is National Grammar Day gives me a new note for my calendar.

I volunteered to read an ARC from Kensington Press through Net Galley and am so glad I did.

A Fatal Fiction
Kaitlyn Dunnett
June 30, 2020

Lenape Falls, New York, the town where Mikki Lincoln grew up is the place she decided to move after retiring. She taught English to eight graders in Maine and lived there with her husband, Steve. She retired two years ago when James passed. While house hunting in Lenape Falls she discovered that her childhood home was up for sale. Of course she could not refuse this offer. Once remodelling was completed Mikki was back in Lenape at the age of 70 renewing old friendships. She took a job as a book editor, something she could do from her office at home.
It was mid-April, a chilly, breezy morning and Mikki was at a local gas station making an attempt to fill up the tank of her Ford Taurus. Now this is something she is not used to doing. In Maine they pumped for you. Step by step she accomplished the small task and was getting ready to pull away when Greg Onslow, a local CEO and land developer sauntered over to her car. He was angry about something. The locals in attendance began to slow down to peruse the situation. Nosey they might be but it could help if Mr. Onslow became too aggressive with whatever situation he found problematic. The discussion regarding Lincoln’s latest editorial project was brought up. Onslow did not appreciate her accepting the job when she turned him down to finish the book his deceased wife had not finished. She could not make him understand that she is not a ghost writer, only someone who corrects and suggests revisions. Things pursued and she was the one who ended the conversation in an angry confrontation. It wasn’t until the following morning when the news broke of Greg Onslow’s murder that she saw her rant on social media. Shortly thereafter she was paid a visit by the local police detective in charge of the case.
A Fatal Fiction is a fun, cozy mystery that many will find amusing. Yes, it is a mystery but an easy, pleasant read that flows without the aid of excessive violence or explicite sex. It is #3 in Dunnett’s Deadly Edits series. It is the first I have read of her publications and I enjoyed it. It also suggests that A Fatal Fiction can be read without having to complete 1 and 2 of the series. Kaitlyn Dunnett’s cozy style is carried through most of her novels. A Fatal Fiction will be published by Kensington Books on June 30, 2020. I would like to thank Kensington for allowing me to read and review Kaitlyn Dunnett’s latest selection. Her mysteries are interesting and casual as well as pleasure to read.

This is the first book in this series that I’ve read but the author provides enough back story that I never felt lost. It works very well as a stand-alone book. The story is well written and I particularly like that the main character and many of the secondary characters are seniors.

Freelance editor Mikki Lincoln loses her temper with Greg Onslow. When the video of their encounter goes viral, Mikki becomes the primary suspect in Greg’s murder. Greg is not a popular fellow, so other suspects emerge.

While this adventure is a little slow, Kaitlyn Dunnett writes a good mystery. And her protagonist, Mikki, is a self-reliant character with just so much patience. Altogether, A Fatal Fiction is an engaging read.

I enjoyed this book! A feisty senior lady with strong opinions, who is under investigation for murder and meddling relatives; what's not to like? Entertaining if a bit long winded, but it kept me guessing until the end!

This is the third book in the series, I hadn't read the previous books but this wasn't a problem.

A local businessman with a shady reputation is murdered and as Mikki is caught on camera arguing with him she finds herself a prime suspect. Mikki is a retiree who works as an editor to supplement her pension. Unfortunately, I found Mikki hard to like, she has people who care about her but seems permanently angry. I wont be reading any further books in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review. A Fatal Fiction was the first book I read in this series. The premise was interesting, and I thought it would get me hooked on the series. I really wanted to like this book but it just didn't work for me. As much as I tried to like the main character, Mikki, it never happened, and the same goes for the other characters in the book. I am sorry to say that the book featured mainly elderly women who were mean and gossipy. The mystery was decent but overshadowed by the unpleasantness of the characters. I am sorry to say that I will not continue this series. It had potential, but I was expecting something else.

Miki is a senior who edits books to supplement her retirement. When the work she is doing causes a local developer and entrepreneur of questionable ethics to confront her in front of an audience she isn’t sure why, but finally pushes back when he insults her one too many times. Unfortunately she didn’t realize it was recorded until it was posted online.
One murder later she, along with a cousin, are suspects. I found Miki likable and relatable. As she works to prove her innocence she is sometimes stereotyped by friends and family as an old lady, and she not having it. The characters are well drawn, and the details enable you to picture the scene.
This is book three in a series and I was able to follow and enjoy it without having read the first two, although now I plan to. A nice cozy mystery as a change of pace from other genres read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy to read in exchange for my honest review.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review. This is the third book in the Deadly Edit series by Kaitlyn Dunnett. This is the first book in the series that I have read. The series revolves around seventy year old amateur sleuth Mikki Lincoln. The story stated off a little slow and took awhile to build. It did take me some time to become invested in the main character Mikki Lincoln. In the end I did enjoy this cozy little mystery.

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