Killer Content
by Olivia Blacke
 Berkley Publishing Group 
Berkley
 Mystery & Thrillers 
Pub Date 02 Feb 2021


I am reviewing a copy of Killer Content through Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley:



Odessa Dean is a Bayou Transplant who has a lot to learn about life in Brooklyn.  She has managed to score an apartment rent free in one or the nicest neighborhoods in the area by cat sitting and she has a new job working at Untapped Books & Café. Hand-selling books and craft beers is easy for Odessa, but making new friends and learning how to ride the subway? Well,



Things turn more sour than an IPA when the death of a fellow waitress goes viral, after it is caught on camera in the background of a couple's flash mob proposal video.  There is nothing about Bethany’s death that feels right to Odessa. Bethany’s departure mid-shift nor do the clues that only only Odessa seems to catch.  As an upcoming YouTube Star, Bethany had more than one viewer wanting to watch her fall from Grace. 



Odessa takes matters into her own hands, determined to to prove there's a killer on the loose.  But can she pin down Bethany's killer before they take Odessa offline for good?



I give Killer Content five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

Killer Content is my first cozy mystery. I was drawn by the colorful cover. 
I’m happy to say I really enjoyed it! 

Odessa is a small-town Southern girl house sitting her aunt’s Williamsburg apartment and waitressing at a bar/bookstore in the neighborhood. When her coworker Bethany dies suddenly, Odessa isn’t so sure that Bethany’s death was an accident and starts her own investigation. 

As someone who is obsessed with true crime podcasts, I could relate to Odessa’s obsession with solving this crime. I also found her to be such a cute character. Her sarcastic personality just spoke to my soul.

This was a quick and fun read and highly recommend it for anyone wanted a good cozy mystery.

Killer Content by Olivia Blacke was a little lackluster for me. I could not relate to this book at all. A little over the top cutesy, the main character seems to be complaining constantly and simply not appealing. Had to skip a lot of the story just to finish.

“There’s kinda a joke, you know, that craft beers are the new pumpkin spice lattes. We have a great selection, if you’d like to try one.” 

Odessa Dean, a young southern girl, agrees to house and cat sit for her Aunt in Brooklyn. She gets a job at Untapped Books & Cafe where her southern charm helps her sell books and craft beers, even if her boss is an ass and her coworkers are flaky. When the death of fellow waitress Bethany is caught on camera during a flash mob marriage proposal in a nearby park, Odessa feels compelled to disprove the ME finding of suicide. What could possibly go wrong with a girl from the Bayou inserting herself in an NYPD investigation? 

Oh a lot. A lot can go wrong. 

In light of the current state of the world, these fun, quirky murder mysteries are giving me life. This book was absolutely adorable and I loved every word of it! It is very on trend with the current societal norms of quaint cafes, books, Twitter feeds, YouTube videos, and ipa’s. I live in New England and it seems that there’s a new brewery popping up every month. 

Odessa is such a sweet, likable character. Her southern manners, demeanor and accent are mercilessly teased by the Brooklyn natives. And again, being from New England, this is...accurate 😬🤷🏼‍♀️. 

If you love books, cafes, ipa’s, or just want a peek into a millennials life in the big city, read this one! I am so glad that this is the first in a new series because I’m just not ready to say goodbye to Odessa, Brooklyn or the Untapped Books & Cafe. 

Happy publication day!! Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

A well-written, character driven mystery in this first book of the Brooklyn Murder Mystery series. Olivia Blacke does an excellent job at scene setting and provides outstanding characterization for this introductory cast. The plot flows smoothly and easily engages readers. Overall, a mild-mannered, fun read with amateur sleuthing. It would be enjoyed by those who prefer stories in which violence/sex take place off stage. 

Thank you to #NetGalley and #BerkleyPublishing for the ARC of #KillerContent which was read and reviewed voluntarily.

#readmorebooks #bookstagram #bookedup #bookish #bookclubbish #bookblogs #booktweets #cozymysteries #readnow #readreviewrepeat

Louisiana native Odessa Dean is apartment-sitting and cat-sitting for her aunt, who is spending the summer in Europe. Which means that Odessa gets to spend her summer in Williamsburg, part of hipster Brooklyn. She has taken her waitressing skills from Piney Island’s Crawdad Shack to Untapped Books and Café, where she delivers orders or avocado toast and sandwiches on gluten-free bread along with craft beers brewed locally. 

Odessa works the day shift at the café, and when her coworker Bethany asks her to cover for her while she runs out to meet someone at Domino Park, Odessa agrees to cover her tables. But a viral video of a flash mob shows Bethany and her neon green Untapped polo shirt falling from the overhead walkway, Odessa is the only person who believes it wasn’t a freak accident. 

Despite the warnings from the very handsome detective who explains that Bethany’s fall was not an act of violence, despite the medical examiner ruling the fall an accident, Odessa keeps investigating anyway. She watches hours of Bethany’s YouTube videos of her soap-making, as well as those of her nemesis Jenny. Odessa goes to her apartment and talks with her roommates. She talks to her boyfriend. But she still can’t figure out who would kill Bethany or why. 

Odessa ruins her favorite cowboy boots digging through piles of garbage. She almost gets hit by a food truck. She gets in trouble with her aunt for letting one of her coworkers move in for a few days and then bringing home the shop’s dog for a bath. She almost gets fired. And she almost gets arrested trying to find a way to unlock Bethany’s phone without the password. 

But while everyone keeps telling Odessa that she’s not doing herself any favors by playing amateur detective, there is one person who notices what’s she’s doing and keep tabs on her. Because there is a killer, and they have turned their sights on the only person who won’t give up the search. 

Killer Content is the first in a new cozy series, set in Brooklyn and starring fish-out-of-water Odessa. Although she shows up in cowboy boots with her Southern drawl, she learns fast and finds herself increasingly charmed by Brooklyn’s artisans and artists. 

Likewise, I found myself increasingly charmed by Odessa and her spirit. Killer Content is the first in what I think will continue to be a fun new series. Untapped draws an eclectic collection of employees and customers, and I have a feeling that Odessa is going to stay in town past the summer, hanging out with her new friends and learning more and more about the city (and about solving mysteries). Author Olivia Blacke has imbued this story with warmth and style, and while it’s written with younger cozy fans in mind, I think readers of all ages who enjoy a good story with interesting characters can find something to enjoy in the pages of Killer Content. 

Egalleys for Killer Content were provided by Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Odessa Dean is in Brooklyn, NY, apartment- and cat-sitting for her aunt. As a lifelong resident of Louisiana, New York is a culture shock. The pace is faster, the patience is thinner, and her southern manners don't mean a thing. To keep her busy, and with some spending money, she finds employment as a waitress at a local café. When one of the other waitresses races out of Untapped Books & Café and asks Odessa to cover for her, Odessa chalks it up to an urgent appointment. Unfortunately, as Odessa is watching a flash-mob proposal on social media, she sees the unmistakable shirt of the Café's uniform on a body in the background. Ruled an accident by police, Odessa knows Bethany's death is anything but.

Odessa takes it upon herself to investigate the mysterious demise of Bethany since no one at the police station will listen to her. As Odessa dives further into her own investigation, she ends up with a list of suspects but no real proof. She resorts to hiding evidence from the police, dumpster diving, and porch-surfing in the middle of the night. Not a good way to convince the police they are wrong, and you are right, Odessa!

Killer Content was an interesting and fast read. The cozy concept of a craft being at the forefront of the book didn't really occur in this story and it was refreshing. Sure, Odessa liked to sew but her hobby wasn't front and center. We were able to learn more about Odessa than her favorite patterns and sewing machine settings. Don't get me wrong, I love the themes of cozy mysteries, but the lack of a concrete hobby/craft/artistic lifestyle was a nice change.

Let's talk a little bit about Odessa. She's new to New York and is southern to the bone. She was born of manners and kindness. Those she meets in New York, and who appear in this story, not so much. She gives into rude people, lets people talk down to her, and doesn't defend herself. I found those traits very off-putting about her character. You can be nice, polite, and have manners, and still not let people take advantage of you. As much as I liked Odessa's fierceness with finding out the truth about Bethany, I didn't like her meek and mousiness. I hope her character gets a little stronger in the next book. I liked her despite all that, though.

The author created some strong secondary characters. Izzy, Odessa's friend, is fun and I found her interesting. Parker is a likeable co-worker. Huckleberry, the Untapped Books & Café doggy mascot, is entertaining in his own right. Todd, Odessa's boss, is a strong character but in a very unlikable way. I didn't like him and that's exactly how the author created him. The character development was done well, and I enjoyed the setting for Killer Content. I look forward to the next book.

I was provided a copy of this book read.

I don’t remember the last time I settled in for a murder mystery; I tend to lean more toward domestic thrillers and police procedurals. But “Killer Content” opened my eyes to the genre — if you want a quick, whodunnit read that’s not at all gristly, this is it. 

Odessa is a small-town Louisiana girl house sitting her aunt’s eclectic Williamsburg apartment and working at a bar-and-bookstore in the neighborhood. When her coworker Bethany — an up and coming Etsy maker with a big YouTube following — dies suddenly, Odessa isn’t willing to accept that Bethany’s death was an accident and starts her own investigation. 

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for an ARC of “Killer Content.”

Guacamole > Avocado. Don’t @ me #unpopularopinion. This book spoke to my soul. 

But seriously, Odessa, girl, you got the dream job. Books and craft beer? Y’all hiring? But seriously, the food in Killer Content will have you hitting your local farmers market and making some amazing lunch. 

Odessa was hilariously sarcastic. She was witty and fun, and I rooted for her the entire time. I also really enjoyed that this cozy took place in Brooklyn! Usually. We get a nice cozy small town. This was the exception. We had a small town person move to the big city and have that cozy really work. 

I’m very impressed by Killer Content and am excited to see exactly where this series will take us. I feel that this book was very relatable as a millennial (without the murder part...#cantrelate) This was definitely a different kind of cozy and it worked perfectly. Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the gifted copy. Killer Content is out 02/02/2021!

Odessa is trying to figure out her life. From Louisiana to Brooklyn, she is a new face in a new place. She is working in a cafe. One day her co worker goes off to run an errand and is killed. Odessa is determined to find out what happened since no one believes her that a murder happened. 

I was not sure why she was so invested in a stranger. It seemed like she was just trying to do a good thing, but she had no background in doing this before so it was a little weird she moves to a new city and now she is a sleuth... that was a little strange for me to believe. Especially when the person was a stranger??

There is a love triangle and other items that show this is going to be a series, so some people are probably getting invested and excited for a next book. I thought it was all just okay, and I may pick up the next one possibly. 

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley for the review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.

"Killer Content" is the first book in the new A Brooklyn Murder Mystery series by Olivia Blacke.  Odessa Dean, true crime podcast lover, from Southern small-town Piney Island, Louisiana, is spending the summer in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, NYC, taking care of her aunt's cat while she is away traveling in Europe.  Odessa takes a waitressing job at the local Untapped Books & Cafe to earn little spending money during her stay.  Moments after fellow waitress Bethany asks Odessa to cover for her while she runs out to take care of an emergency, Bethany sees a video of a flash mob taking place at a nearby park, and the video happens to catch someone fall to their death from the overhead bridge.  Odessa, recognizing the unmistakable neon green shirt on the body as that of their uniform shirts from Untapped Books & Cafe, realizes the body is that of Bethany.  While the police believe that Bethany accidentally fell over the railing of the bridge to her death, Odessa believes that it was murder, and sets our to find evidence that Bethany's death was not the accident that the police think it was.  

"Killer Content" was a fast, fun read, and was a great start to a new series.  You can't help but love the character of Odessa, and the cast of characters that she works with at the bookstore/cafe, including cashier Izzy, cook and beekeeper Parker, and her boss and owner of the bookstore, Todd.  And of course, there's Huckleberry the dog, the former stray who has become the resident of the bookstore.  "Killer Content" has some mystery and humor rolled into one as quirky Odessa sets out to prove there's more to Bethany's death than meets the eye, and the story didn't disappoint!  Looking forward to the next book to be released in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  "Killer Content" is scheduled to be released on 2/2/21.

Killer Content is a cozy mystery set in Brooklyn, with an adorable and lovable cast of characters led by Odessa Dean, who's in NYC house-sitting for her aunt for the summer.  Odessa takes a job waitressing at a local bookstore/cafe, and one of her fellow waitresses dies in a freak accident.  Odessa isn't convinced it was an accident, but seems to be the only one who believes murder could be involved.  Odessa tries to balance picking up extra shifts at the cafe, while hunting down a killer no one else believes exists, all while becoming more and more enamored with her temporary home and new friends.

This is the second-cozy mystery I've read in as many weeks, and I'm just not sure it's the genre for me.  This books has a diverse and colorful cast, it's set in the exciting Williamsburg neighborhood, it features a 20-something experiencing the big city for the first time, there's (of course) murder and intrigue, and yet, a lot of the time, I found myself bored.  I wanted less day-to-day details and more action and suspense.  I do understand that's not what a cozy mystery is about, which is why I started this by saying this niche just may not be for me.  That aside, I found myself caring about these characters, I enjoyed the writing style and felt that the book flowed along quite well.  This is the first in a series of Brooklyn mysteries, and I think those who really enjoy cozy mysteries will find themselves drawn into this Brooklyn world and eagerly anticipating the next release.

First, thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with a e-arc of this book.

This book is perfect for lovers of cozy mysteries - the murder itself does not take the forefront, but rather the investigation. Meet Odessa, who is living in the heart of Williamsburg while she apartment sits for her aunt. The move from a small town in Louisiana to the middle of NYC was quite the change of pace. However, Odessa has quickly found herself a job and new friends. 

One week into her job, her coworker Bethany, asks her to cover her so she can step out for a bit. An hour later, Todd, their boss, asks Odessa to update the social media accounts since Bethany has yet to return. While posting, Odessa sees a video from a flash mob proposal at Domino Park. In the background, she sees a woman in a bright green polo fall to her death. Could this explain why Bethany has yet to return? 

Armed with her true crime podcasts, Odessa feels confident that she has what it takes to solve Bethany's murder. Will she catch the killer, or will Bethany's death forever be ruled accidental?

Odessa Dean is spending a few months in Brooklyn, trying to figure out her next step in life. To make ends meet, she waits tables at a hip coffee and cafe. One day at work, a server named Bethany asks Odessa to cover her tables for her while she runs an errand. Bethany never returns and her mysterious death is captured in a viral proposal video at the nearby park. Amateur sleuth Odessa is the only person who doesn’t buy that the death was accidental and takes it upon herself to solve the mystery.

I went into this story half-blind; I’d read the premise ages ago and was interested, but when I picked it up to start reading, I just dove in without refreshing my memory. This might contribute to why I had trouble understanding Odessa’s motivation for investigating Bethany’s death. Other than listening to true crime podcasts (hi- me), it sounded like Odessa’s only other background was that she loved sewing and was very curious? On top of that, she hardly knew Bethany. 

There were also other side stories thrown in, like her attraction to both the Detective Castillo and the famous author. I felt like they were observations that didn’t really seem to fit in with the story. However, I noticed that this is the first of the series, so I’m thinking this is all setup for the books to follow. While I enjoyed the storyline, I think there could have been more introduction and background.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Killer Content is out now!

I know there are plenty of folks out there who're perfectly happy staying in the small towns and communities they grew up in—actually, that describes approximately ninety-five percent of my high school graduating class—but that was never, ever gonna work for me. (I guess if you’re already pleased as punch with who you are, and have zero interest in growth or—gasp!—change, then all I can say is more power to you, but… yeah, no.)

Anyway, when what sounded like a fun little mystery—featuring (what would undoubtedly be) a plucky heroine, from Tinytown, USA (in this case a Louisiana bayou hamlet), who goes to the Big Apple (mainly Brooklyn, but tomato, tomahto) and has adventures—happened across my desk, I latched onto it greedily. 

But, would it be a fulfilling fish-out-of-water/young-woman-spreading-her-wings-and-finding-herself tale… or some disappointingly-schmaltzy claptrap about how much better life in the country is? Time to dive into Olivia Blacke’s Killer Content. 
_______________
It probably wouldn’t have taken the sweetest deal in the world to persuade Odessa Dean to venture from her safe-but-boring bayou berg—where she’s been waitressing at a little dive for several years, and… well, not doing much else, really—but having a well-to-do aunt (cum Fairy Godmother) in Brooklyn, New York requesting her help for a few-months (apartment- and cat-sitting) is basically like hitting the I-have-ALL-the-reasons-to-leave-Nowhere-USA lottery.

So, even if—technically—it turns out she has merely traded in her apron at the lowly crab shack for an apron at Untapped Books and Cafe, said cafe just happens to be inside a hip bookstore, serving cool, creative dishes (alongside barista-made coffee concoctions for the first half of the day, and fancy craft beers later on), in Brooklyn. Where, you know, anything can happen.

And happen, it does… when Odessa takes a break from her shift one afternoon to check out a flash mob dance thing at nearby Domino Park, but winds up finding a fellow waitress, Bethany, in the middle of all the action… dead. 

Despite not knowing the other girl very well, Odessa is convinced her death couldn't have been just an accident, as the police seem content to believe. (Odessa hasn’t been reading and watching mysteries and crime shows all those years for nothing; she knows something hinky is afoot.)

And, the more she discovers about the dead girl’s world—Bethany was an up-and-coming YouTuber (who made fancy soaps!), shared a tiny apartment with three roomies, and was in a long-term, tempestuous relationship—and walks in her shoes--taking on some of Bethany’s shifts at the cafe, as well as taking over handling the bookstore/cafe’s social media presence--the more our amateur sleuth is absolutely convinced she’s right: Bethany was murdered.

Armed with little more than her trusty phone (hello, google and maps!)—and no small measure of chutzpah—Odessa sets out on a mission of justice for Bethany… because even though she may be viewed as a “country bumpkin” by nearly every fast-talking New Yorker she meets, she’ll never be mistaken for someone who doesn’t care about the people in her life… and that quality, really, transcends all accents, outfits, and other inconsequential differences, any day of the week.
_______________
The “cozy” mystery typically isn’t my thing, but Killer Content, for me, rises above that generic classification. Yes, it’s “cute”, takes place within a (mostly) small area, and is free of any of the kind of scenes you might not want your thirteen-year-old reading, but it’s also more clever and less obvious than such stories often are. 

Odessa is a charming main character—impossible not to like—as well as a smart one, and it’s enjoyable seeing her not just finding her footing in the big city, but also finding herself. (Blacke has at least one other book planned in this series, so it will be fun seeing what else she has in store for her protagonist.)

Killer Content isn’t the kind of book you read to gain fresh insights about yourself or the world at large, nor is it trying to be. What it is, is a light, entertaining mystery, served up with plenty of smiles and some genuine laughs, that leaves you satisfied at the end… and also wanting seconds.
~GlamKitty

Odessa Dean is new to New York City, and even more new to investigating a murder. But when the police don't take seriously her insistence that a fellow waitress's death, caught on camera in a viral flash mob video, is more than just a tragic accident, she has to take matters into her own hands...

I love mysteries and I love cozy-feeling books, but for some reason I rarely read books labeled "cozy mystery." I might have to change that now, though, because Olivia Blacke's Brooklyn-set debut was a cozy, mysterious delight. 

The murder mystery was solid enough, with well-paced clues and revelations, but it almost takes a backseat to the more mundane details of Louisiana-native Odessa's daily life as a newcomer to Brooklyn. Despite the big city setting, Blacke has managed to give the Williamsburg neighborhood a genuine small town feel, with a cast of quirky locals and a recognizable geography. The atmosphere and vibe of the setting and characters worked beautifully, really making me long to hang out in a New York City park with an IPA on a hot summer day, and it's clearly setting up what will surely be an enjoyable ongoing series. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the advance review copy!

I'd like to thank Netgalley and Berkley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's been a while since I have read a murder/mystery. What I liked about this one is that no one believed Odessa that a murder even occurred. Odessa moves from the slower paced life of the Bayou to a more fast paced life in Brooklyn. House sitting for her aunt for the summer provides a perfect opportunity for Odessa to spread her wings a little and become more independent. While living in Brooklyn she takes a job at a cafe/book store and befriends some of her coworkers. One of her coworkers, Bethany, ends up dying in broad daylight in a very busy park and Odessa takes it upon herself to not only prove that Bethany was murdered but also catch the murderer.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were likable. I didn't know who "done" it until the end. I like that this was a fun mystery and not dark or gory. I love the quirkiness of the background characters and how they just added to the story. I hope there is more to come in the future from this author.

What a cute read! I've never read a "cozy mystery" before so I didn't know what to expect, but I super enjoyed Odessa and loved that Brooklyn itself is a character. Not sure I'll keep up with this series but I'll get a beer and cheers to this novel at least!

Odessa Dean, a native of Louisiana, is in Brooklyn for the summer house sitting for her aunt.  This is a big culture shock to her, having really never left the South before.  Now, she is working at Bookstore Cafe to earn some extra money.  When one of her coworkers is killed during a flash mob, Odessa is sure that it was murder, but no one believes her.  Now, she is determined to find the killer herself.

This was a very cute and fun cozy mystery,  Odessa is such a fun character to follow, even if at times she makes very bad decisions.  I loved the atmosphere Blacke created at the bookstore and the camaraderie among her coworkers.  I loved all the supporting characters as well, especially Izzy who turns out to be a great friend for Odessa.  It was also fun to have Odessa really be a fish out of water in Brooklyn while trying to solve this mystery.  This book really did a good job of encapsulating Brooklyn and makes me want to visit again.  My one complaint about this is that to me, it was a little too light on the mystery at times.  That being said, this was a fun read, and I look forward to reading about Odessa's further adventures in the future.

Odessa is cat-sitting for her aunt.  Her aunt's spacious New York City apartment is a far cry from Odessa's home in Louisiana.  NYC living is more expensive than she anticipated, so she quickly get s a job as a waitress at a local bookstore/cafe.  Not long into her stay, a fellow waitress, Bethany, dies.  Even though the verdict was that the death was accidental, Odessa's not so sure.  She uses her inquisitive nature and skills she's picked up listening to many true crime podcasts to launch her own investigation.  

I think cozy mysteries could become a new favorite genre for me, and this book is a perfect example of why.  Along with Odessa, we also get to know her quirky co-workers and customers, a local (cure, of course) police detective, Earl the doorman in her building, and a couple engaging pets, as Odessa earnestly works to determine what really happened to Bethany.  This was a fun start to a series and I'm looking forward to Odessa's next case.  

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.