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!

"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.

Title: Killer Content
Author: Olivia Blacke
Genre: Cozy mystery
Rating: 3 out of 5

Bayou transplant Odessa Dean has a lot to learn about life in Brooklyn. So far she's scored a rent free apartment in one of the nicest neighborhoods around by cat-sitting, and 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, that might take her a little extra time.

But things turn more sour than an IPA when the death of a fellow waitress goes viral, caught on camera in the background of a couple's flash-mob proposal video. Nothing about Bethany's death feels right to Odessa--neither her sudden departure mid-shift nor the clues that only Odessa seems to catch. As an up-and-coming YouTube star, Bethany had more than one viewer waiting for her to fall from grace.

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

Blacke has some solid writing chops, but this just wasn’t a good fit for me. Odessa was quirky, but it was so over-the-top that it felt like a farce. The other characters felt like cookie cutters, and none of them were distinct enough to feel real. Odessa was also super-judgey, especially of her boss, who she basically treated like an idiot because he was older than her and “clueless.” Actually, Odessa’s personality bothered me more than her quirkiness: she just wasn’t a nice person. Nosy, condescending, and self-centered, she acted even more immature than her age.

Olivia Blacke has lived all over the U.S. Killer Content is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Berkley in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 2/9.)

I’ve never read a cozy mystery before and this book was the perfect intro into the genre. It’s exactly the type of mystery I needed to read after something dark and twisty. Cozy mystery’s tend to lean on the cute and fun side, and this one really didn’t disappoint. I had so much fun reading it!⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Odessa Dean just moved to the Brooklyn neighbourhood, Williamsburg, to house sit for her Aunt while she’s away on holiday. Odessa got a job at a local café/bookstore and is ready to dive into the new world that she finds herself in. Odessa’s life flips upside down after she watches a viral video of a flash mob that goes awry: her co-worker Bethany has an “accident” and tumbles to her death during the show. But Odessa isn’t convinced it’s an accident and begins to do her own investigating.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
To add to the story, you have a gorgeous detective and a funky new roommate who brings out Odessa’s outgoing side! She was the right amount of wholesome and quirkiness, definitely someone you want to root for.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
The best way I can think of how to recommend this book is: it’s a thriller book reader’s version of a hallmark movie. What I’m trying to say is, if you like mystery/thriller novels and occasionally enjoy a sappy hallmark movie, then pick this one up!⁣⁣
⁣
This one comes out this Tuesday Feb 2nd so make sure to gets hands on it if it sounds like something you’d like! ⁣
⁣

This was a very fun new cozy. Fish out of water Odessa, freshly transplanted from Louisiana to Brooklyn, makes for a charming heroine as she brings her small town standards to the big city, making her neighborhood feel like a close knit small town with all the hallmarks of a traditional cozy while being novel. Fresh, young, and vibrant, this is definitely a new series to watch.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟 3/5 stars

Killer Content is a cute cozy mystery that reminds me of my beloved Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Our main character, Odessa Dean, has recently moved to Williamsburg from Louisiana and is working as a waitress. One day, she is watching a viral video of a flash mob proposal gone wrong and she witnesses the death of one of her co-workers. Her co-worker, Bethany, was a YouTube star and had many enemies. Odessa decides to solve the mystery herself.

Cozy mysteries are very hit or miss for me. I always love the movie adaptations of several cozy series, but sometimes I have trouble getting into the books. Killer Content is one of the better ones I have read. This is due to the true crime podcast element. Odessa is an avid listener and uses the knowledge she has gained from podcasts to solve this mystery. Any book featuring a podcast fan is a book I will enjoy. Odessa is a fun, sweet character and her fish-out-of-water storyline allows for many laughs.

Overall, Killer Content is a breezy, cute, and funny cozy mystery that murderinos and hallmarkies will enjoy!

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Killer Content is cute start to a new cozy series. Odessa Dean is housesitting for her Aunt in New York City. That’s pretty far from the Bayou, but she’s doing her best to fit in. And when a co-worker dies, Odessa won’t stop till she finds the truth. Cute and quirky characters with a mystery that’ll keep you guessing. Watch out NYC, Odessa is taking over!

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

this book has an interesting premise, and the cover is beautiful! my main issue was the main character, i felt she wasn’t entirely like able. it was interesting to see the story unfold and get to the bottom of the mystery

I am hooked from the first chapter! Odessa is a likable character, and her journey after moving to new york is one hell of a ride. The mystery really intrigued me, and I find myself asking what is going on?. the twist and turns are remarkable. The characters are well-developed and very engaging. The story is captivating and remarkably written.

After you’re drawn in by this absolutely eye catching cover that has all the perfect details for this contemporary cozy, stay for the atmosphere, fun characters and unique setup for a murder mystery series!

You won’t regret picking up this delicious debut, 𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓, by Olivia Blacke as you meet Odessa Dean, a new to Brooklyn waitress who might just be the cooler version of every millennial who doesn’t fit the normal size two female, without a clue what to do in life female beyond what’s happening now & how to deal with it.

Maybe it’s the fifteen years of my own serving & bartending experience that just had me from page one, I felt Odessa’s character in my very soul. Add in feeling like she’s in an in-between from her small town hometown to big city living, and coworkers who turn into family, and this story had everything I didn’t know was missing from my book collection.

Her coworker Bethany may have been a social media content creating superstar, but she’s also created enough frenemies that someone was willing to kill her. While Odessa may have only worked with Bethany for a week, seeing a viral video of her coworker after she asked her to cover for her at work turns her true crime podcast listening + people skills to a new role as amateur sleuth when no one believes that it wasn’t an accident.

There were plenty of characters introduced in this quick read, which could have seemed overwhelming, but for me it only added to the flavor of the story - and that much more exciting to realize that this book was a series, and imagining who could be featured in future titles! From quirky coworkers, to the detective working on the case, Odessa was surrounded by incredible supporting characters we got just the right taste of without being too overwhelming. Knowing any one of them could be the killer, but also setting us up for future books just made it even better! AND the story features a loveable shop dog + her aunt’s cat full of personality, so BONUS for the pet lovers!

Blacke’s writing style gave Odessa such a vivid voice, with just enough laughter, drama and friendship to remind you while you love a good cozy pick me up. Who knew New York could be the perfect setting for a cozy mystery?! I LOVED that this book was so out of the norm, it just 100% worked for me!

Untapped Books and Cafe is the place of my dreams, my bestie and I have said for YEARS this kind of place is exactly what we would love to create - without the murder mystery - we’ll let cozies like this one serve that up!

Thank you to Berkley for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my personal review.

& please, don’t forget to tip your server. <3