Cover Image: Death by Intermission

Death by Intermission

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This is an enchanting and entertaining mystery. Abby McCree has a penchant for finding trouble. Once again, she stumbles upon a dead body, this time while accompanied by her mother who is visiting from out of town. And once again she is right in the middle of trying to find answers and solve the mystery, much to the chagrin of both her boyfriend and the chief of police. Abby has a keen eye and a way of sniffing out trouble and answers! This mystery kept me entranced and turning pages. I loved it!

Was this review helpful?

I liked this book, it’s a great addition to the series. I enjoyed Abby and phoebe. It checks all the boxes I look for in a cozy mystery. It’s also a quick, light, fun read.

Was this review helpful?

What a fun book! Abby has her hands full with her lovestruck mother, deciding what her future will be and being involved in another murder investigation when a man is killed during an outside movie festival she coordinated.

This was the first book I've read on this series and I wasn't lost in the story. The author does a great job of "catching" the reader and it made me want to read the previous books. Abby is independent, loyal and making a new life for herself. The mystery kept me reading and I enjoyed the relationship between Tripp (her boyfriend) and Abby. Her mother Phoebe was annoying at first but later wasn't so bad. The "red herrings" kept me guessing and I didn't figure out "whodunit".

I'm looking forward to the next book ! I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Fourth in the Abby McCree series - can be read as a standalone.

After the movie in the park is over, Abby and her mom Phoebe are picking up the debris left behind.
Unfortunately, Phoebe discovers a dead body nd her boyfriend Owen is a suspect due to the murder weapon. The victim had recently arrived in town and there seems to be no connection between the two men, When the home of Owen's employee Jada is broken into, Abby is trying to piece how these incidents are connected.
Enjoyed catching up with Abby and her friends and learning more about the chief of police's background.

Thanks to Netgalley for an early copy.

Was this review helpful?

Abby McCree's Movie Night in the park for Snowcreek, Washington turned out pretty well except for her visiting mother's interest in a local barbecue food truck's owner. Oh, and that dead body she and her mother discovered when cleaning after the event was over put a serious crimp in the evening. When her mother's friend becomes a suspect in the murder, a rift between Abby and her mother begins escalating. The only way to cope is for Abby to run inference with the law and investigate herself. You will totally enjoy your visit to Snowcreek. Abby is inquisitive and resourceful without putting herself in too many dangerous situations.

Was this review helpful?

Abby McCree has run into another dead body. Her personal relationships are messy enough to make the idea of poking her nose into an official murder investigation seem appealing. So, in spite of repeated requests to knock it off, she does.

This was actually a negative for me, even though I usually enjoy Abby's exploits. Abby's mother has found a love interest in Abby's town and is overstaying her welcome with Abby. The book sets it up as Abby's mom misbehaving, but both Abby and her mother are, to me, over the top obnoxious to one another. I assume this is supposed to show growth in the characters, but it made me like them both much less.

It's a complicated story, though, and fun to read.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely love this series, and this latest book did not disappoint.
Having been volunteered to run movie night, Abby and Tripp, along with her mom and boyfriend, Owen, stay after the movie ends to clean up. While finishing up, Abby and her mom stumble across a dead body. Without even trying, and of course with a little eavesdropping, Abby finds herself drawn into the events that unfold around the murder. When. a young woman, Jada, finds herself in the killer's sights, she is drawn to Abby and her mom for comfort and shelter. Naturally, Tripp and Gage are never happy that Abby has found herself involved in yet another murder investigation.
Love the characters in this series, and look forward to the next book.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Great mystery that was fun and entertaining. New to me author and series and I will be searching for other books in the series.

Was this review helpful?

The mystery was exciting with all the elements that I like: a solid plot where a night at the movies lead to murder; suspects more apt to be involved; engaging and tantalizing dialogue; an eclectic cast of characters that included Phoebe, Abby’s mom, Owen, and of course Gage and Tripp; suspenseful nature filled with intrigue; and visually descriptive narrative. The mother-daughter tension played a good part in the telling of this tale, which put Tripp in the middle of their contentious relationship. The supporting cast helped move the story along, giving us bits and pieces that kept me in the game. Then there is Zeke, the mastiff mix, whose presence was necessary while Abby set about finding a murderer and their motive. I love books that pulls a person in, never thinking what they are reading, isn’t real. Overall, this was delightfully entertaining.

Was this review helpful?

I keep reading this series thinking it will get better. Abby McCree keeps finding murder victims. And the men in her life keep treating her poorly. She excuses it because of their experiences in the military. She also keeps letting people sign her up to head committees she does not want to lead. Or just signing her up without asking her (as in a previous book in the series).

I like the mysteries. I like the characters for the most part. It is only when the men are either talking down to or yelling at Abby because they do not like her choices. It's common enough that Abby warned her mother before Tripp came to ignore anything Tripp said after she and her mother discovered the dead body. (As if they went looking for it and there was anything for him to be mad about.)

The rest of the mystery was good. The relationship between Abby and her mother is strained, but it becomes even more so when the man Abby's mother is dating is taken in for questioning during a murder investigation. Abby is not sure she likes him, but still works to find answers.

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

Was this review helpful?

Death by Intermission is the fourth installment in the An Abby McCree Mystery series set in Snowberry Creek, Washington and featuring Abby McCree and her pet mastiff, Zeke. Abby has once again found herself forced on to another local committee by the town mayor, this time overseeing the last "Movies in the Park" of the season. Abby is anxious that the movie night goes without a hitch but, she's really looking forward to spending the night under the stars with her tenant, Tripp Blackston, whom she seems to be growing closer to each day.

Abby's enjoying the movie despite the fact that her mother, Phoebe is in town for a visit and within days of arrival has started up a relationship with Owen Quinn and is now busy canoodling with him on a nearby blanket. Abby knows nothing about Owen other than he owns a BBQ restaurant and operates a food truck but something about the man is rubbing her the wrong way. Conducting a final "trash sweep" after the movie, Abby and her mother stumble upon the dead body of Mitchell Anders, the local insurance agent, who it appears has been stabbed by a chef knife taken from Owen's food truck.

Phoebe begs Abby to help clear Owen's name. Abby really doesn't want to get involved because she feels that Owen's hiding something from his past, but Phoebe is so obnoxious to local police chief, Gage Logan and the rest of the town officers, Abby steps in just to try and save her friendships with the local law enforcement before Phoebe alienates everyone from Abby's life.

The mystery is good however, the plot is overshadowed by the constant snipping and arguing between Abby and her mother. Phoebe is a new character to the series so we really don't know much about the mother/daughter relationship but the contentious dialogue between the two (especially in front of other people) is cringe worthy. At times, I just wanted to close the book and walk away - feeling little connection to either of the women.

I'll continue to read the series because I do enjoy the relationship between Abby, Tripp and Zeke. I do hope that future installments will introduce Abby to a few friends, as she seems to have nobody in her life to spend time with other than Tripp and Gage.

I received an advanced copy of Death by Intermission from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

Not tight enough for me. The story seemed to go in circles without much happening. Abby reverts to teenagerhood with her mom yet blamed her mom for all the friction. If Abby reacted with talk instead of shouts and insults it may have made the working together more interesting.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Press for a free advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Alexis Morgan returns to Snowberry Creek for her 4th installment of the Abby McCree mysteries, and she once again proves that she is not your average run-of-the-mill cozy mystery writer.
As with all her cozies, there is a good and believable plot involving the murder of a spectator at the final movies in the park night in Snowberry Creek. We also have the introduction of a few new characters who provide additional drama, in support of the books plot.
For this book, Abby now has her mother. Phoebe, visiting her from Seattle, and in the brief time Phoebe was there she was able to find a boyfriend. Both Abby and her mother are divorcees, and for some reason Abby takes an immediate dislike of her mother’s friend, Owen. We even are treated to Phoebe’s “canoodling” during the movie, which brings the first hint of Abby’s dislike for Owen, and it all goes downhill from there.
Abby and her mother go to finish the cleanup of the park area and discover the dead body, sitting in a chair away from where the crowds sat during the movie. The police are called in and, before you know it, Owen is the main suspect in the murder.
Phoebe takes an immediate dislike to the local police chief and is harshly outspoken as to her feelings and, to be honest, for most of the book Phoebe acts like a petulant love-sick teenager. But this mother-daughter tension helps move the plot along, and also explains some of the issues between the two ladies.
While the police go about solving the crime, Abby and her mother continue sparring almost every time they are together and because of this Abby never really gets into solving the crime. This is one of the authors strong suits since, unlike so many cozies, her main character is not smarter nor more intuitive than the police, nor does she actively go about trying to insert herself into the investigation. And thus things happen off the page that move this story along.
Owen sits in jail and it is obvious to all that he is withholding certain facts about the night of the murder, and despite Phoebe being allowed to visit him and try to talk some sense into him he still refuses to assist the police. What confuses everyone is that the decedent was new in town since taking over an insurance business, and Owen is also new in town and owns a restaurant and food truck. Did these two know each other from the past, and what secrets are held in a photo that used to hang in the insurance office and has now been stolen.
There is a lot here too keep Morgan’s dedicated fans clamoring for more books in this series, as well as hoping that Abby, Phoebe and the men in their lives will eventually enter into long term relationships. This review was previously posted on mysteryandsuspense.com

Was this review helpful?

Enjoyable series with wonderful characters, great setting, and a cute mastiff mix you'll want to cuddle. I liked her mom coming to visit and the two make a great team.

Was this review helpful?

Abby McCree is on a real date - such as it is, outdoors surrounded by other people watching a movie in the park - with her tenant Tripp Blackston, whom she's getting closer to each day. Unfortunately, her mother is also there with her boyfriend, Owen Quinn, whom Abby isn't too sure about since no one seems to know anything about him except he has a part-time barbeque restaurant and fishes the rest of the time. But she can't worry about it, because it's her job to clean up after the movie and make sure the park is pristine.

Helped by her mother, they sweep the area with flashlights until her mom comes across a grisly discovery: a dead body. Now, with Owen suspected of the murder, her mother angry at Gage for not finding a killer and declaring him incompetent, Abby is stuck in the middle of an investigation Tripp doesn't want her anywhere near. But if Abby doesn't find the real killer, Owen - or someone else who's innocent - could be stuck behind bars for a long time...

This is the fourth book in the series and each time I read one of them I find them getting more and more delightful. No, this is no earth-shattering series; it's not deeply mysterious nor terribly suspenseful. But what it is, is fun. And quite a lot of it.

We watch Abby as she's dealing with her mother temporarily staying with her - and that's no picnic for Abby at all - as the two women are going head to head quite a bit, with Tripp stuck in the middle trying to protect Abby for all it's worth. Not that Phoebe is mean; she's just worried about Owen. But Owen is keeping secrets, and he's not telling.

Then when his employee has a problem that scares her, Abby is once again called in the middle of the investigation she's supposed to be staying out of. Now she's dealing with more than just her mom, her budding relationship with Tripp, and trying to keep her temper. But things soon heat up and somehow she discovers that there's just no way to stay out of the fire...

When the murderer is discovered, it is somewhat of a surprise, not fully getting what seems easy to detect. It makes for an entertaining ride that keeps going up and down, the mystery intertwined with Abby's relationship issues with the people around her, and the climax of discovering a killer.

It's great enjoyment to read a book that sticks to its subject matter and takes us out of life's daily problems and into the life of Abby McCree, which is always worth reading, pulling us into a neat murder mystery that always has us wondering what will come next. I can't wait for the next in the series and wish I could read it immediately. I dare you to end this book without a smile on your face. Highly recommended.

Was this review helpful?

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of DEATH BY INTERMISSION (Book 4 of the Abby McCree Mysteries) by Alexis Morgan in exchange for an honest review. Community service has been one of the themes of Abby McCree’s life since she moved to Snowberry Creek. Thus, Abby finds herself responsible for organizing, running, and cleaning up after the last of this year’s Movies in the Park. During cleanup, Abby is confronted by another theme of her life in her new town: murder. When Abby and her mother, Phoebe, find a murdered man that evening, Abby’s mother is in a tizzy. When Phoebe’s mysterious new boyfriend Owen becomes the chief suspect, Phoebe erupts in an anti-police frenzy. Abby clashed with her mother over several issues: Abby’s continuing to live away from the rest of her family; Abby’s relationship with U.S. Veteran Tripp Blackston; and Abby’s insistent support of local law enforcement. Frazzled by her mother’s constant haranguing, Abby frequently flees her house to escape her mother, and, against her better judgment and promises to the contrary, investigating both Owen’s secrets and the murder.

I liked this book and enjoy the series. I recommend this book to fans of the series. I recommend the series to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, a heroine new to town, community service, veterans, and a doggy sidekick.

#DeathbyIntermission #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this latest book in the series. I look forward to seeing what Abby and Tripp get up to. This latest outing includes Abby's mother and it definitely keeps things interesting. I look forward to the next one. #DeathbyIntermission #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

5 stars
Death by Intermission
Alexis Morgan
This is just an outstanding book. I love Abby McCree, Tripp and Zeke. In fact, this book makes me want a mastiff! This was yet another excellent addition to this series. This is able to be read as a stand-alone as well. I love books about veterans and dogs and this series is brimming with them. I loved the addition of Owen and Abby's mom which added a whole other dimension to Abby’s character.
Morgan makes you care about her characters and the outcome of the entire storyline.
I have to say I did not figure this one out until about 80% through. Ms.Morgan has written a true cozy mystery with no sex or swearing.
I highly recommend this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Abby McCree is at it again. Finding a dead body that is. As they are cleaning up after the movie in the park Abby and her mother Phoebe stumble upon a dead man. OwEn Quinn is quick to identify the victim and ends up becoming the main suspect mostly because it was his chef knife that did the victim in. Is Owen guilty? He seems to be protecting someone but who? And how deep does his secrets go? The more she gets involved the more Abby realizes Owen isn't guilty but he won't talk.Lots of twist and turns in this great book. Couldn't stop reading.

Was this review helpful?

Overall this was a cute cozy and if you like mysterious military men, you’ll probably enjoy the series. The mystery was pretty good, as were the side characters. Mom seemed a little over the top, but I’m glad they toned her down as the book progressed and gave her a good reason.

Was this review helpful?