Radio DJ has had her fill of the stupid protesters hanging out in front of her studio/home. She takes one of their Revolutionary War style muskets, aims and fires! The snowman's head explodes. She made her point. Unfortunately, in the days that followed the snowman started to dissolve and there was a dead body inside. This was just the beginning of many 'hate crimes' in her small Vermont town. Identifying the killer was just the beginning.

Although I liked the characters and their interactions, this wasn't really my favorite kind of book. First, there wasn't enough mystery for me, too easy to guess. The main problem for me was the labeling of most characters. Were they liberal or conservative? Were they TruthTellers or Knuckle-draggers? Since I have no idea what that is means, maybe they're both? I don't like labeling people and felt a twinge of annoyance every time it happened in this book, which was too often. I hear enough of it on the news and like to keep away from it during my reading time.

I'm giving the book 3 stars for the characters and their interactions.

Decent start to a new series. Jaye is a radio personality, obtaining a small local radio station when she relocates to Vermont after divorce to be closer to her daughter and ex. Current affairs pop up often as Jaye tries to bring the station into the current century. There is a small but vocal group who miss the old catalogue and on-air personalities. Jaye is so frustrated; she blows the head off a snowman in the park. Everyone is surprised when a body is discovered in the shell of the snowman. There's some light romance, good small-town vibe and twisty clues. I look forward to the next one to see where the series heads after this murder is solved.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Jaye Jordan has come home to take over the radio station where she got her start after a very tumultuous time. She and her husband have divorced following the survival of his cancer treatments. Their daughter Ryan spends the weekdays with Jaye and weekends with her dad, David.

Jaye has taken the station away from its talk format back to music and some of her listeners are not having it. In fact, they are staging a protest at the station. At the end of her rope, Jaye heads outside, grabs a Revolutionary style musket from one of the protesters, and turns and fires blowing the head off a 10-foot high snowman left over from the winter festival. As the rest of the snowman falls apart a body is discovered. Edwin Anger was a right-wing talk show host that had been fired by Jaye due to the new format and now people think she killed him and hid his body inside the snowman. She wants to clear her name but people convince her to leave the matter to the police.

As the police investigate someone turns up the dial and threatens Jaye and her daughter with everything from horrific graffiti to a pipe bomb. To bide her time Jaye spends more time rekindling a relationship with a man she had a huge crush on years ago. But the killer is not giving up and Jaye may find herself and her station down the tubes forever.

First, I am so thankful my cancer diagnosis and treatment did not destroy my marriage. My family was my rock. I was sad to see how easily Jaye and David’s marriage fell apart and how easily they just got on with their lives. I think this is the reason I had a hard time connecting with these characters. I wish we would have had more of a backstory with them because I hope there was more drama and feelings that led up to what to me would be a major event but came off as a minor one in this story, especially because she converted to Judaism for this man.

Next, the writing style/dialogues gave me some issues. Jaye just seemed all over the place. Her station is her focus along with her daughter. Then you throw in her budding relationship with the governor, and spending time with her friends next door and sometimes this all seems to happen within one page of the story. In a normal cozy mystery, finding a killer would be in the mix too but Jaye seems to have a real lackadaisical attitude about the murder even when trouble comes knocking right at her door.

What I did like about the book was the strong relationship Jaye and David have with their daughter. They come together each Friday evening for the ritual of Shabbat. They have moved to be far enough apart to have their own lives but close enough to be available to her for anything that comes up. And they have good honest conversations with her about anything she asks. Jaye and David have a great co-parenting system and they are going to need it as this series continues and the murder drama ensues.

I do wish Jaye would have had a more active part in the murder investigation and the mystery would have been harder to solve. A complex mystery is always hard in the first book of a series because it takes pages to introduce the characters and the setting leaving less room to develop a complicated plotline. Vermont is a fabulous place for a cozy mystery to take place. And we do meet some unique characters in this story including a wonderful wild moose with a sweet tooth but I feel the characters could have been more fleshed out in this book to start the series. It is clear the author knows the radio business and it has been an important part of her life but I need her protagonist to be a more well-rounded character with a more serious nature when called for.

I do love the radio station theme and Live, Local, and Dead has good bones. I think it just needs a little tweaking going forward with the series. Ms. Knight has the humor and small-town setting right for a cozy mystery series. I do think the romantic scenes played too big of a part in the story taking over where the mystery should have played the leading role. I hope to see more character development and a more complicated mystery with the main character more involved as the series continues. This story does have a political slant due to the victim and the governor being involved and that may be off-putting to some readers as would the explicit language used. All in all, I am holding out hope that the second book in the series will fall more into the cozy realm I am used to because I do want to give these characters another chance. I am rounding up to 4 stars.

The first in a planned series based around DJ Jaye Jordan, as she settles in Vermont, taking over the local radio station. The opening scene sees Jaye frustrated with locals who are upset that she has fired a popular radio show host, grabbing a Revolutionary-style musket, and shooting a snowman in front of her building. But when the body of Edwin Anger, the host she had fired, is found inside the snowman, things get dicey. Hate crime messages, harassment and vandalism follow, as Jaye, her daughter Ryan, and friends try to stay one step ahead of the killer.

This book jumps right into the story, with Jaye shooting the snowman in the first couple pages. But it also brings a slew of characters forward right from the start, and Ii just wanted a bit of a background. Give me Jaye's history, tell me more about her friends and the issues that brought her back to small-town Vermont. This book would have benefited from some lead-up, and with the number of characters, a novella might have been necessary. Also, I would have like to see Jaye take a more active role in the case, instead of being a fairly passive bystander. The insta-love didn't help my feelings about this book... just a little too quick in my mind.

All this being said, I don't rule out trying book 2 in the series when it's released. The premise is good, and I actually liked a lot of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Live, Local, and Dead
By Nikki Knight
Crooked Lane
February 2022

Review by Cynthia chow

After accepting a buyout that allowed her to leave her life as a New York City DJ behind, Jaye Jordan has returned to Vermont to take over the local station that gave Jaye her first job in radio. The previous angry conservative host Edgar Anger is not going out quietly though, living up to his name by encouraging his followers to engage in hostile protests. And that was before she inadvertently shot the rage monster, whose body was already deceased but hidden in a snowman. With his fanbase TruthTellers not living up to their names by declaring her guilt, Jaye is determined to protect her daughter and her new life even as alarming Nazi symbols are painted on her doorstep.

Jaye and her daughter Ryan have a refreshingly fun and supportive mother-daughter relationship, with Jaye known as Ryansmom by the pre-teen’s friends. Ryan doesn’t even resent Jaye’s blossoming relationship with Governor Will Ten Broeck, a former crush whose flirtation is quite spicy and advances quickly into adult territory. Using his executive powers to place protection around Ryan and Jaye, the radio host is unwilling to sit out on the sidelines and be intimidated by hate speech or be incriminated in a murder. While Jaye’s protective parents call-in from their retirement home in Florida to check in on their offspring, the owner of one of the few remaining local radio stations continues her broadcasts while maneuvering through the labyrinth of local politics.

This first in a new series has a unique breezy narrative style that quickly immerses readers into Jaye’s vibrant life. Jaye is not your typical cozy amateur detective, with a biting sense of humor and a very active sex life. She maintains an amenable relationship with her ex-husband David, whom she still admires as being a great father to their daughter. Jaye and David’s marriage survived his treatment of cancer but withered after his recovery. Things said during the stress of an illness could not be forgotten, and his remission also had them both rethinking and reassessing the goals for their lives. This very timely novel is not shy about its viewpoints, and while most agree that they are rational, it wouldn’t be surprising that they could also be seen as “too woke” for the mystery genre. This introduction of the very likable, vocal, and vibrant character of Jaye promises a lot of exuberant fun for readers who love their reads to be filled with suspense, humor, and romance.

Live, Local, and Dead by Nikki Knight is the debut of A Vermont Radio Mystery series. I liked the idea of a main character owning a radio station in a small Vermont town. I had a challenging time, though, reading Live, Local, and Dead. The writing style made it difficult to get into the story. The author dived into the story introducing us to a variety of people including the governor who just happened to be walking by when Jaye shot the head off a snowman. There are a number of quirky characters. I felt like I was missing a novella that had introduced us to Jaye and her daughter, Ryan. The characters felt flat since we do not get background information on most of them. The story is told in the first person in a rambling style. The sentences all seemed to run together (Jaye starts talking and just keeps going). It is hard to know what Jaye is talking about half the time (I re-read some sections multiple times trying to figure out what was going on). The topics change quickly. Jaye will mention a townsperson by name, and I would wonder who they were (she would just name drop and go on to the next topic). There was a lot of politics in this book. It was too much for a cozy mystery along with the significant amount of foul language. There is at least one bad word per page (I find it offensive and off putting). The mystery has a body being found inside the snowman (clever idea) and it happens to be the radio host that Jaye discontinued using at the station. Jaye becomes a suspect especially since she shot the head off the snowman. I thought Jaye would dive into the investigation, but she seemed more concerned with romance. The crime is solved with little help (I mean very, very little) from our DJ. I wanted to like Live, Local, and Dead but it is not a good fit for me. I did not like all the political insults, the foul language, and the focus on romance instead of the mystery. I also could not relate to the main character (nor did I like her), and I was not a fan of her musical selections. I could not believe Jaye fend candy to a wild moose (I know it is fiction, but she could have fed the moose something normal). Another negative was Jaye shooting the gun in the middle of the town (she picked up the gun not knowing if it was loaded or not). It was just the start of the silliness. This book was all over the place (lacked focus). I even wonder if it fits into the cozy category since Jaye does not investigate. Jaye would rather focus on restarting her life after her divorce (and she has the hots for a certain guy). Live, Local, and Dead was not a good fit for me, but it may be right up your alley. I suggest you obtain a sample to judge for yourself. Live, Local, and Dead is an offbeat cozy mystery with a moose with a sweet tooth, a headless snowman, a cold corpse, a gregarious governor, and a divorced DJ.

I don't think I have read a book based on a radio station before. And it is certainly a hub of activity with friends and family. I do like Jaye. She is a spunky gal with a drive to make a small town radio station into a profitable business. We have the daughter and the story of Jaye's failed marriage, plus her new romance with an old friend the governor. But the main story is about the hate and anger program that Jaye has removed from the radio. It appears Jaye's life is in danger. But who is behind the threats? A good story!

Live, Local, and Dead by Nikki Knight is the first book in a fast-paced cozy mystery. I got to meet Jaye Jordan, a radio DJ who has moved to back to Vermont with her ten-year-old daughter, Ryan after leaving New York City, and taking over the local radio station.

Jaye DJ's from a transmitter shack and Neptune, a giant, part Russian blue, grey cat, that acts like a dog, lives at the station. Jaye and Ryan live in the flat above. I liked Jaye, finding her to be strong-willed and sassy. Jaye's family and friends were a good crowd and this initial instalment introduces the reader to everyone. There is the potential here for this to become a terrifically good mystery series. I am eager for Jaye's next adventure in book #2.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

An unusual and fun cozy mystery, a bit darker than usual and with some social remarks that i found funny.
An interesting character, a lovely setting, and a mystery that kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Nikki Knight's new series is a refreshing change in cozy mysteries and a captivating read. Please see my complete review at www.reviewingtheevidence.com.

It was a good read. Not exactly my type of book, but I know people who would love it. I did like the setting. I would buy it for others.

Live,local, and dead by Nikki Knight.
In a fit of anger, radio DJ Jaye Jordan blows a snowman's head off with a Revolutionary War-style musket. But the corpse that tumbles out is all too human. Jaye thought life would be quieter when she left New York City and bought a tiny Vermont radio station. But now, Edwin Anger--the ranting and raving radio talk show host who Jaye recently fired--lies dead in the snow. And the Edwin Anger fans who protested his dismissal are sure she killed him.
A good read with good characters. Likeable story. I did like the cover. 3*.

I really enjoyed this mystery. It’s not a straight forward cozy mystery. It leans a little left and the main character doesn’t really solve the mystery. But I loved the story line, loved the music references, and the small-town Vermont feel. Jaye has moved from NYC to take over a dying radio station in a small town. Big life style change along with the divorce from her husband who now lives across the river in New Hampshire. When 2 musket carrying protestors get on Jaye’s last nerve, she borrows a musket and shoots off the head of the nearby snowman. Who knew there would be a body in the snowman. And so the story starts.

This book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. I believe it’s being promoted as a cozy and some of the elements of a cozy are there, but it doesn’t really fit that genre. There’s a little too much fairly intense flirting and romance and not enough amateur sleuthing. Some people may have issues with the political slant in the storyline, but it did fit the characters and their stories. I liked the radio setting in this book. The relationships among the characters and the sense of community was a strong component throughout the book. The book didn’t totally work for me as far as the mystery went, but there are components that I liked. The characters were well done and likable, the setting is enjoyable and unique and there is a strong sense of community, family and friendship.

I like Jaye, she is feisty, quick talking and doesn't tolerate fools, I like the relationship between her and Ryan (her daughter), and I like the interaction with the other characters in the story.

I did find myself having to backtrack a few times to figure out who's who at the beginning because there were so many names that I couldn't keep people straight. This story was very political, but I found it appropriate to the story line.

I will definitely read another book in this series, and more books from this author. This was a solid
3.5 stars for me.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this story.

What a story!! Live, Local and Dead is a different take from my normal and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.


Jaye Jordan is a very interesting woman. A radio DJ, a mom and recently divorced moving. She and her daughter have recently moved to a small Vermont town where she has taken over the local radio station. What should be a nice and safe home for her and her child, Jaye soon becomes the target of some nice crimes. The surprising thing about this is our lead lady is not the one figuring out the mystery. She is going on with her day today life but yet working closely with the local authorities to figure out what’s going on behind these crimes.

I enjoyed Live, Local and Dead. Jaye has gone through a challenging event and is trying to make the best of her new life. She is a woman with strong opinions and beliefs. She doesn’t let up on those things that she values just because someone else pushes her to try to do so. I wouldn’t necessarily categorize this as a cozy mystery just because it’s a little more outspoken in certain ways than the typical cozy Mystery. that did not deter my enjoyment from this book. I’m actually very much looking forward to see where the author takes the series.

This is a really different cozy mystery. In fact, I'm not sure I'd identify it as a mystery at all. We do have a murdered fellow shortly after the beginning but then the novel turns to Jaye's relationships and profession. A single mom, she is not adverse to a male sleepover when her daughter is staying the weekend with her dad, Jaye's ex.

Jaye bought a small town radio station. There is quite a bit of text dedicated to Jaye discontinuing a conservative talk show and the animosity she receives because of it. Granted, the setting is Vermont so one would expect a more liberal audience for the station. There did seem to be more political statements and opinions than one would expect to find in a novel in this genre.

Probably what I missed the most was an amateur sleuth. While Jaye is a strong woman, especially when defending her radio station, she does nothing to solve the murder except make a suggestion to the local chief of police. She does figure out another murder attempt but because of her daughter and not because she is investigating.

There are some interesting issues explored in the plot, such as community support and radio personalities that claim the right to say anything, true or not, because it's a show, not a truthful news broadcast. There is information about Jewish religious practices, how a radio station operates, and a good dose of Vermont culture.

I did enjoy the novel although it was not the typical cozy mystery I expected.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

This was an enjoyable read that grabbed me and kept me interested and reading until the end. It has interesting characters that you want to know more about and by the time you are halfway through the book you are loving them. This is a book that needs to be on your TBR list, no doubt about it and once you are done you will be needing more.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book seemed like a different cozy mystery, with an interesting main character. Unfortunately, I just could not get into the story. The characters were not very interesting and I could not read much at once because I just felt like doing something else after reading a few pages. Also, it did not help that many words were missing letters and I had to guess what was supposed to be written.

A great start to a new series. A great amount of characters and mystery. Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.