This is the fourth instalment in Victoria Laurie's Life Coach Mysteries series, though it is my first. I got to meet Cat Cooper and her best friend, Gilley. Cat and Gilley are expecting to be holidaying in Italy and all the plans are in place. But wealthy Scarlet Rubi needs some help first; she needs assistance with a fresh start as her toxic family members, including her ex-husband, are money expectant and want her to fund their lifestyles. Scarlet, a successful romance novelist is looking to cut their cash flow among other things. But the next day Scarlet is found dead and Cat and Gilley were the last to see her according to Detective Shepherd, Cat's boyfriend, which puts them on the list of suspects.

In this compelling tale, many, it seems wouldn't have minded seeing Scarlet dead. As soon as I thought I knew who might be the culprit, a new piece of information emerged that flipped everything around and made me rethink and reevaluate all of the suspects. A terribly good story that has made me want to start the series from the beginning, with Coached to Death.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I'm a big fan of this author's other series so I had high hopes for this one. We are several books in and I'm liking them less than when the series started. I enjoyed the humor. The mystery didn't grab me. And I love Gilley, but I enjoyed him more with MJ. It feels like the character has lost a lot of personality since hooking up with Cat. The further we get in the series the less I like her. Instead of character growth it feels like she is devolving. I'll read the next one because of the ending but it may be my last.

Life-coach Cat and her best friend tech savvy Gilley return in their 4th mystery adventure. Gilley is distraught after his husband divorced him so Cat plans a European trip to cheer him up. But before they leave Cat takes on a new client who is looking for a Life-Coach to assist her with a fresh start of her own. Successful romance author Scarlet Rubi is extremely wealthy and her toxic family members (and ex-husband) are money hungry and expecting her to fund their lifestyles. Scarlet want to cut the money flow and seeks advice from Cat. The solution is found and Scarlet and Cat move quickly so the family can be told that night that the handouts are stopped effective immediately. Someone is not happy with this and Scarlet is executed later that night. Cat is told by her boyfriend Detective Shepherd that as they were the last to see Scarlet alive, they were not to leave town until the mystery is solved. With their flights to Europe booked the following week, Cat and Gilley start their own investigations with a group of nasty selfish relatives who all have a reason to kill Scarlett. There are more deaths and we nearly lose our heroic duo as they face the killer before all is revealed and reasons given. Once the dust settles and Cat and Gilley are on their way to the airport there is a killer last few sentences which makes me really, really want book 5 to come out soon!

Oh - and I really, really want a Sebastian in my life. Who is Sebastian? Read the books and you’ll find out.

Coached Red-Handed is the fourth in the coached series by Victoria Laurie. I have been an ardent fan of the Psychic eye series, but this is the first time I read her coached books. The heroine, Cat is Abby's very successful older sister. Apart from the fact that she comes off as a lamebrain instead of a corporate genius, I found the book funny and entertaining. I was a laugh a minute with over-the-top characters and improbable scenarios. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to catching up with the first three.

Coached Red Handed by Victoria Laurie (Life Coach Mystery #4) 4 stars

In this book, we find the dynamic duo of Cat Cooper and Gilley is the midst of a life crisis. Gilley is going through a divorce and is grieving the end of his marriage. In order to cheer his up, Cat proposes a trip to Paris and its environs. Planning ensues which means that Gilley needs a dog-sitter for his wonder pooch. While asking a friend to dog sit, Cat is given a referral to a client in need of her services. Scarlet Rubi is a bestselling author with family issues. She is the sole support of her extended family and she needs a plan to shut off the “Bank of Rubi”. Cat and Gilley provides her moral support at a family meeting that is contentious and loud. Mission is accomplished and all is good. What gives Cat a shock is a morning phone call from her boyfriend asking that she meet him at Scarlet Rubi’s home. Apparently, she and Gilley might have been the last persons to see her alive since she was shot dead before midnight. Cat and Gilley will not be able to make their European trip unless the real murderer is found. Delving into the background of the relatives will be like trying to navigate a cesspool without gagging, but Cat and Gilley are determined to see justice done.

This was a fun and enjoyable mystery. Both Cat and Gilley experience some character growth and it seems that the romance between Cat and Shepard is progressing nicely. The identity of the murderer was a surprise and ingenious. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC,

I truly loved the Abby Coper series by this author. However, this series is not resonating with me as much. The lead character is unrelatable in the way she views money and how she spends it with no regard. Her friendship with Gilley borders on implausible and he really needs to learn to be more self-sufficient. I think there was an attempt within this book to make Cat more self-aware but it seemed to drop off with no resolution. And as this is the fourth book, I would think the characters would develop thicker skin at crime scenes. And how is her business afloat when she's busy solving crimes?

Another fun installment in the Life Coach Mystery series from Victoria Laurie.

I was able to guess the killer immediately for the exact reason that the killer states that they wouldn't be discovered during the reveal!

However, I still loved all the twists and misdirection and I can't wait for the next book in this series.

I LOVED this book! I have always been a huge fan of Victoria Laurie so naturally I love this series. I love that we have beloved characters from the other series. I especially loved this one. The ending had me absolutely ready for the next one! I like that we get more of Gilley's life and her relationship with Shep! I can't wait for the next one. I realize I sound like a fan girl but this book was fantastic!

Scarlett hired Cat to help her sort through who she should leave her money to- and then someone kills her! Cat, who is about to leave on a much needed vacation in Italy with Gilley (who has split from his husband) finds herself working through all those relatives and others to figure out who did it. BUT, Scarlett won't be the only victim AND Cat's boyfriend Shep, a police officer, is very unhappy that she's in the middle of this. It's a classic cozy but the setting in the Hamptons is delightful and I'm a fan of the characters. There are enough red herrings to keep you guessing. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Don't worry if you haven't read the earlier books- this will be fine as a standalone. Looking forward to the next one.

Coached Red-Handed is a straight-line mystery. No legitimate (Cat and boyfriend Shep seem old hat after three books) subplots, and a who-done-it that was an easy guess from the beginning. But I must admit – I didn’t figure in the Robocop aspect. The only redeeming factor is Gilley. His humor and kindness are what held this book together.

As for the ending, I can understand Cat’s apprehension, but walking away could add a new dimension, and new characters, to a series that is too cookie cutter.

I reviewed this title for Mystery Scene Magazine Fall issue, please check when that issue released to read my entire review

It's one thing to have your travel plans changed due to a misplaced passport or a case of flu but a murder? Oh, dear. That's what Cat and her BFF Gilley face just as they are ready to hop a flight for a three week vacation in Italy. Cat had hoped the escape would help Gilley deal with the breakup of his marriage. Now, due to their connection to a dead woman the police have them on the suspect list. If the trip is to happen Cat and Gilley have to unmask the killer.
The deceased woman, Scarlet Rubi, was very, very rich and her family wanted to get their hands on all of it. When she decided to cut them off from all that money it's a sure bet somebody was not going to stand by and let that happen. She had wanted to make some life changes and turned to Cat for life coaching. Was that her big mistake? Cat and Gilley will do their best to find the answers.
This is one of my favorite series and it was a pleasure to spend time in the company of Cat and Gilley. The mystery kept me guessing to the unexpected ending and now I'm ready to find out what's in store for them in the next book.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Coached REd-Handed is the fourth book in Life Coach Mystery series by Victoria Laurie.

This is one of my favorite series and new book is always a eagerly awaited treat. It has all major ingredients: beautiful setting, clever and charming heroine, hillarious and warm hearted side kick and a good and well executed mystery.

In this book, Catherine and Gilly are planning a trip to Europe so as to avoid Gilly's husband who is coming back to pack his things after their divorce. As expected he is heartbroken and Catherine is ready to do pretty much anything to make him feel better.
Unpredictably they get a new client who so happens to be a well loved and highly regarded romance novelist. Unfortunately she is soon murdered and realizing that they might not be able to leave until the killer is apprehended our dynamic duo sets out to solve the crime.

I especially appreciate how realistic characters are, how main protagonists grow and evolve with each book, to me it adds to the believability to the books.
Stories are always well told, mysteries are engaging and books are steady paced.

All in all this installment was a pleasure to read as is the whole series.

#netgalleyarc I want to love this series but this title and the one before have me just going meh. I really enjoy this author and two of her other series, but this one just leaves me wanting more. Catherine and Gilley, who I loved as a character in his original series, just aren’t cutting it for me as series leads. This book started off okay but then got really predictable. It had a decent ending but otherwise it was just meh.

A cute, campy cozy ( say that three times fast!). I picked up this fourth book in a series without having read the previous three and had no problem delving right in. Not only was there murder and mystery, but there was also romance.

The plot was well-formed and had me guessing throughout who the murderer might be. This being the fourth book in the series, the main characters seemed well developed and had their relationships and quirks already formed. So much so, that one relationship was looked at and being scrutinized in depth by one of the main characters.

I recommend this book for cozy readers. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own. This review can also be found on my Goodreads page.

I’ve been a fan of this author for a very long time, and I always enjoy her books. This latest is the fourth in the Cat & Gilley series. I admit that sometimes I find Cat just a little bit oblivious about things, and maybe a little bit wishy-washy, but I do love her and Gilley. This latest is as well-written as I’ve come to expect with interesting characters, and I did figure out (or strongly suspected) the villain, but I still quite enjoyed the whole book. I was a little disappointed in Cat, too, with her reaction at the very end, but it did make me long for the next book to see how that all plays out. All in all, long-time fans will really enjoy this one, and new fans will come to love the characters and world but should start at the beginning to get the subtleties. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Coached Red-Handed by Victoria Laurie is the fourth book in her Cat & Gilley Life Coach Mystery series. Cat and Gilley have a tough case to solve in this book. Gilley has a lot to cope with considering his circumstance. Cat and Shep have some ups and downs. None of this stops Cat and Gilley from interviewing possible suspects, following clues and using their smarts and experience to successfully solve the murder mystery.

This book has a complex storyline with good pacing. I like the characters and find the interactions between Cat and Gilley to be quite entertaining. This was a fun whodunit to read.

From start to finish Victoria Laurie's 'Coached Red-Handed' was perfection! I especially appreciated Gilley's brilliant relationship advise to Cat on dealing with Shep. It was real and helpful. This story had so many layers, not the least of which was the painful end to Gilley's marriage, but each was handled with skill and suspense. I suspected the killer, but didn't in anyway see how it was accomplished. This was amazing. The cliff hanger has me anxious, I want it to turn out in a happy way. I'll be very disappointed if it doesn't.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I was hesitant to read this book because I have no read any others in the series, but it was good as a standalone book. The characters were likeable and the story was easy to read.

This is the fourth book in the series and I can sum up my thoughts in one word: Wow!
This book took me on a wild ride, with some great twists. It was a thrilling whodunit with interesting characters.
I love the friendship between Cat and Gilley.
I look forward to reading the next in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.