This is the second one of these books I have tried, because I've always loved homefront World War II stories. Unfortunately, I won't be reading any more of them. Despite all the little touches--war plant workers, Irene's father and fiance being in the service, War Bond rallies, etc.--I don't get an authentic WWII vibe from these as much as I did from DEAR MRS. BIRD and its sequels and the Olive Bright mysteries. I should be fond of Irene's younger sister Lily, the math whiz and talented artist, but even she falls flat for me.

I know others have enjoyed this series more than I have. Maybe I'm just more nitpicky about my historical details.

I really enjoyed both book about Irene and the home front during ww2. This is a fun series and look forward to what the author has planned next.

I really loved this book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end

I received this book for free for an honest review from Netgalley.

Hey sweet cozy mystery that kept me entertained throughout the whole weekend.

A solid mystery. I like the historical time frame of this series and the newspaper element is fun. Irene and her friends are likable characters, and the story moves well. A quick and easy read and a good book.

I liked this as much as the first! Irene Ingram is acting as editor of the Progress Herald while her dad is in the Pacific as a war correspondent. Her mom helps with bond drives and Irene bunks with her little sister so they can find space for a boarder. (The local ironworks company is quite busy). The descriptions of small-town life during the war are well done--loss too close to home and the excitement of a Hollywood war bond rally all ring true. The traveling war bond troupe includes a couple of stars with ties to Progress, PA. When the philandering husband of one is found dead, the mystery side of things ramp up when gossip, blackmail and little black books are come to light in this small town.

One of my favorite parts of this series’ first book was the way the author immerses the reader so completely in WWII America, and it’s one of my favorite parts of Death on a Deadline too! From the chapter-opening news headlines to the everyday details that make the time period – and the characters – come alive, it’s clear St. Anthony has done her research while weaving the history seamlessly into the fabric of the story. One cannot be separated from the other, and the end result is smartly entertaining! Along with a shocking murder, the drama of celebrity, the emotions of wartime (including the bond drives), and the buzz of a small town newspaper combine to make this a cozy mystery you don’t want to miss. Can’t wait to tag along with the intrepid Irene on more of her investigative adventures!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

I have yet again begun a new series by not reading the first book but in this case I only have one book to cover the backlog so no worries on that front.

I enjoyed this book which is set in the WWII era. The murder mystery revolves around an annual country fair in a small American town where a visit by a few up and coming actors to promote the sale of war bonds results in the death of one of them. The protagonist is Irene Ingram who is running the local paper as editor in chief in absence of her father and I liked her attitude towards her job and her sleuthing skills. I also liked how the author began each chapter with a corresponding news headline of the time period covered in the book.

I look forward to reading more in the series after I have finished reading the first book.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author Joyce St. Anthony for the e-Arc of the book.

Love the cover picture as well 😍!

Irene is holding the fort as editor for her father who is covering the war from
the Pacific.

The small town is fully behind the war effort and support for its troops.
During a celebration where Clarke Gable was expected to be present, but when
eventually another minor celebrity takes his place, the papers are willing and supportive
to cover the event. When the man is found murdered, Irene uses her detective powers
working with her father in law to try to solve this surprising murder.

There are plenty of suspects including the actors wife, who was very averse at
Freddie's roving eye and who had been very loud in her objections. When enquiries
progress nothing seems to be what they appear to be and Irene herself is in danger.

A cosy set during wartime this time around in a small American town was very different
to the usual genre reads.

This an enjoyable cozy mystery set in World War II era. I like the heroine, Irene. She has taken over the town newspaper while her father is off serving the country during the war. Her position gives Irene a good reason to snoop and investigate. She has good friends to help, such as one who can pick locks. Irene can be a bit over bearing and irritating at times, however.

I like the small town setting of an annual fair, giving us an idea of community entertainment. The time period also gives us information about how actors helped in promoting the sale of war bonds. The plot is good with many suspects for the murder. There are many secrets that eventually come to light. The reveal is one from desperation, not from Irene's clever investigation.

While this is the second in a series, it read well on its own. It's a good cozy mystery for readers who like a community setting with good historical information included.

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

Three things I enjoy in books: a good cozy mystery, a WWII timeline and a cute small town. This book had them all so I was pretty excited to check it out.

This is the second book in the A Homefront News Mystery series. I did not actually realize this before starting. There was a large cast of characters to keep track of, and I do wonder if that might have been a bit easier had I read the previous book... likewise I think I might have connected a bit better with the primary character had I had a little more of her backstory. Regardless though, I could tell that these characters are well developed and the story very well done. I definitely think I would have gotten more enjoyment out of it had I read the previous book first, and as such would definitely recommend other readers to do so. Either way, this was still an enjoyable read and a series to watch out for!

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

Con:
1. The book could use a character list at the beginning.
2. I’m never a fan of the sleuth committing theft or breaking & entering in the course of the investigation.
3. I don’t buy the fact that the chief of police is going to share all of the information about an open case to the press, despite other relationships.

Pro:
1. The locale is a big draw for readers from the Pittsburgh area.
2. History is well-researched and feels fresh, not the same old overdone “here’s another ww2 in europe novel.”
3. Engaging character development.
4. The series is absolutely hitting its stride, and I look forward to book 3.

Thank you to Joyce St. Anthony, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

We return to Progress, Pennsylvania where Irene Ingram has become editor-in chief of the newspaper, the Progress Herald in her father’s absence. There will be a war bond drive held during the fair and Ava Dempsey, who owns the local beauty parlor and is also the town gossip, is spreading the rumor that Clark Gable will be one of the participating stars. Ava states she heard it from her sister, Angel who is an actress and is part of the war bond drive. The headliner turns out to be Angel’s two-timing husband, Freddie Harrison. Irene finds Freddie dead in the fair’s dunk tank. There are plenty of suspects including Angel and Freddie’s latest paramour, Belinda Fox. Irene uses her investigative skills to hone in on the killer. Death on a Deadline by Joyce St. Anthony is the second A Homefront News Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. I thought Death on a Deadline was well-written with steady pacing. I like Irene Ingram who is a smart, friendly, and spunky woman. She is a realistic, developed character. I like Irene’s interactions with her best friend, Peggy and her almost father-in-law Police Chief Walter Turner. The whodunit was intriguing and fun to solve. There are plenty of people who wished Freddie dead. Irene asks questions and gathers clues. I like that Irene works with Chief Turner. They share information and bounce ideas off each other. There was a complete wrap up at the end, so we are not left with lingering questions. There is humor scattered throughout the story. Ava’s sister, Angel is a piece of work. Irene’s cousin, Donnie also provides amusement. The author captured the time period with the historical references including the war bond drive and rationing. Before each chapter is a newspaper headline from the Progress Herald that includes the latest war news. I enjoyed the reference to Mrs. Miniver (good movie). The ending was perfect. Death on a Deadline is a captivating cozy with a war bond rally, rampant rumors, a slain star, sugar rationing, an over-the-top thespian, a cheerful cousin, and a curious reporter.

This is a historical romance book and my first time reading this author. Irene is running her fathers newspaper with he is away at his job as a WWII correspondent. Hollywood actors are in town to hold a War Bond Drive and Irene is covering the story for the paper. One of the actors turns up dead and two former residents are the prime suspects in the murder. Can Irene solve the murder and save the town?

I loved this novel which is even better than the previous. I was happy to catch up with the characters and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
Can't wait to read the next story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

It is always refreshing when the second book in a series improves upon the first and gives it a fresh lease on life. I liked the first but was uncertain if I would be continuing with the series. I saw the next and decided to give it another shot, and I was really glad that I did.
The seriousness of the mystery at the heart of the first went deeper than this, but I do think one can start off this series here as well.
In the first installment, our lead protagonist was struggling to be taken seriously as an editor of the local newspaper. The trouble was with people respecting her despite her age and gender. That aspect has settled to some degree by the start of things here. I did enjoy that part of the story in the first.
I did not know much about war bonds in the US, but I looked up a little more information than the author provided, and I was set. The plot itself made sense. We have famous people promoting war bonds and encouraging people to invest in them. A little personal drama occurs in this small town before the complete group rolls up. The central figure of that drama ends up dead, and everyone is a suspect. Thanks to her position, Irene starts to investigate. The investigation was straightforward, and the solution was entirely believable. There were some red herrings thrown in. I would recommend this series to anyone who likes cozy historical mysteries.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Utterly delightful blast into the past...wartime small town Pennsylvania with a plucky reporter/editor who's smart with a curiosity streak a mile wide. A Hollywood bond tour comes to town, but one of the B-list celebs winds up dead. I found it true to the period without any noticeable anachronisms. Perhaps other folks might find some, but I totally bought into the story.
Rounding up from 4 and a half stars, slightly dinged for guessing the true villain.

I am really enjoying this series, particularly Irene and her investigative skills (although her calling her soon-to-be father-in-law “dad” is kind of weird and confusing, especially when she’s with him and her mom). Irene is smart, savvy, and kind. She’s easily relatable and I love her integrity. The story itself was well-paced and kept my interest the whole time. I also really liked the headlines at the beginning of each chapter that put the time period in perspective. I highly recommend this series. Looking forward to the next in the series.

As much as enjoyed the mystery. I couldn't stand the heroine. And in a mystery series the heroine tends to be the one solving the mystery. And if a reader can't stand the heroine it's going to be a long book.

Dollycas's Thoughts

June 1942 - Many folks including Irene Ingram's fiance, Bill, and father are doing their part in the war effort, her father as a news correspondent, and Bill is still in training and waiting to be deployed. On the homefront in Progress, Pennsylvania that means Irene has stepped into her father's shoes as editor-in-chief of The Progress Herald and Rally Johnson 4F and ineligible to serve has been hired to take Bill's place at the police station. Irene's future father-in-law is the chief of police and is missing Bill as well but both are kept very busy by the happenings in Progress.

In tandem with the county fair this year, there is a war bond drive complete with a visit from some movie stars from the Hollywood Victory Committee. Ava Dempsey hears all the scuttlebutt and is only too happy to share that Clark Gable is going to be one of those stars. Apparently, her "source" was wrong because Freddie Harrison, a B-list actor is the headliner for the Progress event and his appearances are cut short when he is found dead in the dunk tank.

Turns out there are plenty of suspects. His wife Angel who just happens to be Ava Dempsey's sister and an actress traveling with the war bonds group tops the list. Freddie was absolutely clueless when she left him after finding out he was having an affair with Belinda Fox, a young starlet also traveling with the group from Hollywood. Truthfully anyone in the group could have killed the man. Irene wants to get the scoop on the murder so using her reporter skills she digs in to find the truth. She just needs to meet the paper's deadline before she reaches the killer's . . .

_____

Irene Ingram is an excellent protagonist. She is smart, thoughtful, and well-liked by almost everyone she meets. She takes her obligations seriously and excels at running the newspaper showing critics that she is a strong woman capable of doing the same job as a man.

The author has surrounded Irene with a great cast of secondary characters. She works with her best friend and sleuthing partner Peggy, who is dating one of the other reporters. Her cousin also works for the paper. He was upset that the top job went to Irene instead of him but is coming around to see she was the right choice. She lives with her mother and sister and they rent one bedroom out to a boarder. But the relationship I love is the one between Irene and Police Chief Walt Turner (Dad), her future father-in-law. They work together and exchange information and ideas to solve the case. They are so comfortable with each other. They try to have lunch together often but most times his work or hers pulls them away.

The Hollywood crowd was interesting in their own right. All were cleverly written and all of them had secrets to be revealed. Irene had trouble getting a true read on them because, let's face it, they are actors. One person slipped into a different character every time they talked. One was very entitled and another tried to be helpful but Irene really didn't know who to trust.

The mystery was a fun one to follow. Freddie Harrison was a conniving man who made a lot of enemies. A key piece of evidence firmed up the real suspects and their motives. Then it took more sleuthing to make the clues fall into place. I did enjoy the reveal! The part Irene played had me nervous but then I was cheering.

The author includes a newspaper headline at the start of each chapter. Those and the talk in the newsroom and the assignments of articles to each reporter keep readers grounded in the fact that while there may be excitement in Progress there is a war happening in the world. In this story, the war comes home to Progress when Western Union arrives with the dreaded news no one wants to hear. It is easy to see the author did her research because she captures the happenings and lifestyles of the time so well.

Strong, realistic characters, a very intriguing mystery, and a true picture of small-town life all make Death on Deadline is a fantastic addition to this series. It kept me fully entertained from the beginning to the end. While this book can be read as a stand-alone I do recommend reading Front Page Murder first to get to know these characters from the start.