Member Review

Songs of Wine and Murder by Lynn Cahoon takes readers back to South Cove for the Moonstone Beach Festival. The battle of the bands is going to draw a number of tourists to the small beach community. Jill and her team at Coffee, Books, and More are going to be run off their feet between the shop and their food truck. The weekend hits a sour note when a musician in a popular local band gets murdered. Songs of Wine and Murder is the fifteenth A Tourist Trap Mystery. While the story could be read as a standalone, you would be missing pertinent background information regarding the characters. Also, Jill’s name is not mentioned in the beginning. Songs of Wine and Murder was one note. The story has Jill going about her day-to-day activities (getting up, having breakfast, letting Emma out, running on the beach, working the morning shift at the shop, reading ARCs, etc.). Jill and Greg are going to a financial class in preparation for their marriage. Jill is hesitant to mention her Miss Emily fund to Greg. The mystery has an unpleasant musician being murdered. It was obvious who would die from the beginning. The killer can easily be identified. Jill did little to no investigating. Greg does not like Jill probing into the crimes (I am liking Greg less and less). She occasionally comes across information that she passes along, and Greg reminds her that it is his job to catch the bad guys. Greg also does not like her to run on the beach with Emma, her furbaby, when there is a killer on the loose. I have stuck with the series because I hoped that Greg would evolve and understand that Jill is curious, smart, and careful. The mystery is quickly and neatly wrapped up at the end. We get to catch up with all the regular characters. Personal relationships are at the forefront of this story. Jill is worried about Aunt Jackie, Greg is busy with the murder, so he is spending less time with Jill, drama between pastor and his girlfriend, financial classes, and adding a new staff member to Coffee, Books, and More. I found the mayor’s wife, Tina, to be a pain in the backside. She makes people’s lives miserable when she does not get her way. Tina likes to use her husband’s position to get revenge. I found Tina to be an immature and petty woman. I would love to see Tina become a victim in a future book. I can relate to Jill’s love of reading and her enjoyment of reading ARCs (advanced reader copies). Fans of A Tourist Trap Mysteries are going to enjoy Songs of Wine and Murder. Songs of Wine and Murder is a beachy cozy mystery with a battle of the bands, copious quantities of coffee, a kite contest, a murdered rocker, a fiscal class, a vindictive Tina, and a beautiful beach.