Fantastic cozy mystery, loved all the hilarious characters, was on the edge of my seat waiting to see who the murderer was, wwhat clues came out, etc. Highly recommend to all mystery lovers.

Strike Out 4 Murder

by J.C. Eaton

The husband and wife team who write the Sophie Kimball Mysteries, as well as several other cozy mystery series, are on their eleventh book in this series with Strike Out 4 Murder. If you have read other books in this series you will find this one fits into the comfortable, predictable pattern of the rest. Sophie Kimball is a bookkeeper/accountant for a private detective agency in Sun City West, Arizona, where her retired mother, Harriet, lives. Newly married to one of the detectives in the agency, Sophie continues to get involved in investigations. Over time she has gotten more comfortable with searching for clues and putting together the pieces of a mystery puzzle. Sometimes she disregards the questionable legality of her actions.

The reader knows only too well Sophie’s eating habits and her need for caffeine and a good swim. Despite being a little too predictable, this cozy mystery does offer up a good plot—very complicated. It is actually too involved for even the most astute reader to be able to predict the outcome. Several times Sophie thinks she can solve the crime only to discover a missing piece of information that changes everything. Her mother’s dog Streetman, a Chiweenie, and the inclusion of a new dog character Thor, a Great Dane, both add humor, interest, and excitement. Harriet’s book club friends and the men’s pinocle club have major roles in Strike Out 4 Murder with some amusing threads involving Paul and his passion for fishing and Herb who takes up softball.

At this point in the series, I think I enjoy the books more as a reunion with characters than as a captivating mystery. It is fun and well written, but the series probably needs to draw to a close soon.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: #11 in the Sophie Kimball Mystery Series and probably should not be read as a standalone.

Publication: March 21, 2023—Beyond the Page Publishing

Memorable Lines:

“I can’t be deciphering initials all day long. I blame it on texting. No one can write a full word anymore that’s longer than four letters.”

Intelligence information? Is that the new euphemism for gossip-mongering?

“She can pick up gossip faster than a Hoover vacuum on full speed.”

Strike Out for Murder, the eleventh book in the Sophie Kimball mystery series by J.C. Eaton, is filled with intrigue, quirky characters, and a touch of humor.

When Shirley, a family friend, claims to have seen a dead man near the Arizona retirement community’s baseball field, Sophie (“Phee”) Kimball and friends retrace her steps. However, the man is no longer there. Did Shirley really see a dead body, or is she having hallucinations? Is there something evil afoot? Shirley’s doubters are silenced when an attempt is made on her life, and Phee and company begin an investigation for real.

Coming in on the eleventh book in the series was a bit of a challenge. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the story, there are a lot of characters to sort through. I get that each of them likely has a complicated back story. One thing that really impressed me is the way the local authorities work closely with Phee’s husband Marshall and Williams Investigations. It is refreshing to see this level of cooperation in a cozy mystery and, for once, there is a legitimate reason for the private investigators to be involved. For her part, Phee is quite practical and seems like a skilled investigator. I’m not sure what to make of her attitude toward Streetman (her mom’s dachshund mix). She seems almost resentful of the dog, and as an animal lover myself, I find this an annoying quality. Her mother, on the other hand, is a hoot! Quite a character!

Although the book is entitled Strike Out 4 Murder, and the cover depicts Streetman holding a baseball and in full regalia on the baseball field, there is remarkably little actual baseball in the story. I picked this book because I hoped it would give a good feel for the game, but other than a few mentions and a scene or two mainly dealing with the concession stand, the story seems more baseball-adjacent.

Overall, Strike Out 4 Murder is an entertaining and satisfying novel. It whet my curiosity to begin the series with the first book to get a better feel for the intricacies of the recurring characters. I hope to do that in the near future.

Note: I received an ARC of Strike Out 4 Murder from NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing. The above is my honest review.

This is book 11 in the Sophie Kimball series and it's a good addition . Sophie and the seniors living at Sun City West are supporting Herb's effort to get fit by attending the men's softball league he's joined. When she discovers a dead body behind the concession stand it sets off a series of events. She's a Private Detective so the gang assumes she will be finding the killer. Momma and Auntie are always available to offer advice in the investigation. A fun read.

This series is one of my favorites and I look forward to them when they come out. I live is Arizona so stories based where u live tend to be more appealing. The characters are all fun and free spirited!

Shirley has a problem, bodies keep vanishing, and no one believes her story. With the local softball players rallying everyone to cheer them on at games, people have a good excuse to pretend that Shirley is just trying to get attention. But when an attempt on her life leaves her unconscious and in the hospital, people sit up and take notice.

The real question in this latest book in the “Sophie Kimball Mystery” series, Strike Out 4 Murder, comes down to whose body is it that Shirley found, and where did it go? It could be a missing softball player or a stranger; no one knows because Shirley is the only one who has seen the body. It's hard to figure out what happened when no one knows who is dead or how they died. But there are plenty of clues about the man’s identity, and the suspects aren’t too hard to figure out even without a body. Evidence is rare, but there is enough for Phee to investigate and develop a solution.

Once the body is found, and they realize that Shirley isn’t crazy after all, Phee and company set a trap for the killer. Giving up her free time, Phee, her mother, and the pinochle club spread out at the softball game, keeping their eyes and ears open for clues. However, it takes the police and everyone else to bring down this killer. Once caught, Shirley breathes a sigh of relief. There is plenty of humor and dog antics to keep everyone happy. Readers will cheer on Phee, Shirley, and the ball players as the investigation comes down to the wire in this fast-paced mystery that will have you chuckling with delight.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Is Shirley going crazy? She sees a dead body that then disappears and everyone wonders what is going on. But when the body of a baseball player shows up and someone puts a tracking device on her car and threatened her, Phee and her crowd realize she is in real danger. Unfortunately Phee’s husband Marshall is busy following the leads in an insurance fraud case that he and his partner are working so it is up to Phee and her mother’s posse to figure out the truth.

As it turns out, the two cases are interconnected and Phee ties the answers up for the two detectives who could not or would not detect if something bit them. As always, Phee and the others at the detective agency have to be the grownups in the room. Her mother has an eclectic and quirky group of friends from the seniors community where they all live. There will be some eye rolling as some of them put the “E” in eccentric. Still it is an entertaining story as always with a good mystery to solve. Five purrs and two paws up.

Sun City West is ready to play ball baseball. This is a fun story where one of the ladies discovers a dead body at the edge of the golf course but then mysteriously disappears. When they go to watch the men play baseball it appears again in the outfield. They investigate the murder and find the man to be the one who runs the concession stand running illegal operations out of the concession stand. This is another of J C Eatons books that was very exciting and fun to read I would recommend it to everyone.

Enjoyed this cozy mystery. I have read a few books from this series out of order and it really is a funny series. I will have to catch up on the backlist books before the next one comes out. Phee is an amazing character and the odd ball of characters in this series is what leads to the charm of this series. The mystery left me stumped and I was left shocked at the reveal.

I thoroughly enjoy the entire series by the husband and wife team of J.C. Eaton. 'Strike Out 4 Murder' provided no exception to my delight. The characters in this series are hysterical and with familiarity are endearing. Phee's sense of esteem seems to be growing and there is more of a calmness in her approach to satisfying her curiosity. I like the positivity of her relationship with her husband, and how he kindly serves his mother-in-law and her community. If one wants a great story with a huge dose of laughter please read this book as an addition to the entire series.

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

Strike Out 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton
I have enjoyed this series from the beginning. It is kind of light hearted and not gory. There is a large cast of characters so it’s best to read this series from the beginning to keep everyone straight in your mind.
I loved the addition of Thor, the great dane, and I hope he gets a permanent spot in future books.
The mystery was a bit convoluted and involved two storylines but it all come together in the end.
I have to say that I did not like the cover for this book as much as previous ones. It just didn’t look right somehow.

The mystery kept me guessing. I like the Arizona setting. I also enjoy the characters.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley

A cozy mystery that takes place in baseball season - perfect for the publication date of this novel.

A missing ball player. A woman sees a dead body that isn't there later. This book is a pleasant way to spend a day.

This is the eleventh installment in the Sophie Kimball My stery series. Shirley sees a dead man and when she tries to report it, he’s gone. Is Shirley being gaslighted or was there really a dead body? I liked this story. Phee’s mother wasn’t nearly as crazy as in previous books. Instead, we deal with her friend Shirley.

I liked the twists, turns and characters that brought the story to a great conclusion. Watch out for the older folks in Arizona’ sub-community of Surprise.

Netgalley gave me an advanced copy after the publication date. I am not required to leave a positive review. I am looking forward to the next story in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Strike Out 4 Murder is a solid cozy mystery, entertaining and funny. Many characters are over the top and unbelievable, providing good laughs along the way, especially Sophie Kimball's mother. Sophie is a great main character and her investigation is full of twists and unexpected elements. The storyline is interesting, there is never a dull moment. Strike Out 4 Murder can be read out of order in the series, although I find that this series is best enjoyed in sequence. Highly recommended!

I always love this series and this one did not disappoint. Phee, of course gets drawn into another mystery involving one of her mother's friends. This time it is a disappearing body that Shirley has found. This leads to many twists and turns and lots of hijinks. Phee may aa well just become an official detective within the agency. One of the things that I find so fun about the series is that the places mention are actually real. I have family in the area and know it well. It is so easy to imagine this happening.

This book made me laugh, kept me hooked and surprised me with plenty of twists and turns. The slapstick end was very funny and I loved big revelation.
It's one of the best book in this series, I wasn't a fan of the previous but this one was a very entertaining ride.
Phee was great, her mother a bit less obnoxious and the Paul the fisher and the guys were very funny. Thor the big Dane was lovely and I hope there will be more of these characters in the next books.
Can't wait to read the next one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Strike Out 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton is a humorous mystery filled with softball, obligations, and fraud.

Will Phee determine who killed Buster before Shirley is the next body found?

We start with Shirley finding a body, running to Harriett's house for help, only to return and find the body missing. Phee and Marshal are at Harriett's home when Shirley shows up. However, without a body, there isn't a crime. So, everyone goes on their way. Except now, someone is after Shirley. She must know something that she doesn't realize or not.

Phee brings Lyndy, her friend, into this investigation to do some background work for her and a few other things. Lyndy may even find a love interest.
Marshal and Nate are busy with an insurance fraud case that gets bigger each time they catch a culprit. However, they are still assisting with Buster's murder.

"Besides, we all know we're going to wind up dealing with that case whether or not we're called to consult. Harriet's book club ladies will never give us a minute of peace if they think there's a killer lurking around their neighborhood."

Harriet and the book club ladies are busy taking care of Shirley for most of this installment. But watch for the softball game with Thor, Streetman, and hotdogs. It will have you laughing out loud. Although, for the most part, Streetman and Essie (his cat) are well-behaved.

Character That Stole the Show
Phee's aunt Ina is the character that outshines everyone else in this story. She has the most outrageous outfits, her caftans in the brightest colors and patterns, and her hair always braided with ribbons and such. Watch for the sports bar scene with Ina, Lyndy, Paul, Phee, Marshal, and a few more regulars. The whole scene, from the fish to the fluttering eyelashes, had me cracking up.

She never ceases to amaze me. I can't imagine being Nate or Phee growing up with Ina and Harriet as mothers. It would either be a riot or constant times of nonbelief.

Oh, and she announces a possible new career at the end. Sounds like fun.

Four Stars
My rating for Strike Out 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton is four stars. It was entertaining but seemed a bit slow at the start. Once it got moving, wow! It was hard to put it down. I highly recommend this book and series. I know I jumped in the last half, but I hope to go back and read the first four as soon as my schedule allows.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Strike Out 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Fans of this series will not be disappointed. Clever murder mystery with interesting characters and setting. Thanks to #NetGalley and # StrikeOutForMurder for advanced digital copy.

Fun (and funny) cozy with great characters, an interesting storyline, and an intriguing mystery or two. I absolutely love visiting with Phee, Marshall, the gals and guys of Sun City West, Streetman-the-Chiweenie, and his emotional-support kitten, Essie.

Many thanks to Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.