This book gives me Finley Donovan vibes and fits into the genre of everyday citizens getting swept up in solving a crime/mystery unbeknownst to them. There's a slap-stick vibe in the opening scene but it settles down into a more serious crime solving novel so it was hard to figure out if the author wanted there to be comedy element to this story or not. I wasn't really feeling that throughout and would have loved the author to have leaned into it more to lighten the mood. There were some serious moments and undertones here and more banter and laughing to cut the tension would have worked here. With that said, the main characters are very likeable even if the story requires us to suspend some disbelief in order to make the pieces come together. The epilogue didn't really satisfy some questions for me (what does one of the main characters do for work 3 months later? The audiobook is narrated by Lila Winters and she does an excellent job of voicing men and women and varying her voice for certain characters. I found her pleasant to listen to and enjoyed the inflection of her tone. Will I think this book is a must read, page turner? Not necessarily but it will make a great summer beach read as it moves fast and isn't overly complicated. It's a closed door romance that feels playful and at times fun. 3.75 stars rounded up.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun time! Suspenseful, romantic, great quips between Penny and Anthony. It was a little cheesy, but it added to the charm, and it was a nice break from the heavy hitting reads that I've read recently. This is my first book by the author, and I'm definitely interested in reading more by her! I love the fact that the characters had such great chemistry with each other, and the author didn't need to resort to smut for the more intimate scenes. Such a relief, seeing as most books are all smut and no plot nowadays. It's definitely a fun and quick read that should be added to your TBR!

Penny and Anthony’s meet-cute seems doomed when they can’t stop arguing about the price of antique candlesticks, just to have a body fall out of a closet minutes later. The following days lead to kidnapping, escaping, maybe another murder, and falling in love.
I really enjoyed this book! While a bit predictable in some ways, it was nonstop fun. The audiobook was a great listen. I really enjoyed the performance of the narrator.

This was a lot of fun! I loved the quips, the hijinks, the phrase "dynamic listener" (which I fully intend to use the next time I find myself peppering someone with questions during their story). Obviously a story like this requires some suspension of disbelief, but it's a fun ride so I was happy to do so. I think I'm increasingly realizing that I love romantic comedy action/adventure novels. This is up there with others I've adored, like Ally Carter and Sara Desai's novels.

The MCs were a great mix of quirky, kind and snarky. The side characters all had distinct personalities that were delightful. Like I adored the FMC's sister and later Gio after only a few paragraphs. Again, this was just a lot of fun.

To be honest, I didn't love the narrator though. It's not that I thought she was bad. I just didn't think her style suited this kind of story. Sometimes she was a little flat when I think the story called for lighter and zingier.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC!

From the very beginning this book grabs your attention. Penny and her sister Libby stumble into an estate sale and the adventure begins. The mysterious man next door with a dead body in the closet. Penny gets nosey and accidentally gets close to Anthony by poking around.
Penny and Anthony are so much fun. The witty banter and the situations they get themselves in. I laughed through this whole book. I enjoyed every bit! I will definitely read more by Holly James! Hehe done lil quotes I enjoyed!! You have to read to put it together!!
“A very sexy banana”
“Trunk Pills”
“Beastly closet on wheels”

#bookrecs #bookreview #kensingtonbooks #betweenthechapters #thebigfix #hollyjames