The Charleston Challenge
The Mah Jongg Mysteries
by Barbara Barrett
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Pub Date Sep 09 2020 | Archive Date Feb 28 2021
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Description
Oh, her aching feet! Micki Demetrius questions her sanity for agreeing to compete in Serendipity Springs’ Annual Charleston Challenge when clearly she and her partner, Guy Whitney, have no chance of winning or even placing. Just ask the reigning champion, who points out their low odds of taking home the trophy every chance she gets.
But then, Micki’s only dancing in this contest because Guy wouldn’t enter without her, and the poor man needs something to occupy his days. Retirement hasn’t come easy for him. Not that there’s anything special going on between them, as much as Guy would like or his daughter suspects. There isn’t, is there?
Micki can’t wait to put their performance behind them—until one of the top competitors is found dead on the ballroom floor. The sheriff warns Micki and her three mah jongg pals not to play amateur sleuth again, but he can’t stop this persistent freelance journalist from pursuing her inside scoop, with a little help from her friends. The trouble with being on the inside, though, is that being so close to her sketchy subjects might just let the killer get dangerously close to her.
The Mah Jongg Mystery series, features four retired amateur sleuths who live in a small Florida town, all female and all friends who play the game of mah jongg together. Though they don't set out to investigate murder, after their first experience in this story, others start looking to them to help investigate subsequent homicides and questionable accidents. In this first book, Sydney Bonner takes the lead, although she turns to her three friends for help. Though this series features four protagonists, the others will take the lead in subsequent stories. Two are married, one is divorced and the fourth, who has been single all her life while she tended to her ailing mother, now finds herself the object of the sheriff's attention in this series. The four don't seek out murder; somehow the circumstances and those affected drag them in. Meanwhile, as they attempt to gather information, life goes on in their community in such activities as a women's club, a social group for those over 50, real estate transactions, numerous stops at the local coffeehouse, and even a shopping trip to Naples. Sydney's husband, Trip, and her friend Marianne Putnam's husband, Beau, are golf buddies who spend many a day on the course. When not there, Trip is busy seeking to build a new post retirement life, and Beau is often prevailed upon to join in Trip's latest activity. Kat Faulkner has lived a frugal life until winning big in a lottery shortly after her mother's death; suddenly, Kat has money and doesn't know how to spend it. But her divorced friend and freelance writer, Micki Demetrius, does, even if it's to guide Kat through a makeover and wardrobe change for her cabaret.
This is the seventh book in the Mah Jongg Mystery series, although each book stands alone. Readers don't need to know how to play mah jongg or even like the game to enjoy the rest of the story, which besides solving a murder spotlights friendship and community. For more information about the author, go to her website at https://www.barbarabarrettbooks.com.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781948532242 |
| PRICE | $2.99 (USD) |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Lisa C, Reviewer
I was very overwhelmed with the story and honestly could not find a way to get into the story.
I was hoping to enjoy the story, but it didn’t happen.
Heather D, Reviewer
Quick, witty fun. I love a cozy mystery and this didn’t disappoint. The books in this series are a quick read yet quite enjoyable.
A good cozy series never hurt anyone!
Barb F, Reviewer
This book is set in Florida with a group of women who play mah jongg together and solve mysteries. In this book, Micki has taken dance lessons and she and her dance partner are competing in the Charleston Challenge. As they’re both retired, they find the competition tough on their bodies. After the competition, one of the competitors is found murdered. Micki and her friends try to find the murderer.
I found the book interesting. This is the first book I’ve read in this series and there is definitely a learning curve as to knowing the characters.
Patty A, Librarian
The Charleston Challenge by Barbara Barrett, is the 7th book in Mah Jongg series. A fun group of seniors, Kat, Syd, Marianne and Micki, play Mah Jongg and solve mysteries. This book features Macki and her friend Guy entering the Serendipity Springs' Annual Charleston dance contest. Macki doesn't plan on winning, she just wants to keep Guy company since he is struggling with his retirement. When one of the contestant is found dead on the dance floor, the ladies start sleuthing. This book is a fun read, with intelligent older women. I found this book to be a quick read, with well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love fun cozy mysteries like I do, than I highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Reviewer 122717
I enjoyed the first book that I read in this series but I found this one a bit difficult to connect to the characters. The mystery was well-done but the characters felt a bit 'flat' to me in this one.
Tammy H, Reviewer
Wonderful cozy with well plotted mystery, amazing characters, and draws the reader into the next book in the series.
Cheli D, Reviewer
The Mah Jongg ladies are at it again. Micki Demetrius, freelance journalist, has been practicing the Charleston with her dance partner, Guy Whitney, for the Charleston Challenge Dance Competition. The evening of the event, Micki's friends, Syd, Marianne, and Kat, along with their gentlemen have come to cheer for Micki and Guy. Knowing they aren't going to win, they still have a good time until the next day when they are informed that the runner up in the competition was found dead on the ballroom floor and the time of death has been set for shortly after everyone left the ballroom. Micki wants to write a story about the competition and the murdered dancer, in other investigate but not investigate. The information that Micki is trying to glean for her article may seem to Rick, the sheriff, that she is getting in the way. At the same time as Micki is searching out her story, Syd is working with the sheriff on his re-election campaign.
These are a group of feisty ladies who are determined to work out who the murderer is as well as prove that the sheriff is the right man for the job.
Kathleen K, Reviewer
This book is the seventh in the Mah Jongg Mystery series. It does standalone. Micki Demetrius and her partner Guy Whitney enter the Serendipity Springs’ Annual Charleston Challenge. They do this to give them something to do which could be fun. For Micki, it brings her sore feet and a chance to get her Mah Jongg buddies together to investigate the death of a competitor. As a free lance journalist, this could be an interesting story for her.
I liked that I did not need to know how to play mah jongg or even like the game to enjoy the rest of the story, which besides solving a murder spotlights friendship and community.
I wrote this in July 2021 but failed to post the review.
I was given an advanced copy by Netgalley and am not required to leave a positive review. I chose to do so.
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