This was my first book by this author, and I was pleasantly surprised . This is a fast paced cozy mystery with awesome characters, many motives and suspects., and a plot that flowed easily and kept me guessing. I truly enjoyed, and I am looking forward to reading more in the future.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Oh, goodie. A new series from a long time favorite author. Keri Sullivan is a personal concierge. What is a personal concierge, you ask? What's the difference between a personal assistant and concierge? To be simplistic, while a personal assistant usually works for one person, a personal concierge may have many clients. I didn't think to keep track of how many clients Keri and her A Friend in Need Agency have but, well, let's just say a lot, ranging from corporate type groups to senior citizens. Fiona Sullivan is one of her favorite clients, however, one whose contacts have often helped Keri expand her customer list. Keri considers her a friend and mentor. Sadly, while delivering some items to Fiona, whose 80 th birthday party Keri had been hired to plan, she finds her dead. As if that wasn't bad enough, it's soon confirmed that she was murdered.

That's where the story really takes off. Keri is rather shocked to discover that Fiona wasn't universally liked by all, which includes her family. I won't detail the plot but will say it was fun to see a new sleuth learning as she went along trying to figure out whodunit. Needless to say, she's pushy and not real subtle in her questioning/investigation, and finds herself frequently being told that perhaps she should leave it to the police to solve. I noted that while Detective Jeff Saunders was one of ones most frequently telling her this that he continues to treat her with respect...even when some of her methods were, uh, not exactly on the right side of the legal line. She also involves a couple of her friends, which I found normal in the cozy mystery world although she never once seemed to think about their safety while snooping. True, she was quite protective of Lora, her unexpected house guest with the scary boyfriend, but her meddling there wasn't necessarily helpful, either. I did like Lora who, given her tendency to clean and organize, I rather wished could show up on my own doorstep, and Pam the reporter was rather gutsy, too. And, yes, there are some potential romances drifting about although not with the one most readers might guess. While I'm sure we'll learn more about the regulars as the series continues, the author did a nice job of fleshing them out for us in this initial introduction.

Bottom line, I enjoyed the story despite rolling my eyes at Keri's rookie sleuth behavior. As her office staff and friends often told her, she really, really needed to take her own advice and carve out some care time for herself. She's so busy running all over investigating as it is that she even manages to irritate at least one client. True, there were some solid possibilities as suspects but Keri does frequently barge in first and think later. The side story about the naturalist remedies didn't hold my attention and I'm not too sure Keri focused on it much, either. She did discover something most of us will or have discovered, the fact that people aren't always who we think they are. Thanks #NetGalley and #OrangeGrovePress for this early intro to Keri and her team, one I hope to learn more about in future books. Sunny Grove, Florida, sure has its share of secrets, that's for sure. As a former Floridian, this was a bit of a virtual trip home to turf I'm quite familiar with.

I love the Bad Hair Mystery series, so I was excited to read this new one. At first, it was a little hard to get used to the new characters, but I loved the setting in Central Florida, where I used to live, and I soon warmed up to the characters. The plot was good, and at one point I had 10 suspects with no idea of who could be the killer.
Keri runs a personal conceirge service. She goes to deliver groceries to one of her clients, only to find her dead. Who would have wanted to kill such a kind old lady? She does not believe it was a botched robbery, as the police think. As she starts investigating, she finds out that Fiona was hiding quite a few skeletons in her closet.
I will continue this series.

Just your average cosy murder mystery.

The story is set in Florida and the main character Keri runs a private concierge agency. The story revolves around one of her clients being murdered.

All in I would say it is same as any other cosy murder mystery, someone murdered and amateur sleuth solves it. The story was good and had a good mix of characters but it was a bit predictable and I guessed the murderer just over halfway through.

if you love cosy murder mystery then this is the book for you.

Keri Armstrong owns a personal concierge company who helps high society individuals with whatever they need. But the murder of her dear friend has added a new take to her list. Find out who murdered her friend and why?

This book wasn’t my usual genre of romance but I gave it a shot and fairly enjoyed it. It reminded me of the Mysteries of Aurora Teagarden, where she always puts herself in danger to solve the mystery but in the end she solves it. Keri took on so many tasks that she didn’t make time to slow down and have a seat.

She soon realized some valuable lessons.

You have to make time for yourself
You don’t ever truly know someone
You can’t trust everyone

Terrific start to a new series. This cozy mystery is action packed. Interesting profession. Good group of characters. Lots of potential for romance and action in the future stories. I look forward to reading them. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

This is a great start on this new series. I can't wait to see where it goes. Keri is a personal concierge and really loves her clients. One in particular is Fiona. They have developed a great friendship and when Keri finds Fiona dead, it devastates her. When Keri finds that Fiona was murdered, she knows that she has to find out who did it. There are lots of twists and turns to this story with lots of suspects. For every clue she uncovers, she finds more secrets. Some people criticized Fiona for her meddling and Keri can't seem to believe it. That isn't the Fiona she knows, but the more she digs, the more secrets she uncovers. Can she find the murderer? Did she really know her friend?

This is a new author for me and I'm going to follow her and read more of her books. I really enjoyed this first installment of her brand new series. It's a nice murder mystery with likeable characters, easy to read and entertaining. I certainly want to read more about Keri and Co.
I received an advance review copy via Netgalley/Orange Grove Press and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.

Murder Pays a Call is a clever, cozy mystery filled with intrigue, humor, and a touch of glamour. Nancy J. Cohen crafts a smart and resourceful heroine in Keri, whose curiosity and determination make her impossible not to root for. The twists and secrets of Sunny Grove keep the suspense high and the pages turning. Engaging, witty, and full of small-town drama, this is a delightful read for mystery fans.

A fun easy read with excellent characters. Lots of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Tons of action. A great start to a new series. Thanks #Netgalley and #OrangeGrovePress for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

Headline: A new series that deserves investigating!

Keri Armstrong is a young businesswoman in Florida struggling to keep her concierge agency afloat. Finding the dead body of one of her best clients, and personal friend, she’s reluctant to get involved when a family member asks her to investigate the mysterious death. Realizing her business and its reputation may be on the line, she begins sleuthing with the help of an appealing cast of friends and colleagues. A well-written story of clues and misdirection that kept me guessing (and re-guessing) ‘whodunit’ as the story moved quickly along. This is a new series worth embracing – I hope there are many more adventures for Keri and her crew!

Murder Pays a Call is the first installment of a new, fun, and unique cozy mystery series. Keri Armstrong runs a successful personal concierge agency in Florida. While Keri loves her charming town and the delightful weather, her job definitely keeps her busy. Right before a fundraising event, Keri stops by to catch up with one of her best clients, who also happens to be a close friend. To Keri's surprise, she finds Fiona's house ransacked and Fiona dead in her bed. Keri, determined not to let her friend's death go unsolved, dives deep into the investigation. Unfortunately, Keri realizes that Fiona not only was hiding quite a few secrets but also had a long list of frenemies.

Murder Pays a Call is a fun book with a solid group of characters. It makes for a great first book in a series. I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the Florida settings, particularly St Augustine (I loved that the author referenced actual museums, hotels, and restaurants). While I found the killer to be quite predictable, I still enjoyed the book. I look forward to following Keri in her next adventure, as well as seeing who she decides to go on a date with.

I really enjoyed meeting Keri and her office colleagues at her personal concierge agency. Purdy cracked me up always juggling his dates with different women. It was sad that a really nice person was the victim, although according to some, she wasn’t the nicest person. And that meant there were more suspects than anyone knew what to do with. Keri’s bestie Lora was also part of the cast and I was glad to see she was working out as the graphic artist Keri needed.

I enjoyed the twist at the end and the reveal which was really exciting as both Keri and her new friend Diane took on the killer. I’m definitely wanting to read the next book and see what Keri and her friends get into next!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Orange Grove Press via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Murder Pays a Call is book #1 in the Keri Armstrong Cozy Mysteries series by Nancy J. Cohen.

I was excited to read this new series since I enjoy Nancy J. Cohen’s writing. Keri Armstrong is a personal concierge. Fiona, her favorite client, is killed and she has to figure out who killed her. I enjoyed following along as Keri investigated and learned more about who Fiona really was. It had interesting characters and I felt like I was in Florida based on the descriptions in the book. I look forward to more books featuring Keri.

Thank you to the author, Orange Grove Press, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

A cozy murder mystery with some twists and turns.

When I started reading it, I thought it was going to be a light and easy read, nothing serious.

Continued reading and it became intense later on. There was a point when when I was gripping the edges of my ereader. I had this feeling of dread of upcoming bad things, which did happen sometimes and sometimes didn't.

I couldn't make my mind much about Fiona. I guess she was just a human, like all of us - flawed and trying her best to live her dreams.


There was a hint of romance somewhere. Out of all potential love interests, I would prefer the doctor or even the detective. The other one seems very suspicious to me.

Also, while we are talking about Keri, let me just state that she did everything to help others but nothing for her own comfort or care. She was kinda pushover who couldn't set her boundaries right. She really needs to up her game.

I did dislike Lora a bit, Pam was just fine.

Eagerly waiting for next installment.

After the shocking death of a client and close friend, Keri is left reeling. Her memories of this kind and generous person are quite different from the victim's associates and family. Now, Keri sets out to uncover the truth no matter how unsettling it may be.

The author does a good job setting the stage and manages to make the victim sympathetic, flaws and all. The supporting cast is intriguing, and I’m looking forward to learning more about them in future Keri Armstrong Cozy Mystery series books. That said, I would’ve enjoyed a bit more mystery around the culprit, it felt a little too easy to spot.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In this first book of a new series we meet Keri Armstrong who is a personal concierge. Keri is headed to a favored clients house to catch up but that doesn't happen because she finds her client Fiona dead in her bed. Her room is torn apart and the police are saying its a burglary gone wrong. Keri had a wonderful relationship with Fiona so it surprises her to hear people saying that she wasn't a good woman. Keri, not wanting her friends name to be smeared, decides she will just have to investigate. She soon begins to learn some not so nice things about Fiona but she isn't going to let that stop her from finding out the truth about her death. Follow along and see where the clues lead Keri, what all will she find out about her friend? This was a fast paced read that had me guessing the whole way through. I loved Keri, she was quite relatable and easy to like. I look forward to seeing what mystery the author puts in front of her next!

This is a cosy murder mystery and just a perfect book for this time of year

I really enjoyed this book and cant wait to read the next in the series

MURDER PAYS A CALL by Nancy J. Cohen
The First Keri Armstrong Mystery

Running a personal concierge service Keri Armstrong helps a variety of people get things done. Whether it's simply spending time with someone in a nursing home, making travel arrangements, picking up groceries, or planning parties and events Keri and her employees do it all! Keri is looking forward to spending the morning chatting over tea and strudel with Fiona, her favorite client. She's curious as the day before Fiona said she wanted to discuss something with her, but refused to share any details over the phone. However, when Keri arrives the front door is unlocked, the house quiet. When Keri's calls go unanswered she heads upstairs only to find Fiona dead, her room in a shambles. While Keri is distraught, seeing Fiona as a friend and mentor as well as a client, she soon learns that others were not so fond of the woman, a woman who apparently held more than her share of secrets. As the police begin to investigate Keri starts to wonder who could have killed Fiona and why now, a week before her eightieth birthday, while also hoping the police don't find her a plausible suspect.

I really enjoyed the first Keri Armstrong Mystery. Keri is smart, helpful, and has an open mind. She's able to realize she may have been mistaken, even about her friend Fiona. We didn't get to learn too much about her employees, especially Staz. Purdy's social life gave me a giggle and I hope to discover more about these two in future books. I found Lora to be a bit annoying, but I liked Pam and I really enjoyed the friendship these three women share.

Nefarious dealings and red herrings added interest and complexity to the mystery. It was fascinating learning more about the various suspects and watching as various schemes started to unravel.

Strong characters and an intriguing mystery make MURDER PAYS A CALL a great start to a new series.