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Birthdays Are Murder

A Spindrift Cove Mystery, Book 1

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About this listen

After Sierra Sullivan is furloughed from her cruise director position, she moves to Spindrift Cove, Washington, to be closer to her married daughter. She soon discovers that gigs for middle-aged entertainers are scarcer than good hair days in the Pacific Northwest. With her bank account sliding toward zero, she swallows the indignity of donning a ten-pound wig and elaborate costume to perform at a child’s birthday party. Little does Sierra know she’ll soon be upstaged by a corpse and become the leading-lady suspect. As the bodies pile up, the entertainer adlibs her own crime-solving gig, a performance putting her in the crosshairs of a killer, and a finale that truly may be final.

©2022 Cindy Sample (P)2025 Cindy Sample Amateur Sleuths Animals Cosy Mystery Women Sleuths Funny

Critic reviews

"Sample's story is perfect for readers who want a fun mystery that's big on small, close-knit communities, limited in violence, and has family at its heart." BOOKLIFE REVIEWS

"Five stars to Cindy Sample's latest protagonist, Sierra Sullivan. Sleuth, performer, and all-around enterprising gal, she hits the cozy mystery scene in a fabulous new whodunit series. If you are a fan of Ms. Sample's work, you won't want to miss the first book in the Spindrift Cove Mystery Series. I loved it!" - Heather Haven, award-winning author of the Alvarez Family Murder Mysteries

“There are characters that will stay with you long after you put the book down. Sierra is one of those who will leave a smile on your face. Cindy Sample has crafted characters and a storyline that brings both enjoyment and cozy mystery fun.” - R. Franklin James, award-winning author of the Hollis Morgan Mystery Series
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Listener received this title free

A very well written cozy mystery, engaging plot & amazing characters. Highlighted by the great narration.

Thanks for the complimentary copy.

Excellent!

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Listener received this title free

Sierra Sullivan is working hard to stay solvent, when she discovers a body. Now she is one of the suspects. I enjoyed this story the humor and the mystery are perfect I look forward to more in this series. The narration is spot on.

No Nonsense sleuth

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Listener received this title free

An amazing start of a series that promises to be very entertaining. The story is a lot of fun with numerous twists and plenty of humour, and the characters are gorgeous. Meghan Kelly’s narration is excellent and very enjoyable.

A review copy of this book was sent to me by the narrator. All of the above opinions are my own.

Amazing start of a series.

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Listener received this title free

I read this book a couple of months ago but jumped at the chance to relive the fun and fun it defiantly is. This is the first book in a spin off series and I hope it won't be the last. Sierra is the cousin to Laurel McKay, the main character from the authors popular series Laurel McKay. Although it is not necessarily to have read the other series to enjoy this one I see no reason to stop at just one great series. I liked Sierra as a main character, she might have been more lucky than smart, especially with her busybody tendency which kept getting her in trouble but I liked it and her. It also gave her plenty of opportunities to annoy her daughters boss. This is unusual for cozy mystery that the detective is her daughter and not a love interest but with author going for something different it has created a fun and new dynamic to the story. Her job and circumstances also made for and interesting plot and gave her plenty of opportunity to snoop. There was an arh moment which meant I knew who the killer was about half way through the book but it was still a fun read and plenty of suspects to keep me guessing of I was right. I look forward to the next book and finding out which love interest she ends up with.

Middle aged is not the best time of your life to lose your job but it explains why Sierra has moved into her married daughters guest house and is dressing up as a Disney princess. It doesn't explain why Sierra is the one to find the step father of the little girl who's birthday party she is performing at, dead in the bouncy castle. Or why she is the prime suspect. When her daughter the lead detective is taken off the case, Sierra can't help but get involved. Can she clear her name and more importantly get her daughter reinstated by finding the killer? Sierra will have to put all her acting skills to good use in order question the number of suspects who had a motive to want the dead man dead. Including his wife and everybody at the birthday party. When she stumbles over another body, it looks like it's the final curtain call for Sierra and her acting career. Will she have to learn how to act behind bars?

I liked the narrator. She made the story and more importantly the characters come alive, it is all most as if she herself is an actress.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review

This is no piece of cake to solve

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