A solid start to a new series

Oh, how I love finding a new Cozy Mystery series. When I originally came across Death by Committee on Netgalley, I knew that I had to read it. I did not regret my choice.

While it is true that this book seemed to follow your typical cozy mystery formula, I found myself loving the story, nonetheless.

I appreciated that the author made a clear effort to mix up the stereotypical sleuth profile and feature a middle-aged divorcee along with a pack of seniors as the main character focus. I also enjoyed Tripp’s character a lot (is it possible to have a crush on a book character? asking for a friend).

As for the narration, there isn’t much to say other than I thought that Coleen Marlo did a splendid job bringing the work to life.

However, if I have to state my nitpicks about this book it was that pacing of the book was a little quick; It seemed like the police investigation had barely started when Abby started to poke around for info. Additionally, I felt that there were a few instances where Abby was excessively defensive and stubborn with little regard for safety and consequences. My final 'criticism’ is that I believed the killer was too easy to guess; I had him/her pegged upon the first meeting. Nevertheless, these points were only minor and were not enough to detract from my enjoyment of the story.

Overall, I truly enjoyed Death by Committee; it was a start to a new series, and I'm keen to read more.

9 people found this helpful

Nice start to new series

Alexis Morgan has crafted a storyline that is both entertaining and enjoyable. The characters are well-developed, enjoyable, and ones you’d like to include among your group of friends. Ms Morgan even has a mastiff mix dog as one of the co-stars. Coleen Marlo brings it all to life with her wonderful performance. I highly recommend this book/audiobook to cozy mystery fans.

3 people found this helpful

was it the auntie

This story can be a mystery movie. has a good mystery going on. the Characters is very likable, I'm looking forward to the 2nd series. the mystery had me trying to guess who was the killer, this have a good mystery puzzle to it.

1 person found this helpful

A solid start to a new series

Oh, how I love finding a new Cozy Mystery series. When I originally came across Death by Committee on Netgalley, I knew that I had to read it. I did not regret my choice.

While it is true that this book seemed to follow your typical cozy mystery formula, I found myself loving the story, nonetheless.

I appreciated that the author made a clear effort to mix up the stereotypical sleuth profile and feature a middle-aged divorcee along with a pack of seniors as the main character focus. I also enjoyed Tripp’s character a lot (is it possible to have a crush on a book character? asking for a friend).

As for the narration, there isn’t much to say other than I thought that Coleen Marlo did a splendid job bringing the work to life.

However, if I have to state my nitpicks about this book it was that pacing of the book was a little quick; It seemed like the police investigation had barely started when Abby started to poke around for info. Additionally, I felt that there were a few instances where Abby was excessively defensive and stubborn with little regard for safety and consequences. My final 'criticism’ is that I believed the killer was too easy to guess; I had him/her pegged upon the first meeting. Nevertheless, these points were only minor and were not enough to detract from my enjoyment of the story.

Overall, I truly enjoyed Death by Committee; it was a brilliant start to a new series, and I'm keen to read more.

enjoyable

slow start but gets better and better as you go, I enjoyed it - left me wanting more

Narrator

I disliked the heavy breathing of the narrator. I have heard far better. Her reading did improve as the story unfolded,

Busy Body Biddies and a Backyard Burial

After Abby McCree’s Aunt Sybil passed away, Abby moved back to Snowberry Creek, Washington to her aunt’s rundown home and to Zeke, her aunt’s mastiff. Her aunt, an avid quilter and member of the local Quilters’ Guild was well known and loved, by all but one of the townsfolks, Dolly Cayhill, her arch nemesis and rival. Still stinging after a rough divorce, Abby takes refuge in the old house, with the gardens out back . . . that is until the body of Dolly Cayhill is found buried, wrapped in what appears to be one of Aunt Sybil’s quilts. Now with both Aunt Sybil and Dolly dead, the authorities put Sybil at the top of their suspect list. Unable to bear having her aunt’s name smeared, Abby vows to prove Aunt Sybil’s innocence. Abby’s tenant, Tripp Blackston is best friends with the local police chief, Gage Logan, both having served together in the military. Several of the Quilting Guild’s quilts have gone missing, and Abby searches for them while also looking for Dolly’s murderer. Continually being called off by Gage and Tripp, Abby stealthily continues to nose around for clues. The old ladies in the guild spread gossip quicker than wild fire, and the small town keeps loading Abby up with committee assignments which had previously belonged to her Aunt Sybil. All comes to an explosive (and satisfying) conclusion, much to the entire town’s surprise . . . I definitely will go on to the next in the series!

2 people found this helpful

A good listen!

Good narrator! Plot good but easy to figure out who the killer was. Characters good. Gotta love Zeke.

1 person found this helpful

Fun plot and creative characters

In Death by Committee by Alexis Morgan, Abby McCree is just concluding a nasty divorce when she inherits the home and possessions of her Aunt Sybil in Snowberry Creek, Washington. She soon finds herself talked into taking over her aunt's commitments as head of the quilters' guild and the city's senior committee. In addition to inheriting the home of her aunt, Abby has found that she has inherited the sexy, muscular army vet, Tripp, who has been renting a bungalow from her aunt in exchange for doing yard work. Then one day Abby and Tripp work on cleaning up Aunt Sybil's backyard when they discover the body of Dolly Cayhill, her aunt's chief enemy, who has been dead for months and is wrapped up in a quilt. Many in the community accuse Sybil of having killed Dolly, spurring Abby to start asking questions and team up with Tripp to find the truth.

Death by Committee was a fun book with an interesting plot. I especially liked the fact that the main character is nearing her 40s and the other women are senior citizens. Too many cozy mysteries feature only young women, and seniors are not treated as legitimate sleuths. It's also good to see a dog who is not a cute little thing, with the dog in this book's being a mastiff.

Colleen Marlo performs the audio edition of this book. She gives a good portrayal of the book, making the readers connect to the plot and characters all the more effectively than the book by itself would.

I enjoyed listening to Death by Committee and look forward to more books in this series or by the author. I give it five stars!

1 person found this helpful

3 stars

This is an ok story but a bit flat. The characters and plot just didn't grab me. The narrator did a good job giving life to the story but she didn't have a lot to work with.

1 person found this helpful