Cindy Bell

While I liked how action-packed this novella was, I wouldn't recommend it for readers looking for a traditional cozy mystery.

I loved the premise of two protagonists stumbling across a mystery because of a note hidden in a painting. However, I didn't think that the 'mystery' was developed as much as it could have been.

I say 'mystery', because the mystery is quickly solved. While the protagonists Suzie and Mary do investigate, this investigation isn't particularly complex. To me, the final reveal was very obvious.

I understand that the short length of this novella may have made it difficult for Bell to fully flesh out the mystery and the characters, but I still found myself wishing for more. Perhaps the book could have been made longer, or perhaps some of the other subplots (eg. the romance) could have been cut down so as to give Bell more room to work with the mystery.

Readers should note that there is some violence in this book and mentions of suicide. When I read the book (August 2021), it was available through Kindle Unlimited.

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