Dyer Consequences by Maggie Sefton

Dyer Consequences by Maggie Sefton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A bit of a spoiler in this review! Beware if you are one of those that hates a spoiler!

I loved this series when it first started, but I did not love this installment. The plot seemed a little unusual by the end. I had a million and 4 ideas as to why the victim was killed and they were all very wrong. But, in the end, I liked my possibilities more than the what the author gave me. There was one thing in the book that really got to me. Kelly has a moment where she thinks she's figured out who is behind every thing and even thinks she might be falling into a trap, but she stubbornly ignores that thought and proceeds recklessly. I understand that she's impatient and impulsive to a degree, but it just didn't feel genuine. If one thought they might be walking in to a trap of some kind, even for a second, how could they proceed without finding a way to inform someone just to be safe? It's one thing to walk in on a killer unwittingly in a mystery novel, it's another to recognize it may be a trap but proceed without a safety net. I thought it was a little sloppy because the author showed me that Kelly wasn't blind to the possibility of walking into a killer's trap. But, no, instead she ignores her internal warnings, with the handicap of a broken ankle no less. With all of that said, however, I look forward to reading the next book in the series. But, if I'm unhappy when I finish that one, I can't say for certain I will continue with future installments. :(

Dying to Be Thin by Kathryn Lilley

Dying to Be Thin by Kathryn Lilley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have been on a cozy mystery kick for a few years now and this one caught my eye as something new to try. Overall, I enjoyed it. Often when I start a new series, I'm disappointed with the first installment. Happily, that did not happen this time. I think this was a very strong start to a series. It is a little seedier than I was expecting, but that doesn't bother me at all. :) Also, I must confess that I figured out who was behind everything rather early on and I deduced a big part of the motive as well before the reveal. I don't think it was obviously written, but it is easy enough if you don't fall for all of the red herrings and other misdirections. I will definitely read more in this series.