Dying to Go (Nothing to Gush About) by Marcy Blesy Narrator: Torii Alaniz
Series: Tucson Valley Retirement Community Cozy Mystery #1
Published by the author on August 21, 2024
Source: Author
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Length: 5 hrs 43 mins
Pages: 281
Format: Audiobook
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Thirty-nine-year-old Rosi Laruee—named Rosisophia Doroche after her mother’s beloved Golden Girls—decides that the end of her twenty-year marriage and her dad’s impending knee replacement surgery are all the excuses she needs to visit Tucson Valley Retirement Community. But the drama follows Rosi when she finds the body of local tart and business owner, Salem Mansfield. The information she discovers using her newspaper reporter sleuthing skills coupled with the clues she picks up from lackluster Police Officer Dan Daniel lead to a surprise discovery when the murderer is revealed. Along the way, she meets a cast of characters in her parents' social circle who leave her questioning her parents' choices in friends while simultaneously befriending many of the residents, including a handsome landscaper and a brand-new Golden Retriever puppy she names Barley. Rosi’s visit to Tucson Valley proves more than she’d bargained for, but maybe, she realizes, it’s just the kind of change she needs.
Rosi is recently divorced and out of a job. She heads from her home in Illinois to Tucson to help out with her dad, who is having knee surgery, planning to stay for a couple of weeks. Her parents rent a house for the cooler months in the Tucson Valley Retirement Community. She meets a few of the locals, but of course it’s not long until she finds a dead body, Salem Mansfield, the bookstore owner. Rosi doesn’t think Police Officer Dan Daniel is up to the task of finding the killer, so does some investigating of her own.
I like Rosi. She’s funny and smart and the relationships between her and her mom and dad felt real. She also connects with the local landscaper, her potential love interest, and gets an adorable puppy. All the good ingredients in a cozy. I will say that even though the mystery was good, the characters stole the show.
Dying For Wine (Seeing Red) by Marcy Blesy Narrator: Torii Alaniz
Series: Tucson Valley Retirement Community Cozy Mystery #2
Published by the author on August 21, 2024
Source: Author
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Length: 4 hrs 48 mins
Pages: 243
Format: Audiobook
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There’s a rockin’ concert of 1960s impersonators coming to Tucson Valley to perform in the snowbird send-off concert at the Tucson Valley Retirement Community Performing Arts Center. And as the one in charge, Rosi Larue is thriving in the chaos. Diva attitudes, outrageous requests, and late flights don’t sideline what is meant to be the greatest concert this community has ever seen. That is, until a dead body shows up below the stage next to the front row of seats. Now, she’s sleuthing again with Officer Dan Daniel. Only this time, the murder is personal, and she needs to restore the reputation of Tucson Valley as being a safe place by solving this mystery quickly. What she discovers is a much deeper web of connections than she could have imagined. Throw in a condo search, a budding relationship with Keaton, and a growing Golden Retriever to Rosi’s crazy adventures, and you have a recipe for hours of laughter.
Rosi has, of course, decided to stay in Tucson and has taken a job with the Tucson Valley Retirement Community Performing Arts Center. Before the snowbirds, including her parents, leave for the summer, the Center is putting on a big show with 60s impersonators. It’s a sellout and goes well, despite some drama beforehand. Until the dead body is found.
I like how Rosi works with the police. She does poke around on her own too, but Officer Dan for the most part appreciates her help. I also like how her friendships are developing the more time she spends in town. Her love interest is a super good guy too.
Dying for Dirt (All Soaped Up) by Marcy Blesy Narrator: Torii Alaniz
Series: Tucson Valley Retirement Community Cozy Mystery #3
Published by the author on August 21, 2024
Source: Author
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Length: 3 hrs 18 mins
Pages: 174
Format: Audiobook
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It’s conference time, and Rosi and her co-workers are headed to the Senior Living Retirement Community Conference in Phoenix. But don’t think that it’s time off! Joined by some of the most delightful and most annoying representatives of Tucson Valley Retirement Community, the trip almost ends before it begins along Interstate 10. Things don’t get easier when at the opening ceremonies Rosi makes a most unfortunate introduction of herself. When her golden retriever puppy discovers a dead body that same night, Rosi pivots to sleuthing again as hilarity follows her every move.
This time around Rosi and some of the crew are at a Senior Living Retirement Community Conference, which leads to some laugh out loud moments. It’s sometimes nice to get series characters out of their usual environments. Of course, Rosi finds a dead body in her hotel room bathtub and can’t help getting involved. The story’s a bit shorter than the first two, but the mystery was put together well.
Overall this is a good series. It’s funny and the main character is relatable. We have a nice assortment of quirky secondary characters and even an adorable puppy – who got to along to the conference. I listened to the first three on audio and the narrator does a great job bringing Rosi and the people around her to life. She keeps the tone light and entertaining. I’m hoping the next couple get audio versions soon.
About Marcy Blesy
Marcy Blesy is the author of over thirty books including the popular cozy mystery series: The Tucson Valley Retirement Community Cozy Mystery Series. Her adult romance mystery series includes The Secret of Blue Lake and The Secret of Silver Beach. Her children’s books include the best selling Be the Vet series along with the following early chapter book series: Evie and the Volunteers, Niles and Bradford, Third Grade Outsider, and Hazel, the Clinic Cat. Her picture book, Am I Like My Daddy?, helps children who experienced the loss of a parent when they were young.
Marcy enjoys searching for treasures along the shores of Lake Michigan. She’s still waiting for the day when she finds a piece of red beach glass. By day she teaches creative writing virtually to amazing students around the world.
Marcy is a believer in love and enjoys nothing more than making her readers feel a book more than simply reading it.
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