Picked Off by Linda Lovely Series: Brie Hooker Mystery #2
Published by Henery Press on June 5, 2018
Source: NetGalley
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 270
Format: eARC
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It’s been seven months since Brie Hooker, a vegan, moved to Udderly Kidding Dairy to live with her feisty Aunt Eva, a confirmed carnivore. But tonight there’ll be no family feud over dinner entrees. Udderly’s hosting a campaign fundraiser for Eva’s best friend, who hopes to be South Carolina’s next governor. The candidate’s son, a pro quarterback, is flying home for the wingding. And Brie’s eager to get a close-up view of the cute tush she’s admired on TV, even though she’s reluctantly sworn off even more tempting local beefcake. The campaign fundraiser promises to be a huge success until a pitchfork attack turns the goat farm into a crime scene—again. To protect her friends, Brie puts her sleuthing skills to work. Will she live long enough to find out who’s behind a vicious assault, a kidnapping, blackmail, and murder?
I have mixed feelings about Picked Off by Linda Lovely. I love Brie and all of her friends, who I first met in Bones to Pick. Her aunt is awesome, feisty and honest and loving. She and her friends, Mollye, Paint and Andy make a great team, even if they’re a bit bumbling, like any good amateur detectives. They are funny and truly care about each other. The mystery is good. We’ve got plenty of suspects and motives, which is not surprising considering the victim – who doesn’t actually die by the way – is a professional football player and his mother is a politician. We’ve got rednecks and franchise owners and gamblers.
Then the author goes and ruins it all with a love triangle, which was my problem with the first in the series too. I had hoped she would let that go by the wayside, but nope. Apparently Brie can not be “just friends” with either of them – again, so at the end of this one they’ve all decided that one week she will date guy #1 and the next week guy #2. Sorry if that’s a spoiler but it really annoys me. Especially because other than that it’s a really good series.
Picked Off takes place around Halloween, so if you’re looking for a cozy in October, keep it in mind.
About Linda Lovely
Over the past five years, hundreds of mystery/thriller writers have met Linda Lovely at check-in for the annual Writers’ Police Academy, which she helps organize. Lovely finds writing pure fiction isn’t a huge stretch given the years she’s spent penning PR and ad copy. She writes a blend of mystery and humor, chuckling as she plots to “disappear” the types of characters who most annoy her. Quite satisfying plus there’s no need to pester relatives for bail. Her newest series offers good-natured salutes to both her vegan family doctor and her cheese-addicted kin. She served as president of her local Sisters in Crime chapter for five years and belongs to International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America.
It sounds good? Maybe a little funny with taking turns about dating?
I find the dating thing weird, but maybe it’s supposed to be funny. I don’t get why the guys – who are best friends by the was – don’t forget about her, rather than let her string both of them along.