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N. N. Light
Aug 9, 20233 min read

5+ stars for Death by Cutting Table (Holly Swimsuit Mystery Book 4) #cozymystery #bookreview #funny



Title: Death by Cutting Table (Holly Swimsuit Mystery Book 4)

Author: Susie Black

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Humorous Cozy Mystery


Book Blurb:


Mermaid Swimwear CEO Butch Oldham was an equal opportunity scoundrel who screwed anyone and everyone in his wake. So, the question wasn’t who wanted the bastard dead. The question was, who didn’t?

After Mermaid sales exec Holly Schlivnik finds colleague Queenie Levine standing over Oldham’s battered corpse nailed to a fabric cutting table with a pair of cutting shears plunged deep into his chest, the cops soon recover Queenie’s hidden blood-soaked sweater, discover her stormy relationship with the victim, and her public threats to make Butch pay for destroying Mermaid by stealing it blind.

When Queenie is arrested for Butch’s murder, Holly jumps into action to flesh out the real killer. But the trail has more twists and turns than a slinky, and nothing turns out the way the wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth thinks it will as she tangles with a clever killer hellbent for revenge.


My Review:


A shocking murder at Holly’s work put her friend in danger of a prison sentence. Can Holly hand over the killer to the police before it’s too late? Wise-cracking Holly is back for another adventure and this time the victim is someone everyone wants dead. My first thought after reading this cozy mystery is being a swimsuit exec is dangerous to one’s health. If you’re not a victim, you’re a suspect. I’ve known for years retail is cutthroat but murder. Thank goodness for the writing talent of Susie Black to make it such fun to read.


Like the other books in this delightful series, this book is superbly written with wacky characters you’ll cling to, a fast-moving mystery, hilarious dialogue that’ll have you laughing aloud, and a lovable dog who helps Holly in the nick of time. You’ll run the gamut of emotion while reading. It’s more than worth the price for hours of entertainment.


I could spend hours detailing why the plot is so good, but I won’t spoil it for you. Susie Black has a gift for writing cozy mysteries with comedic dialogue. Once a reader starts reading, she can’t stop. Addictive, yes, but also flawless and error-free. The writing is up there with some of the best in the cozy mystery genre.


When I finished Death by Cutting Table, I wanted to read it all over again. That, my fellow readers, is a sign of an epic cozy mystery. I hope there are more Holly cozy mystery adventures in the future. Until they are written, I will reread this book and the others in the series.


My Rating: 5+ stars


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Author Biography:


Named Best US Author of the Year by N. N. Lights Book Heaven, award-winning cozy mystery author Susie Black was born in the Big Apple but now calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries.


She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect.


Looking for more? Contact Susie at:



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Reviewed by: Nancy

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