Title: Murder Under the Marquee
Author: J.C. Kenney
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Book Blurb:
Wild animal removal specialist Elmo Simpson has another murder on his hands. It’s starting to become a habit…
When a body is found on the beach near the Paradise Springs marina in the sleepy panhandle of Florida, Elmo’s disinclined to weigh in on it. But the victim is Desiree LaFontaine, former first mate of Elmo’s girlfriend, Nic, who apparently was the last person to see Desiree alive. Which makes Nicola suspect number one.
But there are other suspects. Like Craig Abbott, owner of Craig’s Cruises, who’s been taking a slice of Nic’s tour boat customers ever since he set up shop. Or could it be Desiree’s old boyfriend Bobby Darrin, who just plain doesn’t want to be found? And why is Drunk Paul, who’s rarely drunk but hangs around the marina, acting so squirrelly?
Elmo doesn’t believe for a minute Nic’s a murderer, so he dives headlong into the seamy underbelly of Paradise Springs’ tourism industry to try to clear her name. But time is short, and Elmo must reel the murderer in before Nic is put away and Elmo ends up under water–for good.
My Review:
Desiree’s murder catches everyone by surprise, including Elmo. The police are zeroed in on Nic, Elmo’s girlfriend, as the number one suspect but Elmo knows she’s not a killer. He vows to track down the killer, but he’ll have to outthink the police or he might end up in a watery grave.
Murder Under the Marquee is a humorous cozy mystery set in Florida I couldn’t stop reading. I knew I was in for a wild ride when the opening scene involved the debate over Hawaiian pizza. Right then and there, I knew this was going to be a fantastic cozy mystery.
The wacky characters are truly what makes Murder Under the Marquee an unputdownable cozy mystery. Elmo is our amateur sleuth and has quite the view on life, love, and murder. His inner dialogue had me in stitches for most of the book. He’s got a keen eye for clues and an uncanny way of getting at the truth. I connected with him easily.
All of the characters are well-written and colorful. It’s a small town so there are plenty of quirky characters to interact with.
The mystery plot unfolded at a natural pace. The sprinkling of clues allowed me the pleasure of investigating right along with Elmo. It was entertaining and so much fun. I can’t wait for more adventures with Elmo.
If you’re a cozy mystery reader, this is your next book to dive into. Brilliant from start to finish.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Buy it Now:
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-under-the-marquee-jc-kenney/1146173566?ean=9781964703893
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/murder-under-the-marquee/id6650366180?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=books_box_link
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/J_C_Kenney_Murder_Under_the_Marquee?id=aR8aEQAAQBAJ&hl=en_US&gl=US
Author Biography:
J.C. Kenney is the bestselling author of mysteries full of oddball characters in unusual settings. He's also the co-host of The Bookish Hour and A Bookish Moment webcasts. When he’s not writing, you can find him following IndyCar racing or listening to music. He has two grown children and lives in Indianapolis with his wife and a cat.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://www.jckenney.com/
Reviewed by: Nancy