Review: Grand Prize: Murder! by Vivian Conroy

Series: Country Gift Shop #2

Title: Grand Prize: Murder! by Vivian Conroy

Author: Vivian Conroy

Publisher: HQ Digital

Published: March 15th, 2017

Pages: 224

Rating: 4/5

My Review:

This is the second story in the series but I can honestly say that you don’t need to have read the first to enjoy and appreciate this one – I haven’t read the first one yet! It is a delightful, cosy murder mystery – sounds a bit strange describing anything to do with murder as cosy but this really does feel like that. It all takes part in a small town of Glen Cove where the permanent residents all know everyone else and Vicky Simmons is something of a cross between Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher but younger!

The opening chapters fill in any pertinent background information about previous events in which Vicky Simmons played a key role in solving a murder mystery. Vicky owns the Country Gift Shop which specialises in selling British related items, including books. Whilst in England, Vicky had met the British crime writer, Bella Brookes, and she has agreed to sign copies of her books at the start of her book tour of the area. However, when a friend rings Vicky to say she’s discovered a dead body in her conservatory Vicky is going to need all her wits about her to discover the perpetrator without becoming the next victim!

The story is a lovely easy but enthralling read. The characters are brought to life within the pages of the book and the scenarios brilliantly portrayed so the reader can easily imagine events. Vicky and her team of amateur sleuths use their knowledge of the town, the people in it and their common sense to help support the town sheriff’s investigation into the murder. There’s banter between Vicky and the Sheriff, Cash, plenty of twists in the plot to keep readers guessing and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I’ll certainly be looking out for other books by this author in future!

I requested a copy of this via NetGalley and this is my honest review after reading it.

Synopsis

When death comes to town

Inviting the bestselling cozy crime author Bella Brookes to town is going to be the best business move Vicky Simmons has made yet. Not only is Bella going to sign her books to kick off Glen Cove’s annual One-Mile Book Market, but she’s also running her famous scavenger hunt right in town. That’s sure to win over the townsfolk!

All is going to plan until a dead body is discovered, drawing Vicky straight to the scene of the crime. After the last murder Vicky had vowed to stay out of Sheriff Cash’s way, but when death comes to town she finds herself embroiled in the investigation. She’s racing against time to uncover the murderer…but can there really be a second devious killer in Glen Cove? Vicky will stop at nothing to get to the truth.

Look out for more of Vicky’s adventures in WRITTEN INTO THE GRAVE, coming soon!

Buy Links:    Amazon (UK)         Amazon (US)        Barnes and Noble