New Release and Review STAYIN' ALIVE A Country Club Murder by Julie Mulhern

Synopsis

Springtime. Love is in the air. So is murder.

When Ellison Russell, reluctant finder of bodies, chairs a gala in conjunction with the museum’s Chinese funerary exhibit, she expects disaster. So, she’s not remotely surprised when a body turns up.

Ellison is willing to leave the investigation to the police till an attempt is made on her life.

Now she’s juggling evading a killer, her aunt’s overly-amorous beau, her dog’s new love interest, and Mother’s displeasure.

With bodies piling up, if Ellison’s not careful, staying alive might be impossible.

Review

Ellison is in charge of the gala for the museum, a high point among the country club set, and sure to not meet her mother's expectations. That's a given when she and Anarchy stumble on the body of Phyllis Goddard. Aunt Sis, Karma, and Grace help Ellison as she helps Anarchy. Aunt Sis adds to the sparks with her new beau and poor Max is pegged as the dog digging up the neighbors' flowers. 

True to form, the characters, including Mr. Coffee, move the story along at a steady pace. Ellison is in the wrong place more than once with more than one condolence call. The tension is mixed with some humor and the ending isn't expected. Although this is the 10th in the Country Club Murders, it can be easily read as a stand alone. 

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

AMAZON

Book Review: GUARANTEED TO BLEED : Country Club Humorous Mystery Series by Julie Mulhern

Synopsis

With his dying breath, Bobby Lowell begs Ellison Russell, “Tell her I love her.” Unable to refuse, Ellison struggles to find the girl the murdered boy loved. Too bad an epically bad blind date, a vindictive graffiti artist, and multiple trips to the emergency room keep getting in the way.

Worse, a killer has Ellison in his sights, her newly rebellious daughter is missing, and there’s yet another body in her hostas. Mother won’t be pleased.

Now Ellison must track down not one but two runaway teenagers, keep her promise to Bobby, and elude the killer—all before her next charity gala committee meeting.

Review

Ellison takes to heart her promise to Bobby to give the right person his message, even as she becomes a target. There are certainly a lot of suspects, starting with the girl who wishes she was Bobby's girl and her dysfunctional family. But there are lots of dysfunctional families here.

While trying to find the girl, Ellison has to deal with her own family issues - her mother's continued efforts to marry her off and her daughter's rebellious attitude.  Then, of course there's Anarchy and his protective bent. 

This is the second in the series and as enjoyable as the others. I've read them out of order, only now doubling back to pick this one up. This is a well-written mystery with bits of humor and a believable ending. If you like cozy mysteries, you'll enjoy this one - and likely the whole series.

Books in the Country Club Murders Humorous Mystery Series:

THE DEEP END (#1)
GUARANTEED TO BLEED (#2)
CLOUDS IN MY COFFEE (#3)
SEND IN THE CLOWNS (#4)
WATCHING THE DETECTIVES (#5)

Book Review: THE DEEP END (The Country Club Murders Book 1) by Julie Mulhern

Synopsis

Swimming into the lifeless body of her husband’s mistress tends to ruin a woman’s day, but becoming a murder suspect can ruin her whole life.

It’s 1974 and Ellison Russell’s life revolves around her daughter and her art. She’s long since stopped caring about her cheating husband, Henry, and the women with whom he entertains himself. That is, until she becomes a suspect in Madeline Harper’s death. The murder forces Ellison to confront her husband’s proclivities and his crimes—kinky sex, petty cruelties and blackmail.

As the body count approaches par on the seventh hole, Ellison knows she has to catch a killer. But with an interfering mother, an adoring father, a teenage daughter, and a cadre of well-meaning friends demanding her attention, can Ellison find the killer before he finds her?

Review

The context is the high society country club set where appearance is everything and in the 1970s divorce is not considered acceptable and neither is a wife earning more money than her husband. Ellison's art and Grace are the plusses in her life  - only her hobby is making more money than her husband. That and his interest in kinky sex spell doom for the marriage.  Ellison is biding her time until Grace finishes high school to end her marriage. Her mother is domineering and Ellison's never stood up to her, until she becomes a suspect in the murder of her husband's latest mistress. She gains more strength in self-preservation as the body count rises.

Ellison stands up for herself and makes the decision for divorce. When her mother accepts that decision, it is time to match her up with the perfect man, attorney Hunter Platt. Hunter jumps right in, a bit bossy to say the least. In the meantime, Detective Jones is doing his best to get Ellison to tell her what she knows.  The country club set have a lot of secrets but are also quick to speculate, stare, and may be a bit afraid of what Ellison knows.

This is the first in the Country Club Murders.  I look forward to reading GUARANTEED TO BLEED and CLOUDS IN MY COFFEE to see more of Ellison - a 70s woman coming into her own.  I'm hoping to see more of Detective Jones as well!

AMAZON