Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

Lucy and Savvy were the kind of girls everyone envied. However one night, Lucy is found covered in Savvy’s blood and the whole town thinks she's a killer. Years later, Lucy’s rebuilt her life in LA, far away from all that small-town gossip. She can’t remember a thing about that night, but she’s moved on. Or at least, she thought she had—until a true crime podcast, Listen for the Lie, decides to dig into Savvy’s murder for its new season. The host wants answers and Lucy returns to the town she’s avoided like the plague. She’s determined to find out what really happened, even if that means facing the possibility she could be the one who did it. I flew through this story in a day—it had me hooked from start to finish. I don’t even listen to podcasts anymore (I used to be obsessed), but the way this story uses that format is so compelling. Tintera nailed it.

Death in Castle Dark by Veronica Bond

Happy Cozy Mystery Day! Aka Agatha Christie's Birthday!

(I should have actually reviewed a Christie novel today, but I'm still celebrating with a cozy mystery review - and I'm reading another cozy right now!)

Death in Castle Dark by Veronica Bond

Nora Blake thought she'd scored the ideal gig when she signed on with a murder-mystery troupe at the quirky yet mesmerizing Castle Shadows. Living in a fairy-tale-like castle, performing thrilling shows, and hanging out with a fun group of actors (plus a few cuddly kittens) all seemed like a dream come true, especially with free room and board thrown in.

But the magic of Castle Shadows hides something dark. During one of their early performances, what’s supposed to be a staged murder turns horrifyingly real when one of the cast members doesn’t get back up. He’s been murdered for real. Now, Nora’s caught in a chilling mystery off-stage, trying to figure out who among her fellow actors has gone from pretending to be a villain to actually becoming one—while making sure she’s not the next target.

I got this book recommendation from the Cozy Mystery Book Club (though I read it too late to participate). It’s the first book in a cozy mystery series (A Dinner and a Murder Mystery Series) but sadly there are only two books so far! I love the setting of a castle used for murder mystery dinners because it’s already engaging and spooky - then add in a real murder, and I’m hooked!