Syrup to No Good
by Catherine Bruns
Wedding bells are ringing and someone is Syrup to no Good (October 2023). When the bride’s backstabbing aunt is literally stabbed in the back, Leila Khoury is back to sleuthing in Catherine Bruns welcomes cozy readers back to Sugar Ridge, Vermont. Be warned, those who make like molasses might find a sticky end!
Publisher : Poisoned Pen Press (October 31, 2023)
Publication date : October 31, 2023
My review of Syrup to No Good
I’ve never met a Catherine Bruns book that I didn’t love. Syrup to No Good is going on my “I love Catherine Bruns’s books” list! Okay, I don’t really have a list, but if I did, it’d be on it. Syrup to No Good is the second book in the Maple Syrup Mystery series, so jump on in! You can read this as a standalone since Bruns weaves in enough information for you to get who’s who without ruining the prior book (or books).
Leila Khory is busy! After her father’s death, she became the new owner of the family’s maple syrup farm in Sugar Ridge, VT, Sappy Endings Farm. And as maid of honor, she’s throwing her best friend Heather’s bridal shower. As if those weren’t enough to keep her busy, she’s got another murder to solve. No, she’s not a detective, but since she helped solve another murder, Heather begs Leila to solve this one so she can get married! The victim was Heather’s aunt by marriage, and almost everyone couldn’t stand her. She was blunt, loud, rude, and mean! Needless to say, the suspect pool is large in this one, and Heather’s wedding is in 2 weeks!
Leila is a great protagonist. She’s a great friend, a business owner, a daughter, possibly a girlfriend, but like many (me included), she can be insecure. That’s partially due to being dumped by her fiance five years ago. Yes, she’s had time to move on, but I’d be insecure too…especially given the reason he broke off the engagement. She never told her mom the real reason for the broken engagement, so she feels like a failure and disappointment to her mom. So, when that old fiance shows up in town, her mom wants her to make up with him and get married. Yeah, those things would make me feel awful! Don’t worry. Things do get better!
The mystery is well-plotted with plenty of exciting, suspenseful moments. Like I said, the suspect pool is large, so you might change your mind a time or two. There are plenty of clues to lead you to the right conclusion. And speaking of conclusions, Leila’s ex-fiance problem comes to a good conclusion, and Heather gets a happily ever after too.
I highly recommend Syrup to No Good! I think cozy mystery readers will love it!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns lives in Upstate New York with an all-male household that consists of her very patient husband, three sons, and several spoiled pets. Catherine has a B.A. in both English and Performing Arts and is a former newspaper reporter and press release writer. In her spare time, she loves to bake, read, and attend live theater performances. Over the past five years, she’s written fifteen mystery novels plus several novellas and has many more stories waiting to be told. Readers are invited to visit her website at www.catherinebruns.net
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