A shoe-in read for fans of Ellery Adams and Kate Carlisle, On Borrowed Crime is the first in Kate Young's new Georgia-set, sweet tea filled, Jane Doe Book Club mysteries.
The Jane Doe book club enjoys guessing whodunit, but when murder happens in their midst, they discover solving crimes isn't fun and games...
Lyla Moody loves her sleepy little town of Sweet Mountain, Georgia. She likes her job as receptionist for her uncle's private investigative firm, her fellow true crime obsessed Jane Doe members are the friends she's always wanted, and her parents just celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. But recently, with her best friend Melanie on vacation, and her ex-boyfriend and horrible cousin becoming an item and moving in next door to her, her idyllic life is on the fritz. The cherry on top of it all is finding Carol, a member of the club, dead and shoved into a suitcase, left at Lyla's front door.
Unusual circumstances notwithstanding, with Carol's heart condition, the coroner rules Carol's death undetermined. But when they discover the suitcase belongs to Melanie, who had returned from her vacation the following morning, Sweet Mountain police begin to suspect Lyla's best friend. Determined that police are following the wrong trail, to clear her friend's name, and to not allow Carol become one of the club's studied cold cases, Lyla begins to seek out the real killer. That is, until she becomes the one sought after. Now, finding the truth could turn her into the killer's next plot twist, unless she wins the game of cat and mouse.
Lyla is a good 'ol southern gal living in Sweet Mountain, GA, a small town as only the south can do. With its laid back lifestyle and good people you've known all your life, it should be idyllic. For Lyla, a receptionist in her uncle's private investigation office, solving mysteries runs in her blood. Together with a circle of like minded friends organized into a true crime book club, Lyla enjoys the crime investigating life. But when one of the club members turns up dead in a suitcase delivered to Lyla's front door, crime investigating turns serious - and deadly. Unable to set aside the danger, Lyla puts her skills to the test to track down a killer in her home town.
A first book in a new series always calls to me. What is this new world? Can I settle right in? Will these characters become friends? A first book in a new series is always an open invitation I can never pass up, and this book opened the door to a place I'd love to spend more time in. The characters were equally as charming, I loved Lyla's granny (would love to see her more as Lyla's partner in crime...well, crime fighting) and I'm looking forward to seeing where Lyla goes from here.
As for the plot, it was packed with intrigue and tension, from the discovery of Carol's body to the threats and red herring to the thrilling ending, it made for a can't-put-it-down roller coaster ride. I admit, this was one of those books where I would decide on the likely culprit but the red herrings always pulled me off the scent. I love books that do that!
Overall, an excellent introduction to the folks in Sweet Mountain, GA and I'm looking forward to reading more!
Reading updates
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Started reading
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14 October, 2020:
Finished reading
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14 October, 2020:
Reviewed