Peggy O'Neal Peden

Campbell Hall, a travel agent in Nashville, TN, grew up surrounded by the history of country music. When her boyfriend, Doug Elliot, has to pick up a few paintings at the estate of Jake Miller, a long dead country music legend who died young, Campbell begs to tag along, hoping to catch a glimpse inside the opulent mansion still occupied by Jake's widow, Hazel. When she's left alone for a moment, Campbell can't help but take a look around and peeks into what turns out to be Hazel's bedroom, with Hazel seemingly asleep in the bed. When it is reported that night that Hazel was found dead and is later determined to have been murdered, Campbell is compelled to investigate. Uncovering long held secrets and pursued by a killer, Campbell risks it all to find justice.

I loved this! The first in a new series, I already know I'll keep coming back for more. Besides the great plot, the characters were likable and realistic, especialy Campbell, she's my kinda gal. Self-described as "a little too honest" she's impulsive, inquisitive, and a little bit socially awkward - in other words, me in a nutshell. Even the setting was a character in itself, with tidbits about the music, the history and the culture of Nashville, TN. It was so vivid, it felt like I was really there.

I really enjoyed the plot, lots of good suspects and lots of suspects you don't realize are suspects and suspects you suspect but aren't actually suspects. Lots of plot twists and red herrings kept me guessing and the thrilling ending left me satisfied. The story left a few plot points open to be explored in later books and I'm eagerly awaiting the next in the series.

A light, entertaining cozy mystery that will keep you guessing, Your Killin' Heart is a fantastic start to a new series and a must read for any cozy mystery fan.… (meer)

Forty years ago country music legend Jake Miller died. His widow, Hazel Miller, still lives in the family home and has some gallery paintings that she hasn't paid for and is willing to return. Huge music fan and travel agent, Campbell Hale, begs her friend Doug to let her accompany him to pick them up and return them to his brother's gallery. She's a bit nosy, so while Doug is busy getting the paintings together she goes exploring. She opens the door to a dark bedroom where she thinks she sees Hazel lying in bed, quickly shuts the door, and leaves before she's seen. The next day she finds out Hazel has been killed and her curiosity compels her to start doing a little digging on her own.

This is the author's debut, a cozy mystery set in Nashville, Tennessee. She incorporates much of the charm of the city, highlighting the music venues and even the state bird. The main character, Campbell, behaves in a typically cozy manner, in that she just can't stop nosing around the murder scene and going off to meet potential suspects by herself. I thought it was a fairly entertaining book and would recommend it to fans of light cozy mysteries who don't mind a main character that consistently does everything she can to get herself killed.
… (meer)

Your Killin’ Heart by Peggy O’Neal Peden is A Nashville Mystery. Campbell Hall runs a travel agency in Nashville, Tennessee. When Doug Elliott mentions he is going to Jake Miller’s home, Campbell convinces (twists his arm) him to allow her to tag along. Doug is going to repossess paintings from Jake Miller’s widow, Hazel for his brother, Ken Elliott. Ken owns The Mockingbird Gallery. Hazel never paid for six paintings she acquired from his gallery. Campbell grew up hearing the music of Jake Miller and is excited at the opportunity to see inside the deceased star’s home. They arrive at the house and are told that Hazel is not available. Doug, always the lawyer, wants to make sure he has the proper releases signed by Hazel for the paintings. Hazel’s assistant, George Lewis assures him that she has authorized this venture. While waiting for Doug, Campbell starts snooping around. She opens a door and discovers it is a bedroom. The room is dark, but she does see a shadowy figure on the bed. Campbell quickly closes the door and waits for Doug. They deliver the paintings back at the gallery and head for dinner. The pair later hear that Hazel Miller was found dead inside her home. Was Hazel in the bedroom that Campbell looked in? Campbell is visited by Detective Sam Davis and asked about her visit to the Miller house. Campbell believes something is rotten about this whole affair and starts her own investigation. Someone, though, is not happy with Campbell’s snooping. Despite threats to her life and Doug’s pleas for her to quit, Campbell perseveres. Can Campbell find the killer or will the killer stop her meddling forever?

Your Killin’ Heart was a light cozy mystery. While I liked the setting, I did not like Campbell Hall. Her nosiness knew no bounds. Her curiosity (nosy nature) is why she went to the Miller house and why she investigated the murder. Campbell was going to continue despite the danger it was posing to Doug’s future political career and to her own life. I can see Campbell when she is retired, sitting at her front window with a pair of binoculars (keeping an eye on her neighbors and their visitors). The story is written in the first person. It seemed like Campbell opened her mouth and never stopped talking. We are given every little detail of rooms, Campbell’s life and her thoughts. I give Your Killin’ Heart 3 out of 5 stars (okay, but not for me). The mystery was uncomplicated and can easily be solved early in the book. I found the ending unsatisfying. I was left with some unanswered questions. While Your Killin’ Heart was my type of cozy mystery, readers who enjoy lighter cozies with levity will be entertained.… (meer)

I really enjoyed the country music setting of Your Killin' Heart as well as the behind-the-scenes look at a travel agency. The mystery had a high enjoyment factor, too, even though I'd deduced the identity of the villain before the end.

What I didn't enjoy was Campbell Hale. This main character's sole reason for getting involved in a murder investigation is because she's nosy. She forced her friend to take her with him to the Miller mansion, and the second she was left alone, she was off and running-- snooping down halls and opening doors. (When Campbell gets old and loses some of her mobility, I can see her sitting at her window, twitching the curtain back so she can keep an eye on all her neighbors' business.) She also had what I call a TSTL Moment (Too Stupid To Live) when she agrees to go alone to a suspect's house.

Even though Campbell's behavior moved from being extremely annoying to moderately amusing by book's end, I don't think I'll be visiting her in Nashville again. It's a shame. I like that town.… (meer)