K. L. Montgomery

The second in the Musical Murder Mystery trilogy but the book works as a standalone. There are fewer musical references in this book.

A case from 2009 falls into Ruby’s and Nova’s laps and they waste no time asking questions and gathering evidence while using their own musical number to help remember, the tune inspired by West Side Story. For every clue, they add a verse. Having the musical number regularly referred back to means the readers are constantly reminded and updated on the investigation, making the book engaging.

Lovers of crime and mystery will also find this book engaging because the story is seen entirely from Ruby’s point of view, so the mystery can be investigated alongside the protagonist; readers know everything Ruby knows, sees, and hears – no more, no less. The book also features soft romance.

Ruby doesn’t hold back her thoughts and readers are privy to every opinion and observation she has of characters; there is no introduction to each character, but Ruby describes them enough to assume we’ve met them already and Ruby just has to reiterate their habits.

There are a lot of italics, used for verses, thoughts, and phone texts. Therefore, understanding the context helps to distinguish these. Nonetheless, the story is written really well, comically and endearing: Ruby breaks the fourth wall as she seemingly communicates with the readers as opposed to a diary in a prose like most first-person point of views, and the character describes facial expressions so readers can easily visualise reactions.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.… (meer)

The third in the Musical Murder Mystery trilogy but the book works as a standalone.

Ruby is ‘hired’ to investigate a mystery and she wastes no time investigating while creating her own musical number to help remember, the tune inspired by Little Shop of Horrors, and this time has Rudy to help with the mystery. For every clue, Ruby adds a verse or two. Having the musical number regularly referred back to means the readers are constantly reminded and updated on the investigation, making the book engaging.

Lovers of crime and mystery will also find this book engaging because the story is seen entirely from Ruby’s point of view, so the mystery can be investigated alongside the protagonist; readers know everything Ruby knows, sees, and hears – no more, no less.

Ruby doesn’t hold back her thoughts and readers are privy to every opinion and observation she has of characters; there is no introduction to each character, but Ruby describes them enough to assume we’ve met them already and Ruby just has to reiterate their habits.

There are a lot of italics, used for verses, thoughts, and phone texts. Therefore, understanding the context helps to distinguish these. Nonetheless, the story is written really well, comically and endearing: Ruby breaks the fourth wall as she seemingly communicates with the readers as opposed to a diary in a prose like most first-person point of views, and the character describes facial expressions so readers can easily visualise reactions.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.… (meer)

The first in the Musical Murder Mystery trilogy, the book cuts to the chase and readers are thrown straight into the story.

Lovers of musicals – or anyone familiar with musical numbers – can engage with the story better than those who aren’t. Lovers of crime and mystery will also find this book engaging because the story is seen entirely from Ruby’s point of view, so the mystery can be investigated alongside the protagonist; readers know everything Ruby knows, sees, and hears – no more, no less.

Ruby and Nova already guess who the murderer could be, so they spend their time asking questions and gathering evidence while using their own musical number to help remember, the tune inspired by The Sound of Music. For every clue, they add a line. Having the musical number regularly referred back to means the readers are constantly reminded and updated on the investigation, making the book engaging. However, there is an unforeseen twist added to their suspicions so not all is revealed ‘last-minute’ like in most mystery stories.

Ruby doesn’t hold back her thoughts and readers are privy to every opinion and observation she has of characters; there is no introduction to each character, but Ruby describes them enough to assume we’ve met them already and Ruby just has to reiterate their habits. While Ruby doesn’t hold back, she is also still finding herself. Making a new friend in Nova and investigating a mystery seems to help Ruby get out of her shell and reveal to others - as well as herself - a new version of who she believed to be, the version being more confident or quirky. Ruby picks up on her change in personality and embraces everything she does, regardless of how awkward or different it makes her seem to others.

There are a lot of italics, used for verses, thoughts, and phone texts. Therefore, understanding the context helps to distinguish these. Nonetheless, the story is written really well, comically and endearing: Ruby breaks the fourth wall as she seemingly communicates with the readers as opposed to a diary in a prose like most first-person point of views, and the character describes facial expressions so readers can easily visualise reactions.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.… (meer)

"Betrayal at the Beach" was a light and entertaining read, although there were a few things in it that were unrealistic. Sunshine Baker is a YA/Teen librarian at a small seaside town. She does some amateur sleuthing to try to figure out who stole the fundraiser money and the historic bible. All was wrapped up in the end in a way that made sense.

However, Sunshine sometimes speaks more like a teen, although I suppose that might be due to her frequent association with teens. (I don't know many adult females who say "Sweet!" or "Squeee!" or "amazaballs or "nuh-uh.") The Christian message is overt, but not offensive or aggressive. I also do not see how an ordinary person could obtain some kind of virus and inoculate chocolates to make people sick. The author also does not know the difference between a lectern and a podium.

The librarians are all interesting characters, although they seem to involve themselves in dangerous situations and jump to conclusions a lot. Sunshine also has cats, which grabbed my interest, especially since one of them is named Paige Turner (ha!). This is the first in a series of books about Sunshine Baker. I picked up this book because the author is formerly from Indiana, although she lives somewhere else now.… (meer)