Death Crashes the Party

It is National Bicarbonate of Soda Day!  Personally, I think this day should be January 1 when many people wake up with hangovers from over indulgence on New Year's Eve (that is when they will need bicarbonate of soda).  Baking soda does, though, have many other uses (besides baking).  People used to use baking soda for brushing their teeth (before toothpaste).  It is also a great cleaning agent.  You check out all the uses on www.bing.com.  

Death Crashes the Party by Vickie Fee is the first book in A Liv and Di in Dixie Mystery series.  Olivia “Liv” McKay owns and runs Liv 4 Fun, a party planning business in Dixie, Tennessee.  Liv is married to Larry Joe McKay who runs McKay Trucking with his father.  Her best friend (and partner in crime) is Diana “Di” Souther.  Di is the postal carrier for the town.   Liv is busy planning an anniversary party for the Erdman’s who want conflicting themes.  Liv ends up coming up with Moonshine and Magnolias (the husband wants redneck and the wife wants classy).  While checking the freezer in the Erdman’s garage to see if it will hold the ice sculpture (Mrs. Erdman’s request), Liv finds a dead body.  She jumps back, trips over a green trash can, knocks it over and finds another body.  They turn out to be Duane and Darrell Farrell.  They worked at McKay Trucking.  Determined to clear McKay Trucking and the McKay name (since her husband and father-in-law are the prime suspects), Liv (with the help of Di) sets out to find the killer.  Their methods are not very ethical (actually they are against the law), but they feel the results are worth it.  Can Liv solve the murders and plan a party at the same time?  Will Di and Liv be able to stay out of jail?

I found Death Crashes the Party to be an easy and light read (can be read in a couple of hours) and it had a nice flow.  The mystery was pleasing (there were some twists thrown in), but it was figuring out the killer that was a cinch.  I found Death Crashes the Party to be a little superficial.  It was lacking depth (and details).  We did not get a lot of information on the characters (seems to be a theme lately).  I also wish the murder had not happened right at the beginning.  It needed a little more lead in before the crime (it makes for a long book).  There is too much foul language in the book (especially for a cozy mystery).  I do not think the foul language was needed.  I give Death Crashes the Party 3 out of 5 stars.  An interesting start to a new series.  I will read the next book in the series to see if it improves.

I received a complimentary copy of Death Crashes the Party from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am currently reading Friends and Enemies:  A World War II Romance by Terri Wangard.  I hope all of you have a wonderful evening.  Make sure to take time to relax and do something for yourself!  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader