The Chutes and Ladders by Marc Jedel: Review & Giveaway!

Chutes and Ladder:

A Silicon Valley Mystery

by Marc Jedel

About the Book

Chutes and Ladder: A Silicon Valley Mystery

Cozy Mystery

2nd in Series

BGM Press (March 12, 2019)

Print Length: 195 pages

ASIN: B07NFDYZX8

Dead friend. Free fall. Girl Scouts. Can Uncle Marty untangle the mystery before things really get out of control?

Juggling a budding relationship, demanding job, and mischievous nieces, Marty Golden struggled to keep his head above water — even before his friend’s death. Trying his best to be a good boyfriend and fun uncle, Marty had his own ideas for the weekend until his cunning sister tricked him again.

Convinced his friend’s death was no accident, Marty tries to summon superhero powers but merely manages to bumble along as an amateur sleuth. When Marty’s cousin shows up, she wreaks havoc with his plans and pulls him into yet another mystery.

As threats blossom, Marty doubles down now that his family’s involved. Besides, it’s poor manners to let your friend’s death go unsolved.

Can Marty figure out what happened before a killer, or his imagination, gets to him?

Chutes and Ladder is the second novel in a refreshingly modern mystery series set in Silicon Valley. If you like clever humor and wacky side characters, you’ll love this twisty mystery.

About the Author

For most of my life, I’ve been inventing stories. Some, especially when I was young, involved my sister as the villain. As my sister’s brother for her entire life, I’m highly qualified to tell the tale of this evolving, quirky sibling relationship.

My writing skills were honed in years of marketing leadership positions in Silicon Valley. While my high tech marketing roles involved crafting plenty of fiction, we called these marketing collateral, emails and ads.

The publication of my first novel, Uncle and Ants, gave me permission to claim “author” as my job. This leads to way more interesting discussions than answering “marketing.”

My family would tell you that Marty’s character isn’t much of a stretch of the imagination for me, but I proudly resemble that remark.

Like Marty, I live in Silicon Valley and can’t believe that otherwise normal people would willingly jump out of an airplane and call it fun. Unlike Marty, I have a wonderful wife and a neurotic but sweet, small dog, who is often the first to weigh in on the humor in my writing.  Here are the author links: email (marc@marcjedel.com), website, FaceBook, Linked In, GoodReads, and Bookbub.

My Thoughts

Chutes and Ladder by Marc Jedel is the second book in A Silicon Valley Mystery series.  Marty Golden is a software engineer with Rover whose idea of camping is staying at a motel with a comfy bed, mini bar, air conditioning and a television.  Unfortunately, after his sister sprains her ankle, Marty is roped into chaperoning his niece, Skye on her Girl Scouts camping excursion to Santa Cruz County Park.  After a little science experiment that led to the girls being covered in sticky soda, Marty is sent into the woods on a bogus errand.   He decides it is the perfect time for a B.I.F.F.Y. (you will have to read the book to find out).  While searching for a spot, Marty stumbles upon a body and is shocked that the victim is Larry Cohen, a poker buddy who works at Sirius.  While the police believe the cause of death is accidental, Marty has his doubts because of the strange burns on Larry’s arms and hands.  Since his services as a chaperone are no longer needed (don’t ask why), Marty has the time to do a little investigating.  At Larry’s house he is surprised to learn Larry was a hoarder, but it turns out to be a plus when Marty uncovers a clue that leads him to Sirius.  Sirius is acquiring Rover it gives Marty the perfect excuse to snoop around (sort of).  As Marty uncovers more clues, his imagination goes into overdrive. It doesn’t help that he is dealing with his skydiving cousin, a puppy channeling Harry Houdini, and a ninja (oh no).  Will Marty survive this free falling adventure?

 

Chutes and Ladder is a light hearted cozy mystery.  I suggest reading Uncleand Ants before embarking on Chutes and Ladder.  It will provide background information on Marty that is missing in Chutes and Ladder.  Marty Golden is a unique character.  He likes to wear Hawaiian shirts (all the time), a Star-Trek fan (there is an upcoming convention), tells bad jokes and has an overactive imagination.  Marty also manages to say or do the wrong thing 95% of the time (He is a twelve year old in an adult’s body).  When he stumbles upon his friend’s body in the woods, he feels he needs to get answers (it would be rude not to investigate).  I wish the author had included further background details on Marty (divorced, number of kids, age).  He always takes the driverless Rover vehicles.  Is it because he doesn’t drive or doesn’t own a car?  I have to admit to being fascinated with the concept of driverless cars (I dislike driving—I get bored).  I wish there had been more details about the service (does it work like Uber, cost). I enjoyed Marc Jedel’s descriptive writing which provides vivid imagery.  Bigelow, the puppy Marty gave to his nieces, provides comic relief.  He is going to need a firm hand and massive amounts of training (with no guarantee it will work).  The mystery was light weight (like Marty).  I would have preferred a mystery with more complexity.  Chutes and Ladder is an entertaining story with quirky characters, zany incidents, witty dialogue and guaranteed giggles. 

Chutes and Ladders is available on Amazon along with Uncle and Ants (both on Kindle Unlimited).  Serf and Turf will be the next book in this high-spirited series (soccer fields and Renaissance Faires).  In honor of the tour, the author is hosting a giveaway for a signed copy of Chutes and Ladder.  You can enter below or click here.  Please take the time to visit the other stops on the tour for spotlights, character guest posts, reviews, character interviews and guest posts (schedule below).  I appreciate you joining me today.  Please consider following my blog (hit the blue button--upper right).  I will be back tomorrow with my thoughts on A Silken Thread by Kim Vogel Sawyer.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Tour Participants

March 25 – Babs Book Bistro - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

March 25 – The Journey Back– REVIEW

March 25 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW

March 26 – My Reading Journeys – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 26 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

March 26 – Teresa Watson - REVIEW

March 27 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

March 27 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST

March 27 – Here's How It Happened – GUEST POST

March 28 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 28 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW

March 28 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW

March 29 – I'm Into Books – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 29 – Sneaky the Library Cat's Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

March 30 – 4covert2overt ☼ A Place In The Spotlight ☼ - SPOTLIGHT

March 31 - ⒾⓃⓉⓇⓄⓈⓅⒺⒸⓉⒾⓋⒺ ⓅⓇⒺⓈⓈ - SPOTLIGHT

March 31 - The Avid Reader – REVIEW

April 1 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

April 1 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 2 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 2 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW

April 3 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

April 3 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 4 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 4 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW

April 5 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

April 5 – Literary Gold – REVIEW

April 5 – Community Bookstop - REVIEW

April 6 – ❧Defining Ways❧ - GUEST POST

April 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

April 7 – Readeropolis – GUEST POST