Death in Dark Blue: A Writer's Apprentice Mystery

Happy Friday!  Death Plays a Part by Vivian Conroy comes out today.  It is the first book in A Cornish Castle Mystery series.  I will be sharing my thoughts on this new cozy mystery soon.  Julia Buckley is the author of An Undercover Dish Mystery series as well as A Writer's Apprentice Mystery series. Readers can follow the author on Facebook, Goodreads, and Amazon.  Amazon will send you an email when a new book is listed for sale by this author.

Death in Dark Blue by Julia Buckley is the second novel in A Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series.  Lena London lives with famous author Camilla Graham in Blue Lake, Indiana.  She is happy that her boyfriend, Sam West is returning to town after being gone for the last month.  Sam has been in New York searching for his missing wife, Victoria with the help of a private investigator.  Taylor Brand, a friend of Victoria’s and a blogger, stated on her blog that she would be coming to Blue Lake to apologize to Sam in person for her accusations (she accused him of harming Victoria).  Lena is on her way to Sam’s to drop off a copy of the book she co-wrote with Camilla when she comes across a person in a blue coat in the snow.  Lena has discovered Taylor and she will not be making that apology.  Once again, Sam is a suspect in a murder and the press are out in full force.  Lena needs to find Taylor’s killer and clear Sam from suspicion.  She also wants to find a clue that will lead them to Victoria.  Lena enlists the help of Belinda, research librarian at the Blue Lake Library.  Can they finally discover what happened to Victoria West?  The paparazzi are making it difficult for Sam and Lena to spend time together since they are trying to keep their relationship under wraps.  Can Lena unravel the clues and uncover Taylor’s killer? 

Death in Dark Blue is packed full of action.  Lena is busy solving two mysteries, spending time with Sam, and working on Camilla’s latest novel.  I thought the book contained good writing and it has a good flow.  The pace is medium level.  The murder mystery was child’s play to solve.  I identified the killer before the body made it to the morgue.  The suspect pool is very limited.  I give Death in Dark Blue 3.5 out of 5 stars.  I suggest that you read A Dark and Stormy Murder before Death in Dark Blue.  The first book sets the stage for what occurs in Death in Dark Blue.  There is some repetition of information (especially regarding Victoria).  I wish the author had not put so much focus on the romance between Lena and Sam.  Their relationship has moved too quickly (aka they are already cozy between the sheets) especially since he is technically married and his wife MIA.  The story ends with a cliffhanger that will have me reading the next book in the series.  I admit that I am curious to see what happens next in the Sam and Victoria saga.  Let us hope, though, that Sam does not end up suspected of murder again in the next novel in A Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series.

Thank you for visiting and reading my review.  I am currently reading Familiar Trouble by Carolyn Haines.  It will be released on July 10.  My next book review will be of A Tell-Tale Tarte by Maya Corrigan.  I hope you have a very special day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader