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Good Buy Girls Mystery #1
50% Off Murder
Maggie Gerber-one of the founding members of the Good Buy Girls- loves her quiet life in St. Stanley, Virginia. But all that changes when Sam Collins, her old flame, moves back to town as the new sheriff. On top of that, Claire Freemont, a librarian and the newest member of the Good Buy Girls, starts acting utterly strange.
When Maggie goes to visit her the next day at the library, she finds the body of a very dead man. Turns out the man is someone from Claire's past. As the handsome new sheriff zeroes in on Claire, it's up to Maggie and the rest of the Good Buy Girls to use their bargain-hunting skills to hunt a killer-while making sure they don't pay too much in the process...
When Maggie goes to visit her the next day at the library, she finds the body of a very dead man. Turns out the man is someone from Claire's past. As the handsome new sheriff zeroes in on Claire, it's up to Maggie and the rest of the Good Buy Girls to use their bargain-hunting skills to hunt a killer-while making sure they don't pay too much in the process...
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 2012
80 people are currently reading
2414 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
June 19, 2012
Ughh! The first chapter was easy to read, it seemed like I was in store for a light, fun book. But then I read on ... the "heroine" Maggie is totally immature, bossy, unlikable and painfully annoying. After page 50, I forced myself to finish the book but it didn't get any better ...
The novel read like a bad teen drama with rival cliques and stupid, superficial women fighting and bossing others around. There are extreme displays of emotional and intellectual immaturity by grown women but the author seems to think this is normal behavior. There were no likable or redeeming characters in the entire book for me.
The mystery aspect of the novel was incredibly weak. There is no real development of the mystery because the novel is too focused on Maggie's "fabulous" money-saving life and her circle of "loyal" friends. The author belatedly remembers that the novel is suppose to be a murder mystery and throws in some undeveloped, uninspired plot twists in the last chapter to wrap up the mystery. The author's knowledge of police work and procedures is laughably erroneous.
The "tips for saving money" at the end of the novel were patronizingly stupid.
This is bad chick-lit, not a serious murder mystery. One and done for me on this new series.
The novel read like a bad teen drama with rival cliques and stupid, superficial women fighting and bossing others around. There are extreme displays of emotional and intellectual immaturity by grown women but the author seems to think this is normal behavior. There were no likable or redeeming characters in the entire book for me.
The mystery aspect of the novel was incredibly weak. There is no real development of the mystery because the novel is too focused on Maggie's "fabulous" money-saving life and her circle of "loyal" friends. The author belatedly remembers that the novel is suppose to be a murder mystery and throws in some undeveloped, uninspired plot twists in the last chapter to wrap up the mystery. The author's knowledge of police work and procedures is laughably erroneous.
The "tips for saving money" at the end of the novel were patronizingly stupid.
This is bad chick-lit, not a serious murder mystery. One and done for me on this new series.
January 1, 2024
Quick fun read
January 24, 2024
Debut of Josie Belle (aka Jenn McKinlay’s) Good Buy Girls cozy series. The story was entertaining with several suspects to deliberate on. I enjoyed the group of coupon clipping women who love a great sale and meet weekly to plan their bargain-hunting! Max was a cool character, and Sam a nice romantic interest for the protagonist, Maggie. I’m eager to see what happens in book 2.
August 10, 2019
Ever since I found out that author Jenn McKinlay also wrote under this name at one time, I've wanted to start this series. I loved this book and the group of Good Buy Girls friends. Being a bargain and discount fan (but not nearly as much of a shopper as these ladies are) I could relate to some of what they were doing as well as appreciate the tips given at the end of the book. There were some really funny scenes in the book, particularly between Maggie, the founder of the GBG group and her lifelong nemesis, Summer Phillips. It was like Lucy and Ethel all over, except that Maggie and Summer loathed one another.
I hadn't guessed the killer until a clue toward the end struck me. The showdown was a good one, and sweet Max, the 20-year-old resident genius and lawyer, came in very handy with using his brain to get himself and Maggie out of a tight spot. I'm hoping that Maggie and Sam can finally bury the hatchet regarding their seemingly lifetime feuds and disagreements, although I hope that they don't bury that hatchet in one another! I'm anxious to read more in this series, because by the end of the book, I felt like the women in the group were old friends.
I hadn't guessed the killer until a clue toward the end struck me. The showdown was a good one, and sweet Max, the 20-year-old resident genius and lawyer, came in very handy with using his brain to get himself and Maggie out of a tight spot. I'm hoping that Maggie and Sam can finally bury the hatchet regarding their seemingly lifetime feuds and disagreements, although I hope that they don't bury that hatchet in one another! I'm anxious to read more in this series, because by the end of the book, I felt like the women in the group were old friends.
May 3, 2019
This first book in this series by Josie Belle/Jenn McKinley was a fun cozy mystery. With just enough twists to keep me turning the pages, I'm on to the next book in this series.
December 30, 2019
Great start to the series! I enjoyed the characters and small town setting. The shopping tips were fun too. The mystery was good and I even figured it out early! #readforkimberly
October 24, 2018
From the book jacket: Everyone loves a good deal, especially the Good Buy Girls, a group of coupon-clipping discount divas who scour the circulars and pan their attacks on stores as if they were generals plotting their war strategies. Maggie Gerber – one of the founding members of the GBG – loves her life in Saint Stanley, Virginia, but things are about to get complicated. First, Sam Collins, her old flame, moves back to town as the new sheriff. Then, Claire Freemont, a librarian and member of the GBG, shows up late to a meeting acting strange. When Maggie goes to visit Claire the next day at the library, they find a body in the basement – and the knife plunged into his chest is Claire’s missing cake knife.
My reactions
A typical cozy mystery where the lead amateur sleuth just cannot keep her nose out of police business, despite specific warnings to steer clear. There are plenty of suspects, including Maggie’s old high-school nemesis, Summer Phillips. The cast is completed with a boy genius, who happens to have a law degree at the tender age of 20, though he prefers scooping ice cream at the Frosty Freeze, Maggie’s niece and grand nephew (who are living with her), and the rest of the Good Buy Girls: Joanne (an accountant by training), and Ginger (mother of four growing boys).
I thought this was a bit formulaic, but maybe I’ve been reading too many cozies lately. The old rivalry with Summer Phillips irritated me no end; they’re 40 years old for heaven’s sake and they are STILL hashing out high school drama?! I figured out the culprit long before Maggie or Sheriff Sam Collins caught on.
I’m not big on shopping – with or without coupons and discounts – so the basic premise is kinda lost on me. But I’ll probably read another in the series if it fits a challenge (or three).
My reactions
A typical cozy mystery where the lead amateur sleuth just cannot keep her nose out of police business, despite specific warnings to steer clear. There are plenty of suspects, including Maggie’s old high-school nemesis, Summer Phillips. The cast is completed with a boy genius, who happens to have a law degree at the tender age of 20, though he prefers scooping ice cream at the Frosty Freeze, Maggie’s niece and grand nephew (who are living with her), and the rest of the Good Buy Girls: Joanne (an accountant by training), and Ginger (mother of four growing boys).
I thought this was a bit formulaic, but maybe I’ve been reading too many cozies lately. The old rivalry with Summer Phillips irritated me no end; they’re 40 years old for heaven’s sake and they are STILL hashing out high school drama?! I figured out the culprit long before Maggie or Sheriff Sam Collins caught on.
I’m not big on shopping – with or without coupons and discounts – so the basic premise is kinda lost on me. But I’ll probably read another in the series if it fits a challenge (or three).
September 12, 2012
My TBR pile is growing every day. I have friends, family and co-workers that all know I love books. I am not ashamed of my TBR pile, but I do admit that books that are "first in a new series", well, I tend to get to them when I am in the mood. I want to read them, but starting a new series and then the next book not following for a few months or even a year, I just keep putting it off. That is what I did with this book and today, I finally got it out and now I am saying "Self, why did you do that?"
I love this series! Maggie is just as loveable as she can be and you know what? All of the characters in the book are not only unique in their own way, but could be the neighbor next door. That is what I love about it! Along with the tips to save money and in today's economy, who could not use the tips, right?
"First in a new series" books, they sometimes have a slow read in them. Not this one! I was caught up in the first 10 pages and found that I did not want to put it down. Now I am finding myself saying, "Self, why are you surprised?" Jenn McKinlay is writing as Josie Belle and we all know how enjoyable her books are!
So as I write this, I say, "bring it on, Josie Belle". I am reading for book two!
I love this series! Maggie is just as loveable as she can be and you know what? All of the characters in the book are not only unique in their own way, but could be the neighbor next door. That is what I love about it! Along with the tips to save money and in today's economy, who could not use the tips, right?
"First in a new series" books, they sometimes have a slow read in them. Not this one! I was caught up in the first 10 pages and found that I did not want to put it down. Now I am finding myself saying, "Self, why are you surprised?" Jenn McKinlay is writing as Josie Belle and we all know how enjoyable her books are!
So as I write this, I say, "bring it on, Josie Belle". I am reading for book two!
April 7, 2012
I thought this book was a fun and enjoyable read, you fall in love with the girls from the start and there are even some that arent so loveable. Maggie and her friends, the good buy girls are all about bargains and sales, what they didnt expect was the murder that took place in their small town. When one of Maggies friends becomes the number one suspect she does everything she can to find the real killer and free her friend. I really enjoyed this book and I know you will too.
March 30, 2015
This was a wonderful start to what looks like a promising series that I read in less than a day.
I could have done without the angst between Maggie and Sam, but by the end that was pretty well resolved. Besides that I liked the characters, they were all realistic.
The mystery was good, it wasn't the best I've read, but yet it was solid and well-built.
Overall a good book. I'll read the next one.
I could have done without the angst between Maggie and Sam, but by the end that was pretty well resolved. Besides that I liked the characters, they were all realistic.
The mystery was good, it wasn't the best I've read, but yet it was solid and well-built.
Overall a good book. I'll read the next one.
July 18, 2019
Sweet, clean, amusing. Some of the dialogue and descriptions were laugh out loud funny.
Maggie and her friends are bargain buddies, and with one of them being accused of murder, sleuthing buddies. The new sheriff in town is Maggie's old high school boyfriend whom she is still angry at despite a quarter of a century having passed. This complicates her sleuthing efforts and sets up a romantic tension that is sometimes ridiculous and sometimes funny.
Maggie and her friends are bargain buddies, and with one of them being accused of murder, sleuthing buddies. The new sheriff in town is Maggie's old high school boyfriend whom she is still angry at despite a quarter of a century having passed. This complicates her sleuthing efforts and sets up a romantic tension that is sometimes ridiculous and sometimes funny.
April 4, 2012
Meet the Good Buy Girls – Maggie Gerber, St. Stanley native. Her husband, Charlie, was a deputy for the St. Stanley Sheriff’s Department. He was killed in the line of duty when their daughter, Laura, was just a toddler. Laura is now a sophomore at Penn State and Maggie has opened her home to her niece Sandy and her son Josh. Sandy’s husband is deployed in Afghanistan and Sandy is studying to become a nurse. Maggie helps with Josh and does billing part-time for a local doctor.
Ginger Lancaster, another St. Stanley native, same age, same dress and shoe size as Maggie. Ginger is outspoken and funny. She runs her own accounting business. Her husband has a corporate sales job and they have four teenage boys.
Clare Freemont is in her mid-30′s, she moved from Baltimore and is a librarian with a very dry sense of humor, her biggest extravagance is gourmet pet food for her cat, Mr. Tumnus. Maggie invited Clare to join the group when she found out they shared a mutual love for books and bargains.
Joanne Claramotta is the newest member of the group. Together with her husband Michael they own and operate the More Than Meats Butcher Shop and Deli. They moved to St. Stanley from Brooklyn about 10 years ago.
Maggie and Ginger started the Good Buy Girls Club to share coupons, discounts and bargain tips over 20 years ago when they were newlyweds expecting their first babies. The club membership has varied over the years with Ginger and Maggie as self-proclaimed life time members. Maggie’s house is home base for the club.
Maggie takes Josh to story hour at the library. While he is playing with friends Maggie visits with Clare. She decides to help her move some donated books to the library basement. When they reached the bottom of the stairs they are scared to death. There is body on the floor with a knife in his chest. Turns out Clare recognizes the man, someone from her past.
The handsome new sheriff who happens to be a man from Maggie’s past sets his sights on Clare as his prime suspect. It will take more than a clearance sale for the Good Buy Girls to get their friend out of this jam.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This is a wonderful debut to this brand new series.
Josie Belle is a pseudonym for Jenn McKinlay author of the Library Lover’s Mystery Series and the Cupcake Mystery Series. She also wrote the Decoupage Mysteries under the name Lucy Lawrence.
In this series she has created wonderful characters in the Good Buy Girls but also in the supporting characters. The sheriff Sam Collins, Max who is so much more the the guy who works at the Frosty Freeze, Summer Phillips the thorn in Maggie’s side, and the suspects, there are many more than just Clare.
She has also developed a very engaging who-dun-it that keeps bringing the man Maggie wants to avoid more than paying retail into her path. Why did he have to come back to St. Stanley? Things were going so well.
Who doesn’t love a good bargain? Josie Belle has taken a theme we all can relate to and turned it into what I know will be a very successful series. 50% Off Murder equals 110% of fun!! I can’t wait for the next big sale! Keep you elbows to yourself and your eyes on the prize, three…two… one…go!!!!!
Ginger Lancaster, another St. Stanley native, same age, same dress and shoe size as Maggie. Ginger is outspoken and funny. She runs her own accounting business. Her husband has a corporate sales job and they have four teenage boys.
Clare Freemont is in her mid-30′s, she moved from Baltimore and is a librarian with a very dry sense of humor, her biggest extravagance is gourmet pet food for her cat, Mr. Tumnus. Maggie invited Clare to join the group when she found out they shared a mutual love for books and bargains.
Joanne Claramotta is the newest member of the group. Together with her husband Michael they own and operate the More Than Meats Butcher Shop and Deli. They moved to St. Stanley from Brooklyn about 10 years ago.
Maggie and Ginger started the Good Buy Girls Club to share coupons, discounts and bargain tips over 20 years ago when they were newlyweds expecting their first babies. The club membership has varied over the years with Ginger and Maggie as self-proclaimed life time members. Maggie’s house is home base for the club.
Maggie takes Josh to story hour at the library. While he is playing with friends Maggie visits with Clare. She decides to help her move some donated books to the library basement. When they reached the bottom of the stairs they are scared to death. There is body on the floor with a knife in his chest. Turns out Clare recognizes the man, someone from her past.
The handsome new sheriff who happens to be a man from Maggie’s past sets his sights on Clare as his prime suspect. It will take more than a clearance sale for the Good Buy Girls to get their friend out of this jam.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This is a wonderful debut to this brand new series.
Josie Belle is a pseudonym for Jenn McKinlay author of the Library Lover’s Mystery Series and the Cupcake Mystery Series. She also wrote the Decoupage Mysteries under the name Lucy Lawrence.
In this series she has created wonderful characters in the Good Buy Girls but also in the supporting characters. The sheriff Sam Collins, Max who is so much more the the guy who works at the Frosty Freeze, Summer Phillips the thorn in Maggie’s side, and the suspects, there are many more than just Clare.
She has also developed a very engaging who-dun-it that keeps bringing the man Maggie wants to avoid more than paying retail into her path. Why did he have to come back to St. Stanley? Things were going so well.
Who doesn’t love a good bargain? Josie Belle has taken a theme we all can relate to and turned it into what I know will be a very successful series. 50% Off Murder equals 110% of fun!! I can’t wait for the next big sale! Keep you elbows to yourself and your eyes on the prize, three…two… one…go!!!!!
May 19, 2020
This was a good story. I liked the bargain hunting aspect of the story. It wasn't over done like some of the cozy mysteries I have done. The romance part of it was there of course but it wasn't a major part of the story so that it would over shadow the mystery part of it. If I didn't already have tons of books on my TBR I might check out the next one if available. Will have to keep it in mind when I need a quick read to fill in somewhere.
Read
August 1, 2022DNF @30% when men wearing high heels is implied to be as disturbing as decapitation
June 30, 2022
The Good Buy Girls get together to trade coupons and work the sales in small town St. Stanley, Virginia. When one of their own is accused of murder, the other three friends do some investigating.
Character-driven easy-read mystery. It was easy to figure out this mystery, but the quirkiness of the characters are a lot of fun. More like Stephanie Plum than Miss Marple.
March 27, 2017
Good start to the series
I actually started the series with the second book which I loved. This one was equally entertaining. The plot was interesting & I was left guessing who the killer was. I really enjoyed learning how Maggie winds up with Her Sister's Closet. And I have a soft spot for Max as well as the GGBs. This is a great series. Good, clean reads.
I actually started the series with the second book which I loved. This one was equally entertaining. The plot was interesting & I was left guessing who the killer was. I really enjoyed learning how Maggie winds up with Her Sister's Closet. And I have a soft spot for Max as well as the GGBs. This is a great series. Good, clean reads.
October 2, 2013
Maggie Gerber and several of her friends belong to the Good Buy Girls a group that meets and strategizes frequently on how to find bargains. They will have to strategize in a different way now - Claire Freemont, one of the members, has been accused of murder. She actually did have a reason to want the victim dead, but so did several others, and Maggie and the rest of the Good Buy Girls are determined to prove that Claire is innocent and find the real killer. The only problem is that Maggie has to deal with pesky sheriff Sam Collins.
"50% Off Murder" is the nicely done first book in Josie Belle's Good Buy Girls cozy mystery series (Belle is the pseudonym for cozy mystery author Jen McKinlay). I admit the book got off to a rocky start for me as, while I love sales, I am not fond of extreme coupon clipping, people who are too frugal, or those that shop just because it is on sale, but I quickly got over that and came to like the characters and set up. What I liked best about the book is the close friendship between the Good Buy Girls (Maggie, Ginger, Joanne, and Claire) and how they pulled together when one of them needed help. I also like the fact that they all, including Maggie, had secrets they were keeping from each other as this made them deeper characters. The one thing I didn't like was the rivalry between Maggie and Summer Phillips, which is way over the top (and reminiscent of the feud between Angie, Melanie, and Olivia Puckett in McKinlay's Cupcake Bakery cozy mystery series). I know it is meant to be funny but a little bit goes a long way. Finally, while the mystery is cleverly plotted, I wish there were more suspects and I honestly forgot the killer was even a character in the book.
"50% Off Murder" is a bit uneven but has a nice set up and some great characters and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
"50% Off Murder" is the nicely done first book in Josie Belle's Good Buy Girls cozy mystery series (Belle is the pseudonym for cozy mystery author Jen McKinlay). I admit the book got off to a rocky start for me as, while I love sales, I am not fond of extreme coupon clipping, people who are too frugal, or those that shop just because it is on sale, but I quickly got over that and came to like the characters and set up. What I liked best about the book is the close friendship between the Good Buy Girls (Maggie, Ginger, Joanne, and Claire) and how they pulled together when one of them needed help. I also like the fact that they all, including Maggie, had secrets they were keeping from each other as this made them deeper characters. The one thing I didn't like was the rivalry between Maggie and Summer Phillips, which is way over the top (and reminiscent of the feud between Angie, Melanie, and Olivia Puckett in McKinlay's Cupcake Bakery cozy mystery series). I know it is meant to be funny but a little bit goes a long way. Finally, while the mystery is cleverly plotted, I wish there were more suspects and I honestly forgot the killer was even a character in the book.
"50% Off Murder" is a bit uneven but has a nice set up and some great characters and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
March 31, 2012
50% Off Murder is the first book in the A Good Buy Girls Mystery series by Josie Belle. Josie Belle is pseudonym for the enjoyable author Jenn McKinlay.
Maggie, Claire, Ginger and Joanne make up the Good Buy Girls. Normally they like to sit around swapping coupons, planning the next shopping spree and discussing the latest bargains they have found. Those things change when Claire, the librarian at St. Stanley's library and Maggie find a dead man in the basement of the library with Claire's cake knife sticking out of his chest. Once it is known that Claire had dated the dead man before, she becomes a prime suspect and is arrested.
The town of St. Stanley has a new sheriff,Sam Collins, who was Maggie's boyfriend in high school. Their break-up was a bad one and Maggie still resents the nickname of Carrot top that he gave her, she knows that she will have to work with him to free Claire, not something she is looking forward to. The Good Buy Girls soon find out that the victim was known in the area, as he had a business investment business and had provided loans for some of the local business owners.
So the girls put their heads together trying to determine who wanted him dead the most.
I'm looking forward to the next book in this entertaining series. I want to see if Maggie and Sam can out aside their differences, what bargains the Good Buy Girls will find and to see if Max will finis his law degree.
A very enjoyable book.
Maggie, Claire, Ginger and Joanne make up the Good Buy Girls. Normally they like to sit around swapping coupons, planning the next shopping spree and discussing the latest bargains they have found. Those things change when Claire, the librarian at St. Stanley's library and Maggie find a dead man in the basement of the library with Claire's cake knife sticking out of his chest. Once it is known that Claire had dated the dead man before, she becomes a prime suspect and is arrested.
The town of St. Stanley has a new sheriff,Sam Collins, who was Maggie's boyfriend in high school. Their break-up was a bad one and Maggie still resents the nickname of Carrot top that he gave her, she knows that she will have to work with him to free Claire, not something she is looking forward to. The Good Buy Girls soon find out that the victim was known in the area, as he had a business investment business and had provided loans for some of the local business owners.
So the girls put their heads together trying to determine who wanted him dead the most.
I'm looking forward to the next book in this entertaining series. I want to see if Maggie and Sam can out aside their differences, what bargains the Good Buy Girls will find and to see if Max will finis his law degree.
A very enjoyable book.
October 1, 2016
#1 in the Good Buy Girls mystery series. Author Bell is the pseudonym for veteran cozy writer Jenn McKinlay. The book starts with the time-worn premise of a diverse group belonging to a common organization, here a bunch of coupon clippers. Led by founding member, medical biller Angie, is co-founder, accounting service owner Ginger, deli owner Joanne, and murder suspect, librarian Claire. Angie's ex-beau, returning after 24 years on the Richmond PD, is Sheriff Sam Collins creates instant conflict by arresting Claire for murder. A brilliant casting move has Maggie bring in Maxwell Button as her lawyer. Max is a multi-disciplinary prodigy whose day job is topping ice cream cones at the Frosty Freeze. A pleasant, fast read.
Good Buy Girls mystery - Maggie Gerber - one of the founding members of the Good Buy Birls - loves her quiet life in St. Stanley, Virginia. But all that changes when Sam Collins, her old flame, moves back to town as the new sheriff. On top of that, Claire Freemont, a librarian and the newest member of the Good Buy Girls, starts acting utterly strange. When Maggie goes to visit her the next day at the library, she finds the a body. Turns out the man is someone from Claire's past. As the handsome new sheriff zeroes in on Claire, it's up to Maggie and the rest of the Good Buy Girls to use their bargain-hunting skills to hunt a killer.
Good Buy Girls mystery - Maggie Gerber - one of the founding members of the Good Buy Birls - loves her quiet life in St. Stanley, Virginia. But all that changes when Sam Collins, her old flame, moves back to town as the new sheriff. On top of that, Claire Freemont, a librarian and the newest member of the Good Buy Girls, starts acting utterly strange. When Maggie goes to visit her the next day at the library, she finds the a body. Turns out the man is someone from Claire's past. As the handsome new sheriff zeroes in on Claire, it's up to Maggie and the rest of the Good Buy Girls to use their bargain-hunting skills to hunt a killer.
June 7, 2012
Love Jenn McKinlay, pseudonym or no :). Maggie is a feisty, unstoppable heroine in this quick but enjoyable read by Jen's pseudonym, Josie Belle. I had to have my library order this one as it hadn't caught their radar, but I'm sure that they'll snap up new releases as soon as they appear now that they know to watch for Josie Belle!
June 27, 2012
I really love this author, enjoyed these characters and will continue with this series.. However, this first book was not the over the top wonderful I have felt her other books to be.. I am just thinking it falls into that first book in a series blues lol
That being said, I am still very much looking forward to more books in this series and about this "cozy gang". :)
May 9, 2016
The Good Bye Girls are a great and lovable bunch of ladies. I could feel right with them where it came to bargains and sales. The mystery was very good and I enjoyed the humor a lot. It wasn't a really laugh out loud kinda humor but more of a smiling to myself kind. :) I am happy to announce that I have the next 2 books in the series on my bookshelf and am looking forward to reading them.
May 14, 2012
I got this book from the library one county over, and it's overdue. I spent all day reading it. I have to say in all honesty, this is hands down the best first book in a new series I've read so far this year. Josie Belle has a sure winner on her hands.
March 5, 2022
Enjoyed this book! It was definitely a bit cliche and had nearly every first cozy mystery book trope, but it was still enjoyable, the plot was good, and I liked the feisty Good Buy Girls. Will read the next!
January 1, 2016
I really enjoyed this first book in the series. I am a sale rack shopper and love to get a good buy, so this group of girls are after my heart. I'm looking forward to reading more...
September 21, 2015
This is a cute series.
October 19, 2015
A fun read and cute start to a cozy series. I'll be checking out more in future.
August 8, 2023
This book has been on my TBR for quite some time. I’m so glad I picked it as my #readforkimberly selection during our latest round of Cozy Mystery Bingo. I shouldn’t be surprised that Jenn McKinlay - writing as Josie Belle - managed to create a fun cast of characters and include a mystery full of intrigue, humor, close friendships and a touch of romance. It’s just what she does and why so many love her writing style and numerous series.
I absolutely loved the characters in this story. Maggie was a fantastic lead. She’s strong willed, smart and has some life experiences that just makes her come across as more sophisticated that most sleuths - yet she has plenty of humor and spontaneity. The Good Buy Girls were such a great circle of friends. I love how they help one another hunt for good bargains. Rather it’s saving coupons for diapers or 2 for 1 specials on shoes for growing teenagers or thrifting for designer clothing, it was just fun to watch them plan and shop. Max the wonder kid/ local ice cream scooper / hired attorney was a hoot and you couldn’t help but love Maggie’s niece Sandy and her adorable toddler Josh. Sam the new local sheriff, played the love interest and the two shared a troubled past that I enjoyed watching unfold. It’s no doubt that they have great chemistry and I loved all of their scenes together.
The mystery was fantastic. The fact that the murder takes place in the library causing the librarian to reveal many hidden secrets and become the prime suspect was very captivating. I managed to pick up on the culprit and reasoning, but definitely second guessed my hunch a few times.
I definitely look forward to continuing this series and watching how all of the characters grow and develop.
I absolutely loved the characters in this story. Maggie was a fantastic lead. She’s strong willed, smart and has some life experiences that just makes her come across as more sophisticated that most sleuths - yet she has plenty of humor and spontaneity. The Good Buy Girls were such a great circle of friends. I love how they help one another hunt for good bargains. Rather it’s saving coupons for diapers or 2 for 1 specials on shoes for growing teenagers or thrifting for designer clothing, it was just fun to watch them plan and shop. Max the wonder kid/ local ice cream scooper / hired attorney was a hoot and you couldn’t help but love Maggie’s niece Sandy and her adorable toddler Josh. Sam the new local sheriff, played the love interest and the two shared a troubled past that I enjoyed watching unfold. It’s no doubt that they have great chemistry and I loved all of their scenes together.
The mystery was fantastic. The fact that the murder takes place in the library causing the librarian to reveal many hidden secrets and become the prime suspect was very captivating. I managed to pick up on the culprit and reasoning, but definitely second guessed my hunch a few times.
I definitely look forward to continuing this series and watching how all of the characters grow and develop.
March 27, 2022
Quick read, but very stupid.
First of all, this could have used a better copy editor. In the first chapter, the main character (Maggie) and her friends are at a sale where they are buying shoes - some for themselves and some to sell online. When another character (Summer) accuses Maggie of stealing the ones that she (Summer) was going to buy, Maggie points out that the ones Summer is pointing to aren't in Summer's size. But since it's already been established that it's ok to buy items to re-sell there is no reason why Summer couldn't be doing the same thing. In a later chapter, a house is described as consisting of one large living room. But then the characters walk into a kitchen that is large enough for four people to sit around a table. So obviously the house included a large living room, but it didn't "consist" of the living room. These errors threw me out of the story.
Secondly, the main character was very shallow. Her main personality point was that she held grudges. Her main character trait was finding sales and coupons. She was oblivious to how her hostility toward the sheriff was counterproductive when she was asking for favors (such as asking to visit her friend in jail).
It's a common trope in cozy mysteries that the female main character will solve the case, often because the police are following a red herring. In this book I felt that the police were smarter than Maggie so I wasn't rooting for her to keep investigating.
First of all, this could have used a better copy editor. In the first chapter, the main character (Maggie) and her friends are at a sale where they are buying shoes - some for themselves and some to sell online. When another character (Summer) accuses Maggie of stealing the ones that she (Summer) was going to buy, Maggie points out that the ones Summer is pointing to aren't in Summer's size. But since it's already been established that it's ok to buy items to re-sell there is no reason why Summer couldn't be doing the same thing. In a later chapter, a house is described as consisting of one large living room. But then the characters walk into a kitchen that is large enough for four people to sit around a table. So obviously the house included a large living room, but it didn't "consist" of the living room. These errors threw me out of the story.
Secondly, the main character was very shallow. Her main personality point was that she held grudges. Her main character trait was finding sales and coupons. She was oblivious to how her hostility toward the sheriff was counterproductive when she was asking for favors (such as asking to visit her friend in jail).
It's a common trope in cozy mysteries that the female main character will solve the case, often because the police are following a red herring. In this book I felt that the police were smarter than Maggie so I wasn't rooting for her to keep investigating.
September 8, 2024
I’ve been a reader my entire life, and I’ve read cozy mysteries since 2010. You’d think I know how to pick them, but sometimes I don’t. Earlier this year, I read several cozies, including from one series in particular I have now DNFed, and I was burned out on cozies. I declared I was only going to read a few more cozies the rest of the year from series’ I was already invested in.
Tiffany from @thebeachbumbookworm released a video with several cozy mystery series I hadn’t heard of, and the Good Buy Girls instantly caught my attention. I had low expectations upon beginning the first book, 50% Off Murder, and this book completely restored my love of cozies.
While I do feel “law enforcement as the love interest” is completely overdone in cozies (and law enforcement is the love interest in this series), I’m willing to overlook it for this series. If, like me, you prefer found family rather than family being featured in cozies, this is a series for you. I LOLed several times throughout this book. I had completely solved the mystery prior to the ending, but I don’t care. Maggie and her friends are absolutely hilarious and the element of them being thrifty was so fun. I rarely give 5 stars to a cozy mystery book, but truly, I was blown away with the characters being so fun. The very ending of the book made me instantly want to pick up book number 2.
My love for cozies has been restored; I’m excited to continue with this series and try some new series as well!
Tiffany from @thebeachbumbookworm released a video with several cozy mystery series I hadn’t heard of, and the Good Buy Girls instantly caught my attention. I had low expectations upon beginning the first book, 50% Off Murder, and this book completely restored my love of cozies.
While I do feel “law enforcement as the love interest” is completely overdone in cozies (and law enforcement is the love interest in this series), I’m willing to overlook it for this series. If, like me, you prefer found family rather than family being featured in cozies, this is a series for you. I LOLed several times throughout this book. I had completely solved the mystery prior to the ending, but I don’t care. Maggie and her friends are absolutely hilarious and the element of them being thrifty was so fun. I rarely give 5 stars to a cozy mystery book, but truly, I was blown away with the characters being so fun. The very ending of the book made me instantly want to pick up book number 2.
My love for cozies has been restored; I’m excited to continue with this series and try some new series as well!
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