Towhee Get Your Gun

A Bird Lover's Mystery #2

by J.R. Ripley

When Birds & Bees owner Amy Simms volunteers to act in a local production of Annie, Get Your Gun, she finds herself upstaged by a killer waiting in the wings . . .

Who’s got time for birdwatching? Amy has enough to do running her shop, fighting attempts by the town planning commission to demolish her old Victorian house, and rescuing an injured towhee. Yet somehow she allows herself to get roped into performing in the Ruby Lake, North Carolina, community theater’s new musical after some cast members get injured by mysterious mishaps. The production seems plagued by bad luck, but events turn tragic when a member of the company is found murdered in a locked dressing room.

Trading in her binoculars for a magnifying glass, Amy steps into the role of amateur sleuth and soon discovers the victim ruffled a lot of feathers. With a flock of suspects, Amy will need to beat the bushes before the cagey killer takes flight. After all, the show must go on . . .

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Birds

324 pages, Paperback

Published January 3, 2017

About the author

Bestselling author of fiction, crime fiction, thrillers, capers, cozies and more. Pseudonym for author Glenn Meganck

Reviews

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the second book of Bird Lover's mystery the information on birds accurate and interesting. A decent story of family life. I had difficulty in reading it as there are so many actions that broke off the thread of the narrative. Amy Simms is acting in a play at the local theater known a TOTS. Problems hassled the production until-until there is a death. Amy still has difficulties with the planning commission and her ex-boyfriend is a partner to the owner of a new store moving next door. Children leave a bird with a damaged wing for her to care for it. Her cousin Rhonda is a person of interest in the murder. Amy wants to solve the murder to clear her cousin, will she do it? I recommend this book.

Disclosure: I received a free copy from Lyrical Underground for an honest review. I would like to thank them for the opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to rate this one. The problems I had are character interaction. There are not many that I could really get close to and enjoy. Amy is likable enough but I have a hard time with someone who wants a shop this bad and is never in it, she should be out collecting signatures, oh well. Derek a supposed love interest only pops in at odd times, Paul, I don't know if he was supposed to be a humorous character with his twinkling eyes but I found him obnoxious. Most males I found little to like except for Floyd and Karl.
I found things to be a little unrealistic. Riley comes in and wants to eat then drops the bomb that his sister has been arrested, and he's eating? Her best friend renting out a room in her shop/home without telling her. Paul parks a trailer on the main street in front of the shop and the city isn't going to question it staying there? A new guy in town a couple days and he's on the city council? (this I could be wrong on but doesn't that have to go through some kind of channels?). This is my opinion and I know many people like the over the top characters so they will probably get a kick out of this book, it's just not quite for me.
Now what I did like is the setting of the town, the stage play going on and how it brings in clients for other businesses as well (I like how it brings out the concerns for the other shops if it fails). I love the talk of birds and taking care of them, I wish there for a little more. I love Floyd and Karl, the two elderly men in the home. The mystery was good, and nice twist with the victim. I think there was a little much going on in this book and the characters need to be fine tuned, otherwise I do think this has the base for a good series.

I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some annoyances that I put in my progress notes but the storyline was good I may read one more and see how I feel .....

[Pat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too cute, and I don't care about any of the characters.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Towhee Get Your Gun, the second book in the Bird Lover's Mystery series, author J.R. Ripley weaves an intriguing cozy mystery tale that follows the latest amateur sleuth adventures of Bird & Bees shop owner Amy Simms. Amy unexpectedly finds herself embroiled in the mysterious mishaps that plague the local community theater, Ruby Lake Theater On The Square (TOTS), and solving the murder of theater crew member Patsy Klein.

Set in the southern town of Ruby Lake, North Carolina, Amy is busy with running Birds & Bees, a birding supply store in an old three story Victorian home with her best friend and business partner Kim Christy. But when mysterious mishaps sideline some of the cast of the theater's production of Annie Get Your Gun, Amy unwillingly finds herself substituting for the wounded actress in the production, which turns tragic with the mysterious death of crew member Patsy Klein, and Amy's cousin Rhonda is implicated as a suspect in the murder. And if that isn't enough, Amy continues to have problems with the town wanting to demolish her Victorian house / shop; rescues a injured Eastern Towhee; and has neighbor issues with Paul Anderson, who is opening a new beer garden next door with partner Craig Bigelow, who happens to be Amy's ex-boyfriend!

Towhee Get Your Gun is an entertaining whodunit tale that has enough quirky characters, witty banter and humor, drama, secrets, clues, frenemies, romance, a growing list of suspects, and intriguing twists and turns that will keep you guessing the identity of the murderer. You can't help but get caught up in the drama and calamity that ensues as Amy tries to balance solving the murder while trying to save her Victorian home/shop from having a date with the wrecking ball. Amy's amateur investigative adventure unfolds with a wonderful balance of comedy, drama, and suspense that easily kept me guessing, and left me wanting more.

Towhee Get Your Gun is an entertaining southern cozy murder mystery that will engage you to join in the crazy adventures and trials and tribulations that occur in Ruby Lake, while providing you with a dose of good ol' southern charm and humor. I really enjoyed the author's rich description of the charming western North Carolina small town of Ruby Lake and it's colorful townsfolk, and his impressive knowledge of birds and flowers. So pull up a rocking chair and set down for a spell with some sweet tea while Amy takes you on her latest madcap adventure!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...

[Patricia Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second in the Bird Lover's Mystery Series, finds our favorite lover of all things bird related, Amy Simms, owner of Birds and Bees trying to figure out who the dilapidated van parked in front of her store belongs to. Once she has had enough of her new neighbors squashing her plants and blocking her customers parking, she heads over to introduce herself.

Paul Brewer is unfortunately not re-opening a garden center, but is opening a biergarten. And the bad news is still to come, her ex is his business partner!

Living in an ancient Victorian style house which houses the shop, a few apartments and the top floor where Amy and her mother live, she already has a lot on her plate when she is volunteered to act in Ruby Lake, North Carolina's theater group which this year is putting on Annie Get Your Gun. And the star is non other than Ava Turner, famous and reclusive there is a lot of mystery going on with this one!

As the theater is plagued by one accident after the other, someone is found dead in our star's dressing room!
When Amy's cousin is implicated, of course she is going to get involved. It's what she does, rescue injured little towhees and snoop around poking her little beak where it doesn't belong!

And we're still fighting City Hall to keep the home she owns from being demolished in the name of progress.

There were so many foul characters in this one even I wasn't sure until the very end who did what and why!

And there is a bonus read of the next book in the series so thank you to Mr. Ripley for those little breadcrumbs which will hopefully sustain us until the next adventure of Ms. Simms is in our hands!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this!

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of the books I picked up at a library book sale, so I have not read the first book in the series. I did not know there was a bird called a towhee until I read this book, just based on the title, I didn't know if it was supposed to be a person's name. I had noted the resemblance of the title to the work "Annie Get Your Gun".

Both towhee and "Annie Get Your Gun" play a role in this book but not together. The towhee is not shot (nor does it wield a gun as the title might imply). The local theater does plan to put on "Annie Get Your Gun"--maybe--if they can work all the kinks out.

Amy Simms is the amateur sleuth of the series. She's the owner of a shop called Birds & Bees but, like most cozy mystery sleuths, rarely seems to be at her place of business, instead leaving the running of it to her friend Kim (who sometimes runs off to "help" her husband who's renovating a home to flip it) or her mother (who has muscular dystrophy and supposedly isn't supposed to be on her feet all day) or her Aunt Betty (who I don't seem to know much about). It's a wonder she still has a business!

There wasn't as much information about birds in the mystery as I thought their would be considering the series is "A Bird Lover's Mystery".

I did not guess who the murderer was. (I'm not usually able to guess the murderer so your experience may differ.)

It was an enjoyable enough read, but I'm not intrigued enough to purposely seek out the first book in the series or other books in the series to read.

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the protagonist, Amy is the first amateur sleuth I have read that enjoys her passion for birds. I went into reading this unsure how I would connect with her, but I was happily surprised. She was a great character to join crime solving forces with, and her compassion for birds pulled on my heart strings. I found myself to be drawn to wanting to solve more crimes with her, as I also really enjoyed having the twists and turns created in each chapter. The victim was an interesting surprise, but that is how the author wrote the book, giving us hints that made us think one thing and then shocking us with a different outcome. I enjoyed my mental who-done-it list growing and changing with each new hint.

Full review: https://bibliophile.reviews/book-revi...

[Ryan Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Bird Lovers Mystery Series by JR Ripley. In this mystery, shop owner and amatuer sleuth Amy Simms is not only involved in a local theater production of "Annie Get Your Gun". She's also dealing with the drama in her hometown. Like a new neighbor parking his camper\home in front of her shop, and then claiming he's the new owner of the old Garden Center next door, which he plans to turn into a beer garden, and his main investor\business partner is Amy's ex boyfriend. Amy"s cousin is also the prime suspect in the murder. It's a great mystery and has good characters written into it.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this cozy- loved the idea of bird watching- but was disappointed with the theater theme, which I think is overdone in this genre. I did like Amy and appreciated her struggles but really think she should have left the sleuthing to the police. THanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is nicely written and a quick read- and it's actually perfect if you want to relax with a mystery that's neither especially hard and not at all violent. The bonus is info about birds, which I hope there will be more of in future outings. I'm going to look for Ripley again.

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

The birdwatching info tidbits were nice, but I'm sorry to say the mystery was nothing special and the main character is one of those that you just constantly want to smack in the back of the head to try and knock some sense in to her.

[Karen Holman · Rating 3 out of 5]

If the reader is a bird watcher this series is for this person. The creative characters, North Carolina setting, and an inviting ending will have readers watching for the next tale in this series. 296 pages copy right 2017

[Joanne]

fun read, onto the next one

[JoLynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun series.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Towhee Get Your Gun by J.R. Ripley is the second book in A Bird Lover’s Mystery series. Amy Simms is the owner of Birds and Bees in Ruby Lake, North Carolina. After having a frustrating discussion with Paul Anderson about his camper (which is parked in front of Amy’s store), Amy’s cousin Riley enters the shop. The Theater on the Square (TOTS) is putting on a production of Annie Get Your Gun, but they have been having some difficulties (people injured, thefts of small items, a small fire). He has just come from the theater where the stage curtain rod gave way and injured two of the actors. Riley wishes to recruit Amy to play Winnie (keep in mind that Amy cannot sing and it is a musical). Ava Turner, a movie star who lives locally, has agreed to star as Annie (she played the role on Broadway when she was younger). A few days later, Amy is at TOTS for a rehearsal. Amy is on stage with Riley when they hear a shot ring out. Amy runs towards the back of the theater to find Lou Ferris, the theater manager, trying to get into Ava’s dressing room. After getting the door unlocked, they find Patsy Klein, Jill-of-all trades, dead in Ava Turner’s dressing room. There is no one else in the room and there is a prop gun on the floor. It looks like Patsy committed suicide, but, as we all know, looks can be deceiving. The police discover that Patsy was stabbed to death and Rhonda, Amy’s cousin and Riley’s fraternal twin, ends up being the prime suspect. Amy sets out to find the real culprit and clear Rhonda’s name. In between sleuthing, Amy must deal with her shop, her nosy and annoying second-floor tenant, her new disrupting neighbor, her plans for Seeds for Seniors program, and the town trying to take over her land under eminent domain. Amy cannot say that life is dull in Ruby Lake. Will Amy be able to find the real culprit and rescue her cousin, Rhonda from the hoosegow?

Towhee Get Your Gun is easy to read and has a good pace. I thought that the author included some good information on towhee’s and rehabilitating injured birds. While Towhee Get Your Gun is the second book in the series, it can be read alone (the author gives the reader all the needed information). I personally thought that there was too much going on in Towhee Get Your Gun. We have the murder, Amy’s new neighbor, return of Amy’s old boyfriend, a towhee left on the store’s front porch, the Seeds for Seniors project, Amy’s annoying second-floor tenant (I would find a way to toss that woman out of on her posterior), meddling friend, Kate (the meddling friend) and Randy flipping a house, Barbara (Amy’s mother) illness and meddling, and the possibility of romance for Amy with Derek (despite warnings from Derek’s ex-wife). I am sure that I left something out of that list. I found Amy a hard character to like. She runs around town probing the murder (while her mother and friend try to ruin her life and shop) while alienating the citizens of Ruby Lake with her questioning (which comes out accusatory). I can see why many of the townspeople are not fond of Amy (and she needs them on her side in order to save her home and shop). You know you do not like a character when you keep hoping the killer will bump her off next. Amy also over indulges in food and then laments about her appearance (more than once). I give Towhee Get Your Gun 3 out of 5 stars (okay, but not for me). I thought the mystery was too simple. I could identify the killer before anyone had been murdered (one little detail gave away the perpetrator’s identity). I believe that many readers will be able to figure out all the parts of the puzzle long before the reveal. Towhee Get Your Gun is the type of cozy mystery for readers that like zany and over-the-top antics (and humor).

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5 rounded up

What do you get when you cross murder with theatrics and bird watching? Mayhem and madness! This is a very well-written book. I really enjoyed the story line and the setting in this book. Ruby Lake sounds like a lovely small town. I wouldn't mind visiting it or even living there if it wasn't fictional!

The story line of the actress, the play in town, trying to save the town theater, and Amy still somehow run the birdwatching supply store made for a compelling plot. It was well-written and I had no idea who the villain was until it was revealed, which is always a plus in my opinion. In fact, I was totally off on another tangent and didn't foresee the villain as the villain at all until it was revealed!

Nevertheless, I did not care for the characters much. I felt like Amy didn't have much of a backbone and that she took far too many chances. I felt that Kim was far too overbearing and overstepped her boundaries many, many times, without Amy sticking up for herself and saying "no".

I don't mind amateur sleuths who pass information on to the police because of things they hear about in their jobs or while out and about in town. I don't mind amateur sleuths who attempt to talk about the crime with people in the town in hopes of eliciting clues. I do mind amateur sleuths who deliberately take chances that they really don't need to take. I do mind amateur sleuths who think they're smarter than the police and seek to upstage the police by solving the crimes themselves. Amy, I feel, falls into this latter category. Some of the chances she takes in this book are ludicrous to me. I just could not like her and her antics.

However, don't let this discourage you from reading the book. It is very well-written and has a great plot to it. I didn't care for it only because of my preferences when it comes to amateur sleuths, not because it was a horrible story. If you don't mind your characters taking what seem like unnecessary chances, you will probably enjoy the book!

** I received an eBook copy from NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own.**

Originally posted on: Valerie's Musings

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The community theater in Ruby Lake, NC is putting on a production of Annie Get Your Gun. But the rehearsals are plagued with freak accidents.When two of the performers are injured by a falling stage curtain, Amy Simms is pressured into taking over one of the parts. It's a small part, but Amy is busy running her shop Birds & Bees, arguing with a new neighbor and trying to save her business from the local planning commission. The production's string of bad luck escalates when a cast member is found murdered in a locked dressing room. Who doesn't want the show to go on? Amy is on the case to find the killer before anyone else dies.

I like this series. Towhee Get Your Gun is the 2nd book in the Bird Lover's Mystery series. Amy Simms is a likable main character, and the quirky side characters give the stories a sweet charm. The side plots just round out the bird theme and don't get in the way of the mystery. Accidents plaguing the cast of the local theater group's production of Annie Get Your Gun was a fun backdrop to the murder plot. I don't really care for the cantankerous boarder Amy got stuck with when she bought her shop building. Esther Pilaster, is incredi-annoying. But....she is supposed to be! So the character is effective if her behavior in the story makes me wish I could jump into the book just to tell her off. Amy doesn't call her "Esther Pester" behind her back for no reason. :)

It isn't necessary to read the series in order. There is background about the shop and the characters in the first book, but a reader could start with book 2 and still enjoy the story. Book one, Die Die Birdie, takes place when Amy is first opening her shop.

All in all, a fun cozy mystery! Towhee Get Your Gun will be available January 3rd.

I voluntarily read an Advance Readers Copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

J.R. Ripley is the pseudonym of Glenn Meganck, writer of the Tony Kozol and Maggie Miller Mystery series. He also writes the Kitty Karlyle Pet Chef mystery series under the pen-name Marie Celine. Check out his website here: www.glennmeganck.com

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Towhee Get Your Gun is the second installment in the A Bird Lover's Mystery series featuring Amy Simms, owner of Birds and Bees, a shop for bird fanciers in Ruby Lake, North Carolina. Amy has her hands full trying to get her shop up and running in the old Victorian house, fighting the town selectman who want to tear the house down, and dealing with her tenant Esther "The Pester" Pilaster.

Amy's teeth are on edge with the construction next door of Brewer's Biergarten, owned by Paul Anderson and his partner, who's also Amy's ex boyfriend Craig Bigelow. When Amy's cousin Riley approaches her about the ongoing "accidents" at the Ruby Lake Theatre on the Square "TOTS" that seem to be directed at the star of Annie Get Your Gun, Ava Turner, she jumps at the chance to escape the ongoing noise, find out who is behind the hijinks and to try and save the theatre from having to shut down losing the tourism dollars it brings into the small community.

The accidents culminate with the death of Patsy Klein, the set seamstress, theatre gopher and assistant to Ava Turner. Patsy didn't get along well with the other cast members so it is no surprise when she turners up dead, but when Amy's cousin Rhonda becomes a person of interest, Amy sets out to find the real killer.

A fast paced storyline with interesting characters that continue to develop with the series. A true family feel as Amy takes care of her ailing mother and deals with her dotty tenant, a just the right touch of romance as Amy gets to know local attorney Derek Harlan. Interesting birding facts will leave you singing for more adventures in Ruby Lake.

I received an advance copy of Towhee Get Your Gun from NetGalley via Lyrical Underground, a division of Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amy Simms has a few problems of her own when she finds herself involved in a murder... But of course she can not stop investigating the murder until she discovers what has really happened... Will she be the next victim?

"'Miss Turner will entertain you in the conservatory.'
Entertain me? Would the former movie star be honoring me with a song and dance routine or perhaps a solo reenactment of one of her most famous film roles?

While we discover the conflicts and affairs between the actors of the theatre we enjoy the gossip of this small town, showing us how charming but vengeful the neighbours could be...
This is an entertaining book and quickly read, touching and funny. You will feel like Amy is your new friend and her problems will be your problems, even her new love life! Amy has very friendly friends and a quite helpful mum, but this will not keep the problems away from her, and I know certainly that she loves gossip and snooping around discovering the killer! You may say that she has a sixth sense for problems...!
I am just wondering why she never confronts anyone; Paul, the new neighbour seems to be hiding something but she doesn't ask directly what... Esther, she knows for sure that smokes and has a cat, but never say anything... Maybe if she starts facing the situations she will be safer instead of risking her life catching killers!
Do you want to be the new actor/actress?

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. Adore this series. An entertaining, fun, and quick read. I say quick, but that may be because I didn't want to put the book down. Lots of heart, lots of mystery, a little romance. The publisher provided a copy via Netgalley for my voluntary review. I had other books I should have been reading, but since I knew I would thoroughly enjoy Towhee Get Your Gun, I slipped it into my reading schedule a tad early. Of course, now I have to wait even longer for The Woodpecker Always Pecks Twice to be published. I do so look forward to reading it. Bird lover or not, cozy mystery readers will enjoy this enjoyable story. The character names are an added treat, especially for those of us old enough to notice the similarity to famous names. Different, but do ring a distant bell of familiarity.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed reading book #2 in the Bird Lover's Mystery series. The town and characters are really coming to life and I thing the author does a great job of building up the town and cast of characters. I'm starting to get comfortable, visualizing the town and various "landmarks". Being a bird lover myself, I certainly enjoy the way the author sprinkles interesting facts and tips without being heavy handed. There is a lot going on in this story and various subplots that keep things interesting and fast-paced. There is plenty of humor as well. This is a very fun mystery series and I look forward to reading the next one after reading the bonus preview for book #3, "The Woodpecker Always Pecks Twice" -- cool title! I also think the covers are great!

[Shelleen Toland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amy owns the Birds & Bees store and she volunteers to be in the town play, Annie Get Your Gun. This is set at Ruby Lake, North Carolina. The play seems to have a lot of bad luck. People getting hurt on stage. Even a murder. Amy seems to get caught up in it all and solving what happens while running her store and staying ahead of the police. I found Amy to be a floor mat and she let to many people walk all over her. A tenant that won't leave and a new one that moved in. The story was a cute cozy mystery and I received this from NetGalley.