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Sophie Kimball Mystery #2
Ditched 4 Murder
An elderly aunt wants her wedding to be perfect—and not even murder will get in her way—in “a hoot” of a mystery featuring “scads of loony characters” (Kirkus Reviews). Moving to Arizona to work for a private investigator, Sophie “Phee” Kimball is much closer to her mother Harriet now. And while the antics at Harriet’s retirement community can drive Phee a little crazy, at least they’re together for Aunt Ina’s upcoming wedding. The seventy-four-year-old bridezilla has roped Phee into organizing the tent and the pastries for the lavish affair. But it’s Harriet who really gets demanding when a celebrity chef is found dead on the golf course just outside her front door. Working for a private investigator, Phee is drawn into the case. And with Harriet in a panic about her safety, Phee is doubly committed to solving it. But between planning a wedding and unveiling a murderer, Phee wonders which job might kill her first.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 28, 2018
70 people are currently reading
1029 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Eaton
31 books345 followersAnn I. Goldfarb
New York native Ann I. Goldfarb spent most of her life in education, first as a classroom teacher and later as a middle school principal and professional staff developer. Writing as J. C. Eaton, along with her husband, James Clapp, they have authored the Sophie Kimball Mysteries (Kensington), The Wine Trail Mysteries (Kensington Lyrical Underground), and coming in August 2018, The Marcie Rayner Mysteries (Camel). In addition, Ann has nine published YA time travel mysteries under her own name. Visit the websites at:
www.jceatonmysteries.com
www.facebook.com/JCEatonauthor/
www.timetravelmysteries.com
James E. Clapp
When James E. Clapp retired as the tasting room manager for a large upstate New York winery, he never imagined he’d be co-authoring cozy mysteries with his wife, Ann I. Goldfarb. Non-fiction in the form of informational brochures and workshop materials treating the winery industry were his forte along with an extensive background and experience in construction that started with his service in the U.S. Navy and included vocational school classroom teaching. Visit the website at www.jceatonauthor.com
New York native Ann I. Goldfarb spent most of her life in education, first as a classroom teacher and later as a middle school principal and professional staff developer. Writing as J. C. Eaton, along with her husband, James Clapp, they have authored the Sophie Kimball Mysteries (Kensington), The Wine Trail Mysteries (Kensington Lyrical Underground), and coming in August 2018, The Marcie Rayner Mysteries (Camel). In addition, Ann has nine published YA time travel mysteries under her own name. Visit the websites at:
www.jceatonmysteries.com
www.facebook.com/JCEatonauthor/
www.timetravelmysteries.com
James E. Clapp
When James E. Clapp retired as the tasting room manager for a large upstate New York winery, he never imagined he’d be co-authoring cozy mysteries with his wife, Ann I. Goldfarb. Non-fiction in the form of informational brochures and workshop materials treating the winery industry were his forte along with an extensive background and experience in construction that started with his service in the U.S. Navy and included vocational school classroom teaching. Visit the website at www.jceatonauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
October 27, 2017
Sophie “Phee” Kimball has made the move from Minnesota to Arizona to be closer to her mother who lives in a nearby retirement community. Fortunately for Phee her old boss from the police station in Minnesota decided it was also time to make a move and headed to sunny Arizona with her to start his own P.I. firm giving Phee a new job in her new life.
Phee is just settling into her life in AZ when her Aunt Ina announces she's going to marry and is planning a huge wedding. This of course leads to lots of complaining from her mother and lots of extra works helping to plan the even from her aunt. Things are hectic but get even more so when a dead body is found nearby to Phee's mother's place that looks to be a suspicious.
Ditched 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton is the second book in the cozy Sophie Kimball Mystery series. With all the elements of a cozy that I enjoy this series is really promising to be a really fun one. Phee is back and what I like most is while she's a down to earth regular person solving crime she doesn't do it on her own but instead gets a little help from her boss who really was a detective.
As with most cozy mysteries this one also comes with it's own set of quirky characters which in this case come from the local retirement community and Phee's own family. There are plenty of laughs to be had even among the dead bodies being found along with plenty of twists and turns as the mystery goes on. Definitely a series that I'm enjoying and will be looking forward to more adventures from this crew in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Phee is just settling into her life in AZ when her Aunt Ina announces she's going to marry and is planning a huge wedding. This of course leads to lots of complaining from her mother and lots of extra works helping to plan the even from her aunt. Things are hectic but get even more so when a dead body is found nearby to Phee's mother's place that looks to be a suspicious.
Ditched 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton is the second book in the cozy Sophie Kimball Mystery series. With all the elements of a cozy that I enjoy this series is really promising to be a really fun one. Phee is back and what I like most is while she's a down to earth regular person solving crime she doesn't do it on her own but instead gets a little help from her boss who really was a detective.
As with most cozy mysteries this one also comes with it's own set of quirky characters which in this case come from the local retirement community and Phee's own family. There are plenty of laughs to be had even among the dead bodies being found along with plenty of twists and turns as the mystery goes on. Definitely a series that I'm enjoying and will be looking forward to more adventures from this crew in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
November 29, 2017
Sophie "Phee" Kimball is starting to wish she hadn't relocated to Arizona to be closer to her mother. Her job as an accountant for a detective agency is great....but her mom and her friends sometimes drive Phee a bit crazy. Things are definitely heating up for the little group of older ladies, and Phee is stuck right in the thick of things.....again. Her eccentric Aunt Ina is getting married. First Ina sends out strange, cryptic invitations announcing their wedding at dawn amidst ruins in the nearby state park. The 74-year old aging hippie has the whole affair planned from the bed and breakfast where they will all stay to the catering by a local French restaurant. In fact, the groom has rented out the entire section of the state park surrounding the ruins for the ceremony and reception. Phee soon realizes what a nightmare the event is going to be....bird shaped pastries, wedding tents, floral arrangements.....it's already becoming a total angst-fest. Ina begins asking Phee, Harriet and all the ladies in Harriet's bookclub, Booked 4 Murder, to handle final decisions for her wedding. Tasting the bearnaise sauce at the caterers. Picking the tent material. Making decisions about the pastries. Harriet, Phee's mother, is becoming stressed....calling constantly to complain about her sister's crazy schemes and horrible planning skills. Then, an elderly businessman is killed on the golf course near Harriet's home. And that's just the first dead body that pops up. Phee is definitely caught in the middle between murder investigations at work, and the drama over Ina's wedding at home.
I love the mix of humor and mystery in this series. I laughed just as much while reading this second book as I did when I read the first. The characters are charming. Phee's relationship with her mother is sweet...and hilarious at the same time. Drama and strange events seem to follow after the Booked 4 Murder ladies no matter what they do! :)
Ditched 4 Murder is an enjoyable cozy romp. The mystery moves along at a good speed and there is plenty of action to keep things moving. Between Aunt Ina's wedding drama and dead bodies popping up, there is never a dull moment. The wedding is.....interesting. ha ha. And, there is some nice character development leading into the next book.
The next Sophie Kimball Mystery, Staged 4 Murder, is coming out in July 2018. I can't wait! What trouble will the old gals be in this time??
Another book by J.C. Eaton, A Riesling to Die, will be published in March 2018. It's the first book in the Wine Trail Mystery series.
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
I love the mix of humor and mystery in this series. I laughed just as much while reading this second book as I did when I read the first. The characters are charming. Phee's relationship with her mother is sweet...and hilarious at the same time. Drama and strange events seem to follow after the Booked 4 Murder ladies no matter what they do! :)
Ditched 4 Murder is an enjoyable cozy romp. The mystery moves along at a good speed and there is plenty of action to keep things moving. Between Aunt Ina's wedding drama and dead bodies popping up, there is never a dull moment. The wedding is.....interesting. ha ha. And, there is some nice character development leading into the next book.
The next Sophie Kimball Mystery, Staged 4 Murder, is coming out in July 2018. I can't wait! What trouble will the old gals be in this time??
Another book by J.C. Eaton, A Riesling to Die, will be published in March 2018. It's the first book in the Wine Trail Mystery series.
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
September 4, 2020
Sophie “Phee” Kimball is settling into her new life in Arizona, but it’s about to get crazier thanks to her aunt’s recent engagement. Phee keeps getting asked to help plan the wedding, and finds herself juggling her job as the accountant for a PI, the wedding, and her mother’s phone calls of outrage about the wedding. Phee’s PI boss is working on a murder that took place near her mother’s house, and as Phee works on the wedding, she begins to wonder if there is a connection. Can she solve the case?
I loved the first book in the series, so I was looking forward to revisiting the characters. Sadly, this one didn’t live up to the first. The mystery was overshadowed by the wedding plans. I expected they would come together at some point, but that point came a little late in the book for my tastes. Meanwhile, the climax to the mystery was a little weak as well. Some of the characters walked a fine line between funny and annoying in the first book, and I found them more annoying than funny here. That’s not all the characters. Phee herself is still a strong and sympathetic main character, and I really like several of the supporting characters. And that isn’t to say I didn’t laugh over the course of the book either. I especially laughed at the climax. Considering how much I enjoyed the first book, I’m definitely going to give Phee another visit.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I loved the first book in the series, so I was looking forward to revisiting the characters. Sadly, this one didn’t live up to the first. The mystery was overshadowed by the wedding plans. I expected they would come together at some point, but that point came a little late in the book for my tastes. Meanwhile, the climax to the mystery was a little weak as well. Some of the characters walked a fine line between funny and annoying in the first book, and I found them more annoying than funny here. That’s not all the characters. Phee herself is still a strong and sympathetic main character, and I really like several of the supporting characters. And that isn’t to say I didn’t laugh over the course of the book either. I especially laughed at the climax. Considering how much I enjoyed the first book, I’m definitely going to give Phee another visit.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
November 1, 2017
There’s no doubt new author J.C. Eaton writes a fantastic cozy mystery with an intricate plot for readers to enjoy unraveling. Sophie Kimball is a strong leading character with an inquisitive mind. Fortunately, she works for a P.I. who’s a great boss and helpful friend—Nate. Although Phee has to put up with the nosiness and antics from her mom, her mom’s book club friends, and her Aunt Ina, who’s planning a chaotic wedding, Phee manages to work on figuring out what’s behind a couple of murders and some oddities surrounding her aunt’s fiancé and the wedding services. I really enjoy the sense of humor the author steadily uses to lighten the tense moments in the book. I found the plot fresh and absorbing, and didn’t realize whodunnit until the reveal. I look forward to reading the next book in this series, Staged 4 Murder.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC from the author.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC from the author.
December 9, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Oh my, Sophie “Phee” Kimball has the patience of a saint. In the first book of this series, Booked 4 Murder, Phee had to deal with her mother’s daily and sometimes hourly demands and in this book, her mom Harriet is joined by Aunt Ina. Aunt Ina is planning a wedding and called Phee for “a favor”, well that favor turned into several and when her groom disappeared she expected Phee to find him too. While Phee does work for a private investigator it is in the capacity of a bookkeeper, not as a sleuth. Yes, she did help solve the last mystery but for this one, she is going to need professional help, that is if her boss, Nate, can fit this “case” into his already very busy schedule. I am seriously surprised the woman doesn’t pack up and move back to Minnesota, even with the cold winters.
I do love these characters as long as they stay in the book and aren’t my relatives 🙂 I would never be able to deal with them the way Phee does. Both her aunt and her mother want her to start dating again, but I don’t know how she would ever find the time. She does have some good friends as a support system though.
The mystery is more than just a missing man, another man was found dead at the golf course and a chef’s body was found in the state park where Aunt Ida’s nuptials are set to take place. Phee just needs to figure out if and how these three men are connected. The author throws us readers several red herrings and twists things up nicely. The pages were practically flying as we got closer to Ina’s big day and the killer/s had yet to be caught. I was right there with Phee as everything fell into place.
This story tickled my funny bone too with all these ladies and their antics. When the book club ladies joined in and were even questioned by the police, I found myself actually giggling. I also found myself laughing when an unexpected guest flew into the wedding. Again, I was fine with it in the book, up close and personal, I would definitely not be laughing.
The state park where Ina’s wedding takes place sounds like a beautiful place, sans the rattlesnakes and scorpions. The authors brought it to life nicely. I was also captivated by the description of the dessert at the reception instead of the traditional cake. It is something I would love to see and taste myself.
A couple characters drove me a little nutty, but I absolutely loved this story. I am excited about the next book in the series, especially from the little teasers at the end of this one.
Crazy characters and a fun mystery. I loved it!
Oh my, Sophie “Phee” Kimball has the patience of a saint. In the first book of this series, Booked 4 Murder, Phee had to deal with her mother’s daily and sometimes hourly demands and in this book, her mom Harriet is joined by Aunt Ina. Aunt Ina is planning a wedding and called Phee for “a favor”, well that favor turned into several and when her groom disappeared she expected Phee to find him too. While Phee does work for a private investigator it is in the capacity of a bookkeeper, not as a sleuth. Yes, she did help solve the last mystery but for this one, she is going to need professional help, that is if her boss, Nate, can fit this “case” into his already very busy schedule. I am seriously surprised the woman doesn’t pack up and move back to Minnesota, even with the cold winters.
I do love these characters as long as they stay in the book and aren’t my relatives 🙂 I would never be able to deal with them the way Phee does. Both her aunt and her mother want her to start dating again, but I don’t know how she would ever find the time. She does have some good friends as a support system though.
The mystery is more than just a missing man, another man was found dead at the golf course and a chef’s body was found in the state park where Aunt Ida’s nuptials are set to take place. Phee just needs to figure out if and how these three men are connected. The author throws us readers several red herrings and twists things up nicely. The pages were practically flying as we got closer to Ina’s big day and the killer/s had yet to be caught. I was right there with Phee as everything fell into place.
This story tickled my funny bone too with all these ladies and their antics. When the book club ladies joined in and were even questioned by the police, I found myself actually giggling. I also found myself laughing when an unexpected guest flew into the wedding. Again, I was fine with it in the book, up close and personal, I would definitely not be laughing.
The state park where Ina’s wedding takes place sounds like a beautiful place, sans the rattlesnakes and scorpions. The authors brought it to life nicely. I was also captivated by the description of the dessert at the reception instead of the traditional cake. It is something I would love to see and taste myself.
A couple characters drove me a little nutty, but I absolutely loved this story. I am excited about the next book in the series, especially from the little teasers at the end of this one.
Crazy characters and a fun mystery. I loved it!
October 24, 2017
A fun fast, quick and relaxing read before a fireplace in a stormy night. The second book in the Sophie Kimball (Phee) series will have you laughing or smiling throughout the book. Aunt Ina is planning her wedding and she managed to tie Phee into several of the wedding details. There are plenty of problems to interfere with Phee's life. Among them Phee's Mother, a wrong color tent, a chocolate bird tree, two dead bodies, one at the wedding spot, the other across the street from her Mother's, and yes a missing groom. Looking for Streetman, he is only a minor character. The ending disaster will have you laughing. I highly recommend this book.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kennington Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kennington Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
July 18, 2018
This book was even funnier than the first one, especially the ending with the showdown and wedding reception. I could really picture this happening in a funny mystery movie!
Phee Kimball was settled in, living in Arizona and working for Nate Williams, a retired police detective, who had opened his own investigations company in Arizona. Life was never dull in the first book with Phee's mom Harriet around. Now toss in Harriet's sister, Ina, who was getting married to a guy named Louis. It was one madcap thing after another with the crazy wedding plans that Ina had dreamed up. Add two murders to this mixture, and you end up with a great mystery that has a fun twist at the end, as well as a very different but funny wedding reception. Shake well after adding a bat for extra hilarity.
It was fun and different to get to a certain point in the book and be fairly sure of who was doing what. All that needed to be done was go after the perp and hope that all the puzzle pieces fell into place and that the sheriff arrived in time. Nate has to be a saint to put up with Harriet causing Phee to need to leave the office or hysterically call him at all hours. He seems like a great guy to work for. I like the new character of Augusta, the office assistant too. Ina was Harriet...on steroids. Even Harriet got fed up with her phone calls and worrying about the wedding details.
This series is just so good that I will be moving along to book 3 next.
Phee Kimball was settled in, living in Arizona and working for Nate Williams, a retired police detective, who had opened his own investigations company in Arizona. Life was never dull in the first book with Phee's mom Harriet around. Now toss in Harriet's sister, Ina, who was getting married to a guy named Louis. It was one madcap thing after another with the crazy wedding plans that Ina had dreamed up. Add two murders to this mixture, and you end up with a great mystery that has a fun twist at the end, as well as a very different but funny wedding reception. Shake well after adding a bat for extra hilarity.
It was fun and different to get to a certain point in the book and be fairly sure of who was doing what. All that needed to be done was go after the perp and hope that all the puzzle pieces fell into place and that the sheriff arrived in time. Nate has to be a saint to put up with Harriet causing Phee to need to leave the office or hysterically call him at all hours. He seems like a great guy to work for. I like the new character of Augusta, the office assistant too. Ina was Harriet...on steroids. Even Harriet got fed up with her phone calls and worrying about the wedding details.
This series is just so good that I will be moving along to book 3 next.
September 15, 2018
Ditched 4 Murder is book two of the Sophie Kimball Mystery series by J. C. Eaton. Sophie Kimball moved to Minnesota to Arizona to be closer to her Mother's retirement home. Sophie's Aunty Ina was getting married and roped Sophie into being the wedding planner. However, the wedding was not the only worry Sophie has. After the death of a local restaurateur, Sophie became involved in the investigation after the body was found near her mother's place and started to fear for her safety. The readers of Ditch 4 Murder will continue to laugh with Sophie Kimball while she investigates the death and planning for her Aunts wedding.
Ditched 4 Murder is the first book I have read of J. C. Eaton and it was a funny and enjoyable book to read. The way J. C. Eaton portrayed their characters especially the main character of Ditched 4 Murder. Ditched 4 Murder was well written and research by J. C. Eaton and it differently ensured that I could not stop laughing with what the characters in the book get up too. The plot and the settings were done well by J. C. Eaton.
The readers of Ditched 4 Murder will learn about being a private detective. Also, the readers of Ditched 4 Murder will learn about the role of a wedding planner.
I recommend this book.
Ditched 4 Murder is the first book I have read of J. C. Eaton and it was a funny and enjoyable book to read. The way J. C. Eaton portrayed their characters especially the main character of Ditched 4 Murder. Ditched 4 Murder was well written and research by J. C. Eaton and it differently ensured that I could not stop laughing with what the characters in the book get up too. The plot and the settings were done well by J. C. Eaton.
The readers of Ditched 4 Murder will learn about being a private detective. Also, the readers of Ditched 4 Murder will learn about the role of a wedding planner.
I recommend this book.
November 11, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed Phee Kimball in this cozy mystery classic.
When Phee gets roped in to helping with her Aunt Ina's wedding, the craziness begins and you won't be able to stop laughing. It becomes no laughing matter when the soon to be groom disappears, leaving Phee scrambling to search for him while trying to keep the wedding plans from spiraling out of control.
What does a snake bite, a wedding tent fiasco and a zodiac table all have in common? Ditched 4 Murder written by J.C. Eaton!
I voluntarily read an ABC of this book offered by the publisher and Netgalley.
When Phee gets roped in to helping with her Aunt Ina's wedding, the craziness begins and you won't be able to stop laughing. It becomes no laughing matter when the soon to be groom disappears, leaving Phee scrambling to search for him while trying to keep the wedding plans from spiraling out of control.
What does a snake bite, a wedding tent fiasco and a zodiac table all have in common? Ditched 4 Murder written by J.C. Eaton!
I voluntarily read an ABC of this book offered by the publisher and Netgalley.
October 30, 2019
I was amused by the first book in this series. This one made me laugh out loud. Sophie's relationship with her mother is funny. Her mother's friends and neighbors are funny. Her mother's dog, Streetman, is funny. But her mother's sister, Ina, is not only funny; she is funny in a screwball type of way. So, I thoroughly enjoyed this story of her Aunt Ina planning her wedding ceremony (which was wacky by anyone's standards) and wondering if Sophie would pull off all her tasks associated with the wedding, not to mention help solve a couple of murders. I very much look forward to the next book in the series!!!!
November 30, 2017
Thought the family was super annoying in this book and Sophie lacked backbone. It also took too long for the mystery to kick in. Loved the first one, disappointing to read this one. I will cautiously look forward to the 3rd book next summer
November 27, 2017
Ditched 4 Murder by J. C. Eaton is the 2nd book in the Sophie Kimball Mystery series, and it is as good, if not better than the first book. This book made me laugh out loud, it was so funny. Once I started this book, I could not stop reading it until I was done. Not only is this book an exciting mystery but also very refreshing and a quick read. If you love funny cozy mysteries, which are my favorite, I strongly recommend this book.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
January 7, 2018
I love this cozy series, Sophie Kimball, set in Arizona. Sophie works as an account for a Private Investigator and gets dragged into his newest case, the murder of a wealthy man on a golf course. As she helps Nate with the murder, her aunt makes Sophie her wedding planner. How hard can it be to plan a 74 year olds wedding. The story is funny and the humor has you laughing out loud. Who figured bats would like pastry. I love the cast of characters and Sophie's mom is a hoot. Don't need to read book 1, Booked 4 Murder first, but you'll want to.
July 23, 2018
Ditched 4 Murder is the second in the Sophie Kimball Mystery series. Sophie is a bookkeeper for a private investigation firm. She moved to Arizona to be closer to her mother and family, as well as for the job. A body turns up near to her mother’s house, when everything is already in an uproar due to her aunt’s wedding. Soon there is another body and Sophie finds herself, and her aunt’s fiancée embroiled in the mystery. Lots of the humor fell flat for me and I wasn’t crazy about the portrayal of the older relatives. This was an okay cozy mystery.
August 19, 2022
If you haven't tried this series yet you should! It is exactly what a cozy should be.
The move from Minnesota to Arizona is quite the change, but Phee is adjusting. I enjoyed the perspective of having the main character work with a private investigator.
The move from Minnesota to Arizona is quite the change, but Phee is adjusting. I enjoyed the perspective of having the main character work with a private investigator.
November 16, 2017
Ditched 4 Murder is the second book of the Sophie Kimball Mystery Series by J.C. Eaton.
Sophie Kimball (known as Phee) has done the unthinkable and moved from Missouri to Arizona, at least for the time being. She has taken a year leave of absence from her job to help out a friend that recently moved to Arizona to open an investigations firm. I get the desire to no longer see a snowy winter, so why was the move unthinkable? Because her apartment is close to Sun City West, and her demanding, overbearing, obnoxious mother. Of course, we get a new wrinkle this time - we get to meet Phee's Aunt Ina, who is getting married. Impossibly, Aunt Ina is every more taxing and annoying than her mother!
Initially, a man is found dead under suspicious circumstances down the street where Phee's mother Harriet lives. Her boss is asked to help investigate. As if that didn't add enough drama to Phee's life, then the head chef of the hoity-toity restaurant that is catering Aunt Ina's wedding is found dead in the middle-of-nowhere location that she has picked for her "celebration of eternal bliss" ceremony. His death is also suspicious. Meanwhile, Phee is being hounded to find the killers, pick out the tent, give opinions on the bridal hat, and decide on the flavors for the aviary bird pastries. Oh! And did I mention the groom then suddenly disappears?
Somehow, J.C. Eaton makes the story interesting and intriguing, and keeps me reading despite the fact that I want to smack both the fictional mother and aunt. I'll be looking for the next installment!
Sophie Kimball (known as Phee) has done the unthinkable and moved from Missouri to Arizona, at least for the time being. She has taken a year leave of absence from her job to help out a friend that recently moved to Arizona to open an investigations firm. I get the desire to no longer see a snowy winter, so why was the move unthinkable? Because her apartment is close to Sun City West, and her demanding, overbearing, obnoxious mother. Of course, we get a new wrinkle this time - we get to meet Phee's Aunt Ina, who is getting married. Impossibly, Aunt Ina is every more taxing and annoying than her mother!
Initially, a man is found dead under suspicious circumstances down the street where Phee's mother Harriet lives. Her boss is asked to help investigate. As if that didn't add enough drama to Phee's life, then the head chef of the hoity-toity restaurant that is catering Aunt Ina's wedding is found dead in the middle-of-nowhere location that she has picked for her "celebration of eternal bliss" ceremony. His death is also suspicious. Meanwhile, Phee is being hounded to find the killers, pick out the tent, give opinions on the bridal hat, and decide on the flavors for the aviary bird pastries. Oh! And did I mention the groom then suddenly disappears?
Somehow, J.C. Eaton makes the story interesting and intriguing, and keeps me reading despite the fact that I want to smack both the fictional mother and aunt. I'll be looking for the next installment!
July 26, 2022
A fun, cookie cutter read that's best going in taking everything with humor because there's a bit that wouldn't make sense in a traditional mystery (e.g. mc tampering with an active crime scene). The ending of the first book had me chuckling and this one did as well.
Wish the dialogue was less scripted and more appearances of streetman but overall a good palette cleanser.
Wish the dialogue was less scripted and more appearances of streetman but overall a good palette cleanser.
November 29, 2017
Ditched 4 Murder is the second book in the A Sophie Kimball Mystery series.
This is a fun and exciting follow-up to Booked 4 Murder.
Sophie(Phee) Kimball has taken a year leave of absence from the Mankato(MN) Police Department to handle the bookkeeping for her friend Nate Williams, who had recently retired from the Mankato Police Department. On the downside, she is just minutes from her mother, not just a phone call away.
Business is thriving at the office and Phee is quite busy setting up the books at Williams’ PI office and the last thing she needs is a phone call from her mother, but that is what she gets. Her mother wants to share that her 70 something sister is getting married in a couple weeks to Louis Melinsky, who is supposed to somewhat wealthy. Then she gets a call from her Aunt Ina asking for a teeny-tiny favor. Ina wants Phee to check in at La Petite Patisserie to taste the various desserts they will be serving. Before long Phee feels like a professional wedding planner, with all the little favors Ina asks her to take care of. She soon learns there is bad blood between the tent rental company, the fancy restaurant catering the dinner La Petite. Then when the body of Julien Rossier, the head of La Petite, is found just yards away from where the wedding will take place, dead from a rattlesnake bite, Phee begins to wonder if there will be a wedding at all
At the same time, Phee has her hands full at the office handling all the new inquiries that are coming in and with Nate handling a new case involving a man, Theodore Sizeman, who was found near his overturned golf cart along a local golf course. Then when the groom goes missing as evidence starts to point to him to be involved in one or both of the deaths, and with Nate being tied up on a couple of cases, Phee needs to use her limited investigative skills to learn who was responsible for the murders and hopefully save the wedding, if there is still a wedding to be performed.
Anxiously awaiting the next book in the series, Staged 4 Murder coming in July 2018.
This is a fun and exciting follow-up to Booked 4 Murder.
Sophie(Phee) Kimball has taken a year leave of absence from the Mankato(MN) Police Department to handle the bookkeeping for her friend Nate Williams, who had recently retired from the Mankato Police Department. On the downside, she is just minutes from her mother, not just a phone call away.
Business is thriving at the office and Phee is quite busy setting up the books at Williams’ PI office and the last thing she needs is a phone call from her mother, but that is what she gets. Her mother wants to share that her 70 something sister is getting married in a couple weeks to Louis Melinsky, who is supposed to somewhat wealthy. Then she gets a call from her Aunt Ina asking for a teeny-tiny favor. Ina wants Phee to check in at La Petite Patisserie to taste the various desserts they will be serving. Before long Phee feels like a professional wedding planner, with all the little favors Ina asks her to take care of. She soon learns there is bad blood between the tent rental company, the fancy restaurant catering the dinner La Petite. Then when the body of Julien Rossier, the head of La Petite, is found just yards away from where the wedding will take place, dead from a rattlesnake bite, Phee begins to wonder if there will be a wedding at all
At the same time, Phee has her hands full at the office handling all the new inquiries that are coming in and with Nate handling a new case involving a man, Theodore Sizeman, who was found near his overturned golf cart along a local golf course. Then when the groom goes missing as evidence starts to point to him to be involved in one or both of the deaths, and with Nate being tied up on a couple of cases, Phee needs to use her limited investigative skills to learn who was responsible for the murders and hopefully save the wedding, if there is still a wedding to be performed.
Anxiously awaiting the next book in the series, Staged 4 Murder coming in July 2018.
November 25, 2017
this was an interesting story but the main character is too whiny and really doesn't want to have anything to do with the events around her. She has no backbone and takes on her families problems as her own.
December 1, 2017
This was a nice escape. I did become a bit frustrated with Phee, the main character. She was always complaining about how overly-dramatic her Mom and Aunt Ina were. However, the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Phee is just as much a drama-queen as the other two. The mystery was enjoyable but there seemed to be a lot of distractions in the plot. Her Aunt having a meltdown over something or her boss running off to investigate. Would I read another by this author? Probably. This is only the second in the series and so she has more time to flesh out the characters.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
December 11, 2017
Again, a great cozy mystery!
I just love the characters, and most of them are just that - characters! They had me laughing throughout the story.
The plot is great fun, keeping the reader busy unravelling the mystery. Keep them coming Ann and Jim!
I just love the characters, and most of them are just that - characters! They had me laughing throughout the story.
The plot is great fun, keeping the reader busy unravelling the mystery. Keep them coming Ann and Jim!
January 10, 2018
J.C. Eaton ( husband and wife team)has fast become one of my new favorite cozy mystery authors, their books are so fun to read!
Sophie "Phee" Kimball has officially moved to Arizona to work for her friend Nate who has retired as a cop and now working as a private investigator. Phee does the bookkeeping for him as well as answer the phone when their part-time secretary isn't in and she doesn't mind it at all except for the heat.
The only bad part is that she lives so close to her eccentric mother and her Booked 4 Murder club friends. She also lives close to her Aunt Ina who is planning her wedding. Who knew there could be a 76 year old bridzilla but Phee gets rapped up in doing things for her aunt. It starts out with picking out the desserts, then the tent and just keeps piling on but that isn't the only thing because of course murder has to be thrown in there as well.
It starts out with Nate getting a job helping the police because of a suspicious death that ends up being near Phee's mother so of course she calls frantic cause there is a killer on the loose, then the owner of the restaurant that her aunt picked gets killed and it is looking suspicious too. If that is not bad it seems her aunts fiance knew both victims and has disappeared.
Nate is real busy with his workload and they he has to try and find Louis so when Phee gets some information she does a little sleuthing herself and finds out a lot of information.
The characters in this series just crack me up! I like Phee but she is very much the bumbling detective and will admit that she is not a good investigator and doesn't really want to be one either but gets roped into it by her mother. I like Nate, he is a good friend to Sophie and a good investigator. It's all the other characters that I love! Harriet and her book club friends are so much fun and always getting into some sort of mess, especially with this wedding.
The wedding! I laughed so hard towards the end when the wedding happens cause of course things don't go according to plan. The bat scene alone had me laughing because it reminded me of a friends story about a bat. :)
It has a really good mystery and I pretty much had most of it figured out. I kept waiting for Phee to figure out who one was cause I got it pretty easily, the other murder I kept going back and forth on. Since Nate is overloaded with work he is bringing in a new investigator and I am thinking maybe some sparks will fly with him and Phee, since she has had a crush on him for a while. Can't wait to get the next one and find out!!
If you haven't tried Booked 4 Murder (the first book) then you really need too, although you can read this one as a stand alone but the first one sets up things rather nicely and it's so funny!
Sophie "Phee" Kimball has officially moved to Arizona to work for her friend Nate who has retired as a cop and now working as a private investigator. Phee does the bookkeeping for him as well as answer the phone when their part-time secretary isn't in and she doesn't mind it at all except for the heat.
The only bad part is that she lives so close to her eccentric mother and her Booked 4 Murder club friends. She also lives close to her Aunt Ina who is planning her wedding. Who knew there could be a 76 year old bridzilla but Phee gets rapped up in doing things for her aunt. It starts out with picking out the desserts, then the tent and just keeps piling on but that isn't the only thing because of course murder has to be thrown in there as well.
It starts out with Nate getting a job helping the police because of a suspicious death that ends up being near Phee's mother so of course she calls frantic cause there is a killer on the loose, then the owner of the restaurant that her aunt picked gets killed and it is looking suspicious too. If that is not bad it seems her aunts fiance knew both victims and has disappeared.
Nate is real busy with his workload and they he has to try and find Louis so when Phee gets some information she does a little sleuthing herself and finds out a lot of information.
The characters in this series just crack me up! I like Phee but she is very much the bumbling detective and will admit that she is not a good investigator and doesn't really want to be one either but gets roped into it by her mother. I like Nate, he is a good friend to Sophie and a good investigator. It's all the other characters that I love! Harriet and her book club friends are so much fun and always getting into some sort of mess, especially with this wedding.
The wedding! I laughed so hard towards the end when the wedding happens cause of course things don't go according to plan. The bat scene alone had me laughing because it reminded me of a friends story about a bat. :)
It has a really good mystery and I pretty much had most of it figured out. I kept waiting for Phee to figure out who one was cause I got it pretty easily, the other murder I kept going back and forth on. Since Nate is overloaded with work he is bringing in a new investigator and I am thinking maybe some sparks will fly with him and Phee, since she has had a crush on him for a while. Can't wait to get the next one and find out!!
If you haven't tried Booked 4 Murder (the first book) then you really need too, although you can read this one as a stand alone but the first one sets up things rather nicely and it's so funny!
November 11, 2017
Ditched 4 Murder is the second installment in the Sophie Kimball Mystery series set in Peoria, AZ and featuring bookkeeper, Sophie "Phee" Kimball. Having moved from her home in Mankato, Minnesota to be the bookkeeper for her friend, retired police detective Nate Williams who has opened his own private detective agency, Phee is settling in to her new life while trying to deal with living so close to her mom, Harriet Plunkett.
Harriet's sister Ina is engaged to marry the wealthy Louis Melinsky in an over the top, extravagant wedding ceremony. A sunrise ceremony is planned at the site of old Indian ruins, Petroglyph Plaza. Not the easiest locale for guests to get to not to mention the site is swarming with deadly rattlesnakes. Somehow, Phee gets roped into helping Ina with her wedding details including finding the perfect tent and handling the bizarre dessert display designed after an aviary.
Nate is busy trying to find out who killed Tom Sizemore, one of Harriet's retirement community neighbors - before her mother's book club goes completely off the rails trying to find the killer on their own. Phee thinks that she's got the Patisserie Chef Roland LeDoux hired and on board with her aunt's plan until she discovers him dead at the wedding site the victim of a rattlesnake bite. Unfortunately, the two deaths seems to be connected and Louis disappears with the police thinking he's a prime suspect.
A fast paced rollicking storyline filled with plot twists and quirky characters. Between the cases Nate will take on at the detective agency and the scrapes Harriet and her Sun City West friends will get into, this series is sure to continue for a long time.
I received an advanced copy of Ditched 4 Murder from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
Harriet's sister Ina is engaged to marry the wealthy Louis Melinsky in an over the top, extravagant wedding ceremony. A sunrise ceremony is planned at the site of old Indian ruins, Petroglyph Plaza. Not the easiest locale for guests to get to not to mention the site is swarming with deadly rattlesnakes. Somehow, Phee gets roped into helping Ina with her wedding details including finding the perfect tent and handling the bizarre dessert display designed after an aviary.
Nate is busy trying to find out who killed Tom Sizemore, one of Harriet's retirement community neighbors - before her mother's book club goes completely off the rails trying to find the killer on their own. Phee thinks that she's got the Patisserie Chef Roland LeDoux hired and on board with her aunt's plan until she discovers him dead at the wedding site the victim of a rattlesnake bite. Unfortunately, the two deaths seems to be connected and Louis disappears with the police thinking he's a prime suspect.
A fast paced rollicking storyline filled with plot twists and quirky characters. Between the cases Nate will take on at the detective agency and the scrapes Harriet and her Sun City West friends will get into, this series is sure to continue for a long time.
I received an advanced copy of Ditched 4 Murder from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
March 13, 2018
Sophie (Phee) Kimball has taken a year leave of absence from the Minnesota Police Department to do the accounting for her friend Nate Williams new detective agency, Nate who's recently retired from the Mankato Police Department. The only problem with the new job is that it's in Arizona and her mother is now just a short drive away instead of a couple of states away.
Business is booming at the detective office and Phee is very busy setting up the books at Williams’ PI office, the last thing she needs is a phone call from her mother, but that's exactly what she gets. Her mother wants to complain about Phee's aunt who has recently moved into town is also planning her 2nd wedding. Then she gets a call from her Aunt Ina asking for a small favor. Ina wants Phee to go La Petite Patisserie to take care of the desserts for the wedding. Before long Phee is busy with all the wedding details that Ina asks her to take care of. She learns there is bad blood between the tent rental company, La Petite Patisserie, and the fancy restaurant catering the dinner. When the body of Julien Rossier, the head of La Petite, is found a few feet away from the wedding location, Phee starts to wonder and worry if the wedding will even take place.
While dealing with the wedding Phee finds herself with her hands full at the office handling all the new business coming in. Nate is busy handling a case involving, Theodore Sizeman, who was found dead near his golf cart in the local golf course. Then the groom goes missing as the evidence starts to point to him, with Nate busy tied up on a couple of cases, Phee decides to use what limited investigative skills she has to learn who was responsible for the murders, and hopefully save the wedding.
This book is a well-written, steady paced and humorous mystery. The characters are well developed, likeable, and often quirky. This is a fast and fun read,with enough suspects, twists and turns, and red herrings to keep the reader engaged and guessing who did the crime until the end.
Business is booming at the detective office and Phee is very busy setting up the books at Williams’ PI office, the last thing she needs is a phone call from her mother, but that's exactly what she gets. Her mother wants to complain about Phee's aunt who has recently moved into town is also planning her 2nd wedding. Then she gets a call from her Aunt Ina asking for a small favor. Ina wants Phee to go La Petite Patisserie to take care of the desserts for the wedding. Before long Phee is busy with all the wedding details that Ina asks her to take care of. She learns there is bad blood between the tent rental company, La Petite Patisserie, and the fancy restaurant catering the dinner. When the body of Julien Rossier, the head of La Petite, is found a few feet away from the wedding location, Phee starts to wonder and worry if the wedding will even take place.
While dealing with the wedding Phee finds herself with her hands full at the office handling all the new business coming in. Nate is busy handling a case involving, Theodore Sizeman, who was found dead near his golf cart in the local golf course. Then the groom goes missing as the evidence starts to point to him, with Nate busy tied up on a couple of cases, Phee decides to use what limited investigative skills she has to learn who was responsible for the murders, and hopefully save the wedding.
This book is a well-written, steady paced and humorous mystery. The characters are well developed, likeable, and often quirky. This is a fast and fun read,with enough suspects, twists and turns, and red herrings to keep the reader engaged and guessing who did the crime until the end.
February 22, 2020
At two books in, I’m enjoying this series. Have to assume it’s for the sake of humor that the antics of Sun City West inhabitants are so exaggerated. But having gone through both my mother’s and MIL’s years in retirement communities, I will say the author may often be restrained. Aunt Ina was the over the top exception. Though if it meant being able to enjoy more interplay between Phee and her visiting cousin, Kirk, I would gladly tolerate more Ina.
A serious flaw continues to be Phee’s inability to say “no”. I understand and empathize with being roped into doing favors/chores/errands in the name of family harmony. But it’s a stretch that she can’t find the backbone to say “no” to an aunt that even her mother doesn’t much care for. As a reader it’s important to have respect for a book’s main character. But Phee is portrayed as such a doormat that it makes it difficult.
I appreciate red herrings in a mystery. But sometimes too many is too much. This paragraph was part of my review of the first book of this series:
Even after being somewhat disappointing in “Ditched”, after the tease at the end I will read the next to see if that development gives Phee a spine. And I remain optimistic there has to be more character development.
A serious flaw continues to be Phee’s inability to say “no”. I understand and empathize with being roped into doing favors/chores/errands in the name of family harmony. But it’s a stretch that she can’t find the backbone to say “no” to an aunt that even her mother doesn’t much care for. As a reader it’s important to have respect for a book’s main character. But Phee is portrayed as such a doormat that it makes it difficult.
I appreciate red herrings in a mystery. But sometimes too many is too much. This paragraph was part of my review of the first book of this series:
there were too many characters introduced with too little backstory or explanation. It was very hard to keep track of who was book club, who was suspect, who was witnessThe same continues to be true. It’s still difficult to keep recurring book club members straight. We are introduced to so many employees at multiple catering firms it’s impossible to know who’s who. There’s not even a lot of clarity given to the deceased. Left turns along the way are good but at the end I like to feel satisfied with the story’s conclusion.
Even after being somewhat disappointing in “Ditched”, after the tease at the end I will read the next to see if that development gives Phee a spine. And I remain optimistic there has to be more character development.
November 6, 2017
Ditched 4 Murder is the second book in J.C. Eaton’s Sophie Kimball Mystery series and is a well-written, steady paced and humorous whodunit, with well-developed and likeable (and often quirky) characters. This is a fast and fun read. There are enough suspects, twists and turns, and red herrings to keep the reader engaged. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading fun, well-crafted cozy mysteries.
Sophie ‘Phee’ Kimball is a divorced, middle-aged mother of an adult daughter, who recently moved from Mankato, Minnesota to Peoria, Arizona, near her mother, Harriet Plunkett, who lives with her chiweenie dog, Streetman, in a retirement community in Sun City West. When she lived in Minnesota, she worked as an accounting clerk for the police department in Mankato and now she’s the bookkeeper for her friend Nate Williams’ private investigation company, who is used to be a Mankato PD detective. Harriet can be a handful, but is even more so when Theodore Sizemore, a local millionaire restaurateur, is found dead on the golf course near her home and her sister, Ina, announces she will be marrying soon. Phee’s seventy-four-year-old Aunt Ina is planning her wedding and she talks Phee into helping with several wedding details. Ina is marrying an ultra-wealthy Louis Melinsky, and her dream wedding will be expensive and quite unique, from the location, to the vows, and even the food and desserts for their reception. Phee gets more than she bargains for when everything wedding related seems to take a wrong turn, including finding a second body (the wedding chef) at the wedding site and a missing groom who may be a murder suspect.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Sophie ‘Phee’ Kimball is a divorced, middle-aged mother of an adult daughter, who recently moved from Mankato, Minnesota to Peoria, Arizona, near her mother, Harriet Plunkett, who lives with her chiweenie dog, Streetman, in a retirement community in Sun City West. When she lived in Minnesota, she worked as an accounting clerk for the police department in Mankato and now she’s the bookkeeper for her friend Nate Williams’ private investigation company, who is used to be a Mankato PD detective. Harriet can be a handful, but is even more so when Theodore Sizemore, a local millionaire restaurateur, is found dead on the golf course near her home and her sister, Ina, announces she will be marrying soon. Phee’s seventy-four-year-old Aunt Ina is planning her wedding and she talks Phee into helping with several wedding details. Ina is marrying an ultra-wealthy Louis Melinsky, and her dream wedding will be expensive and quite unique, from the location, to the vows, and even the food and desserts for their reception. Phee gets more than she bargains for when everything wedding related seems to take a wrong turn, including finding a second body (the wedding chef) at the wedding site and a missing groom who may be a murder suspect.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
December 15, 2017
Phee (Sophie Kimball) is still acclimating to Arizona’s high temperatures: quite a change from Minnesota. She is employed as a bookkeeper at Williams Investigations, on a year’s leave of absence from the Mankato Police Department. She makes it clear that she is not a Private Investigator and has no ambitions to be one. Despite her inclinations, she gets dragged into several murder investigations because of her family ties. Her mother and her looney aunt, a soon-to-be-bride in her seventies, are already part of the aging retirement community in Sun West City, and they call on her frequently for support and particularly in tough times. Phee is in her forties and is quite likable and intelligent. Although she is single, there is no potential love interest in this book.
Ditched 4 Murder is a cozy mystery by J.C. Eaton. I enjoyed the Arizona setting, the characters, many of whom are in the catering business, and the plot with multiple threads and many complications. Especially appealing is the author’s sense of humor, a delight throughout.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Ditched 4 Murder is a cozy mystery by J.C. Eaton. I enjoyed the Arizona setting, the characters, many of whom are in the catering business, and the plot with multiple threads and many complications. Especially appealing is the author’s sense of humor, a delight throughout.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2018
I have read many reviews for this book as well as others. So many are given bad reviews because the reviewer does not like a character. Well, life is like that. We wont like everyone. The way I see it is...if the writing is so well done, the characterization so well manipulated that I have a strong dislike for a character then I call that excellent writing skills. This, Ditched 4 Murder is such a book. It had a very good balance of both aggravating and appealing characters. I was aggravated that the Aunt took advantage in such a rude way of family and friends. I was a bit upset with Phee that she didn't have more backbone dealing with a few characters, such as the "tent people". But..again, life is made of many personalities and I try to remember this in reading and reviewing books. I DID like the subtle humor of the mother, Harriett. Many elderly people DO take advantage of their years to get away with sometimes "edgy behavior". I found her funny and Phee was very patient and kept her temper with her mother in a very respectful way. I like their relationship.
Witty, Very well spun murder plot, wrapped up nicely in the end. The first in this series is hard to beat but this one came close.
Witty, Very well spun murder plot, wrapped up nicely in the end. The first in this series is hard to beat but this one came close.
August 20, 2019
This is the second in a series of mysteries about an accountant/bookkeeper Sophie (“Phee”) Kimball, who keeps getting pulled into murder investigations even though she only works for a private detective and absolutely, is not a detective.
Except that her mother, Harriet, seems to think that being a sleuth is something that rubs off simply by proximity. And maybe, she is right.
In any case, Phee gets pulled into this case because her Aunt Ina is about to have a mental breakdown if the crime is not solved. One begins to wonder a little about Ina as she is great at getting others to do all the heavy lifting.
In this case, Aunt Ina is newly engaged and needs to have her fiance tracked down before the way over-the-top wedding can commence.
Phee is on the trail, along with assistance from her boss. No matter which way she turns and which theory she comes up with, the plot changes and she has to start over again.
It is a fun and fast read and I enjoy humorous cozy mysteries. Nothing is sprung too fast or too hard and the plots are fun and the characters can be downright hysterical… in all sense of the word.
Except that her mother, Harriet, seems to think that being a sleuth is something that rubs off simply by proximity. And maybe, she is right.
In any case, Phee gets pulled into this case because her Aunt Ina is about to have a mental breakdown if the crime is not solved. One begins to wonder a little about Ina as she is great at getting others to do all the heavy lifting.
In this case, Aunt Ina is newly engaged and needs to have her fiance tracked down before the way over-the-top wedding can commence.
Phee is on the trail, along with assistance from her boss. No matter which way she turns and which theory she comes up with, the plot changes and she has to start over again.
It is a fun and fast read and I enjoy humorous cozy mysteries. Nothing is sprung too fast or too hard and the plots are fun and the characters can be downright hysterical… in all sense of the word.
March 1, 2024
I like the main character in this series, but her mother and aunt were exasperating! Sophie really needs to either pack up and head back to Minnesota or learn how to say NO and mean it. Of course, that would ruin the series.
The mystery was interesting but, as in the first book, got a bit convoluted. For some reason, I kept getting confused about which of the two caterers was which. Fortunately, it all became more clear towards the end. The last few chapters reminded me of the "screwball" comedies of the 1930's.
I plan to stay with the series.
The mystery was interesting but, as in the first book, got a bit convoluted. For some reason, I kept getting confused about which of the two caterers was which. Fortunately, it all became more clear towards the end. The last few chapters reminded me of the "screwball" comedies of the 1930's.
I plan to stay with the series.
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