Murder at Royale Court

Cleo Mack #2

by G.P. Gardner

Harbor Village is a vivacious retirement paradise known for its beachy locale and active senior scene. But ever since murder moved in, the idyllic coastal community is becoming a little less lively . . .
 
With the first annual antique car show cruising into the tranquil bayside oasis of Fairhope, Alabama, there are bumpy roads ahead for Harbor Village director Cleo Mack. As an automobile-themed lecture series gets off to a rough start, she finds herself balancing one too many responsibilities—and dodging advances from a shady event sponsor. It’s enough to make Cleo feel twice her age. But the festivities reach a real dead end when she discovers a body at the Royale Court shopping center . . .
 
When an innocent man lands in the hot seat for murder, Harbor Village residents look to Cleo to crack the case. Aided by an eclectic group of energetic seniors, Cleo races to identify the true culprit from a growing list of harmless Sunday drivers—before a killer revs up for another hit and run!

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Cozy, Audiobook

229 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2019

Reviews

[beachbum bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok read

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

I did think this started out slow, and as a result I had a hard time getting into it at first. After a while I fell into the story, and started having a bit of fun with Cleo. I thought the car information was a little heavy, probably because of all things in the world cars interest me the least( the perils of being with a car mad guy is I just don't WANT to know anymore than I already do, it already feels overwhelming!) but I liked the strong of characters and the mystery itself. This is an older sleuth mystery too, which I don't read too many of so that made for a change as well.

A fun cozy, would recommend. Four stars.

[Ell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Murder at Royal Court is the second in the Cleo Mack Mystery series. Although it can stand on its own, I recommend reading the fist in the series because it is equally good. This cozy takes place n Fairhope, Alabama and centers around Harbor Village, a retirement home full of interesting and eclectic residents. Cleo is a college professor who took an early retirement and suddenly finds herself as the Harbor Village new director and local amateur sleuth. There is murder, mayhem and scams as well as red herrings, twists and turns. The plot unfolds masterfully and the characters come to life. I highly recommend this cozy mystery series.

[JoAn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder at Royale Court by G.P. Gardner is the second book in the Cleo Mack series and did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed the first in this series and was equally intrigued by this one.

Cleo is finally beginning to feel at home in Harbor Village as she learns the ropes of becoming the Harbor Village director. She has made friends with several of the residents and enjoys spending time with them at the activities that are scheduled at this retirement community. The plot is well-crafted and quickly paced as Cleo doesn't set out to solve the mystery but becomes involved when a neighbor and friend asks for her help. The secondary characters of active seniors each add insights to this perplexing murder mystery. I look forward to more mystery adventures with Cleo and her friends.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Lyrical Underground via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the Cleo Mack series continues on with the lives of the seniors populating Harbor Village in Alabama. A delightful experience is to spend time with the residents. I
. Cleo promised Ann that Nita and she would take her place at the knitting shop. There they find a man dead in a bathroom that joined 3 shops. It was later determined that he was strangled. Cleo has her work running the resort, looking for the killer, and all the events for the area's auto show.
Harbor Village will host a series of talks about the history of automobiles. This is a highly popular series. Cleo has to juggle romantic interest between several men. A love triangle is not occurring. The ending is unusual but satisfactory. I highly recommend this book and series.
Knitting pattern included.

Disclosure: Thanks to Lyrical Underground for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder at Royale Court is the second story in the Cleo Mack Mystery series. I am happy to report it is equally as entertaining as its predecessor. The tale is shared in the first person POV of Cleo Mack, early retiree from her position as a social work professor in Atlanta, moving to coastal Alabama to be closer to her daughter and family. Four months into her position as director of Harbor Village, Cleo is more comfortable in her new job and is in a good place emotionally and mentally. We are brought up to speed on some of the big changes she’s instituted at Harbor Village, and we continue to follow her along as she works out how to improve things for residents. The author does a wonderful job sharing Cleo’s experiences and allowing the reader to learn while enjoying the information.

This time around, Cleo and close friend Nita, find a dead body while watching over the local knit shop as a favor to Anne. The timing is coincidental to the first ever Fairhope Automobile Show, which is the center of the entire community’s focus. There are new faces brought in because of the show, and returning residents and friends who support Cleo, including a small romantic side story. Once again, I appreciate how Cleo doesn’t see it as her job to figure out who the murderer is, but rather she helps the police because she can. The mystery is complex, but not confusing or overdone. It unfolds slowly as peripheral actions and events all start to fit together.

I really enjoyed how the author allows us to see the world as Cleo sees it - providing so much description and attention to the world around Cleo. I appreciate that Cleo thinks about what is going on and processes the information without making assumptions or jumping to conclusions. She’s smart, but she shares her thoughts rather than holds on to information or theories, and she relies on others to help her. It’s refreshing and enjoyable.

Narration: Karen White continues to bring life to Cleo. Her voice for the narrator/Cleo is strong and confident, just like Cleo is written. Ms. White alters her voice for dialogue, adjusting for age, gender, and regional dialect. Her female charters are slightly stronger than her male characters, with each being distinguishable from the other. I can clearly tell who is talking based solely on their voice. Overall, she performs the story wonderfully, keeping me engaged and interested.

Murder at Royale Court is another great mystery and story. I feel like an honorary member of Harbor Village. I love the little details of Cleo’s life. It’s her life outside the mystery that I’m most enjoying - how she’s turning around Harbor Village and making friends.

My Ratings:
Narration: A-
Story: A-

Review copy provided by Tantor Audio

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in this delightful series and a series I quite highly recommend. The charcters are enjoyable and the sleuth was very well crafted to conclusion. I have not read the first in series but do recommend it as you will start out with a foundation of knowing the charcters. It was easy enough for me to catch up with this book as the author does a excellent job of describing everyone and introducing her readers to the series.

Murder at Royal Court is the second in the Cleo Mack Mystery series. This cozy takes place in Fairhope, Alabama in Harbor Village, a retirement home of eclectic fun active residents. Cleo is a college professor who took an early retirement and is the new director of the retirement village . She also is a sleuth as a pastime which she is quite adept at. She is a smart , active senior and a great charcter.

When a body is found Cleo takes on the sleuthing as she tries to help a Harbor Village’s resident who suspects her brother . Suspects abound and soon Cleo is on the way to solving the murder with the help of her retirement village residents. Thank you for the ARC. My opinion is my own..

It is such a delight to read a series with a senior Protagonist ! Thank you to the author for featuring Cleo as smart, vital and a savvy investigator. I love the fellow residents of the village and enjoy getting to know them through the author. I look forward to the next in series. This is a delightful read that I highly recommend . Well done to the author !

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder at Royale Court by G. P. Gardner is the 2nd book in the Cleo Mack mystery series, and a very enjoyable book. When Cleo arrived in Fairhope, Alabama and quickly makes friends, got a job, and a place to live at Harbor Village, working as the director. In this adventure a car show is coming to town, and a car lecture at the Village over several nights. On top of that a man was found dead at the Royale Court shopping center by Cleo and her friend. Cleo tries to determine if there is a link from the murdered man to the car show, with the help of her Harbor Village friends. I really enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to the next book in the series.  Ms. Gardner please keep them coming. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I chose to review this book, I didn’t realize it was set in a senior community. So, when I started reading, it took me aback for a few chapters. You don’t see a lot of older sleuths in the cozy mystery genre these days even though Miss Marple was surely one of the forerunners. Once I got past that fact, I discovered it was a pretty good read. But you will need to get your score cards out because there are A LOT of people running around in this book. I had a hard time keeping track of them all.

Basic premise: Cleo and her friends go into one of the businesses at Royale Court. The door is open even though the business looks closed. Their friend, the shop owner should have been there and they decide to wait inside. They find a dead body inside the bathroom in the business in an awkward position. He was wearing biking gear as if he had recently been on a bicycle ride. And off the story goes from there.

I was having a hard time connecting to this book. Not sure if it was the over-abundance of characters or the setting still throwing me off. I don’t have much experience with senior communities so it was unclear how to visualize such a place. I am sure the seniors among us will find this book quite compelling but for me it fell flat. It was just okay. Middle of the road. I didn’t connect with any of the characters or even care if the mystery was solved… Sorry to say.

But this could be your cup of tea, so check it out if you are so compelled.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder at Royale Court is the second story in A Cleo Mack Mystery series. I recommend reading Murder at Harbor Village before picking up Murder at Royale Court. It will allow you to learn how Cleo came to be living in Fairhope and managing Harbor Village. Cleo Mack is enjoying her new life in Fairhope, Alabama. She has a close group of friends, an active social life and is busy learning her new job at Executive Director of Harbor Village. As part of their new lecture series, Reg Handleman will be giving automobile themed talks for three days which ties in with the upcoming automobile show to benefit the hospital. Cleo is surprised to learn that money can be made by investing in cars and that there are scam artists who take advantage of that fact. When Devon Wheatley, a local financial planner is murdered, Cleo finds herself searching for answers. The mystery is complex as Cleo plunges into the world of finance looking for suspects. One clue, though, gave away the identity of the culprit to me. I wish solving the crime had been more of a challenge. The resolution of the crime was supposition instead of facts. I would have preferred definitive answers. There are a numerous characters in Murder at Royale court, and I found it difficult to keep track of them (employees, residents, guests, shopkeepers at Royale Court). While I found some of the information on automobiles interesting, I could have done with less of it (though car lovers will relish it). I thought it bogged down the story. I like the developing romance between Cleo and Riley. They make a cute couple and seem compatible. There is humor sprinkled throughout the story and lovely descriptions of Fairhope. I liked the reference to Fannie Flagg and the movie Fried Green Tomatoes based on her book. Murder at Royale Court has charming characters, frisky felines, a complex crime, amazing automobiles, and vindictive villain.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder at Royal Court is the second in the Cleo Mack Mystery series. Although it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the fist in the series to get a feel of the characters and circumstances surrounding Cleo's new life. This cozy takes place in Fairhope, Alabama, a small town on the coast, and centers around Harbor Village, a retirement community with many interesting residents. Cleo is a college professor who took an early retirement and suddenly found herself as the Director of Harbor Village. In this book, Cleo and her friend Nita have volunteered to work at Ann's knitting shop for the day, while she was busy setting up plans for a knitting retreat. What they were not counting on was finding a dead body in the shared washroom. Once it is determined that he was strangled, Cleo's friend Ann asks for her help as her brother, Usher seems to be the main suspect.

There are many things I enjoy about this book. First it is the many and varied residents of Harbor Village. They are not all main characters but their individuality, quirks and eccentricities add so much to the story. This book was also about an antique automobile show that has come to Harbor Village, complete with a lecture series given by a car afficenado, scams about a long lost Bugatti to invest in, some romance for Cleo, family relationships, and life in Harbor Village in general. There is also murder and mayhem with several red herrings, and some twists and turns. The plot unfolds slowly and builds nicely until the reveal. I will say that I was pretty sure I knew who the murderer was just past halfway, but wasn't positive until the reveal. This did not diminish my enjoyment of the story in any way. If you enjoy a good well-paced and plotted cozy mystery you should enjoy this book. If you like cars, especially classic ones, you will probably enjoy this book. If you like a cozy with more mature characters, you will love this book. I recommend this one as well as the first in this series. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

[RO G'ma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder at Royale Court is the second book in G. P. Gardner’s Cleo Mack series. The storyline is well plotted, and the diverse cast of characters well developed. This steadily paced whodunit is an easy to read cozy with an interesting mystery, some colorful and quirky characters, multiple potential suspects, twists, and red herrings to keep readers engaged. The mystery kept me guessing, and all the loose ends are tied up nicely.

Cleo Mack is a widow and has a close relationship with her daughter, Stephanie, who lives in Birmingham with her husband, and their young son, Barry, but is estranged from her ex-husband (Stephanie’s father), Travis McKenzie. Cleo recently moved to Fairhope, Alabama, rented an apartment at Harbor Village Retirement Center, and is employed as its Executive Director. When she moved in, Cleo was unaware that the retirement center was one of her ex-husband’s projects. She became fast friends with Nita Bergen, her husband, Jim, Dolly Webb, and Riley Meddors. Fairhope is hosting Grand Concours, an antique car show, and Harbor Village is hosting a series of lectures and their speaker, Reg Handleman, talks about the history of cars, their values, and warns attendees about investment scams involving rare cars. Nita agreed to watch Ann Slump’s knitting shop for a few hours and invited Cleo to join her. When Evie, Ann’s sister, who owns a dollhouse shop, Lilliput, is locked out of the restroom, she comes to Ann’s shop to gain entry. Unfortunately, she finds a body in the bathroom shared by Royale Knit Shop, Lilliput, and the back office. The victim, Devon Wheat, is a financial planner with offices in Royale Court shopping center. Ann, who is worried her brother, Usher, is a suspect, approaches Cleo, who recently helped solve a murder, asking her to help prove his innocence. Cleo’s determined to help Ann, and with the help of her friends, uncovers surprising information that they share with Lieutenant Mary Montgomery and Chief Boozer.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Murder at Royale Court" earns 5/5 Cadillacs...Entertaining and Clever!

Another very enjoyable read! Life after retirement, even early retirement, should be marked with a bit of adventure...but murder? And as a retired teacher myself, it seems our heroine works way too hard for my idea of a post retirement life...and running into suspicious deaths? Only in my cozy books is that exciting! Cleo Mack has settled in as Executive Director of Harbor Village, and is busy, busy, busy with maintaining and renovating the facility, managing the staff, seeing to residents' needs, and providing a nice environment. First up is Grand Concours, an antique auto show, with a car exhibit, raffles, gala, and a guest speaker expected to interest more than the Harbor Village residents. But...murder revs up!

The murder mystery follows a traditional cozy formula, but it takes a bit longer than I like to get into the murder and the investigation. There's a surprising level of justice and additional storylines offering some intriguing predicaments ripe for continued shenanigans. Cleo can't get away from her ex-husband who is in some way her boss, and as conflicts arise it's hard not to be disappointed that she doesn't tell him where to get off. I really enjoy the first-person narrative punctuated by Cleo's mature perspective and her perspective on many of the quirky residents. Although I was entertained by Gardner's descriptive writing style and dialogue, it seemed some of the description of day-to-day behaviors like getting drinks, driving around, and being at home was a bit more than I liked. However, I really enjoyed this second book and am eager to read more.

Disclosure: I received an ARC from NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.

[Jessica Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.

I just love this series!! Cleo is settling in with her new position after her big move. Some time has passed now making it more comfortable and the area is excited for the upcoming car show. Cleo is being pulled is a million different directions which just gets worse when is with a friend that finds a dead body. We ll of course she has to start looking into things even it she tries not to the people just tell her stuff anyways. It makes for a hoot of a story as the wide range of characters creates a great blend of personalities having something for everyone. The place sounds so fun I would actually enjoy living there!! Perfect for fans of cozies with a slightly older MC surrounded by all age groups. Perfect blend that I totally loved so I give it 5/5 stars.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleo Mack is the director of Harbor Village which is a vibrant retirement community on the gulf coast of Alabama. She lives on site and has become good friends with many of the residents. When accompanying one of those friends they stumble upon a dead body and now she finds herself involved in a murder investigation.

The story has a nice flow with likeable characters and the author does a good job setting the scene. I have read both books in the Cleo Mack series and I feel I am beginning to know the main characters but I would like to continue to learn more about each of the main characters. This book could also be read as a stand alone. Thanks to Lyrical Underground and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Karen (BaronessBookTrove) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The guy in the john is dead?
Murder at Royale Court by G.P. Gardner is a wonderfully entertaining mystery set in Alabama.
Cleo Mack
Cleo Mack is a retired social worker and college professor, but currently, she is in charge of Harbor Village Retirement Living Center. She is also a mother, grandmother, and a widow. Cleo doesn’t get a lot of work done since she is so busy with Village Harbor functions, to the lives of her friends, new boyfriend, and ex-husband/boss.
Likes

Extremely smart, well educated
Stays busy
Has a social life
She’s a social butterfly

Dislikes
She doesn’t take good care of herself (like remembering to eat and sleeping enough)
Mystery
The mystery was well thought out and with clues laid out nicely. The suspect list is continually changing, which kept me wondering if my pick would be correct or not.
4 Stars for Murder at Royale Court by G.P. Gardner
 My rating for Murder at Royale Court by G.P. Gardner is four stars. I enjoy the story, and I figured out who did it before the sleuth. So, if you like cozy mysteries, this is a good book to read.
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This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

[Laurie Dolph · Rating 3 out of 5]

f you like cars you’ll love this book. Even though it was a little heavy on car information I mostly enjoyed the story. The characters were warm and multifaceted, however It wasn’t a page turner. There were multiple plot holes and the ending didn’t clear anything up. I enjoyed the pieces of the book but there were just too many unanswered questions for me at the end,

I was provided an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

[sandy patty · Rating 1 out of 5]

Keep politics out of entertainment fields. The arrogance that some writers have that they will show us, the feeble minded the way, their way. And to state socialism is the new way, when socialism is neither new or has ever been implemented successfully. Please all would be writers keep politics out of our relaxing reading time. I don't need the harassment. I didnt even feel guilty not finishing the book. Guess I have lost another author due to violating the rule of not talking about politics.

The book was not enjoyable. Keep politics out of my leisure time. That's the last time I read this author.

[Jerri Cachero · Rating 4 out of 5]

A return visit to Harbor Village, was an entertaining trip! This time, Cleo becomes involved in solving several mysteries - the murder of a young financial advisor, a scam involving a priceless automobile and how she feels about her growing friendship with Riley. All made for a keep you guessing read.

What I enjoy most about the books is the interaction between the seniors , living in the harbor Village community, and their involvement in solving crimes. Nita, Jim, Dolly, Ann, Evie and several other intriguing characters set the tone of a lively group of crime solvers. Cleo is a wonderfully complex but plain spoken person who tries to do the right thing. Her relationships with her daughter, Stephanie and her ex-husband Travis, make for an interesting and encouraging view of modern families.

Cleo's growing relationship with her fellow neighbor Riley, adds a wonderfully romantic aspect to the series without being the main focus. Just perfect!

The mystery kept me guessing and all the loose ends were tied up nicely! I'm looking forward to another visit with my friends at Harbor Village!

I received an ARC, from NetGalley, for a fair and honest review of this book.

[Nancy Bradford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great read by G P Gardner

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Murder at Royale Court is the second book in a cozy series by GP Gardner. Released 4th June 2019 by Kensington, it's 229 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.

Mysteries are probably my favorite genre. I love cozies, gritty procedurals, golden age interwar British country house classics; bring 'em on! I was unfamiliar with this author previously, but loved the cover and premise (bonus points for yarn shops with cat). It was a quick and entertaining read.

Despite the cover, the plot is only tangentially associated with a fibrearts shop. The MC, Cleo, is a late middle aged early retiree who has moved to Alabama and taken a job working as an executive director at the retirement village where she also lives. Most of the plot is centered around her managing a large antique collectible car show and a series of lectures for the residents of her residential complex.

The plot and story arc are easy to follow and are paced well . The murder is bloodless and happens off page. There is a chaste romance element (one kiss, nothing graphic). and the language is very clean. Nothing to scandalize. There are a couple places in the text where a secondary character says 'gee-dee' and (I counted) 7 'damns' but nothing worse than that. The characterizations are, if a trifle formulaic, easy to follow and keep straight in context. All in all this is a solidly entertaining cozy mystery which will appeal to fans of the genre. The author plays by the rules with regards to the clues and the denouement is satisfying.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Jann Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Cleo Mack series; however, if you have not read the first book, the author brings readers up to speed with regard to characters and relationships without interfering with the storyline.

I admit that I felt a slight twinge of dismay when I saw that the story revolved around an antique car show that was to take place in Fairhope. I am not a fan of cars, but one of the characters, Red Handleman, was invited to Harbor Village Retirement Center to host a series of lectures prior to the actual show. I admit that Handleman's presentations pulled me in, and, like Cleo, I wish I had known some of his tricks to use when I was in the classroom. Using his lectures as a way to introduce readers to interesting stories about cars was a clever touch.

The characters are well developed and the story is interesting. I requested this book because I have lived in a retirement community for four years now and was curious to see how one would be represented in a mystery. Fairhope, Alabama is an actual place, and was named the best small town in the South by Southern Living magazine in 2016. My community has about 2,000 residents, and is much larger than Harbor Village. Still, the problems Cleo faced as Executive Director and resident of Harbor Village seemed to fit in with what I know about life in my own community. Residents do have their quirks, and the murder took place in the Royale Court shopping center rather than at Harbor Village, which allowed residents to gossip and pose possible scenarios without living in a crime scene.

I recommend this book to readers of cozy mysteries. If you are of "a certain age," you will probably enjoy Harbor Village even more!

Thanks to Net Galley for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here: Cleo is a very savvy lady. To run the complex where she lives, she needs to be. She’s smart, level headed, curious but cautious. But she does have a habit of getting involved in murder mysteries. This time, she and her friend find the body wedged into a bathroom, highly uncomfortable were he not dead. The victim, as often happens in cozies, is not a very nice guy. In fact there are lots of folks who might have had a beef with him. The victim was not the one with whom I had the greatest issue. It was the wacky brother of the friend in whose shop the corpse was discovered..
Cleo become the Mother Confessor for her friend Ann and her family as they try to work out some knotty issues, including the brother selling a family owned property without consulting his sisters. Then there are two oddball characters who are involved in a Classic Car show, one of whom is downright creepy and the other just questionable. Is either one of them deeper in the murder than seems at first? Even though I did suspect the actual villain, I am not going to spoil the fun for any reader.
There is a lot of like in the series, including fully rounded seniors who still have lots of life. I enjoy reading about people in the prime of their lives, even if it is late prime. And not one of them is dotty. High paw!
Four purrs and two paws up.

[Wulfwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Cleo Mack series. I won a copy in a Goodreads Giveaway. This was my first time reading G. P. Gardner.

I have become enchanted by Fairhope, Alabama. I want to go live in Harbor Village. It took me a bit to get into this book. I’m not a car enthusiast. The story has quite a bit for a car enthusiast to enjoy. For someone like me, it has quite a bit that may turn you into wondering when the next car show is going to held near by. The story gradually gripped me, then before I realized it, it refused to let me go. I honestly did not know who did it until the reveal. I had quite a few suspects, including the killer. My list, though, was written all over and suspects were scratched out only to be added back. I really had a better time with this book than I first thought I would. I was genuinely sorry to get to the end! I became friends with many characters. I’m so curious about them. I was left hanging with a question I had regarding Patti. I like the slow burning romance with Cleo and Riley, though at times I wished she would reunite with Travis. Maybe that is for Stephanie rather than Cleo or Travis. There are many other characters that I could speak about. I’m intrigued by many. Yes this series has me hooked. When is the next book coming out?

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some mysteries suffer from a sophomore slump but not this one. This, the second in the series, is as strongly crafted as the first. Cleo is busy with some renovations to several of the apartments at Harbor Village in Fairhope, Alabama.as well as the main event in town, an auto show. The guest lecturer will be staying at Harbor Village and giving his lectures there. Things will get hectic but Cleo gets a huge surprise when she and Nita find a body when they go to the knitting shop. She wonders if the dead man and his murder could somehow be connected to the auto show. With the help of her senior friends at the retirement village - a wonderful group of older folks - she sets out to track down the killer. Add some romance and an ex-husband, it all comes together in a very enjoyable entry to this series. It even has a cat. I'm looking forward to future mysteries for Cleo and the residents of Harbor Village. It's a place a place I could imagine living in myself despite the local body count.
My thanks to the publisher Lyrical Underground and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Tracy Condie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleo Mack has found her place as the director of Harbor Village, an active adult community in Alabama. In addition to over seeing the over haul of the facilities she is also involved in overseeing the planned activities. In the midst of renovations is the classic car symposium and guest speaker. I must say that even though I am not into cars, the historical info was interesting and the guest speaker would have most likely had me enthralled by such a wealth of knowledge. Completely unrelated is the death of an investment banker at least it seems unrelated until there is talk of shady dealings and a possible one of a kind mystery investment long lost car being to unsuspecting people. Chances are Cleo wouldn't have become involved if not for the fact that she was there when the body was discovered and her ex-husband/current boss (weird, right LOL) is a possible suspect and she knows that her daughter's father is many things but a murderer, he is not. From real estate deals to controlling siblings, this story has it all and a little romance as well. Highly entertaining and a nice look at how one can be retired without being tired!

[LittleRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleo Mack had thought she was retiring when she moved to Fairhope, Alabama, but before she knew it she was managing Harbor Village, one of her ex husband’s retirement communities. When a car show comes to town, the residents of Harbor Village host a series of lectures on the topic and everyone is hot and heavy for classic cars.

When a body is found in the Royale Court shopping center, Cleo finds even more has been added to her plate as she tries to help a Harbor Village’s resident who suspects her brother may have a hand in the murder. With a growing list of suspects, many who would have been up past their bed time at the time of the murder, Cleo has her hands full trying to manage it all. Quite a few red herrings to keep you in suspense until he end.

While I did not read the first book in this series, I certainly did not feel like I was missing any information as this book solid as a standalone. Very enjoyable and a solid storyline and well developed characters. Will be reading the first in the series and look forward to future entires.

[Julie Mink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in a goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

The second book in the Cleo Mack mystery was a fun mystery. I usually cozy mysteries in order but I went ahead and read this one right away and it was fine. I will definitely read the 1st book which I have already purchased. I loved the setting in a retirement community in Alabama. Perhaps because I live in a similar community in Tennessee.

Cleo Mack is the director of the community and has many things to attend to and many people's problems to deal with including her staff and the residents. This book deals with a murder that occurs during a classic car show that is being held in the community and the many people involved.
The characters are interesting and the beginning of a romance for Cleo is tantalizing. You can read a bit about the plot in the goodreads blurb but it was easy to get into the story and fun to read.

[Mave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cozy mystery is really compelling with bizarre characters, an amazing setting, a well-developed storyline with lots of twists and turns.

Cleo is a retired widow who works in a community of elderly people not knowing that this was a project of her ex-husband Travis. The situation becomes more complicated when a corpse is found and a friend asks Cleo to investigate to exonerate her brother.

The characters are well developed and lovable, Cleo is a wonderful mother, a generous friend and a great worker. Despite many disappointments she has not yet renounced love. I loved this little Alabama town and its inhabitants, I really want to live there.

It is the second book in the series but can be read as standalone, I didn't read the first book and I had no difficulty understanding

The writing was pleasant and flowed easily. It was a hard to put down because from the first chapter I really wanted to know the ending.

A must read for those who love cozy mysteries and vintage cars.

[Melinda M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder at Royale Court by G.P. Gardner is the second book in the Cleo Mack Mystery series. The series deals with the seniors who live at Harbor Village in Fairhope,Alabama. The seniors who live at Harbor Village, a retirement home, are interesting and eclectic which makes for interesting reading. Cleo Mack was a college professor who took an early retirement but before she knew it she was managing Harbor Village where she retired to. This time Cleo has three mysteries to solve with the help of the residents of Harbor Village. This cozy has lots of murder, mayhem and scams, red herrings, twists and turns to keep your interest. This is one of my favorite cozy mysteries. It does well as a stand alone but reading the first story in the series enhances your understanding of the second . It is well written.

I received a copy thru a giveaway on Goodreads.