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Board Game Shop #1
Board to Death
In a trendy Salt Lake City, Utah, neighborhood, Ben Rosencrantz's board game shop has become a community hotspot for players of all ages--and for killer collectors.
Back in his hometown of Sugar House running his family's board game shop and cafe, Ben Rosencrantz just can't seem to get his life to pass go, much less collect $200. Once he was a happily married English professor in Seattle. Now he's a divorced caregiver, looking after his ill father and a chihuahua named Beans while still figuring out the rules of retail management. At least the town has become more LGBTQ+ friendly than when Ben was a teenager--and that flower shop owner Ezra McCaslin enjoys flirting with him.
But despite his usual clientele of gamers, Ben is barely earning enough to keep the store running and stay on top of his father's medical bills. Then a local toy and game collector named Clive offers him a winning strategy--to purchase a turn-of-the-twentieth-century edition of The Landlord's Game, the realty and taxation game that inspired Monopoly, at a tenth of the rare edition's true value. Suspicious of Clive's shady, low-priced deal, Ben turns the offer down.
Then Clive turns up dead in the dumpster behind Ben's shop and a backpack full of $100 bills appears on his doorstep. Now Ben is the #1 suspect in Clive's death, and unless he and Ezra can prove his innocence and find the real killer, he'll go to jail for murder--and no amount of double dice rolls will set him free . . .
Back in his hometown of Sugar House running his family's board game shop and cafe, Ben Rosencrantz just can't seem to get his life to pass go, much less collect $200. Once he was a happily married English professor in Seattle. Now he's a divorced caregiver, looking after his ill father and a chihuahua named Beans while still figuring out the rules of retail management. At least the town has become more LGBTQ+ friendly than when Ben was a teenager--and that flower shop owner Ezra McCaslin enjoys flirting with him.
But despite his usual clientele of gamers, Ben is barely earning enough to keep the store running and stay on top of his father's medical bills. Then a local toy and game collector named Clive offers him a winning strategy--to purchase a turn-of-the-twentieth-century edition of The Landlord's Game, the realty and taxation game that inspired Monopoly, at a tenth of the rare edition's true value. Suspicious of Clive's shady, low-priced deal, Ben turns the offer down.
Then Clive turns up dead in the dumpster behind Ben's shop and a backpack full of $100 bills appears on his doorstep. Now Ben is the #1 suspect in Clive's death, and unless he and Ezra can prove his innocence and find the real killer, he'll go to jail for murder--and no amount of double dice rolls will set him free . . .
240 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 2023
146 people are currently reading
10839 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Connor
1 book152 followersCJ Connor is a Pitch Wars alumnus as well as a Book Riot and EBSCO NoveList contributor. They write queer romance and cozy mysteries. When they are not writing, they can be found stress knitting, listening to angsty folk music, or walking their chihuahua.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 472 reviews
April 17, 2024
This concept needs to be confiscated from this author and given to literally anyone else, and this trend of publishing mediocre unedited fanfiction as a novel has got to stop. I got this from a library and was super excited only to feel like I was reading someone's Wattpad story with an A/N every other paragraph. Who is responsible for this? Who keeps telling these people they should be writing novels? I hate to be mean, but this was a mess. The writing is roughly on par with an 8th grader. Every single observation the main character makes is preceded by either "..." or "well," so that I was eventually begging the author to think of another joke.
It was so incredibly grating to read. The author's style is very amateur and most of their sentences are the same choppy length; they also appear to be terrified of compound sentences. So many sentences are cut off where there could be a comma: ". And" and ". But" are rife here. The killer is also all but revealed around 40% in and the rest is just packed with awkward/erroneous writing. Some more fun examples:
Placing this kind of adverb after the subject is an absolutely bonkers grammar issue I've never seen published before; I think that's because it's 1. usually a mistake that ESL speakers are more inclined to make and 2. usually caught by an editor which I don't believe this book had, but this seems to be a consistent thing with this author. They use "thankfully" the same way in their blog posts. If "thankfully" contextually means "let us be thankful that X happened", it belongs at the front of the sentence, before the subject you're thankful for: "Thankfully, they removed the backpack from the porch steps without too much commotion."
Uhhh, what? Did you mean "And my car keys in hand"? Because otherwise, "with car keys"? Whose? Have they also been slipped on? Why are you wearing someone's car keys? Are the car keys sentient and accompanying you? Maybe this seems nitpicky, but the entire book suffers from grammar issues like this and it gets really tiring. This line is at the 12% mark and I was already fed up with it.
This book is my new poster child for "overwritten in all the wrong places."
This one especially broke my brain. Technically mix and unify aren’t synonyms and you can argue this is correct, but it’s still such a weirdly phrased sentence.
Add a bunch of random typos any editor would've caught and you get the picture. (UPDATED to add that as astonishing as it is that this was published with the number of actual errors it has, I will say this seems to be a growing trend with publishing houses like Kensington, and I think a lot of the problem is that they’re leaving authors to do the work of an editor on their own. Not nearly enough eyes or unbiased critiques are hitting these books before publication and although I believe this author has a lot of improvement to do, I also believe this book could have been significantly better with the support it deserved.)
That brings me to the scene where Ben, an LGS owner, supports another local business owner who is scamming people by selling fake trading cards to make ends meet! And this is the main character we're supposed to be charmed by! Fuck this so hard!
Okay. Listen. I'm a card game nerd, not a board game nerd, so this may not have stood out as much to a lot of people, but I really hated this part and there's so much wrong with it--there's a ton of overlap in these hobbies, and realistically Ben's store would be carrying the big TCGs to stay afloat. These characters should all know better, and they should certainly all know that most people in the (sane) gaming community wouldn't support this way of thinking about their customers--not everyone who buys expensive trading cards is a "wealthy idiot", as the characters so politely call them, and no collector of anything would buy ungraded cards for TEN GRAND. The author is clearly not a part of the card community based on the way they write about these things, including spelling "Pokémon" without the accent. Card grading is serious business and this would NOT be easy to get away with at all. Maybe in the 80s, but not today.
Anyway. Especially for a "cozy/queer" story, this was just such a weird, judgmental, uncomfortable attitude to add in for literally no reason, and it made me dislike Ben by the end. Lots of normal people who aren't "wealthy idiots" buy expensive cards for things like MTG where proxies can't be taken into tournament play. Strict collectors are not necessarily the majority of the expensive trading card market (and most of the mainstream expensive trading card market is cards well below ten grand, but I don't think this review needs another dorky tangent), people are allowed to like things, and Ben absolutely deserves to go out of business if he thinks about his customers that way. This book is indeed queer, but it is very far from "cozy", especially with the ailing father, instalove with no effort put into developing a romance, and the attitude it takes toward a chunk of the community it's aimed at. Unfortunately, this book is a pass.
While our board game sales were . . . sparse, our coffee shop was really taking off.
I looked up and, well, speak of the devil.
Right beyond her was a drip coffee machine that smelled . . . burnt.
I’d half a mind to let him into the shop, find someplace quiet and far away from any windows, and, well . . . kiss him a little more, a little longer.
Beauty Mark headquarters looked, well, without a blemish.
It was so incredibly grating to read. The author's style is very amateur and most of their sentences are the same choppy length; they also appear to be terrified of compound sentences. So many sentences are cut off where there could be a comma: ". And" and ". But" are rife here. The killer is also all but revealed around 40% in and the rest is just packed with awkward/erroneous writing. Some more fun examples:
They removed the backpack from the porch steps without thankfully too much commotion.
Placing this kind of adverb after the subject is an absolutely bonkers grammar issue I've never seen published before; I think that's because it's 1. usually a mistake that ESL speakers are more inclined to make and 2. usually caught by an editor which I don't believe this book had, but this seems to be a consistent thing with this author. They use "thankfully" the same way in their blog posts. If "thankfully" contextually means "let us be thankful that X happened", it belongs at the front of the sentence, before the subject you're thankful for: "Thankfully, they removed the backpack from the porch steps without too much commotion."
With an overcoat slipped on and car keys, I hurried over to the shop next door
Uhhh, what? Did you mean "And my car keys in hand"? Because otherwise, "with car keys"? Whose? Have they also been slipped on? Why are you wearing someone's car keys? Are the car keys sentient and accompanying you? Maybe this seems nitpicky, but the entire book suffers from grammar issues like this and it gets really tiring. This line is at the 12% mark and I was already fed up with it.
“Back door’s open!” a voice said from, as one might expect, the back door. Said door was ajar, so I took the liberty of stepping through.
This book is my new poster child for "overwritten in all the wrong places."
At least they had a passion for fry sauce and the insistence that Utah was the only place whose residents had ever mixed ketchup and mayonnaise (or, even more audacious, the first in all of history) to unify them.
This one especially broke my brain. Technically mix and unify aren’t synonyms and you can argue this is correct, but it’s still such a weirdly phrased sentence.
Add a bunch of random typos any editor would've caught and you get the picture. (UPDATED to add that as astonishing as it is that this was published with the number of actual errors it has, I will say this seems to be a growing trend with publishing houses like Kensington, and I think a lot of the problem is that they’re leaving authors to do the work of an editor on their own. Not nearly enough eyes or unbiased critiques are hitting these books before publication and although I believe this author has a lot of improvement to do, I also believe this book could have been significantly better with the support it deserved.)
That brings me to the scene where Ben, an LGS owner, supports another local business owner who is scamming people by selling fake trading cards to make ends meet! And this is the main character we're supposed to be charmed by! Fuck this so hard!
“I don’t really care about someone who has the extra spending money to buy a dumb little piece of paper for ten grand. If that’s the worst thing that ever happened to them, then they live a pretty good life.”
“Between you and me,” I said, “I think I agree with that.”
Okay. Listen. I'm a card game nerd, not a board game nerd, so this may not have stood out as much to a lot of people, but I really hated this part and there's so much wrong with it--there's a ton of overlap in these hobbies, and realistically Ben's store would be carrying the big TCGs to stay afloat. These characters should all know better, and they should certainly all know that most people in the (sane) gaming community wouldn't support this way of thinking about their customers--not everyone who buys expensive trading cards is a "wealthy idiot", as the characters so politely call them, and no collector of anything would buy ungraded cards for TEN GRAND. The author is clearly not a part of the card community based on the way they write about these things, including spelling "Pokémon" without the accent. Card grading is serious business and this would NOT be easy to get away with at all. Maybe in the 80s, but not today.
Anyway. Especially for a "cozy/queer" story, this was just such a weird, judgmental, uncomfortable attitude to add in for literally no reason, and it made me dislike Ben by the end. Lots of normal people who aren't "wealthy idiots" buy expensive cards for things like MTG where proxies can't be taken into tournament play. Strict collectors are not necessarily the majority of the expensive trading card market (and most of the mainstream expensive trading card market is cards well below ten grand, but I don't think this review needs another dorky tangent), people are allowed to like things, and Ben absolutely deserves to go out of business if he thinks about his customers that way. This book is indeed queer, but it is very far from "cozy", especially with the ailing father, instalove with no effort put into developing a romance, and the attitude it takes toward a chunk of the community it's aimed at. Unfortunately, this book is a pass.
November 17, 2023
when board games get competitive and knives are freely available... when watching tv is a healthier option...
September 24, 2023
I'm sorry but this book was truly awful to read! The writing style was amateur, the plot was predictable and the characters were just flat and I hate to say it boring.
I wanted to enjoy this book, from the blurb it's just my thing but I just couldn't.
I wanted to enjoy this book, from the blurb it's just my thing but I just couldn't.
June 17, 2023
Having finished this, I sure am glad my own 30th birthday was less eventful.
This is my favourite cosy mystery I've ever read. I haven't read many, to be fair, but sometimes I get a craving for queer cosy mysteries, and this is definitely the best one I've read so far.
I came across this book on Twitter a LONG time ago, and I've been highly anticipating it ever since, so I'm very happy I got to read it early. It exceeded all of my expectations.
I just had SO much fun reading this book, and the writing was often hilarious. I ended up laughing out loud a couple of times. What really worked for me, is that the book starts more like a contemporary romance, and the story is set up first before the murder happens and we slowly dive into researching the case. I'm more of a romance reader than a murder mystery reader, so this worked incedibly well for me.
This book's biggest selling point besides this being a queer cosy mystery was the boardgame shop, because I love playing boardgames. And this book is truly infused with boardgames, the entire plot is built around them.
This is my favourite cosy mystery I've ever read. I haven't read many, to be fair, but sometimes I get a craving for queer cosy mysteries, and this is definitely the best one I've read so far.
I came across this book on Twitter a LONG time ago, and I've been highly anticipating it ever since, so I'm very happy I got to read it early. It exceeded all of my expectations.
I just had SO much fun reading this book, and the writing was often hilarious. I ended up laughing out loud a couple of times. What really worked for me, is that the book starts more like a contemporary romance, and the story is set up first before the murder happens and we slowly dive into researching the case. I'm more of a romance reader than a murder mystery reader, so this worked incedibly well for me.
This book's biggest selling point besides this being a queer cosy mystery was the boardgame shop, because I love playing boardgames. And this book is truly infused with boardgames, the entire plot is built around them.
August 30, 2023
✰ 3.25 stars ✰
“Board games bring people together,” I said softly. “Make you forget the bad times for a while.”
The good news is that I wasn't Board to Death as I read C.J. Connor's debut novel. The sad news is that there still needs a little fine tuning to the mystery factor. I never quite understood what it means when a book is labeled as a cozy mystery, but I think it means, one that feels like it's wrapping you in a warm blanket, accompanied by a warm beverage that settles you into a content feeling of burrowing yourself into a soft crime that unfolds with a gentle touch. If that is the definition, then I certainly felt that - to some extent. 👍🏻👍🏻
Dr Ben Rosencrantz, owner of the board game shop,Of Dice and Decks was a likeable narrator. As this is the first of a potential mystery series, we learn a lot about his recent divorce, how he ended up working again at the board shop to help his ailing father, and his budding hopeful and potential romance with his next-door-neighbor, floral shop owner, Ezra. 💐💐 He had a very kind and caring heart, a bit on the weak side, but still so very passionate about the magic of board games and his love for the store that brought together so many special people in his life.
“Do you give all of your customers flowers to say thanks?” I said, in a softer voice than I’d meant to.
I was still getting used to being the recipient of flowers again. That was all. Even platonic flowers (I presumed) got me flustered.
He waved me off. “Just the ones I like, especially the ones that blush when I hand it to them.”
He and Ezra made for an entertaining and unique sleuthing team, after all, 'small businesses have to stick together, don't they?' I kept waiting for the rug to be pulled for under for Ezra - wary that he may be a bad guy, but happily enough, he stayed a resolute and supportive comfort by Ben's side. It was adorable seeing how they casually flirted with the language of flowers and how Ezra never hesitated to be an active participant in all of Ben's amateur detective theories. 🥰
Their banter was also very engaging, Ezra offering his fun and riveting comments to Ben's more subdued and pragmatic rational way of thinking. He may have been still hurting from his failed marriage, so he was always unsure of whether or not he could have something more with Ezra - that he could be that someone special for him. 🩵 🩵
“It could be said that, at times, this group took games a bit too seriously. Board game enthusiasts, as you can imagine, like games best when they are winning.
Sometimes that led to shocking competitiveness. Hurt feelings rarely manifested themselves outside of the gaming table, but . . . the words people said when they were losing weren’t always kind. Or PG.”
As someone whose board game knowledge is restricted to Monopoly, I liked the various board game trivia mentioned; I hope most of them are true, and not simply for the case, because it was some interesting tidbits that I learned. The side characters were very well-rounded and it felt like I was being invited into their little world. It was also nice to see how much love there is in a community that bonds, not only for the love of books, but their passionate drive for testing their skills in these competitive games; which, suffice to say, can get a bit blood-thirsty. 😅 And when, finally, it actually did.
“Once again, the common regret of academics echoed throughout my thoughts: if I’d just gotten my doctorate in medicine, not Tolkien studies, perhaps I could save his life.”
While I didn't quite find any fault in the writing style - I think, it's the actual...hmmm, plot trajectory that weakened it's appeal. The mystery could have been much more developed. I mean, if I guessed the murderer the minute he was introduced! And that's never a good sign! 😔 I want to work for the reveal, not be handed to me, when there are so many factors that clearly point to who the suspect is.
I also felt like this was a very personal story for the author; there was so much emotional depth to what Ben has gone through in his life in Salt Lake City - how it felt so much centered on his own personal growth as a person, that I felt that the mystery element took a backstage because of it. This may be only my opinion, but it was something that stayed in the back of my mind. 🤷
Still, I don't regret giving it a shot - not being bored to death, is definitely a plus. I'm eager to see how the future of Ben's board shop of mysteries continues in it's next addition. And this quote spoke to my book-loving heart - so very much. 🥹
“Bea clutched what appeared to be a weathered book in the Percy Jackson series.
The cover only just hung in there, thanks to the duct tape keeping it in place. “Water damaged” would have been a gentle way of putting it.
In short, it was loved in the way that all books only could hope to be.”
“Board games bring people together,” I said softly. “Make you forget the bad times for a while.”
The good news is that I wasn't Board to Death as I read C.J. Connor's debut novel. The sad news is that there still needs a little fine tuning to the mystery factor. I never quite understood what it means when a book is labeled as a cozy mystery, but I think it means, one that feels like it's wrapping you in a warm blanket, accompanied by a warm beverage that settles you into a content feeling of burrowing yourself into a soft crime that unfolds with a gentle touch. If that is the definition, then I certainly felt that - to some extent. 👍🏻👍🏻
Dr Ben Rosencrantz, owner of the board game shop,Of Dice and Decks was a likeable narrator. As this is the first of a potential mystery series, we learn a lot about his recent divorce, how he ended up working again at the board shop to help his ailing father, and his budding hopeful and potential romance with his next-door-neighbor, floral shop owner, Ezra. 💐💐 He had a very kind and caring heart, a bit on the weak side, but still so very passionate about the magic of board games and his love for the store that brought together so many special people in his life.
“Do you give all of your customers flowers to say thanks?” I said, in a softer voice than I’d meant to.
I was still getting used to being the recipient of flowers again. That was all. Even platonic flowers (I presumed) got me flustered.
He waved me off. “Just the ones I like, especially the ones that blush when I hand it to them.”
He and Ezra made for an entertaining and unique sleuthing team, after all, 'small businesses have to stick together, don't they?' I kept waiting for the rug to be pulled for under for Ezra - wary that he may be a bad guy, but happily enough, he stayed a resolute and supportive comfort by Ben's side. It was adorable seeing how they casually flirted with the language of flowers and how Ezra never hesitated to be an active participant in all of Ben's amateur detective theories. 🥰
Their banter was also very engaging, Ezra offering his fun and riveting comments to Ben's more subdued and pragmatic rational way of thinking. He may have been still hurting from his failed marriage, so he was always unsure of whether or not he could have something more with Ezra - that he could be that someone special for him. 🩵 🩵
“It could be said that, at times, this group took games a bit too seriously. Board game enthusiasts, as you can imagine, like games best when they are winning.
Sometimes that led to shocking competitiveness. Hurt feelings rarely manifested themselves outside of the gaming table, but . . . the words people said when they were losing weren’t always kind. Or PG.”
As someone whose board game knowledge is restricted to Monopoly, I liked the various board game trivia mentioned; I hope most of them are true, and not simply for the case, because it was some interesting tidbits that I learned. The side characters were very well-rounded and it felt like I was being invited into their little world. It was also nice to see how much love there is in a community that bonds, not only for the love of books, but their passionate drive for testing their skills in these competitive games; which, suffice to say, can get a bit blood-thirsty. 😅 And when, finally, it actually did.
“Once again, the common regret of academics echoed throughout my thoughts: if I’d just gotten my doctorate in medicine, not Tolkien studies, perhaps I could save his life.”
While I didn't quite find any fault in the writing style - I think, it's the actual...hmmm, plot trajectory that weakened it's appeal. The mystery could have been much more developed. I mean, if I guessed the murderer the minute he was introduced! And that's never a good sign! 😔 I want to work for the reveal, not be handed to me, when there are so many factors that clearly point to who the suspect is.
I also felt like this was a very personal story for the author; there was so much emotional depth to what Ben has gone through in his life in Salt Lake City - how it felt so much centered on his own personal growth as a person, that I felt that the mystery element took a backstage because of it. This may be only my opinion, but it was something that stayed in the back of my mind. 🤷
Still, I don't regret giving it a shot - not being bored to death, is definitely a plus. I'm eager to see how the future of Ben's board shop of mysteries continues in it's next addition. And this quote spoke to my book-loving heart - so very much. 🥹
“Bea clutched what appeared to be a weathered book in the Percy Jackson series.
The cover only just hung in there, thanks to the duct tape keeping it in place. “Water damaged” would have been a gentle way of putting it.
In short, it was loved in the way that all books only could hope to be.”
January 1, 2025
I have a LOT of thoughts, but to sum it up I was shocked when I discovered that this book had an editor.
September 23, 2023
Feel a little bad giving this 2 stars as it’s not a bad book, but I couldn’t get past the fan-fiction writing style. If you love fan-fiction and cozy mysteries, you’ll probably have a good time with this.
My other issue with the book is it feels underdeveloped. The main characters are likeable, but are very one note. Ben, the main character, is a gay, newly divorced man who returns to his home town of Salt Lake City to run a board game shop. When Ben stumbles upon a murdered man he just met a few hours ago, he is convinced the police think he is the prime suspect so he starts his own investigation. The owner of a nearby shop, Ezra, clearly has a crush on Ben and helps with Ben’s investigation.
The murder mystery is very basic and each chapter is set up for Ben to talk to someone with possible information. It’s very formulaic and the prose wasn’t smart enough to make that fun despite that. It could be that I don’t care for cozy mysteries and this isn’t a fault of the book.
But the romance between Ben and Ezra was not believable at all. I am totally on board with a new start to a relationship. But Ezra just seemed to find Ben faultless and didn’t seem like his own person. He would know things about Ben’s taste that did not pass the plausibility test. And he declares his love at the end of the book when they’ve known each other for about three days. Again, just very underdeveloped.
But I didn’t hate reading the story. It’s short and mildly amusing, especially the nerdy references. I just have higher expectations when it comes to prose and writing craft for me to give this book a higher rating.
My other issue with the book is it feels underdeveloped. The main characters are likeable, but are very one note. Ben, the main character, is a gay, newly divorced man who returns to his home town of Salt Lake City to run a board game shop. When Ben stumbles upon a murdered man he just met a few hours ago, he is convinced the police think he is the prime suspect so he starts his own investigation. The owner of a nearby shop, Ezra, clearly has a crush on Ben and helps with Ben’s investigation.
The murder mystery is very basic and each chapter is set up for Ben to talk to someone with possible information. It’s very formulaic and the prose wasn’t smart enough to make that fun despite that. It could be that I don’t care for cozy mysteries and this isn’t a fault of the book.
But the romance between Ben and Ezra was not believable at all. I am totally on board with a new start to a relationship. But Ezra just seemed to find Ben faultless and didn’t seem like his own person. He would know things about Ben’s taste that did not pass the plausibility test. And he declares his love at the end of the book when they’ve known each other for about three days. Again, just very underdeveloped.
But I didn’t hate reading the story. It’s short and mildly amusing, especially the nerdy references. I just have higher expectations when it comes to prose and writing craft for me to give this book a higher rating.
October 26, 2023
I wanted this book to be better. Ben is the son of a game store owner. Sometime after Clive tries to sell Ben a valuable board game, he winds up with a knife in his chest at the front door of the game store. A backpack full of money mysteriously appears at the door sometime later as well. The detective is not counting out any suspects. Ben feels like he needs to clear himself, so he conducts his own investigation. So who killed Clive?
I was bored to death reading this book! The murder didn’t even occur until at least 54 pages in. The set up took way too long for me. I never felt any suspense or angst from Ben, who was supposedly worried that he was going to be wrongfully arrested for murder. Additionally, the detective never made me feel like Ben was a true suspect.
I also guessed who was the culprit very early on by something the character said. I have a really hard time DNFing a book. In fact, I never do it. But I should have with this one. I was really just bored the entire time.
I was bored to death reading this book! The murder didn’t even occur until at least 54 pages in. The set up took way too long for me. I never felt any suspense or angst from Ben, who was supposedly worried that he was going to be wrongfully arrested for murder. Additionally, the detective never made me feel like Ben was a true suspect.
I also guessed who was the culprit very early on by something the character said. I have a really hard time DNFing a book. In fact, I never do it. But I should have with this one. I was really just bored the entire time.
April 21, 2023
Professor Ben Rosencrantz left his position in Seattle (and memories of his recent divorce) to return home to his father's house and business to help out as his father was being treated for a late onset hereditary Neuromuscular disorder. Things start out all right until an unscrupulous seller of collectible board games enters the scene, is stabbed to death on Ben's front porch, and the police investigation begins, and a backpack filled with money appears. Fortunately Ben has Ezra to help and encourage him as well as other board gamers who are his new friends. And so the sleuthing begins! The characters are well drawn and realistic, the worldbuilding is truly believable. I loved it and will tell anyone who will listen!
I requested and received an EARC from Kensington Books/Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Thank you!
I requested and received an EARC from Kensington Books/Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Thank you!
January 26, 2024
2.5 stars
I really wanted to love this book. I love cosies. A board game theme cosy is something I've not read before. And the book features a gay protagonist who is not represented as a stereotype. I really wanted to love this book.
Alas, there are many components to this that I didn't love. The mystery was a little bland. I've read cosies with bland mysteries before, so on it's own it's not a terrible thing. But there's more. There didn't feel like any impetus for the protagonist, Ben, to investigate the crime. He wasn't being accused of being the culprit, nor was he being harassed by the police. He didn't have a close connection to the victim. Yes, the victim meets his maker at the doorstep of the game store, so that could be the reason. But it was written as if the reason was Ben felt like he was a suspect, that he was being framed.
The mystery itself had an okay structure, but it just needed a little more work. I have a feeling this book just needed a little TLC from a good editor who wanted to give this a little more polish. It felt like the author has a great concept, and a good idea for this first book. The characters are fine, although I found the protagonist getting on my nerves a bit with his jumping out of his skin at every knock of a door or every slight noise from anywhere. I don't mind sensitivity in characters, but this was starting to become almost farcical in how forced it was in the story.
I don't mind minor romance in cosies. It builds on the cosy side of the story. But did the romance need to be instant love? And when Ezra started coming out with things like knowing Ben's tastes in food, when there's no way he could know and the tastes in food weren't that obvious or common, it felt strange. I was left wondering if Ezra was a stalker instead of a love interest. If I was Ben, I would have had serious doubts.
But the ending, and sorry to state this here. When somebody jumps out wearing a homemade superhero costume in a cosy mystery, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to think. That's all I'll say. If you want to understand the full context, read the book!
I really wanted to love this book. I love cosies. A board game theme cosy is something I've not read before. And the book features a gay protagonist who is not represented as a stereotype. I really wanted to love this book.
Alas, there are many components to this that I didn't love. The mystery was a little bland. I've read cosies with bland mysteries before, so on it's own it's not a terrible thing. But there's more. There didn't feel like any impetus for the protagonist, Ben, to investigate the crime. He wasn't being accused of being the culprit, nor was he being harassed by the police. He didn't have a close connection to the victim. Yes, the victim meets his maker at the doorstep of the game store, so that could be the reason. But it was written as if the reason was Ben felt like he was a suspect, that he was being framed.
The mystery itself had an okay structure, but it just needed a little more work. I have a feeling this book just needed a little TLC from a good editor who wanted to give this a little more polish. It felt like the author has a great concept, and a good idea for this first book. The characters are fine, although I found the protagonist getting on my nerves a bit with his jumping out of his skin at every knock of a door or every slight noise from anywhere. I don't mind sensitivity in characters, but this was starting to become almost farcical in how forced it was in the story.
I don't mind minor romance in cosies. It builds on the cosy side of the story. But did the romance need to be instant love? And when Ezra started coming out with things like knowing Ben's tastes in food, when there's no way he could know and the tastes in food weren't that obvious or common, it felt strange. I was left wondering if Ezra was a stalker instead of a love interest. If I was Ben, I would have had serious doubts.
But the ending, and sorry to state this here. When somebody jumps out wearing a homemade superhero costume in a cosy mystery, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to think. That's all I'll say. If you want to understand the full context, read the book!
August 26, 2023
Dollycas's Thoughts
English professor Ben Rosencrantz has come home to help his father with the family’s board game shop and café, Of Dice and Decks. He is still getting over a recent divorce and is now dealing with a father with medical issues and his Chihuahua named Beans. At least the area is more LGBTQ+ friendly now than before he left for college. In fact, the flower shop next door is owned by another gay man.
Ben has a big task if he is going to keep the store open and make enough to cover his father's medical bills. He is open to almost any idea but when a local game collector offers him a rare game at an unbelievable price he knows it is too good to be true and turns the collector down flat.
When the collector is killed right at the front door of the game shop Ben knows he is a suspect but when a backpack filled with money is found at his house it lands him at the top of the list even though he reports the money to the police immediately. Ben looks to his new friend, flower shop owner Ezra to help him prove his innocence because if he ends up in jail it going to take more than a Get Out of Jail Free card to set him free.
____
I love the board game theme of this new cozy series by CJ Connor. We try to have family game nights as often as we can get the family together, where they put down their phones to play dominos and board games old and new.
That being said, I am ambivalent about how I feel about our protagonist Ben. He is very put upon, shy, and introverted, not at all what I would expect from a former college professor. Plus he grew up in the family business but is scared of customers and wants to completely avoid them if he can, all while saying he is trying to save the business. He did have trouble finding acceptance as a teenager and is dealing with a move and divorce but he comes across as whiney in stressful situations and standoffish in everyday life.
Now flower shop owner Ezra I liked immediately. He likes Ben and wants to do everything he can to help him. He definitely took the lead on their amateur investigation. I did enjoy their interactions. Some flirting and discussing the case. Ezra has the attitude I would expect of the lead character. I am wondering if taking their relationship to the next level would boost Ben's confidence making him feel more comfortable in his surroundings and become more of the lead character I expected.
The mystery was interesting in that it revolved around a valuable collectible that was a precursor to the Monopoly game we know today. I enjoyed learning the true history and all the other references to games of my childhood.
The author plotted out the mystery well with quite a few suspects and included a lot of humorous situations as Ben and Ezra tried to find out whodunit. The guilty party was at the top of my personal suspect list very early but I had a good time following the clues and the twists.
I worked for several years for a Morman-owned company so it was easy to understand what Ben had dealt with growing up as a gay man near the ultra-conservative city. I did enjoy the Salt Lake City references as they brought back memories of the times I traveled there for work. I liked that Mr. Connor was inspired by some famous Utah scammers and schemers to create the victim's character too.
Board to Death is a good start for this series. I am interested to see what Mr. Connor has planned for his characters next.
English professor Ben Rosencrantz has come home to help his father with the family’s board game shop and café, Of Dice and Decks. He is still getting over a recent divorce and is now dealing with a father with medical issues and his Chihuahua named Beans. At least the area is more LGBTQ+ friendly now than before he left for college. In fact, the flower shop next door is owned by another gay man.
Ben has a big task if he is going to keep the store open and make enough to cover his father's medical bills. He is open to almost any idea but when a local game collector offers him a rare game at an unbelievable price he knows it is too good to be true and turns the collector down flat.
When the collector is killed right at the front door of the game shop Ben knows he is a suspect but when a backpack filled with money is found at his house it lands him at the top of the list even though he reports the money to the police immediately. Ben looks to his new friend, flower shop owner Ezra to help him prove his innocence because if he ends up in jail it going to take more than a Get Out of Jail Free card to set him free.
____
I love the board game theme of this new cozy series by CJ Connor. We try to have family game nights as often as we can get the family together, where they put down their phones to play dominos and board games old and new.
That being said, I am ambivalent about how I feel about our protagonist Ben. He is very put upon, shy, and introverted, not at all what I would expect from a former college professor. Plus he grew up in the family business but is scared of customers and wants to completely avoid them if he can, all while saying he is trying to save the business. He did have trouble finding acceptance as a teenager and is dealing with a move and divorce but he comes across as whiney in stressful situations and standoffish in everyday life.
Now flower shop owner Ezra I liked immediately. He likes Ben and wants to do everything he can to help him. He definitely took the lead on their amateur investigation. I did enjoy their interactions. Some flirting and discussing the case. Ezra has the attitude I would expect of the lead character. I am wondering if taking their relationship to the next level would boost Ben's confidence making him feel more comfortable in his surroundings and become more of the lead character I expected.
The mystery was interesting in that it revolved around a valuable collectible that was a precursor to the Monopoly game we know today. I enjoyed learning the true history and all the other references to games of my childhood.
The author plotted out the mystery well with quite a few suspects and included a lot of humorous situations as Ben and Ezra tried to find out whodunit. The guilty party was at the top of my personal suspect list very early but I had a good time following the clues and the twists.
I worked for several years for a Morman-owned company so it was easy to understand what Ben had dealt with growing up as a gay man near the ultra-conservative city. I did enjoy the Salt Lake City references as they brought back memories of the times I traveled there for work. I liked that Mr. Connor was inspired by some famous Utah scammers and schemers to create the victim's character too.
Board to Death is a good start for this series. I am interested to see what Mr. Connor has planned for his characters next.
August 18, 2025
the writing was far too juvenile and the dialogue was too ridiculous for a story about characters aged 30 and older I'm sorry. Not to mention that the mystery was just poorly done
June 25, 2023
Board to Death is a charming quozy. Main character, Ben Rosencrantz, has left teaching to return home and help his sick father run his game store. Ben's insecurities are well-balanced by his confident sidekick and love interest, Ezra. The mystery, which revolves around a rare collectible, is nicely plotted. There is a lot of warmth in this cozy. It is perfect for gentle souls and board game enthusiasts.
December 13, 2023
I recently read my first cozy fantasy and didn‘t like it so I was a bit unsure about a cozy mystery but I loved it!
The first half I don‘t remember much of but I was also distracted a lot so it‘s not a book problem.
I enjoyed the second half even more tho, the whole cozy vibe was great and the characters were all so loving and fun and diverse, my fave is probably Ezra!
I did guess who did it before it was revealed but I don‘t think that‘s a bad thing at all.
Thank you NetGalley for the earc
The first half I don‘t remember much of but I was also distracted a lot so it‘s not a book problem.
I enjoyed the second half even more tho, the whole cozy vibe was great and the characters were all so loving and fun and diverse, my fave is probably Ezra!
I did guess who did it before it was revealed but I don‘t think that‘s a bad thing at all.
Thank you NetGalley for the earc
January 30, 2024
A great read for a travel day. Fun, fast-paced, & cozy murder mystery vibes. Glad it finally became available for me on Libby!! Makes me want to play a game of Monopoly immediately!
September 2, 2023
This was so disappointing. I came into this really wanting it to be good because cozy mysteries in the queer realm are very few and far between but... there is nothing I like about this one other than the diversity. Well, and the premise I guess.
The problem is the writing itself. It's very amateurish and clumsy, and it didn't help that the audiobook narrator was also very amateurish.
I won't be continuing if this ends up being a series, and I'll be giving this author a wide berth going forward.
The problem is the writing itself. It's very amateurish and clumsy, and it didn't help that the audiobook narrator was also very amateurish.
I won't be continuing if this ends up being a series, and I'll be giving this author a wide berth going forward.
October 9, 2023
I’m so sad about this one- it has so much potential! Read quite like a first draft. A few rounds of editing would have been beneficial.
A lot of things didn’t quite make sense, and the central mystery has a pretty obvious conclusion. The love interest is barely discernible from the main character, and there is almost no character development.
However, there is something about this book that would make me consider picking up more from the author- I think they have the potential do create something I will truely enjoy
A lot of things didn’t quite make sense, and the central mystery has a pretty obvious conclusion. The love interest is barely discernible from the main character, and there is almost no character development.
However, there is something about this book that would make me consider picking up more from the author- I think they have the potential do create something I will truely enjoy
August 30, 2023
I loved the setting within a small community in a big city; most cozies are set in small towns and you wonder why people stay when all of their neighbors are dying. The board game shop was also different and I learned a lot about games I’d never heard of. Unfortunately, the rest of the book was corny. I’m not a fan of instalove and that happens immediately in this book. Also, the writing is amateurish and I could almost see the outline that was used to write it; each chapter had another set up for clues, which is fine but I don’t want to see the effort that goes into writing a story. Not sure if I will continue the series.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
January 17, 2025
I’m sorry this mystery had such a lack of substance. 90% of this book was them having surface level conversations with suspects that weren’t even suspects.
Not to mention the CRINGE dialogue that had my wanting to skim pages especially at the climax of the story. For 200 pages on the iPad it felt like 500 because of how dreadful this was.
Not to mention the CRINGE dialogue that had my wanting to skim pages especially at the climax of the story. For 200 pages on the iPad it felt like 500 because of how dreadful this was.
September 1, 2023
*2.5 stars
I think this was my first cozy mystery, and I won't be rushing to pick up another. It was immediately clear who the "villain" was and what their motive was, so while it was still a fun ride, there were no surprises. However, the side romance between the board game store owner MC and the floral shop owner was a cute m/m romance that kept things a little more interesting. I likely won't continue the series, but if you're already a cozy mystery fan, this one's fun enough!
I think this was my first cozy mystery, and I won't be rushing to pick up another. It was immediately clear who the "villain" was and what their motive was, so while it was still a fun ride, there were no surprises. However, the side romance between the board game store owner MC and the floral shop owner was a cute m/m romance that kept things a little more interesting. I likely won't continue the series, but if you're already a cozy mystery fan, this one's fun enough!
August 28, 2023
The game is most certainly afoot in this delightfully queer cozy (quozy?) mystery. Amateur Sleuth Ben Rosencrantz is an adorably relatable introvert who will stop at nothing to save the family game shop. Board to Death had me dusting off my board game collection and reinstituting family game night. I can't wait to read more from C.J. Connor!
September 19, 2023
In this series starter, we meet 30 year-old Ben, a professor who has returned to his hometown in Utah to help his aging father run his board game store. Although he loves his father, he's not excited to leave behind his job and face a town that he felt shamed him for his sexuality growing up. But when he and new-in-town, handsome florist, Ezra, start hanging out, sparks fly. That is, until they discover a dead body on the doorstep of the shop...
I was really excited to read this! It has a fabulous cover, and I am excited to see more diverse characters lead cozy mysteries. However, I was a bit disappointed that the murder didn't occur until a quarter of the way through the book. While this may work for an established series, I found myself struggling to care about the characters without something for them to be investigating--I just kept waiting for the murder. Other than that, it was a well-done book, and I'd probably try the next book in the series.
Thanks to Kensington for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4 stars - 7/10
I was really excited to read this! It has a fabulous cover, and I am excited to see more diverse characters lead cozy mysteries. However, I was a bit disappointed that the murder didn't occur until a quarter of the way through the book. While this may work for an established series, I found myself struggling to care about the characters without something for them to be investigating--I just kept waiting for the murder. Other than that, it was a well-done book, and I'd probably try the next book in the series.
Thanks to Kensington for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4 stars - 7/10
August 21, 2023
A cute cozy murder mystery that is perfect for a rainy day!
I’m always looking for new cozy mystery series and this one hit the spot. What can be better then a low stakes murder when you’re trying to ignore the fact that it’s the surface of the sun outside!?
Read this if you’re a fan of:
-queer characters
-lovable chihuahuas and cats
-the murder of a man that everyone hated
-board game references
-sarcastic banter
the mystery itself is a little predictable but it’s still a super fun and cozy book! I can’t wait for book 2!
Pub date: 8/22
This eARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I’m always looking for new cozy mystery series and this one hit the spot. What can be better then a low stakes murder when you’re trying to ignore the fact that it’s the surface of the sun outside!?
Read this if you’re a fan of:
-queer characters
-lovable chihuahuas and cats
-the murder of a man that everyone hated
-board game references
-sarcastic banter
the mystery itself is a little predictable but it’s still a super fun and cozy book! I can’t wait for book 2!
Pub date: 8/22
This eARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
August 22, 2023
A fantastic start to a new cozy murder mystery series featuring a struggling Salt Lake City board game café and the divorced, gay, ex-English Professor who has returned home to care for his ailing father. I loved everything about this book!! Full of humor and heart, this story touches on important topics, like caregiving for a disabled, chronically ill parent (late onset muscular dystrophy), Mormon homophobia, geeky board game culture and more! I can't wait to read the next book in this series!! Good on audio too narrated by Robert Mac Minshew.
July 14, 2025
I think I definitely would have been more critical of this if I read more mystery books, and honestly, I still think the twist was a little eh, but overall this was just quite cute and very queer, just the way I like my books from time to time
September 17, 2023
This was so good. Loved the location, as someone who lived in Utah previously. Love the LGBTQ+ theme being strong. The board games and nod to nerds.
The narration was also excellent.
The narration was also excellent.
August 30, 2023
I loved everything about the quozy mystery debut!!
After a painful divorce, Ben has returned home to help his ailing dad run Of Dice and Decks, their family owned board game shop in Salt Lake City. I so enjoyed all of the game talk. My family loves visiting Dragon’s Lair here in ATX, so I could easily visualize the aisles of various games and the rows of tables for friends and families to gather at as they play those games together. It’s such a welcoming environment. I’ve never heard of Nertz, a competitive form of Solitaire. I appreciate that the author included instructions on how to play as well as explain a sentimental connection to the game that was mentioned throughout the story.
The mystery was well paced and captivating. I like that Ben felt and acted like a true amateur sleuth. Lots of hesitations, nerves, and doubt made him seem incredibly more realistic. Since the victim was easy to dislike, there were quite a few plausible suspects to sort through. I absolutely guessed wrong and was surprised when the culprit was finally revealed.
It makes me so happy to see LGBTQ+ representation slowly making its way into cozy mysteries. It has shown up before as a brief mention of a side character regarding their relationship. However, this is the first Cozy I’ve read with an MC who is openly gay. It’s mentioned many times about the homophobia and the negative effects that Ben endured being raised in SLC. In this story, Ben has a slow burn romance with Ezra, the adorable local florist, which was absolutely delightful.
The discussion questions at the end of the book were fantastic too!!
I look forward to following this author and watching this series grow! I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Books - all opinions are my own.
After a painful divorce, Ben has returned home to help his ailing dad run Of Dice and Decks, their family owned board game shop in Salt Lake City. I so enjoyed all of the game talk. My family loves visiting Dragon’s Lair here in ATX, so I could easily visualize the aisles of various games and the rows of tables for friends and families to gather at as they play those games together. It’s such a welcoming environment. I’ve never heard of Nertz, a competitive form of Solitaire. I appreciate that the author included instructions on how to play as well as explain a sentimental connection to the game that was mentioned throughout the story.
The mystery was well paced and captivating. I like that Ben felt and acted like a true amateur sleuth. Lots of hesitations, nerves, and doubt made him seem incredibly more realistic. Since the victim was easy to dislike, there were quite a few plausible suspects to sort through. I absolutely guessed wrong and was surprised when the culprit was finally revealed.
It makes me so happy to see LGBTQ+ representation slowly making its way into cozy mysteries. It has shown up before as a brief mention of a side character regarding their relationship. However, this is the first Cozy I’ve read with an MC who is openly gay. It’s mentioned many times about the homophobia and the negative effects that Ben endured being raised in SLC. In this story, Ben has a slow burn romance with Ezra, the adorable local florist, which was absolutely delightful.
The discussion questions at the end of the book were fantastic too!!
I look forward to following this author and watching this series grow! I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Books - all opinions are my own.
June 16, 2024
Cute, cozy murder mystery set in a board game shop. The writing felt a bit off but the Nertz game sounds fun!
September 25, 2023
“That’s not why I’m threatening you with a knife. I’m very much an ally.”
I'm a lover of cozy mysteries now so when I heard about one where the plot involved BOARD GAMES? I was instantly interested. I even got my library to get the audiobook of it.
Unfortunately, this one was not for me - the characters fell flat, the murder was far too obvious and the writing style really felt like fan fic level. Even the cozy aspect was really missing as I spent most of the book feeling sad for the characters impending financial crisis and his father degenerative disease.
There's only one character that shows up more than one really with any type of motive, and it's a shame because it's the only one I had hoped wasn't the killer. Perhaps I hoped that because he was ALSO the only one fleshed out enough for me to like.
As for the MC and the love interest it was too insta love-y for me, esp from the florist's perspective. He was willing to drop everything and investigate (what if the MC HAD been the killer?) and also doesn't this guy have a job of his own? It seemed the two of them were always going around doing things as if their respective SMALL businesses didn't matter.
This book is fine as an audiobook to throw on to the background while you do something else but I'm not sure I'll be continuing the series.
rep// mlm
cw// death, knife, homophobia, depression
Find me on: instagram | tiktok
I'm a lover of cozy mysteries now so when I heard about one where the plot involved BOARD GAMES? I was instantly interested. I even got my library to get the audiobook of it.
Unfortunately, this one was not for me - the characters fell flat, the murder was far too obvious and the writing style really felt like fan fic level. Even the cozy aspect was really missing as I spent most of the book feeling sad for the characters impending financial crisis and his father degenerative disease.
There's only one character that shows up more than one really with any type of motive, and it's a shame because it's the only one I had hoped wasn't the killer. Perhaps I hoped that because he was ALSO the only one fleshed out enough for me to like.
As for the MC and the love interest it was too insta love-y for me, esp from the florist's perspective. He was willing to drop everything and investigate (what if the MC HAD been the killer?) and also doesn't this guy have a job of his own? It seemed the two of them were always going around doing things as if their respective SMALL businesses didn't matter.
This book is fine as an audiobook to throw on to the background while you do something else but I'm not sure I'll be continuing the series.
rep// mlm
cw// death, knife, homophobia, depression
Find me on: instagram | tiktok
October 29, 2023
Oof. 1.5 stars? I feel bad but this was just tough to get through. I finished because I wanted to know how the mystery panned out, but I had it figured out from really early on, so I guess I didn't need to. I read an ARC and it was badly edited, but from other reviews it doesn't seem like that was fixed in the final version. There were so many little inconsistencies - his dog needing booties for the cold, but then a comment about A/C in a shop; it's his 30th birthday, and he mentions not having seen someone in 25 years, but then says it was in high school; he worries about rolling dice on an expensive gaming table, as if that's not exactly what it is made for. All of these things really detracted from my reading. Plus, the clues and the reveal for the mystery were just not very good.
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