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A Mystery à La Mode #3
A Parfait Murder
When Tally's cousin Bree spots her deadbeat ex-husband strolling the Lantana County Fair with a fat wallet and a vixen on his arm, she immediately files for back child support. But when his lawyer is found dead, things get a little sticky. Did Bree serve up a dish of cold, sweet revenge? Or is she another hapless victim of a parfait crime?
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 12, 2011
13 people are currently reading
562 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Lyn Watson
7 books263 followersWendy Lyn Watson's checkered past includes stints as a graveyard shift Denny's waitress, a nanny, a video arcade attendant, and a federal court law clerk. These days, Wendy's day job is teaching constitutional law to college kids.
She also writes mysteries ... light, funny mysteries (because what could be funnier than murder?). Following the Mysteries a la Mode, Wendy's adding some history to her mystery. Once Upon a Wallflower, a Regency-set romantic mystery, will be released in August, 2013.
While she doesn't commit--or solve--murders in real life, she can kill a pint of ice cream and not even blinkl. She's also a devotee of Asian horror films, 80s music, and reality TV.
Series:
* A Mystery a La Mode
She also writes mysteries ... light, funny mysteries (because what could be funnier than murder?). Following the Mysteries a la Mode, Wendy's adding some history to her mystery. Once Upon a Wallflower, a Regency-set romantic mystery, will be released in August, 2013.
While she doesn't commit--or solve--murders in real life, she can kill a pint of ice cream and not even blinkl. She's also a devotee of Asian horror films, 80s music, and reality TV.
Series:
* A Mystery a La Mode
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
December 6, 2019
The country fair is in fully swing, and Tully Jones is hopping between her ice cream store and the booth she’s set up at the fair. Things get even more complicated when her cousin Bree’s ex-husband Sonny walks back into town after fifteen years. Bree is considering going after him for years of back child support, but before that can happen, he slaps her with a paternity suit, trying to claim that Alice isn’t really his daughter. The next day, Sonny’s lawyer is shot inside the haunted rodeo attraction at the fair, and the only other person in the ride is Bree. Tally can’t believe her cousin would do something like this, and Bree flat out denies it. But who else could it have been?
This is a great third book in the series. I loved the twist on the locked room puzzle presented here. There are several good suspects and clues that kept me reading as Tully worked to match the right suspect with the ability to pull off the crime. I also love the characters. Tully and her family are strong, and their relationships go through quite a bit here. I appreciate the growth it showed us for them. Naturally, the suspects are just as strong. I also appreciated that the characters understood why the police were focusing on Bree. They disagreed, but they worked to change their minds. Naturally, as an ice cream lover, I also enjoyed the ice cream descriptions. The book left me smiling and yearning for ice cream.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This is a great third book in the series. I loved the twist on the locked room puzzle presented here. There are several good suspects and clues that kept me reading as Tully worked to match the right suspect with the ability to pull off the crime. I also love the characters. Tully and her family are strong, and their relationships go through quite a bit here. I appreciate the growth it showed us for them. Naturally, the suspects are just as strong. I also appreciated that the characters understood why the police were focusing on Bree. They disagreed, but they worked to change their minds. Naturally, as an ice cream lover, I also enjoyed the ice cream descriptions. The book left me smiling and yearning for ice cream.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
October 5, 2012
3.5 stars
Another really good addition to this cozy mystery series. It kept me guessing until right at the end. The romance between Finn and Tally broke my heart because of some information that was revealed. Tally's a better person than I am to let what she learned go. I wouldn't have been able to.
Another really good addition to this cozy mystery series. It kept me guessing until right at the end. The romance between Finn and Tally broke my heart because of some information that was revealed. Tally's a better person than I am to let what she learned go. I wouldn't have been able to.
August 5, 2011
It's the Lantana County Fair day in Dalliance, Texas, when out of the blue, who strolls past the A-la-mode ice cream booth but Sonny Anders, Bree's ex husband, who she hasn't seen since he walked out on her and their daughter, Alice, fifteen years ago. He's walking with another woman looking very smug and successful. This really frosts Bree as she never saw one red cent of child support money from this loser. Now for the final insult; his lawyer, Kristen Ver Steeg has served her papers questioning Alice's paternity. If that isn't enough to make Bree, her cousin Tally and her 85 year old grandma, Peachy, madder than a wet hen, what is? Well, maybe being accused of murder would do it!
Tally Jones,owner of the A-la-mode ice cream shop, along with detective Cal McCormack are right on the spot when a shot rings out from the Haunted Rodeo ride. They find Bree cowering inside with gun in hand and Kristen dead. Bree insists there was a man with a gun in there but Detective McCormack is convinced Bree is the murderer as all the circumstantial evidence points straight in her direction. Now, how is Tally going to prove her cousin's innocence along with running her successful ice cream shop and dealing with the emotional bomb Bree drops on the family after her arrest. It's going to be one humdinger of a job but Tally keeps a cool head most of the time and vows to prove Bree's innocence.
This is a new to me series and I loved it! Complete with colorful and feisty characters ( I could just picture Peachy when someone got her dander up) that leap off the page, a great setting, fun dialogue and lots of family drama along with a good mystery set up; what more could a cozy fan want? 4****
A Parfait Murder is number 3 in the A-la-mode series following I Scream, You Scream and Scoop to Kill.
Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Signet in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 16, 2023
The plot was good. I enjoyed the characters. The ice cream flavours were yummy.
June 17, 2011
This installment of Tally's adventures was a twisty one indeed.
Tally was doing fine until the Big Reveal #1 when I wanted to slap her upside her head
Now, I sort of knew the family thing from the beginning (Check my updates) but the Who-Dunnit was not who I thought it was and that was surprising.
The book itself eventually balances itself out but at times it felt like it was heavy in one direction and sort of ambling along. Things are brought up that are very interesting and I wish we could go into it more but other parts could've been left out or noted in a sentence or two.
I couldn't put it down though, so something was done right.
Tally was doing fine until the Big Reveal #1 when I wanted to slap her upside her head
Now, I sort of knew the family thing from the beginning (Check my updates) but the Who-Dunnit was not who I thought it was and that was surprising.
The book itself eventually balances itself out but at times it felt like it was heavy in one direction and sort of ambling along. Things are brought up that are very interesting and I wish we could go into it more but other parts could've been left out or noted in a sentence or two.
I couldn't put it down though, so something was done right.
September 2, 2015
I would have really loved to see this series continue, but I'm happy to have read the three books. They were textbook cozy mysteries with characters I found likable and not the least bit annoying, which is exactly what I want when I pick up a cozy.
April 4, 2018
Despite myself I found myself enjoying long stretches of it. Not so much the plot, or definitely the dialogue. I really loathed the way romance was at the centre of it so much and felt as though Tally over-reacted to stuff about Finn and Bree and yet there was a sort of under-reaction to Sonny as well, that they ought to have chucked him out or stood up to him better.
See told you I got drawn in despite myself.
It was the characters I think, I didn't agree with them or relate to their tastes, habits and ways of relating but I related to the humanness of them- that they had vulnerabilities and in jokes and all the rest of it. If there was a strength in the book then it was in the way that so many characters were kept track of fairly well, so that this reader had not too much trouble following (usually I would say it was too many characters). That's one hell of a skill!
But I didn't love the dialogue or the heternormative desperation portrayed. I sort of liked the Carberry daughter sub-plot and while I wasn't a big fan of the denoument I liked that we got there by means of quite a few twists, executed well and then the end itself was short and to the point.
For me the worst part was the Tally and Finn nonsense particularly at the end where Tally blames herself for not being prepared to stake everything on love when she was young. In actual fact people get into trouble more often than not by running off with the Finn's in their life, not by refusing to...that stuff she is going on about is all very romantic but a dangerous and misleading way to think. Also sort of irritating so late in the book. Also for a 2011 book it seems kind of old fashioned in values, relationships and computer illiteracy (maybe that is a "lost in translation" thing being an Aussie reader)
Icecream is good, a range of body shapes were unjudgementally portrayed, these were the pluses. Everyone seemed to be white-anglo which was a bit unfortunate and every woman needed her big strong hero those were definite negs. But I relaxed my way through it and won't be avoiding this series.
See told you I got drawn in despite myself.
It was the characters I think, I didn't agree with them or relate to their tastes, habits and ways of relating but I related to the humanness of them- that they had vulnerabilities and in jokes and all the rest of it. If there was a strength in the book then it was in the way that so many characters were kept track of fairly well, so that this reader had not too much trouble following (usually I would say it was too many characters). That's one hell of a skill!
But I didn't love the dialogue or the heternormative desperation portrayed. I sort of liked the Carberry daughter sub-plot and while I wasn't a big fan of the denoument I liked that we got there by means of quite a few twists, executed well and then the end itself was short and to the point.
For me the worst part was the Tally and Finn nonsense particularly at the end where Tally blames herself for not being prepared to stake everything on love when she was young. In actual fact people get into trouble more often than not by running off with the Finn's in their life, not by refusing to...that stuff she is going on about is all very romantic but a dangerous and misleading way to think. Also sort of irritating so late in the book. Also for a 2011 book it seems kind of old fashioned in values, relationships and computer illiteracy (maybe that is a "lost in translation" thing being an Aussie reader)
Icecream is good, a range of body shapes were unjudgementally portrayed, these were the pluses. Everyone seemed to be white-anglo which was a bit unfortunate and every woman needed her big strong hero those were definite negs. But I relaxed my way through it and won't be avoiding this series.
September 14, 2018
This third book lacks a little in continuity. Instead of developing the conflict between the men in the main characters life, its instantly resolved and not in a very interesting way and then a new conflict that, I dont care how close your family is, should be a much bigger deal emotionally for all of them than it turns out to be. Such lack of development took the magic out of the story. A few times the tranistions between scenes was a giant leap. One second they are in a lawyers office and then. Sentence later they've jumped to a new place with a character who wasn't in the previous scene without amy kind of lead in. The story wasn't bad, predictable but enjoyable. It just felt like Watson was trying too hard to shock the reader that the more essential elements of authors craft kinda fell flat.
November 28, 2020
Some super clever twists in this book and it also incorporated a bunch of little details from the previous two books. This one was just as humorous as the others, overall a really good read. I wish the author would continue the series!
May 9, 2017
Read my full review at www.onemamassummer.weebly.com/bookrev...
November 27, 2017
This ended leaving us on a cliffhanger. I hope there is another one in the works. I have really enjoyed this series.
June 13, 2018
Fabulous read
I loved this book they just keep getting better & better. I highly recomend this book & series. I can't wait for book 4.
I loved this book they just keep getting better & better. I highly recomend this book & series. I can't wait for book 4.
December 14, 2018
I’m in two minds about this. I liked both the mystery and the cast, enough to wish there were more books in the series. But I also didn’t like the family drama, even though it was handled okay, broadly. I felt it unnecessary. Also quite mystified when the ice cream gets made, because all they talk of is scooping. But still, ice cream. Which I really wanted for a cover challenge.
June 27, 2019
Really good! I want more!
July 18, 2019
Who doesn't love a cozy mystery especially when ice cream is in it?
November 13, 2019
An easy book to listen to, Mike and I listened to it together.
June 29, 2021
Enjoyed this mystery, whole series was good. Had the culprit pegged, but didn't know why. Plus, a few other sub-plots took me by surprise. Hope the author continues writing mysteries.
August 11, 2022
A pretty good murder mystery with a lot going on besides! It did keep my guessing right up to the end. Not much about ice cream, but that's not why I read it.
February 22, 2024
Great series, fun read.
October 1, 2024
A little sad. The mystery was full of twists, but I just felt bad for Bree and Alice.
May 26, 2025
First time with this author but I will trad others. Hood family interaction.
August 21, 2025
This book was enjoyable and contained quite some twists. The ending itself was quite predictable though.
April 18, 2011
Appearances can be deceiving.
“A Parfait Murder” by Wendy Lyn Watson is the 3rd serving of a Mystery a la Mode series. We open to find Sonny Anders, Bree’s ex and Alice’s daddy, strolling up the midway at the Lantana County Fair after a seventeen year absence. On his arm is his new lady, Char. Char is an enigma dressed up like a church social lady but with a walk that would give the Devil pause. The duo is back in town with a sweet deal for the business folk of Dalliance. But first Sonny’s lawyer, Kristen Ver Steeg has papers served on Bree challenging Alice’s paternity. The stage is set for an epic battle when Kristen turns up dead with Bree holding the gun.
Meanwhile Tally, the owner of Remember the A-la-mode and Bree’s cousin, has begun to date her childhood sweetheart Finn who roared out of her life after high school only to re-appear last year. Their romantic adventures throughout the fairgrounds leave your head spinning like a Tilt n Wheel. Riding through the Haunted House moves their relationship closer. Then a ride on the ferris wheel serves up a scene worthy of your favorite soap opera. While at the top of the ferris wheel a romantic moment is interrupted by a life changing event. When the Tally gets off the ride her family’s lives will never be the same again.
Things are not what they seem in this tale. Is Sonny really in town to disown Alice? What’s the scoop on his and Char’s business, is it the real deal or just a scam? Just who was Kristen Ver Steeg and why would anyone want to kill her? Will her latest family drama be enough to tear Finn and Tally apart or bring them closer to the cherry on top of the sundae? It’s up to Tally & Finn to get to the bottom of Sonny’s reappearance and Kristen’s murder before Bree finds herself frying for murder.
“A Parfait of Murder” was more delectable than a fudge sundae with double whipped cream on top. It has more surprising twist and turns than a Vanilla/Raspberry Twist cone. Pick up the book this summer for a cool treat at the beach.
A Parfait Murder: A Mystery A La Mode
“A Parfait Murder” by Wendy Lyn Watson is the 3rd serving of a Mystery a la Mode series. We open to find Sonny Anders, Bree’s ex and Alice’s daddy, strolling up the midway at the Lantana County Fair after a seventeen year absence. On his arm is his new lady, Char. Char is an enigma dressed up like a church social lady but with a walk that would give the Devil pause. The duo is back in town with a sweet deal for the business folk of Dalliance. But first Sonny’s lawyer, Kristen Ver Steeg has papers served on Bree challenging Alice’s paternity. The stage is set for an epic battle when Kristen turns up dead with Bree holding the gun.
Meanwhile Tally, the owner of Remember the A-la-mode and Bree’s cousin, has begun to date her childhood sweetheart Finn who roared out of her life after high school only to re-appear last year. Their romantic adventures throughout the fairgrounds leave your head spinning like a Tilt n Wheel. Riding through the Haunted House moves their relationship closer. Then a ride on the ferris wheel serves up a scene worthy of your favorite soap opera. While at the top of the ferris wheel a romantic moment is interrupted by a life changing event. When the Tally gets off the ride her family’s lives will never be the same again.
Things are not what they seem in this tale. Is Sonny really in town to disown Alice? What’s the scoop on his and Char’s business, is it the real deal or just a scam? Just who was Kristen Ver Steeg and why would anyone want to kill her? Will her latest family drama be enough to tear Finn and Tally apart or bring them closer to the cherry on top of the sundae? It’s up to Tally & Finn to get to the bottom of Sonny’s reappearance and Kristen’s murder before Bree finds herself frying for murder.
“A Parfait of Murder” was more delectable than a fudge sundae with double whipped cream on top. It has more surprising twist and turns than a Vanilla/Raspberry Twist cone. Pick up the book this summer for a cool treat at the beach.
A Parfait Murder: A Mystery A La Mode
May 31, 2011
It's time for the Lantana County Fair and Tally's cousin Bree is manning the A La Mode booth when she spots her ex-husband walking through the midway with a thick wallet and a babe on his arm. Bree is beyond mad, this man left her "high and dry" with an infant to raise and no financial support whatsoever. She decides it is time to sue for Child Support. Then her ex serves her with paternity papers asking her to prove her daughter is really his.
Bree gets into a sticky situation when she meets with her exes lawyer on the Haunted Rodeo ride at the fair when shots ring out and the lawyer is dead and Bree is found holding a gun. So now is Bree is suspected of murder, confused about her daughter's paternity and knows the only reason he ex would come back to Dalliance is if he is running a scam.
So Tally has her hands full running her store, running the booth at the fair, judging the food competitions at the fair, now she may also be losing her boyfriend, is taking care of Bree's daughter and helping her understand what is going on, but she also has to prove Bree is not a killer. Tally may be an ice cream expert but she is going to need a little help from her friends to get the scoop on who really killed the lawyer and churn out who is really behind the scam that brought all this sandal to the county fair.
Wendy Lyn Watson's stories are a joy to read and always lead to me sending someone out for ice cream.
I love the characters, the way she sets the scene and the way she churns together mystery, romance and humor. There is just one scoop after another scoop of pure elation. Her books are one of my true guilty pleasures and she always leaves me want more.
Get the scoop on this wonderful series today!! The whole series is a super sweet tasty treat. Thankfully the stories do not melt away!!!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Berkley Prime Crime, A Division of Penguin Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Bree gets into a sticky situation when she meets with her exes lawyer on the Haunted Rodeo ride at the fair when shots ring out and the lawyer is dead and Bree is found holding a gun. So now is Bree is suspected of murder, confused about her daughter's paternity and knows the only reason he ex would come back to Dalliance is if he is running a scam.
So Tally has her hands full running her store, running the booth at the fair, judging the food competitions at the fair, now she may also be losing her boyfriend, is taking care of Bree's daughter and helping her understand what is going on, but she also has to prove Bree is not a killer. Tally may be an ice cream expert but she is going to need a little help from her friends to get the scoop on who really killed the lawyer and churn out who is really behind the scam that brought all this sandal to the county fair.
Wendy Lyn Watson's stories are a joy to read and always lead to me sending someone out for ice cream.
I love the characters, the way she sets the scene and the way she churns together mystery, romance and humor. There is just one scoop after another scoop of pure elation. Her books are one of my true guilty pleasures and she always leaves me want more.
Get the scoop on this wonderful series today!! The whole series is a super sweet tasty treat. Thankfully the stories do not melt away!!!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Berkley Prime Crime, A Division of Penguin Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
June 12, 2011
A Parfait Murder
By Wendy Lyn Watson
Copyright June 2011
Publisher Obsidian Mystery
Synopsis
“Life has been good for Tallulah Jones, and nabbing a spot on the judging panel at the Lantana County Fair puts the cherry on the top.
But when Tally's cousin Bree spots her deadbeat ex-husband strolling the Lantana County Fair with a fat wallet and a vixen on his arm, she immediately files for back child support. But when his lawyer is found dead, things get a little sticky. Did Bree serve up a dish of cold, sweet revenge? Or is she another hapless victim of a parfait crime?
Will Tally prove Bree’s innocence or will she find her cousin has committed the “parfait” crime? Either way, trouble is certain to be churned up….?
Review
Tally’ s world seems to be looking up and she’s been in a good mood. Good moods as we all know are a figment of the imagination, fleeting and short. Her cousin Bree’s finding her runaway ex is the start of a series of disastrous events that will take her into new places and dangers what will either tear the family apart or help make it stronger.
Tally, Bree, Aunt Peachy and the rest of the family will tear the town apart if necessary to prove that Bree is not a murderer, and to find the answer to a bunch of other unanswered family issues.
Wendy Lyn Watson’s Mystery a la Mode series is a romp through the life and times of Tallulah Jones and her slightly dysfunctional family.
Wendy can be found at hanging out at https://www.facebook.com/#!/wendylynw... and also http://www.wendylynwatson.com
FTC Disclosure
In accordance with FTC guidelines regarding endorsements and testimonials for bloggers, I would like my readers to know that many of the books I review on my site are provided to me for free by the publisher or author of the book in exchange for an honest review. I am in no way compensated for any reviews on my site.
By Wendy Lyn Watson
Copyright June 2011
Publisher Obsidian Mystery
Synopsis
“Life has been good for Tallulah Jones, and nabbing a spot on the judging panel at the Lantana County Fair puts the cherry on the top.
But when Tally's cousin Bree spots her deadbeat ex-husband strolling the Lantana County Fair with a fat wallet and a vixen on his arm, she immediately files for back child support. But when his lawyer is found dead, things get a little sticky. Did Bree serve up a dish of cold, sweet revenge? Or is she another hapless victim of a parfait crime?
Will Tally prove Bree’s innocence or will she find her cousin has committed the “parfait” crime? Either way, trouble is certain to be churned up….?
Review
Tally’ s world seems to be looking up and she’s been in a good mood. Good moods as we all know are a figment of the imagination, fleeting and short. Her cousin Bree’s finding her runaway ex is the start of a series of disastrous events that will take her into new places and dangers what will either tear the family apart or help make it stronger.
Tally, Bree, Aunt Peachy and the rest of the family will tear the town apart if necessary to prove that Bree is not a murderer, and to find the answer to a bunch of other unanswered family issues.
Wendy Lyn Watson’s Mystery a la Mode series is a romp through the life and times of Tallulah Jones and her slightly dysfunctional family.
Wendy can be found at hanging out at https://www.facebook.com/#!/wendylynw... and also http://www.wendylynwatson.com
FTC Disclosure
In accordance with FTC guidelines regarding endorsements and testimonials for bloggers, I would like my readers to know that many of the books I review on my site are provided to me for free by the publisher or author of the book in exchange for an honest review. I am in no way compensated for any reviews on my site.
March 1, 2016
Appearances can be deceiving. A Parfait Murder is the 3rd serving of a Mystery a la Mode series. We open to find Sonny Anders, Brees ex and Alices daddy, strolling up the midway at the Lantana County Fair after a seventeen year absence. On his arm is his new lady, Char. Char is an enigma dressed up like a church social lady but with a walk that would give the Devil pause. The duo is back in town with a sweet deal for the business folk of Dalliance. But first Sonnys lawyer, Kristen Ver Steeg has papers served on Bree challenging Alices paternity. The stage is set for an epic battle when Kristen turns up dead with Bree holding the gun. Meanwhile Tally, the owner of Remember the A-la-mode and Brees cousin, has begun to date her childhood sweetheart Finn who roared out of her life after high school only to re-appear last year. Their romantic adventures throughout the fairgrounds leave your head spinning like a Tilt n Wheel. Riding through the Haunted House moves their relationship closer. Then a ride on the ferris wheel serves up a scene worthy of your favorite soap opera. While at the top of the ferris wheel a romantic moment is interrupted by a life changing event. When the Tally gets off the ride her familys lives will never be the same again. Things are not what they seem in this tale. Is Sonny really in town to disown Alice? Whats the scoop on his and Chars business, is it the real deal or just a scam? Just who was Kristen Ver Steeg and why would anyone want to kill her? Will her latest family drama be enough to tear Finn and Tally apart or bring them closer to the cherry on top of the sundae? Its up to Tally & Finn to get to the bottom of Sonnys reappearance and Kristens murder before Bree finds herself frying for murder. A Parfait of Murder was more delectable than a fudge sundae with double whipped cream on top. It has more surprising twist and turns than a Vanilla/Raspberry Twist cone. Pick up the book this summer for a cool treat at the beach.
October 14, 2011
When Wendy Watson asked on Facebook who wanted to review her latest mystery, A Parfait Murder, I signed myself right up. After reading the first, I Scream, You Scream, and thoroughly enjoying the delectable mystery, I knew I wanted to follow the series. I did miss the second book, Scoop To Kill, but I have that on my list to read. For the third book in the Mystery A La Mode series, Tally’s cousin Bree gets an unexpected visit when her ex-husband appears back in town. Sonny shot off seventeen years prior, after Bree got pregnant with her daughter Alice. After never making child support payments, Sonny shows up with a flashy business proposition for the town- and a stunning female on his arm. Sonny hires Kristen Ver Steeg as his lawyer, but she winds up dead- and Bree is holding the gum. Tally knows her cousin is innocent, but with all the evidence and motives pointing straight at Bree, Tally knows she doesn’t have long to clear her cousins name. Meanwhile, Tally is trying to successfully date Finn Harper, a childhood friend and sweetheart who got away, but when a complicated family secret gets revealed, Tally and Finn’s relationship is forever changed.
Once again, I had a great time diving in to this fun mystery series. And seriously- who doesn’t love these covers? They grab my attention right away. Watson brings back heartfelt characters with a lot of personality, and I really enjoyed getting to know Alice. The ending with the family secret simply shocked me, I really can’t say I saw that one coming. There were a few other plot twists that caught me off guard as well, which I love. The suspense was up there, and I think readers will have a great time reading A Parfait Murder. Be sure to check out the rest in the series as well!
[Rating: 4]
Once again, I had a great time diving in to this fun mystery series. And seriously- who doesn’t love these covers? They grab my attention right away. Watson brings back heartfelt characters with a lot of personality, and I really enjoyed getting to know Alice. The ending with the family secret simply shocked me, I really can’t say I saw that one coming. There were a few other plot twists that caught me off guard as well, which I love. The suspense was up there, and I think readers will have a great time reading A Parfait Murder. Be sure to check out the rest in the series as well!
[Rating: 4]
April 1, 2014
I don't usually read mystery books because I sort of have the impression most of them are either the sherlock/poirot kind of mysteries, which are good, or the A to Z mysteries kind which I read when I was 12. I do love a good mystery, but most of them time I'm just looking for some casual reading material and most mystery books are too intense. I picked up this book from the library eventually because it looked happy enough (sorry, judging the book by the cover again) and it was probably something I could get through easily. It's sort of like chick lit with less romance and more mystery.
I didn't start out liking this book as I'm not really a fan of small town settings. It's like the book naturally assumes you can remember the ten billion characters and their quirks (of course I'm exaggerating here) and there are just too many random, arbitrary characters in small town settings.
But the book really got exciting in the second half and I really enjoyed the twists and turns. Can't really say much without spoiling the story. Most of the first half seemed like a wild goose chase, which is usually necessary anyway for mystery books. But I'm a lazy reader and I cannot bothered to work to solve the mystery just like the characters so I usually don't spend effort thinking about how things fit together in the mystery if it seems too complicated.
I picked up this book without knowing that it was third in the series. It didn't really affect the story that much though I think I might have enjoyed it more if I had read the previous books as there seemed to be some references to things that had happened before.
I didn't start out liking this book as I'm not really a fan of small town settings. It's like the book naturally assumes you can remember the ten billion characters and their quirks (of course I'm exaggerating here) and there are just too many random, arbitrary characters in small town settings.
But the book really got exciting in the second half and I really enjoyed the twists and turns. Can't really say much without spoiling the story. Most of the first half seemed like a wild goose chase, which is usually necessary anyway for mystery books. But I'm a lazy reader and I cannot bothered to work to solve the mystery just like the characters so I usually don't spend effort thinking about how things fit together in the mystery if it seems too complicated.
I picked up this book without knowing that it was third in the series. It didn't really affect the story that much though I think I might have enjoyed it more if I had read the previous books as there seemed to be some references to things that had happened before.
November 28, 2011
A Parfait Murder by Wendy Lyn Watson
From the back of the book: Life has been good for Tallulah Jones, and nabbing a spot on the judging panel at the Lantana County Fair puts the cherry on top. But when Tally's cousin Bree spots her deadbeat ex-husband strolling the fairground with a vixen on his arm and fat wallet in his pocket, all the fun goes cold.
Bree immediately files for back child support, but then her ex's attorney is found dead at the fair, and things look more than a little sticky because Bree is standing over the body with a gun in her hand. She pleads her innocent and begs Tally to clear her sweet name.
Will Tally prove Bree's innocence or will she find her cousin has committed the "parfai" crime? Either way, trouble is certain to be churned up. . .
What I liked about the book: I LOVE this series. This is the third book in the series and each one has been a very entertaining read. Watson's characters (much like Texas hair) are big and over the top. She mixes humor, mystery, family drama and romance together to create a delicious read. As a Texan, living out of state, this series has a very special personal appeal for me. The "family drama" (and I'm not talking about the deadbeat ex-husband) was a little disheartening, but the way the characters dealt with it felt real and ultimately made for a good Texas soap opera type story.
What I didn't like about the book: Can't think of a thing I didn't like. This was one of my "treat" reads for the Thanksgiving break.
From the back of the book: Life has been good for Tallulah Jones, and nabbing a spot on the judging panel at the Lantana County Fair puts the cherry on top. But when Tally's cousin Bree spots her deadbeat ex-husband strolling the fairground with a vixen on his arm and fat wallet in his pocket, all the fun goes cold.
Bree immediately files for back child support, but then her ex's attorney is found dead at the fair, and things look more than a little sticky because Bree is standing over the body with a gun in her hand. She pleads her innocent and begs Tally to clear her sweet name.
Will Tally prove Bree's innocence or will she find her cousin has committed the "parfai" crime? Either way, trouble is certain to be churned up. . .
What I liked about the book: I LOVE this series. This is the third book in the series and each one has been a very entertaining read. Watson's characters (much like Texas hair) are big and over the top. She mixes humor, mystery, family drama and romance together to create a delicious read. As a Texan, living out of state, this series has a very special personal appeal for me. The "family drama" (and I'm not talking about the deadbeat ex-husband) was a little disheartening, but the way the characters dealt with it felt real and ultimately made for a good Texas soap opera type story.
What I didn't like about the book: Can't think of a thing I didn't like. This was one of my "treat" reads for the Thanksgiving break.
November 13, 2011
Read this after reading the second in the series. Did not disappoint. The heroine, Tally, is more reluctant to get involved in solving mysteries, which I like. There are too many cozy mysteries heroines that think they how to do things better than the professionals and just go off foolishly and without regard to their safety and sometime the safety of their friends, which is even more unforgivable. As a friend of my has said, you have to a compelling reason for the heroine to place herself in peril. Unfortunately, most cozy heroines don't. As my friend told and I agree, many "too stupid to live" - but they do, only to go off again and endanger themselves and the people around them.
Tally though is more reserved, but succumbs eventually to sticking her nose into the mess. Like the way she warned the town (county?) cop she was going get involved. Small town, and she knows the cop from childhood. I am a bit peeved though, that the cop seemed to have a one track mind in this book. Bit of a cliche I think and annoying. However, he is not so stubborn as some characters that he can't see another view or open his mind to other possibilities.
There are only three in the series I think, and I've read 2 & 3 - guess I should go the the beginning now.
Tally though is more reserved, but succumbs eventually to sticking her nose into the mess. Like the way she warned the town (county?) cop she was going get involved. Small town, and she knows the cop from childhood. I am a bit peeved though, that the cop seemed to have a one track mind in this book. Bit of a cliche I think and annoying. However, he is not so stubborn as some characters that he can't see another view or open his mind to other possibilities.
There are only three in the series I think, and I've read 2 & 3 - guess I should go the the beginning now.
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