Author: Diana Killian
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
ISBN: 978-0-425-23391-7
Pages: 300
Series: Mantra for Murder Mystery #3
Type: Adult Cozy Mystery
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
AJ Alexander inherited her aunt's yoga studio, moved to small town New Jersey
and started a relatively quiet life...with the exception of reluctantly solving
a few murders. But when AJ literally trips over the body of her mother's current
beau Dicky right outside Elysia's house, AJ finds herself drawn into her most
important case yet. This time AJ is fighting to prove her mother's innocence but
with business and relationship problems as well as a back injury, AJ could be
biting off more than she can chew.
This is the third book in the Mantra
for Murder Mysteries (after Corpse Pose and Dial Om for Murder) and deals with the death of Dicky who was briefly introduced in
the last book. The plot is cleverly written and packed with false leads but for
some reason I found it really hard to keep my interest on the book and so I kept
picking it up and putting it down. I think my attention kept getting distracted
as there is so much storyline aside from the murder.
AJ spends a lot of
time away from Sacred Balance and can't do yoga because of a back injury, so
it's a little ironic that this book contains quite a lot about both yoga and the
studio. Since the beginning of the series Sacred Balance has played a key role
and in this installment the friction between AJ and her co-manager Lily finally
comes to a head with some dramatic scenes. AJ's relationship with Jake Oberlin
is also on rocky ground with a new character stirring up trouble and AJ doubting
whether the relationship has a future.
Elysia's life and her old friends
also get a lot of page time as this time the case is all about Elysia. It's been
great watching her and AJ grow closer over the previous books, and this
continues that helping AJ see that her mother is no longer the drunk from her
childhood. There is also some resolution to the bitter relationship between
Elysia and AJ's neighbour Stella. This also means that a lot of the supporting
cast are older which adds a different dimension to the book.
At the end
there is a guide to two back-strengthening yoga exercises (Happy Baby Pose and
Cat Stretch) and two recipes for Barley Soup with Porcini Mushrooms and Chicken
Walnut Salad.
All in all this was a fair read and I'm looking forward to
Death in a Difficult Position.
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending:
9/10
Enjoyment: 7/10
Cover: 7/10
Overall: 41/50
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