4 out of 5 stars.
I would like to thank Booktrope for providing my with a free ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an open and honest review.
If you can’t tell from my rating – I loved this book. A cosy crime that included hand crafts, quirky but strong women and wayward pets… what more can you ask for? It was a great read.
It was a light-hearted, fun and well written cosy crime. I love artisan work, support it where I can and now just wish I had some artisan bead makers near me so I can ogle (and buy) their work. Yes, I did get the strong urge to go beading and jewellery making after this… but I have been fighting that urge off for a few years now so can’t entirely blame this book!
Glass bead work was a new one for me in a cosy crime though… and I loved that too. How could you not get all excited and feel the passion of an artisan at work? They say to write what you know, and it really worked well in ‘High Strung’.
Yes there were the odd hiccups and typos/ grammar issues, but I put those down to both down to it being an ARC and also the first in a new series and you’re always going to get hiccups in those. Not a biggie AT ALL! Did not stop it from being an enjoyable and entertaining read.
I did sort of figure out parts of the whodunit, but not enough to get bored, and there were also enough red herrings thrown in to make me doubt my own opinion. I do love that in a cosy crime – keep me guessing no matter how much of a smarty pants I think I am for figuring some of it out.
Would I recommend this book to others?
A very BIG yes. Those who enjoy a good cosy crime set in a quirky area of the USA – you will love this book.
Would I buy this book for myself?
Possibly. For now it is definitely in my “will grab and borrow if I see it at the library” level of book attraction and I DESPERATELY want to read the next in the series… so you can tell I really like is and I will be making big doe eyes at Ms Peacock to encourage her to let me review the next one… when it comes out.
In summary: A great new cosy crime series. Ticked all the boxes for me when it comes to these little mysteries set in the USA and I freely admit to having a bit of a book hangover when I was done as I just wanted MORE! I cannot recommend this book enough – go grab a copy today!
Until next time,
Janis.
Janis's Journal 