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5+ stars for Dead in the Ditch by J.C. Kenney #cozymystery #newrelease #humorousmystery #bookreview #nnlbh

  • Writer: N. N. Light
    N. N. Light
  • 4 hours ago
  • 3 min read


Title: Dead in the Ditch

Author: J.C. Kenney

Genre: Cozy Mystery

 

Book Blurb:

 

Wild animal removal specialist Elmo Simpson needs to act fast before the good people of Paradise Springs decide to remove him!

 

Halloween has arrived, and all is well in Elmo Simpson’s life until his beloved cat Oscar wanders off and doesn’t return. While searching for Oscar, Elmo discovers a body in a ditch. A body that turns out to be Elmo’s former arch-nemesis, a man who Elmo believes stole intellectual property from him worth millions.

 

When word gets out who the victim is, the town becomes convinced Elmo is the murderer, intent on taking revenge. With nowhere to turn and the reputation of his recently purchased Sea Breeze Resort on the line, Elmo takes it upon himself to figure out who the real killer is. All the while, trying to assemble the threads that connect a dark time in his past with the equally perilous present.

 

My Review:

 

It’s Halloween night but Elmo never expected to find the dead body of Breck, his old nemesis, on his resort’s property. It’s no treat to figure out who murdered Breck, but Elmo has no choice. All the fingers are pointing at him, but he didn’t do it. Can Elmo unmask the killer before it’s too late?

 

Dead in the Ditch is a twisty cozy mystery I couldn’t put down. Between Elmo’s funny one-liners, engaging characters, descriptive narration, and a mystery filled with dead ends and false clues, my head spun off my shoulders trying to solve it before Elmo did. Spoiler alert: the ending shocked me.

 

J.C. Kenney is back with another humorous cozy mystery. The characters, especially Elmo, steal the show. J.C. Kenney flexes his writing muscles with the complex investigation. Kudos to J.C. Kenney for the red herrings and intricate plot twists.

 

Dead in the Ditch is a feast for cozy mystery readers. Fans of Jana Deleon and Toni McGee Causey will love Dead in the Ditch. I can’t wait to read more Elmo and Nic adventures.

 

My Rating: 5+ stars

 

Buy it Now:   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author Biography:

 

J.C. Kenney is the Agatha Award Nominated and bestselling author of mysteries full of oddball characters in unusual settings. "Panic In the Panhandle," book 1 of his Elmo Simpson Mysteries series, was named one of the Ten Best Cozy Mysteries of 2024. He's also the co-host of The Bookish Hour and A Bookish Moment webcasts. When he’s not writing, you can find him following IndyCar racing or listening to music. He has two grown children and lives in Indianapolis with his wife and a cat.

 

Social Media Links:

 

 

Reviewed by: Nancy

©2015-2025 BY N. N. LIGHT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (2015-17 on Wordpress) 

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