5 stars for Elegance and Evil (A Cleo Cooper Mystery Book 2) by DK Coutant #mystery #newrelease #bookreview #wrpbks
- N. N. Light
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Title: Elegance and Evil (A Cleo Cooper Mystery Book 2)
Author: DK Coutant
Genre: Mystery
Book Blurb:
Cleo left ocean-dipping weekends, as a psychology professor in Hawaii to sample life in the high desert of Santa Fe for her sabbatical. With her romantic relationship on the rocks in Hawaii, Cleo falls for Luc, a charming international expert in her field and is tempted to make the change permanent. She enjoys the people, the work, and the sparkling conversations, even if they come with a bite.
But, when a wealthy backer of her project is killed, the snarky scientists, artists, and a Saudi ex-pat, that Cleo thought were her new friends find themselves at the top of a suspect list. And with a killer on the loose, Cleo finds her life, and her love, in danger.
My Review:
Cleo Cooper, psychology professor, is new to Santa Fe. She there temporarily on a sabbatical. But her attraction to her colleague Luc has her considering it a permanent move. Her reputation as an amateur crime-solver precedes her, though. She’s asked by one of Luc’s friends, Joe, to clear his name in a murder case.
It’s a tightknit community of colleagues, and as an outsider looking in, Cleo isn’t as convinced as Luc the man didn’t kill the victim. But she accepts. And, in all the best mystery-novel fashion, trouble ensues.
Elegance and Evil is jampacked with everything good about the genre. There’s a cast of believable, diverse characters that offer an extra dimension to the story. And everyone seems to have a motive, opportunity, or means.
Which means, as a reader, I had a fabulous time ricocheting all over the chapters, trying to detect the killer. Just for the record, I was wrong.
Her characters are all sharply written, her setting a perfect backdrop to the story, and the romance between Cleo and Luc is an added bonus.
But wait, there’s more…
The subplot of the problems her friends in Hawaii are having is original and gave the story an extra layer of tension.
Elegance and Evil is the ideal read for mystery lovers. And a great introduction to the genre for those looking to expand their reading horizons.
My Rating: 5 stars
Buy it Now:
Author Biography:
DK Coutant earned a Ph.D. in Psychology and spent most of her academic career at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. After many happy years in Hawaii, DK made the move out of academics to become a professional geopolitical forecaster for GJP, Inc ( https://goodjudgment.com/Inc ) and the Rand Corporation ( https://www.randforecastinginitiative.org/frequently-asked-questions ). She loves to travel with her husband and an Old English Sheepdog. Evil Alice and the Borzoi is her first work of fiction published by The Wild Rose Press. The second book in the series will be released in 2025.
Social Media Links:
Bluesky: @dkcoutant.bsky.social
Instagram: @DKCandDog
Mastodon: https://lor.sh/@dkcoutant
X: @dkcoutant
Reviewed by: Terry
