4 stars for Research Can Be Murder by Caryl Janis #cozymystery #mystery #bookreview

Title: Research Can Be Murder

Author: Caryl Janis

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Book Blurb:

Emma Streyt hated to admit she was bored. But her newly retired brother puts an end to that by dropping a stash of old family memorabilia on her doorstep. Cheered on by her best friend, Emma enthusiastically dives into these boxes of antique treasures. But some faded diary pages convince her that century-old thefts-- and maybe something worse -- are tied in with their past. Eager to dig deeper into this mysterious puzzle by doing some serious research, she settles into a neglected New York City archive with an eccentric cast of characters. But more sinister matters than history soon unfold there when a fellow researcher is murdered. And Emma's determination to solve the case makes her a dead-center target for the killer.

My Review:

Emma Streyt hates to admit she’s bored. Her husband works long hours and is so tired when he gets home, they rarely even talk. But her newly retired brother puts an end to inactivity by dropping a stash of old family memorabilia on her doorstep. She dives into boxes of antique treasures containing diary pages and jewelry. What she finds leads her to believe there are secrets in her family’s history that could be disturbing. She learns of a New York City archive where she can do some serious research and settles into a schedule of daily visits.

Research Can be Murder is a cozy mystery. When Emma digs into the memorabilia and begins her research, the reader is led to believe the mystery will be centered around her treasure trove.

The archive is a treasure box in itself, filled with eccentric characters. Something odd is going on at the archive but is only hinted at. Emma has a friend and an acquaintance that help her in her research who are also vibrant characters. The cast that Ms. Janis assembles is the saving grace in this story.

When one of the researchers is found dead, ostensibly due to mugging, Emma decides it has something to do with whatever she’s sensed and leaves her family memorabilia mystery research behind. At this point, we are halfway through the book. The amateur sleuth at last has a murder to solve. She forms a team with her friends and new acquaintance from the archive to uncover the truth about the researcher’s death.

Once the actual mystery took hold, the story moved along, but it took half the book to get there. The mystery of the memorabilia never materialized, and the real cozy mystery was dropped on the reader in the middle of the book. The characters are well defined. The archive setting is visual. If you don’t mind a slow roll into the meat of the story, then you’ll enjoy Research Can be Murder.

My Rating: 4 stars

Buy it Now:   

Amazon          Amazon.com: Research Can Be Murder: 9781509254477 

Barnes & Noble          Research Can Be Murder by Caryl Janis, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®

Books-a-Million         Research Can Be Murder by Caryl Janis (booksamillion.com)

IndieBound     Research Can Be Murder a book by Caryl Janis (bookshop.org)

Walmart          Research Can Be Murder (Paperback) - Walmart.com

Author Biography:

A fan of mysteries since childhood, Caryl Janis now writes her own. Her first was To Sketch a Killer, an urban cozy set in 1977 Manhattan. Research Can Be Murder is her newest -- a contemporary cozy set both in Manhattan and its nearby suburbs. A freelance musician and nonfiction author, Caryl enjoys concerts, theater, museums, and spending time with family and friends.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.caryljanis.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarylJanis 

Reviewed by: Brenda