Book Review It's Murder, You Betcha!

 Author Jeanne Cooney has cooked up another cozy mystery for her fans with her newest book, “It's Murder You Betcha,” Book Two in the It's Murder Series. Her pot simmers with crisp, sharp bites and witty sentences peppered with liberal use of metaphors, idioms, similes, and hyperboles gently stirred in. One-line zingers with added doses of betcha, dontcha, gotcha, uff-da deliver distinctive Midwest flavors. Readers will find themselves served a heaping bowl of a satisfying and entertaining murder mystery authored by Cooney.

Cooney, a skillful wordsmith, creates memorable and often hilarious scenes for the reader using authentic dialogue with relatable characters. The setting is a small real Northern Minnesota town of Hallock in the Red River Valley.

The main protagonist, Doris Day Anderson Conner, narrates the story. In the previous book of the series, Doris was instrumental in solving a murder in their town where a local pharmacy is robbed and the prime suspect is murdered. Her sister, Grace Kelly Anderson, owner of the More Hot Dish Please Cafe, is often an unwilling sidekick to Doris's self-imposed investigative work. Ninety-year-old feisty Rose O'Brien, temporarily staying at their house, often joins them on their sleuthing adventures. Rose's fragile health is a concern to Doris and Grace. They are continually trying to minimize her stress without much success. When Lars, Rose's love interest, has been found murdered and his body in the lake, they find themselves thick in the middle of the sheriff's investigative work. Doris is compelled to make inquiries among the town folks, much to the sheriff's chagrin. He feels the investigative work is being compromised by her meddling. When a second murder occurs, the whole town goes into overdrive. As the suspect list grows, so do possible motives. Doris is determined to solve the crimes with her sister's reluctant help.

Cooney is a master at creating red herrings, moving the storyline along. Many persons of interest, shifting relationships and alliances, and possible motives keep the reader guessing all the way to the end of the story about who is responsible for these two murders.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention food, which is often central to the storyline. Doris's weakness for sweets and snacks creates relatable and funny scenes, like the need for a convenience store stop for snacks to fortify herself and Grace while on surveillance watch. The mention of comfort food recipes from the 50s, 60s, and 70s throughout the story evokes a sense of nostalgia. 18 mouthwatering recipes are in the back of the book and are waiting for you to try. 

Readers beware: It's an addictive read. 

All About The Author (jeannecooney.com) 

Jeanne Cooney is the author of the popular Hot Dish Heaven Mystery Series: Hot Dish Heaven, A Second Helping of Murder and Recipes, and A Potluck of Murder and Recipes. Her new series, It’s Murder, kicks off in March 2022, with the release of It’s Murder, Dontcha Know. Jeanne splits her time between northwestern and central Minnesota.