BOOK REVIEW: A Shot of Murder by J. A. Kazimer @JAKazimer @midnightinkbook @KayePublicity #AShotofMurder #cozymystery #bookreview

200 years ago, a whisky distillery was founded in Gett, Florida named Lucky Whisky. When Lucky shared his secret recipe with this best friend Gett, he stole it and started a rival distillery. Centuries later, these two families never see eye-to-eye, but they sure do make some great whisky…

In the first book in the Lucky Whiskey Mystery series, Charlotte returns home to small town life in Gett, Florida to help her grandfather, but finds herself investigating a murder!

About the Book

Charlotte Lucky isn’t exactly Gett, Florida’s favorite citizen. Too many remember the time she defaced the local water tower with a suggestive update to the town’s name (Getting Lucky). And her most memorable role during her recent stint in Hollywood—victim #2 in an STD commercial—hasn’t helped them forget, much less forgive, her youthful hijinks.

When she returns to town after her grandfather Jack–owner of the Lucky Whiskey Distillery–has a heart attack, she finds herself to be an outsider in her own town. Brodie Gett, her childhood nemesis and grandson of the town’s founding family, thinks none too fondly of Charlotte. And Roger Kerrick, her high school boyfriend, now works as her grandpa’s chief distiller.

But she never gets to find her place in the town, because the first cask of whiskey she tries to tap contains Roger’s pickled body. Now her chilly reception back home poses a real threat. Brodie’s brother, Sheriff Danny Gett, arrests Jack on suspicion of Kerrick’s murder. Charlotte’s only hope of clearing him is to pry loose enough information about the night of the crime to unmask the real killer. But it will take more than luck to save Charlotte from the perils of tracking down a coldblooded murderer.

Reflection

I found the mix of drama and laughs charming! The town of Gett was the type of small town that if a resident leaves for a few years, they come back as an outsider. And that’s what Charlotte is dealing with. A bit of sharp-tongued rapport between Charlotte and rival Brodie Gett (of Gett the town and Gett whisky, the rival to Lucky whisky owned by Charlotte’s grandfather) really made the enemy-to-friends vibe. This is a fun first book in a new cozy series!

I really liked the way the author wrote the dialogue between the characters. Brodie and Charlotte have a great back-and-forth that really engaged me. I’m so curious to know more about Charlotte’s parents though! I suspect we may get a book on that very subject!

A few reviewers noted that this got a tad repetitive, and while I agree, it didn’t bother me! I found the murder mystery remained front-and-center, and had enough suspects, clues, and red herrings to keep my mind spinning. The setting and the theme of this cozy were so fun, and the author kept the balance of mystery over cutesy!

Thank you to Kaye Publicity and Midnight Ink Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.