Review - Blown Away

It is already the middle of February!!  Time is flying.  Trying to keep up with my reviews...and catch up a little even.  

This is the first book in a new series featuring a kite shop in a beach town.  The author provided a teaser (click here.)  Check out my review and see if this grabs to interest.

Author: Clover Tate

Copyright: Feb 2016 (Berkley) 298 pgs

Series: 1st in Kite Shop Mystery series

Sensuality: Mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy

Main Character: Emmy Adler owner of Strings Attached kite shop

Setting: Modern day, Rock Point Oregon

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review

From the cover: "Emmy is finally living her dream. She’s moved to the coastal town of Rock Point, Oregon, and is starting a kite business. Strings Attached features her own unique designs, inspired by everything from Picasso to Matisse’s colorful cutouts. Her spirits are soaring sky-high the morning of the grand opening—until she stumbles upon a dead man washed up on the beach. 

The body belongs to local chef Miles Logan, and the gash across his chest indicates he’s been murdered. The sheriff suspects Emmy’s best friend, Avery, who used to date the chef.  Emmy is sure Avery would never hurt anyone, but her pal doesn’t have an alibi for the night of the murder. With Avery’s freedom and the fate of her kite shop up in the air, Emmy takes it upon herself to follow the string of clues and solve the murder before the real killer takes flight."

Emmy Adler is stubborn and bit reckless in seeking to clear Avery's name.  She manages to get it wrong a few times too.  Avery Cook, the best friend suspected of murder is so depressed or something that not much can be said about her.  I hope the next book will have the character come alive.  Sherriff Nick Koppen is all kinds of patient with Emmy.  Jack Sullivan, owns the only other kite shop in town clearly likes Emmy and wants to find out who killed his friend Miles too.  Stella Hart is a retired school teacher and new part time employee of Emmy's.  She is the breakout character that I really will be seeking out the next book.

Rock Point seems like the idyllic beach town with a fantastic uncrowded beach, yet plenty of paying visitors and residents to support two kite shops.  Rock Point, with its restaurant Tidal Basin, Brew House, mushroom harvesters, and a gossip loving post office employee all add depth to the town.  

The muder is pretty straight forward, who ever killer Miles also framed Avery.  But who and why is the elusive part.  Miles was a bit difficult as a chef at times, but finding a real reason to kill the man is harder than you might think.  The pacing is steady with only a few times when it started to lag, but quickly recovered.  

The killer reveal is nicely tense and dramatic like I like them.  The wrap up was short and left me with a smile.

This is a solid debut novel with many elements hitting a delightful chord.  I would like to see Emmy learn to think before running head-long in the fray would be my only suggestion for improvement.

Rating:  Good - A fun read with overall enjoyable story line and plotting with some enjoyable characters.