Engaged in Death

This is a good cozy mystery with lots of twists to keep you wondering what might happen next. A few weeks before Mallory is to be married she gets pictures of her fiance, Keith, cheating on her so she cancelled the wedding. Her future mother-in-law was more upset about that than Mallory because she had taken over the wedding arrangements planning the wedding SHE wanted and was concerned about their reputation if it didn't take place. At about the same time Keith's grandmother died, leaving her mansion to Mallory - not Keith or his mother. This did not go over well. No sooner had Mallory moved in (with her sister, Rachel) when a dead man was found on her front lawn. Since she was a suspect she snooped around to find out who the real killer was, even though the police told her they were handling it and she should stay out of it. I like Stephanie Blackmoore's writing style. The plot was lively and fun, while it also kept me guessing. I was surprised at the end to find out who the murderer was. I loved the well developed characters. Mallory was an intelligent, thoughtful woman who was easy to like. Her younger sister, Rachel, was flighty and fun. It was good to see her taking care of Mallory when it had always been the other way around. I really didn't like Helene or Keith. We're not suppose to like them. My favourite character is the young girl living next door. Everybody loves her. I'm glad I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. It took a very long time to get it but thanks to Goodreads customer support it finally arrived. This is a great book for cozy mystery fans.

Engaged in Death by Stephanie Blackmoore is the first book in A Wedding Planner Mystery series. Mallory Shepard is engaged to Keith Pierce and busy planning her wedding with the “help” from Keith’s overbearing mother, Helene. Mallory may not love Helene, but she does adore Keith’s grandmother, Sylvia. Sylvia is 99 years old and has lived a full life (Mallory visits her frequently). One day Mallory receives an envelope (sent anonymously). When she opens it, she finds pictures of Keith in a compromising position with another woman. Mallory breaks off her engagement to Keith (talk about a lucky break). Then Sylvia passes away. Sylvia’s attorney, Garrett Davies asks to speak with Mallory. Sylvia cared for Mallory as much as Mallory cared for Sylvia and had deeded (instead of leaving it to her in her will) Mallory her home Thistle Park in Port Quincy, Pennsylvania. Thistle Park is in bad shape, but the home has great potential. This really puts Helene’s nose out of joint. Helene was counting on inheriting this home to sell the fracking rights (Sylvia was against it). Shane Harley of Lonestar Energy immediately approaches Mallory (she was just moving in) about selling the fracking rights on the property. Mallory refuses since it was not what Sylvia wanted. The next morning Mallory and her sister, Rachel (who moved into the house with her) finds Shane dead on the front lawn. Can anything else go wrong for Mallory? Well, it turns out that it is too late to cancel all aspects of her wedding reception (with all the hoopla that Helene wanted and Mallory did not). Mallory works to find someone that would like to use her reception (because Mallory was paying for the wedding even though Keith’s family has money). Helene is not done with Mallory. Helene is determined to get her hands on Thistle Park and is going out of her way to make Mallory’s life miserable (in her private and professional life). Mallory is going to have a busy time trying to get her name off the suspect list, find someone to take over her reception, and decide what to do with Thistle Park. Will she succeed? You will have to read Engaged in Death to get the answer. Engaged in Death was a good cozy mystery. There are actually two mysteries going on in the book. They are both interesting, complex, and fun to solve. I liked the characters and the home of Thistle Park. There is also some romance in Engaged in Death. I look forward to seeing how it develops during the course of the series. I will be curious to see what happens with Thistle Park. Engaged in Death drew me in right from the beginning and I did not want it to end. I give Engaged in Death 4.5 out of 5 stars (I loved it but downgraded since I did solve the mysteries). I cannot wait (but I know I have to) to read the next book in A Wedding Planner Mystery series. I received a complimentary copy of Engaged in Death from NetGalley (and Kensington) in exchange for an honest and fair evaluation of the novel.

It was a good book.