Slay Bells Ring

Loved this cozy mystery!! Jenna is the wedding planner for the wedding of her former high school sweetheart but when he fails to show up the wedding, the investigating begins. Jenna joins forces her mother, an amateur investigator. Even better yet, her mom needs to clear Jenna's name from the list of suspects. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and could not put it down. It kept me guessing until the end. A great start to a new series.

This cozy mystery is by a new to me author but one I will definitely look for in the future. The two main characters, Jenna and her mum, Maddie, are both very likeable, and the relationship between them is wonderful. Jenna's ex, Riley, is getting married, and his wedding is the first to be organised by Jenna with her new wedding planning business. Maddie runs a bridal shop but also writes mysteries. When someone is found dead (I am being very careful not to drop any spoilers!), Maddie uses her amateur sleuthing skills to lead them through various escapades in an attempt to try to find out who the murderer is, much to the consternation of Police Chief, Jackson. I really enjoyed this book, it is paced just right and kept me guessing to the end. The only slight niggle for me is that the narrative is told in alternating pov's of Jenna and Maddie - each chapter tells you whose pov it is, but even so I found I had to keep reminding whose turn it was, and had to read back a little each time to get it straight in my head. However, this is just me, others might really like the alternating pov narrative. Other than that I really liked the writing style and the story itself. I am happy to know that this is the first in a series, can't wait for book #2!

I love a really good cozy mystery and do not read them often enough. This will change because of author Nancy Robards Thompson's book Slay Bells Ring. I will read this series and any of her other books as well. I enjoyed the mother/daughter combo. How they love each other, yet true to life got on each other's nerves from time to time. BUT if push comes to shove, no one messes with mama bear's daughter. The claws will come out! I have to say I did not figure out who done it exactly myself so I will leave most things out in my review. This book is a wonderful cozy mystery that I enjoyed reading and look forward to more from this series, hopefully quickly.