Heather’s Bookshelf: Little Devil
Author: Joanne Alain Cook
Released: 12/01/22
Genre: Cozy Mystery
“That little devil pivoted its head every which way, then stopped to lock eyes with me, my true soul sister. She blinked twice, flirting with me, then swooped up into the dark night.”
“Little Devil” introduces Amanda, a young woman hired to act as a ghost writer. Maxine, the woman who hired her, is a wealthy grandmother. She thinks so highly of Amanda, that she lets her stay in her guest house at her mansion and sets her up with one of her grandsons.
Until last week, Amanda was engaged to Steve, the handsome and doting professor who swept her off her feet. She called it off when she finds some evidence of his less-savory side. Still connected to him by Maxine, proximity, and her job, Amanda tries to listen to her head instead of her heart.
When a will comes in to play and the rest of the grandchildren arrive, the family drama explodes. There’s the twins Aster and Alex- each with their own vices and problems; James the seemingly level headed one, and Bruno the youngest from Brazil. An altercation leads to a body, which leads to an investigation and then another body…
Trigger Warning: violence, murder, reference to drug use, reference to rape, adult language
Overall, I enjoyed this cozy mystery. Amanda as a protagonist is relatable and endearing. Her hang up on Steve is infuriating, but familiar as everyone’s had the occasion where their heart overrides their head. Each of the ancillary characters are also well-defined with interesting character traits, motivations, and flaws. I especially liked James’ character and the depiction of the mansion and grounds. The story is a quintessential who-dun-it and the ride is an entertaining and well-paced one. Some of the dialogue was repetitive and a little clunky, the overall story has a nice tone and feel to it. I wanted to find out who Amanda could really trust and who the villain was and so I kept flipping the page eagerly. The ending was a little predictable, but still enjoyable and fulfilling.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A cozy little mystery with a likable protagonist and interesting cast of characters. While a little predictable and repetitive at times, the story was entertaining and fun.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with Joanne Alain Cook
Interested in checking out the book for yourself?
Find it for purchase here or on Kindle Unlimited
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