A site for all things bookish and for lovers of the written word.
House-flipper Jazzi Zanders and her cousin Jerod have found their latest project. The property, formerly owned by the late Cal Juniper, is filled with debris that must be cleared before the real renovation begins. But a trip to the attic reveals something more disturbing than forgotten garbage—a skeleton wearing a locket and rings that Jazzi recognizes . . . Tests confirm that the bones belong to Jazzi’s aunt Lynda, who everyone assumed moved to New York years ago after breaking up with Cal. Soon enough, the whole family is involved, sifting through memories and rumors as they try to piece together what really happened to Lynda—and the baby she gave up for adoption. In between investigating and remodeling, Jazzi is falling for the old house’s charms—and for her gorgeous contractor, Ansel. But with surprises lurking in every nook and cranny, a killer might be waiting to demolish her dreams for good . . .
The Bottom Line: I tried three times to write my normal long-winded review and kept feeling as if I were giving too much away and I certainly don’t want to deny you the awesome of this book, dear reader. I found this book to be an excellent example of a cozy mystery with fine and engaging characters, just enough mystery to keep me guessing, terribly interesting background/backstory, and a heat level absolutely appropriate for the genre. This is one of those books where I really resented having responsibilities because I wanted to keep reading until I finished, each and every time I picked this one up. What’s more, this first-in-a-series book didn’t have the failings many such books have. In fact, I found The Body in the Attic to be incredibly well-written with the feel of a seasoned author who knows all the writing pitfalls and how to avoid them. I’m all in with Jazzi Zanders and simply can’t wait for her next adventure.
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Paperback