Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Book Review: Murder Gone Missing by Lida Sideris (Giveaway)

How do you protect your long time friend from a murder charge if the body he insists he saw has gone missing?

Corrie Locke, new law degree in hand, has decided to end her sleuthing days. Yes, she learned everything she knows from her late PI dad, and he was kind enough to leave her with a stash of great weapons, but she's happy to put aside solving crimes for a real day job.

But then her friend Michael stumbles upon the body of his dead boss...the same boss he had argued with earlier in the day. In a panic, he tampers with the crime scene, and it looks like if the police are called he will be their prime suspect.

Problem is, when Corrie and Michael arrive at the college, the body is missing. Corrie follows lead after lead--most coming to a dead end--in the hopes she can find the killer before Michael is arrested.

What a fun and engaging read this is. Murder Gone Missing by Lida Sideris has a contemporary feel with charm provided by Corrie's mom who thinks food and fashion can solve any problem. Corrie, Michael, James, Veena, Corrie's mom, and the entire list of suspects at the college are worth getting to know. As expected, Corrie' life is a little messed up: she's having romance issues; she's as different from her mom as day is to night, ensuring that her mother simply doesn't understand why she can't just head toward that respectable lawyer job instead of tracking down dead bodies; and there's that on-going feud with one of her friends. Simply put--there is plenty of conflict here to keep you turning the pages, even without a mystery to solve.

Speaking of the mystery, it's well-written with twists and turns in every direction. Just when Corrie--and the reader--thinks they have it solved, they discover another dead end. I was so twisted and turned that I even thought it would point to someone that would have destroyed my heart if that person was the killer. Phew!

This is a quick read with some action, romance, and humor mixed in. I'll want to go back and read the first book in the series, because Corrie and crew are people I want to know more about.



Series: A Southern California Mystery
Paperback: 262 pages
Publisher: Level Best Books; 1 edition (April 5, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1947915045
ISBN-13: 978-1947915046

I received a digital copy of this book from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Excerpt

I entered the dark office and heard a crackle beneath my sneaker. I turned on my penlight. A white envelope rested on the floor, the President’s name handwritten across the front. I picked it up. The scent of gardenias invaded my nostrils. Where had I smelled that before? I shoved the letter in my hoodie and quick-stepped toward the desk. A scratching noise stalled my next move. I spun around. I sucked in a breath and flashed my beam. The doorknob was twitching. In lightning speed, I stood next to the entry, back pressed to the wall, Taser in hand. Possibilities raced through my mind. Was it the killer? A random student?




Lida Sideris is the author of the Southern California Mystery series, the latest of which, MURDER GONE MISSING, was published by Level Best Books. She writes soft-boiled mysteries and was one of two national winners of the Helen McCloy Mystery Writers of America scholarship award. To learn more about Lida, please visit www.LidaSideris.com.

Other Links:


Twitter: @lidasideris


Lida Sideris will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.



a Rafflecopter giveaway



8 comments:

Goddess Fish Promotions said...

Thank you for hosting today.

Lida Sideris said...

Thank you SO much, Cheryl, for taking the time to read my latest and for the lovely review. I'm so happy that you enjoyed reading!! :) And thank you very much also for hosting me today.

Rita Wray said...

Sounds like a good book.

Lida Sideris said...

Hi Rita,

Thank you for the visit and the kind words! :)

Bernie Wallace said...

What was your favorite book growing up? Congrats on your release. Bernie Wallace BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com

Victoria Alexander said...

Great review, I enjoyed reading it!

Lida Sideris said...

Thank you, Bernie, for the visit and the comment! My favorite book growing up? Why the Nancy Drew series, of course. :)


Hi Victoria, I enjoyed the review, too! Thanks very much for stopping by! :)

James Robert said...

Congrats on the tour and thank you for the book description and giveaway as well. I enjoy these tours and have found some great books.