Portrait of a Dead Guy

A Cherry Tucker Mystery #1

by Larissa Reinhart

Laugh-out-loud funny and as Southern as sweet tea and cheese grits

***A Daphne Du Maurier finalist, The Emily finalist, Dixie Kane Memorial Winner, and Night Owl Review top pick***

In Halo, Georgia, folks know Cherry Tucker as big in mouth, small in stature, and able to sketch a portrait faster than buckshot rips from a ten gauge — but commissions are scarce. So when the well-heeled Branson family wants to memorialize their murdered son in a coffin portrait, Cherry scrambles to win their patronage from her small town rival. 

As the clock ticks toward the deadline, Cherry faces more trouble than just a controversial subject. Between ex-boyfriends, her flaky family, an illegal gambling ring, and outwitting a killer on a spree, Cherry finds herself painted into a corner she’ll be lucky to survive.


Related subjects include: cozy mysteries, women sleuths, murder mystery series, whodunit mysteries (whodunnit), humorous murder mysteries, book club recommendations, amateur sleuth books, small town humor, Southern humor, comic (humorous) crime and mystery, small town and rural.

Books in the Cherry Tucker Humorous Mystery Series:

QUICK SKETCH (novella in HEARTACHE MOTEL) 
PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY (#1)
STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW (#2)
HIJACK IN ABSTRACT (#3) 
DEATH IN PERSPECTIVE (#4)
THE BODY IN THE LANDSCAPE (#5)
THE VIGILANTE VIGNETTE (novella)
A COMPOSITION IN MURDER (#6)
A VIEW TO A CHILL (novella)

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Southern, Chick Lit, Romance

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

A Wall Street Journal bestselling and international award-winning author, Larissa loves to tell funny, sweet stories about sassy Southern women looking for love (and sometimes dead bodies) in all the wrong places, like in her award-winning Cherry Tucker Mystery, Maizie Albright Star Detective, and/or Finley Goodhart Crime Caper series. You might have seen Larissa and her family with their little dog, Biscuit, on HGTV's House Hunters International "Living for the Weekend in Nagoya" episode. They’re back in Georgia where Biscuit has a bigger yard but now has to live with thunderstorms.
Check out LarissaReinhart.com to learn more and get a free story while you're visiting.

Her books have been chosen as book club picks by Woman's World Magazine and Hot Mystery Reviews. They've also been finalists for Georgia Author of the Year, the Silver Falchion, the Daphne du Maurier Award, The Emily Award, and Dixie Kane Memorial. Her work also appeared in the 2017 Silver Falchion Reader’s Choice winner, Eight Mystery Writers You Should Be Reading Now.

Cherry Tucker Mysteries (in order):

A CHRISTMAS QUICK SKETCH (prequel)
PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY
STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW
HIJACK IN ABSTRACT
DEATH IN PERSPECTIVE
THE VIGILANTE VIGNETTE
THE BODY IN THE LANDSCAPE
A COMPOSITION IN MURDER
A VIEW TO A CHILL
A MOTHERLODE OF TROUBLE

Maizie Albright Star Detective series in order:

15 MINUTES
16 MILLIMETERS
NC-17
A VIEW TO A CHILL
17.5 CARTRIDGES IN A PEAR TREE
18 CALIBER
18 1/2 DISGUISES
19 CRIMINALS (coming soon!)
20 CARATS

Finley Goodhart Crime Capers in order:

PIG’N A POKE (prequel short story for Larissa's subscribers)
THE CUPID CAPER

Reviews

[Terri Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a small town portrait artist, Cherry Tucker, works hard to make a living. So when she hears that the wealthy Branson family want a portrait of their trouble-making son, Dustin, she jumps on it. One problem--he's dead, and she has to paint a portrait of him in his coffin. Even though she paints a peaceful final picture, Dustin died with a little help, and soon, Cherry stumbles onto a mystery that might leave her as dead as the man in the coffin.

I loved Reinhart's quirky characters and Cherry's relationship with her eccentric family. Add a high school rival, a sexy ex, and a hostile goat, and this humorous mystery kept me up late turning the pages. I can't wait for more Cherry Tucker.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love, love, love this book. I have always been a Stephanie Plum fan, but have had a hard time finding another good read with the same snark, humor, and hit me out of nowhere kind of plot...not to mention male leads that make you swoon. Cherry Tucker may be short in stature, but she fills some big shoes. From the first scene I was sucked into Halo, Georgia, with its southern small town charm and cast of colorful characters. This book has been my carpool line indulgence, and without fail...the other drivers see me smiling, laughing, or plum spitting out my coffee due to some turn of phrase that only Larissa can pull off. But it's not just the humor and hunky characters (Luke), there is some great plotting, suspense, and mystery that keeps the pages turning. Swooning, laughing, fanning yourself on the edge of your porch swing, checking your back now and then, and suddenly craving a tall glass of sweet tea...that's Portrait of a Dead Guy. Thanks Larissa Reinhart for the best 'If you like J. Evanovich...you will LOVE' book I've found yet!

[LynDee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cherry Tucker is a hoot!

When the local bad boy turns up dead in small town Georgia and his slightly kooky family wants a "coffin portrait," Cherry hops-to hoping for a fat commission check. But she gets more than she bargained for when another victim turns up -- and then the killer starts after her.

Toss in a couple of sexy guys, a few laugh out loud redneck truths, and a mischievous goat, and Larissa Reinhart has one of the most rollicking mysteries I've read in years. Well done!

I can't wait to see what Cherry and Luke get themselves into next.

[Lynn Farris · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Portrait of a Dead Guy” is an auspicious start to Larissa Reinhart’s career as a mystery writer. The book has already garnished a variety of awards and nominations and it has yet to be published. The book is scheduled to be available on August 28, 2012 and is from Henery Press.

Under the name Larissa Hoffman, “Portrait of a Dead Guy” is a finalist for the Emily Award in the category of Romantic Suspense, a finalist for the Dixie Kane Memorial contest in the category of a Novel with Romantic Elements and a finalist in the Unpublished Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense in the Single Title Romantic Mystery/Suspense category.

Read the rest of my review on http://www.examiner.com/article/don-t...

[Sally Kilpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know, if Stephanie Plum had a country cousin, I'm thinking she would be a lot like Cherry Tucker. And if you're in the mood for a cozy set in a small southern town, then this is the book you seek. I had to shift gears a bit because I picked this one up not long after reading Karen Rose--apples and oranges, folks. Portrait is definitely more mystery than thriller, but that doesn't mean you won't find it a page turner. Besides, it's got a goat! Now, if Larissa can get Cherry to reference Bierstadt in her next novel, I think my day will be made.

[Susan Boyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Larissa Reinhart delivers the goods in her debut novel, Portrait of a Dead Guy. The series protagonist, Cherry Tucker is a hoot--my very favorite kind of character. The story is well paced, the plot intriguing. I loved this book, and can't wait to read about the next tangle Cherry gets herself into (and out of).

[Denise Grover Swank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever mystery with witty dialogue and an infuriating protagonist you can't help loving. I can't wait to read the next book in the series-- Still Life in Brunswick Stew!

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Struggling small town artist, commissions are thin on the ground for Cherry, so when the town's wealthiest family ask her to paint a portrait of their murdered son she takes the job despite the creepy nature of the commission.

Then she finds herself accused of burglary, stealing from a corpse and she's also the suspect in a murder. Her struggling business is taking hit after hit and if she can't clear her name the best she can hope for is being run out of town.

Portrait of a Dead Guy isn't bad. It's typical of a lot of Southern Mysteries, a ditzy heroine bumbling her way through crime scenes; a hero who is honestly a jackass; and the other guy who is a loveable idiot. After I manage to suppress my annoyance at jackass heroes it's quite enjoyable.

[Kendel Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was immediately drawn to this book by its title and I was not disappointed. Larissa Reinhart paints a delightful southern mystery full of sassy wit and hometown drama. Amateur sleuth Cherry Tucker pops off the page, and while she gets herself into trouble, she’s pretty good at figuring it out, too. She kept me hooked until the very last page. Highly recommended for those in search of a new humorous mystery series.

[Robin Leslie Coxon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Portrait of a Dead Guy is the first in the Cherry Tucker Mystery series by Larissa Reinhart. Her main character, Cherry Tucker, who is a spitfire from the south that strives to prove everyone wrong when it comes to be a successful Portrait Artist. When she is contacted to do a portrait of a young man who has passed on little does she realize that it is a portrait of him as he lies in his coffin. As if this isn’t bad enough, she must prove she is a better artist than the decease’s cousin. Once I picked up the book I couldn’t put it down. Page to page I found the humor addicting and so I wanted to know what Cherry was going to get herself into next. The story has that down South flavor and the characters reflect the local persona. If you need a good laugh, you will enjoy this book.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Cherry Tucker Mystery series by Larissa Reinhart. Don't you just love new series? A chance to meet new characters that you are going to have the opportunity to really get to know over the course of the series. Their ups and down, foibles and eccentricities, good days and bad. And in the case of a character like Cherry Tucker, you just know that you are going to be on one hell of a roller coaster ride.

The book opens with Cherry Tucker, struggling artist in a small Georgia town, headed to a funeral home to meet with the parents of local bad boy Dustin Branson. She is trying to get the commission to do his death portrait. Sounds creepy right? But that's not all. Dustin Branson was found murdered and the killer is still at large. Added to this, Dustin "had been a criminal in the making for twenty-seven years." If all this isn't bad enough, Cherry finds out that she must compete with her old high school rival Shawna Branson for the commission. To add insult to injury? Shawna wants to do a "Paintograph" of Dustin. And Cherry is just appalled by this paint by numbers masquerading as art. This leaves Cherry only 2 days to get the painting done before the viewing. The final cherry on the top of this headache sundae? Luke, her old boyfriend, is back for the funeral of his step-brother Dustin. The old boyfriend she never really got over.

This was a phenomenal book. As a small town southerner myself, I could completely relate to the trials and tribulations that Cherry is enduring. The crazy family, the past exploits she just can't live down, the rednecks and wannabe's, the "adopted" family like Uncle Will the Sheriff. I could completely commiserate and relate to Cherrilyn "Cherry" Tucker.

This book kept me laughing out loud at some of the antics Cherry got herself into. If I had to make a comparison I would call this a Southern Stephanie Plum. And since I love the Stephanie Plum series, that is a dang good recommendation, right there! (Geesh, you can almost hear my southern coming out!) I am giving this book 5 stars on Goodreads. 4 stars for the book itself and a whole 'nother star for all the great stuff the author has on Pinterest. I love when an author gives me more to explore with a favorite book. It helps to keep my interest up until the next book comes out. So seriously, ya'll go check out Ms. Reinhart's Pinterest Boards. You can get a feel yourself, of the true essence of Cherry Tucker.

[Brooke Blogs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cherry Tucker is smart, sassy and talented. Right from the beginning, I was drawn in by her infectious attitude. She’s definitely one of my favorite characters! Cherry is a struggling artist in the tiny town she grew up in. When she hears that a former classmate has passed away, and his stepmother wants a portrait painted of him, Cherry jumps at the chance. Of course, it’s not that simple. Things get complicated when Cherry is trying to paint the portrait after hours in the funeral home, and she gets knocked unconscious. The family starts to think that she was trying to rob them of something. Cherry also has to deal with ex-boyfriends (one of whom is the stepbrother of the deceased).

This story has it all: a cozy, small-town feel; an awesome main character; a great mystery. This is a wonderful cozy and I’m really looking forward to reading the next installment in the Cherry Tucker series.

[Diane Vallere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forget judging a book by its cover--I judged this one by its funny title and I wasn't disappointed. Larissa Reinhart's sense of humor and frequent laugh-out-loud one liners will make you want to read every word for fear you'll miss something if you skim. In addition to the voice, I loved how main character Cherry Tucker experiences everything from her perspective as an artist, including the colors she sees when she's knocked out. I found myself racing ahead, not just for the mystery, but for Cherry's romantic entanglements, too. Can't wait to see where this series goes next!

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this because my cousin wrote it! I just finished it and I am very impressed! It is an engaging story and Cherry Tucker is a great character! If I didn't have a three-year old it would be hard to put down! Great job, Larissa!

[Shawn Callon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Painting a dead guy in a coffin, muscle-bound stud, overweight sheriff, penniless and clueless painter - these are the main components of the novel. Stopped reading it after completing about a third of the boring story.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning debut, only retracted a star because of the narrator's indecisiveness. Overall excellent, though.

[Brooke Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I won this as a First Reads Giveaway.*

I really liked this book. It was so fun and enjoyable. I finished it in two settings but if I had the time I would've finished it in one. I didn't want to put it down. I was guessing until the end whodunit and that's so important for me. I hate when I can see who did it early on, especially with a bumbling stupid cast set around to make the story work. That's so not the case here. The miss steps and misleads are understandable and the reader makes them along with Cherry.

The characters all popped out and felt real. Cherry is are strong lead woman who has clear flaws but she's loveable and trying to do the right thing. Her family isn't perfect but they are family. They annoy each other but band together when there's trouble. There is the love triangle thing going on which has become a staple in these kind of books. It often becomes annoying with the indecisive back and forth. However, Cherry clearly has her mind about her and knows what she wants. She just had a bit of trouble getting her backbone to work with her. She's feminine but not the stereotypical princess. She's country but not the stereotypical redneck. She's southern but not the stereotypical Southern bell nor the Southern Cross flag loving moron. She's real and I love her for it. She's an artist and it colors how she views thing and the author loving helped paint it. Honestly, Cherry is one of my new favorite characters, for all of these reasons and more.

I like the setting. I know how things get twisted in small towns, how everyone knows everything about everyone while pretending not to and the futility of fighting against the flow. Now this small town setting is common but is often idealized. I love the realistic portrayal here. The town and it's people are still engaging, still lovable (or hateable) and really gives you a good idea how small towns really work. It's still understandable why people live there and love it, but there are no illusions used to get this across, it's reality is enough.

It was also a nice break to get a book with working poor people as the cast. I mean really, in a small town there's the one person who owns everything due to inheriting and the rest of us are struggling to get along usually. That was the case in my small town and that's the case here. It's nice to get an honest look and portrayal of people like this, like me. It's refreshing and I loved it. Even city slickers will love it, it's not too above their understanding. ;-) /joke

This book is really beautifully written. The author has a wonderful voice, that lends itself so well to her characters. This sentence "The object of my desire, Todd's functioning vehicle, jerked to a stop at the curb while the object of my ire bounded up the slope to my porch." is such a great example. I love it. There's other examples but you should experience it for yourself.


I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book. My only real hesitation I feel is due to being lead on and disappointed with the continuation of other series. *cough Stephanie Plum cough* However, this is a stunning debut. It will draw you in and you'll fall in love with this book. If you're feeling disappointed and disenchanted, Portrait of a Dead Guy will renew your love for this genre.

[Lily (Night Owl Book Cafe) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for a tour in exchange of an honest review!

Charming, witty and a perfect start to a brand new cozy mystery series.

Cherry Tucker graduated from college and is now struggling to get her portrait painting business going, minding the bills. As a struggling artist she cannot pick and choose who her client are, so when she is asked to paint a picture of a man that was found dead – she did not expect his step-mother to request a picture of their murdered son in the coffin as is.

Portrait of a Dead Guy was a funny, unique and lighthearted mystery in a small town with a southern charm. We get to peak into some lives of the a town called Halo and its residents and introduced to Cherry as she takes us for a ride when she faces more trouble then she was willing to bargain for between the murder, a gambling ring, ex-boyfriends and a killer on a killing spree. I really enjoyed Cherry, she was kind of heart-warming in her own way. Her conversations and interactions with other people are amusing and as a character herself, I found her personality very endearing.

We get a glimpse into Cherry's past, which consists of Todd – a hot drummer that she married in Vegas and annulled the marriage just as fast. Along with Luke, an equally hot military guy who was also Cherry's ex-boyfriend from high school. Both have a thing in common, dimples, and both make her swoon and lose her mind. I have to admit, I find myself very curious about these three as the books progress.

The plot in itself I thought was original and different from some of the other mysterious I have read. I also really enjoyed the dynamics of Cherry's family, especially between her sister, her brother, her grandfather and her uncle. The mystery surrounding Cherry's mother and the bad luck with men had me hooked from the first few pages. Portrait of the Dead Guy had everything I needed to get a good book fix, entertainment, humor, light-hearted romance, unique and interesting plot...oh and of course, a mystery :)

[Traci (Mad Hatter Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5

If there's such a thing as a chick-lit mystery, then Portrait of a Dead Guy fits right in. Cherry Tucker isn't much of a detective...just a starving artist in small-town Georgia trying to make sure that she gets paid for the commission she worked so hard to get. The more she tries to finish her painting, the deeper Cherry gets sucked into the mystery of who killed one of Halo's local sons.

Larissa Reinhart's world building is so vivid that you can practically taste the sweet tea. Growing up in small Southern towns myself, the town and its inhabitants reminded me of my own childhood. It's true what they say too, when you grow up in a small town, everyone knows everything about you and your family going back multiple generations. And poor Cherry has her own past actions (she's been known to be a bit boy crazy) to live down. It doesn't help that she's a spitfire stuffed into a small packed with plenty of attitude to go around.

All the characters are well developed and filled with quintessential Southern charm (which you might call slight craziness). Throw in plenty of humor, a couple of hot hunks, and more twists and turns than a greased pig and I became an instant fan.

I can't wait for book #2, Still Life in Brunswick Stew! Fortunately comes out in just a couple weeks-May 21, 2013. You need to make sure that it's on your TBR too!

[Rosalee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone knows you can't go home again, and especially not to a small town, where everyone remembers and knows everything about you. Cherry Tucker left Halo, went to art school, but is back in Halo dealing with what the locals remember of her younger self. Bills to pay, she vies for the dubious honor of painting the bad boy Dustin Branson in his coffin. Determined to show off her skills as a portarit artist, Cherry persists and gets drawn into figuring out and why Dustin ended up dead, all the while trying to avoid step-brother Luke. Ex-boyfriend, ex-military and drop-dead gorgeous, Luke makes Cherry's brain turn to mush. Besides, he had lots of reasons to kill Dustin. Is there really organized crime in Halo or has Cherry's imagination gone wild? As much a comedy as mystery and romance, the plot is well orchestrated and the characters are quirky and fun. Even the family goat has its own personality and obsessions. Portrait of a Dead Guy is a quick, fun read, and leaves you wondering about prospects for Cherry's future.

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won this book as part of a First Reads giveaway.

I must admit, I read this entire book with a southern accent.

I will also admit, it took me a little while to get used to the dialogue-driven style of this book. The start seemed a little shaky, like the reader was thrown into a world we know very little about. However, within the first couple of chapters I was hooked. Cherry Tucker is a smart, sassy lead character who has a lot on her plate. She struggles to survive as an artist in small town, has to deal with her kooky family and possibly even kookier townspeople, and is trying to get over her past boy-crazyness to boot. Throw in a murder, a gambling ring, a Giant Russian, a clueless ex-fiance, an old flame, and a life-and-death situation, and this novel becomes a hell of a fun read. The characterization and the southern small town setting were perfectly captured. The plot moves along fast, and there's plenty of action and humor to go around. I am looking forward to reading more of Cherry's (mis)adventures in the future.

[Marcia Rodgers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caveat to readers: I won a review copy of this book in a giveaway here on Goodreads.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more in the series. I think the plotting of the story was very good and I do love a good strong southern woman as the main character. It was a fun read and great for some comic relief in the midst of a heat wave here in Colorado.

However, I do have one problem with the book, and that is the character development. I kept getting the feeling that information about the main character and the romantic interest was being doled out carefully - leaving room for the next book and so on. However, I think this would have been a richer book if there was more development of both these characters (as well as their family members) and their backgrounds in this current book. There is always more to be discovered in the future, but more in the present would have been nice.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Larissa Reinhart's debut novel, PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY, has all the elements of an engrossing and entertaining read.

Starving portrait artist Cherry Tucker matches wits with the dangerous bad boy, her dysfunctional family, a goat named Tater, and the quirky denizens of Halo, Georgia. Commissioned to paint a portrait of the late Dustin Branson, Cherry finds herself embroiled in the investigation of his death.

Ms. Reinhart's humorous writing style and her command of the local vernacular transports the reader to a small southern town where gossip runs thicker than kudzu. Who doesn't love an intrepid, wise-cracking heroine with a big heart and a murder to solve?

I can't wait for Cherry Tucker's next adventure.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cherry Tucker is delightful, fun and keep you on your toes from the first page to the last. You can't help but like her and the interesting charters from Halo, GA. This is not a book I would have picked up on my own, but I won it on Goodreads so I thought I would give it a try. I really liked it and Rienhart's quirky sense of humor kept me turning pages.

Cherry Tucker is a young artist trying to make a living in a small town. She learns that a family if going to commission a picture of their dead son, so Cherry aggressively tries to get the commission only to learn that she has competition, that the young mans death is suspicious and that the family wants a portrait of him in the coffin... and it goes on from there. The scene at the funeral is worth the hole book alone!

[Hildie McQueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cherry Tucker is a small but feisty heroine who bring us along in a fast paced hysterical adventure in Halo, Georgia. The characters that include an ex-love interest, her sister, her ex-husband (sort of) and a goat named Tater.

Trouble chases Cherry who is an artist who indadvertedly ends up in trying to solve the murder of the town bad-boy, whose step-mother wants a portrait done of. I can't tell you anymore without spoiling it. This book is worth it, buy it and read it, you will not be sorry.

I won this book and decided to read it. I am so glad I did. I am going to recommend it to my book club, I haven't stopped talking about it to my friends.

[Misty Dietz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Larissa's book is so funny at times she had me laughing out loud. I'm sure anyone watching me reading wondered why I had such a big grin on my face most of the time. I mean, how can you not enjoy lines like: "Luke drove me crazy in ways I didn't appreciate. He knew how to push buttons that switched me from tough to soft, smart to dumb. Beautiful men were my kryptonite. Local gossip said my mother had the same problem. My poor sister, Casey, was just as inflicted. W would have been better off inheriting a squinty eye or a duck walk." LOL! That's hilarious and fresh, y'all! Pick up a copy yourself for a fun, lighthearted read! :)

[Jerrie Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Portrait of a Dead Guy has a quirky artist heroine, two handsome men wanting her attention and a town full of interesting people. One of whom, just happens to be a killer. Luke and Todd are hot, adorable, and I hope Todd gets his own book someday.

Ms. Reinhart can turn a wonderful phrase, and understands southern folks. Who else could tell a girl she was like malaria and it be funny, charming, and a compliment? This is a laugh out loud story full of people who'd you'd like to hang out with or maybe like me, you already know them.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing! Cherry is hilarious and I love her unique, sassy self in a town that's a character on its own. Still haven't completely figured Todd out and can't wait to learn more about Luke now that he's staying in town. Whew, a delightful read that has a thrilling ending and promise for more. Can't wait for the next in the series!

[Jacqueline · Rating 1 out of 5]

Loathe ditzy women! The lead character bumbles along, following rumor and gossip with poorly thought out guesses thrown in to the mix. That she didn't manage to get herself killed is a surprise until you realize there is a second book with this character. Shockingly I read the second book; 1 to see if she improved (she didn't) and 2 to see if she got killed off...

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that pulls you in to the story and before you know it, you've finished. The characters are intriguing, fun and likable - I wouldn't mind hanging out with Cherry. The mystery is well plotted, it kept me guessing and trying to figure out what was going to happen next. I can't wait to read more in this series!