Without a Word

Ghostwriter Mystery #7

by C.A. Larmer

It’s been a long time between drinks for our merlot-swilling ghostwriter Roxy Parker, but she's back, this time in the belly of her mates and on a 20-year-old missing person's case.

Roxy’s client—PR princess Phoebe Fisher—was just a child when her entire family vanished. She wants Roxy to tell her story now; Roxy’s more interested in the past.

Why did young Phoebe’s family vanish?
How could they do it in just one night?
And what's the 'dark and sinister event' that triggered the whole thing?

As Roxy sorts fact from fiction, detective friend Gilda has a shocking case of her own—a woman has baked to death in a sizzling hot car. They’re calling it ‘suicide by sunbaking’ but is that even possible or could it be something more macabre?

From the best-selling author of the AGATHA CHRISTIE BOOK CLUB comes the much-anticipated seventh instalment of the Ghostwriter Mysteries, a fun, fast-paced series for those who love a humorous whodunit with contemporary characters you can fall in love with. This time, Roxy’s got a Border Collie by her side and a secret so scary she's terrified to tell her mum (let alone Max!).

GENRE: Cozy, crime, humour, amateur sleuth, international adventure
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: This book contains Australian slang and a little adult language—all part of the Aussie vernacular. No offence is intended.

236 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 2, 2020

About the author

Author Christina (C.A.) Larmer was born in remote Papua New Guinea where close encounters with witchdoctors and cannibal progeny (no, really), gave her a morbid taste for mystery that has culminated in more than a dozen crime novels, including four in the Amazon-bestselling Agatha Christie Book Club series, two Posthumous Mysteries, seven Ghostwriter Mysteries, a thriller/suspense, and a stand-alone novel called An Island Lost, which is set in deepest Papua—where else?

When she's not politely bumping people off (they are mostly 'cozies', folks), Christina can be found in the hinterland behind Byron Bay (Aus) where she runs an indie publishing biz, teaches, freelances, and hangs out with her muso hubby, two sons and one very cheeky Blue heeler. For news, views, calarmer.com // https://calarmer.com/blog/

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice to be back in Roxy Parker's world for another book. This time she is ghost writing a book for a very unusual client who was mysteriously abandoned when she was ten years old and has never found her family since. That includes her mother, her father, her brother and the family dog. In the course of her research for the book Roxy starts to find odd clues and begins to investigate further.

At the same time Roxy's best friend Gilda, who is a detective, is working on a case which mystifies her, especially as her boss seems to be trying to shut her down. For a while the two friends work their separate cases but soon find coincidences which cause them to combine their efforts. The conclusion is great fun!

I think I enjoyed this book the most of all in the series so far. Except the love triangle. I hope the cliff hanger in the last sentence means Max is still in with a chance and the author plans to write about this very soon!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roxy Parker, ghostwriter, had been asked to write the story of Phoebe Fisher, who had woken in her home on the eve of her tenth birthday, to discover her whole family had vanished. Mother, father and little brother Danny plus Bouncer, their dog - all gone, as well as their belongings and furniture. It was as if they had vanished into mid air. Now, twenty years later, Phoebe was a successful woman with her own business, happy married to a wealthy man. But she wanted her story told and Roxy was the best one to deliver on it.

In Sydney, to interview Phoebe, sign contracts, chat with people Phoebe had in her life, as well as catch up with friends she hadn't seen in months, after moving to Byron Bay with her boyfriend Sam, Roxy could feel her investigative antennae vibrating. There was something here she was missing, but she wasn't there to investigate. Roxy wasn't able to spend much time with best friend Gilda, a police detective, as she had a horrifying case to solve, one that was suspicious to Gilda, even though her boss disagreed. Would Roxy get the book written to Phoebe's satisfaction? And would Gilda solve her case?

Without a Word is the 7th in the Ghostwriter Mystery series by Aussie author C.A. Larmer and once again I thoroughly enjoyed it. Roxy is an excellent character, strong, determined and caring, with the other characters filling their spots well. I'm hoping for a #8, and not too far away. Highly recommended (but start at #1)

[moxieBK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a Word (Ghostwriter Mystery Book 7) — C.A. Larmer (Prologue + 40 chapters + Epilogue) January 15, 2022

Sorry, but I’m shouting it. THANK-YOU C.A. LARMER FOR RESTORING MY FAITH IN THIS SERIES!

This, the seventh book in the series was a classic Roxy Parker story. I felt sad and blue after the last book (#6) because it didn’t feel authentic to Roxy, somehow. This story heals all the wounds of that one with Max back on the scene where he belong, but not too deep in the scene, which is fine.

Roxy is ghostwriting “Forgotten Phoebe” story and can’t keep from wondering what happened to the girl’s family. Meanwhile, Roxy’s dear friend, Gilda is investigating what looks to be a heat related death, but something doesn’t feel right to her.

The story rotates back and forth between the two mysteries, while Roxy needing to tell her parents about what Sam and her have decided...but is she on board with what Sam wants? While contemplating this, she needs to decide what to do with Max on the scene.

All around fantastic read which I devoured in one day.

Excellent!

Five stars.

[Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a love-hate relationship with the Ghostwriter series. I don’t read a lot of modern “cozies” and many of them give off a cringe-inducing vibe, only one step above self-insert fan fiction.

However, I am a fan of the “Agatha Christie Book Club” series, so endeavour to support the author as much as possible.

I actually enjoyed this latest instalment of the Ghostwriter series. It seemed to focus on story rather than excessive... fluff. You know, hyper descriptive filler that detracts from the story rather than adds to it. It was present, but definitely toned down from earlier stories.

Didn’t figure out the mystery until the end. Happy to see where the love-triangle leads in future (spoiler?)

Would definitely recommend others to pick up the book if they’ve tried any of the earlier ones but weren’t 100% sold.

Solid cozy.

[ReneE · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. It was the first book I've read by this author. The premise was engaging and kept my interest for the most part. I have to say, though, that I didn't like the ending. It was just too contrived for me. I kept thinking of alternative scenarios for the ending, like Phoebe was a stolen child and the police was closing in or something like that. Hmm, I actually think THAT might have added more depth to the story and been a better ending. ;-) I may go back and read the series in order as I am now familiar with the main characters.

[Anne G. Kasaba · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written suspense book with engaging characters and well plotted mystery.

Roxy is contracted to ghostwrite the story of Forgotten Phoebe a woman abandoned by her family with no warning years ago. The book is Phoebes way of showing the world how well everything turned out for her. But Roxy loves a mystery and can’t ignore the urge to investigate what happened.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather Bane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. The storyline was interesting and grabbed your attention. It’s very well written and developed. I found this a hard book to put down. I recommend reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that the characters were interesting. The mystery felt real to me. The storyline was engaging. It was well composed and I must admit I did not see the solution to the mystery at first. It kept my mind active.
I received this as an arc from Booksprout and freely left this review.

[Catherine Skyrm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roxy Parker does it again

Roxy goes back to her hometown to interview Phoebe who, as a ten year old, woke up to find her mom dad, brother and dog had completely vanished. Searching for the truth turns out to be an adventure Roxy could never have imagined.

[Rachel Cacek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A scary twisting who-done-it

Very original and fast-moving. An abandoned child with a ghost writer going to publish the story of her parent' and brother's disappearance leaving her alone, finds out the truth, scarier than she would ever have dreamed possible.

[Toni Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

OutstandingBokm.

I couldn't put it down. Dramatic, Exciting, Suspenseful. You won't see it coming! The end is a crazy thrill ride! Wow! I will be reading more of C.A. Farmers books!

Great Writer! You won't be disappointed!😊

[William Eichler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery solved

I really enjoy a mystery, especially if I can't predict the
ending. This story left me guessing up until the last chapter. I recommend this book for anyone else who enjoys suspense and mystery !

[Beverley Lombardi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this mystery because the premise was unique. It was well written and I enjoyed the characters.

[Sondra Stark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting twists

I will admit that I did not see the way the story was heading. Twists were a bit contrived, but seemed to work out.