Fourth Victim (Writers Retreat Mystery #4) by Kathi Daley

BOOK INFORMATION

Series: Writers Retreat Southern Seashore Mystery

• Paperback: 194 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (October 23, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1973942259
• ISBN-13: 978-1973942252

Synopsis: During the course of the remodel on one of the cabins at the writers retreat, the contractor finds a box hidden in a wall. Jill opens the box to find love letters writing to a woman named Francine more than fifty years ago. Jill decides to track down the woman to return the letters only to find that she was the fourth victim of the Silk Stalking Stranger, a serial killer who killed thirteen women in the mid 1960's. The strangler was never caught so Jill and the gang decide to dig into the mystery only to find that the fourth victim of the Silk Stalking Strangler may not have been killed by the Strangler after all.

Review:  I love this series more with every book that I read! I would love to live somewhere like Gull Island, surrounded by other writers and using our various talents to solve mysteries in our "spare time."  The characters and their relationships are developing over time, and are very lifelike. And Blackbeard is one of the greatest animal characters in any cozy series. 

My only complaint/problem with this story is Jim.  I realize he's falling head over heels for Jillian, but somehow being willing to give up his big house and all that goes with it and move into one of the cabins at the resort just doesn't ring true for me. 

The murder mystery in this story was fascinating. I was fairly sure the Strangler wasn't the killer, but I had no clue who the actual killer was until the final reveal. 

About the author

Kathi lives with her husband, kids, grandkids, and dogs in beautiful Lake Tahoe. When she isn't writing, Kathi likes to read (preferably at the beach or by the fire), cook (preferably something with chocolate or cheese,) and garden (planting and planning not weeding). She also enjoys spending time on the water when she's not hiking, biking, or snowshoeing, the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home. 
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries. 

Join me on Facebook at Kathi Daley Books (www.facebook.com/kathidaleybooks) for updates on my books, photos of life in Lake Tahoe, recipes, contests, and giveaways. For weekly updates and contests sign up for The Daley Weekly Newsletter (http://eepurl.com/NRPDf). 

Third Strike (Writer's Retreat Mystery #3) by Kathi Daley

Book Information

Genre: Southern Cozy Mystery

Series: Writer's Retreat Southern Seashore Mystery

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 4, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1548141860
• ISBN-13: 978-1548141868

Synopsis: In this third book in the Writer's Retreat Mystery Series set on fictional Gull Island, a sports related death is explored when Trey Alderman, Gull Island’s most important claim to sports fame, is murdered. Trey was the starting pitcher for the Gull Island Seagulls who went on to stand out nationally amongst college players while attending The University of South Carolina. It was assumed by most that he would be a top draft pick a year and a half ago and it seemed at the time that the sky was the limit in terms of his career. Trey came home for spring break during his senior year and while on the island he agreed to play in a charity event held in Charleston. The game, which featured other draft hopefuls, was a one run game. It was the bottom of the ninth, tying run on third, bases loaded, two outs, full count, and the tension was high. The pitch was thrown, everyone in the crowd held their breath. Trey lined up with the pitcher and swung the bat with all his might before falling to the ground. He was pronounced dead at the scene. It was later determined that he died of a heart attack. He was twenty-two, healthy, and, as far as anyone knew, he had no pre-existing heart condition. It was later determined that he had a drug mixture in his system that could lead to a heart attack when combined with extreme stress. The local investigator determined that he had most likely engaged in recreational drug use at the party he attended the previous evening. 

Alex Cole, a twenty-eight-year-old, fun and flirty millennial who made his first million writing science fiction when he was just twenty-two decided to write a book about Trey’s life and death so he brought the mystery of Trey’s death to the Mystery Mastermind group who live and work at the Gull Island Writers Retreat. The eight members of the colony have all agreed to dig into the facts surrounding the death and help Alex find the answers he seeks. 

Review:  In the third book of this series, the writers' group is investigating a sports-related death/murder (part of the investigation is figuring out which it was).  We get to know more about the characters, and we get an introduction to a new writer who is moving in and may or may not become part of the group. We also learn about some changes in Garrett's condition and life, which is exciting.

I am quickly becoming very invested in the main characters of this series, and the series is one of my three favorites by this author (the other two being Zoe Donovan and Whales and Tails). The friendships and romances are developing in a realistic manner, and everything is described in such a way as to make the reader feel right in the middle of the action. 

The mystery is extremely well written and keeps readers guessing until the very end. I also love the way that animals and a ghost help to solve the mysteries each time.  And we get a peek into the next mystery the group will be working to solve as well, when the next book, Fourth Victim, is released in October. I am already looking forward to that visit to Gull Island!

Rating: Five stars

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author of the Zoe Donovan cozy Mystery Series, Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mystery series, Whales and Tails Island Mysteries, Sand and Sea Hawaiian Mysteries, Writers Retreat Southern Seashore Mysteries, Rescue Alaska Paranormal Mysteries, and Seacliff High Teen Cozy Mystery Series. 

Come for the murder, stay for the romance.

Kathi lives in the beautiful alpine community of Lake Tahoe with her husband Ken. When she's not writing she enjoys hanging out on the beach with her children and grandchildren. During the summer she enjoys hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, wakeboarding, and sunset cruises on the lake. During the winter she enjoys cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and curling up by a fire with a good book.

Kathi uses her mountain home as inspiration for her books, all which include appearances by the wildlife she shares her life with. 

Visit Kathi Daley:

Blog - http://kathidaleyblog.com 

Facebook at Kathi Daley Books, www.facebook.com/kathidaleybooks 

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Kathi Daley Books Group Page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569578823146850/

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Webpage - www.kathidaley.com 

E-mail - kathidaley@kathidaley.com 

Recipe Submission E-mail - kathidaleyrecipes@kathidaley.com 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7278377.Kathi_Daley

Twitter at Kathi Daley@kathidaley - https://twitter.com/kathidaley 

Tumblr - http://kathidaleybooks.tumblr.com/

Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/kathidaley/ 

For weekly updates and contests sign up for her newsletter The Daley Weekly at (http://eepurl.com/NRPDf)or by accessing the link on her Facebook page or website.

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