Killer Queen (The Country Club Murders) Paperback – 23 Jun. 2020

If it were possible to rate this book higher than 5 stars, I would in an instant. I had to force myself to put down Killer Queen a few times, just so I could take some deep breaths before plunging back in. With all its full-blooded characters, the twisted mysteries, the deceptive paths leading to--no, brushing past--my suspected solutions, this is the most satisfying book I've read in ages. It's so full, so thrilling, so shocking, so completely logical... I can't wait for Night Moves. Just when I thought the series might be moving to a satisfying conclusion, the author revealed a few details that guarantee many more future storylines. Please, Ms. Mulhern, don't stop. Ever.

I have enjoyed this series so much and was looking forward to the tenth outing. I was not disappointed.Julie Mulhern’s writing is witty, that delicious state where dialogue teeters between pretentious and superficial. Lots of books are funny, but it takes a clever writer to be witty.I also love the way the author solves the problem of her protagonist constantly falling over corpses. Instead of ignoring it, Julie Mulhern makes it a running joke, to the point Ellison tries to organise her life to actively avoid bodies. It’s a great gag.As always, the 1970s references are handled deftly, just enough name dropping to be fun, without overwhelming the story.

“Killer Queen”, the latest Country Club Murders installment is another great read. Julie Mulhern deftly dumps all the puzzle pieces from several puzzles out on table and leads us to find just the right picture. In this way she is much like one of her early favorite authors (and mine), Agatha Christie. All the clues you need are right there, but so are so many interesting and quirky details that will lead you down the wrong path and this time the path isn’t all in Kansas City ! Mix in all the delightfully colorful characters that we have grown to love, hate and laugh at and you have another winner! I am avoiding plot details because I want to leave you all with a fresh canvas with which to start. But I know you will be warmed by this intriguing cozy mystery. Thanks, Julie, for another gripper. It’s so long until February 23, 2021 and the next anticipated installment, “Night Moves”. sigh. I really love these books!!!📚❤️

Julie Mulhern has added another page-turner to the Country Club Murser series. The series itself is a tick above most cozy mystery series out there today. Without devolving into a summary of plot, I will say that we are once again treated to a look at the tarnished underbelly of shiny "club life". I thought I had the killer pegged extremely early, but was wrong. Ellison solves yet another murder, but this story is given depth through her relationship with a young artist, and a surprise kernel of "niceness" from a source we don't expect. EvennLibba has some breif moments of introspection. There was almost some character growth from Francis - but alas, she was just being herself. Ellison and Anarchy's relationship progresses in a manner appropriate for adults of their age, but will not leave cozy readers clutching their pearls. There are some good laughs, amd of course conversations with Mr Coffee. I love the 70s: the music, the colors, the fashion, and also love that the setting in a large Midwestern city, not the trypical small ocean town on either coast. Try the series. You will not be disappointed.

I've read all of Mulhern's books. There are four I considered superb, but all her stories are good, full of humor, and entertaining. This particular novel had kind of an interesting twist on the methodology for a murder, and from that standpoint, it was singular in its approach. However, I've enjoyed the interaction of the characters throughout and the mystery aspect has only been secondary to my consideration. I'm concerned that the proposed marriage to Anarchy is the end of the series. Ellison was seriously pursued by two men over the course of events, but now plans to elope with the police detective. Marriage generally signals a conclusion to a series. I hope this isn't the case.