A Second Chance at Murder
A Love or Money Mystery, Book #2
By Diana Orgain
ISBN13: 9780425271698
Author website: http://dianaorgain.com/
Brought to you my OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
In the second Love or Money Mystery from the author of A First Date with Death, reality TV gets all too real with murder…
After Love or Money made them reality TV stars, former cop Georgia Thornton and her new boyfriend Scott were supposed to live happily ever after. Unfortunately, as their fifteen minutes of fame came to an end, actual reality kicked in and their prize money quickly evaporated.
So Georgia and Scott agree to appear in a new program, pitting them against other teams in an athletic journey across the countryside of Spain for a chance to win $250,000. But the fierce competition turns frightening when Scott disappears during an overnight camping trip in the Pyrenees Mountains, leaving only his bloody wristwatch behind—and a woman’s dead body.
With the Spanish authorities ready to convict Scott, Georgia must find him and prove his innocence in an amazing race against crime…
Review:
I really had no idea what A Second Chance at Murder would be. I am seriously not a fan of reality competition shows. I think as I read the back cover I thought I had made a mistake. Now with that said, I could not put this book down. The locale definitely did not hurt, nor the aromatic food the characters ate. Author Diana Orgain’s descriptive writing wove a tale that delighted the senses. Her writing style is fast paced, yet jam-packed with details.
Main character Georgia Thornton and her boyfriend, writer Scott are on a team/duo competition reality show. At stake is $250, 000 in prize money. Georgia is doing “Expedition Improbable” for her friend Becca, the show’s producer as well as the money. Both Scott and Georgia are in need of it even though they won another reality show before this one (in book one of this series). As they say in the book “As their 15 minutes of fame came to an end, actual reality kicked in” and they were left with no money. The reader really does not get to see Scott in this installment as he goes missing in the first few chapters. During the casts’ first adventure, an overnight camping trip in the Pyrenees Mountains, Georgia wakes to find Scott gone.
The mystery is wonderfully intriguing and as fast paced as the contestants’ lively adventures. The wonderful scenic Spanish setting enhances everything. Included in their adventure is their off-camera fun at the nightly festivals. The characters are entertaining and well written. I have to say getting to “read Scott in action” due to his disappearance, Sergio was a wonderful leading man. The other contestants were colorful, ex NFL player and his best buddy, the Double-Ds who wanted singing careers in Nashville, a mother/son team and a sister/brother team. Georgia is ready to quit the show when Scott disappears. Her father Gordon’s arrival changes that and the father/daughter team continue on.
This is the second installment in author Diana Orgain’s cozy series A Love or Money Mystery. I did not read the first one, but had little trouble following this one or the main characters. The fact that it continued on a reality competition allowed the book to have new characters as well as the few main ones. It also allowed the author to give the newer ones’ full conception and definition. As I said, not being a fan of this type of TV show, I would have bet money I would not have cared for this book at all. I would have lost.
I highly recommend A Second Chance at Murder to any cozy reader. And please do not get side tracked by the reality show aspect. On that note if you love the shows, I am pretty sure you will love this read and it’s behind the scenes fun. The author’s writing style steeps you in the colorful setting and keeps you entertained. The main mystery murder and Scott’s disappearance is thought provoking and enthralling. Little mysteries scattered throughout are very enjoyable. The characters are well written. As the host of the show states “Expect the unexpected”. I was surely surprised and could not put this book down.
