Death Takes Priority
A Postmistress Mystery, Book #1
By Jean Flowers
ISBN: 9780425279106
Author website: http://www.minichino.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
Introducing a murder mystery that really delivers!
After caring for her dying aunt and being dumped by her fiancé, Cassie Miller decides to return to her small hometown in the Berkshires to lick her wounds and live in the house where she was raised. Leaving behind her managerial position in the Boston main postal office, Cassie trades in her tailored suits and high heels for the comfortable blue shirt and red, white, and blue striped scarf of the Postmaster for North Ashcot, Massachusetts.
Everything is business as usual until Cassie arrives at work one day to find that someone has broken into the post office building. The only items stolen: stacks of telephone books. Who steals phone books? Two days later, the body of an unidentified man is found in the woods. And when the handsome antiques dealer she just had lunch with is taken into custody, Cassie is suddenly drawn into the case. With a crime enveloped in mystery, she needs to track the killer—before another victim’s fate is sealed in the dead letter office…
Review:
Death Takes Priority is a fun new cozy series by author Jean Flowers (she also writes under names Camille Minichino, Margaret Grace and Ada Madison). I have never read any of her books, but may just have to. The main character in this series is Cassie Miller who has moved back home to become the postmaster. What a fun new career for the lead in a cozy. And included in the book are great postal facts, stories and even bad jokes. Cassie moves from her suit wearing managerial position at the Boston main post office to her home town of North Ashcot, MA. Her former job and her new one both play into her being involved in investigating strange happenings at her office.
An unidentified man is found dead in the woods, this after someone has stolen phone books from the post office. The characters are wonderful and I really enjoy getting to know them as the story unfolds. Cassie is pulled into the murder mystery when her lunch date Scott James is arrested as they leave the restaurant. She really feels the need to investigate when she finds out the identity of the dead man and is asked to help by his sister. The author does a great job of twisting mysteries, clues, suspects so that you are drawn further and further into the story. The character in town are fun as well including the former post office master who is helping as needed at the office.
Author Jean Flowers has a wonderful writing style that flows and drew me in from the very start. The mystery is well written and I was kept captivated throughout. I love the small town attributes. The mystery is intriguing and intricate as well. Cassie is an intelligent new lead character. She is in a state of transition, but is settling back into her home town. I enjoyed her vulnerability as well as how she took control of things. She is intelligent and very likable. I think this is going to be one of my favorite cozy series.
I recommend Death Takes Priority to all cozy fans, start this series now. A new career for a lead cozy character in Cassie Miller’s job as a postmistress. Her background lends itself to her investigating nicely. A first class first in what looks to be a wonderful new cozy series. The characters are fun and entertaining. The mystery is superbly written and full of suspense and plenty of twists and turns. I cannot wait for the next in this series. It will fun to see where the characters are in the next one. Author Jean Flowers has done a fabulous job pulling the reader into this story and leaving them wanting more.
