Fatal Tribute by PJ Skinner
How do you find the murderer, when every act is convincing?
Tanya Bowe, an ex-investigative journalist, agrees to interview the contestants of the National Talent Competition for the local newspaper, but finds herself up to her neck in secrets, sabotage and simmering resentment. The tensions increase when her condescending sister comes to stay next door for the duration of the contest. Several rising stars on the circuit hope to win the competition, but old stager, Lance Emerald, is not going down without a fight. When Lance is found dead in his dressing room, Tanya is determined to find the murderer but complex dynamics between the contestants and fraught family relationships make the mystery harder to solve.
Can Tanya uncover the truth before another murder takes centre stage?
In this enthralling English, small-town, cozy mystery, Tanya finds herself out of her depth in the cut-throat world of Talent competitions. If you love a cozy whodunnit set at the seaside, with a cast of recurring characters, this is the series for you.
Review
‘Fatal Tribute’ is as good as cosy crime gets - it's engaging, addictive, has brilliant characters and is intricately plotted! I loved this book. This is the third book in the Seacastle Mysteries and it was the best yet. It can easily be read as a standalone but I do recommend reading the whole series as they are brilliant reads!
Tanya Bowe is an ex-investigative journalist and now the proud owner of Second Home, an antique shop and cafe. But when she is asked to interview the contestants of a local tribute show she jumps at the chance for extra money. She soon finds herself up to her neck in secrets, lies, sabotage and simmering resentments. Hunter Dorman is tipped for success but ageing competitor, Lance Edwards is not going down without a fight! But when Lance is found murdered in dressing room, Tanya is determined to find the culprit as she and her stepson, Mouse are the prime suspects. What she finds is complex relationships, family secrets and links to the past!
This was a great whodunit and PJ has really surpassed herself with the narrative and plotting! It was complex enough that readers would be stumped but not too overcomplicated that people wouldn't know what was happening. I love when a book calls on the ghosts of the past, as well as working out what happens in the present!
The development of the cast of characters has been brilliant and in this outing, we begin to find out more background in both Tanya’s and Harry's lives and what makes them tick! Tanya is a brilliant character - loyal, nosy, determined and will always fight for the truth. She is like the cool Aunt you have always wanted to have!
Let me know if you pick this one up!
