Review: Strung Out to Die by Tonya Kappes

Title: Strung Out to Die
Author: Tonya Kappes
Series: Book 1 of the Divorced Diva Mysteries
Publisher: MagiCal Press
ASIN: B00ARPYPNQ
Source: Review copy provided by author

Meet Holly Harper. Recently divorced, she is getting her life back on track with the help of the “Divorced Divas”, a group of divorcees that have formed a self help group and hold their meetings in Holly’s bead store, The Beaded Dragonfly. The last thing that Holly needs is trouble. Unfortunately trouble has come looking for in the form of the wealthiest bachelor in Swanee, Doug Sloan. Doug has turned up dead on the floor of The Beaded Dragonfly and the police are looking to blame Holly. It’s going to take some hard work from Holly and the Divorced Divas to try to figure this mystery out and clear Holly’s name.

With every cozy mystery that Tonya Kappes writes she manages to create unforgettable characters in laugh-out-loud situations that involve a huge dose of murder and mayhem. Strung Out to Die is no exception. Here Tonya has crafted an absolute delightful mystery that is a cross between Murder She Wrote and the First Wives Club!

I really enjoyed Holly and the Divorced Divas. The fun they have is absolutely contagious. I particularly enjoyed reading about some of the antics that Diva Flora used to get up to before her ex-husband suggested that the “husband bashing” be not quite so literal!!

However, the character that stole the show for me is Holly’s pet pig, Willow. I fell in love with Willow instantly and of course, now I want a pet pig of my own!!!

The murder mystery surrounding Doug Sloan was extremely well plotted out, and I had no clue who the murderer was. I was definitely kept guessing right until the end!

All in all, Strung Out to Die is a very memorable, highly entertaining debut novel in this series. While I have really enjoyed the other series that Tonya Kappes has written (the Olivia Davis Paranormal mysteries and the Magical Cures mysteries) I will say that Strung Out to Die is my favorite so far. There is just so much to love about this series, and I can’t recommend this one enough to cozy mystery readers.

Books in this series:
Prequel – Bead Of Doubt
1. Strung Out To Die