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Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Death Under the Stars by C.A. Larmer is the third book in the Murder Mystery Book Club series. The book club gathers for a movie on the beach highlighted by the stars, only for the night to end with the discovery of a body and not a single witness. Not even a member of the book club. With no witnesses, Alicia and the others search for clues and come up with a plan to catch a killer. Not willing to let this go, the book club members rally together to uncover suspects and clues that lead them to surprising discoveries and might just lead them to find the truth. Meanwhile, as Alicia and her friends dig into a real-life murder mystery, Liam is caught between the detectives investigating and the antics of the book club.
An interesting foreshadowing is incorporated into the beginning which cleverly uses the murder mystery movie to hint at the soon-to-be discovery of the dead body. Playfulness can be found such as Alicia and Jackson wagering money on who the killer in the movie is, the book club members sneaking around and going undercover, and the various plans they have up their sleeves. C.A. Larmer includes subtle details that bring the characters to life with Alicia using crime novels to cheer up, Claire described as elegant as Dame Nellie and as fiercely independent, and Lynette with her thickly penciled blond eyebrows. The dynamics between the book club members are genuine in their friendship which creates a foundation for fun sleuthing antics as they investigate a murder. Larmer has created lovely characters that draw you into the mystery through their humor, charm, and love of mysteries.
The descriptions give the story a quirkiness that keeps it lighthearted such as a character having the hunky look of a Hemsworth brother, Ezekiel Joves having knobbly knees and pointy elbows, and the attempt not to let his words wreak havoc with the imagination. Ideal word choices provide clear visuals thanks to phrases woven into the writing such as over-thumbed cover, softly kind, blanket-creeping stranglers, and plonk down. This helps to establish the setting while also giving the story a literary bent. A normal evening on the beach takes a deadly turn in Death Under the Stars which delivers a stunning mystery with clever twists, charming characters, and a satisfying conclusion.
