Murder After Hours

Starry Hill Cozy Mystery Book One

Fiction - Mystery - Murder
257 Pages
Reviewed on 08/27/2023
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Jeanie Wolfe writes both mysteries and sweet romances. Her novels are set in small towns with amateur sleuths that entertain and keep people guessing all the way through.

She is an American author who holds a degree in biology and chemistry, an advanced degree in business, and she is an established businessperson.

She is from Washington and travels extensively with her husband of twenty-eight years and a guinea pig named T-bone. Jeanie enjoys cooking, sewing, reading, and camping out under the stars.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite

In Jeanie Wolfe’s captivating murder mystery novel, Murder After Hours: Starry Hill Cozy Mystery Book One, a businesswoman’s efficient new secretary is murdered right in front of her eyes and so she sets out to find the killer. Vacation rental business owner Robin Ingals had been impressed by Letitia Ruiz even before meeting her. So far, Letitia has been doing a fantastic job and is an excellent addition to the team. Robin enjoys her work which helps her heal from her recent difficult divorce. Everything seems to be going well until Letitia is fatally hit during a performance at a local theater. Saddened by her cruel death, Robin sets out to solve the case. She persuades her new handsome landscaper to help her uncover details about the elusive secretary.

Wolfe crafts a set of eccentric, interesting characters who make up Robin’s work team. The list of suspects kept changing which made the story unpredictable. Robin’s romance with Lee was full of suspense too with the killer on the loose. I appreciated that the story was layered with new revelations about Letitia and the murder springing up at every stage of the investigation. I loved Robin’s growth and enjoyed her journey to finding true love and happiness despite the ordeals she goes through. There are many hair-raising scenes in the story that I enjoyed. Murder After Hours by Jeanie Wolfe is a riveting cozy mystery novel with compelling characters and exciting twists that readers will love. It intertwines a beautiful romance story with a thrilling mystery.

LUZ

I couldn't put this novel down until I had devoured every last word. "Murder After Hours" is the perfect blend of suspense and emotion, offering readers a tantalizing mix of mystery and romance.

The protagonist, Robin Ingals, is a wonderfully complex character who tugs at your heartstrings. Her journey from a recent divorcee to a woman discovering the possibility of love again is beautifully portrayed.

The introduction of Lee Kellerman, the tall and handsome landscaper, sparks a chemistry that leaps off the pages. The delicate dance of emotions as Robin navigates her newfound feelings is portrayed with authenticity and grace. The development of their relationship is a testament to Wolfe's skill in crafting genuine and relatable characters.

The murder mystery element of the story is where Jeanie Wolfe truly shines. As Robin, Lee, and the local sheriff delve into the theater world's intricate web of secrets and rivalries, the tension escalates and keeps you guessing until the very end.

I had the pleasure of reading this book during my ski vacation, and it turned out to be the perfect companion for cozy evenings by the fireplace. The pacing is superb, and the writing style is engaging and immersive.

As an added delight, I had the opportunity to read the bonus chapter of book two, which only fueled my excitement for what's to come. I am eagerly looking forward to diving into the next installment of this series and witnessing where Robin and Lee's journey takes them next!

L.E.A.

I absolutely love when I find a series that I know, after book one, I am going to keep enjoying. MURDER AFTER HOURS is my most recent find, and it delivered in ways I didn't even know I needed.

From a sympathetic, "I'm rooting for you" heroine to a hunky landscaper who makes me want more plants in my own yard, I was drawn into the characters' lives from the get-go. Robin is just trying to find life again as a divorced woman with no children. She's a woman's woman rising from some icky circumstances. You go, lady!!! The way the unsuspecting Lee enters her life, and how their days ends up intertwining...it's lovely and lovingly done. Robin's family of adopted cats is a good touch, too. The whole picture of her new life is so relatable.

Furthermore, the mystery with the backdrop of the theater scene, is a new world for me. I really loved this plot point and found myself just as enthralled with the whodunit portion of the story, when usually I'm more about the love story than anything else. **Shyly raises my ROMANCE LOVER badge of honor**

This book is such a great blend of two genres. At some points, I was racing through the pages for Lee and Robin, and at other times, I was trying to figure out the mystery of Letitia's misfortune. Bottom line is I ended up staying up way too late. The ending is not disappointing...only that it ended. Ha :)

I can't wait to delve into the next read by Wolfe. She owns her craft with grace and talent, as evidenced with what ends up on the page.

COZY. INTRIGUING. RELATABLE. CHARMING. SUSPENSEFUL. This read is reminiscent of a couple Susan Elizabeth Phillips books I've enjoyed.

I am so satisfied.

Justin Harris

I had a lot of fun reading this murder mystery. The book wastes no time setting up the stakes and characters. It follows Robin Ingals, a very timid and vanilla vacation rental property manager who's down-and-out from her recent divorce. Her dashing and confident secretary, Letitia invites her to a rehearsal and gets killed in a freak accident, or does she? With the belief that it's more than an accident, this mild-mannered divorcée finds her life suddenly entailed with discovering the truth behind her secretary's murder. And it's a whole lot of fun. The characters in the book are very well-developed, each with their own traits and peculiarities that make you double-take who's being honest, and I was second guessing who the killer ultimately could be. Jeanie Wolfe actually does a marvelous job at planting clues along the way. The hints she gives totally make sense at the end and it definitely gave me a smile to go back to previous chapters and be like, "Aha!" Very clever writing. Finally, I also really enjoyed the chemistry between Robin and Lee, which fulfilled the romantic angle amid the mystery and thrills of the story. Overall, I enjoyed this story a lot. There's even a preview of Robin's next adventure included and it certainly sets the mold for more fun to come. I'm looking forward to what happens next.