Shake Down (An Elliott Lisbon Mystery Book 5) by Kendel Lynn

Shake Down 

(An Elliott Lisbon Mystery Book 5)

by Kendel Lynn

Kindle Edition

Expected publication: March 17th 2020 by Henery Press

Goodreads synopsis: 

Ballantyne Foundation Director and PI-in-training, Elliott Lisbon, is enjoying her idyllically slow life on Sea Pine Island, South Carolina. It’s the week before the annual Beach Ball and she’s sipping Bellinis on the sidelines. Her committee involvement is limited to securing the centerpieces: scrumptious two-tiered masterpieces from the Cake & Shake. But when the head baker (and owner’s maid of honor) goes missing, Elli’s calm life gets a major shakeup. She takes the case and soon learns that missing is a relative term. These two bffs were once rivals on a local dating show. Perhaps the free spirit had reason to wander off on her own. Or perhaps she wasn’t the only woman scorned. As Elli walks the delicate line between a woman finding herself and a woman needing to be found, the days speed up and she knows something’s about to go down. From drug runners to whistleblowers to sea turtle sabotage, Elli stirs up secrets and inadvertently whips a desperate killer into a frenzy. If she doesn’t find a way out of the heat, she’s going to get burned.

***

4.5 Stars

This is the fifth book in the Elliott Lisbon mysteries by Kendel Lynn.

This is one of the first series I discovered when I first started reading for NetGalley. It really felt like coming home as I peered back into Elliott’s life. I was only sorry that Ransom didn’t play a bigger part. He would definitely be one of my favorite book boyfriend characters. Henery Press and their choice of author’s just get me and get what I like and what I look for in a book and a series. I totally appreciate that they have introduced me to so many fantastic authors that I now consider must read books.

This was different than a lot of other cozy mysteries I have read. It pretty much centered around a missing person for most of the book. Of course, like all mysteries of this type, it does end up in murder. 

There are a lot of fun and quirky characters in this world that I really appreciated. It’s a lot like walking into a real town. The entire storyline centers around a reality tv show sort of like The Bachelor where girls compete for a man’s affection. Two of these girls come from Elliott’s neck of the woods and are involved in a wedding. The girl who is missing is the jilted lover, and according to the episodes the “true love” of the bachelor guy. Choice number two seemed to be the bride and she was wasting no time in having him “put a ring on it.”

There is, as you could guess, a lot of drama in this story that keeps you glued to the page. I loved seeing all the recurring characters, the Ballantyne’s and Ransom but not enough of the hunky detective to suit me but I will take what I can get.

Overall, I totally dig this series and want to do a re-read of the complete series in 2020!

If you love a good cozy mystery, you have to check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank Edelweiss, Henery Press and the author for allowing me to read this title.