Thursday, February 26, 2015

Blog Tour: The Deep End by Julie Mulhern (Review/Tour-Wide Giveaway)




About the book

Paperback: 280 pages
Publisher: Henery Press (February 17, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1941962237
E-Book File Size: 507 KB
ASIN: B00PWE819Q



Synopsis from Goodreads:

Swimming into the lifeless body of her husband’s mistress tends to ruin a woman’s day, but becoming a murder suspect can ruin her whole life.

It’s 1974 and Ellison Russell’s life revolves around her daughter and her art. She’s long since stopped caring about her cheating husband, Henry, and the women with whom he entertains himself. That is, until she becomes a suspect in Madeline Harper’s death. The murder forces Ellison to confront her husband’s proclivities and his crimes—kinky sex, petty cruelties and blackmail.

As the body count approaches par on the seventh hole, Ellison knows she has to catch a killer. But with an interfering mother, an adoring father, a teenage daughter, and a cadre of well-meaning friends demanding her attention, can Ellison find the killer before he finds her.

My Review

Ellison Russell is enjoying a lovely swim in the country club’s pool when things take a not so lovely turn. She swims right into the dead body of her husband’s mistress. Naturally she becomes the prime suspect in the murder. However, Ellison couldn’t care less about her husband’s mistress. She knows all about her husband’s cheating ways, kinky sex and blackmail schemes. In fact, she doesn’t even want to be married to the guy any longer. Killing his mistress would serve no good purpose for her, but the police aren’t buying it.

Her overbearing mother has a few things to say as well. She's more interested in Ellison keeping up appearances and meeting a nice guy to settle down with. Meanwhile, Ellison spends her time trying to please her mother while taking care of her teenage daughter and dealing with her husband’s nastiness.

When other dead bodies start showing up everywhere Ellison goes, she looks more and more guilty each day. She’s determined to find the killer on her own and prove her innocence.

The Deep End takes place in the year 1974 in Missouri. It's a unique take on the cozy genre. I found the setting to be intriguing and the characters to be well-developed. Some were quite unconventional. The mystery takes a few twists and turns along the way and keeps your interest until the end. I was very surprised at how it all wrapped up. It’s a captivating novel and I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.



For reading challenges:

2015 NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge
Cruisin’ thru the Cozies Reading Challenge
Where are you reading? challenge (Missouri)

FTC Disclosure: The author/NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book to review for this blog tour. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Julie Mulhern is a Kansas City native who grew up on a steady diet of Agatha Christie. She spends her spare time whipping up gourmet meals for her family, working out at the gym and finding new ways to keep her house spotlessly clean—and she’s got an active imagination. Truth is—she’s an expert at calling for take-out, she grumbles about walking the dog and the dust bunnies under the bed have grown into dust lions. She is a 2014 Golden Heart® Finalist. The Deep End is her first mystery and is the winner of The Sheila Award.


Author Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliekmulhern
Twitter: @juliekmulhern
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/juliemulhern/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8573907.Julie_Mulhern

a Rafflecopter giveaway



11 comments:

  1. Julie Mulhern is a new author for me. The Deep End sounds like a great read, and I am looking forward to it.

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  2. This is a new to me author as well. I think the premise and the 70's setting sound like there would be a wealth of possibilities for Ellison and many mysteries!

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    1. Thanks for taking time to comment, Holden. The truth is - I'm new to everyone. The Deep End is my first book and the first in The Country Club Murders. I hope that you'll give it a chance and that you love it!

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  3. I talked myself out of this one when I saw the blog tour though now I'm wishing I hadn't! I like that the 70s setting worked so well and it's definitely unique. Adding to my wishlist! Great review!

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    1. Katherine, thanks for taking time to comment! The Deep End is an uncozy cozy - a bit different. I hope you enjoy it!!!

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  4. Can't wait to read this one. What a life Ellison had, and the 70's, what more can you say? Except that from Julie's author bio I she's just like me - the gourmet meals, the gym, clean house . . .

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    1. Grandma Cootie,

      Can you hear me laughing all the way from Kansas City?

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  5. I am always looking for a new author and I like the story line of this series. Adding to my reading challenge list. Food gets me every time!!!!

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    1. Thrilled to be on your list, One Pony Chick! Thanks for adding The Deep End and thanks for taking time to comment!

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  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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