Monday, February 26, 2024

Review: Why Oh Rye? by Lucy Lakestone





About the Book


Genre
Cozy Mystery

Format
E-ARC

Publisher
Velvet Petal Press

Release Date
March 5, 2024


Synopsis from Goodreads:

Bunnies, bonnets and bedlam in New Orleans…

Are the rhyming threats of a crafty con man a good reason to return to New Orleans? Maybe not, but mixologist Pepper Revelle wants to neutralize her nemesis. She hopes she’ll have time for cocktails and Easter parades with her friends, too—as well as the next step in her romance with fellow bartender Neil.

But they don’t count on finding a body in their hotel room, the machinations of her vexing ex Mr. Mixy, and drama with her quirky family. To clear her name and settle the score, Pepper must crack the case—and figure out if her increasingly dangerous enemy engineered the murder or if another killer is involved.

As they face a farting ghost, an unexpected gig, spooky surprises and the wacky charms of the French Quarter on Easter weekend, can Pepper and Neil unravel the mystery before they’re flamed like a lemon peel in a Vieux CarrĂ©?

WHY OH RYE? is the seventh book in the Bohemia Bartenders Mysteries, funny whodunits with a dash of romance set in a convivial collective of cocktail lovers, eccentrics and mixologists. These quasi-cozy culinary comedies contain a hint of heat, a splash of cursing and shots of laughter, served over hand-carved ice.

My Review

Pepper Revelle and her colleagues from the Bohemia Bartenders take us on a wild ride to New Orleans.  It’s Easter and Pepper is sort of looking forward to going to her hometown.  However, all is not that pleasant since she will be dealing with her difficult parents and a killer who is threatening all of them.  In the midst of this, the Bohemia Bartenders are working a party and Pepper’s looking for some romance from her boss, Neil.  Much will be going on during this trip.

Pepper and Neil’s chance for a romantic evening comes to a crashing halt when they discover a dead body in their hotel bed.  As far as the police are concerned, all fingers point towards Pepper and Neil committing the crime, but they didn’t even know the guy.  It becomes obvious Pepper is being framed by her number one enemy.  

Pepper, Neil, and the Bohemia Bartenders set out to do their own investigation.  The stakes are high since the killer is also threatening Pepper and everyone she loves.

What a roller-coaster ride this book turned out to be!  Just when you think you’ve figured it all out, you find out that you didn’t at all.  This has become one of my favorite series.  Each book we learn more about Pepper and her friends.  

I strongly suggest you read this series from the first book.  There are continuing storylines and you won’t want to miss any of the fun.  There’s mystery, humor, even a little romance with a cast of whacky characters.  They will keep you laughing as well as holding your breath as they try to avoid being victims themselves.

This series always manages to sweep me away to another place and join in the search for a killer.  It’s edge-of-your-seat reading for me.  I’ve read the entire series, and the books keep getting better and better.  I didn’t think that was possible since I loved the first one.  

The next book takes us to Scotland and I’m more than ready!

For reading challenges:

Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge 2024
Literary Escapes Reading Challenge 2024 (Louisiana)
Cloak & Dagger Reading Challenge 2024
Cruisin’ thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2024


FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from the author.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions expressed are my own.


3 comments:

  1. Sounds like a edge of your seat wonderful read.

    Have a fabulous day and week. Scritches to the kitties. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  2. NOLA is a great setting for such an adventure!

    ReplyDelete

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