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Book Title: Deep Blue Murder (A Fiona Quinn Mystery)
by C.S. McDonald
Category: Adult Fiction, 268 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: Nov 2022
Content Rating: G. C.S. McDonald’s books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults–no bad language or sexual content.
Book Description:
Fiona is delighted when her new mother-in-law, Rita Landry invites her and Nathan to a private island in the Bahamas owned by a US ambassador. Sun, sandy beaches, and romantic tangerine sunsets await the newlyweds, but for Rita and her executive assistant, Hal Underwood the trip to Deep Blue Isle is a working vacation. Ambassador Taslow has summoned them to the island to discuss a scandal he has fallen victim to. However, when the Landry’s and Hal arrive, they find less than welcoming circumstances: no internet or Wi-Fi, mischievous monkeys, a dangerous tenant, and then there’s that pesky dead body.
A storm is brewing on Deep Blue Isle, and it has nothing to do with wind and rain.
MY REVIEW
I’m known to jump into a series anywhere and I’ve been wanting to try this one for a while. I did struggle a bit to get each character straight on who they were and how they related to each other as I’d not read any of the other books. Once I got that, it was an exciting mystery upon mystery right up to the end.
You know that saying, “If it sounds too good to be true…it is?” That holds up here. Rita and Nathan are tagging along with her mother-in-law, Rita and her assistant, Hal, for a short vacation on a private, tropical island. Sounds great, right? But, there’s the less than welcoming staff, monkeys bombarding you with coconuts ad stealing your lobster and……. murder.
With several mysteries and a bunch of suspects, I was hard pressed to sort things out. And that’s how the author sprung her surprise on me. I really didn’t see some things coming. And thinking back on all I’d read, I couldn’t recall any missed clues. She sold me on this one and now I want to go back and read all of the previous books and get to know the characters better. I bet there’s more twisty mysteries to solve too.
4 STARS
Book Details:
Book Title: Murder on Pointe: A Fiona Quinn Mystery #1
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: YA Fiction, 219 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: Jul 19, 2016
Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone–adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
Fiona can’t wait to attend the performance of Coppelia at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh. Her old friend, Silja Ramsay, is dancing the principal role. They have dinner after the show, but when they return Pittsburgh Ballet Theater is down one dancer! Ballerina, Alexis Cartwright, has been found dead in the dressing room. Is this murder a result of hot tempers among the cast members? Or is it a random act of violence? Will there be more murders? Homicide Detective Nathan Landry isn’t taking any chances. After finding out Fiona has a strong background in ballet, he recruits her to go undercover among the cast of Coppelia. Can Fiona help catch a killer, or will she be the next victim?
Book Title: Merry Murder: A Fiona Quinn Mystery #2
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: YA Fiction, 219 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: Sep 16, 2016
Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone–adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
The cookies are baked. The tree is trimmed. The shopping? Well, it’s almost done, and Fiona’s parents have finally returned home for a holiday visit – along with some unexpected unruly friends. Yep, Fiona’s perfectly planned Christmas is coming together, but how could’ve she planned for her favorite uncle’s murder? Who could possibly kill a sweet old man who’s played Santa at the local mall every year without fail? Fiona’s boyfriend, Detective Nathan Landry, is determined to find out – before Christmas day arrives. There’s only one problem: Nancy Quinn. Fiona’s mom is just as determined as the detective to catch the murderer, and she isn’t shy about getting the job done – even if it includes breaking a few pesky laws! Will Fiona and her mother find the killer first or will the killer find them?
Book Details:
Book Title: Waves of Murder: A Fiona Quinn Mystery #3
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: YA Fiction, 190 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: Apr 11, 2017
Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone–adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
School’s out for the summer!
Kindergarten teacher Fiona Quinn is looking forward to spending some quality time in her yard and with her boyfriend, Detective Nathan Landry. However, Fiona’s plans get squelched when her mother volunteers her to edit a manuscript for famous romance author Wyla Parkes.
What’s so bad about that? The author insists Fiona must work on the manuscript at her beach cottage on Presque Isle – three hours away from her yard and Nathan. Spending six weeks in an adorable cottage on a private beach doesn’t really seem all that bad until people start turning up dead – beginning with the author! Fiona’s summer of sun and sand is instantly transformed into a murder investigation. Can Fiona and Nathan crack the case or will the murderer getaway on a wave of deceit?
Join Fiona and the gang for a hot whodunit on the sandy beaches of Presque Isle, Pennsylvania!
Book Title: Tastes Like Murder: A Fiona Quinn Mystery #4
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: YA Fiction, 202 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: Nov 23, 2017
Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone–adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
The bridesmaid dresses are ruffles and ruffles of ugly, one bridesmaid is trying to micro-manage…well, pretty much everything, and the bride-to-be is a total bridezilla! Wedding bells will soon be ringing, but as usual, Fiona is a bridesmaid and not a bride. As the maid of honor, how can Fiona keep the volatile pre-wedding festivities running smoothly?
The problem is abruptly solved when the bride drops over dead at the elegant wine-tasting wedding rehearsal. Yikes! Who poisoned the wine? The suspects are lining up, and Fiona finds herself at the top of the list! Double yikes! It’s a vintage murder case for Fiona, Detective Landry, and the gang. Cheers!
Book Title: Good Luck to Murder: A Fiona Quinn Mystery #5
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: YA Fiction, 148 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: June 1, 2018
Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone–adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
Dreams, wishes, fantasies, and… murder?
Fiona’s good friend and fellow teacher, Lucky Maguire leads everyone to believe he has won a huge jackpot! Only Lucky turns out not to be so lucky – he winds up dead and his supposed winning lottery ticket missing!
Yikes!
Did Lucky really win the lottery and if so, where is the ticket hidden?
Who knew for sure if he truly was Pittsburgh’s newest millionaire?
Double yikes!
Join Fiona and the gang for this winning cozy mystery that’s sure to keep you betting on the suspects!
Book Title: Mambo and Murder: A Fiona Quinn Mystery #6
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: YA Fiction, 160 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: October 31, 2018
Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone–adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
Three ballroom dancers were murdered over 40 years ago. Wow, that’s one old cold case. What’s more, the murderer, who was thought to have been killed during a police chase, has resurfaced in Pittsburgh. Yikes! How can that be?
Worse, ballroom dancing simply isn’t Detective Nathan Landry’s forte. After weeks of practice, Nathan still has two left feet. Can Fiona step in to guide Nathan through this dancing debacle or will it take 40 years for the detective to find his footing?
Double yikes! Join Fiona and detective Landry in this high-stepping whodunit!
Book Title: Saddle Up for Murder: A Fiona Quinn Mystery #7
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: YA Fiction, 178 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: May 14, 2019
Book Description:
Fiona is in total shock when her mother arrives unannounced on her doorstep. What’s going on? Why, she’s left Fiona’s father, that’s what. Yikes! Worse, a horse trainer is murdered outside his ex-wife’s home in Pittsburgh, and the trail leads directly to a Thoroughbred racetrack in the neighboring state of West Virginia. Get ready, because the suspects are mounting up and heading down the stretch. Whoa! Fiona and Detective Landry aren’t horsing around with this homicide!
Book Title: Bon Voyage to Murder (A Fiona Quinn Mystery #8)
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: YA Fiction, 198 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: Nov 5, 2019
Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone–adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
Hooray! Fiona has finally convinced her boyfriend detective Nathan Landry to go on a romantic Caribbean cruise. Unfortunately, their fun on the high seas is interrupted by murder. It isn’t long before they discover a boatload of suspects, who have motives deeper than the ocean for wanting the victim out of their lives.
Book Title: Taking Notes on Murder (A Fiona Quinn Mystery #9)
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: YA Fiction, 184 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: May 19, 2020
Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone–adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
Mysterious notes are showing up in Fiona’s kindergarten classroom, claiming a suicide from 2005 was actually a homicide. Detective Landry maintains the messages are too vague, possess no integrity, and do not warrant a review of the old case.
Fiona’s not convinced. She’s determined to find the author of the enigmatic notes and uncover the truth about a man who had many secrets and countless enemies, including Fiona’s mother and former suspect Nancy Quinn!
Can Fiona crack this cold case, and what will it take to get Detective Landry involved? Don’t miss taking notes on this murder!
Book Details:
Book Title: Matrimony. Mayhem, and Murder (A Fiona Quinn Mystery #10)
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: Adult Fiction, 242 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: Nov 10, 2021
Content Rating: G. C.S. McDonald’s books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults–no bad language or sexual content.
Book Description:
The venue is set, invitations sent, and the flowers ordered. It’s almost time for Fiona and Nathan to get married…again. What could possibly go wrong? Nothing…well, until the wedding planner is found dead.
Then the woman Fiona has never met shows up–Nathan’s enigmatic mom, Rita Landry. And she’s wearing a gorgeous but mysterious necklace. Worse, Rita is being followed by two sinister-looking men, forcing her to flee the country. And who gets dragged along? None other than the bride-to be! How does a girl prepare for all of that? Looks like Fiona’s perfectly planned matrimony has morphed into mayhem and murder!
You’re formally invited to Fiona and Nathan’s wedding. Question is: Will the wedding happen?
Meet the Author:
For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries includes nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg.
Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh and the female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Nest Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy!
Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister.
Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram
DEEP BLUE MURDER (a Fiona Quinn Mystery) Book Tour Giveaway
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Sounds great, thank you for sharing.
A captivating and intriguing mystery by a creative and talented author.
Oh man, these all look like fun. Thanks for sharing the great review.
sherry @ fundinmental