I love cozy mysteries--and have been a huge fan of C.S. McDonald's book series in the past few years! Today, I have Double Dog Dare from The Owl's Nest Mysteries to share! Check out this 3rd book in the mystery series, read my thoughts on the book and learn about the author! This book is also available as an audiobook--so check out the narrator details below too!
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: Adult Fiction, 274 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: May 2022
Content Rating: G. C.S. McDonald's books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults--no bad language or sexual content.
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That ornery, but oh, so handsome, charming, and somewhat, wayward angel, Detective Bobby Starr, has returned. This time, he’s back to fulfill his third and, hopefully, his final requirement to get into Saint Peter's prestigious Guardian Angel Squad. This time, the usually reluctant time traveler, Alexa Owl, is ready to go back to the 1960's to assist in solving one more long-ago murder. Why? Because if all goes well, she'll be rid of the menacing angel once and for all. Except, an emergency jerks Alexa back to her own time, and to complicate matters, she’s got a tag-along. Can Bobby solve this last case without Alexa’s help? After all, she’s got her hands full with a life-or-death mystery in the twenty-first century!
Double Dog Dare Continues the Series' Paranormal Mystery Theme. While this book could certainly be read as a standalone mystery, the author launches readers into the story within a few pages--with paranormal elements, time travel, and a little re-cap for readers new to the series. The quick "introduction" of Bobby Starr and his relationship with Alexa and the storyline took a little time for me to remember since it's been a bit since I read the earlier books. (I am not sure I understood the hound dog ghost until the very end!) If you have yet to read the series' other books, this one may be a little hard to follow at the beginning until some of the past pieces fall back into place. I recommend reading the books as a series. This book forces the mystery-solving team of Bobby and Alexa in different directions to use their individual skills (and some influences from their times together) to solve separate mysteries. The separate storylines become much more meaningful if you have been along for their previous adventures!
The Author Gives Readers Fun Mysteries and Great Characters in Double Dog Dare. I love C.S. McDonald's writing style! In this book, she takes her characters on two separate--yet related--time traveling, mystery adventures, throws in some extra side stories, explores some new characters, and further develops some old characters. She even tosses in some character cameos from her Fiona Quinn series too. Readers can expect light, clean mysteries with humor, misadventures, and character relationships that bring smiles.
Would I Recommend Double Dog Dare by C.S. McDonald? I have said it before, but if you enjoy light mysteries, ghosts, a little time travel, and fun, lovable characters--give The Owl's Nest Mysteries a try. I recommend reading the series from the beginning to understand the paranormal aspects at play better. But, if this is your first book read from the series--it is an entertaining story that will draw you into the author's mysteries! The books are quick and easy to read--a little predictable and unrealistic at times, in keeping with most cozy mysteries--but will keep you entertained to the end! I know that I hope that Alexa Owl has future adventures--and I also hope that Detective Starr has a reason or two to visit again in future books.
Book Title: Back to the Burgh and Beyond (The Owl's Nest Mysteries, Book 1)
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: Adult Fiction, 208 pages
Run Time: 5 hours, 59 minutes
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: Sep 10, 2020
Content Rating: G. C.S. McDonald's books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults--no bad language or sexual content.
Meet Alexa Owl. She's returned home to Pittsburgh after a divorce to start a new life and a new business, The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe. Much to her surprise, she's getting more than she ever bargained for: Detective Bobby Starr, and he's no ordinary sleuth. Bobby is an angel who's returned to Earth in hopes of earning his way into the Guardian Angel Squad. He's been sent by none other than Saint Pete to acquire Alexa’s help to solve three cold case murders he left behind. Except, here’s the catch: he’s only been allotted four days to solve the first case! How in heaven’s name is she supposed to do that? Alexa is a professional seamstress—not a detective. Bobby insists the only way to solve the first case is to return to 1953, and Alexa’s not in love with that idea at all!
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Book Title: Maxed Out (The Owl's Nest Mysteries)
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: Adult Fiction, 184 pages
Length: 5 hours, 32 minutes
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: April 2021
Content Rating: G. C.S. McDonald's books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults--no bad language or sexual content.
The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe is a huge success! Business is booming and Alexa Owl’s love life is heating up. Yet much to the seamstress’s dismay, Detective Bobby Starr is suddenly back again! Bobby isn’t your everyday gumshoe. Rather, he’s an angel who’s trying to earn a place in Saint Peter’s Guardian Angel Squad. He’s required to solve murders he had left unsettled from when he walked the earth in order to be accepted into this prestigious group. Of course, they will need to return to the time period in which the murder took place, and again, Alexa is a reluctant time traveler. Oh, and there’s one more little problem—this time, Bobby’s brought along a friend, Maxi Krogen, and she’s no angel!
Ms. Waxenberg is a voice over artist and presentation coach. She serves as a consultant to the Professional Development Company, Inc. teaching presentation and interview skills seminars to a variety of clients, Columbia MBA, and SIPA graduate students. Maren has a 30-year background in special events, performing arts production and the entertainment industry. In 1996, she founded Maren Productions which produces audio books, radio and television voice-overs, and podcasts. Maren Productions also offers special event production and consultancy services.
Ms. Waxenberg has worked in Special event production with George Trescher Associates, theater production and management at the TheatreVirginia in Richmond, the Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, and The New Dramatists in New York. She edited and formatted feature films for ABC Motion Picture Post Production. Maren served as the concert manager of The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall for four years, produced events for the promotion department of The New York Daily News, and has produced chamber music recitals at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Ms, Waxenberg has produced, directed and performed in numerous Off-Broadway theatre productions. She trained with the CoActive Training Institute.
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
Thanks so much for this lovely review, Angela! Yes! Bobby and Alexa will be back for another book in the spring--A Felonious Finale--hope you'll check it out!
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