One Hot Murder

Katie Bonner has her hands full as manager of Artisans Alley. There is a heat wave, the air conditioning at Artisans Alley is not working properly and she doesn't have the money to fix it. She also has to deal with problem vendors as well as the fact that someone is stealing their lunches. She is also trying to find time to be with her boyfriend Andy Rust - the two have different work schedules. The last thing she needs is to be involved in a murder case but after a suspicious fire at Wood U and the discovery of a murder victim at the store she is once again caught up in a murder investigation. Can she solve the crime without becoming a victim herself?

“One Hot Murder” is the nicely done third novel in Lorraine Bartlett's Victoria show more Square cozy mystery series - a series that gets better with every book. Katie is a complex heroine – the reluctant manager of Artisans Alley who still holds on to her dream of managing an inn some day (happily Bartlett takes some steps to resolving this plot line before it becomes too annoying). In many ways Katie is a strong character who doesn't yet realize her strengths - I like the way she is growing as a character in each book. I also like the artisans Alley setting which I can picture in my mind and I wish it really existed so I could visit there! The book takes place during a heat wave and even though I was reading it during a blizzard I could feel Katie’s suffering from the heat! The mystery aspects are well done - there are several mysteries in this book besides the main mystery and all of these are nicely done. There is more than one surprise in this book and one change in particular makes me wonder what direction the series is going in. I look forward to reading the next book to see what happens to Katie and friends!

“One Hot Murder” is another delightful cozy mystery by Lorraine Bartlett.. show less

I like this series even though Katie is kind of a whiner. There's a murder in the Wood U Shop across the square and of course Katie can't leave the investigation alone all the while dealing with the sweltering July heatwave, crazy tag lady at the Alley, mysterious disappearing food from the refrigerator, her boyfriend Andy and of course secrets. The detective in charge retires and they become friends while solving his last case. Hopefully, Katie will stop complaining about not being able to afford the Victorian Inn, the expense of storing the furniture, the lack of A/C, and the cost of repairing the HVAC in the next book.

It's seems to be a very hot summer in Victoria Square and Katie Bonner's apartment and place of business, Artisan's Alley, aren't strangers to the heat either. A fire on the square and dead body found inside leads to a long murder investigation. Much like hot summer days, the mystery itself languishes along, but the great characters that Bartlett has populating the novel shine in their own stories. The heat even seems to be taking a toll on Katie's relationship with Andy and her nemesis, Detective Ray Davenport is taking early retirement. Another purchase of the town's old B&B puts Katie's dreams on hold once again, but maybe it's time to let go of that particular dream and make new ones.

Katie Bonner is fighting the summer heat at Artisan Alley but things get worse when one of the neighboring building catches fire and its owner is apparently caught in the inferno. News comes out that the corpse was apparently shot in the head before the blaze and is unrecognizable. Was it really the owner or someone else?

Katie has to balance the AC issues in the building as well as personnel conflicts while trying to determine if the deceased was really the building owner. At the same time, her own little apartment over the pizzeria is getting hotter by the day and her hopes of ever owning a B&B are fading fast.

All the elements of the book - murder, the B&B sale, the AC problems were woven together to keep the reader moving forward show more anxiously trying to find the solution. show less

Review based on Advance Reading Copy (ARC)
Third in the Victoria Square Mystery Series, this book does not disappoint, in fact if anything, it surpasses with a mysterious fire and death in Artisans Alley. As Katie's mind races between one suspect and another, one victim and another, the reader is hard put to try and outguess the protagonist. With her keen sense of intuition, she needs to talk her ideas out with someone. What a time for Detective Davenport to retire! So many loose threads, but who is holding the winning one, the one with the right answers? Why did two men disappear at the same time, with one body left behind at Artisans Alley? Katie has two many suspects and too many victims. But Detective Davenport does not go lightly show more into the sunset but is actively hoping to solve this last case before his official retirement date and time. Who died in the Wood U fire?

Another thorn in Katie's side, she has once again seen her dreams of owning the Webster Mansion to a new buyer. Turning to Seth, her lawyer friend, she finds no answers but more questions, but on meeting the new owners, she finds that they have a lot of ideas similar to her own, and even better, she really likes them. But can she part with all her stored treasures she bought in anticipation of turning the house into the English Ivy Inn?

In this sizzling early summer heat, tempers flare, strange things are happening at the Alley, and the air conditioner is ill-equipped for both the extreme temperatures and the size of the building. Going home at the end of the day to her room over the pizza parlor is no better. Emotions run high, and dealing with Ida's frustrating personality has driven her to remove her from the Alley. A decision that will come back to haunt her.

Once more Lorraine Bartlett has given us a very hot mystery to keep us guessing. A large part of the charm of the Victoria Square Mystery Series is the camaraderie shared by so many mainstays in the series, and that charm continues. Well-written as always, introducing new characters and perhaps a new direction, this book will certainly keep our brain cells cooking! With Katie's mind going in so many directions, there are twists and turns galore. show less

In Bartlett’s mystery novel, Katie Bonner, the manager of Artisans Alley in Victoria Square, and her boyfriend Andy Rust are heating things up. But now the summer heat wave is sweltering and with it comes both a murder and a fire caused by arson. Feeling responsible for the merchants of Victoria Square, Katie dons the hat of detective and sets out determined to smoke out a killer before he strikes again.

Fun plot, likable characters—Bartlett has done another great addition to the A Victoria Square Mystery series.

Lorraine Bartlett takes on another enjoyable journey to Victoria Square and Artisan Alley. It's summer time and hotter than hot that leads Katie to a window only to find smoke coming out a neighbor's shop. Murder, short-tempers and mix-ups follow and Katie must trudge through it all to find-out who's responsible for the fire, and the murder...or is it really murder? Bartlett's stories just get better as the series continues. Fast enjoyable read.