Death in Dark Blue

The author has done something interesting in this series (for a cozy), making it one you definitely want to read in order. Each book has its requisite self-contained murder mystery, but there's a much more interesting mystery arcing over several books, concerning an innocent man being accused of murdering his missing wife.

This mystery arc keeps things interesting and kept me reading, even when I thought the MC was way overdoing her hero-worship of her boss (a famous author), which luckily is only at its worst at the very start. The MC is generally too sunny and optimistic, actually. I like her, but she seems to be missing depth that comes from the more complex emotions, so that even when she's 'angry' it's impossible to take it show more seriously.

But those are small characterisation issues; the rest of the mystery is really different and quite interesting. I love the amount of research the characters involve themselves in as a means of trying to 'investigate', rather than bumbling about interrogating their neighbours. And I really wanted to find out how the multi-book story arc ended, staying up way too late last night in order to do so. Of course, just when one part ended, another started, guaranteeing a continuation of the intrigue through at least one more book.

LOTS of potential with this series, if the author can continue the great plotting and can tighten up the characters a bit. show less

Life has been good lately for Lena London. She has her dream job - collaborating with suspense novelist Camilla Graham. Her boyfriend Sam West has been cleared of charges of murdering his estranged wife Victoria who is very much alive. Unfortunately, one of Victoria's friends, Taylor Brand, isn't so lucky - her body is found near Sam's house and it looks like she was murdered. Once again Lena finds she has to clear Sam's name - putting her own life in danger.

“Death in Dark Blue” is the wonderfully done second book in Julia Buckley's Writer’s Apprentice cozy mystery series. While this book certainly be read on its own, I highly recommend reading the first book in the series – “A Dark and Stormy Murder” - for some much-needed show more background on the characters and situations. Author Julia Buckley has done a wonderful job with writing this book which is part gothic romance (just like Camilla's books - excerpts of which appear at the beginning of each chapter in this book) and part mystery. I was caught up in the lives of these characters from the moment I read the first book - especially the story of Sam and his missing wife. Truthfully, while the mystery of who killed Taylor is well done with plenty of suspects, it does get overshadowed a bit as Lena and Sam hunt for Victoria. That didn't bother me all that much, however as the story of the search for Victoria is a compelling one (as are the hints that there are other secrets in Sam’s life – some that he doesn’t know about). The book – just like the first one - ends with quite a cliffhanger and I can't wait for the next book to find out what happens to these characters!

“Death in Dark Blue” is a great mystery. show less

Death in Dark Blue by Julia Buckley is the second novel in A Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series. Lena London lives with famous author Camilla Graham in Blue Lake, Indiana. She is happy that her boyfriend, Sam West is returning to town after being gone for the last month. Sam has been in New York searching for his missing wife, Victoria with the help of a private investigator. Taylor Brand, a friend of Victoria’s and a blogger, stated on her blog that she would be coming to Blue Lake to apologize to Sam in person for her accusations (she accused him of harming Victoria). Lena is on her way to Sam’s to drop off a copy of the book she co-wrote with Camilla when she comes across a person in a blue coat in the snow. Lena has discovered show more Taylor and she will not be making that apology. Once again, Sam is a suspect in a murder and the press are out in full force. Lena needs to find Taylor’s killer and clear Sam from suspicion. She also wants to find a clue that will lead them to Victoria. Lena enlists the help of Belinda, research librarian at the Blue Lake Library. Can they finally discover what happened to Victoria West? The paparazzi are making it difficult for Sam and Lena to spend time together since they are trying to keep their relationship under wraps. Can Lena unravel the clues and uncover Taylor’s killer?

Death in Dark Blue is packed full of action. Lena is busy solving two mysteries, spending time with Sam, and working on Camilla’s latest novel. I thought the book contained good writing and it has a good flow. The pace is medium level. The murder mystery was child’s play to solve. I identified the killer before the body made it to the morgue. The suspect pool is very limited. I give Death in Dark Blue 3.5 out of 5 stars. I suggest that you read A Dark and Stormy Murder before Death in Dark Blue. The first book sets the stage for what occurs in Death in Dark Blue. There is some repetition of information (especially regarding Victoria). I wish the author had not put so much focus on the romance between Lena and Sam. Their relationship has moved too quickly (aka they are already cozy between the sheets) especially since he is technically married and his wife MIA. The story ends with a cliffhanger that will have me reading the next book in the series. I admit that I am curious to see what happens next in the Sam and Victoria saga. Let us hope, though, that Sam does not end up suspected of murder again in the next novel in A Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series. show less

Although well-plotted, there are several things that really bothered me about this book. The first is the back cover blurb, that has a horrible syntax error that make it sound like the heroine finds her own dead body! Since she is not a ghost in this
or the next book in the series, this really should be fixed.
Secondly—and this one makes me grind my teeth (herein lie spoilers)—a key plot element is patently ridiculous. The heroine, having completed a Master’s program ( either in English Lit or Writing), makes a huge deal about discovering the abilities of a research librarian! Now, what person who has spent a likely 18 years in school; who has studied classic and comparative literature , would NOT know what a reference librarian show more is?
It would have been just as easy for the heroine to just be surprised that a small-town library has a staff includes a research librarian, and leave it at that.
The rest of the book is enjoyable, with no characters breaking normal parameters, so I did rate this as a 3: however, with those errors, to me it drops to a 2. show less

Death In Dark Blue is the second book in the A Writer’s Apprentice series.

Another enjoyable visit to Blue Lake, IN, and chance to spend some time with Lena and her employer and author Camilla Graham.

Sam West, their neighbor, is back in Blue Lake after having been arrested for allegedly murdering his wife. Lena had been instrumental in getting his release. Lena and Sam continue their quest to find gather more information as to where his wife might be.

Then mysteriously Taylor Bland post on her blog that she wants to apologize to Sam for accusing him of killing his wife and that she also want to come to Blue Lake and do it in person. Bland arrives and the next day Lena finds her lifeless body in a snowdrift in West’s side yard, she had show more evidently fallen from a bluff. With this event, the reporters and paparazzi once again come crawling out of the woodwork and Sam are now both in the limelight.

Then with the help of Belinda Frailey, a research librarian, and with help of postcard that Bland had with her and which was recovered from a reporter who had stolen it from the cottage she was staying in. Now Lena and Sam feel they have the clue that they have been hoping for. Then Lena and Sam get help from an unexpected source-a reporter-Jake Elliott. He writes a couple stories for the AP which takes some of the pressure off Lena and Sam from the hounding press.

The book finishes with an exciting and surprising ending. Overall, it’s a well-plotted and well-written story. There aren’t a lot of characters to get bogged down with and they all are believable and enjoyable.

I can see a couple of direction the next book can take and am anxiously waiting for the next to see what happens next in Blue Lake. show less

A sweet, fluffy, cozy mystery and minor romance novel. Nice writing.