I recently had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Amy Beth Arkawy’s Dead Silent as part of the Cozy Mystery Book Tours.
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Dead Silent is the second installment in the Eliza Gordon Soup Opera mysteries. I had planned on reading Killing Time, the first Eliza Gordon mystery, before reading and reviewing Dead Silent, but life somehow got in the way. It actually worked out, because I now don’t have to wait for the next book and can just go back to where it all started!
Summary:
It’s summer time in Goodship, NY and the mercury isn’t the only thing that’s rising. Everyone in town is beside themselves trying to figure out who is behind The Goodship Grapevine, an anonymous website that has been revealing less-than-flattering (and at times less-than-legal) tidbits about the good people of Goodship.
If that wasn’t enough to turn up the heat in Goodship, Paul Hackett, WSHP’s resident shock jock, is found strangled to death with his own headphone cord. Scrawled on the window are in red lipstick are the letters, “V.O.S.” And what about “The Quiet,” a cult that’s been peppering the town with flyers in hopes of gaining more followers?
Eliza Gordon, one-time actress and proprietress of the Soup Opera, is determined to get answers. Unfortunately, her sleuthing is putting a strain on her budding romance with Police Chief Tom Santini. Can Eliza (and her trusty sidekick Midge) solve the mystery before things boil over?
Review:
There is something about mysteries set in small towns that make them especially cozy, and Dead Silent is no exception. I was especially impressed by the fact that there were multiple mysteries going on in such a small town, yet it never felt that there you were running out of suspects.
Having the book take place in a small town also allows you to really get to know the characters–and Goodship’s townspeople do not disappoint. They are a motley, lively bunch and you will want to be part of the Soup Opera crowd (you’ll also probably want some soup). Eliza is an extremely smart and likable heroine, and you will find yourself rooting for her not just to solve the mystery, but as she sorts through her relationships. I look forward to the next installment just to get to know her better.
Dead Silent was extremely fast-paced and the resolution almost snuck up on me. I actually read this book in one sitting; the plot really drew me in and I could not wait to find out if the two mysteries were connected. I also really enjoyed the fact that most of the information is given to you via conversations between characters, which made me feel like I was actually there and listening.
As I mentioned earlier, I am glad that I have not yet read Killing Time so I can just go right back to Goodship instead of having to wait for the next book. As Eliza herself says, “you never know just how interesting it might get.” I look forward to my next trip to Goodship.
FTC Disclaimer: I was provided with a free copy of the book as part of the book tour. This did not influence my review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
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