I cannot write about James the author, his talent is far beyond my limited vocabulary. But I can definitely write about Jay, my best friend. He is the kindest person I know, very understanding and gracious. To this date, there has never been the time when I have needed him, and he has not been there.
I have learnt to be kind and helpful from him. Though most days I am not, and he knows it and accepts it, understanding where I come from. My heart fills with love, when I think of him. I think I can fill pages just writing about him. He knows what I feel for him.
Jay, a friend and writer extraordinaire
From my mouth to God’s ear
Success in all your endeavors…
From my heart to yours
Always and forever...
Shalini
Murder mystery and I have a close relationship. I love this genre and it loves me back. Who can ever forget Sherlock Holmes?!! (Who can ever forget Benedict Cumberbatch, yumm)
Kellan strikes again, his days of sleuthing has become frequent, much to the ire of our lovely sheriff April and my personal favorite Myriam. This time Myriam’s wife Ursula needs help, and Kellan has been given the responsibility to find the stalker. But instead, he finds a dead body at the masquerade ball, and onward and forward he goes to get to the killer.
In the recent times, there is nobody as brilliant as author James Cudney in writing plot lines. His stories always have layers of subplots in them. He is quite a ringmaster who can guide us readers perfectly in the direction he wants us to go, I didn’t even realize that I was being tricked. I kept suspecting the wrong people. Ugghhh!!
In this book too, James has placed the red herrings at such perfect points that I went flying down the maze and soon got lost in the wonders of the convoluted story. By midway, I had written everyone’s name in the Suspect List except the murderer. Sheesh!! Talk about a sleight of hand, I couldn’t see the author’s till the very end. And it left me shocked!!
I liked the main character Kellan in this story more than the previous 2, he was confident and self-assured. In spite of a dubious married life, Kellan managed to have a great relationship with everyone, especially his daughter Emma, his grandma Nana D, and his sister Eleanor.
The entire book took me three hours to complete, and it was nothing but pure fun. After reading the story, I am left with a single thought.
James Cudney is a magician whose words and plots on paper are like those card tricks that nobody can guess.
And yes, I loved the book!!
I downloaded the digital version of the book from Kindle Unlimited, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!!
Reviews of Jay’s books
All my reviews can be found here
Have you read any of his books? Which one is your favorite?
Who doesn’t know my first and my best friend, James J Cudney the fourth prince of the secret land of This is my Truth Now
Check out his blog, check out his reviews, and most importantly check out his NEW BOOK!!
At a masquerade ball to raise money for renovations to Memorial Library, Kellan finds a dead body dressed in a Dr. Evil costume.
Did one of Maggie’s sisters kill the annoying guest who’d been staying at the Roarke and Daughters Inn, or does the victim have a closer connection to someone else at Braxton College?
As Kellan helps school president Ursula bury a secret from her past and discover the identity of her stalker, he unexpectedly encounters a missing member of his family. Everything seems to trace back to the Stoddards: a new family who recently moved in.
Between the murder, a special flower exhibit and strange postcards arriving each week, Kellan can’t decide which mystery in his life should take priority. But unfortunately, the biggest one of all has yet to be exposed – and when it is, Kellan won’t know what hit him.
Publication Date: 30th March 2019
Publisher: Creativia
41 Responses
Such a sweet intro, Shalini, and love your review as well. 💕
Thank you ❤️ 😘.. It always happens that I have a post of Jay and he is late to the party
Looking forward to reading this one! <3
Yayyy… It’s pure fun a good whodunit
Ahhh. How sweet. Another lovely review, Shalini! Good friends are hard to find in this messed up world. Hope your friendship with Jay lasts a lifetime. 🙂 I’ve only read Academic Curveball so far, but I think i have some of his other books on my kindle. I wish I had more time to read. Sigh…will have to remind myself to look for them. 🙂
I hope so too Leslie… How are you doing? Thank you for your kind words. They warm my heart ♥
Beautiful words my darling for a beautiful soul.
And on the book… I see your girl Myriam was her usual trying and difficult and bold self 😂😂
She was not difficult. The world didn’t get her, especially the author James Cudney. She has a heart of pure sarcastic gold 😂😂
Yeah… welll…. got the sarcastic part right. 😂😂😂
You, girl, you are being impudent now!! Hell hath no fury that a woman scorned by jealous women 😂😂😂
Hahahahahahaha
😂
Myriam comes out to play occasionally 😉😉😂😂
Lovely intro.
Thank you ❤️
Wonderful words for a dear friend, Shalini! Its the best thing to have someone who understands and accepts us as we are.
I agree Sheela… Sometimes things come after a boatload of sacrifices ❤️
Great review Shalini! I got to get this book ASAP!
It is a fun investigation
What a terrific review, Shalini! I have this one as well. Now, to make time to read it.
Maybe we should put time also in our amazon wishlist 😂😂❤️❤️🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
Wonderful review and you certainly do not have a limited vocabulary! I love some of the words you use I should write them down and use them myself!
Seriously the only other language I can sort of speak is Spanish and if I wrote anything in Spanish it would look like a preschooler did it!
I can speak a couple but I can write only English
Glad to see you have snapped that string of bad luck and burst through with sparkles
Hehehe 😂 I agree but DJ I am not reading at all. Unless I finish a book by tomorrow… I don’t have a review.. 😂 😂
A beautiful tribute and review, Shalini. I’ve read one of James’s books so far (Academic Curveball) and really enjoyed it.
Thanks Jacquie, I came into blogging world by chance. And I knew nothing Jay was patient and kind and made time. I will never forget that kindness. It was like a balm over my soul which had been hurt by racist comments on Facebook… He really showed me what being humane was
People can be mean. I’m glad someone was there for you {{hugs}}
Thank you ❤️ it was a bad time and quite a shock as I was called names by a ‘friend’
🙁 That’s just sad
Brilliant review! I think I’m the only one who doesn’t like Benedict Cumberbatch xD
Awww…. You don’t like him? Then whom do you like?
I’m team David Tennant!!
Great review Shalini!! I’ve read all of his books so far but I don’t think I can pick a favorite because I have loved them all.
Misty you are a true fan of James J Cudney IV the royal prince… ❤️
Yes I really am!! 💕
I love you both. Such a great post and review. ❤❤
Awww thank you ❤️
This is so fab! I’m not a real fan of murder mystery, but I think this would be among the exceptions. Can’t wait to read it.
And I hope your friendship with Jay lasts forever!
Awww thank you so much ❤️