Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for A Whale of a Murder: A Venus Bixby Mystery by Valerie Taylor! Today we are featuring a review of the first book in this new cozy mystery series. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews, and more! It’s a great way to add books to your TBR! There is also a Rafflecopter Giveaway for a $10 Amazon Gift Card (three winners). 

A Whale of a Murder: A Venus Bixby Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Chatham Crossing — a fictional whaling town situated between Providence and Cape Cod
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Aspetuck Publishing (April 23, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 358 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8986599526
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CW1L6DC1

About the Book:

First in the Venus Bixby Mystery series from award-winning author Valerie Taylor.

Sea breezes and fireworks fill the air in cozy Chatham Crossing, the peaceful and historic whaling town situated between Providence and Cape Cod.

Venus Bixby, owner of the forever popular music store Oldies & Goodies, is counting on the festivities over the Fourth of July weekend to propel her to a position on the prestigious Town Committee.

After years of living in the shadow of her late husband, Venus will finally be the center of attention this holiday weekend: starting with her fiftieth birthday celebration and ending as the parade’s Grand Marshal.

Faster than a cookie crumbles, her dream collapses on the morning of her party when she trips over orange platform shoes in the gardens of the Sofia Silva Whaling Museum and breaks her thumb. When it’s discovered the shoes are attached to the body of the manager of the museum’s gift shop, Venus becomes both a suspect and a sleuth in Chatham Crossing’s first murder in decades.

Given this unexpected turn of events, will Venus ever sing and dance at her birthday party, or will her fractured thumb end up in handcuffs?

Includes cookie recipes and playlist!

My Review:

I’m having all the luck reading and enjoying the first book in new cozy mystery series! As a fan of reading series, there is nothing better than getting to start a new one! The cover drew me in first as it looks like the perfect summer escape. I enjoyed the setting of cozy Chatham Crossing and all the quirky characters that make up the town. Set over the Fourth of July weekend added to the charm. 

There’s a lot to introduce in this first book so it did take me a minute to settle into the story, but I’m glad I did. There’s a great mix of characters – all unique in their own way. Venus Bixby grew on me – she’s very direct and while sometimes I found it surprising, the more I read, the more I admired her. I do love the Oldies & Goodies store. 

The mystery is multi-layered and the ending strong. I do love that there are recipes and a playlist – that is such a unique treat to add to a cozy mystery. 

Looking forward to more books by Valerie Taylor! 

About the Author:

Valerie Taylor tried to retire in 2016. But life had other ideas. After enjoying some of the best years of her life in Boston and Seattle, she moved back home to Connecticut and embarked on a second career as an author. Her first romantic comedy trilogy What’s Not Said, What’s Not True, and What’s Not Lost won multiple awards. Encouraged by her readers, she created a new cozy mystery series, spinning one of the secondary characters in What’s Not LOST into the role of amateur sleuth in A Whale of a Murder: A Venus Bixby Mystery. When she’s not writing or reading, Valerie enjoys practicing tai chi and being an expert sports spectator.

Author Links:

Website:         https://valerietaylorauthor.com

Facebook:      facebook.com/valerietaylorauthor

Twitter/X:      twitter.com/ValerieEMTaylor

Instagram:     Instagram.com/ValerieETaylor/

Purchase Links:– Amazon – B&N – Bookshop.org – 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

• July 8 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
• July 8 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT
• July 9 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
• July 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
• July 10 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
• July 11 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
• July 12 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
• July 13 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
• July 13 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST
• July 14 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
• July 15 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
• July 16 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
• July 16 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
• July 17 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
• July 17 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
• July 18 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
• July 18 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
• July 19 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
• July 20 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
• July 21 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

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