I’m delighted to share a review of Shake-speared in the Park by Joy Ann Ribar, as part of the Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tour. Be sure to enter the giveaway linked at the end of this post!
March 17th – April 11, 2025
Virtual Book Tour
A BAY BROWNING MYSTERY
Genre: Blended Mystery: Traditional Mystery with Paranormal Twists
Published by: Wine Glass Press
Publication Date: February 2025
Number of Pages: 359
ISBN: 9781959078272 (ISBN10: 1959078275)
About the Book:
When Bay Browning helps direct the Flourish College summer theater production, “Shakespeare’s Couch,” she doesn’t plan for murder at the first practice.
Someone wants revenge against the elite cast members, as more terror unfolds on stage and backstage with each rehearsal. What should be a lighthearted parody on The Bard and his characters is cursed from the start, even without someone shouting “Macbeth” in the theater. Detective Downing takes charge of the crime, but Bay and her puzzle-solving cohort, Jen Yoo, follow their own script behind the scenes. Cassandra, Bay’s extraordinary sister, makes her own dramatic entrance on the case. After all, Cass is now the personal assistant to one of the elites living the high life on the bluff above Prairie Ridge. How many tragic scenes will be scripted before the villain faces the final curtain?
My Review:
While this was book two in the series, it’s the first I have read and I can attest that the book can easily be read on its own. Set during the summer time, this book had me yearning for summer break and Shakespeare in the Park. If you’re on a countdown to summer break, add this to your spring reading TBR and you won’t be disappointed.
This is a complex mystery with many possible suspects to consider. The addition of other incidents happening to the actors adds to the complexity of the mystery, and I think I suspected everyone at some point throughout the book. I found the big reveal surprising in the best of ways.
I also enjoyed the quotes at the start of each chapter and the character list at the start of the book – I wish I’d see this in more books!
Well done and lots of fun!
About the Author:
Joy Ann Ribar is an RV author, writing on the road wherever her husband and their Winnebago View wanders. Joy’s cocktail of careers includes news reporter, paralegal, English educator, and aquaponics greenhouse technician, all of which prove useful in penning mysteries. Her cozy Deep Lakes Mysteries, feature baker/vintner Frankie Champagne, who moonlights as an investigative reporter. Joy’s Bay Browning Mysteries blend edgy, traditional, and paranormal elements twisted around classical literary themes. Joy loves to bake, read, research wines, and explore nature. Her writing has received awards and recognition from WWA, PenCraft Book Awards, Book Fest, Readers Favorite, and Chanticleer Cozy and Not-So-Cozy awards.
Author’s Links:
Retail Links:
Series Links
Giveaway:
This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Joy Ann Ribar. See the link for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited. The giveaway is for: a $20 Amazon.com Gift Card. ENTER HERE!
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