Book Review | The Abnormal Gumshoe by Tamar Anolic, perfect for readers who love cozy mystery and a fish-out-of-water amateur sleuth
The Abnormal Gumshoe is a delightful cozy mystery I couldn’t put down.
Title: The Abnormal Gumshoe
Author: Tamar Anolic
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Book Blurb:
Chloe Weaver is the oldest daughter in a conservative Christian family of Fayetteville, Arkansas who lives biblically: long skirts for the women, home-schooling for the children, weekly church attendance and old-fashioned courting rules that lead to marriage.
As she turns thirty and remains unmarried, however, Chloe begins to wonder if she’ll ever have the happy marriage and many kids that she has been led to believe constitutes the perfect life. When her parents allow her to court Barnabas Anderson, Chloe knows she should be ecstatic. Instead, she is uncomfortable with the twelve-year age gap between her and Barnabas. Besides, Barnabas has always been a little… weird.
When Barnabas’ brother visits the Weavers, bringing tales of Barnabas’ previous wife and her untimely death, Chloe realizes how little she knows about Barnabas. As she prepares for a prayer assembly in San Francisco, where Barnabas used to live, Chloe decides to investigate his past and his wife’s death. With the help of Detective Logan Cartwright of the San Francisco Police Department, Chloe steps out of her comfort zone to find the truth- and find hope for her future.
The Abnormal Gumshoe is the sequel to the award-winning novel Two Sisters of Fayetteville.
My Review:
Chloe Weaver wonders if she’ll ever get married. She’s thirty and the oldest daughter of a conservative Christian family. Her parents finally allow her to date Barnabus, a man twelve years older than her. She should be gleeful, but she isn’t. When Barnabus’ brothers visit and reveal the mystery behind Barnabus’ first wife and her odd death, questions swirl around her. Did he cause her death? Was it murder? Is this an omen for their future? Chloe decides to investigate. With the help of San Francisco PD Detective Logan Cartwright, they dig up secrets, truths, and those responsible for Barnabus’ wife’s death. Can Chloe come to terms with Barnabus and the future she envisioned or has she unearthed a new future for herself?
The Abnormal Gumshoe is a delightful cozy mystery I couldn’t put down. From the moment I was introduced to Chloe, I was hooked. She is the main character of this cozy mystery, and she is the tour de force of this book. Her view on life, people, and circumstances is shrouded in her sheltered upbringing. She’s the oldest daughter of a very conservative Christian family. Her growth over the course of the book is fascinating. I loved seeing her eyes opened to new experiences and truths that were hidden. She’s a fun, original amateur sleuth. Everything is seen through her eyes and makes for an unputdownable read.
The mystery itself is well written with an unlikely pair of sleuths. The descriptive narration is immersive. The plot moves at a good pace. The cast of characters are colorful and add depth to the overall story. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. Fans of Traci Tyne Hilton, Hope Callaghan, and Sandra Orchard will enjoy The Abnormal Gumshoe.
My Rating: 5++ stars
Buy it Now:
Free to read on Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Abnormal-Gumshoe-Fayetteville-Book-ebook/dp/B0GGJV9Y8D
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246625268-the-abnormal-gumshoe
Author Biography:
Tamar Anolic is the author of a number of award-winning books for both adults and younger readers. Her contemporary novels include the figure skating novel Like Water and Ice, the legal thriller This Side of the Law and the war novel The Last Battle. Her Young Adult novels include Two Sisters of Fayetteville, A Summer Lasts Forever, and the books of The Vanguard Warrior Trilogy: The Fledgling’s Inferno, A Silent Evil and The Final Armada.
Tamar’s historical works include the award-winning short story collection The Lonely Spirit and the award-winning alternate historical novels Triumph of a Tsar, Through the Fire, and The Imperial Spy. She is also the author of Tales of the Romanov Empire. Her other novels are the Middle Grade fantasy The Tunnel to Darkness and Light and its prequel, The Keepers, a fantasy coming-of-age novel.
Social Media Links:
https://www.facebook.com/TamarAnolicAuthor/
Reviewed by: Nancy