Killer Deadline

A Nikki Bryant Cozy Mystery, Book 1

De: Lauren Carr

Narrado por: Anita Alger

Folks in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, claim that where Nikki Bryant goes, trouble is not far behind. Her refusal to back down from a challenge has made Nikki Bryant a top investigative journalist.

When an online friend nudges her to join him in a pact to reconnect with their first loves, Nikki and her boxer dog Elmo leave the bright lights of Las Vegas for the charming town of Pine Grove. There, she must face the biggest challenges in her career and life - the first love she had left behind and her father’s unsolved murder.

But before she has time to unpack her car, Nikki stumbles upon the dead body of local news anchor, Ashleigh Addison, her childhood rival. Could Ashleigh’s death be connected to an explosive news story that she had teased about airing live? Did that explosive story have anything to do with the murder of Nikki’s father?

With the clues in her father’s cold case hot again, Nikki intends to chase down the story of her life until she catches his killer - no matter what it takes.

©2020 Terri Lynn Zaleski (P)2020 Terri Lynn Zaleski

I loved this cozy mystery!

This is the first I see elements of You've got Mail thrown into a cozy mystery!
It's hip and adds to the many secrets Nikki must uncover in this small town she left behind many years ago. I love the intelligent dog she brings along too! Where can I get one to help me with my house chores?! He is so cute, even if he drools, and many consider him ugly. Lol. I loved that he has his own Instagram page adding more flavor and humor to this fantastic book. I got swept in the whole tale as Nikki became a suspect in a childhood rival's murder and races against the clock to clear her name and possibly discover her dad's murderer. I was given an audio copy by author but was not required to provide a positive review. These thoughts and opinions are my own.
I thought the narrator did an excellent job, and she added a funny echo effect when Nikki had an inner thought. I can't wait to read/listen to the rest of the series.

Breaking news is what she lives for

Killer Deadline
A Nikki Bryant Cozy Mystery #1
By Lauren Carr
Read by Anita Alger

Nikki Bryant's life was changed when her father was murdered when she was 12 years old. Now Nikki has returned to Pine Grove, PA, as an award-winning investigative journalist, and solving her father's cold case is on her to-do list. Of course, she also has her family's local television station to run. And then there is her first love to try reconnecting with. And don't you dare call Ryan Spaulding her brother - there are no blood relations between them, just two widowed parents who got married.

And then there is the 5-year contract her childhood enemy just signed with the station- UGH! When Nikki's jock about murder being one way to break a contract becomes reality, she's left to put her investigative skills to use to find any connection to her father's murder and clear her name. Of course, she's not about to refuse any help Ryan might offer in her search for answers.

First off, you are going to LOVE Elmo - Nikki's crime-solving, social media star, of a dog. Elmo has some very unique skills that leave you with at least a smile on your face. And unlike Gnarly, of the Mac Farraday series, Elmo doesn't fall on the wrong side of the law. Nope, he is one law-abiding dog.

Killer Deadline is the first book in the Nikki Bryant series, which presents cozy mysteries set in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania. Nikki's family is an interesting mix of complicated, and she's finally returning home after establishing herself as an investigative journalist. Her return includes taking the reins of her family's tv station, which has been under her mother's guiding hand since her father was murdered years ago.

This story has plenty of amusing scenes that will keep it light and unbogged down by the murders. The setting is contemporary, and the genre is definitely on the cozy side of mystery. I enjoyed this book in the audio format and at just over 6-1/2 hours an easy read that I could listen to in one week as I commuted to and from work. Anita Alger narrated and did an excellent presenting the story so that it was well-paced and engaging. Whether you enjoy reading or listening to your book, this is one you'll want to add to your summer TBR list.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

This is an exciting new series by Lauren Carr!

I love Lauren Carr's writing and now I get to listen to the audio books as well! It is so enjoyable listening to her books I have read in audio form! It is a wonderful "refresher" to my mind of stories I only partially remembered. Her writing is the type one can listen to/read more than once and still enjoy!

Killer Deadline is a great title for this particular book. The Cover image is a great choice, too!

The human and non human characters and the background scenes are fantastic! It is so easy to lose oneself into the story. As always, Lauren Carr has added much humor and outrageous antics corresponding with adventure, mystery and suspense.

This book is about an individual who walked away from her one true love because of unique conditions. Years later, she is a successful newsperson who must now decide whether she should leave her success to return home to take over the small town news media station which has been in her family for years. Is her love still single? She is urged by her email friend to "give it a shot". The email "pal" challenged her to face her dilemma and he would face his as well.

In the meantime, she is determined to solve a past murder. As she pursues this, other individuals start expiring.

The Narrator, .Anita Alger, did a very good job with her voice fluctuation and enunciation, but her voice was too delicate and "airy" for the "manly" main character which slightly annoyed me. Other than that, I totally enjoyed this audio.

I offer a Four and a Half Stars rating.
This was gifted me with absolutely no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review.

embarrassing

Did Lauren Carr actually write this or did the immature narration style ruin the story?

Sassy cozy

This is my first Lauren Carr book, but it will not be my last as she has written a whip smart savvy and sassy female investigator in Nikki Bryant.

Nikki Bryant, investigative journalist and known to be a trouble magnet, and her dog, Elmo, whom is an online celebrity that gets recognized everywhere they go, is heading back to her hometown to possibly rekindle an old romance and take over the family business.

Naturally, as soon as Nikki arrives, she finds her old rival and current stations anchor dead. She reported she had new information on case and Nikki’s father was a cold case that Nikki planned to investigate further.

Will she be able to finally uncover her father’s killer and possibly her old rivals if they were linked somehow?

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery as I felt connected to the characters and it didn’t feel false like so many other cozies can be. Plus the narration on this book was great and was easily followed. I can’t wait to read book two, as we will follow Nikki, Elmo and hopefully her new love.


Thank you Ireads book tour for the complimentary audiobook. All thoughts are my own.