"Murder Comes Home" by Rosalie Spielman: Review/Giveaway

Review by Becky Sue Epstein

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win an ebook copy of the book and a link to purchase it.

Who would want to be dropped in the middle of a tiny Idaho town in November? I would, if the inhabitants were as complex and interesting as the residents of New Oslo, as written by Rosalie Spielman. It’s just too bad that someone steals Tessa’s vintage 1965 Mustang. And when it’s found, there’s a dead man in the car, and a nearly-dead young woman in the trunk.

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Image Source Gemma Halliday Publishing

The main character, forty something Tessa, is a veteran of the US military, recently retired to come home and work with her favorite aunt, Edna. Together, they restore old cars for their livelihood, while using their street smarts, life experience, and knowledge of the community to solve mysteries.

The characters and relationships are written with warmth and empathy. Everyone, including these gutsy women, has secrets, or tragedies in their lives. It’s up to Tessa and her aunt – along with Tessa’s best friend and an ex-boyfriend on the police force – to delve into the motive and method for this murder, while not letting their own baggage get in the way. Especially now, when there’s a Hollywood-esque backdrop: a film crew has arrived to shoot an episode of a History Channel/Antiques Roadshow type TV show at Tessa and her aunt’s garage and historic homestead.

Egos and clandestine family lore twine through the plot, adding layers of red herrings and suspects. To the author’s credit, I didn’t realize it was the third in her series until I read about her after finishing the book. A previously solved mystery was mentioned, but in this book, the backstory was so cleverly dealt out I never felt lost. Also, the author’s own military training grounds the main character in authenticity. In addition to this Hometown series, Spielman also writes the Aloha Lagoon mysteries.

To enter to win an ebook copy of Murder Comes Home, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "home,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen November 4, 2023. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! A new episode Halloween episode went up this week.

You can use this link to purchase the book or click here. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:

While traveling the world and writing about wine and spirits, Becky Sue Epstein read cozy mysteries to relax. One day it occurred to her that she could combine the two pursuits. She recently began to write wine-themed cozy mysteries. Hopefully, her agent will love them.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.