"Pups, Pumpkins, and Murder" by S.A. Kazlo: Review/Giveaway

Review by Tracy Condie

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.

It’s that time of year again, time for A Taste of Wings Falls, and this year in addition to the vendors, a pet parade, and the annual Wings Falls Barbeque Contest, we get murder by massive pumpkin. Samantha “Sam” Davies and her Southern Belle cousin Candie Hogan, hookers by hobby—no not those kind of hookers, rug hookers with the Loopy Ladies—are ready to sleuth out the solution.

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Image Source Gemma Halliday Publishing

There are excellent descriptions, bits of backstory, and plenty of romance, making this also work as a stand-alone cozy, with several mysteries to keep the reader engaged and turning pages. The first mystery involves Sam, who is mystified as to why her beloved Dachshund, Porkchop, was not the winner of the pet parade costume contest in his adorable sheriff’s hat. Alas, all of the fun of the pet parade is slightly overshadowed by the multiple fracases seen between the new loan shark - I mean loan officer - Edgar Jensen, and various community members. These loans seem to require a large amount of collateral and a “special fee” just to get them processed—loans that are needed to pay for college for Joy, start a new business for Portia Peters, purchase restaurant appliances for Clint Higgins, and a restaurant remodel to bring it to code for Bill Collins.

While out for a walk, Sam runs into Aaron, Hank’s baby brother (Detective Hank Johnson is Sam’s boyfriend). The two hear a scream and go to check it out. Who would have thought that a 2,000-pound pumpkin could be used as a murder weapon? Sam for one did not see that coming or the visual aspect of the body likened to a bowl of Jell-o by Sgt. Joe Peters aka her childhood nemesis Sandy. Not everyone is a fan of Jell-O, and no one seemed to be a fan of Edgar, including his wife who was also seen haranguing the man for not getting her money soon enough.

Visualizing Edgar under that pumpkin could make someone nauseous, nauseous like the tainted barbecue that Franny of Sweetie Pie’s was unknowingly serving. Looks like no one will be getting a trophy for best barbecue this year since the contest had to be shut down and samples taken. Now Sam and Candie have two mysteries to look into. There are people to question and a huge sale to get to where even more clues are discovered. I did not figure out who the guilty party was with all of the red herrings flopping around, but I did enjoy the story.

To enter to win an ebook copy of Pups, Pumpkins, and Murder, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "pups,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen October 21, 2023. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. 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 went up this week.

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Tracy Condie is a paralegal by day and cozy armchair sleuth by night. When she is not working or reading, she enjoys preparing the recipes found in culinary cozies or researching recipes of meal items described therein and sharing reviews of both books and food on Instagram and on KRL. She lives in Corona, California with her husband and dog Zoolie, and looks forward to visiting with their grown sons when their time permits.

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.