"Death By Betrayal" By Abigail Keam: Review/Giveaway

Review by Sarah Erwin

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

Death By Betrayal is book 20 in Abigail Keam’s Josiah Reynolds Mystery series, but readers new to this series should not be worried about jumping in. This well-constructed, fast-paced mystery can be read as a standalone. Abigail also adds in hints to past mysteries that should intrigue readers to pick up her backlist.

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Josiah Reynolds does not have the best luck or the calmest temper, but she has a good heart. When she meets her friend Hunter’s new farmhand, Palley, and Palley mentions that he’s in need of an old junker car so that he can enter the demolition derby at this year’s county fair, Josiah wants to help. The three head over to Josiah’s land and pull up next to a long neglected shed that houses an old car. Josiah tells Palley if he can get it working, it’s his to use in the derby. As they investigate just how run down the car is, they are certainly surprised when the trunk reveals a skeleton wrapped in a tarp!

And this is, of course, no straightforward mystery. Just who was this skeleton and how long has it been there? As the police (and Josiah herself) begin to investigate, it becomes clear that this body has something to do with her property and its former owner. Not one to simply sit back and let things happen and possibly lose her home, Josiah jumps into the investigation with two feet.

It seems that when it rains, it pours for Josiah but she handles it all with her usual flare. There’s a bit of romantic upset in the book, as well as things from her past marriage that she thought were long buried. There is a lot going on in this slim mystery and so many layers and twists to this mystery that the pages flew by – I finished this in one sitting. The Kentucky setting is also beautifully described and felt like armchair travel for this reader. There are also a few hints at future plot points that make me eager to follow Josiah in another adventure.

To enter to win a copy of Death By Betrayal, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "betrayal,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen August 3, 2024. 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! 

You can click here to purchase this book.

Sarah Erwin started her career as a children’s librarian, later becoming a public library director and now she’s a stay at home mom. While her career might have changed, her love of reading has been a constant since 4th grade and she reads over 200 books a year. Read along with her on her blog Sarah Can’t Stop Reading or on Instagram. Sarah lives in St. Louis, MO with her two kids, her husband and a family dog and cat.

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.