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.
While I always adore following the totally zany paths in the Merry Wrath mystery series, I love this book even more because author Leslie Langtry has wrapped this tale in the kind-heartedness that won me over in the first place.
Don’t misunderstand: everyone is still racing around crazily trying to solve crimes, yet somehow the recurring characters are even more delightfully likeable in Media Made Murder.
“Crazy” is a key descriptor here; it applies to just about everything in the small town of Who’s There, Iowa. Which has been like this since 30-ish Merry Wrath came back home when she had to cut short her career as an undercover CIA spy after being vindictively outed. Merry was then talked into co-leading a girl scout troop by her best friend.
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| Image Source Gemma Halliday |
In this installment, a true-crime documentary crew arrives to film Merry’s police chief husband because he has a 100% murder-solving record. Obviously the director needs to find a real murder in town to document. Failing that, he tries to convince Merry to get someone to commit a murder. And failing that, he decides to film re-enactments of local murders.
Once someone starts a rumor Netflix is interested in the documentary, the action ramps up to death-defying stunts, planned explosions, and other perils. Merry’s scout troop is in the thick of it, with their own agenda.
Then a real dead body is discovered. Is this a murder? If not, could it be made to look like one? Was the deceased secretly wealthy, with unknown heirs that might have had a motive? Who claimed the body, and why? Will Merry’s husband find the killer and thus continue his perfect murder solving streak (with her unofficial help) for the documentary crew to film?
Of course there’s a plot twist at the end I won’t give away. But there’s also a personal twist: we are left with Merry wondering whether her scout troop, now in middle school, has learned all they can from her. Should she look for a new, young group of scouts to mentor? I don’t know how I feel about that—and neither does she, right now.
To enter to win an ebook copy of Media Made Murder, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "media made,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen May 31, 2025. 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!
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.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.
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