When Amy-Faye is heading to a new potential job of planning a wedding, she meets with the prospective bride. She doesn't find out until later that the groom is going to be her ex-boyfriend, Doug. Shaken, she tries not to let it show and agrees to go ahead anyway. Then, after the latest meeting of the Readaholics, where they're discussing Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon, Amy Faye discovers one of their members ill, and Ivy later dies from what appears to be suicide by poison. But Amy Faye doesn't believe she killed herself, and will do whatever it takes to find out the truth.

It doesn't help that the new detective in town, Lindell Hart, thinks the case is closed and tells her to let it go. But Amy Faye isn't so sure and enlists the help of her friends to find out why Ivy was murdered. Once she starts digging, she finds out more than she wants to know, and it could put her in the reach of someone who's killed once and doesn't mind doing it again...

I really wanted to like this book - after all, there's a cute cat on the cover, and who doesn't like cozies with cats? Well, this author, apparently...

The book begins when Amy Faye finds a small kitten on the way to her meeting. Since the first chapters are about her and her new acquisition of the kitten, I'm thinking she has a new kitten. But this is the worst case of bait and switch by any author that I've ever read, and I read over 300 books every year. She begins by telling you about the poor little adorable kitten, then...gives it away because she can't be bothered with a kitten. But silly me - because a kitten is on the cover, I actually thought there would be a kitten in the book (there is one scene where the person she gave it to brings it to one of their meetings, so I assume we're supposed to know it's loved and fine; I don't buy it.)

She decides she's "too busy" to care for it and must get rid of it. So, instead of giving this little thing a warm and safe home, she gives it to someone who takes it to be an outdoor cat - where there are predators - not even caring, not thinking it could get parasites; because, after all, what does she care if the kitten gets fleas or parasites and is constantly scratching? Before those who have outdoor cats get upset, I'm of the opinion that cats should be strictly indoor. You can't use the argument you're 'too busy' with me; cats are fine on their own, and low maintenance, unlike dogs. They don't need to be taken for a walk, and you don't have to kennel them when you travel. I lead a full life, and my cats are perfectly happy.

Anyway, now that I'm done with my rant about indoor vs. outdoor cats, there were other problems with this book as well: She agrees to plan her ex-boyfriend's wedding, but is stunned by the fact that he's getting married. Because, it seems, she didn't know they were completely broken up. Since they've had an on-again, off-again relationship, she thought they were just in the off-again stage. And other people knew - like her best friend Brooke - but no one bothered to tell her. How can you call someone your best friend if they have that kind of information but don't share it with you? And what about Doug's mother? She's the one who recommended Amy Faye; kudos for throwing business her way, but I suppose his mother never liked her, because she didn't call her first and mention it to her. I guess she believed they were just 'childhood sweethearts' and that it was all over between them. That woman would have been off my Christmas card list for sure.

I didn't think the reason for the murder was interesting enough to carry the book, the friends didn't seem like they cared enough to help her investigate, and her best friend Brooke seems too selfish and self-centered for me to like her. Oh, and there wasn't much about a book club, either, except the people in it.

But to make it worse, the ending completely sucked. For those that haven't read the book, I'll put it in a spoiler, but be aware it does contain the ending of the book! So if you don't want to know it, DO NOT read the spoiler!

https://joannesbooks.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-readaholics-and-falcon-fiasco-book...

In my opinion, a vacuum cleaner doesn’t suck as much as this ending. It was obvious from using a kitten as bait that the author wanted to get people to read her book...and by the ending it was also obvious that she didn't care if they did or not. ( )

An event planner and a book club called the Readaholics - one of their group members dies and they are determined to prove that it wasn't suicide. Really great start to a new series. Will look for more by author. ( )

Not bad; a pretty good first mystery in a new series that centers on Amy-Faye (ugh), an event planner, and her fellow book club members/friends. When one of the members dies unexpectedly and the death is ruled suicide, Amy-Faye and her friends question the validity of the ruling.

I liked the characters, the setting and the mystery. The writing felt natural, as if the author knew what story she was writing, instead of writing to fit someone else's parameters (like a marketing department). I like that Amy-Faye was smart, but didn't think herself so smart she could do better than the police; in fact, she spent quite a lot of time reporting everything to the police. I liked that friendship played a big part in all parts of the story and there was a delightful lack of "evil nemesis".

What I didn't like so much was the ending of the book. It could be a good ending about the strength of friendship, but it could also be a setup for a love triangle, which frankly, would ruin this series for me before it hardly got started. I'm willing to read the second to find out. ( )

Excellent cozy mystery where Amy-Faye does not let the ME's verdict of suicide go. She knows her friend was murdered and sets out to prove it.

I like how The Maltese Falcon the book group is reading is wound throughout the story. Maud's critique of it is right on and is what happens in this book. There are lots of red herrings along the way. I did not figure it out until the end when it was explained to me.

I enjoyed these characters and look forward to seeing them again when I read the next book ( )

This is the first book in the Book Club Mystery series. I really enjoyed the book. It is surprisingly strong for it being a first book in a cozy series. Amy-Faye and her book club friends are thrust into a mystery when one of their own is found dead in her home. The police are sure it's suicide, but Amy-Faye and the rest don't believe that for a minute. Amy-Faye does some investigating on her own and discovers hidden affairs, dirty dealings and plain old greed in her friend's final weeks before her death. I found the story moved along at a good pace and the characters are likable and believable. It was a totally enjoyable read. ( )