Statue of Limitations is a cute start to a new series by author Kate Collins. Athena is the odd duck in her family. She doesn’t look Greek. She doesn’t want to BE Greek. But here she is back in coastal Michigan surrounded by her large, crazy, quirky, noisy, nosy Greek family. Just like you see in the movies, right down to the Greek restaurant owned by her grandparents Pappoús and Yiayiá. Athena and two of her sisters were named after Greek goddesses: Selene after the moon goddess; Maia after the goddess of the fields and Athena after the goddess of war and wisdom. Her mother, Hera, had been named after the mother goddess. Her youngest sister Delphi was the exception, named after the Oracle of Delphi. Still Greek. Even her father, who is not Greek, willingly stepped into this lunacy they call daily life. So after her divorce Athena and her ten-year old son Nicolas did what was most sensible even if not most desirable – they moved back home and Athena began working at the family garden center. Her mother immediately sets her up with “a nice Greek boy.” No spark with this pushy, controlling man but it keeps her mother off her back. To maintain her sanity, Athena writes a popular anonymous blog describing life with her exhausting loving family. Can you blame her?

With a set up like this, how can Statue of Limitations be anything but marvelously entertaining? There’s a status (of course), a cute, mysterious guy who shows up from out of town, a couple of murders, and some serious sleuthing and danger. There are lots of clues about where the danger is coming from, but the plot is solid and keeps you guessing – and worrying about Athena – until the end. Don’t miss this one by fabulous author Kate Collins. ( )

Athena moved back home after she lost her job and her husband divorced her, bringing her young son with her, and moving in with her family. She works at her family's garden center, and has so far accepted that this is her new life. One night she comes across a man in the center, looking at a statue of Athena that her grandfather bought at an estate sale, and he tells her that it rightfully belongs to him. After finally getting him to leave, she vows to tell her father about it, but doesn't get the chance when she sees the news the next day and recognizes the man running from the Talbot home as the one she came across. It seems a man was murdered at the estate and he's suspected of being the murderer.

But when the man - Case Donnelly - convinces her that he's been framed, she agrees to help him find the real killer and clear his name. But in doing so, she puts herself in danger...and she just might be the next victim...

Well, I liked the blurb about this book, so I really wanted to read it. Unfortunately, I just thought it was so...dull. Not even the murder mystery could save this, in my opinion. I absolutely hated everyone in her family except her father. They were all so stereotypical of the 'noisy, overbearing Greeks' that it really bothered me. Her sisters were completely over the top, and her mother was way too interfering, considering Athena is thirty-four years old. Also, all of them live in one house? How big is this place, anyway? Why aren't any of her sisters married? Oh, right...they're annoying. (I have three sisters, and if they were anything like any of these three, I wouldn't tell them where I lived).

Speaking of Athena, we know she has a son, but it was like he was wallpaper. He was there when needed, but otherwise out of the picture. I also have to wonder about his father, who would divorce her and then just walk away from his child - and we're not given the reason why he was so willing to abandon his son.

Then the ending...well, the mystery was wrapped up nice and tight, just like it's supposed to, so that is a good thing. I knew pretty much early on who the killer had to be and why, but still wanted to see Athena and Case figure it out. It left us something to look forward to in the next book, if I decide to read it. At this point, I'm not sure I want to visit the Spencer household ever again. ( )

This first mystery in the Goddess of Greene Street is a little light on the mystery but heavy on the character development and dialogue. Athena is trying to protect a statue that her grandfather purchased from an estate sale. However, the ownership appears to be under dispute when a hunky guy, Case Donnelly, appears telling Athena that the statue was stolen from his family in Greece. Not sure how to handle the dispute, Athena is thrown a curve ball by several murders that are linked to the statue and the estate that it was purchased from. Athena goes with her gut and helps to hide the stranger from the police while investigating the deaths.

This was really fun with the interaction between Athena and Case as well as the Greek family dynamics. I laughed a lot!. ( )

If you enjoyed My Big Fat Greek Wedding, you’ll enjoy the crazy and loving Greek family in this book. For me this is what really made Statue of Limitations a good read. I wanted more of the interaction between the family members and will be looking forward to that in future books in the Goddess of Greene Street Mystery series. And more of Oscar the raccoon too, of course!

As for the mystery itself, I think most people will know right away the bad guys. But since the characters that Kate Collins writes are so developed it’s easy to overlook how easy the mystery was to solve. There were some red herrings to try to make it more difficult to figure out, so maybe you’ll be one who takes a bit longer to see whodunit.

There were a few times when Athena was really ditzy when it came to securing evidence and I wanted to smack her! I know the main characters sometimes have to make mistakes to keep up the drama and tension, but at one point towards the end, I was like, Really?!?

There is a kind of love triangle in Statue of Limitations, and we all know how I feel about those, but by the end of the book it was resolved, and I’m glad she gave one of the men the boot. And I realize why she was dating him, but I don’t know if I could have kept dating him if I was in her place… but that could just be the age difference, besides the cultural differences.

A fun start to a new cozy mystery series, and I’m looking forward to book two in 2021. ( )

Statue of Limitations by Kate Collins is the debut of A Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series. Athena Spencer, recently divorced, returns home to Sequoia, Michigan with her son, Nicholas. Her large Greek family is happy to have her back, though, Athena had to endure a few “I told you so’s” from them (they told her not to marry the bum). While Athena loves her family, they can be a bit overwhelming at times especially her mother who wants to see her settled with a nice Greek boy (like Kevin Coreopsis). She alleviates her frustrations with “It’s All Greek to Me” a blog she writes under the name Goddess Anon. Athena is the business manager for Spencer’s Garden Yard (her father’s business). One evening while working on her blog in the office, Athena hears a noise outside. She believes it is Oscar, the raccoon, and is shocked to find a man fiddling with her grandfather’s newly acquired Greek statue “Goddess of Athena”. Case Donnelly tells Athena that the statue, which was made by Greek sculptor, Antonius was stolen from his family in Greece. He is trying to prove ownership. Athena is quick to send Case on his way. The next morning, Case is wanted in the murder of Harry Pepper, Grayson Talbot Sr.’s longtime assistant. Athena finds herself hiding Case and searching for a killer while trying to protect her grandparent’s beloved restaurant from greedy developed, Grayson Talbot Jr. I like how we are introduced to Athena in Statue of Limitations. I thought it was clever and a unique way to introduce the protagonist. This book is easy to read, and I like the theme of a large Greek family and community. We are introduced to Greek culture, food, and language. I thought Athena’s blog was humorous. Her family loves to read it and they fail to realize that Athena is describing them. Athena’s sisters are quirky (especially Delphi). Her father is a sweetie. I liked the interactions between Athena and Case Donnelly. Sparks were flying between these two. The mystery was fun to follow, but it is a snap to solve. There are floral tips at the end. Cozy mystery readers will enjoy getting to know Athena’s family and the Greek community in Sequoia. Statue of Limitations is a lighthearted cozy mystery with a meddling mother, a rascally raccoon, the charismatic Case, one big-headed blowhard, and a Greek goddess gumshoe. ( )