Athena enlists Case’s help in solving the murder of a local photographer. Hugo had sent them some incriminating photos, along with a note saying he would have explanation for Athena later. Unfortunately, he was dead before he had the chance. Digging for clues, trying to determine who is guilty of accepting a payoff and who isn’t takes up a lot Athena’s time. She still must work at her parents’ garden shop and find time to write her (mostly) anonymous blog. Case is getting his private eye license, and Lila is setting up his office. These three “partners” are having a somewhat difficult time finding their own niche in this partnership! This series just keeps getting better, and the end of the book leads me to believe that the next one will be better still. The mysteries are good ones, but the Greek flavor that permeates the stories and the delightful characters that people them are really the heart and soul of the series. Highly recommended for cozy readers. ( )

Athena Spencer has invited her new beau Case Donnelly to the Save Our Dunes fundraiser and art festival to distract him while he waits for his PI license. However, while they are taking a walk along the nature trail they come across a body and get immersed in the ensuing investigation for the murder. The victim had wanted to meet with Case but was that why he was killed? Did he know something that the killer didn't want revealed?

I have enjoyed this series as it has continued to evolve, especially the family interaction. ( )

I really enjoyed Statue of Limitations, the first book in the Goddess of Greene Street Mysteries by Kate Collins, but book two had me wanting to throw my Kindle at the wall for all the wrong reasons, so I was a bit anxious when I went to read book three, Big Trouble in Little Greektown… but Collins has redeemed the series for me!

Collins has a talent for character development and writing characters that you want to be part of their family, and she continues to do a wonderful job with this in Big Trouble in Little Greektown. Her family is trying to figure out who Goddess Anon is, Delphi decides what she wants to do with her matters of the heart, and Athena makes great strides in a personal relationship.

What had me so annoyed with book two was the mystery and Athena holding back information. In book three she works much better with others and actually uses her head a bit when it comes to what might put her in danger… and we still get an intense scene (more like you would find in a suspense than a cozy mystery) with the killer at the end. There was a side story with Athena’s son that ties into the main story which may make it easier for readers to figure out what is going on early in the book, but I didn’t feel that it took away from the final reveal.

And I am super excited about the very, very end that has Athena’s world colliding with another character from a fantastic series. I am really looking forward to book four in the Goddess of Greene Street Mysteries to see where Collins takes this new development! ( )

cultural-heritage, bribery, cozy-mystery, law-enforcement, private-investigators, small-business, small-town, family-dynamics, friendship, secrets, situational-humor, verbal-humor, amateur-sleuth*****

Of course the murdered man is a sleaze, but there are more problems than that. Athena is part of a large Greek family in Sequoia, Michigan and has had some experience as an amateur sleuth, so she takes it all on so as not to cause problems for her special friend as he doesn't yet have his PI license. Meanwhile her family is carrying on like a Greek Tragedy because of dodgy problems in local politics, Athena's surreptitious but very popular blog, and their suspicion that Athena's friend is not Greek.
Good sleuthing, interesting red herrings and plot twists, and some really good laughs. I really enjoyed it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley, Thank you! ( )