Death Takes a Ride by Lorena McCourtney

It's official. This case is above her pay grade--and Cate's in over her head.

Cate Kinkaid arrives at H&B Vintage Auto Restorations to give a friend a ride. But, as usual, trouble finds Cate even there--this time in the form of one dead man, one wounded man, and what appears to be a pretty obvious case of self-defense.

Despite having been merely an unfortunate bystander, Cate finds herself sucked into the case. And the deeper she gets, the more she begins to suspect that the shooting in the H&B office may not have been as cut-and-dried as it appeared.

Bestselling and award-winning author Lorena McCourtney takes you on wild ride in this clever cozy mystery that will keep you guessing.

My Review:
This is the third installment in the Cate Kinkaid Files, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Cate, an assistant private investigator seems to always find dead bodies.  She's working on her license so that she will become a "real" P.I. and take over the business from her Uncle Joe.

Other characters in the novel are Cate's deaf, fluffy white cat, Olivia, who knows when the phone will ring; and Mitch, who comes to the rescue on his Purple Rocket. In this light-hearted mystery, Clancy, a large, hairy dog is introduced. He enjoys giving sloppy kisses and riding on a motorcycle, complete with goggles.

Readers are treated with just enough romance and just enough mystery and suspense to make this book a compelling read. (The conclusion will take your breath away.)

Thank you to to Lanette Haskins at Baker Publishing Group, Revell Books for my copy.

Dolled Up To Die by Lorena McCourtney

The Cate Kinkaid Files (Book 2)
 
When Cate Kinkaid receives a frantic call about a triple homicide, she drives to the scene against her better judgment--aren't triple homicides more up the police department's alley?--only to find that the victims are not quite who she expects. Now she has a new rule to add to those she's learned in her short stint as an assistant private investigator: always find out if the victims actually have human DNA. Because these three do not.

But who would shoot this nice lady's dolls? What possible reason could the shooter have? And then there's the startling discovery of another victim, who definitely does have human DNA . . .

With tension that is matched only by humor, Dolled Up to Die is the exciting second book in Lorena McCourtney's The Cate Kinkaid Files. Mystery fans won't find a place to stop and take a breath in this fast-paced and intriguing tale.

My Review:
Olivia, the cat isn't the only curious one in this light-hearted mystery. Cate Kinkaid's curiosity takes her into some scary, dark places. This "assistant private investigator" fumbles and stumbles over clues, and eventually manages to solve the case, but not until she has this reader holding her breath.

Unassuming,  Cate tries to help anyone who needs her; however, she gets in over her head right at the beginning of this novel. You see, Belmont Investigations handles "routine matters only"--no murders. Yet bodies are found all over the place! Cate plunges ahead and goes to whoever calls her: Jo-Jo first about the "massacre," then, Robyn, who needs Cate to serve as a last-minute fill-in bridesmaid. Well, you'll just have to read the book to see for yourself.

I really like the character of Cate. I also like Olivia, the cat, who owns Cate, and I like Mitch, Cate's romantic interest. And, need I say? I really like this series!

Thank you to Donna Hausler at Baker Publishing Group for my copy.

Available July 15, 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Dying to Read by Lorena McCourtney

Cate Kincaid Files Series #1

Cate Kincaid is just dipping her toe into the world of private investigating until one of the many resumes she has floating around lands her a real job. All she has to do is determine that a particular woman lives at a particular address. Simple, right?

When the big and brooding house happens to contain a dead body, this routine PI job turns out to be anything but simple. Is Cate in over her head?

My Review:
Mystery lovers have a new, female sleuth: Cate Kincaid. In addition to her bright mind and her ability to ferret out details, she sometimes trips over clues, but she manages to solve the crimes.

At the beginning of this light-hearted cozy mystery, Cate is grabbing the chance to work in a temporary position of Assistant Private Investigator; after all, it's the only paid job she can find. As she stumbles along, her curiosity takes her places few would venture.

The story is rich in quirky characters. There's the Whodunit book club, a group of middle-aged mystery readers; Willow, a tree hugger, who wins people over with her cooking; Octavia, a blue-eyed, fluffy, white cat who seems to direct Cate; and a hint of romance supplied by a couple of eager young males.

I can't wait for the next Cate Kincaid Files to be published! Thank you to Donna Hausler for my copy.

Available August 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.