Crime & Punctuation
When perky novice writer Tiffany Scott knocks at her door holding a towering manuscript, Mikki expects another debut novel plagued by typos and sloppy prose. Instead, she finds a murder mystery ripped from the headlines of Lenape Hollow’s not-too-distant past. The opening scene is a graphic page-turner, but it sends a real chill down Mikki’s spine after the young author turns up dead, just like the victim in her story.
Mikki refuses to believe that Tiffany’s death was accidental, and suspicions of foul play solidify as she uncovers a strange inconsistency in the manuscript and a possible motive in the notes. Unable to convince police that they are focused on the wrong suspect, Mikki must rely on her keen eyes to catch the truth hidden in Lenape Hollow.
Series: A Deadly Edits Mystery – Book #1
Author: Kaitlyn Dunnett
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Book/Editor
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 304
Rating: 
Coming out May 28th from Kensington Books is a new Kaitlyn Dunnett cozy series “A Deadly Edits Mystery” book one, Crime & Punctuation. This is a very enjoyable book that has the potential to be a new fan-favorite cozy series.
Mikki isn’t your average amateur sleuth, but she is a character that readers can get behind. Mikki isn’t young; she is retired and a widow. She spends her days talking to her cat, Cal, and renovating her childhood home. She never thought she would find herself starting over at her age. The death of her husband uproots her life. She finds that she needs to separate herself from the memories of their life together. What better place to do that than where she grew up?
Friends she played with and went through school with are still around, as is the girl from school she never got along with and bullied her throughout high school and before. You would think that childish nonsense would be above them at their age, but apparently, old rivalries and insecurities never really end.
Characters in this book give the reader a warm feeling. Most of them are likable. Some characters are exactly what they are meant to be, antagonists, with a need to upset the happiness of those around them, forcing them to do and say things they really shouldn’t. The victim is sympathetic with the illusion of innocence. Readers will find that they really want to see justice done and the killer caught. Suspects are plentiful, each with a motive that is plausible. When the killer is exposed, it comes as no surprise. The murderer’s motive seems irrational and yet, credible. In a world where people are killed every day for petty, illogical reasons, the motive isn’t all that crazy.
Crime & Punctuation is easy to read, fast-paced, with twists and turns that will have readers happy and confused at the same time. You will fall in love with Mikki and cheer for her success. It is easy to sympathize with her plight, her fears, and her need to make things right. I am happy to recommend this skillfully crafted, pleasurable book and cozy series.
If you enjoy Crime & Punctuation, you may also enjoy V.M. Burns’ fascinating “Mystery Bookshop” series or JC Kenney’s riveting “An Allie Cobb Mystery” series.
About the Author:
Kaitlyn Dunnett is a pseudonym used by Kathy Lynn Emerson, author of the Mistress Jaffrey Mysteries, the Face Down Mysteries featuring Susanna Appleton, 16th-century gentlewoman, herbalist, and sleuth, the Diana Spaulding 1888 Quartet, and the award-winning How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries, plus an assortment of other books.
As Kaitlyn, she writes the Liss MacCrimmon series set in Moosetookalook, Maine, and the Deadly Edits series set in rural Sullivan County, New York.
She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and other professional organizations and blogs regularly with Maine Crime Writers. Kaitlyn lives on a Christmas tree farm in the mountains of western Maine with her husband and their cats.
Contact Kaitlyn: KaitlynDunnett@gmail.com
Find Kaitlyn on Social media
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kaitlyndunnett/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/kaitlyndunnett/
Follow the Cozy Review on Bloglovin
Contact the Cozy Review
Leave a Reply