Staged 4 Murder is the 3rd book in the Sophie Kimball Mystery series. I enjoy the mix of humor and mystery in this series. The characters are kooky, intelligent and just plain entertaining. I love how Sophie's rag-tag mix of retirement community senior citizens help her go after the bad guys. It always makes for a fun reading experience.

This time around all the seniors are involved in a local production of Agatha Christie's Mousetrap. Phee is tired of hearing about the play and she's a bit distracted by the newest staff member at her detective agency, Marshall Gregory. She had a major crush on Marshall when she worked for the Mankato, MN police department....and now they are working together again. Major distraction. Phee has to put her thoughts of Marshall on the back burner when conflicts on the set of the play her mother and book club cronies are involved in causes problems. It starts out with diva behavior and a suspicious case of food poisoning but escalates into murder. Miranda Lee is found dead on the theater catwalk. Miranda was difficult and many of the cast did not like her. But who was upset enough to murder her?

I enjoyed this newest book just as much as I did the first two books in this series. The seniors are feisty and funny as usual. The mystery is well paced with plenty of suspects and surprises. Marshall is a nice addition to the crew. Overall, an entertaining and enjoyable cozy mystery. I can't wait to see what trouble the gang gets into next! It won't be a long wait....the next book, Botched for Murder, comes out in January 2019.

J.C. Eaton also writes The Wine Trail Mysteries series.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** ( )

Sophie "Phee" Kimball works for a private investigator in Arizona. Her mother lives in a retirement community, and is the bane of Phee's existence. Harriet is a drama queen, and is always dragging Phee into things she'd rather be left out of altogether.

Harriet is excited that she and her friends are going to try out for a play in the local community center. It's Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap, and they all want to be a part of it, whether it's in front of an audience or behind the production. Luckily, her mother gets a role, but no one can stand the diva who landed the main part - Miranda Lee. Still, everyone's surprised when Miranda is murdered, and they're wondering if there's a serial killer on the loose.

Phee, though, is having problems of her own. There's a new investigator in her office - Marshall Gregory, and it's got her in a tizzy. She had a crush on him back when they both worked for the police department in Mankato, Minnesota, and now he's going to be working in their office as a private investigator. Hopefully, she'll be able to keep her head on straight and able to deal with her mother as well.

When a series of accidents befall the theater and two of the ladies believe they've seen the ghost of Miranda, things start heating up. They decide to hire the PI firm to investigate, and that puts Phee in the middle of it, alongside Marshall, who's been assigned the case by their boss, Nate Williams (another Mankato transplant). But after a near-collision with a car, and the scent of Miranda's perfume following them around, both Marshall and Phee become suspicious that someone's out to kill again. The trouble is, with so many suspects, which one hated the woman enough to permanently remove her from the playbill?...

This is the third book in the series and I really enjoyed it. I like the character of Phee, mainly because she's human. She loves her mother even though Harriet makes her crazy, and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her happy. She's got a good relationship with Nate, and is treading lightly with Marshall, afraid he might actually find out how she feels about him. You can feel her frustration with Harriet, but their relationship is actually slightly endearing.

Phee is never intrusive; she doesn't go around accusing people of murder or asking them personal questions that will upset them; she's out for information and because of the way she questions them, she gets what she wants. Harriet's friends are an interesting bunch, and it was humorous that the women preferred one restaurant while the men preferred another. I'm beginning to appreciate the sense of humor that the men have.

The plot was done well, the writing flowed and the budding romance didn't get in the way of the mystery, just as it should be (which doesn't mean I'm not enjoying it, because I am). It's a fun series that has rousing characters who have a tendency to grow on you the more time you spend with them.

When the ending comes and the killer is revealed, the clues were there earlier if you noticed them; while it's fun to watch Phee figure it out. She's no shrinking violet and can think on her feet. I like the fact that she's intelligent and doesn't fluster easily. It makes for a very good book. I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended. ( )

Sophie “Phee” Kimball is trying to do some work at her private investigation company in Arizona. Unfortunately, she’s distracted by her old crush arriving from Minnesota to join the staff. The last thing she needs is constant updates from her mom on the local production of Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap.” Practically everyone from her mom’s book club and retirement community wants to join the cast and crew. But someone’s playing the role of the killer for real.

After a much-despised cast member is found dead on a catwalk in the theater, Phee has no choice but to be drawn into the investigation. Especially if her drama-queen mother is right about the
vaguely threatening note left on her windshield, which could mean curtains for another victim.

Series: Sophie Kimball Mystery Book 3
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Author: J. C Eaton
Publisher: Kensington

In Staged 4 Murder Sophie has her hands full, between her job and her mother she doesn’t have much time to relax. When her mother’s book club jumps into the mix life goes crazy. Then add the new private detective she has had a crush on for years, Marshall Gregory, and her life is chaotic at best.

Sophie “Phee” is a divorced older lady who has recently moved to Arizona to be near her mother and to heal her broken heart. She is excited about her new job and a bit anxious about the new detective the company has added. At times she feels like a young school girl but reminds herself that she is a long way away from being a teenager. At times, however, when her mother interferes with her plans, she wants to rebel like a kid, but she gives in every time.

When her mother gets a part in a local production of the Agatha Christie novel, “The Mousetrap,” she hopes her mother is too busy to meddle in her life. Unfortunately, murder gets in the way. Sophie finds herself playing detective again with her mother and the book club as her sidekicks.

The characters in this story are wonderfully odd but lovable. They live for excitement and have few worries about what anyone thinks people their age should be doing. They do what they want when they want to do it. They love a good who-done-it and relish the opportunity to be involved in a real mystery.

The location of Arizona is not your standard setting, but in many ways is perfect for this series. It allows the characters year-round access to everything they want to see and do with little to no concerns.

Marshall adds a bit of spice to the mix and keeps Phee on her toes. When he gets involved in helping to solve the mystery, she is pleased and anxious at the same time. Her unrest adds to the flavor of the story which allows the reader to see a middle-aged woman as more than just middle aged. Phee is still a vibrant, desirable woman who is intelligent and charismatic.

Staged 4 Murder is a well-written, fast-paced and funny mystery. The characters are well-developed and likable with just enough weirdness to entertain and at times make the reader laugh. The twists and turns and clues flow smoothly throughout the story and keep the reader guessing. I highly recommend this book and series to lovers of older heroines, original characters, and a wonderful plot.

( )

Staged 4 Murder is the third book in Sophie Kimball Mystery series.

Sophie(Phee) is settling in nicely to her move to the Sun City West area. Business at the Williams Investigations is booming and her boss, Nate Williams, had decided to take on another PI. He has brought Marshall Gregory on board. Gregory had worked with both Nate and Phee at the Mankato, MN police department and Phee had a crush on him. She is vacillating between hoping for a possible relationship or continuing to listen to her mother, Harriet, ask her about her love life.

Speaking of Mother, she tells Phee that she and her book club friends are going to try out for roles in the Agatha Christie play Mouse Trap that will be produced by the Sun City West Footlighters. Early in the tryouts, Harriet and her friend Myrna are getting their nail done and when they go to get in the car there is a sign on the car that says: AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, another work by Agatha Christie. Not being new to solving murders, they consider this a threat. Soon thereafter, the director of the play comes down with a case of food poisoning. But when Miranda Lee, the star of the show, is found dead on the stage lighting catwalk. In addition, there were also a couple pranks at the theater, one of which one of the actors could have been seriously injured.

Phee has been sitting in on some of the rehearsals, doing a little of investigation and soon Marshall joins her, to help find out who wanted Miranda dead.

I quite enjoy this series. Phee, Nate and Marshall are all enjoyable, but for me, Harriet and the other members of the book club, are the ones that enjoy the most. Even though I may shake my head at some of their action or comments, I can’t help but give a chuckle throughout the book.

I will be watching for the next book in this funny series. ( )