A Literal Mess by J C Kenney
Allie Cobb Mystery series #1. Cozy mystery style.
Returning to her small home town in Indiana, Allie Cobb ends up in the middle of a murder investigation of her best friend. She uses her author editing skills of analyzing beyond the written word to find clues.
A slow start but soon following twists and turns of a good cozy mystery with a better than amateur investigation. A surprise ending that promise more books in the series.
I found the job of literary agent interesting. At one point she is reading through unsolicited book proposals and wrote 30 “not interested” letters. Most of the book is not around her actual job but more to the skills to figure out which books might work or holes that might be in a completed book. Some small town typical events in the book. Loved the library connection. ( )

A Literal Mess is the first book in the new Allie Cobb Mystery series. In this series debut, Allie returns home to Rushing Creek, IN following the death of her father. Coming back to Indiana after living in New York is a bit of culture shock for her, but Allie is determined to help her mother close out her father's literary agency. Turns out someone else is interested in closing out her dad's former clients. Author Thornwell Winchester is found floating face down in the water under a bridge soon after Allie arrives in town. When her BFF and also the murdered author's daughter is declared a main suspect in the case, Allie is determined to prove that Sloane is innocent. Someone brave enough to be a literary agent in New York can ferret out a killer...right?

I will definitely be reading more of this new series. I like the concept, the literary agency background theme, the characters....it was just a pleasant cozy experience. I read a lot of cozies because they are my go-to for brain palate cleansing in between heavier horror, thriller/suspense or action fiction. I love it when I find a new series that is a bit different from all the other cozies I have read. This is the first cozy series I've read with a literary agent background theme. I like it!

The mystery moves along at a nice pace. Even though this is the first book in a new series, the plot isn't slowed down by too much character introduction and development. The story flows nicely and doesn't bog itself down, while still introducing the characters and setting. I like Allie as a main character. She is intelligent with just the right amount of feisty.

All in all, a great start to a new cozy mystery series! This is Author J.C. Kenney's debut novel! I'm definitely in line for his next book! It won't be a long wait. Book 2 in this series, A Genuine Fix, will be released in July 2019.

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

A Literal Mess by J.C. Kenney is debut book in An Allie Cobb Mystery series. Allie Cobb is awakened during the night by a phone call from her brother, Luke. Her father has passed away from pancreatic cancer, and Allie quickly heads home to Rushing Creek, Indiana. The day after her father’s funeral, Sloane Winchester (her best friend) arrives at the Cobb house in distress. Her father and famous author, Thornwell Winchester was found dead under the Rushing Creek Bridge. It is a shame that someone killed him just when Thornwell was turning his life around. Police Chief Matt Roberson (and Allie’s ex-brother-in-law) has Sloane at the top of the suspect list which puts Allie into investigator mode. The mayor is pushing Roberson to quickly close the case before the Fall Festival begins and the leaf peepers arrive in town. Allie is not about to let Sloane get railroaded for a crime she did not commit. Allie uses her deductive skills and keen eye for detail to work on clearing her friend. There are various suspects including Thornwell’s ex-girlfriend, a local literary agent and the mayor. The killer is not happy with Allie’s sleuthing and attacks her to warn her off the case. Allie is not to be dissuaded and redoubles her efforts to identify the murderer. When not sleuthing, Allie is keeping up-to-date on literary clients in New York, catching up with her family and friends, and working to close her father’s agency as he requested. Allie also meets local genealogist, Brent Reynolds who proves to be a distraction along with the delicious hot chocolate served up at Creekside Chocolates. Can Allie locate the killer before she becomes his next victim?

A Literal Mess takes us to the small town of Rushing Creek, Indiana where Allie Cobb grew up with her parents and two siblings. Allie went away to college and then moved to New York City to have a career as a literary agent. She wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps who ran his own literary agency out of their home. I enjoyed the descriptions of the cozy town which has a new chocolate shop that I would love to visit. There are a variety of characters for readers to like and dislike. The disagreeable residents are perfect murder suspects especially Mayor Larry Cannon (I am not sure how this man got elected). The mystery was interesting with red herrings, multiple suspects and good clues. Readers should have no problem solving the crime long before Allie confronts the killer. I was surprised that Chief Matt Roberson asks for Allie’s assistance on the case and hands over case details plus video footage. I found it be farfetched, but it does aid Allie’s investigation. I was happy that the case was completely wrapped up at the end of the book. There is some repetition of information and inconsistencies. Allie has a boyfriend, Lance who at one point she states they have been dating a year and later says a couple of months. I found A Literal Mess to be nicely written with various pacing. I found the story to drag throughout the middle, but it does pick up again later in the story (could have used more action). I like that the author set the stage for this book and the series by describing the town and various residents. There is a cute tortoiseshell cat named Ursula plus a sweet dog named Sammy who takes a shine to Allie. A Literal Mess is a light cozy mystery with a quaint small town, friendship, a close family, adorable animals, enticing chocolates and a mystery for readers to solve. I am curious to see what trouble Allie gets into next time. ( )

A Literal Mess is the first book in the An Allie Cobb Mystery series.

I find that sometimes with the first book of a new series the author will weigh the reader down with an excess of backstory. But, J. C. Kenney, for me, provided just enough information on the community of Rushing Creek and it’s interesting residents.

Allie Cobb, a literary agent, has come back to Rushing Creek for her father’s funeral and to help close down her father’s literary agency.

After the funeral family and friends gathered at the Rushing Creek Public House to celebrate Mr. Cobb’s life. Allie and her best friend, Sloane, were sitting outside by a fire pit when they heard an argument. When they got in a position to see who was arguing they could see that it is Sloane’s father, Thornwell, and Suzette, a literary agent that had worked for Allie’s father and had started her own agency and was trying to get Thornwell to sign on with her. Later in the evening, Thornwell has another confrontation, this time with his research assistant, Daniel Godwin. The next morning Allie learns from her ex-brother-in-law and police chief, Matt Roberson, that Thornwell’s lifeless body in the creek running by the Community Center. Sloane, whose run-ins with her father during his drinking years becomes a person of interest. Allie, not believing that Sloane could kill her own father begins her own investigation.

In addition to looking into the arguments Thornwell had that she heard, she also sees Thornwell’s girlfriend, Charlisa Moody, and his ex-wife, Kathryn, maybe what appeared to be a reconciliation had not been going well. She also is learning more about a genealogy researcher at the local library, Brent Reynolds. Reynolds is new Rushing Creek and seems to appear out of nowhere as Allie is investigating.

I really enjoyed this new series and felt it was a well-told and plotted story with a very interesting cast of characters.

I’m eagerly waiting for the next book in the series to learn more about the quaint town of Rushing Creek and it’s interesting residents. ( )