Picture Perfect Murder by Jenna St James

Ryli Sinclair had no idea moonlighting as the forensic photographer for the Granville Police Department would put her in the direct path of a crazed killer. Determined to capture the murderer before she's next in line, Ryli enlists the help of her best friend, Paige, and her elderly great-aunt Shirley, a former private investigator. Driving Aunt Shirley's coveted 1965 Falcon for inspiration, Ryli and the girls chase down clues and the murderer...all with comical results. If only the handsome chief of police, Garrett Kimble, wasn't hampering her every move.  (Summary via Goodreads)

We all know that a cozy mystery is a "cute" mystery story involving a small town/community where everyone usually knows everyone, there's a cat or dog in the story line and someone in the town takes it upon themselves to try to solve the crime before the police do.....  That is what I'm going to refer to as the "filling".  But it is what is around the "filling" that makes the cozy different.  

Jenna St. James puts a lot of layers, frosting and sprinkles around the filling in Picture Perfect Murder.  This is the first book in her Ryli Sinclair Mystery series and I am very thankful that I have the second book on hand.  

The main character, Ryli, has a very interesting and comical group of friends and family.  You will find yourself laughing out loud more than once while reading about what her great-aunt Shirley gets involved in and just her way about herself.  

After Ryli gets called to photograph a murder scene for the police, she gets the urge to try to solve the murder to impress the Chief of Police, Garrett, who she can't stop drooling over.  Even though she is told over and over by Chief Kimble, it falls on deaf ears especially as her group of amatuer sleuths increases with great-aunt, retired private investigator encouraging it all.  

Not only does Picture Perfect Murder have a comical group of characters, it has just the right amount of romance, a tiny bit of danger, the killer gets caught in the end and there is a second book, Girl's Night Out Murder, ready to be read !!!

And believe me, the way Picture Perfect Murder ends, you will want to have book 2 ready.

And you are getting the chance to receive Girl's Night Out Murder FREE ! ! ! !  Email me a question you would like to ask the author, Jenna and your name will go into a drawer to WIN the book !!!!!  


Review by Missi S.