Review: Swan Dive by Kendel Lynn

Expected Publication is 3/17/15
 byHenery Press

Swan Dive by Kendel Lynn is the third book in the Elliot Lisbon mysteries. Elliot Lisbon has been learning how to be a Private Investigator. She is supposed to use her tools of the trade to find out who murdered the Sugar Plum fairy backstage at the first night of the performance of the Ballantyne's production of the Nutcracker. It's murder by cupcake and the curtain goes down on the dancer.

Elliot is the director of the Ballantyne and as such feels she needs to try to solve this  mystery before something else tragic occurs. As the mystery progresses, it's like nothing and no one is exactly quite what they seem to be or want to be. 

While this book is the third one in a series, it can be read as a standalone. Everything you need from clues to suspects to humor is included in the book. The protagonist, Elliot Lisbon, is a very human sleuth. She is a smart woman, but will sometimes still make mistakes about how much she should share with the police, especially Ransom, her handsome next door neighbor and one of the 2 men she is dating at the time of this book. The murder occurs early in the book which is a plus. You won't find yourself reading 40 pages of backstory here before the action begins. It's off to a strong start and the revelations come at a good pace. 

I give this book 4 stars. I would definitely buy it for someone as a gift. I think it would make a great Christmas gift because of the timing of the mystery, but would be enjoyable at any time of the year.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest  opinion.