Review: Cold as Ice by Julie Mulhern

Ellison Russell's life is in a bit of an uproar. Detective Anarchy Jones and Ellison's mother both wish she would break her habit of finding bodies. But more than that, there's a problem with the bank that is her daughter's legacy. And Grace has taken up with a boy that Ellison doesn't really feel comfortable with her seeing. He might be of the right social strata, but there is something about him that strikes her as untrustworthy. Julie Mulhern weaves these things together into the sixth Country Club Murders mystery.

I enjoy Ellison Russell and her passionate affair with Mr. Coffee. She is smart, but still makes mistakes, so very human. And she has a lovely, snarky sense of humor. The interplay of Ellison with her teenaged daughter Grace is believable. It stands along with her relationship with her own mother. It's nice to have the 3 generations interact. I like the ways that they ultimately show concern for each other.

The setting being the 1970s makes things interesting as well. No cell phones for one thing. The country club society almost becomes a character in itself. It certainly affects how characters react to things.

The mystery is well done. Ellison has her close calls which have Anarchy up in arms. Ellison isn't unperturbed, just the opposite. She tries to manage things with a minimum of upset, but there's only so much you can do when you find a body.

Julie Mulhern manages to balance the interpersonal interactions with the mystery. There is also just the right amount of sarcasm and humor. I enjoyed the sixth outing in The Country Club Murders and look forward to reading more in this series. I give the book 4 out of 5 stars. If you enjoy a good cozy with humor, you will most likely enjoy this one. Cold as Ice by Julie Mulhern is due to be released October 17, 2017 by Henery Press.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This in no way affects my freely given review.