Review: Broken Bird by Gregory Ashe

Title: Broken Bird

Series: The Last Picks: Book Four

Author: Gregory Ashe

Length: 209 Pages

Category: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 5 Stars

At a Glance: This series has been such a fun and refreshing departure from Ashe’s intense and special brand of angst. All the witty banter is still here, though, and it builds a warm connection between the characters as much as it’s made me goofily fond of them.

Reviewed By: Lisa

Blurb: All’s fair in love and…publishing?

It’s nearly Christmas, and Dashiell Dawson Dane already has enough on his plate: finding a present for his parents, coming up with excuses not to hang the Christmas lights, and finishing this stupid story he’s been writing (okay, maybe he needs to start writing it). On top of all that, Bobby has been acting…well, strange. The last thing Dash needs, in other words, is to play host when Marshall Crowe—celebrity author and, worse, a friend of Dash’s parents—comes to town.

When Marshall dies in the middle of a public reading of his latest novel, Dash can’t bring himself to believe it was an accident, but he’s determined to stay away from the investigation. Until, that is, the prime suspect shows up on his doorstep, begging for his help. The catch? It’s the same woman who accused Dash, not so long ago, of murdering Vivienne Carver—Hastings Rock’s resident cozy mystery author, Pippi Parker. And helping Pippi might just be the death of Dash.

Review: Dashiell Dawson Dane is a much kinder person than I am, evidenced by the fact that when Pippi Parker—a cozy mystery writer who’d once accused Dash of murdering his boss and mentor—asks for his help when she herself is accused of murder, he didn’t tell her to go straight to heck. Of course Dash can’t turn down a juicy investigation, especially when it hits close to home and he has the blessing of the sheriff. And the Last Picks are right there with him to help in their own special way.

Gregory Ashe dishes out all the cozy vibes in Broken Bird, while adding a dash of romantic suspense between the lovable mystery writer (when he actually forces himself to write) and Deputy Bobby, he of the recent breakup who seems to be doing everything he can to avoid being in close proximity to Dash. Which isn’t easy, considering they live in the same house now. The warmth of family is ever-present now that we’re deeper into the series, and it’s only grown warmer as Christmas approaches. Are Dash and Bobby on the threshold of something new? Only time will tell.

This series has been such a fun and refreshing departure from Ashe’s intense and special brand of angst. All the witty banter is still here, though, and it builds a warm connection between the characters as much as it’s made me goofily fond of them.