Checking The Traps

Author – Joan Livingston.

Joan Livingston is the author of novels for adult and young readers. Checking the Traps, published by Crooked Cat Books, is the third in the mystery series featuring Isabel Long, a longtime journalist who becomes an amateur P.I. The first two are Chasing the Case and Redneck’s Revenge.

An award-winning journalist, she started as a reporter covering the hilltowns of Western Massachusetts. She was an editor, columnist, and the managing editor of The Taos News, which won numerous state and national awards during her tenure.

After eleven years in Northern New Mexico, she returned to rural Western Massachusetts, which is the setting of much of her adult fiction, including the Isabel Long mystery series.

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Social Media Links –

Website: www.joanlivingston.net.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/JoanLivingstonAuthor/

Twitter: @joanlivingston

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/JoanLivingston_Author

Goodreads: www.Goodreads.com/Joan_Livingston

Publisher – Crooked Cat Books

Pages – 238

The Blurb –

Isabel Long is a bit banged up from her last case with a broken collarbone and her arm in a sling. But that doesn’t stop her from pouring beer at the Rooster Bar or taking her third case with Gary Beaumont, a local drug dealer who once terrorized her. Gary is convinced his brother didn’t jump off a bridge known for suicides. Somebody pushed him.

Gary’s brother was a boozer who drove for a highway crew. But what interests Isabel and her ‘Watson’ — her 93-year-old mother who lives with her — is that the man wrote poetry.

The chief suspects are one of Gary’s business associates and a famous poet who plagiarised his brother’s poetry for an award-winning book. Yes, he was that good.

As a journalist, Isabel did regular meetups with her sources for stories. She called it checking the traps. She does the same as a private investigator, and this time, she’ll make sure she doesn’t get caught in one.

Today is my stop on the Checking the Traps blog tour. Many thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the chance to read and review.

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My thoughts – I really enjoyed this book. Although it is third in a series it works well as a stand alone. It is well written and the story flows well.

Isabel Long is a private investigator and at the beginning of the book she is still suffering from her last case. She lives with her lively 93 year old mother and they are a part of the community even though they are still classed as ‘new comers’.

After her recent successes in cases, a local wants to hire her to enquire about the death of his brother. Cary, died six years ago after what was widely considered to be a suicide, the brother has other ideas.

Isabel uses her instinct as a former journalist to dig into the death and finds lots of suspects. Along with her mother, she finds out what really happened to Cary.

Purchase Links –

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