Prawn of the Dead

Lemon Layne Mystery Series, Book 1

By: Dakota Cassidy

Narrated by: Hollie Jackson

My name is Lemon Layne, and if asked to describe myself, like maybe on a dating site (which is never gonna happen), I'd have to go with best convenience store/barbecue joint owner in the Pacific Northwest. I live in the tiny tourist town of Fig Harbor, Washington, with my adorably neurotic best friend, Coco Belinski; my a-little-left-of-center (read "totally out there") mom, May; and my trouble-making pet monkey, Jessica Fletcher.

Oh, and last but certainly not least, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool amateur sleuth. Yep. I'm literally incapable of resisting a good mystery. No matter how great or small, I love to help solve a crime. From the mysterious disappearance of Ho Hos in my store to a lost piece of jewelry, I'm always ready to put on my Sherlock Holmes cap.

When I find my mother's ex-boyfriend murdered in our convenience store bathroom with a piece of his skull missing, and my mom's a suspect in a murder investigation, my mystery solving goes from zero to 100. To really make matters worse, the town's local conspiracy theorist and official doomsday prepper, Cappie, somehow finds out the victim isn't just missing a piece of his skull - he's missing a piece of his brain!

©2017 Dakota Cassidy (P)2017 Tantor

Its not for me

The relationship between lemon and coco seems forced and i don’t understand the monkey being necessary. Its ok. I just don’t think it’s my style.

Great Fun a must read series

Dakota Cassidy does it again with this funny cozy mystery. Lemon is an amateur sleuth with a menagerie of eclectic friends, mother and a monkey named, Jessica Fletcher. Her mother’s, May, former finance, Marwin, died of a heart attack in Jessica's family rest room of their convenience store. But that does not quite explain the hole in his head.

Lemon’s best friend Coco and their childhood friend, Justin, a policeman, beg her to stop asking questions, detective badges in Cracker Jack boxes do not make you a real detective. But she cannot stop. Even when she has cleared her mother’s name, which was her rational for getting involved in the investigation, Lemon still cannot stop.

While Lemon is talking loud to everyone in town, we get to meet many of the residents of the tiny town of Fig Harbor and the zombies that come to the town.

Dakota gives you all the fun and characters that make reading a cozy story enjoyable.

Good story

The book was good. The narrator, however, was annoying. She made Coco seem derisive and pretentious. I hate the inflection she uses at the end of every word Coco says.

Another good series from Dakota

This book is the first in another good series from Dakota Cassidy. The characters are well crafted and believable. Can't wait for the next installment.

New twist on the cozy idea

I did enjoy this one enough to read the next book. Quick zombie cozy read.