The Blurb
When Leah Norwood finds the body of Isabel Meeks in the dumpster behind her store, she can’t believe the police consider her a suspect. Sure, she didn’t liked Isabel, but then again, neither did anyone else. Isabel had a condescending attitude and a bad reputation. As manager of the antique store, Patina, she had made a lot of enemies.
There is Patina’s assistant manager, the handsome and charming Trent. Isabel was blackmailing him. There is Patina’s owner, the aloof and influential Anthony Thorpe. Isabel was smuggling drugs through his store. And there is the entire drug dealing Cantono family. Isabel had lost a box containing heroin from one of their shipments. That is just to name a few and didn’t even include the stranger who was seen arguing with Isabel just hours before her death.
The police have too many suspects and too many soft alibis. Leah needs to prove to the sexy new chief of police that she had nothing to do with Isabel’s death.
Leah loves a good mystery. Can she find the killer before the police arrest her for murder?
Dead in a Dumpster by B.L. Blair
Series: Leah Norwood Mystery, #1
Genre: Mystery/Romance
Release Date: September 21, 2014
Publisher: B.L. Blair
Paperback: 210 pages
ISBN-10: 0990658406
ISBN-13: 978-0990658405
eBook File Size: 1295 KB
ASIN: B00MZC65YG
Amazon | B & N | Kobo | iBooks | Smashwords | Google Play | CreateSpace | Goodreads
Series: Leah Norwood Mystery, #1
Genre: Mystery/Romance
Release Date: September 21, 2014
Publisher: B.L. Blair
Paperback: 210 pages
ISBN-10: 0990658406
ISBN-13: 978-0990658405
eBook File Size: 1295 KB
ASIN: B00MZC65YG
Amazon | B & N | Kobo | iBooks | Smashwords | Google Play | CreateSpace | Goodreads
The Excerpt
Keith nodded and then looked back at his notes. “She was found about seven fifty p.m. by Ms. Norwood.”
Keith pointed to me, and the man turned his eyes to mine. His gaze swept down my body and back up. He then dismissed me without a second glance before turning back to the rookie. “Has the ME been called?”
Now, I know that I am not the most attractive person in the world. I’m what most people would call average. Average height, average weight, average looks, but being dismissed so completely really pissed me off. I was cold, wet, tired, and quite frankly, still a little queasy. And it had been a really bad day. The two men were in deep conversation about the medical examiner when I interrupted.
“Can I leave now?”
Both of them turned toward me. Keith seemed a little surprised that I was still there. I guess he had forgotten about me. The other man just seemed irritated that I had interrupted him.
“You found the body?” he asked and then continued when I nodded, “We’ll need to ask you some questions.”
Keith had been asking me questions. My nerves were shot and my temper short. I’m not usually such a bitch, but I had enough of standing out in the freezing rain. I probably shouldn’t have mouthed off to a police officer, but I figured my day couldn’t get any worse. I summoned up my inner diva, gave him my most haughty look, and asked in a snooty tone. “And you are?”
He stared at me a minute, his eyes hard and unyielding. He raised his eyebrows just a notch, pulled out a badge, and held it toward me. “Chief of Police Alexander Griggs.”
Well, damn, my day just got worse.
Now, I know that I am not the most attractive person in the world. I’m what most people would call average. Average height, average weight, average looks, but being dismissed so completely really pissed me off. I was cold, wet, tired, and quite frankly, still a little queasy. And it had been a really bad day. The two men were in deep conversation about the medical examiner when I interrupted.
“Can I leave now?”
Both of them turned toward me. Keith seemed a little surprised that I was still there. I guess he had forgotten about me. The other man just seemed irritated that I had interrupted him.
“You found the body?” he asked and then continued when I nodded, “We’ll need to ask you some questions.”
Keith had been asking me questions. My nerves were shot and my temper short. I’m not usually such a bitch, but I had enough of standing out in the freezing rain. I probably shouldn’t have mouthed off to a police officer, but I figured my day couldn’t get any worse. I summoned up my inner diva, gave him my most haughty look, and asked in a snooty tone. “And you are?”
He stared at me a minute, his eyes hard and unyielding. He raised his eyebrows just a notch, pulled out a badge, and held it toward me. “Chief of Police Alexander Griggs.”
Well, damn, my day just got worse.
The Review
I read a really good book recently, y'all — Dead in a Dumpster, by B.L. Blair. Let me tell you a little about it.
Dead in a Dumpster is a fun, fast-paced read, the first book in the Leah Norwood Mystery series. I was immediately caught up in the action, and finished the book in two days. I was hooked by the first sentence, "I found the body on December 1st."
B.L. Blair has created realistic, memorable, and distinctive characters in Dead in a Dumpster. Most of them are likable, except the ones the reader is supposed to dislike. My favorite characters are Leah's best friends and business partners Gabe and Olivia, Police Chief Griggs, and Leah.
I like Leah. I can identify with her. As you can see from the excerpt, she has spunk. She's sassy, snarky, and can be headstrong at times. She's not a wimp who lets people walk all over her, no sir. If someone gets on her last nerve, especially when she's had a bad day, she lets
I like the way Leah and Griggs interact. This passage made me LOL.
Griggs took my arm and pulled me across the parking lot. "Come on."
"You know, you really need to work on your bedside manner," I told him.
He shot me a confused look. "What?"
"All these commands. 'Come on.' 'Don't leave town.' 'Stay out of it.' A simple please or thank you wouldn' t hurt, you know."
We came to a stop next to his car. He opened the door and motioned me in. "Please get in."
"Why? Where are we going?"
"See, this is why I don't use please. Now, get in."
"All right, all right, don't get huffy."
The world-building in Dead in a Dumpster is done well. Author B.L. Blair has described fictional Reed Hill, Texas just right, so that it seems real, and seems like a place I'd like to visit.
B.L. Blair has included some clues and foreshadowing, along with the twists and turns in the plot of Dead in a Dumpster. Can you spot them, and figure out whodunit?
The climax of Dead in a Dumpster is very exciting. Leah is in peril, at the mercy of ????? Will she be saved in time? Spoiler alert: Yes, she will. Otherwise, the Leah Norwood Mystery series would have only one book.
Dead in a Dumpster has a great ending; I was smiling as I finished it. A subplot is left with kind of a cliffhanger, and I am anxious to see what will develop. But I won't know until Book #2 comes out. Luckily, I don't have long to wait. Book #2 in the series, Dead in a Park, will be released on November 12, and can be pre-ordered now at Amazon.
I recommend Dead in a Dumpster to all fans of Romantic Mystery books and Cozy Mysteries. I really enjoyed Dead in a Dumpster by B.L. Blair, and grant it Four Kitties!
All opinions shared are 100% my own.
The Author
About B.L. Blair
She is the author of the Holton Romance Series and the Leah Norwood Mysteries. She enjoys reading books, writing books, and traveling wherever and as often as time and money allows. She is currently working on her latest book set in Texas, where she lives with her family.
Visit her on the web at these locations:
The Giveaway
B.L. Blair will award a a Dead in a Dumpster Gift Pack (US Only)
which includes tote bag, t-shirt, magnet, and bookmark
to one randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter.
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