Jane Reads: Dead in a Park by B.L. Blair | Blog Tour with Excerpt, Review, and Giveaway

The author of Dead in a Dumpster is back, with another Leah Norwood Mystery!

The Blurb

When Leah Norwood finds the body of Donald Collins in the city park, she doesn’t know he is a distant relative. Young Donnie was a jewel thief and a career criminal. Hidden in the lining of his suit jacket was an exact replica of a ring that has been in Leah’s family for over a hundred years. After her home is burglarized, the sexy chief of police is convinced the ruby ring has something to do with the murder.

Leah wants to find out what happened to Donnie, but why would someone kill for a hundred year old ring? She discovers a connection between Donnie and the drug-dealing Cantono family, between the Cantono family and a jewelry appraiser, and between the jewelry appraiser and one of her own employees. Chief Griggs might be onto something. All clues lead back to the family ring.

Leah loves a good mystery. Can she find the killer before the killer strikes again?

Dead in a Park by B.L. Blair
Series: Leah Norwood Mystery, #2
Genre: Mystery/Romance
Release Date: November 12, 2015
Publisher: B.L. Blair
eBook File Size: 1949 KB
Print Length: 177 pages
Kindle ASIN: B013VYOZBG
Nook ISBN: 2940152095425
e-ISBN: 978-0990658443
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The Excerpt

“According to my grandfather, who was Albert’s oldest son, Arthur refused to give Albert his share of the money and after Arthur died, Rose took off with it. After Rose disappeared, Albert changed and he refused to discuss the money or Rose ever again.”

“If she took the money, my grandmother never saw it.”

“She didn’t take the money,” Wade said.

“You seem very sure of that.”

“I am. My grandfather died five months ago. He lived in the same house all of his life. It had been Albert’s house as well. When we were cleaning it out, we found a box with a letter from Rose and a sketchbook.”

“Really?” I asked excitedly. My grandmother had often talked about her father’s sketches. She had been nine when he died, but she remembered looking through his books and watching him draw.

Wade nodded. “The letter was dated a month after Rose disappeared. She told Albert that the money was gone, and that she had left the gems where Arthur had hidden them. She said they had caused their family nothing but pain. She begged him to leave them and her alone. With the letter, she sent the sketchbook.”

“When Arthur died, his jewelry was in high demand. Those sketches would have been worth a good deal,” I said. “He never sold them?”

“No,” Wade replied. “As far as I can tell, they’re all still there. The letter and the sketchbook were wrapped in an old cloth and stored in a box. The letter was postmarked Dallas, Texas.”

We were both silent as I took it all in. When I looked back at Wade, he was watching me. I smiled slightly. “He let her go.”

The Review

I read an amazing book recently, y'all — Dead in a Park, by B.L. Blair. Let me tell you a little about it.

Dead in a Park is a fun, fast-paced read, the second book in the Leah Norwood Mystery series. It is not necessary to have read the first book, Dead in a Dumpster, before reading Dead in a Park, because Author B.L. Blair includes enough ~~spoilers for~~ details from Dumpster for a new reader to be in the know for Park — knowing who the characters are, and what has gone on — instead of being lost and confused.

Dead in a Dumpster is a really good book, though, a Four-Kitty read. (My review is here.) I know you'll enjoy it, if you take the time to read it first.

Okay, getting back to Dead in a Park. Most of the characters from Dumpster are back. Leah is the main character, and my favorite character. Two new characters, Harry and Pandora, seem destined to play a big part in Leah's life for many books to come. Leah (and the reader) sees a lot of Police Chief Alexander Griggs again in Park, since she has found another dead body. I enjoyed seeing Leah's BFFs Olivia and Gabe Weston in their home environment, and "meeting" their three young sons. One of the sub-plots is about the oldest son, Aaron, and his mysterious disappearances.

I was immediately caught up in the action of Dead in a Park, and couldn't put it down. I had to finish the book in one day, it was that good. There are a lot of twists and turns in the plot, and surprising revelations made about the suspects. Leah and I were totally astonished by the identity of the murderer. Can you figure it out before the big reveal? The climax is very suspenseful, and the ending is great! I was smiling as I read the last page. I'm eager to find out where Leah finds the next dead body. Write faster, B.L.! (And... don't leave town.)

Dead in a Park is fantastic! I recommend Dead in a Park to all fans of Romantic Mystery books and Cozy Mysteries.

I love Dead in a Park by B.L. Blair, and grant it our highest rating of Five Kitties!

Five out of five kitties

Note: I received a complimentary copy of Dead in a Park in exchange for my honest review.
All opinions shared are 100% my own.

The Author

About B.L. Blair

B.L. Blair writes simple and sweet romance and mystery/romance stories. Like most authors, she has been writing most of her life and has dozens of books started. She just needs the time to finish them.

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: