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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

3 Terrific Reasons to Read about Murder

by Challice Neipp · Leave a Comment

Nancy Drew. Although her books usually focused on finding something stolen, finding something before it was stolen, or some other petty crime rather than murder, from those books I learned the joy of solving crimes—all from the comfort and safety of my own chair.

In time, I stepped up the reading to more deadly crimes such as Sherlock, Miss Marple, Poirot, Inspector Allyn, and Father Brown might encounter.

Sometimes people ask me why I would read about something so unsavory as murder. At first, I found it difficult to answer. However, I learned a lot from those murder mysteries, and now I know.

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Additionally, I requested a review copy of this book and this review is my honest opinion.

3 Terrific Reasons to Read about Murder

  1. They teach you to observe. I may never need to notice that the wine spilled on a sleeve cuff isn’t what it seems (name that book!), but my learning to be observant might show me that a friend is upset when no one else can see it.
  2. You learn how to follow clues and logical progressions to make reasonable deductions that then lead you to prove the theories that stem from those. It’s a mind puzzle—something to keep those “little gray cells” healthy and sharp.
  3. They reinforce a value for human life. Often the victim is a horrible person whom many people disliked and had motive to kill. But a good mystery reminds us that this sort of “vigilante justice” is wrong. People may forfeit their right to life with the crimes they commit, but we do not get to be judge, jury, and executioner as they say. Mysteries show that sense of justice that we crave as humans while still reminding Christians that the “bad guy” is still someone Jesus died for.

This is one of the lessons in a book I just read, Murder of Convenience.

One thing the protagonist, Geneva, says repeatedly is that although the victim was a terrible person, “he didn’t deserve to die.” While I disagree with her statement (without the blood of Christ atoning for our sins and making us worthy, we all deserve to die), I respect the emphasis on valuing life that the author showed.

The best part of Murder of Convenience is the mystery itself.  I had my suspicions as the plot unfolded, and when all the principal parties were laid out, I figured out who, but not some of the whats.  Ms. Matchett knows how to construct a mystery with excellent clues and red herrings as well as intriguing twists.

I wish I could say I loved the rest of the book—or even that I liked it.  Had the mystery element itself not been so good, I wouldn’t even consider it “okay.”

Look, I’m going to be a forthright here. 

When the book arrived, my heart sank.  The cover didn’t do anything to pique my curiosity, and the back cover and copy were even less interesting. Just a glance at the interior did make me suspect that I’d been sent a proof copy.  The margins are odd, the chapter headings are exactly the same as regular text, and section separators shift from an asterisk to dual pound signs, and then two asterisks—without any idea of why.

Again, I thought it must be a proof copy, and I expected to start out my review saying that if I saw it on a bookstore shelf I’d never pick it up and turn it around to read the back.  I also expected to say that if I found the description somewhere, again, it wouldn’t capture me… but the book was amazing!  The cover didn’t do it justice!

I so wish I could say that. 

Unfortunately, the writing was only “okay,” and in parts not so okay. Certain inconsistencies that don’t make sense jarred me from the story at odd times.  I’ll admit that I do wish I hadn’t requested a review copy because everything I want to say about it feels unkind. I won’t do it. So this is what I will say.

Although Ms. Matchett did craft an excellent mystery for her readers to follow, the rest of the book doesn’t live up to that potential.  I can’t recommend Murder of Convenience except to people who love a well-crafted mystery and who aren’t particular about that mystery’s presentation.  Without that mystery, this review would have ended up with one less star.

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 264: A Chat with Romance Author, Sarah Monzon
byChautona Havig

Finally getting a chance to chat with Sarah Monzon was a total delight, and learning all about her latest release, All’s Fair in Love and Christmas was equally awesome.  My copy is here and waiting for me to dive into the battle of the celebrations!  EEEP! Listen in to see what that even means!

Note: I sound like I’m underwater. We heard it during our interview, but I couldn’t make it behave and couldn’t fix it. Sorry!

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

How Does an Intense Christmas Competition Lead to Love?

All’s Fair in Love and Christmas has so much going for it that I don’t know where to start! Fun mom who made our heroine’s childhood Christmases an international delight without ever leaving home?  Check!  Social anxiety adding to the stress of competing for a promotion?  Check?  Romcom hilarity?  Check, check?  And add to all that Sarah’s wonderful writing and delightful characterization?  I’m all in.

We also chatted about why she chose to write about a woman with social anxiety, her preferred reading methods, and some of my favorite books by her. For a refresher, those are The Isaac Project, 12 Days of Snowmen, and Book Nerds & Boyfriends (a collection of three novellas).

All’s Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon

Two workplace rivals. One festive competition. And a romance that upends it all.

Every December two things are guaranteed for graphic designer Mackenzie Graham–Christmas celebrations and the annual promotion at her workplace. Those two things are by no means mutually exclusive. In fact, the better an employee is at harnessing the Christmas spirit, the more likely they’ll win the new job. With her social anxiety, Mackenzie never thought she’d be a contender in her company’s holiday competition, so how exactly has she found herself dueling her workplace crush with wrapping paper tubes and using tinsel as her weapon of choice for a much-needed raise?

Jeremy Fletcher’s life is meticulously planned out, including how to win this year’s promotion at work. Not only will the new position fulfill some of his career goals, but as a single guardian to his twin niece and nephew, he needs the salary increase to support his family. Jeremy has barely noticed Mackenzie Graham around the office, but now that she’s his rival, he can’t stop thinking about her. Her quirkiness intrigues him, and he’s afraid that if he can’t get his head on straight, the promotion isn’t the only thing he’ll end up losing to Mackenzie.

“Inspirational rom-com readers are going to love this one.”–BETHANY TURNER, bestselling author of The Do-Over

You can learn more about Sarah on her WEBSITE.  Also follow her on BookBub and GoodReads.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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Episode 264: A Chat with Romance Author, Sarah Monzon
Episode 264: A Chat with Romance Author, Sarah Monzon
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