“A Killer Location” A Home Sweet Home Mystery By Sarah T. Hobart

by Cynthia Chow

Details on how to win an ebook copy of this book at the end of the review.

Despite her initial optimism, Home Sweet Home Realty’s newest licensed realtor Samantha “Sam” Turner could not call her first open home a success. Sam’s hopes for showing a promising but outdated home in the upscale Campus Heights, California, neighborhood are dashed first by a cranky neighbor, and then by an escalating series of disasters. Fast-moving thieves, a flea-laden dog, backed up toilet, and dissolving carpet pale in comparison first to a severed finger in the freezer, and then a corpse in the garden. Not even the scent of baking cookies could distract prospective buyers from all of that bad karma.

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The future of her career in real estate worsens when she realizes that the buried body had a connection to Sam’s boss Everett Sweet, and his arrest causes her own real estate agent license to be suspended. Although Sam is dating Arlinda’s Chief of Police, it is cranky new officer Mike Decker who is charge of the investigation and doesn’t appreciate Sam’s advice. Everett may have had a lamentable record of ex-wives, but Sam refuses to believe that he would engage in real estate violations, much less commit murder. Getting involved in yet another murder is far preferable to finally telling her sister Stacy that Sam is dating Stacy’s ex-husband. Time is ticking on that, considering that having broken both a relationship and an ankle, Stacey has temporary moved into Sam’s converted garage. A real estate guppy swimming with sharks, Sam never developed the competitive spirit that would help her both professionally and personally.

Image source: Alibi

This second in the Home Sweet Home Mystery series lives up to the promise of the debut, continually delivering laughs along with fascinating real estate lore. Sam’s resilience and sense of humor get her through her absurdly inept first showing, while her observational skills and intelligence make her a more than competent investigator. While Sam may be inexperienced and a little naïve, her judgment has matured enough to allow her to deal with the sudden reappearance of her son’s father in their lives.

Readers will be challenged to keep up with Sam’s investigation as the bodies pile up, with the final reveal logical and still a complete surprise. One of the most enjoyable aspects of this novel is Sam’s increasing confidence that prevents her from becoming a doormat or sacrificing her ethics. Sizzling hints of sexual tension between Sam and her police chief heighten the fun and promise more enjoyable adventures for this detecting real estate agent.

To enter to win an ebook copy of A Killer Location, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “location,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen December 3, 2016. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please included your mailing address.

You can use this link to purchase the book:

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.