“A Death at the Yoga Café” A Keely Carpenter series By Michelle Kelly

by Cynthia Chow

Details on how to win a copy of this book at the end of the review & links to purchase it.

After embracing the Eastern Yoga philosophy to help her cope with a broken heart, young Keeley Carpenter moved back to Belfrey, England, to convert her father’s butcher shop into a vegetarian café. A fire and murder slowed down her plans, but it also allowed her to reunite with her high school crush, Detective Constable Ben Taylor. The biggest stumbling block in her renewed life will be the impending arrival of her mother Darla, whose constant criticism and sniping never fails to send Keeley reeling with feelings of failure and inadequacy. So Darla Carpenter’s early arrival and demand to stay in Keeley’s tiny upstairs apartment is almost as upsetting as the stabbing murder of Belfrey’s mayor, Gerald Buxby.

---

➡ switch to KingsRiverLife.com for this week's issue ⬅

---

Gerald had been dating Raquel Philips, Keeley’s school frenemy who continues the rivalry through their competing restaurants. The shallow and self-involved Raquel was last seen by the town having a contentious shouting match with the mayor, and her lies concerning her alibi quickly make her the primary suspect. Having unjustly accused Raquel of murder before, misplaced feelings of guilt and Raquel’s demands for help, compel Kelley into conducting her own inquiry into the murder. Kelley’s good intentions are doomed to place her at odds with Ben, whose aspirations for a promotion could be jeopardized by his girlfriend’s interference in his investigation. Despite the risk, and feeling as though both her mother and Ben distrust her judgment and capabilities, Keeley questions the mayor’s irritable former housekeeper, visiting artists, and assortment of exes.

Image source: Minotaur

Keeley rises above the turmoil through her yoga classes, controlled breathing, and healthy lifestyle. Her mother’s refusal to grant approval still reduces Keeley to her childhood state of worthlessness, which perhaps explains why she reacts so emotionally towards Ben’s admonishments. While Ben would seem to be in the right, Keeley’s history with the town and her family make her especially vulnerable to what she sees as attacks upon her competence. The surplus of very possible suspects keeps both Keeley and the reader unsure of the villain, and the conclusion arrives as a surprise to all. Whether Keeley will find peace with her mother and Ben may be the most heartrending puzzle, but what she and the readers will find comfort through the helpful yoga pose instructions, peaceful lifestyle advice, and tasty vegetarian recipes.

To enter to win a copy of A Death at the Yoga Café, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “yoga,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen January 28, 2017. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please included your mailing address.

You can use these links to purchase the book. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:

A Death at the Yoga Cafe: A Mystery

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.