Book Review: Just Another Dead Author by Katarina Bivald

  Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this ebook, free of charge, from Poisoned Pen Press via #netgalley, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it. All opinions are my own

The pen is mightier than the sword—but both are deadly in the wrong hands

Synopsis:

When mystery author Berit Gardner agrees to attend a writer's conference in the idyllic French countryside, she dreams of basking in the sun and nurturing budding talent. But her vacation takes a dark turn when the keynote speaker—a notorious literary titan known for his biting critiques—drops dead at the end of her lecture. As whispers of foul play swirl, Berit quickly realizes she's stepped into a tangled web of jealousy, betrayal, and long-held grudges.

Enter the French commissaire, who is less than thrilled to have a curious author meddling in her investigation. But as the suspects pile up—each with their own motive for wanting the egotistical writer dead—she reluctantly recognizes Berit's sharp instincts could crack the case wide open. With a colorful cast of authors, agents, and aspiring writers all hiding secrets, the stakes rise higher with every clue uncovered.

To make matters worse, a tenacious young journalist vows to outsmart Berit and solve the mystery first, placing herself in the killer's sights. Now, Berit must navigate a maze of deceit and danger while trying to keep the ambitious reporter safe. With time running out and the killer lurking in the shadows, can Berit unravel the truth before her own story ends in tragedy?

Review: 

This is the first book in this series (The Murders in Great Diddling is the first book, this is the second) that I have read. I adored the author's previous book, The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, so I had high hopes for this one, and I wasn't disappointed! Berit is not only a mystery author, she a true nosey parker who likes to help her local constabulary. But here in France, she doesn't expect to have to- after all its writing, food and sunshine for days- a true working vacation. But not everyone attending the conference has that in mind! Soon the one with the biggest ego is murdered and there are too many suspects, and the police need an inside man, and Berit fits the bill. And when her police friend from home shows up, well the more the merrier to solve this puzzle of red herrings! A fun read, you'll be wanting to read the previous book after you finish this one!

About the Author: 

Katarina Bivald is the author of the instant New York Times bestseller and #1 Indie Next Pick The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend. She lives outside of Stockholm, Sweden. She grew up working part-time in a bookshop.