KILLING TIME 

and 

DEAD SILENT 

by Amy Beth Arkawy

KILLING TIME 

Book on in the Eliza Gordon Mystery series 

by Amy Beth Arkawy

Welcome to Goodship, New York. People gather at Soup Opera to indulge in former soap star Eliza Gordon's delicious food, always served with a side order of gossip. But there's one thing the residents of the quaint suburban hamlet never talk about. Secrets, though, have a way of haunting people-- even an entire town. In this updated version of Amy Beth Arkawy's first Eliza Gordonmystery, a secret that has loomed over Goodship for decades may be at the heart of two murders. Who killed the local football star twenty-five years after a tragedy clouded the big victory party? And just what is that reporter with the eerily familiar face doing in town, and who would want to murder her? Eliza Gordon and her pal local radio personality Midge Sumner can't resist trying to solve the murders; but will the sleuthing stick a fork in Eliza's flirtation with Goodship's dishy police chief Tom Santini? Twists, turns and a colorful  cast of characters will entice you to play along and try to figure out who's in Goodship doing more than just Killing Time!

MY REVIEW 

This was my first book by author Amy Beth Arkawy, but certainly will not be my last. Book 2 in the series is already waiting for me as I write this review. ;-)

From the prologue to chapter one, the story jumps ahead twenty-five years where we meet series lead Eliza Gordon, who soon finds herself in the middle of decades old secrets and very real murders of present day, which sets out to solve with the help of her friend Midge. Both of these ladies were a lot of fun to read. Eliza is former actress, who did a stint in a soap opera and now lives in the small town of Goodship, New York and owns a restaurant called Soup Opera (great name), that sells, yes, wonderful soup. And Midge is a radio personality.

Author Arkawy is a wonderful writer who drew me into, and made me feel a part of the story. Her talent for writing a skillful mystery and entertaining story is evident, and her characters and setting were well thought about and presented is such a way as to keep you turning the pages.

Make KILLING TIME a part of your summer reading list. You won’t be disappointed.

And check out the back of the book for some yummy recipes!

NOTE: To readers who read very traditional mysteries, there is moderate cussing in this story, and for those sensitive to the subject (like myself), a rape is mentioned, but not acted out or talked about descriptively. Neither took away from my enjoyment of the story, but I know many readers like myself don’t expect to find these mentioned in cozies.

DEAD SILENT 

Book 2 in the Eliza Gordon Mystery series 

by Amy Beth Arkawy

Dead Silent is A 2014 Mystery & Mayhem Awards Finalist.

It's summertime, and in Goodship, New York, the living is anything but easy. Controversial radio shock jock Paul Hackett is found strangled to death with his headphone cord around his neck in the studio of local radio station WSHP. There's little evidence beyond the initials V.O.S. scrawled across the studio window in red lipstick and a list of suspects that could easily fill the Goodship phone book. And that's not all. Eliza Gordon, former soap star turned local soup aficionado and amateur sleuth and her pal and unwitting snooping partner radio DJ Midge Sumner must contend with in Dead Silent, the second in author Amy Beth Arkawy's Eliza Gordon Mystery series. The locals are also on edge thanks to the rumors rolling across The Goodship Grapevine, a new toxic gossip site, and bemused by flyers heeding folks to follow an enigmatic cult known as "The Quiet." Eliza's instincts have her searching for clues and connecting the mysteries together, but they also put a strain on her burgeoning romance with Tom Santini, Goodship's dishy police chief (who also happens to be her late husband's best friend). The sudden reappearance of her elusive playboy brother-in-law, Jonas Gordon, sparks unexpected feelings in Eliza and may hold the key to connecting the mysteries and solving Hackett's murder. Join Eliza Gordon and sidekick Midge Sumner as they embark on this intriguing and dangerous sleuthing escapade. Will they solve the mystery or wind up Dead Silent?

MY REVIEW 

I read this book right after I finished the first book in this series, KILLING TIME. And I have to say, this trip to Goodship, New York was even more thrilling than the first.

Between murder, a toxic gossip site, and a cult, there is not one dull moment in DEAD SILENT. And Eliza Gordon and her friend Midge Sumner are back and in the thick of it all trying to uncover the truths in the mysteries around them.

Author Amy Beth Arkawy really stepped up her game in this second installment of her Eliza Gordon Mystery series DEAD SILENT. (That’s really saying something considering how good the first book was) It was a wonderful crafted mystery that has me second guessing myself all the way through the book. Every time I thought I was on the right track, the author threw something into the mix to knock me off track. And the exciting reveal . . . well, I didn’t see it coming at all.

Cozy mystery and not so cozy mystery fans alike will all be thrilled with this excellent book. I was so absorbed reading it, everything around me became dead silent. ;-)

I suggested in my review of KILLING TIME that you add it to your summer reading list. Well, you’re going to want to add DEAD SILENT at the same time.

Like with the first book, this one also includes a couple of yummy soup recipes in the back of the book!

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