by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of Third Time’s a Crime. We also have a link to order it from Amazon, and from an indie bookstore where a portion goes to help support KRL.

Being on two reality competitions may increase Georgia Thornton’s social media presence, but it also kills any chance of the former San Francisco police officer getting rehired by the SFPD. This helps to explain why Georgia once again finds herself in front on the camera and at the mercy of viewer votes. Not sure of her next career step and definitely needing the money, Georgia is convinced by her best friend Becca to sign on for the assistant producer’s next show, Cold Case in the Castle. In 1960, young novice librarian Jane Reiner was found murdered at Golden Castle, then a reform school built out of bricks from San Quentin prison. Five teams of two players will live inside the “haunted” castle as they compete on live television to solve Jane’s murder, with the pairs receiving the fewest viewer votes eliminated along the way.

Despite having met and fallen in love during Georgia’s first reality dating show, her partnership with boyfriend Scott is not going as well as she had hoped. An attack during their previous competition left Scott with brain injury and in a coma, and although recovered, he is missing the critical memories that had him in love with her. Their relationship will have to be more for the cameras than reality, and that’s not the only thing being faked for the show. With no cell phones or electricity, the contestants have to rely on scavenger hunts to attain useful items hidden by the crew. What is very real is the body of the groundskeeper Georgia discovers at the bottom of the empty pool, as are the acts of sabotage that may make Georgia their next murder case.

The unique charm of the Love or Money Mystery series is that the investigations are periodically interrupted by the production crew, either for “confessional” sessions or to have contestants voted off. Readers will enjoy seeing familiar faces popping in, from makeup artist Kyle to Georgia’s father, who is now dating the executive producer. Georgia is justly suspicious of her fellow competitors, and unfortunately this time not even her partner proves to be entirely reliable. Traumatic brain injury does somewhat justify Scott behaving a bit like a tool, although it’s hard to root for him when he tells her not to act weird about his no longer feeling in love with her. Readers will definitely be cheering Georgia on as she tracks down those involved in the dark past of the cursed castle, whose legacy continues on in the present. Georgia’s ego may be bruised and her sense of humor beaten down due to her confused love life, but what never fails is the clever writing and twists on reality television that makes this such an engaging mystery series.

To enter to win a copy of Third Time’s the Crime, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “third,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen January 21, 2017. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.

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Click on this link to purchase this book & a portion goes to help support KRL & an indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy:

Third Time’s a Crime

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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.