by Cynthia Chow
Details at the end of this post on how to win a copy of A Body to Spare, along with a link to purchase the book.
Considering her history of discovering dead bodies, Odelia Grey should not have been surprised by her friends’ rather jocular reaction to her discovery of a corpse in the trunk of her car. Labeled a “corpse magnet,” Odelia was lulled into complacency by several months during which she had somehow managed to dodge being involved in a murder. That changes when a routine car wash reveals the wedged-in body of Zachary Finch, kidnapped as a fifteen-year-old over eight years ago. Although his wealthy parents paid the two million dollar ransom, Zach was never returned. Until now.
The kidnapping connection brings in the involvement of the FBI, in the form of the very suspicious Federal Special Agent Gregory Shipman. Although he may share the initials of Odelia’s husband, Greg William Stevens, Shipman shares none of the other man’s affability or protectiveness. The authorities are very interested in Odelia’s rather unorthodox connections to a reformed Robin Hood-esque embezzler and a hitwoman known as Mother, and the question becomes whether the body was aimed at flushing out the rogues or resulted from one Odelia’s past cases. 
This series revolves around the relationships between Odelia and her growing family, and seeing them develop since the first novel is a true joy. Odelia has married, rediscovered and forged an amicable—if bumpy—connection with her blogging mother, and bonded with the half-brother she only recently discovered. This makes the surprise decision of a friend to leave Newport Beach all the more heartbreaking, even though the reasons for the loss are joyful.
Fans of Sue Ann Jaffarian will revel in the special cameo appearance by Emma Whitecastle, the celebrity television medium featured in the author’s Granny Apples mystery series. Odelia’s self-centered, fiscally-motivated boss Mike Steele may be off on his honeymoon and in a state of disconcerting bliss, but that doesn’t mean that she won’t have her share of often unsolicited advice investigating the mystery of Zach Finch’s last eight years. Good humor, likable characters, and intricate plotting ensure that this reliable series will continue to please readers and fans of the reluctant “Corpse Magnet” Odelia Grey.
To enter to win a copy of A Body to Spare, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Body,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen November 21, 2015. 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:
Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book
Never heard of this author but would love to give her a try — also enjoyed how the title and her size seem to compare! And I’m delighted that people are writing about other then teeny tiny detectives! About time the authors got real! Would love to give her a try!
I have loved every Odelia book so far, and can’t wait to read A Body To Spare!
I’d love to have a chance to win this title; it sounds just my cup of tea. I’m a Youth Specialist at a rural MS library. I always add my books to the library’s collection after I’ve read & reviewed them. Thank you for the chance.
I lik to read cozies with characters I could be friends with – this sounds like that kind.
New to me series and author. I can see I have missed something good.
I love this series and have been awaiting this book! So eager to read A Body To Spare. Thank you so much for the opportunity to win!
Thanks for bringing this series to my attention and for the chance to win.
This looks like A book I would enjoy. Love to find new Authors to for me to read!!
can’t wait to read this book thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.
Sue Ann has a good series here and I would love to have this current book. Thanks for including her in your blog. robeader53@yahoo.com
I just found out about this author this morning! I now follow her on Amazon and will be looking for her books at my library. Thank you for this contest.
We have a winner!