What do you think?
Rate this book
Liz Adams Mystery #1
Charleston Conundrum
A Cozy Mystery With a Twist...
Liz Adams never imagined when she moved to Charleston with her truth sniffing Labrador retriever, Duke, that she would use her skills as a private investigator to avoid winding up on Death Row.
Liz’s life is upended when her best friend, Peg, is murdered and she becomes a suspect. Liz’s gun was the murder weapon. Tensions flare between Liz and the cops as she rises to the top of their suspect list.
At the request of Peg’s father, Liz agrees to take on the investigation. Riding a roller coaster of emotions, Liz uncovers many secrets Peg kept from her despite their being best friends. The suspects include a cast of characters: the ex-husband, the boyfriend, a coworker, several neighbors, and family members.
Charleston Conundrum takes the reader from Charleston, South Carolina, to Paris and back in the emotional unraveling of Peg’s life and death to a killer ending.
Liz Adams never imagined when she moved to Charleston with her truth sniffing Labrador retriever, Duke, that she would use her skills as a private investigator to avoid winding up on Death Row.
Liz’s life is upended when her best friend, Peg, is murdered and she becomes a suspect. Liz’s gun was the murder weapon. Tensions flare between Liz and the cops as she rises to the top of their suspect list.
At the request of Peg’s father, Liz agrees to take on the investigation. Riding a roller coaster of emotions, Liz uncovers many secrets Peg kept from her despite their being best friends. The suspects include a cast of characters: the ex-husband, the boyfriend, a coworker, several neighbors, and family members.
Charleston Conundrum takes the reader from Charleston, South Carolina, to Paris and back in the emotional unraveling of Peg’s life and death to a killer ending.
- GenresFictionCozy Mystery
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2022
About the author
Stacy Wilder
4 books561 followersStacy writes mysteries, children’s stories, short stories, and poetry.
Stacy’s mission is to deliver a delightful story to readers of all ages while benefiting a larger community. She donates a portion of the proceeds from Charleston Conundrum to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). For Carmel Conundrum, she is donating to causes that help homeless pets.
She and her husband live in Houston, Texas, with a totally spoiled Labrador retriever, Eve.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/stacy.w...
Facebook: https://ww.facebook.com/wilderstacy/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/authorstacy...
Stacy’s mission is to deliver a delightful story to readers of all ages while benefiting a larger community. She donates a portion of the proceeds from Charleston Conundrum to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). For Carmel Conundrum, she is donating to causes that help homeless pets.
She and her husband live in Houston, Texas, with a totally spoiled Labrador retriever, Eve.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/stacy.w...
Facebook: https://ww.facebook.com/wilderstacy/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/authorstacy...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 17, 2022
Stacy Wilder was a contestant in a publishing contest I judged last year. While it didn't win, it was a really close race, and this was an absolutely favorite of mine! I'm so excited to see it out in the world so you can enjoy it too. Go get it!!
April 27, 2022
I do love a good mystery and this one will definitely keep you guessing who the murderer is because many have motives, but the truth just might surprise you.
I have never visited Charleston but it is on my bucket list and the descriptions in this book might just bump it up a few places. From the crayon-colored homes to the old brick buildings, there is a lot of history in this town that is referenced in this story.
Liz decides to become a PI after a disastrous divorce and ditching her life in Atlanta for Charleston. All things considered, I can't blame her for making that move. She has really made this town her home and her neighborhood seems tight-knit which is a plus and a minus when you take into consideration the busybody that has her nose in everyone's business. But this plus is this is where she met Peg, her best friend. A senseless murder takes Peg's life and Liz sets out to uncover the truth because she doesn't have much faith in the police. After experiencing the cranky police officer Sam, I can see why. He seems to have it out for Liz and instead of looking for other possible suspects, he wants to pin it all on her. Liz sets out to uncover who has the best motive and might have killed Peg. Unfortunately, most of the suspects are her friends and neighbors. But Liz persists in uncovering the truth while dealing with the grief she feels at the loss of her friend. She is also a little angry at Peg for not being told about Peg's love interest, Bjorn.
Besides the Charleston setting, we get to experience a little bit of Paris and the mention of the Lourve and Musee d'Orsay took me back to a trip I took to Paris years ago. These are some amazing museums that I am thrilled I could experience. And let's not forget the patisserie and chocolate! My mouth was watering as I imagined indulging in a pastry or two. There is also a love interest for Liz and the potential for a love triangle, but I think Liz realizes that one man may be enough for her.
There are some intriguing twists to this story that definitely kept me on my toes and the revelation of the murder took me by surprise a little bit but as it was close to the reveal, I wondered if this character could be the suspect but didn't know why. This person wasn't even on my radar until the end. I kept trying to pin it on a family member but that just wasn't working out well for me.
I think a character that deserves a bigger part next time is Duke, her labrador. He seems to have a lie detector sense about him and knows when someone isn't telling the truth. That does pique Liz's interest, especially during conversations with a few of the characters during her investigation.
A couple of things surprised me about this book. Liz breaks into multiple homes to snoop for clues that might give those homeowners a motive for killing Peg. Would a PI really do that? Maybe but I don't know for sure. Secondly, when Liz is arrested she is put into an orange jumpsuit. That seemed awfully quick considering she was being held in the local jail and overnight at the most, but perhaps that is their process there.
Overall, this is a solid story and I was able to read a sneak peek into the next book, Caramel Conundrum, and can't wait to read it. We give it 4 paws up.
I have never visited Charleston but it is on my bucket list and the descriptions in this book might just bump it up a few places. From the crayon-colored homes to the old brick buildings, there is a lot of history in this town that is referenced in this story.
Liz decides to become a PI after a disastrous divorce and ditching her life in Atlanta for Charleston. All things considered, I can't blame her for making that move. She has really made this town her home and her neighborhood seems tight-knit which is a plus and a minus when you take into consideration the busybody that has her nose in everyone's business. But this plus is this is where she met Peg, her best friend. A senseless murder takes Peg's life and Liz sets out to uncover the truth because she doesn't have much faith in the police. After experiencing the cranky police officer Sam, I can see why. He seems to have it out for Liz and instead of looking for other possible suspects, he wants to pin it all on her. Liz sets out to uncover who has the best motive and might have killed Peg. Unfortunately, most of the suspects are her friends and neighbors. But Liz persists in uncovering the truth while dealing with the grief she feels at the loss of her friend. She is also a little angry at Peg for not being told about Peg's love interest, Bjorn.
Besides the Charleston setting, we get to experience a little bit of Paris and the mention of the Lourve and Musee d'Orsay took me back to a trip I took to Paris years ago. These are some amazing museums that I am thrilled I could experience. And let's not forget the patisserie and chocolate! My mouth was watering as I imagined indulging in a pastry or two. There is also a love interest for Liz and the potential for a love triangle, but I think Liz realizes that one man may be enough for her.
There are some intriguing twists to this story that definitely kept me on my toes and the revelation of the murder took me by surprise a little bit but as it was close to the reveal, I wondered if this character could be the suspect but didn't know why. This person wasn't even on my radar until the end. I kept trying to pin it on a family member but that just wasn't working out well for me.
I think a character that deserves a bigger part next time is Duke, her labrador. He seems to have a lie detector sense about him and knows when someone isn't telling the truth. That does pique Liz's interest, especially during conversations with a few of the characters during her investigation.
A couple of things surprised me about this book. Liz breaks into multiple homes to snoop for clues that might give those homeowners a motive for killing Peg. Would a PI really do that? Maybe but I don't know for sure. Secondly, when Liz is arrested she is put into an orange jumpsuit. That seemed awfully quick considering she was being held in the local jail and overnight at the most, but perhaps that is their process there.
Overall, this is a solid story and I was able to read a sneak peek into the next book, Caramel Conundrum, and can't wait to read it. We give it 4 paws up.
July 22, 2024
pretty good
A new to me author, I actually read the third book in the series first and backtracked to reading the first two. This was a pretty good mystery with so many red herrings that the final reveal was a real surprise. Very well developed characters; there’s a few subject matters that some may have a hard time with and it’s reflected in Liz and others reaction to certain revelations; overall solid read.
A new to me author, I actually read the third book in the series first and backtracked to reading the first two. This was a pretty good mystery with so many red herrings that the final reveal was a real surprise. Very well developed characters; there’s a few subject matters that some may have a hard time with and it’s reflected in Liz and others reaction to certain revelations; overall solid read.
August 20, 2022
Charleston Conundrum is the first book in A Liz Adams Mystery series. This is a cozy mystery with a bit of an adult touch. Liz is a PI living in Charleston after her divorce. Liz's best friend, Peg, is found shot in her home. The catch is that she was shot by Liz's gun, although Liz has a reason why Peg had her gun. Peg's father, Liam has asked Liz to investigate as the police don't seem to be finding the culprit. The two investigators area strange pair, Sam is a miserable, obnoxious detective, who is sure Liz is guilty and Matt wants to find the person who is guilty and not alienate everyone while he does it. Sam is constantly warning Liz to steer clear of the investigation. Will Liz find the person who killed her best friend?
This is a mystery with a lot of cozy mystery characteristics. Liz is a professional P.I. so has some real investigation skills, as well as sources she can talk to. As with many first books in a series, there are a lot of characters introduced as we meet Peg's family, friends and neighbours. I did have a bit of a problem keeping them all straight at first, but once I figured out who was important, I was fine. There is a love interest for Liz, in Peg's BFF from childhood, Brad. He lives in California, but comes to Charleston for the funeral and reading of the will. They have dinner and plan on meeting up in California (the next book in the series). There are a lot of suspects and red herrings that Liz has to sort through and at one point, she is arrested. Throw in a trip to France to investigate Peg's newest love interest, and Liz sure has her hands full. Lou, Peg's business partner also plays a big role in the story and he and Liz spend a lot of time reminiscing, which adds a nice human element. With all that was going on, I still had an inkling of who had killed Peg, and I was right. The story also has some serious issues dealing with addiction and mental health, which was well done. I enjoyed this story and will watch for the next in the series.
This is a mystery with a lot of cozy mystery characteristics. Liz is a professional P.I. so has some real investigation skills, as well as sources she can talk to. As with many first books in a series, there are a lot of characters introduced as we meet Peg's family, friends and neighbours. I did have a bit of a problem keeping them all straight at first, but once I figured out who was important, I was fine. There is a love interest for Liz, in Peg's BFF from childhood, Brad. He lives in California, but comes to Charleston for the funeral and reading of the will. They have dinner and plan on meeting up in California (the next book in the series). There are a lot of suspects and red herrings that Liz has to sort through and at one point, she is arrested. Throw in a trip to France to investigate Peg's newest love interest, and Liz sure has her hands full. Lou, Peg's business partner also plays a big role in the story and he and Liz spend a lot of time reminiscing, which adds a nice human element. With all that was going on, I still had an inkling of who had killed Peg, and I was right. The story also has some serious issues dealing with addiction and mental health, which was well done. I enjoyed this story and will watch for the next in the series.
May 2, 2022
4.5 stars
A Race To Find The Murderer – Southern Style!
Liz Adams is a P.I. in Charleston. She and the local police department have a love-hate relationship…especially in regard to an officer named Sam. When her best friend and neighbor, Peg, is murdered, of course she is going to investigate it! How could she not? Despite the police warning her to stay out of it, when Peg’s parents specifically ask her to investigate, she feels she has no choice.
The list is long. The secrets and suspects are in abundance. She thought she knew Peg, and that they did not have any secrets, but oh was she wrong! Which one of these secrets led to Peg’s murder? Can Liz figure out who did it, as Officer Sam hones in on her as the prime suspect? While Liz Adams crosses names off the list, she takes bigger risks to figure it out, and the investigation goes international. It’s a race to see if Liz or the police will find out who killed Peg before Liz is arrested for the murder!
Stacy Wilder weaves a great tale of intrigue, secrets, and motives that will have you shaking your head. I love stories that keep me guessing. Wilder does a great job in listing every detail so you don’t miss a thing. She was even thoughtful enough to add a few recipes in the back for you to check out later! Gotta love that! I also appreciated that she gave a “rest of the story” ending, explaining what happened after everything played out. Looking forward to Carmel Conundrum!
Seriously, though, well done! See if YOU can figure out who killed Peg before it’s revealed!
A Race To Find The Murderer – Southern Style!
Liz Adams is a P.I. in Charleston. She and the local police department have a love-hate relationship…especially in regard to an officer named Sam. When her best friend and neighbor, Peg, is murdered, of course she is going to investigate it! How could she not? Despite the police warning her to stay out of it, when Peg’s parents specifically ask her to investigate, she feels she has no choice.
The list is long. The secrets and suspects are in abundance. She thought she knew Peg, and that they did not have any secrets, but oh was she wrong! Which one of these secrets led to Peg’s murder? Can Liz figure out who did it, as Officer Sam hones in on her as the prime suspect? While Liz Adams crosses names off the list, she takes bigger risks to figure it out, and the investigation goes international. It’s a race to see if Liz or the police will find out who killed Peg before Liz is arrested for the murder!
Stacy Wilder weaves a great tale of intrigue, secrets, and motives that will have you shaking your head. I love stories that keep me guessing. Wilder does a great job in listing every detail so you don’t miss a thing. She was even thoughtful enough to add a few recipes in the back for you to check out later! Gotta love that! I also appreciated that she gave a “rest of the story” ending, explaining what happened after everything played out. Looking forward to Carmel Conundrum!
Seriously, though, well done! See if YOU can figure out who killed Peg before it’s revealed!
January 11, 2024
Dogs do have super powers. They supplement them with the look in their eyes.
As a cozy, this story was done impeccably. Having someone close to you, and close by physically, murdered made the chase for the murderer even more interesting.
The detailed historical aspect of this book makes the background as important as one of the suspects. History buffs will be pleased.
The motives are supplied to match every possibility, and they are executed very well.
A cast of unique characters fills the book, with the protagonist at the top of the list at one point---which is great way to ramp up the tension. Just because the protagonist’s gun was the murder weapon…. No one can take a joke.
Not only is this a quick and fun read, it immerses the reader in the charm of the city, and the charm of the author’s personality. My only complaint is that the protagonist doesn’t have a sidekick. She does have a canine-sidekick.
A great series!
As a cozy, this story was done impeccably. Having someone close to you, and close by physically, murdered made the chase for the murderer even more interesting.
The detailed historical aspect of this book makes the background as important as one of the suspects. History buffs will be pleased.
The motives are supplied to match every possibility, and they are executed very well.
A cast of unique characters fills the book, with the protagonist at the top of the list at one point---which is great way to ramp up the tension. Just because the protagonist’s gun was the murder weapon…. No one can take a joke.
Not only is this a quick and fun read, it immerses the reader in the charm of the city, and the charm of the author’s personality. My only complaint is that the protagonist doesn’t have a sidekick. She does have a canine-sidekick.
A great series!
April 26, 2022
Cozies range from light to complex, and this one falls somewhere in the middle. There is an overabundance of suspects, a seasoned PI and no real sidekick, but several supporting characters. The main character, Liz has the double trouble of having a lot of the suspects as friends, which leads to some interesting tangents. She also has a faithful lab, Duke, who might end up being a character all on his own as it appears he may be a bit of a lie detector. That aspect was barely explored, however I hope Duke plays a bigger part in future (fingers crossed for more) books.
The mystery played out as expected, I knew the ‘who done it’ early, but there is contentment in the familiar. The Paris scenes were nicely, if not vaguely done, but it was enough that I now have a craving for chocolate eclairs. But I want one of those you can only get while walking the streets of Paris and finding those incredible patisseries.
I look forward to the next book in the series and seeing where the author decides to take the reader.
The mystery played out as expected, I knew the ‘who done it’ early, but there is contentment in the familiar. The Paris scenes were nicely, if not vaguely done, but it was enough that I now have a craving for chocolate eclairs. But I want one of those you can only get while walking the streets of Paris and finding those incredible patisseries.
I look forward to the next book in the series and seeing where the author decides to take the reader.
May 2, 2022
Methodical and surprising, Stacy Wilder’s debut cozy mystery Charleston Conundrum shows enormous potential for a long, successful run.
Read my full review on my blog Carpe Diem Chronicles.
Read my full review on my blog Carpe Diem Chronicles.
March 2, 2022
This was a great cozy/traditional mystery. The protagonist is Liz Adams, a private investigator. Liz's friend Peg is murdered and Liz becomes the prime suspect. Although she has a good group of friends that believe she didn't do it. And a dog too. It's a good start and l can't wait to read the next one.
February 2, 2022
Great story and hard to put down
I picked up the book and began reading it 2 days ago. If I didn’t have to stop and fix dinner I would have finished it yesterday. The story was engaging and the development of the characters kept me interested. I look forward to reading the next book, Carmel Conundrum.
I picked up the book and began reading it 2 days ago. If I didn’t have to stop and fix dinner I would have finished it yesterday. The story was engaging and the development of the characters kept me interested. I look forward to reading the next book, Carmel Conundrum.
December 17, 2022
Confession. I don’t usually read cozy mysteries, and so I wasn’t sure I’d be a good fit for this review.
Surprising discovery. This is probably the third cozy mystery that I’ve reviewed this year and I’m finding that I really enjoy them!
Charleston Conundrum kept me engaged and guessing until the very end.
After her sudden divorce, Liz decided to become a private investigator and move from Atlanta to a close-knit neighborhood in Charleston. In this neighborhood of unique people, she met Peg, who soon became her best friend.
But when Peg was found murdered, Peg’s father reached out to Liz for help locating the killer. Her investigation ends up taking her through the neighborhood, and even Paris as she searches for answers.
One unusual aspect of this novel was the fact that Liz had a Labrador, Duke, who had a sixth sense of people who were lying. This didn't take place too often during the story, but dog lovers will like the addition of Duke as Liz's sidekick.
My Concerns
It wasn’t bad, but there are several characters to keep track of. At one point I was wishing that I had been reading on a Kindle so I could have easily refreshed my memory of who someone was.
This part seriously was a concern. I really don't like it when a PI or detective breaks into people’s homes illegally in order to help solve a mystery. In the case of Liz, I believe she did have keys to her neighbor’s homes, but it was obvious she didn’t have permission to be there. And certainly, she didn’t have permission to snoop through their personal belongings. This part did concern me and I hope it’s not going to be part of Liz's discovery work in the future.
Final Thoughts
This is an absolute yes, thumbs up. If you like cozy mysteries, or even if you think you don’t, you will want to give this series a try.
My thanks to Mystery Review Crew and the author for a copy of the book and the ability to post my thoughts with no stipulations.
Surprising discovery. This is probably the third cozy mystery that I’ve reviewed this year and I’m finding that I really enjoy them!
Charleston Conundrum kept me engaged and guessing until the very end.
After her sudden divorce, Liz decided to become a private investigator and move from Atlanta to a close-knit neighborhood in Charleston. In this neighborhood of unique people, she met Peg, who soon became her best friend.
But when Peg was found murdered, Peg’s father reached out to Liz for help locating the killer. Her investigation ends up taking her through the neighborhood, and even Paris as she searches for answers.
One unusual aspect of this novel was the fact that Liz had a Labrador, Duke, who had a sixth sense of people who were lying. This didn't take place too often during the story, but dog lovers will like the addition of Duke as Liz's sidekick.
My Concerns
It wasn’t bad, but there are several characters to keep track of. At one point I was wishing that I had been reading on a Kindle so I could have easily refreshed my memory of who someone was.
This part seriously was a concern. I really don't like it when a PI or detective breaks into people’s homes illegally in order to help solve a mystery. In the case of Liz, I believe she did have keys to her neighbor’s homes, but it was obvious she didn’t have permission to be there. And certainly, she didn’t have permission to snoop through their personal belongings. This part did concern me and I hope it’s not going to be part of Liz's discovery work in the future.
Final Thoughts
This is an absolute yes, thumbs up. If you like cozy mysteries, or even if you think you don’t, you will want to give this series a try.
My thanks to Mystery Review Crew and the author for a copy of the book and the ability to post my thoughts with no stipulations.
Read
January 3, 2023This book review of Charleston Conundrum was originally posted on Pick A Good Book. Reposted with permission.
Confession. I don’t usually read cozy mysteries, and so I wasn’t sure I’d be a good fit for this review.
Surprising discovery. This is probably the third cozy mystery that I’ve reviewed this year and I’m finding that I really enjoy them!
Charleston Conundrum kept me engaged and guessing until the very end.
After her sudden divorce, Liz decided to become a private investigator and move from Atlanta to a close-knit neighborhood in Charleston. In this neighborhood of unique people, she met Peg, who soon became her best friend.
But when Peg was found murdered, Peg’s father reached out to Liz for help locating the killer. Her investigation ends up taking her through the neighborhood, and even Paris as she searches for answers.
One unusual aspect of this novel was the fact that Liz had a Labrador, Duke, who had a sixth sense of people who were lying. This didn’t take place too often during the story, but dog lovers will like the addition of Duke as Liz’s sidekick.
My Concerns
It wasn’t bad, but there are several characters to keep track of. At one point I was wishing that I had been reading on a Kindle so I could have easily refreshed my memory of who someone was.
This part seriously was a concern. I really don’t like it when a PI or detective breaks into people’s homes illegally in order to help solve a mystery. In the case of Liz, I believe she did have keys to her neighbor’s homes, but it was obvious she didn’t have permission to be there. And certainly, she didn’t have permission to snoop through their personal belongings. This part did concern me and I hope it’s not going to be part of Liz’s discovery work in the future.
Final Thoughts
This is an absolute yes, thumbs up. If you like cozy mysteries, or even if you think you don’t, you will want to give this series a try.
Confession. I don’t usually read cozy mysteries, and so I wasn’t sure I’d be a good fit for this review.
Surprising discovery. This is probably the third cozy mystery that I’ve reviewed this year and I’m finding that I really enjoy them!
Charleston Conundrum kept me engaged and guessing until the very end.
After her sudden divorce, Liz decided to become a private investigator and move from Atlanta to a close-knit neighborhood in Charleston. In this neighborhood of unique people, she met Peg, who soon became her best friend.
But when Peg was found murdered, Peg’s father reached out to Liz for help locating the killer. Her investigation ends up taking her through the neighborhood, and even Paris as she searches for answers.
One unusual aspect of this novel was the fact that Liz had a Labrador, Duke, who had a sixth sense of people who were lying. This didn’t take place too often during the story, but dog lovers will like the addition of Duke as Liz’s sidekick.
My Concerns
It wasn’t bad, but there are several characters to keep track of. At one point I was wishing that I had been reading on a Kindle so I could have easily refreshed my memory of who someone was.
This part seriously was a concern. I really don’t like it when a PI or detective breaks into people’s homes illegally in order to help solve a mystery. In the case of Liz, I believe she did have keys to her neighbor’s homes, but it was obvious she didn’t have permission to be there. And certainly, she didn’t have permission to snoop through their personal belongings. This part did concern me and I hope it’s not going to be part of Liz’s discovery work in the future.
Final Thoughts
This is an absolute yes, thumbs up. If you like cozy mysteries, or even if you think you don’t, you will want to give this series a try.
May 8, 2022
“Someone once told me that all dogs have super powers. Duke’s was communication. He whined when something was up. He yipped when someone wasn’t telling the truth. He even howled the words “I love you.”
I did not know what to expect from Charleston Conundrum, A Liz Adams Mystery. All I knew was that it had a dog and it was a mystery of a beginning series.
Soon this story by author, Stacy Wilder became the impeccable escapism of a near-flawless cozy mystery of who done it. I never guessed in the early chapters. The story carried me along with the main character. I was totally engrossed in the story. Perfection!
Liz Adams is a PI who is investigating the sudden tragic death and murder of her best friend, Peg. Thrown into this mix is a cast of unique characters who become suspects in the murder with Liz being the prime suspect by the cops. Like many mystery stories everyone it seems has secrets and a past they want to forget.
I am a huge enthusiast of any story or book that has a dog character. Duke, the dog, while not a super big presence in the story gives this story a down-to-earth feel. He has huge potential of becoming more of a character in future books with his hidden talent of being a lie detector.
Personally, I found Stacy’s writing very relatable. It is succinct, meaning to me it is the ideal mix of telling the current story, along with the back story. There was even a part that made me tear up just a bit. Now, I’m craving chocolate eclairs and wondering what cream of mushroom soup tastes like.
But yeah, it was Duke who drew me into the story. It will be Duke that brings me back to reading the next book in this cozy Liz Adams mystery series by Stacy.
I did not know what to expect from Charleston Conundrum, A Liz Adams Mystery. All I knew was that it had a dog and it was a mystery of a beginning series.
Soon this story by author, Stacy Wilder became the impeccable escapism of a near-flawless cozy mystery of who done it. I never guessed in the early chapters. The story carried me along with the main character. I was totally engrossed in the story. Perfection!
Liz Adams is a PI who is investigating the sudden tragic death and murder of her best friend, Peg. Thrown into this mix is a cast of unique characters who become suspects in the murder with Liz being the prime suspect by the cops. Like many mystery stories everyone it seems has secrets and a past they want to forget.
I am a huge enthusiast of any story or book that has a dog character. Duke, the dog, while not a super big presence in the story gives this story a down-to-earth feel. He has huge potential of becoming more of a character in future books with his hidden talent of being a lie detector.
Personally, I found Stacy’s writing very relatable. It is succinct, meaning to me it is the ideal mix of telling the current story, along with the back story. There was even a part that made me tear up just a bit. Now, I’m craving chocolate eclairs and wondering what cream of mushroom soup tastes like.
But yeah, it was Duke who drew me into the story. It will be Duke that brings me back to reading the next book in this cozy Liz Adams mystery series by Stacy.
May 5, 2022
Thank you to author Stacy Wilder and Lone Star Literary Blog tours for providing a copy of Charleston Conundrum, a cozy murder mystery set in Charleston, South Carolina.
Liz Adams is a private detective whose world is disrupted with the death of her neighbor and best friend, Peg. Not only was Liz at Peg’s house the night she was slain, but the murder weapon is Liz’s gun. As the police try to pin the murder on her, Peg’s family hire Liz to investigate and solve their daughter’s death.
As Liz works her list of suspects, the reader is treated to a tour of Charleston, a city I’ve never visited but long to see. Wilder does an excellent job of evoking the southern city, and its vibrant culture and will leave you hungry for some Southern cooking.
The writing is fast paced and well edited. The characters are relatable and there is a nice slow-burn romance between Liz and one of Peg’s oldest friends.
I enjoyed following Liz as she investigated her suspects, revealing not only their hidden secrets but those of Peg. The ending wrapped up pretty fast and the killer was a surprise.
Charleston Conundrum is a quick read, and I would recommend it to readers who like cozy murder mysteries in a fun setting.
Liz Adams is a private detective whose world is disrupted with the death of her neighbor and best friend, Peg. Not only was Liz at Peg’s house the night she was slain, but the murder weapon is Liz’s gun. As the police try to pin the murder on her, Peg’s family hire Liz to investigate and solve their daughter’s death.
As Liz works her list of suspects, the reader is treated to a tour of Charleston, a city I’ve never visited but long to see. Wilder does an excellent job of evoking the southern city, and its vibrant culture and will leave you hungry for some Southern cooking.
The writing is fast paced and well edited. The characters are relatable and there is a nice slow-burn romance between Liz and one of Peg’s oldest friends.
I enjoyed following Liz as she investigated her suspects, revealing not only their hidden secrets but those of Peg. The ending wrapped up pretty fast and the killer was a surprise.
Charleston Conundrum is a quick read, and I would recommend it to readers who like cozy murder mysteries in a fun setting.
August 1, 2023
The first book in the Liz Adams Mystery series is called Charleston Conundrum. It is a little bit different than most of the cozy mysteries I have read in the past. But it is definitely a Christian Cozy Mystery set in the SOUTH (Bless Your Heart). I just love books about our southern states that do not have a lot of sugary-sweet southern talk. This story appealed to me because it is about a little bit older woman who after she finished off a nasty divorce in Atlanta, quit her corporate job, she decided to pursue her dream and become a 'real' private investigator, moved to Charleston, a really lovely historical place, and, educated herself in the position, interned with a prominent PI in the area and then opened her own firm.
There are hints in the first book that she solved murders before this story and got on the bad side of a burnt-out local police detective. She is flat-out broken-hearted when the next mystery she becomes involved in is when her best friend is murdered. The only person the local police are concentrating on is Liz herself!
It was a nice story, well-paced but a quick read. There is suspense, hi-jinks, and hints of romance brewing.
There are hints in the first book that she solved murders before this story and got on the bad side of a burnt-out local police detective. She is flat-out broken-hearted when the next mystery she becomes involved in is when her best friend is murdered. The only person the local police are concentrating on is Liz herself!
It was a nice story, well-paced but a quick read. There is suspense, hi-jinks, and hints of romance brewing.
March 17, 2022
Cuddle up with a cozy mystery and drink in the southern charm.
Take a stroll through historic Charleston, where the food is decadent and the people are quirky, a tad nosy, but loyal. Well most people, if you don’t count Sam, a grumpy old cop who is determined to put the main protagonist, Liz Adams, behind bars for the murder of her best friend, Peg, which she had nothing to do with. Yes, the gun that killed Peg was Liz’s but there is more to the story than meets the eye. Not only is Liz reeling from the loss of her BFF, but she also has to dodge Sam’s accusations that grow direr with each passing week. Luckily, Liz is a trained PI and a good one. It isn’t long before she discovers that Peg had secrets, one of them involving a stranger of questionable character. As the plot thickens, the suspect list grows. Can she solve the case before Sam solves it for her? Pick Stacy Wilder's fun mystery and find out.
Take a stroll through historic Charleston, where the food is decadent and the people are quirky, a tad nosy, but loyal. Well most people, if you don’t count Sam, a grumpy old cop who is determined to put the main protagonist, Liz Adams, behind bars for the murder of her best friend, Peg, which she had nothing to do with. Yes, the gun that killed Peg was Liz’s but there is more to the story than meets the eye. Not only is Liz reeling from the loss of her BFF, but she also has to dodge Sam’s accusations that grow direr with each passing week. Luckily, Liz is a trained PI and a good one. It isn’t long before she discovers that Peg had secrets, one of them involving a stranger of questionable character. As the plot thickens, the suspect list grows. Can she solve the case before Sam solves it for her? Pick Stacy Wilder's fun mystery and find out.
December 5, 2022
I truly enjoyed reading Charleston Conundrum by Stacy Wilder! It has been a very long minute since I read a good old fashion mystery story. This one had me on the edge and trying to figure out this murder mystery as each page turned.
It was so hard to "adult" while I was getting into the story. I did not want to step away! I love when I get that invested in a story and stay thinking about it days after.
Liz is our main character. She has a lot on her plate. She has a mystery to solve that is close to her. She has to go through alot and alot gets thrown her way. There were a few times I thought I knew "Who Dun It" but something else would twist and I was back in square one. At the end, I was throughly surprised. This is a great book and I definitely recommend it to my book friends that love a good mystery story.
January 28, 2023
Was a very easy, light read. I do plan to read Carmel Conundrum, but I have a few issues. Mainly that the mystery was solved in a flash. And not only that - - but Liz didn’t solve the crime. Someone confessed, and boom, it was over. I felt gypped. My other issue is that this book seemed awfully familiar to another series of female-PI-from-Charleston (“Lowcountry”) mysteries I’ve read. Kind of bummed me out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2022
Featured on Lone Star Book Blog Tours. Lone Star Blogger Team average rating: 4.333.
September 29, 2022
Good cozy mystery. Kept me guessing til the very end. Perfect reading for chilly fall nights ahead. Join Liz with a glass of wine.
December 15, 2022
So many characters thrown at you and detailed descriptions of her outfits that don't matter!
February 17, 2023
Quick, enjoyable and fun whodunnit. And the author lives in my area. This would be a great book to read on the beach while on vacation, sipping a nice wine.
September 16, 2024
I borrowed this book from my mom. It's the first in a 3 book series. It's not a NYT bestseller or anything but it was a solid quick entertaining read with good descriptions and interesting characters. Plus it's set in Charleston, SC.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews