Series: Webb's Glass Shop Mystery, #3
Publisher: Kensington
Published: June 28, 2016
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Length: 320 pages

I read the first book in this series, Pane and Suffering, because it was a cozy mystery set not too far from me, in my home state of Florida. I have kept reading the series, because the author does not only a fantastic job of capturing the uniqueness that is St. Petersburg and the entire Suncoast area, but also telling an first rate story.

Our story revolves around Savannah Webb, glass artist and owner of Webb's Glass Shop.  Occasionally, we see things from Homicide detective David Parker's viewpoint, but that is usually when explanations need to happen that Savannah wouldn't have access to. It's a great way of keeping us, the reader, informed and up to date, as well as seeing how things are progressing from the official law enforcement view.

The romance that I had predicted in book one, is really coming alive between Savannah and her work neighbor Edward.  More of the neighborhood is explored, especially as Savannah has opened up a new venture, Webb's Studio, nearby to cater to artists needing space to create. As the characters move around the town and surrounding area, the descriptions are so distinctive, that I could almost smell the salt in the air.

If you are like me, and enjoy reading cozy mysteries in part for the slice of small town life they typically explore or for the many wonderful hobbies and crafts that are described, this would be a great series to explore. This was another wonderful addition to a series that has been top notch and I gave it 4 stars.

Kensington and Netgalley provided me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

When a treasure hunt leads to deadly plunder, it's up to glass shop owner Savannah Webb and her trusty investigative posse to map out the true motives of a killer...

It's the dog days of summer in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Webb's Glass Shop proprietor Savannah Webb has an eco-friendly plan to help locals escape the heat--a recyclable bottle-crafting workshop taught by reticent store manager Amanda Blake. Turns out, the class is a bigger smash than expected, thanks in part to a pair of staggeringly old bottles brought in by snorkeler Martin Lane...

Linked to a storied pirate shipwreck, the relics definitely pique Savannah's interest. But intrigue turns to shock when Martin's lifeless body washes ashore the next morning, another glass artifact tucked in his dive bag. With cell phone records connecting Amanda to the drowning, Savannah must voyage through unchartered territory to exonerate her colleague and capture the twisted criminal behind Martin's death...

    

Shards of Murder

Webb's Glass Shop Mystery, #2

Cheryl Hollen

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Kensington
Date of Publication: February 23, 2016
Number of pages: 304

When a glass-making competition turns deadly, glass shop owner Savannah Webb must search for a window into a criminal's mind…

As the new proprietor of Webb's Glass Shop, Savannah has been appointed to fill her late father's shoes as a judge for the Spinnaker Arts Festival, held in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. With her innovative glass works, the clear winner is Megan Loyola, a student of Savannah's former mentor.

But when Megan doesn't show up to accept her $25,000 award, rumors start flying. And when Savannah discovers the woman's dead body on festival grounds, the police immediately suspect her of murder. To keep from appearing before a judge herself, Savannah sorts through the broken pieces of glass scattered around the victim for clues as to who took this killer competition too far…

Review: 
It's not often that Florida has a story set outside of either Miami or Orlando. That this one is set in St. Petersburg, known locally as St. Pete, makes it unique. St. Pete is an eclectic little spot, with so many different cultures having helped to build and develop the area. As a Florida native, who lives just 2 hours away, it was a real pleasure to read someone doing the city justice and getting it right. Sometimes a city is described so accurately, that it's rhythms and vibe can be likened to another character in a book. The author manages this nicely for St. Petersburg.

I was a little concerned after reading the first book, Pane and Suffering, that the author wouldn't be able to meet the high standards she set in the first book. I am pleased to announce that she did an excellent job of not only meeting them, but exceeding them. Savannah and her posse are really coming together as quite the enterprising group. Though the story is told mainly through Savannah, the story has an ensemble feel. They utilized their individual strengths to work together to solve the murder quickly, much to Detective Parker's annoyance.

If you want to read a cozy mystery that's more than just a niche book, this series would be a perfect fit. It's so much more than just about glass making, though that does play a large part. I had a hard time putting this book down, and gave it 4 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley, Kensington and Great Escapes for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Giveaway: 

Author Bio:

Cheryl Hollon now writes full-time after she left an engineering career of designing and building military flight simulators in amazing countries such as England, Wales, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, and India. Fulfilling the dream of a lifetime, she combines her love of writing with a passion for creating glass art. In the small glass studio behind her house in St. Petersburg, Florida, Cheryl and her husband design, create, and produce fused glass, stained glass, and painted glass artworks.

To connect with the author online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Pane and Suffering by Cheryl Hollon is an entertaining cozy mystery.  I gave it four stars because it kept me guessing & had a surprise ending.

"Paint flaked off the heavy fireproofed & double-bolted back door.  It's like Dad, she thought, well-worn, but strong & solid."

Interacting with the unpleasant & inept Officer Boulli, Savannah was pleased that she towered over him & looked down on him from her height advantage.

Describing the gardening class he taught at the church Reverend Kline said:  "Nature has its own rhythms & cycles, yet manages to get everything done in good time."

 I want to thank Kensington Books & NetGalley for a complimentary kindle copy.   That did not influence my opinion for this review.

Link to purchase:  http://www.amazon.com/Pane-Suffering-Webbs-Glass-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00RRT32HK

Apparently the Suffering in Pane and Suffering refers to how one feels while reading this book.

I give it one star only becase premise was cute; MC inherits a glass shop from her dead father, and also has to teach stained glass window making classes to local noobs. MC promptly thinks the police are idiots and starts her own investigation with Fred and Velma and Scooby.

Then the cliches started (most of which I've already outlined).  Skipped a few chapters; book got even more dumb (I didn't think that was possible) and then skipped to a few chapters before the end.   Couldn't even read it all the way through.  This was seriously like a really bad Scooby Doo episode.  Not the old ones from the 70s that were corny but still really good.  No, this was like the crap they show on Cartoon Network purporting to be Scooby Doo but is just really lame.

DNF, could've been really good but it wasn't. 

I'm nearly halfway through the book and, after a promising start, I'm running into the typical Cozy cliche that I hate:

• MC thinks the cops are stupid and not taking her seriously so she has to go off and solve this on her own

• One person immediately suspected, even though they have no motive and no means (Bonus points: suspect is a 17 year old with Aspergers whose parents won't let him out of their sight and has an asthma attack if someone asks him a question)

• Hunky guy shows up just in time to help with the "investigation" (Bonus points for hunky guy being a brit who wears cowboy boots and doesn't speak like an Englishman except to call everyone "luv")

• Kooky sidekick (Bonus points: MC tells hunky brit about kooky sidekick, "I so enjoy having her around, she's so funny and sincerely good people" You know, just the sort of thing you say when you've known someone for an hour)

• Bonus cliche;: Hunky brit owns a bar; MC just happens to be a beer connoisseur. (Bonus bonus cliche; - MC has to spout off about how she's a Cicerone, "It's the equivalent of a wine sommelier" dontcha know

Dunno yet if this is going to be a DNF., but countdown to migraine caused by eyerolling in 3...2...1