Killer Deadline

Lauren Carr writes stand alone cozy mysteries. I have to wonder, though, if Killer Deadline is the beginning of a series as the front cover references "a Nikki Bryant cozy mystery."  The characters are perfect for one and the main character has a job as a TV news station owner, which will give her a good reason for being an amateur sleuth.  Add in Nikki's photogenic "ugly" dog and you have the ingredients for a perfect series.

This awesome story begins with Nikki's return to Pine Grove, Pennsylvania after working as a journalist for several years in Las Vegas and Washington, D.C. With her mother's decision to retire from the news business, Nikki comes home to take over the station that her father began over thirty years ago.  Soon after her arrival Nikki finds the dead body of her news anchor Ashleigh Addison, who is also her childhood rival.  The night before her death, Ashleigh was at a party to welcome Nikki where Ashleigh stated that she would be airing live an explosive news story the next day.  The question for the police and for Nikki  is whether her news story is connected to the murder of Nikki's father in his office at the station.  

Killer Deadline was an enjoyable read. It is a modern cozy with accomplished, power hungry women. Ashleigh is the traditional female character who cares more about appearances than substance. The fact that she is the novel's victim is telling for me.  I would expect the aggressive female character to be the victim in a cozy.  I like to see this connection to the modern world. 

The plot was a straightforward murder mystery.  It moved fast with the murder of Nikki's father taking precedence over Ashleigh's murder. I love it when the mystery formula is followed faithfully. Of course, you can never go wrong by using a dog as a character. 

5 out of 5 stars!