Book 100, 2024
Halloween Hijinks by Kathi Daley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Last night I finished reading Halloween Hijinks by Kathi Daley. It's the first book in her "Zoe Donovan" mystery series, starring...Zoe Donovan!
In addition to her duties as the local animal control officer, Zoe is busy with the upcoming Halloween festivities in town. It's her duty to recruit some zombies for the annual Zombie Run. Amid all the preparations, there have been escalating pranks taking place between the hometown football team and their nearby rivals. Zoe's friend Levi is the football coach, and he's having a difficult time keeping his team focused on the game. When Zoe responds to a call about a dog shut up in an abandoned house, she stumbles across a dead body. After calling the police, she has no intention of getting involved until Levi is tabbed as the primary suspect in the murder. Now Zoe feels compelled to look into the crime, with the aid of her other BFF, Ellie, and her old school nemesis, Zak. She'll need all the help she can get, because her job is on the line if she's caught sticking her nose into the investigation.
I enjoyed the beginning of this, envisioning the setting, getting to know the characters, but as the story progressed it took a dark turn. It's billed as a cozy mystery, but the murder itself and the motivation for it were anything but. In addition...
- Since when does one person in town get to fire Zoe for investigating? Especially since she solved the crime?
- The ultimate solution lacked resolution.
- I wasn't on board with how Zoe loathed Zak, but within a few days was relieved to see him and relying on him for support.
- This is the first book in the series, but I feel like I missed out on something. Zoe has apparently stuck her nose into investigations before, which is why Mr Bigshot was adamant she stay out of this one. Um, oka-ay.
Favorite line: "If there's anyone who could use a zombie apocalypse right about now it would be me."
This was initially headed for a rating of four stars, but it loses one due to the subject matter and the points that vexed me. Three stars.
1. Does the mc work at/as one of the following: baker/bakery/sweet shop/tea shop/coffee shop, library/librarian, antique/vintage shop, book store, fashion/boutique, bed & breakfast? No, she's an animal control officer.
2. Does the mc live at her (or his) place of occupation? No
3. Is the love interest involved in law enforcement? (Police officer, sheriff, detective, PI, FBI) No
4. Does the mc have a dog/cat as a pet? Yes, she has a dog
5. Is the mc's BFF either a gay guy or a ditzy/zany woman? No
6. Did the mc find the body? Yes
7. Did the mc wind up in mortal danger at the end of the book? No
8. Is the mc's mother either: dead, absent, far removed, ditzy and dithering, or overbearing/disapproving/meddling? Yes, she has little to do with Zoe.
9. If mother is dead/absent, does the mc have another mother-figure (grandmother, aunt, mom's friend, or an older friend)? Not a mother-figure, no
10. Is the mc child-free? (Either no children or else grown children--i.e. no small children to look after) Yes