Terri L Austin is now on tour with CLP Book Tours with her book, Diner Impossible. Please visit her
tour page for more blog stops and a chance to win ecards for Diners, Dives & Dead Ends and ecards for Last Diner Standing.
Diner Impossible (Rose Strickland Mystery #3)
by Terri L. Austin
Genre: Chick Lit, Romance, Cozy Mystery
Publication: November 2013
Source: ARC, CLP Blog Tours
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After shunning her overbearing parents' wealthy lifestyle, waitress and part-time college student, Rose Strickland, is drawn back into their world when she tries to prove the impossible: the innocence of the town's crooked police chief. He's suspected in the gruesome death of Delia Cummings, his secretary and mistress, and all the evidence points to him. While she tracks down clues with the aid of her anime-loving bestie, Rose's pal, Axton, and his Klingon gang are feuding with their Starfleet rivals. Things get hairier than a pile of well-fed Tribbles, so Rose gets involved. In between interrogating Trekkies and quizzing socialites at high tea, she discovers the secrets Delia Cummings took to her grave. Suspects abound, but when Chief Mathers threatens to bring down Rose's criminally mischievous and maybe boyfriend, Sullivan, she makes it her mission to find the real killer before Sullivan finds himself in prison.
Part of the Henery Press Mystery Series Collection, if you like one, you'll probably like them all! Diner Impossible is the third in the Rose Strickland humorous mystery series. In case you missed the first two, check out Diners, Dives & Dead Ends (#1) and Last Diner Standing (#2). Plus, Diners Keepers, Losers Weepers, a Rose Strickland novella, will be in the mystery anthology The Heartache Motel (December 2013).
I received a copy of Diner Impossible by Terri L Austin from the author/CLP Blog Tours as part of the blog tour.
Rose is back! This time she's out to investigate the murder of Delia Cummings, a police chief’s secretary and mistress when “Officer Hardass” asked for her help. But it wasn’t that easy to find out who killed Delia. Everyone hates her, and everyone have a motive to do so.
Rose may not be a private investigator or any kind, but she’s good at cracking a case with her own method. I found this book to be a fun read. The plot and mystery was well written with a bit twist. I enjoyed the moments between Rose and her friends/sidekick, Ax and Roxy as well as her maybe boyfriend, Sullivan. They made me laugh. I always loved books that make me laugh. I feel like I’m starting to like Rose as much as I like Stephanie Plum. I’m definitely looking forward to Terri’s next book!
My mother leaned toward me, a smile firmly stuck to her mouth, like a beauty queen who forgot to put Vaseline on her teeth. Everyone probably thought she was saying something charming and witty. Well, knowing my mother, they probably didn’t think that.
“For God’s sake, you look like you’re standing before a firing squad. Remember to act the part.”
I forced a smile as if she’d just told the funniest joke. “Oh, Mom, you’re a card,” I said, a little too loudly. Then I guzzled half a glass of champagne.
A couple close to my parents’ age approached us. “Letitia, Edmund, do you know my daughter, Rosalyn?”
“I don’t believe we’ve met,” Letitia said. She was gaunt, but sinewy. Edmund was so florid, either he started drinking at breakfast or he was in the middle of a heart attack.
I said something banal and pleasant, but they didn’t hold my attention. The only people I was interested in were the Mathers and David Ashby.
While I checked out the room, the couple moved on. Another pair slid in their place. After the greetings and a little chitchat, they floated away, too. I glanced around once more, searching for my sister. Why had I gone this route instead of using my normal method—waylay people and harangue them into answering my questions. It had worked for me in the past.
“Let’s go to the powder room, dear.” Barbara snatched away my glass of liquid happiness and shoved it at a waiter, then grasping my wrist, tugged me past the bar to the ladies’.
Hmm, this bathroom must be new. I didn’t remember it from days of yore. Lots of granite with flattering lights.
My mother searched under the stalls to make sure they were empty. Then she rounded on me. “What are you doing?”
“Is this a trick question?” I glanced around and my eyes got stuck on a gold faucet. Real gold? Surely not. If so, I was never bringing Roxy here. I wasn’t sure how you went about stealing faucets, but she’d figure out a way.
“Rosalyn,” Barbara growled. “You are supposed to be charming these people. Instead, you look like a halfwit, wearing that insipid smile. Tell people you’re going back to school, that you’re putting your resume together, that you’re thrilled to be here. We’re bringing you back into the fold, remember?”
“I’m being perfectly polite. And I’m not here to impress your friends, I’m here to question David Ashby.”
My mother’s posture became stiffer than a priest’s collar on Sunday morning. “Now you listen to me,” she pointed her finger in my face, her polished nail almost grazing my nose, “we’re going to do this my way. I’ll not have you steamroll in here, cause a commotion, and then leave your father and me to pick up the pieces. Not again.”
Author Bio:
As a girl, Terri L. Austin thought she’d outgrow dreaming up stories and creating imaginary friends. Instead, she’s made a career of it. She met her own Prince Charming and together they live in Missouri. She loves to hear from readers. Find her on Twitter, FB, TerriLAustin.com,Goodreads and Henery Press.
