Book Review (and a Giveaway!): Hook, Line & Sinker by Marc Jedel

HOOK, LINE & SINKER by Marc Jedel
SERIES: An Ozark Lake Mystery #3
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
PUBLISHER: BGM Press
RELEASE DATE: July 14, 2022
PAGES: 255

Dubious diamond devotees and a dead loan shark. With the dad she thought dead suspected of murder, can she keep him from doing hard time?

Elizabeth Trout thinks she must have rocks in her head. After receiving a crazy call that the father she never knew is cooling his heels in the local jail, the newlywed graphic designer posts bail and invites him home. But the family reunion loses its luster when she learns her old man is under suspicion for murder after he was found near a corpse.

With the sheriff zeroing in on her dad and no other suspects on ice, Elizabeth starts her own investigation to mine for evidence. But as greedy gem hunters, fossil fanatics, and shady scammers run amok, she must race to solve the homicide before she’s the one shafted.

Can she prove her father’s innocence before a rough-cut killer makes a glittering getaway?

Hook, Line, and Sinker is the hilarious third book in the Ozarks Lake Mystery cozy series. If you like big-hearted but excitable heroines, charismatic rogues, and uproarious plot twists, then you’ll love Marc Jedel’s jaunty jewel.

Buy Hook, Line, and Sinker to get caught up in a carat of crime today!

Other Books In This Series

Poor Elizabeth. Like every good cozy mystery heroine, she just can’t help herself when it comes to snooping around in unsanctioned investigations. And like every good cozy mystery heroine, she doesn’t always exercise the most sense when doing said sleuthing. Sometimes she ropes her good-natured husband Jonas into it (his watching YouTube videos on defensive driving came in handy!), sometimes it’s her bestie Kelsey (the tattoo parlor scene had me laughing out loud!), and sometimes she goes it alone. Even then, though, she’s sure to run into one of the colorful characters that occupy her small Arkansas town, including her ex-boyfriend who is now a deputy and her doctor mom who is a force unto herself.

This murder is personal for Elizabeth as the main suspect seems to be Alan, the father she always thought she was dead. (Nothing like getting word that your father is in fact alive and at the jail under suspicion of murder haha) Her mother Mary’s animosity toward Alan doesn’t help, and neither does her father’s tendency to leave his wallet behind when money is required. (I gave him the side-eye plenty of times in this book.) Elizabeth and Jonas make a good team, in life and in sleuthing, and even if Jonas seems reluctant to follow along don’t let him fool you. He’s doing his own investigating on the side. I loved their different personalities and the different layers each brought to the case, as well as the occasional (and humorous) tension caused by those differences. I chuckled throughout the scene near the end where Trent (deputy ex-boyfriend) and Jonas find out all that Elizabeth has been up to – it was so tightly written that I could feel each character’s reaction almost tangibly.

Bottom Line: Picking up a book by Marc Jedel always provides much entertainment, and Hook, Line & Sinker is no exception! Newlyweds Jonas and Elizabeth are so much fun to follow, and while they are working toward the same ultimate goal, they come at it with engagingly different approaches. ‘Big city Jonas meets small town Arkansas’ is also a source of many chuckles – and I could just see the catfish noodling scene, in particular, playing out in my mind. The mystery is well-crafted and layered, and it will keep you guessing until the very end. A few surprises may be in store, too, so don’t let your guard down. Another delightful visit with Jedel’s engaging characters and his quirky humor!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4 stars / loved it!

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Marc Jedel writes humorous murder mysteries. He credits his years of marketing leadership positions in Silicon Valley for honing his writing skills and sense of humor. While his high-tech marketing roles involved crafting plenty of fiction, these were just called emails, ads, and marketing collateral.

For most of Marc’s life, he’s been inventing stories. As he’s gotten older, he’s encountered more funny and odd people and situations. This has made it even easier for him to write what he knows and make up the rest. It’s a skill that’s served him well, both as an author and marketer.

The publication of Marc’s first novel, UNCLE AND ANTS, gave him permission to claim “author” as his job. This leads to much more interesting conversations than answering, “marketing.”

Like his characters Jonas and Elizabeth from the Ozarks Lake Mystery series, Marc grew up in the South and spent plenty of time in and around Arkansas. Like his character, Marty from the Silicon Valley Mystery series, Marc now lives in Silicon Valley, works in high-tech, and enjoys bad puns. Along with all his protagonists, Marc too has a dog, although his is neurotic, sweet, and small, with little appreciation for Marc’s humor.

Visit his website, marcjedel.com, for free chapters of novels, special offers, and more.

Other Featured Books by Marc Jedel

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What about you? What makes you want to read Hook, Line & Sinker by Marc Jedel?