Great Escapes Book Tours Book Review: Fair Game

Fair Game (A Zoe Chambers Mystery) by Annette Dashofy

About the Book 

 

Fair Game (A Zoe Chambers Mystery) 

Cozy Mystery 8th in Series 

Henery Press (May 14, 2019) 

Hardcover: 286 pages ISBN-10: 1635115027 ISBN-13: 978-1635115024 

Paperback: 286 pages 

ISBN-10: 1635114993 ISBN-13: 978-1635114997 

Digital ASIN: B07NSBHMRR

Paramedic Zoe Chambers hoped a week at the Monongahela County Fair, showing her horse and manning the ambulance, would provide a much-needed diversion from recent events that continue to haunt her.

An old friend, a bossy nemesis, and a teenage crush from her 4-H days fail to offer the distraction she had in mind. But ever the caregiver, she soon bonds with a troubled teen and a grieving father.

Back in Vance Township, a missing woman turns up dead, leading Police Chief Pete Adams into a journey through her mysterious final hours. With each new clue, the tragic circumstances of her death grow increasingly muddied.

A cryptic phone call leads Pete to join Zoe for an evening at the fairgrounds where the annual school bus demolition derby concludes with a gruesome discovery and a new case that may or may not be connected to the first.

Pete’s quest for the motive behind two homicides—and Zoe’s stubborn determination to reunite a family—thrust them both onto a collision course with a violent and desperate felon.

 Review; Let me just say that this is one of my favorite series, because it is set in a fictional area very close to my home.

See, I live in Charleroi, PA, which is a few miles from Monongahela...and this book is set in Monongahela County, which is somewhere near Pittsburgh. Believe me, when I started reading the books, I had to get out a map and check. Was I missing something?

I love Zoe and Pete and with every book I read (and I have missed a few on the way) I feel like I'm getting reacquainted with old friends. Zoe is smart and a very real character. She's a EMS worker and deputy coroner, even though her stomach as problems with autopsies.

I love how well developed the characters are and how likable they are as they work to solve the case or cases. In this instance, two cases that seem like they could be connected and they slowly start to seem connected. From the death of a woman that seems like an accident but has too many coincidences to the murder of judge at the fair.

I loved the setting of the county fair..and could easily envision everything that was happening.

This is the first cozy-ish mystery that really left me emotionally gutted. See most of the time, there's a definite bad guy. Sure there is at least one baddy, but when it all comes out...readers, be prepared to possibly shed a few tears for what happened.

OH and not to worry the end will turn your tears to smiles.

This is a series that mystery lovers will want to check out.

Rating: 5 flowers

About The Author

Annette Dashofy is the USA Today best-selling author of the Zoe Chambers mystery series about a paramedic and deputy coroner in rural Pennsylvania’s tight-knit Vance Township. CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE was a finalist for the Agatha Award for Best First Novel of 2014 and BRIDGES BURNED was nominated for the 2015 Agatha for Best Contemporary Novel.

Author Links Website– www.annettedashofy.com Blog– http://annettedashofy.blogspot.com/ 
.  Facebook– https://www.facebook.com/annette.dashofy Twitter– @Annette_Dashofy  Purchase Links - Amazon - Amazon Hardcover/Paperback - B&N - Kobo - IndieBound a Rafflecopter giveaway



TOUR PARTICIPANTS

May 6 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW

May 6 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

May 7 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW

May 7 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

May 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

May 8 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

May 9 – I'm All About Books – CHARACTER GUEST POST

May 9 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

May 10 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

May 10 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT

May 11 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW

May 11 – The Power of Words – REVIEW

May 12 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

May 12 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

May 13 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT

May 13 – Elizabeth McKenna Romance Author – SPOTLIGHT

May 14 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

strong>May 14 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

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Great Escapes Book Tours Book Review: Uneasy Prey

Uneasy Prey (A Zoe Chambers Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Pennsylvania
Henery Press (March 27, 2018)
Paperback: 286 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1635113204
Digital ASIN: B078RWM8S1

On the way to the emergency room, an elderly woman regains consciousness long enough to inform paramedic Zoe Chambers that her fall down the basement steps was no accident. Before she can say more, she succumbs to her injuries, launching Zoe and Police Chief Pete Adams into the investigation of a burglary ring targeting the area’s vulnerable senior citizens.

Zoe—in spite of Pete’s objections—takes it upon herself to act as protection detail after the con men, disguised as water company employees, set their sights on Zoe’s beloved former landlady. It’s a decision that eventually puts Zoe in harm’s way.

With Zoe already recovering from one close call, Pete must race against time to stop the crime ring—and a dangerous killer—before they strike again.

Review: When I saw this was the 6th book in this series, I went WTF. I read books 2-4. How in the heck did I miss book 5? Grrr

I love this series because its set in Pennsylvania in a made up county which should be somewhere near where I live. That was a huge draw for this series for me. Plus Annette writes SW PA just like it is. I feel like Monongahela County is my county which is Washington County.

This story involves some elderly people being conned and one elderly lady being murdered. This book really hit home, with the subject matter and Pete and his issues with his father with Alzheimer's. As far as mystery series go, this book has to be the most emotional, especially as things progress and you see what's behind some of the crimes.

I don't usually get emotional when reading books like this, but the victim and her family and a man that was close to the victim all play a huge part in this story.

I love Annette's writing. She's created characters where the mystery always feels personal to Zoe and company.  Places and people from other books figure in this one as well, especially the Knolls and another farm that Zoe's mom inherited.

I think this series just keeps getting better. The ending had me in tears.

I can't wait for the next book.

Rating: 5 flowers

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Great Escapes Book Tours Book Review: With A Vengeance

With A Vengeance (A Zoe Chambers Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Henery Press (May 3, 2016)
Paperback: 272 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1635110173
E-Book ASIN: B01BGZOFSU

Synopsis

Paramedic Zoe Chambers and the rest of rural Monongahela County’s EMS and fire personnel are used to wading into the middle of trouble to rescue the sick and the injured. But when someone with an ax to grind seeks retribution by staging accident scenes and gunning down the first responders, Zoe finds herself forced to not only treat her own brethren of the front lines, but also, in her role as deputy coroner, seek out whoever is killing her friends.

At the same time, Vance Township Police Chief Pete Adams races to track down a gun, a mysterious all-terrain vehicle, and the sniper before Zoe goes back on duty, placing herself—and Pete—firmly in the gunman’s crosshairs. Related subjects include: cozy mysteries, women sleuths, murder mystery series, whodunit mysteries (whodunnit), book club recommendations, audio books for download, police procedurals series, amateur sleuth books.

Books in the Zoe Chambers Mystery Series:

• CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE (#1)
• LOST LEGACY (#2)
• BRIDGES BURNED (#3)
• WITH A VENGEANCE (#4)

Review:  Annette Dashofy's Zoe Chamber's Mystery Series is one of my favorites. I love it for so many reasons. One of them is that it is set in a fictional Pennsylvania county near Pittsburgh. The first time I read one of the books Monongahela County drove me crazy because I knew it didn't exist, now I just try to figure out where Annette has placed this county, considering I live in Washington County in a town on the Monongahela River that is only about 5 miles from the town of Monongahela. You can see my dilemma.

This book really put me on the edge of my seat, with a killer that is out to get first responders.

This story really gets close to home with Zoe and Peter, with so many of their friends falling victim to the killer.

It is the kind of book you don't put down, not even for a second, because you really feel like it is happening before you eyes. The plot almost feels like it was pulled from the news.

Annette brings you into the story. I felt nervous for the characters so many times and that really is proof of how well Annette writes.

What I loved the most was not being able to guess the killer and the reason for killing first responders. Trust me, this is one book you won't guess the whodunit until the very end.

This series is part cozy with a touch of thriller. Its got the small town feel of a cozy, but Zoe doesn't fall into the silly amateur sleuth area of most heroines of that genre. She's a smart cookie and she's really easy to like.

I've read all but the first book in this series, which is on my TBR pile, and I have to say this is one series that just gets better with each new installment.

Rating: 5 flowers

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Great Escapes Book Tours Book Review: Bridges Burned

Bridges Burned
Mystery
Paperback: 276 pages
Publisher: Henery Press (April 7, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1941962398
E-Book ASIN: B00RY9ZW94

Synopsis

Paramedic Zoe Chambers is used to saving lives, but when she stops a man from running into a raging inferno in a futile attempt to rescue his wife, Zoe finds herself drawn to him, and even more so to his ten-year-old daughter. She invites them both to live at the farm while the grieving widower picks up the pieces of his life.

Vance Township Police Chief Pete Adams, of course, is not happy with this setup, especially when he finds evidence implicating Zoe’s new houseguest in murder times two. When Zoe ignores Pete’s dire warnings, she runs the very real chance of burning one too many bridges, losing everything—and everyone—she holds dear.

Review: I absolutely love Annette Dashofy's Zoe Chamber's Mystery series.

Why?

It is set in a fictional county in PA that's near Pittsburgh. Mind you, when I started this series, it kind of through me, because I'm from the area and I knew there wasn't a Monongahela County.

In this book Zoe rescues a man from running into a burning building, only to find out his wife was in the house. The fire was caused by a natural gas explosion and Zoe finds herself getting a little close with the victim's family.

I had only one gripe with the story and that dealt with the foreclosure process. Being in the market for a house and finding all the houses I like are in foreclosure, I know that because of PA law, this house wouldnt' have been going up for sheriff sale that quickly. Foreclosures take forever. But I'll ignore that, because I love the story and because it played a part in the crime.

Holt Farrabee is the main suspect, but he is way too likable and his daughter is a fabulous character. I loved these two. You really connected with them and so did Zoe.

Usually, I can't figure out the whodunit, but for some reason with this book, I knew from the moment the character appeared, that he was the killer. I think that might be me though.

Annette really keep you on the edge of your seat with Zoe and Pete's relationship. These two really belong together and let's just say that things were very touch and go throughout this book.

This is a fast paced exciting mystery that will keep you reading from the time you open the book until you reach the last page.

Rating: 4 flowers

About This Author

Today best selling author Annette Dashofy is a Pennsylvania farm gal born and bred. After high school, she spent five years as an EMT for the local ambulance service. Since then, she’s worked a variety of jobs, giving her plenty of fodder for her lifelong passion for writing. She, her husband, and their two spoiled cats live on property that was once part of her grandfather’s dairy.

Author Links:

Website: www.annettedashofy.com,

Writing, etc. blog: annettedashofy.blogspot.com,

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/annette.dashofy,

Twitter: @Annette_Dashofy

Purchase Links
Amazon Google Play iTunes Kobo

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Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours Book Review: Lost Legacy

Author: Annette Dashofy
Title: Lost Legacy
Publisher: Henery Press
Publish Date: Sept 16, 2014
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: Great Escapes Book Tours & the author
Book Blurb: On a sultry summer afternoon, Paramedic Zoe Chambers responds to a call and finds a farmer’s body hanging from the rafters of his hay barn. What first appears to be a suicide quickly becomes something sinister when Zoe links the victim to a pair of deaths forty-five years earlier. Her attempts to wheedle information from her mother and stepfather hit a brick wall of deception, one that brings into question everything Zoe knows about her late father, who died in a car crash when she was eight. Or did he? Police Chief Pete Adams fears Zoe’s inquiries are setting her up for deeper heartbreak and putting her in danger. As Zoe and Pete inch closer to the truth, they discover that a missing gun links the crimes which span more than four decades. But the killer isn’t done. Two more Vance Township residents fall victim to the same gun, and when tragedy strikes too close to home, Zoe realizes her family is in the crosshairs

Review:  I spent the day reading this book. It is one that you won't want to put down until it's finished. I had a lot of reasons to do that.

First, the story is set in a fictional county in PA, which sounds a lot like Washington County, PA, where I live. There are a lot of references to Pittsburgh in the book, and that makes me squee with delight. I love having a feeling of connection with places in the books I read, and I definitely got that with Lost Legacy.

But wait there's more. The story starts out with what looks like a suicide, but spirals into several murders, all stemming back from another incident in the same barn over 40 years ago. There are so may suspects, som are even hitting a little close to home for Zoe. In fact, for awhile, I was kinda worried that the killer might be someone really close to Zoe.

I loved all the characters in the book, but none so much as Pete's dad, Harry, who has Alzheimer's. I wanted to hug him, he was just so sweet. I also enjoyed how Pete and Zoe really worked together to solve the crime and even when it came to finding out answers about her father's death 20 +  years ago.

Annette keeps you guessing on the killer to the very end, making this a really great read. The ending is very emotional and I have to say, this is the first time I found myself with a few tears at the end of a mystery!

Lost Legacy is the 2nd book in the Zoe Chambers series, and when you finish it you will be eagerly waiting for the next book!

Rating: 5 flowers

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