CRIMELLA not-so-cozy murder mysteries
”Nothing ever happens in the sleepy village of Nettleacre… Yeah, right!”
Bored, complete opposites, neighbours, an ex-glamour girl, an ex- policewoman, and a romantic white witch, enjoy a glass of wine, hot chemistry, and playing detective in their quaint village. Until a playboy serial killer, a witness-protection crime boss, and unseen entities land on their patch.
A perfect escape to the beautiful English countryside for fans of Midsomer Murder and Murder She Wrote with a wicked, sexy, otherworld twist.
(standalone crossovers; Crimella, The David Trilogy and The Fallen Angel Series)
Purchase Links
Author Page
https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/S-C-Cunningham/author/B002L3ZC2U\
Web
https://www.sccunningham.com
All Links
https://linktr.ee/AuthorSCCunningham
I picked up Crimella because it sounded like everything I love in a story. Witchy energy, paranormal elements, a mystery at the center of it all, and a cover that just looked like fun. This genre is my comfort zone, so I was excited to dive in.
My reading experience was honestly so fun. The overall plot is serious and very dark at times, but the characters brought this quirky, humorous, bold energy that made the whole book feel entertaining and playful. Not in a way that turned it into a comedy, but in a way that made the characters feel alive and unpredictable. They have such big personalities, and they kept things interesting.
The story unfolds through several different points of view and it actually doesn’t feel like there is just one main character. Instead, you get these different pockets of people who each feel like the center of the story when you are with them. There are the three women who secretly solve crimes together, a group with connections to law enforcement, another group with complicated criminal pasts, and a fourth group with a supernatural twist. I cannot say much without spoilers, but each separate group has strong loyalty, trust, and deep bonds.
My favorite part of the story was when some of these separate character groups eventually came together. Watching their relationships evolve, seeing how friendships formed between people who normally would not cross paths, and watching them learn to trust each other was really enjoyable.
The tone of this book is very unique. The crimes are dark, brutal, and disturbing. At the same time, the characters themselves are fun, flirty, sarcastic, bold, and honestly a little chaotic. They do not take life too seriously, but they absolutely take protecting each other seriously. That contrast creates such an interesting dynamic. You get the darkness of a high stakes plot with the humor and lightness of a found family style cast.
The first half of the story focuses heavily on character building and setting the foundation of the world. There are hints of magic and paranormal energy throughout the beginning, and those elements become much stronger toward the end as the supernatural layer reveals itself. Once the central mystery becomes clear, the pace speeds up quickly and everything starts falling into place. It felt like an intense dive into the heart of the story in the best way.
The ending felt abrupt for me, but only because I wanted more. The story wraps up exactly the way it needed to wrap up, but there are still pieces left open for the next installment. It made me want to pick up book two right away.
One important note is the spice level. The first two chapters are quite spicy, but the rest of the book is much lighter. If spicy books are not your thing, do not let the beginning deter you. Most of the book does not follow that theme. If spice is your thing, you’ll get a taste and plenty of inner longings and innuendos that should satiate what you’re looking for.
I would recommend Crimella to readers who love paranormal stories with unusual twists, playful and bold characters, ensemble casts, or anything that feels fresh and different from typical mystery structure. If you enjoy books that are fun, weird, supernatural, and full of personality, you will probably enjoy this one.
I had such a good time with this book and I definitely want to continue the series.
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this virtual book tour, Rachel’s Random Resources
Ex-crime investigator SCCunningham writes gritty murder mystery with amateur sleuths, redeeming ex-cons, unseen entities, hot chemistry, fun banter, and toxic crooks.
An ex-model, British born of Irish roots, she’s worked in the worlds of; music, film, sport celebrity management, horseracing, golf, football, tennis, child charity, and crime (CID, RIT, Wanted and absconder unit, Major crime team intel analyst, Victim support) and has written 30 books. She was married to rock musician Raf Ravenscroft (‘Baker Street’ sax), is proud mum to artist Scarlett Raven, and lives on the UK’s Sussex coast. Causes: veterans, child, animal, and planet protection.
Social Media Links –
Web
https://www.sccunningham.com
All Links
https://linktr.ee/AuthorSCCunningham
Author Page
https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/S-C-Cunningham/author/B002L3ZC2U
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