Moving Is Murder

Good story, Familiar places since I live in the Northwest. Heroine is believable. I'd purchase the next one in the series.

Since her husband Mitch is in the Air Force, Ellie Avery has grown used to moving. His latest assignment takes them to Washington State. Since he's going to be there a while, they purchase a house off base. They're excited about having a break from squadron politics, until they discover that the majority of their neighborhood is in Mitch's squadron. Unpacking with a newborn in the house is difficult, so a squadron BBQ is a welcome break. The fun atmosphere is lost when environmentalist Cass Vincent starts a nasty argument with Mitch's friend Jeff. On the way home, Ellie sees Cass pulled to the side of the road. When Ellie stops to see if she can help, she finds Cass dead. Cass was highly allergic to bee stings, so the police are quick to rule her death by wasp sting an accident. Ellie has little reason to believe otherwise but begins to find evidence to the contrary. When suspicious accidents start happening to her, Ellie knows she must figure out the truth to stay alive. This is the first book in a new series. Unfortunately, it shows a little. Other then Ellie and Mitch, most of the characters are two dimensional at best. It makes it hard to keep them all straight. I didn't really start to feel for any of them until near the end, when Ellie began to figure out their secrets. The plot was a little slow taking off. Ellie spends part of the book stumbling over evidence by accident. Once she decides to investigate, the book picks up speed. The further into the book I got, the more interested I became in the plot. And the climax was surprising, logical, and very suspenseful. Additionally, there are great tips for moving after almost every chapter. The book overcame the flaws to be enjoyable. I plan to give the next book a try as well.

Amateur sleuthing by a military spouse, a murder, lots of suspects and moving to a new base assignment are some of the elements that make "Moving Is Murder" a great tale. Author Sara Rosett takes her experiences as a military wife and weaves a tale into that fabric that is rich and full of excitement, intrigue, action and enough plot twists and turns to keep you guessing as to who done it and why. To say that I enjoyed it would be an understatement--I loved it! I think the little heart symbol on the book's front cover indicating that it is "A Mom Zone Mystery" might scare off some male readers--but never judge a book by its cover. It is a great read for men as well as women--murder is not gender biased. It was a pleasant surprise to me to find myself hooked on this story plot so quickly. The book is well constructed and she has made good use of personal glimpses of the characters in the story; so we get to know the people in the story and get caught up in the action. Rosett has significant writing talent, that is a given; she delivers an entertaining and absorbing story. Those in the military will enjoy reading about their lifestyle and be able to identify with the actions and situations that take place on and of base an Air Force Base. There is also a nice side benefit for military families reading the book because at the end of most all chapters there are moving tips thrown in. That may sound a little odd but trust me she makes it work and it keeps the flow of the mood and energy rolling along. This book is on my personal recommend reading list. It also receives the MWSA's highest book rating of FIVE STARS.

I am an army wife, but some things are the same no matter what branch of the service you are in. If you like mysteries or if you want a peek into the life of a military spouse this is a book you should read. I truly appreciated her even handed portrayal of military spouses. Trying to solve the mystery was fun, too. I started reading this book as the packers were packing up my home for the move to our next duty station. I wish I had read it sooner. I could have used her moving & organizational tips. I hope this is just the first in a series and that there will be more to follow.

Ellie and her husband Mitch have moved four times in five years because of his assignments. His latest duty station as a member of the 52nd Air Refueling Squadron is at Greenley Air Force Base in Vernon, Washington where they accept off-post housing. They don't know that many of those stationed at Greenley live in their neighborhood. Almost against her will, Ellie becomes involved in the activities of her neighbors that include the monthly coffee sessions, yard sales, and barbeques. At a barbeque Ellie witnesses an argument between Cass and her husband's pal Jeff. When Ellie leaves she notices Cass outside her vehicle dead from repeated wasp stings. Ellie soon proves that Cass was murdered by someone who planted a cup of sugar and wasps inside her car. Not long afterward someone searches Cass' house and subsequently Ellie's abode. Two other suspicious deaths happen that Ellie believes are linked with that of Cass. She determinedly sets out to uncover the culprit before she becomes victim number four. Readers initially obtain a look at the difficulty facing our military and their spouses even within the States as they move to new assignments. That quickly twists into an intriguing amateur sleuth tale yet keeps that glimpse at the military family lifestyle. Ellie suspects everyone in her neighborhood as the potential killer, which makes it impossible for the audience to guess who the culprit is. Still the courageous heroine tries to connect the dots and find the killer before she or others become the next victim. Readers will salute Sara Rosett's fine mystery that sheds light on military life with the hopes that more such tales starring Ellie and her neighbors come soon. Harriet Klausner