It’s my stop today on the blog tour for A Sour Note by Jill Piscitello. Many thanks to Lori from Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours for the invite.
Review
Maeve Cleary has returned to her childhood home in Hampton Beach, NH, with her tail between her legs. She was engaged to a man who two-timed her, and their breakup became the gossip of the town. Everybody wants to know all the juicy details while all Maeve wants is some peace.
A dead body turns up behind her mother’s music school and Maeve’s three childhood friends end up on the suspect’s list. Maeve juggles her high school sweetheart, a cousin with a touch of clairvoyance, a no-nonsense detective, and an apologetic, two-timing ex-fiancé. Will the negative publicity impact business at the Music Box – the very place she’d hoped to make a fresh start?
A Sour Note by Jill Piscitello is a fun and entertaining cozy mystery. I loved the setting and the mystery behind the murder. A wannabe famous influencer is found dead behind Maeve’s mother’s music school. Maeve’s friends are the main suspects. The victim’s fiancé is nowhere to be found.
Then there’s this no-nonsense detective who doesn’t want Maeve to poke her nose where it doesn’t belong. Wait, there’s more. Maeve’s high school sweetheart is running the town’s cafe, and he decides to help Maeve in her sleuthing. Speak of sparks flying and a blast from the past. Her two-timing ex-fiancé is also on the scene – making things worse.
The mystery behind the murder kept me guessing till the end. In the second half of the story, it becomes a bit clearer as to who the killer might be. Plenty of red herrings and dead ends make Maeve’s sleuthing experience fun… as well as annoying. After all, no sleuth, amateur or not, loves red herrings! *wink*
The only niggle I had with this story was the main character, Maeve Cleary. I didn’t like her as much as I wanted to – she was a bit childish and stubborn.
Overall, A Sour Note by Jill Piscitello was an entertaining read.
Interview with Jill Piscitello
Hello Jill and welcome to my blog, The Book Decoder. Please tell me and my readers about yourself.
First, thank you for introducing me to your readers. After two sweet, holiday romances, I’m excited to share my first cozy mystery novel. Summer is here, and I’m enjoying a full house with both kids home from college.
Tell us about A Sour Note.
Maeve Cleary left Hampton for a glamorous job as an exclusive event planner in New York. Ten years later, she finds herself unemployed, unengaged, and mulling over a decade’s worth of mistakes. Finding the corpse of a social media darling behind her mother’s music school provides an unexpected diversion from her troubles.
What sets this book apart from others in the cozy mystery genre?
I am a huge fan of cozy mysteries and wanted to offer a few of my favorite elements from the genre. But A Sour Note provides a bit of a twist. For example, I love a good paranormal cozy, but our amateur sleuth is reluctant to accept her clairvoyant cousin’s advice. Pet cozies are wildly popular, so of course readers can expect an introduction to a few felines. Unfortunately, Maeve is allergic to the four cats her mom adopted. No one could have predicted she’d end up back in her old bedroom ten years later. Another unique spin in this story is Maeve’s role as a reluctant public figure dodging the press thanks to a shattered engagement to a famous news reporter.
Can you tell us more about the main character, Maeve Cleary?
After chasing a dream that didn’t result in the success she’d hoped for, Maeve is figuring out her next steps while sparring with her mom, investigating a murder, and toying with the possibility of a rekindled romance. She’s an impulsive risk-taker plagued by bouts of anxiety. Fashion, touched up roots, and manicures are an afterthought.
Can you tell us about the setting – Hampton beach, and why you chose this as a backdrop for your story?
My family visits Hampton Beach several times each summer. During one of these trips, I realized few places offer such a wealth of writing inspiration for a setting. The people, sights, sounds, food, events, entertainment, and gorgeous beach provide a rich world for any cast of characters.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on the sequel to A Sour Note and hope to have a polished draft ready for submission by September.
What does an ideal day in Jill Piscitello’s life look like?
I’m a homebody at heart and prefer a quiet day by the fire, watching movies, and eating popcorn with my family. But on a scorching day, I never turn down the chance to plant myself in front of the ocean with a book on my lap, a slice of pepperoni pizza in one hand, and a tall lemonade within reach.
The Book Decoder 
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and review A Sour Note. Wishing you a wonderful summer.
You’re most welcome. 😊❤