Back to the Burgh and Beyond (An Owl's Nest Mystery) by C.S. McDonald

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Links to other C.S. McDonald books below.

Synopsis - 

Meet Alexa Owl. She's returned home to Pittsburgh after a divorce to start a new life and a new business, The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe. Much to her surprise, she's getting more than she ever bargained for: Detective Bobby Starr, and he's no ordinary sleuth. Bobby is an angel who's returned to Earth in hopes of earning his way into the Guardian Angel Squad. He's been sent by none other than Saint Pete to acquire Alexa’s help to solve three cold case murders he left behind. Except, here’s the catch: he’s only been allotted four days to solve the first case! How in heaven’s name is she supposed to do that? Alexa is a professional seamstress—not a detective. Bobby insists the only way to solve the first case is to return to 1953, and Alexa’s not in love with that idea at all!

Review - 

When I've had a stressful day (way too many during COVID) or a very full day, I love to curl up with a fun, easy read. I also love murder mysteries.  Combine the two and you have for a fun enjoyable evening that will definitely wash away all that ails you.  Back to the Burgh and Beyond certainly accomplishes both. Plus it has a dash of humor and a female lead character which I always love.

However, this book also has a unique twist. It's actually has a hints of the Fantasy/SciFi genres. There is a ghost and a ghost cat. Alexa Owl meets them when she moves into her new shop after her divorce. She is challenged with helping the ghost solve the murder of one of his wives - but it's in the long ago past. How to accomplish this? Time travel. She has to move between the past and present. 

When in the present, she is helping clients and establishing her new business. When in the past, she and the ghost have to avoid running into his real self in that time, all while pursuing leads and finding clues.  Sounds complex? It is a bit, but fortunately McDonald manages to keep the flow seamless and the storyline is easy to follow.

I enjoyed reading Back to the Burgh and Beyond - very fun. As a reviewer, I also want to share I feel the book will probably find it's strongest readership with a younger audience, say in the teen to early adult market.

Buy the Book: Audible ~ Amazon ~ B&N ~ Add to Goodreads

Fiona Quinn Mystery Series Reviews:
Murder on Pointe #1 HERE
Merry Murder #2 Coming 4-3
Waves of Murder #3 Coming 4-3
Tastes Like Murder #4 Coming 4-3
Good Luck to Murder #5 Coming 4-3
Mambo and Murder #6 HERE
Saddle Up For Murder #7 Coming 4-3
Bon Voyage to Murder #8 HERE
Taking Notes on Murder #9 HERE
Matrimony Mayhem and Murder #10 HERE
Deep Blue Murder #11 Coming 4-3
Four Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries HERE

Owl's Nest Mystery Series Reviews -
Back to the Burgh and Beyond #1 HERE
Maxed Out #2 HERE
Double Dog Dare #3 -HERE

Meet the Author - 

For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg. Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh. The female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Next Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy! Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebooka 


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