About the Book

Book: Dead Man’s Watch

Author: Kay DiBianca

Genre: Cozy mystery

Release date: September 2020

Half-sisters Kathryn Frasier and Cece Goldman stumble into another mystery in this second book in the Watch series. When a former acquaintance of Kathryn’s is accused of murder, she and Cece go on a mission to prove his innocence by finding the real killer. But things are never what they seem in this tangled web, and Kathryn’s spunky determination to solve the mystery pushes her closer and closer to a deadly climax.

Join the adventure as these two young women commit themselves to live up to the quote from the Jerusalem Talmud: “Whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world.

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My Thoughts:

Dead Man's Watch is another cozy mystery that finds half sisters Kathryn and CeCe mixed up in the investigation again. Through no fault of their own, CeCe literally stumbles over a dead man's body and both act as amateur sleuths yet again.

This story moved at a good pace. The chapters were not long, actually they were smaller chunks which I liked as it kept the story going better. There were several characters involved, so the shorter chapters focusing on giving several points of view of the investigation really help keep everything straight.

A man has been found dead, but who murdered him? Several reasons why pop up and several suspects could be found. However, with a twist in the morgue, everything changes. The suspects are still there but even a bigger question arises. I won't say anymore so as not to spoil the story. This was an enjoyable cozy mystery with a trace of romance and light humor that involves two sisters who act as amateur wanna be Sherlocks.

I received a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Kay DiBianca is a bestselling author who loves to create literary puzzles for her readers to solve. Her characters come to life as they struggle to solve mysteries and create relationships amidst the ongoing themes of faith and family. Her first novel, The Watch on the Fencepost, won an Illumination Award for General Fiction and an Eric Hoffer Award for Mystery. The second book in the Watch series, Dead Man’s Watch, was released in September 2020.

Kay is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and Sisters in Crime. An avid runner, she can often be found at a nearby track, on the treadmill, or at a large park near her home. Her background in software development fuels her fascination with puzzles and mysteries, and her dedication to running helps supply the endurance and energy she needs to write about them!

Kay and her husband, Frank, live, run, and write in Memphis, Tennessee.

You can connect with Kay through her website at https://kaydibianca.com.

More from Kay

RUNNING AND WRITING

I’m a runner. Over the years I’ve discovered so many benefits from running, including improved health, good outlook, sense of well-being, and even a spark to creativity. That’s a lot to get from an investment in a pair of running shoes!

Of course, running is also a great metaphor for life. This one sport exemplifies so much that we experience in our lives: success, failure, injury, joy, and pain. So, it’s not surprising that although my books are not specifically about running, they contain running scenes.

I got the idea for my first mystery novel, The Watch on the Fencepost, while I was out running. The first chapter of that book introduces the main character, Kathryn Frasier, as she runs a five-miler while training for a marathon. Kathryn deals with the sorrow of her parents’ recent deaths by putting in hard miles on the trails around the fictional town of Bellevue. As I wrote that narrative, I could almost feel Kathryn’s effort, her struggle to maintain pace, the pain in the final sprint, and the satisfaction of finishing well.

The second book in the series, Dead Man’s Watch, takes place just a month or so after the first one. Kathryn continues her training by running a half-marathon race. Once more I run with her as she experiences the elation of being in the lead pack (I’ve never been there!), the exhaustion as the miles build up (I do know about this), and a dramatic event as she nears the finish.

I hope readers will see the analogy between the Kathryn’s experiences on the trails and her efforts to try to solve the mysteries in each story. I’m working on the third book in the series now. I haven’t written any running scenes yet, but I’m sure Kathryn’s going to insist on putting one in.