Book Review and GIVEAWAY: On the Sly, by Wendy L. Koenig {ends 3/16}

Guest review by: Becki Bayley

I still felt the malice of Garret’s stare bear down on me. I was jittery and my stomach was locked into a painful knot. More than one glass shattered on the floor at my feet. Finally Karyn pushed the mop into my hands and took over the bar work. Though the rain had stopped and the air was on, the humidity was still high, making the walls close. I kept trying to gulp in fresh air. If ever there was a case of becoming suddenly claustrophobic, it was then. Karyn said it was just a panic attack. Still, I was glad I had a late crowd to keep both my employees there with me until I left.

The volume in the bar spilled into the street as I locked up. I drove home and parked in front of the house, too tired to go around back. Even before I opened my door, I knew something was wrong. There were no happy whines or yips coming from the other side. Energy zinged through me and all thoughts of sleep left. 

Sylvia generally minds her own business, but when a man is murdered in her bar, she needs the crime solved so she can sleep soundly again.

Official synopsis:

Sylvia Wilson, a bar owner in St. Louis, Missouri, arrives at work to discover the body of an ex-police officer in her locked bar. The police focus on her as their primary suspect, so she decides to launch her own investigation into the dead man and his accomplices. But when the killer sends her clear messages that she and her loved ones are on his radar, she knows it’s just a matter of time before someone ends up dead.

Sylvia hasn’t spent much time making friends or enemies since moving from Texas to Missouri. Her life is full enough with her brother, her dogs, her bar, and her friend-with-benefits who owns another bar across town. When a man is murdered in her bar, the police think she must have had more to do with it, since it is her bar. 

She starts out trying to find another possible suspect in the case so they’ll let her open her bar and stop looking at her like she’s guilty. Unfortunately, as she starts discovering clues, the killer decides to try and discourage her from investigating any more. 

This sounds like the first book in a series, since it’s identified as "A Sylvia Wilson Mystery." It was good getting to know the characters and some of their histories. The book earned 3 out of 5 stars, and more books in the series would probably be fun to read as well. This story could be recommended to those who enjoy stories of found families, as well as crime thrillers/mysteries.

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Becki Bayley’s favorite part of winter is usually when it ends. She can be found carting her kids to their numerous activities with a book in hand. Posts of where she’s been and what she’s read can also be found on Instagram, where she is PoshBecki.

GIVEAWAY:

One of my lucky readers will win a *signed copy* of the book, as well as a pair of sunglasses!

Enter via the widget below. Giveaway will end on Thursday, March 16th, at 11:59pm EST, and the winner will be contacted via email the next day and have 24 hours to respond, or an alternate winner will be chosen.

U.S. residents only, please.

Good luck!

On the Sly, by Wendy L. Koenig