Everything old is new again in love and murder.
Work together, live together, and play together is the name of the game for Royce Locke and Sawyer Key. But one of those things changes when Chief Mendoza taps Sawyer to lead the newly formed cold case unit. His first task: solve the Magnolia Murders that spanned three decades and suddenly stopped in 2000.
Chaos ensues when a fourth Magnolia Queen contender is murdered during a preliminary round. With the pageant’s one hundredth anniversary looming, the pressure is on to produce results. Royce and Sawyer, along with their new partners, have to team up to solve the Magnolia Murders—old and new.
As the investigation continues, a surprise visitor and an unexpected phone call force the men to face painful things from their pasts. The future Royce and Sawyer dream of is within their grasp, but first, they’ll need to uproot the seeds of discontent they’ve buried deep.
The Magnolia Murders is the first book in the Matrimony and Mayhem trilogy, the second story arc for Royce Locke and Sawyer Key. ** New readers should start with the Zero Hour trilogy before reading Matrimony and Mayhem. ** The Magnolia Murders is a continuation of Royce and Sawyer’s happily ever after as they move into the next phase of their lives—professionally and personally. Though some storylines span the trilogy, this book does not end in a cliffhanger. Heat, humor, heart, and homicide abound. You have been warned. 18+
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We are back in Savannah with the power couple Locke and Key. We had a break from the guys being the main characters but now they are back, snarkier than ever and still under the control of their cat Bones. Gotta love it.
I admit I am not usually a blurb reader when it is an author I enjoy. So I was a little surprised that the crime fighting duo were taking different paths. Key’s new path starts immediately- he will be heading the newly formed cold case unit and his first assignment is to try to solve three beauty queen murders from 1984, 1996 and 2000. Dubbed the Magnolia Murders, Sawyer is all in.
And then another beauty queen is murdered. The MO is different though. This wasn’t at the finals, other details are different. So before his snark gets rusty, Locke and Key are chasing down leads together again.
They do a good job of trying to keep the cold case and new murder separate as they know they are different murderers. It was a fun whodunit ride. You think it is this person, then that person. The mystery was woven well and I was surprised at the reveal. Looking back at it all though, it made sense. And I love who ultimately helped them figure it all out. Or at least planted the seed to help them figure it all out.
Being that Sawyer and Royce were an established couple I wasn’t expecting so much…schmoopy. It got to be a little much for me but it didn’t detract from the overall storyline at all. Honestly, I will put up with all the schmoopy to read about their interactions with Sir Bonesington.
There were some nice cameos in there, Royce’s family, Felix, Sawyer’s old partner (is that really going the way it looks like it is going?) and the chief’s wife- baker of the perfect bear claw.
There was a lot set up for future books that I look forward to.
4 pieces of eye candy