This is a new author for me. I found this book at a local library booksale (where I snatched up many mystery and cozy mystery books since it was $2.00 for a grocery bag of books). I do plan to see if I can find the next one in the series to read.

The cover image isn't in the story as far as I remember. Desiree Turner and her family do run the local funeral parlor and one of the families involved does have 2 dogs, but I don't remember the dogs being in or around the hearse in the story.

I've long thought it sad that one inadvertent remark can get someone's livelihood taken away--even when that remark may have been taken out of context or may not reflect the person's beliefs. Yes, there are times when repercussions such as being fired are appropriate, but maybe not as often as it happens these days. An investigation should be done into what happened and why before the person is proclaimed "guilty".

That said, I can see why Desiree's Los Angeles job fired her. It's a little odd though that once an independent investigation showed that there was a legitimate issue with care of the elderly, that she wasn't offered her job back (since her boss fired her because he knew what was behind the remarks made) or that she didn't file a lawsuit to be reinstated. (Perhaps she was just too embarrassed by it going viral?)

Instead, Desiree returns home and helps with the family's funeral business--particularly since her sister is pregnant with a higher-risk pregnancy.

There are actually several mysteries within the book:
*What happened to Vincent, the emu, who died? Were the dogs involved?
*Who killed Alan Brewer and why?
*How a waitress whose working two jobs ends up with some pricy apparel.
*Who tried to kill the waitress?
*Who is leaving gifts for Jasmine?

We do get answers to most (but not all) of these.

There's also a larger mystery of whether Desiree's father is still alive, and if so, where is he hiding and why. I suspected he was still alive and a scene near the end of this book seems to confirm that.

Desiree seems to have several male admirers: Rafe (the newspaper owner--though he may just be trying to convince her to write for his paper), Nate (who went out with her years before but chose to end it with a handshake), and Luke (who seems to seek Desiree and Jasmine out at the wine bar fairly regularly).

I did make the connection between the money and the car wash and Moonbeam before the author revealed it. I didn't guess the murderer or connect how the waitress ended up with pricy accessories before it was revealed. I also didn't guess Jasmine's aspect--though I don't think many clues were given as to who did that for me to even have the name of that person in a suspect list.

I liked the charm bracelet/charms aspect of the story. The father supposedly kept a stash of charms--I'm wondering how he knew which ones to buy--or did he just buy one of everything and then pull out the appropriate one when the time was right? ( )

After 10 years away, Desiree Turner has returned to her hometown, Verbena, CA, and the family business -- Turner Family Funeral Home. Soon after she returns, a prominent Verbena businessman is murdered...shot through the forehead. The problem all started with feuding neighbors, dogs, a dead emu and a fist fight between two women at a funeral. It's not just small town drama because a man is dead, and a longtime Turner family friend is arrested for his murder. Desiree knows Kyle Hansen didn't kill anyone. But she's going to have to prove it.

I enjoyed this book. It was fun reading about Desiree's return to her hometown....dealing with former boyfriends, rivals, and annoying reporters. The story is a bit of a double mystery....the murder and all the drama surrounding it, plus the disappearance of Desiree's father two years before. The mystery moves along at a nice pace with plenty of suspects, gossip and investigation. Desiree does a good job of juggling funerals and sleuthing. I like her as a main character. She's feisty, but not foolish. Her friend Jasmine is a great sidekick and there are enough small town quirky folks to make the tale interesting. The ending was not a surprise, but there were some nice action packed events leading up to the final arrest. All in all, a nice beginning for a new cozy series!

Lillian Bell also writes the Popcorn Shop cozy series (as Kristin Bell). She also writes as Eileen Rendahl and Eileen Carr. For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://www.eileenrendahl.com/

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

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This is the first in a new series – A Funeral Parlor Mystery. The topic could have been off-putting but author Lillian Bell skillfully introduces the concept of a likeable assistant funeral director solving a murder. Desiree Turner returns home from her journalism career to help her family run their funeral parlor in the small town of Verbena, CA, where she grew up. Soon a murder takes place, and Desiree is sure the suspect is innocent. The police are positive they’ve easily got their man, so it’s up to Desiree to find the real killer. There are plenty of suspects amid the quirky characters, and Desiree is able to use her journalism skills to research motives and alibis. In the meantime, she continues to preside over funerals and is also pursued by two old high school boyfriends – which one will she choose? Although the book is a light-hearted cozy, Bell includes some thoughtful introspection about loss. Desiree’s mother died when she was young, and her warm-hearted, loving father went missing in a presumed surfing accident just a year ago. The book is well-written, even if the story is somewhat predictable. After all, it’s a cozy. But the ending was an unexpected cliffhanger – I can’t wait to read book #2!

Received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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cozy-mystery, law-enforcement, friendship, family-dynamics, funeral, verbal-humor, journalist

Desiree is in a bad place inside her head: her only parent disappeared some months ago, she royally screwed up in her career in television news and had to return home after ten years to take a position in the family funeral business because her sister is on bedrest. Then the man who was like a second dad to them is arrested for the murder of the bank manager because it was his gun and the wives were bitter enemies. Oh, and too many of her high school classmates are making her nutz, like the police detective and the medical examiner. But best friends are there too, and she really needs their support because the local news editor seems to make it a point to keep her name in the paper. Not that it's hard either because of incidents at the funerals or stuff that happens while she investigates to find the real killer. The publisher's blurb is pretty good, but doesn't let you know about the giggles! ( )

Desiree Turner has moved home to Verbena, California after her journalism career hits a snag in a big way. There is peace and quiet and work for her at the family funeral home. As she is making herself familiar with the old and new faces in town--along with coming to terms with her old nickname, Death Ray, an old friend's arrest for murder after a dispute leads to her investigating the crime. One thing I really enjoyed is how the snippets from the small town-y newspaper, The Verbena Free Press, helps propel the story along. And only in California would there be neighborly disputes over emus! ( )