Decent sense of place. A kind of madcap climax that I enjoyed. ( )

Photo Finished by Christin Brecher is the debut of A Snapshot of NYC Mysteries. Liv Spyers has just opened a photography studio in New York City under her grandparents locksmithing store. Liv gets a big break when photographer Regina Montague comes needing a key. Liv overhears Regina complaining about a photographer who quit at the last minute. Liv gets hired to take photographs at the Holiday Debutante Ball. Unfortunately, the evening ends with billionaire Charles Archibald dead and Regina the prime suspect. Liv does not believe that Regina killed Charles despite how it looked at the time. Liv uses her keen eye for detail to help her focus in on the killer. Photo Finished is a cute story. Liv Spyers is an acquired taste (she grows on you). We get to learn more about Liv as the story progresses. Also, Liv’s personality comes alive as we delve deeper into the story. I like her lively and friendly Italian family. Her grandmother is a dear. The mystery was interesting. It was complex in some ways yet simple in another. There are a number of suspects who were present at the ball. Liv actively investigates the whodunit. She asked questions, looks over her photographs, and searched for clues. I enjoyed the tension filled reveal. I like how everything tied together (the clues are there throughout the book, but the trick is to spot them). Liv had help from her new friend, Harry. There is a smidgeon of romance in the story. I am glad that the author kept it to a minimum in this first installment. We get to meet some other interesting characters that include Bernie and Manjeet. There is mild foul language (it was kept to a minimum). The author did a good job at setting the stage in Photo Finished. It will be interesting to see what Liv stumbles into next time. Photo Finished is a snappy whodunit with a lost camera case, a big break, a clothing calamity, the body of a billionaire, a fixated detective, a helpful Harry, and a photo finish. ( )

Photo Finished is a very enjoyable, well-written book - especially for mystery fans and NYC lovers! Great character development and storyline. Kept me intrigued and guessing till the end! Looking forward to many more in the series! Highly recommend! ( )

3.5-3.75 stars (rating shown may vary depending on whether site allows half star ratings).

This is the first book in Christin Brecher's A Snapshot of NYC mystery series. It was sent to me as part of the Kensington Cozy Card rewards. I like photography, so I was interested, but there really wasn't as much about photography in this book as I would have thought.

Cover photo: I realize it's supposed to be a stylized version, but the camera is quite small compared to the face. Formatting: there were some times that a new person started speaking in the same line as the previous person which was a bit confusing. There were also times that dialogue continued from one paragraph to the next and threw me off. A few places had odd paragraph breaks within a sentence. (I believe the copy I received was marked as an ARC so it's possible these will be changed in the final format--I hope so.)

I felt as if I was missing important pieces of how the characters fit together. It took a while to feel caught up.

It was nice to actually have clues to follow in solving the mystery rather than the solution just coming out of the blue. ( )

Liv Spyers Photography specializing in portrait photography is located on the ground level of her grandparents’ brownstone in New York. It’s a definite step upward and onward for Liv after trying to get her career in gear while working at the local Starbucks in her hometown in a Jersey suburb. Liv receives a family discount on rent, works in her grandparents’ locksmith store as needed, and her grandmother delivers homemade baked goods to Liv’s door, and it is easy to go upstairs for dinner. Bliss! However, the excitement of a new gig comes to a screeching halt when the night ends in murder, and Regina Montague, the woman that gave Liv the fabulous opportunity, is in the frame to be arrested.

I loved the characters. Liv and her family are people you wish were friends you could visit in New York. Liv has her unique investigative technique of using her eyes as her secret weapon in studying faces and behavior. Liv’s friend, Maria Ricci, has just the right clothes to borrow that a girl needs for special events on very short notice. And then there’s Harry. Harry Fellowes. Oh, how wonderful the description of Harry in a tux, on the dance floor, waiting on the stoop, and more.

It’s a charming combination of cozy mystery and contemporary romance with witty dialogue. The New York setting is authentic in the description as only a born, bred, and resident New Yorker can provide, which makes the story even more endearing. I highly recommend this title as an addition to your tbr list.

I sincerely thank Christin Brecher and Kensington Cozies for my complimentary digital copy of this title, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

#PhotoFinished #NetGalley ( )