Cozy Mystery Spotlight

Overall series rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Destination murder series: Three books as of now. Cozy mystery about a former investigative reporter turned travel writer.

I got all three books as eARCS from booksprout in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely love the first book Destination Maui which introduced Sam as she returned home to Carmel, California to take care of her ailing father who is suffering from Alzheimer's related dementia and psychosis who was once the police chief, she left LA to be there for him and her Uncle Henry, but also she was becoming struck in a rut about reporting crime but also needed to get away from a bad relationship. When we first meet Sam it's been a month since she came back home and her day have mostly revolved around visiting her dad as the care home with her Uncle Henry's bulldog Buster and going to her friend Izzy's dog cafe which is common in dog loving Carmel which has many dog friendly establishments. She has fallen into a routine but has no idea of what to do when she bumps into Mona Reynolds a old family friend who has become the editor-in-chief of the local luxury magazine, she offers Sam a job as travel writer wanting to bring fresh blood into the tired old team of the magazine. Taking the job she starts off with local assignments before getting her first travel gig in Maui. What should be just a nice time enjoying the sights and writing about the resort and the activities on offer get derail by the death of a fellow travel writer, which has Sam and the others writers in lockdown while the investigation goes on, with her natural curiosity Sam can't help but get involved in trying to find out who bumped off her fellow travel writer who she finds was not well liked and a few people who are glad to see him gone. She finds the killer and is able to write a great article and also connects with the detective on the case.

Book 2 Destination Monterey we see Sam as she is assigned to do an article about the local Monterey area as part of a special issue around the upcoming Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament, which she is not so keen and hesitant to do after such an exotic trip to Maui. She feels like her hometown and the surrounding area is not exciting to her and she also isn't a fan of golf. She ultimately takes it and over the course learns some interesting things about the area she didn't know but also she gets tangled in a cold case involving the former editor-in-chief who left in strange circumstances but no one seems to miss him, she gets help from friends and also the cute detective from the last book. She ends her adventures with a ln appreciation of her hometown and also gains a cat.

Book 3 Destination Lake Tahoe we see Sam going Lake Tahoe to cover the reopening of the historic Lake Tahoe Mountain Lodge, Sam is not a fan of skiing but she is able to bring a plus one as this isa soft opening, she chooses her friend Izzy over Roger the detective from Maui who she has a long distance relationship with though she still not sure what their relationship status is. She is also looking to spend time with her friend Izzy who she was close to as kids being like sisters but in their teens and adults years didn't spend much time together as Izzy was pursuing a career as a tennis pro while Sam was being an investigative reporter in LA so a trip to Lake Tahoe seems like a good way of catching up though Sam is still working. I found it funny that Sam had accidentally signed up for all the activities on offer when she is not really a fan of skiing and snow but she felt that she had to as she writing a article about what to do at the lodge. All starts off okay but soon a storm hits stranding them in the lodge but also guests start going missing then a body shows up. Sam's nose for mystery gets her trying to make sense of the mystery with help from Izzy but also lands her up a tree after a tangle with the culprit. All gets resolved and gets a great story. Throughout the story Sam is also wondering if she should stay in Carmel or return to LA as it nearing six months and she needs to give her boss an answer if she is coming back and give up her LA apartment, she makes her choice at the end after her adventure gives her perspective.

This was such a great series and having read all three books it did a great of continuity throughout them all but I'm sure if you didn't read the first book you could still enjoy the others but for the optimal experience read all three. This I felt was cozy but Sam does swear dropping the f word few times over the series, this was suprise but I feel shows that cozies are evolving. I love Sam she is a relatable character I also loved her quirk of giving people nicknames to remind her what they called example being her co-worker at the magazine who is a bit of a snooty know it all who thinks she knows how the magazine who she nicknames FU Chelsea, the two letters being an abbreviation of the exclamation Sam thinks to herself when she talks with her. 

I really enjoyed this series and look forward to more adventures with Sam, family and friends each of the books I rated a five ⭐ as I was just engaged with all of them and love the tone, it was also quite informative in giving bits about each place and a bit of history but just general factiods. Honestly would read these again as they were such a breezy, light-hearted and well paced series.