The Daydreamer Detective (Miso Cozy Mysteries #1)By SJ Pajonas
Genre: Mystery/ Cozy Mystery
Age category: Adult
Release Date: 31 march 2016
Blurb:
Luck? Forget it. Mei Yamagawa is fresh out of it. She's just been downsized from her 3rd job in five years and her bank account is dry. Now, to keep her head above water, she must leave Tokyo and move back to her rural Japanese hometown. And there's nothing worse than having to face your old rivals and ex-boyfriends as a failure while starting life over as a farm girl.
But when her best friend's father is murdered, and her best friend is named the main suspect, Mei turns her daydreaming ways towards solving the crime. Between dates disguised as lunches with the town's hottest bachelor chef, searching for clues, and harvesting sweet potatoes, Mei has a lot of non-paying work cut out for her.
Will she catch the killer before her bad luck turns worse? Or will she fry in the fire with the rest of her dreams of success?
My Review:
The Daydreamer Detective is a sweet and wonderful story. As a cozy mystery, the story features a young, amateur sleuth, Mei, who has found herself back in her hometown trying to resolve herself against her failed attempt at life in the big city. But she isn’t there long at all until her best friend’s father is found dead and her friend is implicated as a possible suspect. Add to the mix a handsome chef and a matchmaking mom, and there you have it.
What I love most about this story is the attention to detail and the way the story delves into Japanese life in a natural way. The characters seem real, the places, too. Everything is brought together so that you feel like you’re there, with just enough information upfront and sprinkled in so that you understand how the culture feeds into the motivations, interactions, and everyday lives of those portrayed in the story. It makes the world seem a smaller place and made me feel a kinship with the characters.
Another thing I love, and I think this is a necessary characteristic of a cozy mystery, is the way the story unfolds in a way that just feels right. The pace is steady and pleasant, but engaging all the same. The mystery is almost second place to Mei trying to adjust to her new life, at least until nearly the end when it gets rather exciting, and the romance is sweet.
I suppose the only downside is that Mei is too hard on herself. At times, she seems stuck, like a record player on a bad spot, reliving her insecurities and past failures, despite all the support and reassurance of her friends and family.
Overall, I loved this story. I think fans of cozy mysteries and light romance will like it, and though it’s longer than others I’ve read, I thought the length was a plus. It let everything unfold in an unhurried and organic fashion and just let me enjoy the progression over a few days. It’s a great book to snuggle up with
I received the review copy of this book from the author so that I could write a review for this stop. Hope you enjoyed it.
You can find The Daydreamer Detective on Goodreads.
You can buy The Daydreamer Detective here:
- Amazon
- B&N
- Kobo
- iBooks
About the Author:Stephanie (S. J.) is a writer, knitter, amateur astrologer, Capricorn, and Japanophile. She loves foxes, owls, sushi, yoga pants, Evernote, and black tea. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing or spending time outside, unless it’s winter. She hates winter. Someday she’ll own a house in both hemispheres so she can avoid the season entirely. She’s a mom to two great kids and lives with her husband and family outside NYC. They have no pets. Yet. When it comes to her work, expect the unexpected. She doesn’t write anything typical. Find her online at http://www.spajonas.com.
You can find and contact SJ Pajonas here:
- Website
- Goodreads
- Tumblr
- Youtube
- Wattpad
- Amazon
There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of The Daydreamer. There will be two winners:
- One US Resident will win: One paperback copy of Adult Coloring Book Japan, One Signed Copy of The Daydreamer Detective, One signed copy of Removed, and a surprise flavor of Pocky!
- One International Resident will win: One ebook copy of The Daydreamer Detective, One ebook copy of Removed, and One ebook of each Rice Cooker Revenge, Washing Statue Wanderlust, and Mamachari Matchmaker
For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
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