By 
Valerie Taylor, the Author of “A Whale of a Murder” “A Venus Bixby Taylor” has written an enjoyable and delightful cozy mystery. The genres for this novel are mystery, cozy mystery, and fiction. I appreciate that the author provides a list of nostalgic music, and recipes for amazing baked goods in the back of the book. In this captivating novel, the author vividly describes the scenery , the plot, and the colorful and dramatic characters. The characters are complex, complicated, quirky, dysfunctional, competitive, and mostly likable. The female protagonist, Venus Bixby, is a widow, and owner of a music store, “Oldies & Goodies”, and would like to step out of the shadow of her well-liked dancer husband. Venus would also like a position on the town council, as do some other characters that live in Chatham Crossing. Venus has a twin sister, and both will be celebrating their 50th Birthdays. This year her special birthday will be celebrated during a town celebration. The catering is provided from her friend and there will be loads of food and baked goods. The party is to take place in the garden of the Whaling Museum. Several of the characters have their own motives and secrets. Something very special and precious is supposed to be revealed at the Museum.
Unfortunately, Venus falls over a pair of shoes, and breaks her thumb. The shoes are on the feet of the now dead manager of the Museum gift shop. Venus herself is not sure if she can help solve the crime, or be a major suspect. Some of the characters are quite suspicious, and after another dead body is found, there is cause for alarm. This is a witty story, and I look forward to other books in this series. I highly recommend this book to others.
Linda's Book Obsession: 