Book Review: A Cast of Vultures (Sam Clair #3) by Judith Flanders

A Cast of Vultures (Sam Clair #3) 
by Judith Flanders
My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟  (4 stars)
Publisher: Allison & Busby


Another entry into the series (and I'm hoping not the last) sees Sam Clair, getting pulled into a murder and arson in her neighborhood between some new trials at her publishing house.



I quite enjoyed the mystery portion of the story but found that there were other aspects I enjoyed much more. Any and all appearances by Sam's mother and her upstairs neighbor rank pretty highly with me as they're such neat characters. All things book publishing also hit high points for me and if I'm honest, that B-story of impending corporate restructuring was my favorite and had me more worried for Sam than the murderer/arsonist on the loose. Also, this time around, there's a teenager, Sam, who is part of a local group of boys who are a bit at risk, that Sam (our book publisher heroine) gets to know and help and he really comes through in a big way in the end. I do have to admit to not being very invested in Sam's love life and found much of that bit tedious. I barely care about her detective boyfriend (his name escapes me) so I surely didn't care about his ex-paramour and her attitude. Still, I understand why the thread was necessary to the storyline.

I'd recommend this for fans of the series or even just cozy fans looking for a good read. Now that I've read all three, I think I'd advise reading them in order so that you know a bit about the established characters. It's an easy read and worth being your weekend read.


Summary:  "There was every possibility that I was dead, and my brain hadn’t got the memo. Or maybe it was that I wished I were dead. On reflection, that was more likely." 
Usually sharp-witted editor Sam Clair stumbles through her post-launch-party morning with the hangover to end all hangovers. Before the Nurofen has even kicked in, she finds herself entangled in an elaborate saga of missing neighbours, suspected arson and the odd unidentified body. When the grisly news breaks that the fire has claimed a victim, Sam is already in pursuit. Never has comedy been so deadly as Sam faces down a pair from Thugs ‘R’ Us, aided by nothing more than a CID boyfriend, a stalwart Goth assistant and a seemingly endless supply of purple-sprouting broccoli.




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