Maxed Out

The Owl's Nest Mysteries, Book 2

By: C.S. McDonald

Narrated by: Maren Swenson Waxenberg

The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe is a huge success! Business is booming, and Alexa Owl’s love life is heating up. Yet much to the seamstress’s dismay, Detective Bobby Starr is suddenly back again! Bobby isn’t your everyday gumshoe. Rather, he’s an angel who’s trying to earn a place in Saint Peter’s Guardian Angel Squad. He’s required to solve murders he had left unsettled from when he walked the Earth in order to be accepted into this prestigious group. Of course, they will need to return to the time period in which the murder took place, and again, Alexa is a reluctant time traveler. Oh, and there’s one more little problem - this time, Bobby’s brought along a friend, Maxi Krogen, and she’s no angel!

©2021 Cindy McDonald (P)2021 Cindy McDonald

Fun cozy

This cozy gem is a quick read/listen. It’s full of humor and can be read as a standalone, even if you didn’t read the first book in the series. I love that it’s a time travel. This particular mystery brings characters from the previous novel that you will enjoy revisiting, like PI Bobby from the 1950s, but instead of the ghost cat, there’s a ghost dog. Also, there is a more sinister ghost from the past that adds more tension to the plot but made me feel like the book was crossing a bit into paranormal. The narrator does an amazing.

Alexa & Bobby have another case from the past-ouch

Maxed Out
The Owl's Nest Mysteries #2
By C.S. McDonald
Read by Maren Swenson Waxenberg

Alexa Owl's life is going great. Her couturier shop is doing well. Her relationship with her boyfriend, Cliff Slater, is heading toward love if she is reading things correctly. There is just one little hiccup to mess with her life - Detective Bobby Starr is back and has another case that needs Alexa's assistance.

But this time, the dearly departed that needs Alexa and Bobby's help doesn't seem so innocent to Alexa. But Maxine Krogen is the next case Bobby's been assigned on his quest to join the Guardian Angel Squad, so it's back to the 1950s and some truly fabulous clothes.

But as Alexa looks for clues using the technology of today, she finds herself drawn to Hank's Sandwich Shop with its tragic past. Not that Hank has any link to her case with Bobby, but still, there is something...

As before, Alexa and Bobby have 3 days to solve the case and determine who killed Maxi's husband and landed her in the doghouse. With time against them and a less-than-helpful widow tagging along, this case just might prove a bit more challenging than their last case.

Maxed Out is the second book in The Owl's Nest Mysteries, and all the cast is back as Alexa tries to balance life in her present and her time-shifting excursions - which may result in a few hiring mishaps abilities, which are less than stellar. Maxed Out is a contemporary read that is a cozy mystery that also could be a candidate for magical realism with a touch of romance. The book isn't long, coming in under six hours, and would make a perfect afternoon read - especially if you have an evening commute on your schedule. The narration by Maren Swenson Waxenberg is well done, the pacing is good, and she makes Maxi even less appealing than she is in the printed version.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - All thoughts expressed are my own.

* Per the author, the content rating is G, but for those wanting a clean read, there are pointed hints at relationships that have intimacy outside of marriage - nothing is shown on the page.

Another Fun Filled Cozy Mystery by CS McDonald

I’m loving Alexa Owl and Bobby Starr. This time they are tasked w solving a mystery in 1957 with the ghost of the accused tagging along. Why do they have to deal with this unpleasant chain smoking martini drinking ghost? That’s one of the mysteries in this delightful cozy. We also have another ghost pet. Tricia is a delight. The narrator pulls you right into the story. Five Stars all the way around!

Another awesome audiobook for this wonderful story

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS AUDIOBOOK BOOK
In Maxed Out, Detective Starr is back, but just as an angel. Though being an angel, he has his work to do, and a lot of cases to solve. This time his new friend Maxi is with him as well. This cozy mystery has a lot of humor in it, that I enjoyed very much. C.S. McDonald does a fabulous job with writing this story with all of the elements needed to keep readers on their toes reading.

I love these characters as was so glad to listen to the audiobook for a different perspective on the book. Ms. Waxenberg does an exceptional job narrating this book. I enjoyed her clear voice, a voice you can listen to for hours with no problem. It only took a short while listening to her voice changing with the different characters to distinguish which character she was reading about. If you enjoy audiobooks, Maxed Out is a great book to add to your library. And if you haven’t taken the jump into the audio world, Maxed Out is for you as well. This would make an awesome first book for you to listen to.

A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
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