Title: No Filter
Author: Heather Day Gilbert
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Cozy Mystery
Synopsis:
BOOK ONE in the ALL-NEW BARKS & BEANS CAFE cozy mystery series!!
Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java…and where murder sometimes pays a visit.
Fed up with her go-nowhere job, newly single Macy Hatfield moves back to her small hometown in West Virginia. She joins forces with her brother Bo in his crazy new venture—the Barks & Beans Cafe, which caters to dog lovers and coffee drinkers alike.
When a golf instructor is murdered at the nearby spiritual center, Macy winds up adopting his Great Dane. Just after Macy finds a mysterious message sewn under the dog’s collar, her Dane is dognapped. She launches into a relentless search for her newfound canine friend, but along the way, she digs up a cruel and confident killer.
Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown…with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes.
My Thoughts on No Filter
This was a nice laid-back mystery. I do not often read cozy mysteries as they do not seem real to me, however, after reading the synopsis for this one I was intrigued! I mean who does not like dogs or coffee? This is the first book in Heather Day Gilbert’s new Barks & Beans series, and I am already hooked.
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end, the way the story unfolded was believable and interesting. I liked the characters and getting a glimpse into their lives and I am sure will continue in the next book. They were people I could see myself being friends with. I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series to see what comes next 😊. I think I would compare Heather Day Gilbert’s writing to episodes of Murder She Wrote that I watched all the time growing up, cozy, fun, attention-grabbing, and making you feel like you are a part of the mystery.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for the great cast of characters, the cozy café setting, and for giving me something to look forward to when the second book releases. The only thing that could have made it better was a little less predictability in the mystery.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
About the Author
HEATHER DAY GILBERT, an ECPA Christy award finalist and Grace award winner, writes contemporary mysteries and Viking historicals. Her novels feature small towns, family relationships, and women who aren’t afraid to protect those they love. Publisher’s Weekly gave Heather’s Viking historical Forest Child a starred review, saying it is “an engaging story depicting timeless human struggles with faith, love, loyalty, and leadership.”
Find Heather on Pinterest (heatherdgilbert), Instagram (@heatherdaygilbert), Twitter (@heatherdgilbert), and Facebook (heatherdaygilbert). You can find all her books at heatherdaygilbert.com.
