Over My Dead Blog (Book Blogger Mystery 1), by Sarah E. Burr

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Over My Dead Blog is the first in a highly anticipated new series by Sarah E. Burr. I had read a couple of books by her and enjoyed them, so I was very excited when I was approved to receive an ARC of this book. It did not disappoint.

Winnie Lark moved to Copper Bay, Massachusetts to live a quiet life as a successful book blogger known to the public only as "The Wren". When her twin brother and famous actor, Strider Lark, visits, he becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation. Winnie, with the help of her friends, is determined to clear her brother's name and find out who the real killer is.  Can she find out who the culprit is while not revealing to the public who she is?

Over My Dead Blog is a strong start to a new series. The mystery is engaging from beginning to end. There are enough suspects to consider, but not too many to overwhelm the reader. I thought I knew who the culprit was, only to be surprised in the end. While it made sense, this person was not on my radar as a suspect. 

The story takes place around Halloween, so I enjoyed reading it around that time. However, it can certainly be enjoyed anytime of the year. The setting in Copper Bay is vividly peaceful and breathtaking. I could see why Winnie would want to live there. It felt like a vacation to me. 

However, what I loved most about this book and what will most definitely keep me coming back for more are the characters. They are diverse and have depth. Along with modern technology, Winnie uses what she's learned from all the mysteries she's read to guide her in solving this crime. Her brother, the main suspect, is a high profile celebrity, while she prefers to stay out of the limelight. So she needs to tread carefully. Her "amateur" status as a sleuth comes through as she sometimes makes choices that I questioned. At the same time, she is perceptive, compassionate, and caring. She's someone I would want to be friends with.

Winnie has close friends she can rely on, and while she loves her twin brother, their relationship is strained. They have some things from the past to work through. Progress is made in book one, but there is still room for their relationship to grow. Even the detective has a complicated history and her relationship with them is also not perfect. Again, some progress is made in book one, but not all of our questions about the detective are answered yet. 

This book isn't without a bit of humor too. The introduction of one character had me laughing out loud. After I finished reading the book, I went back and read that part simply because it was so funny! I must admit, I did have lots of doubts about this character throughout most of the book, but that just made me want to keep reading to find out how it would all end. And in the end, I was satisfied.

In addition to a well-crafted mystery, a tranquil setting, and dynamic characters, there are several references to other books and movies that made me smile. Specifically, the references to Hannah Swensen (the series that introduced me to cozies), Pride and Prejudice (one of my all-time favorite books), and Hocus Pocus (my favorite Halloween movie) were so much fun to see. 

While being satisfied with the ending, I am also eager to find out what happens next with these characters. There is the beginning of a romance and I'm curious to see how that unfolds. I also want to see Winnie's relationship with her brother grow. I want to get to know all of the characters better. I'm on pins and needles waiting for the next book in this series!

Thank you to author Sarah E. Burr for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.