#TagMe for Murder (Trending Topic Mystery 2), by Sarah E. Burr

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I wanted to read #TagMe for Murder, by Sarah E. Burr, last summer, but time got away from me. Now that the third one in the series is about to be released, I decided it was time to catch up. I'm typically a seasonal reader. I like to read books during the season in which they are set, whenever possible. #TagMe for Murder takes place around the 4th of July. I listened to it in January and I have to say, the warmth of a summer cozy was a nice reprieve from the cold weather we've been having. Weather is not a huge factor in the book, but it is set on the beaches of Central Shores, Delaware.

Coco Cline, a social media influencer and our amateur sleuth, and her friends attend a party to celebrate the grand opening of a new local wine bar. The morning after the party, a dead body is found at the beach. With the evidence strongly pointing towards Jasper as the culprit, Coco embarks on a quest to find the real killer in order to clear her best friend's name.

I read the first one in this series, whereas I listened to this second one. I wasn't sure if I would like the change in format, but it didn't bother me at all. The narrator, Laura Darrell, did a great job bringing the story and characters to life.

I really enjoyed the first one in the Trending Topic series, #FollowMe for Murder, but this second installment is even better. We are already familiar with the characters from book 1, so from the beginning, the story jumps right into the setup for the mystery. And this mystery is solid. There are plenty of viable suspects to consider and I had no idea whodunnit until it was revealed. I thought I had it figured out halfway through the book, but I was completely wrong. There are lots of twists and turns as Coco follows the clues to unravel this mystery. 

While the mystery is strong, it doesn't take away from how well the characters are developed. Coco's relationship with her boyfriend is progressing and we also learn more about Jasper, Coco's best friend. There is a natural-feeling balance between moving forward with the mystery and developing subplots and characters. None of it felt overwhelming. I was invested in every aspect of this book.

I would describe this series as modern. There's no denying the fact that technology is a huge part of our everyday lives. Coco knows this, especially since she is a social media influencer, and technology is one of the ways she does her sleuthing.

One of my favorite scenes in the book happens when Coco addresses her mental health. Sometimes the definition of strength is addressing the fact that life is difficult, and I love the way Coco deals with this in such a realistic and relatable way. Her demonstration of strength in this way warmed my heart.

While #TagMe for Murder takes place around the 4th of July, it can certainly be read any time of the year. I do, however, recommend that you read #FollowMe for Murder first. There are subplots in book 2 that carryover from book 1. Besides that, they are both very enjoyable cozy reads.