#Throwback for Murder (Trending Topic Mystery 4), by Sarah E. Burr

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I have been enjoying Sarah E. Burr's Trending Topic Mysteries since the beginning, so I was very excited to receive an ARC of the fourth installment in the series, #Throwback for Murder. I'm happy to say, it did not disappoint. In fact, this may be my favorite book in the series.

It starts out at a festival to celebrate the opening of the Central Shores Community Safety Center. The celebration is interrupted when a blast from the past falls ill and eventually dies. (I must point out here how the title of this book fits perfectly with the victim's story.) Evidence points to Charlotte, one of Coco Cline's best friends, as the one who potentially murdered the victim. Lifestyle Influencer, Coco, and her friends use a mix of modern technology and good old-fashioned sleuthing to uncover the truth and clear Charlotte's name.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Central Shores, Delaware, once again visiting with the Sleuth Squad. I loved that this book starts at a festival and the reader is fully immersed in the experience. It felt like I was there. 

Having just re-listened to the first in this series, I can say that these characters have shown tremendous growth since the beginning. Relationships are evolving and there is now a cat added to the mix. This isn't Coco's cat. Miranda's human is Jasper, and I am here for it. Jasper is my favorite character in this series and I just love that he now has a cat. The scene where Miranda is first discovered nearly brought tears to my eyes. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how it was going to all unfold. There is another scene later in the book that did bring tears to my eyes, but those were tears of laughter because it was so funny!

There are a lot of characters in this book, but I was okay with that. It was fairly easy to differentiate who the suspects were and who were simply members of the community. Even with that differentiation, I still could not figure out who the culprit was. It surprised me, but it came to a logical conclusion. Speaking of the conclusion, I love how this book shows that not every case is cut and dry. The lines are sometimes blurred. You will have to read the book to find out exactly what I'm talking about.

One thing I always appreciate in these books is diversity. The communities created by Sarah Burr truly are welcoming to everyone. On a personal note, in this series it's especially heart-warming to see at least one physically disabled character living life just like everyone else in the community. This character is working and could possibly be involved in a romantic relationship soon. That's the way I love to see representation. It makes me feel like I could easily fit into that community.

I also love that Coco is seeing a mental health professional. It isn't a large part of the book, but it's there to let us know that Coco isn't dealing with everything on her own. Of course she has her friends, but it's good to know she's open to professional counseling. 

I really enjoyed the scenes with Coco's family. I especially loved the scenes with Coco's father. I hope to see more of her family in future installments.

Along with the mystery, there are a number of subplots that are naturally and seamlessly woven into the story. These subplots never interfere with the flow of the mystery and they give us glimpses into the characters' lives other than solving mysteries. I enjoyed seeing the natural progression of their lives and I'm even more enthusiastic about seeing them continue to grow in future installments.

There are some serious topics covered in this book, as indicated by the trigger warning in the beginning. While these topics do play a role in the overall story, they never felt overwhelming to me. Sarah Burr has a gift for lightening the mood without glossing over serious situations. It's the perfect blend of heart and humor. 

I have to admit, I got a kick out of the multiple references to the Baltimore Ravens football team. They are my team! But I promise you, you don't have to be a football fan to appreciate these references. They are worked into the book in a way that works well with the story.

As with most cozies, this is a self-contained mystery, but I recommend starting with book 1, #FollowMe for Murder, so you can see the growth of the characters. If you've been reading each installment, then this is certainly not one you'll want to miss. #Throwback for Murder is a strong addition to a modern and entertaining series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Level Best Books, and Sarah E. Burr for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.