Title Wave (A Booktown Mystery)

Title Wave by Lorna Barrett is the tenth book in A Booktown Mystery series. Tricia Miles and her sister, Angelica Miles are going on a Mystery Lover's cruise on the Celtic Lady along with family members (Antonio and Ginny Barbero and their daughter, Sofia) and colleagues from the Stoneham Chamber of Commerce. Milford Travel proposed the excursion and it is taking place during the slow period for their town. They are all looking forward to spending some time in the sun (and away from the snow). They will get a chance to meet various mystery authors, attend lectures and workshops, and get books signed. Tricia owns Haven's Got a Clue in Stoneham, New Hampshire which carries mystery novels (the town is full of various bookstores). Unfortunately, EM Barstow is one of the authors. Ms. Barstow is a bestselling mystery author with horrible attitude (rude, demeaning). Ms. Barstow is accompanied by Dori Douglas, who is president of her fan club and Cathy Cooper, her editor. Tricia cannot sleep the first night and goes to get some hot cocoa. She is on the way back to her room, when she notices a stateroom door wide open. She investigates and finds EM Barstow dead. The suspect list is extremely long, and they need to solve it before the ships arrives back in port (and the killer will walk away). Can Tricia find the killer before the killer decides to write her off?

Title Wave was my least favorite book in this series. From the moment EM Barstow was introduced the reader knows (and hopes) she will be killed. I thought the killer was obvious (the suspect list is really short in actuality), but the author did a good with it (and there is a twist near the end). The one thing that really annoyed me in the novel was the constant mention of how much and what Tricia ate. It is talked about more than the mystery. It was too dominant in the book. Angelica pushed Tricia to eat and Tricia declined to eat. The readers find out why near the end of the book, but, by that time, I did not care (I was sick of it). I think Ms. Barrett could have handled it differently, more subtlety. I wish the author had spent more time on the mystery and less on food issues. I felt that Tricia took the joy out of the book (and the trip for the group). I found that some information was repeated (like Tricia and her eating issues and Tricia's deceased ex-husband). I give Title Wave 3 out of 5 stars. I will read the next book in A Booktown Mystery series, and I sincerely hope it will be like the novels at the beginning of the series.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.