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Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Death by Design by Abigail Keam is the ninth book in the Josiah Reynolds Mysteries series. As Josiah Reynolds continues to recover, she expects an easy trip in New York City, until she hears her name called out on the street. Enter Bunny Witt, who shares a tale of how her apartments in New York and London have been broken into, but nothing has been stolen. She begs Josiah to find the one responsible. Despite not being particularly fond of Bunny, Josiah agrees to help her. As Josiah's best friend, Matt, returns home after recovering from being shot, she's pulled into a mystery revolving around precious gems and murder.
With an assortment of eccentric and sophisticated characters, Death by Design is a witty, humorous, and charming mystery. Being the ninth in the series, the characters are deeply rooted and developed, their relationships complex, and their chemistry is evident in how easily the banter flows. Abigail Keam writes an array of personality types that are larger than life and emotionally well-rounded, with delightful quirks and full of heart. Josiah is a wonderful and spunky heroine, the kind of character you wish was real. Keam often breaks the fourth wall, but the prose doesn't flounder, instead Josiah's asides serve humorous purposes. Josiah often reminded me of a hard-boiled detective type, with her cynical nature, quick wit, and stubbornness. Death by Design is the kind of mystery that pairs well with a glass of iced tea, one that's hard to put down until the end. A must-read!