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Reviewed by C.R. Hurst for Readers' Favorite
Death by Trauma is a cozy mystery with an edge. Written by Abigail Keam, it is the latest installment in her long-running series about an amateur detective with a penchant for finding and solving murders in Kentucky Bluegrass country. In book 21, a cast of colorful characters is suspected of the murder of an old friend of Josiah Reynolds named Haze Corbyn, who owes a lot of people a lot of money and has broken more than a few hearts. Josiah knows that murder is committed for only three reasons: revenge, love, or money. Yet, even with so many possibilities in such a close-knit community, she is determined to find the motive and the method of a killer who may very well be a neighbor or friend.
One of the best things about Death by Trauma is Abigail Keam’s ability to create a world that a reader can slip into without having read any other book in the series. I especially liked how accurately and honestly the author portrays small-town America with its petty jealousies, long-held grievances, and surprising loyalties, all told with a sassy style and snark. Josiah Reynolds, in particular, is well-drawn with her quick wit and sharp eye for detail. However, my favorite bits did not concern the central mystery but instead Josiah’s occasional lapses into teacher mode with topics such as Native American history and the fundamentals of beekeeping, making this both an entertaining and educational read. I found Death by Trauma a surprising and fast-paced mystery.
