Death By Theft

A Josiah Reynolds Mystery 19

Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
176 Pages
Reviewed on 10/17/2023
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Death by Theft by Abigail Keam is the nineteenth book in the Josiah Reynolds Mystery series. Josiah is happily celebrating the birth of a colt with her closest friends Lady Elsmere and Shaneika. They already have big plans for the young colt and high hopes that he’ll go on to win big at the Kentucky Derby. When the colt is taken and the body of the security guard is found, the owners are frantic to find answers and get their colt back. They have no idea who would be capable of the theft or why anyone would want to harm an innocent animal. Being asked for help, Josiah has no choice but to reach out to her daughter Asa who has secrets of her own.

The writing maintains the same elegant style and humor as the previous books in the series. The tone effectively establishes Josiah’s personality and the lighthearted atmosphere delightfully blends mystery with suspense and humor. Abigail Keam continues to charm with an assortment of characters that are charismatic and endearing. Josiah is a great character and her unique ability to stumble upon bodies is a great way to draw her into the mystery. The colt is at the root of the mystery and is an innocent bystander in the situation though Keam gets you concerned about his well-being by letting you see his attitude. Asa is drawn into the fray, which adds elements of suspense. Asa’s life is one of excitement and isn’t tied down to one place, which provides a slight edge to the lighthearted mystery that is seen through Josiah’s perspective. This difference in lifestyles creates an interesting conflict between the two and is a central theme of the story. The tension between parent and child over these choices addresses the complications in this type of relationship. However, both are willing to do whatever it takes to find answers. Cozy mystery lovers will enjoy the style, characters, and twists that Keam weaves together. Death by Theft showcases what makes this such an appealing series with its charm, humor, mystery, and relatable characters.

Emily-Jane Hills Orford

Lady Elsmere and Shaneika Mary Todd’s broodmare, Jean Harlow, has just given birth, but, all too soon, the foal, Last Chance, is missing. This isn’t good, as young foals need their mothers. Not to mention that the owners have big dreams for this foal, as big as the Kentucky Derby. But that’s not all. The night watchman, Juan, is dead – murdered. Abigail Keam’s Death By Theft weaves a compelling mystery around this nefarious deed. Who would want to steal Last Chance and murder Juan?

Abigail Keam’s Death By Theft is the nineteenth book in the Josiah Reynolds mystery series. Told in the first person narrative, from Josiah’s point of view, the plot begins with the mystery sleuth in a tree, trying to eradicate a bee swarm. Like her mystery-solving skills, this is an interesting prelude to the swarms that Josiah will encounter in her attempts to recover the missing foal and find Juan’s murderer. The mystery needs solving and who better to solve the case than Josiah? She also wants to find out why the foal was stolen in the first place and why the murder took place. But there are more complexities in this plot, tangents that will keep readers glued to the story to the very end. The author uses considerable dialogue to develop the plot and descriptive narrative is used effectively. Keam's knowledge of horses and the horse racing industry is used with ease and adds an interesting dimension to the storyline. This is a cozy mystery read for horse fans and mystery fans alike.